Chapter 11
Team 7’s first D-rank mission was about as low-stakes as it could get: retrieving the infamous cat, Tora, who was known for slipping away from her owner and making every attempt to stay free. Though it sounded easy, the mission had a reputation among the village genin as a test of patience.
Naruto was buzzing with excitement as they left the mission office. “A cat mission? This will be a piece of cake!” he announced, practically skipping down the street.
Kakashi’s eyes crinkled in a smile as he glanced at his team. “Don’t underestimate the task, Naruto. Tora’s given even the most seasoned teams a hard time.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes but remained silent, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Yona smirked, already anticipating how the mission might go with Naruto’s boundless energy in the mix.
The team split up to search the streets and rooftops for the runaway cat. Naruto, unable to contain his enthusiasm, darted through alleys and peered behind crates, yelling, “Tora! Come out! We won’t hurt you!”
Sasuke’s brows furrowed as he watched Naruto from a distance. “You’re going to scare her away,” he muttered before focusing on the quieter sections of the village, scanning for any sign of movement.
Yona, meanwhile, climbed onto a low rooftop, her eyes sweeping the streets below. “If I were a cat that didn’t want to be caught, where would I go?” she mused, trying to think like Tora.
A sudden yowl cut through the air, and Yona’s eyes lit up. “There!” she called, pointing to a narrow ledge above a bakery where Tora sat with her fur puffed out, eyes wide with defiance.
Naruto heard her and came barreling around the corner, startling the cat, which jumped to a higher ledge. “Naruto, slow down!” Yona shouted, exasperated.
“Oops,” Naruto mumbled, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
Sasuke took advantage of the moment and leapt to a nearby balcony, eyeing the cat’s next move. “I’ll corner her from above,” he called, his voice calm and calculated. “Yona, you stay on the ground. Naruto, be ready to catch her if she jumps.”
Naruto nodded, determination in his eyes. “Got it!”
Yona positioned herself directly under Tora, her eyes sharp and focused. “Easy, girl,” she whispered, trying to calm the cat. Sasuke inched closer, blocking the escape route from the roof, while Naruto stood ready with open arms below.
Tora’s eyes darted between the three ninja, calculating her chances. But with Sasuke’s cold, confident approach and Yona’s gentle voice, the cat realized there was no way out. She leapt from the ledge right into Naruto’s waiting arms.
“Ha! Gotcha!” Naruto yelled triumphantly, holding up the cat, who let out a resigned meow and swiped her paw half-heartedly at him.
Kakashi appeared behind them, seemingly out of nowhere, clapping lightly. “Well done, Team 7. You managed to work together in the end.”
Naruto beamed, holding Tora up like a trophy. “We’re the best, believe it!”
Sasuke smirked, crossing his arms. “Try not to drop her, idiot.”
Yona chuckled, watching the team’s dynamic unfold. Despite their differences, she could feel a spark of camaraderie starting to grow.
As they walked back to return Tora, Kakashi’s voice was warm with approval. “Remember, teamwork isn’t just about working together; it’s about learning from each other. Today was just the beginning.”
After returning Tora, Kakashi thought he was in the clear to dismiss Team 7 for the day. However, Yona had other ideas. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she sidled up to Kakashi.
“Sensei,” she began sweetly, “after such a successful mission, don’t you think we deserve a reward? You know, to build team morale?”
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, the visible one above his mask. “A reward, huh?”
Naruto perked up immediately. “Yes! Ramen! Let’s go get ramen!” He was already bouncing on his feet, eyes shining with hope.
Sasuke, who had been standing silently, let out a sigh of irritation. “Why ramen? Can’t we just go home?”
Before Kakashi could respond, Yona interjected, her quick wit ready. “Sasuke, don’t you know? Sharing a meal after a mission is crucial for building camaraderie. Right, sensei?”
Kakashi’s expression behind the mask was unreadable, but his eye curved in a resigned way. She’s sneakier than I thought, he mused. With a sigh, he nodded. “Alright, ramen it is.”
The team headed to Naruto’s favorite ramen stand, Ichiraku Ramen, much to Sasuke’s annoyance. They squeezed into the small space, the savory aroma filling the air as Naruto practically danced in his seat.
“Teuchi, four bowls of miso ramen!” Naruto called out.
“Make mine spicy,” Yona added with a smirk. Sasuke muttered something under his breath but took his seat between Naruto and Yona.
As the bowls arrived, Naruto dug in enthusiastically, slurping noodles and sighing in contentment. Sasuke, on the other hand, picked at his food with mild disdain. Yona elbowed him lightly. “Come on, Uchiha. Live a little,” she teased.
“You’re impossible,” Sasuke muttered, though a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
The commotion attracted the attention of a passing Iruka, who paused at the sight. A warm smile spread across his face as he approached the team. “Well, look at this! Team 7 sharing a meal together. I’m glad to see Kakashi-sensei hasn’t scared you all away yet.”
Naruto beamed. “Iruka-sensei! We just finished our first mission, and we totally nailed it.”
Kakashi gave a small wave, eye crinkling with what could almost be called amusement. “They’re holding up well.”
Iruka nodded approvingly. “That’s good to hear. I was a bit worried, knowing Kakashi’s...reputation.”
Yona, picking up on the lighthearted jab, leaned forward. “So were we,” she said, earning a snort from Naruto and a subtle chuckle from Kakashi himself.
“Oh! Before I forget,” Iruka said, snapping his fingers. “You missed the traditional team photo earlier. How about we take one now?”
Kakashi, knowing there was no way out of this, sighed but stood up. The rest of Team 7 gathered together, Naruto pulling Yona and Sasuke in. Sasuke’s posture was stiff, arms crossed, but he didn’t move away when Yona slipped her arm around him and Naruto.
“Smile, everyone!” Iruka said as he lifted the camera.
As the flash went off, Sasuke felt a warm blush creep onto his cheeks, and he glanced sideways at Yona, who was cheerfully oblivious. Kakashi, watching the scene unfold, thought to himself, This is going to be interesting.