Naruto: SSS-Rank Romance System

In the alley, Ino cornered Naruto against the wall.

Her dense golden bangs covered half her face, and her blue eyes fixed on Naruto as she called out, "Hey!"

"Does Sasuke like girls or not?"

"What?" Naruto tilted his head, looking at Ino in confusion, not at all feeling the pressure of being questioned.

"You said it yourself!" Ino was almost frantic, grabbing Naruto by the clothes, "Don't play dead! Naruto!"

"Then you should go ask Sasuke directly," Naruto suddenly grinned in a snake-like manner.

"Aaaaah! Damn it!" Ino was about to go crazy, clutching her head and shaking it left and right, "Does he like girls or not?"

"I have a way to test it," Naruto spoke up at the right moment.

"What method?" Ino quickly raised her head.

"Konoha ninjas have an annual group hot spring holiday," Naruto said with a smile. "You can take advantage of Sasuke being alone and go to the men's bath..."

"Go die!"

Ino didn't get an answer and let out a long sigh, giving up.

The Yamanaka flower shop was not far away. Naruto walked her there, then returned to his apartment. Compared to the others in the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, he actually had a pretty good relationship with them.

The next day, the two-day holiday was over.

Kakashi gathered the Team 7 members and informed them that their mission approval had been finalized and that they had their first C-rank mission.

"Protect a bridge expert from the Land of Waves?" Sakura asked.

"Yes," Kakashi replied calmly, with his usual deadpan expression, hands in his pockets. "Get ready. This will be your first C-rank mission."

"Though C-rank missions usually don't involve enemies, once you leave the village, anything can happen."

"Mountain bandits, wandering ninjas, pirates, ninjas from other villages. Any of these could trigger a battle and upgrade the mission."

"Got it, Kakashi-sensei. You're so long-winded," Naruto complained, not as downcast as the day before, feeling a bit more cheerful.

This morning, the gloomy people downstairs had thrown a bag of trash at him, so his mood was particularly good. Those villagers were just keyboard warriors, and as soon as Naruto took out his ninja headband, they shrank back and didn't dare to speak.

Kakashi didn't respond, just gave Naruto a light tap on the head.

"Team 7! We'll meet at the village gate in half an hour. Dismissed!"

With that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"I'm looking forward to this mission!" Sakura said with a hint of excitement. "I wonder what the bridge expert will be like."

"Well, it's just about protecting the target," Sasuke said. "Whoever it is doesn't matter. Kakashi-sensei said C-rank missions don't involve fighting."

"How boring. Let's finish it quickly and get it over with."

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and noticed the blue wristband on his left wrist.

"Naruto, what do you think the bridge expert will be like?" Sakura turned to ask Naruto, who was yawning.

"I don't know. Since he's an expert, he must be a grumpy old man," Naruto said, scratching his face casually.

Half an hour later, at the village gate.

"Hey! What's the meaning of this? I paid the fee! You're sending three kids to protect me? What's going on in Konoha?"

An unkempt old man, holding a bottle of alcohol, was shouting at Kakashi.

"Is this how Konoha treats its clients? How can three kids protect me? I'm a bridge expert!"

Sakura was visibly annoyed, staring at the tall, scruffy old man. She glanced at Naruto, silently agreeing that he was right about the old man.

Kakashi was smiling and explaining, but the old man didn't believe him at all, growing increasingly agitated.

"I am Tazuna, the bridge expert from the Land of Waves!"

Naruto, feeling impatient, called out to the man.

"Shut up, old man. What's so great about being a bridge builder!"

"You brat!" Tazuna was furious, but was quickly calmed down by Kakashi. After some coaxing, he finally agreed to set off.

Half a day later.

The group had reached the border of the Land of Fire Forest, and with just a bit more walking, they would reach the ferry. Kakashi's eyes sharpened as he looked around, carefully scanning his surroundings.

Sasuke noticed Kakashi's change and frowned slightly. Though his face remained calm, he was already alert.

Naruto had already sensed someone was following them. The Mist Village ninjas were simply too clumsy in their tracking methods. He wasn't worried, still humming a tune as he walked ahead.

As they continued, even Sakura began to feel a sense of unease. Listening to Naruto's ambiguous humming made her feel a little anxious.

Just as she was about to speak, disaster struck.

Two ninjas suddenly jumped out from the bushes, holding chains with spikes, charging at Kakashi.

At that moment, the hot, humid wind seemed to stop. Naruto could feel the sweat on his skin freeze in place.

This strange feeling lasted only for a brief moment, but it was followed by a surge of color as the black-and-white image came to life. A mechanical, synthesized sound echoed in his mind.

And then, in an instant, the still image began moving again. Kakashi was attacked and cut down, blood spilling everywhere.

Naruto knew this was Kakashi's substitution technique and ignored Sakura's scream. The two ninjas, thinking they had defeated Kakashi, rushed toward the seemingly defenseless Naruto.

"Naruto, move!" Sakura shouted in panic.

But Naruto remained motionless, as if frozen in place. Sasuke clicked his tongue and threw three shuriken.

The shuriken temporarily pushed the two ninjas back, and only then did Naruto move. But instead of retreating, he charged toward the attackers.

"Naruto! It's dangerous!"

Sasuke was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he didn't hesitate and threw his kunai, running after Naruto.

"Sakura, protect Tazuna."

Sakura could only hear Sasuke's words as Naruto and Sasuke both charged toward the ninjas.

Her heart was racing, and she felt a surge of panic and a bit of self-doubt. Despite this being their first mission, it seemed like both Naruto and Sasuke weren't as scared as she was about fighting ninjas.

Just as she was lost in thought, she heard Naruto's voice ahead.

"Dammit! Are you kidding me?"

"Get out here!"

Bang, bang, bang. The two Mist ninjas were already lying on the ground, battered and bruised, while Naruto continued muttering strange words and beating them up.

Sasuke stopped halfway, a look of shock on his face. Kakashi, who should have been dead, was standing perfectly fine, watching Naruto and shaking his head.

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