With new determination and a big secret, Haruno Sakura's Konoha ninja career officially began.
Team Kakashi's schedule proceeded as usual.
They carried out missions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and focused on training on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
On Sundays, Kakashi-sensei would usually give a weekly summary, special instructions, train team tactics, or sometimes give them a day off to do whatever they wanted.
The biggest improvements Sakura felt during this initial period were in practical combat experience and a significant increase in her physical skills.
She trained her Magnet Release secretly every night in her room, trying to improve her control and the amount of metal she could manipulate.
The main source of income for ninja, especially Genin like them, was from completing missions.
The tasks ninja could perform were very diverse, ranging from babysitting a daimyo's child to assassinating a high-class traitor, and were divided into five levels: S, A, B, C, and D.
Generally, Genin were only allowed to take on C and D level tasks.
And Genin ninja like Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke would usually only get the most basic D-rank missions:
from babysitting fussy babies, running shopping errands, delivering unimportant letters, to working in the fields helping farmers pull weeds or harvest.
After the initial excitement of being a ninja began to fade due to the monotonous routine, even Sakura, who was actually mentally prepared for this reality, started to feel impatient and a little bored.
"Ugh, pulling weeds again?"
Sakura complained on a scorching afternoon, wiping sweat from her forehead as she stared at the vast field they had to clear.
'I'm a Kunoichi with Magnet Release, not a gardener!'
Naruto, of course, was much more vocal.
"THIS IS SO BORING, DATTEBAYO! Why do we have to keep doing jobs like this?! I want more challenging missions! Ones with fights!"
Sasuke remained silent, but from the frown on his forehead, it was clear he felt the same way.
Especially during busy farming missions, Team 7 was truly like farm laborers.
They plowed, planted, harvested.
It almost made Sakura doubt whether she was a ninja or had actually switched professions to become a farmer.
If Sakura and her two teammates didn't occasionally see other Genin teams performing similar tasks – which somehow made them feel a bit more balanced and not alone in this 'suffering' – Sakura was sure Naruto would have jumped out to make a massive protest to the Hokage.
However, as an experienced team leader, Kakashi-sensei would seize every opportunity to turn those boring tasks into useful forms of training.
For example, when they worked in the fields, he required Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura not to use shadow clones or any ninjutsu.
"You must rely on your pure physical strength,"
he said casually while reading his beloved Icha Icha book under the shade of a tree.
"Consider this endurance and stamina enhancement training."
And sure enough, after about a month of such a routine, Sakura found her physical strength had indeed improved significantly.
She didn't tire easily, and her body movements felt lighter and stronger.
Even her chakra control for Magnet Release felt a bit more stable.
The mission for the next day was at least not so far removed from the image of a ninja.
Kakashi chose a mission that – according to its description – was easy and paid reasonably well:
helping the Daimyo's wife find her lost pet cat named Tora.
It turned out that this pet cat, with a lineage of ninja cats, could actually use a bit of chakra and was very agile and flexible.
Catching it without hurting it really gave Team 7 a hard time all morning.
The cat leaped from rooftop to rooftop, slipped through narrow gaps, and even left small chakra claw marks on walls.
"I HATE THIS CAT!"
Naruto yelled in frustration after Tora, for the umpteenth time, managed to escape his grasp.
"Quiet, Dobe! You're scaring it even more!"
Sasuke retorted, also looking annoyed from being constantly outplayed by a cat.
Sakura herself could only sigh, trying to devise a better capture strategy.
Finally, after an exhausting chase and several scratches on Naruto's hands, they managed to catch Tora.
"I bet this cat will run away again tomorrow!"
On the way back to the Hokage's office to submit the task, Sakura complained while carrying the gently struggling Tora.
"Although it was a bit challenging, tasks like this are still so boring! Kakashi-sensei, what's our next task? Hopefully not finding another pet."
Coincidentally, when they arrived, the Third Hokage was in the mission assignment office, talking with Iruka.
The Hokage took the list of tasks completed by Team 7, glanced at it, then said with his usual friendly smile,
"Good work, Team 7. For your next task, you can go help take care of children, or go to the neighboring village to help Mr. Mori buy some daily necessities, or perhaps help at Mr. Tanaka's plantation harvesting sweet potatoes..."
"NO! DON'T GIVE US THOSE LOW-RANK TASKS ANYMORE, JII-SAN!"
Naruto suddenly interrupted, waving his hands frantically and complaining to the Hokage.
"Helping take care of children, helping with shopping, doing farm work in the fields, cleaning trash from the river, we've done all that more than a dozen times! We are Team 7, an elite team! We shouldn't be wasting time on these boring tasks! We need more important tasks! Missions that truly test our ninja abilities!"
Sakura and Sasuke, though surprised by Naruto's boldness in interrupting the Hokage, secretly gave him a thumbs-up from behind Naruto's back, completely agreeing with his statement.
The Third Hokage looked at the enthusiastic Naruto helplessly, fell silent for a moment, then calmly puffed smoke from his pipe.
"Hmm, alright then," he said after thinking for a moment.
"Since you've said it with such enthusiasm, Naruto, I'll give you a C-rank mission... go protect someone!"
'FINALLYYYY... after a whole month of D-rank mission suffering!'
Sakura shrieked inwardly, feeling a glimmer of hope and excitement.
A protection mission!
This finally sounded like a real ninja job!
"Introduce yourselves," said the Third Hokage, gesturing to the waiting room door next to him.
"Your client. Please come in, Mr. Tazuna."
A middle-aged man who looked drunk and shabby walked out of the adjacent guest room with slightly staggering steps.
A faint smell of alcohol emanated from him.
He wore a small towel on his head and carried a sake bottle in his hand.
"What's going on here?" the man grumbled, his red eyes squinting at Team 7.
"Are these snot-nosed brats responsible for protecting me?"
He then pointed at Naruto.
"And especially the short one who looks the dumbest!"
Tazuna really couldn't control his mouth after drinking.
The venom of his tongue instantly made a vein throb on Sakura's forehead.
She felt a strong urge to hit him.
As for Naruto, after realizing he was the one being called "short" and "dumb," his face immediately turned red with anger.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU DRUNKEN OLD MAN?!"
He rolled up his sleeves and prepared to charge forward.
"I'LL BEAT YOU UP!"
"Naruto, calm down!"
Kakashi swiftly grabbed the back of Naruto's collar to stop his rampage.
He sighed inwardly, feeling helpless against the bad character of the target they had to protect and the impulsive Naruto.
"Please don't say things like that, Mr. Tazuna,"
Kakashi said with his forced professional smile.
"Although they look young, these subordinates of mine are very strong and reliable..."
After some debate and further explanation from Kakashi regarding Team 7's abilities (which was embellished a bit to sound more convincing), Tazuna finally agreed, albeit still with grumbles.
Team 7 decided to set off on their first C-rank escort mission the next morning.
The atmosphere among them was filled with a mixture of enthusiasm and slight nervousness.
The next morning, a blue sky stretched cloudlessly, and the early sun shone warmly, illuminating the earth.
A cool breeze blew, carrying the fresh scent of leaves.
A perfect day to start a journey.
At the main gate of Konoha, stood a magnificent giant gate more than ten meters high.
The gate depicted the grandeur of the hidden village of Konoha, making the ninja entering and exiting look so small before it.
All members of Team 7 had been waiting here since morning, gathered under the shadow of the gate.
However, someone was still nowhere to be seen.
The girl who was usually the earliest to arrive was late this time.
"Sakura-chan is taking so long!"
Naruto grumbled, scratching his head impatiently.
"Did she forget we have an important mission today?"
Sasuke just snorted softly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Hn. Sooner or later she'll come."
Although he looked indifferent, his eyes occasionally glanced towards the road leading to the gate.
Kakashi, as usual, looked relaxed while reading his Icha Icha Paradise book.
He showed no signs of worry or annoyance.
"Relax, Naruto. Sakura must have her reasons. Maybe she's preparing very thoroughly for this first mission of ours."
Actually, this was the first time Sakura was late.
And the reason... was quite unique.
She was busy choosing clothes! In her heart, Sakura wanted to look 'perfect' for her first mission.
She wanted to look strong, cool, and... well, a little stylish wouldn't hurt either.
Her attire consisted of a pink sleeveless top with stripe details, green shorts, and blue ninja sandals.
And for the final touch, she added a long white robe that flowed down to her ankles.
The outfit reminded her of the pictures of the Third Kazekage she had seen in ninja history books.
By wearing the robe, she hoped to better 'understand' and 'connect' with her new Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
(Detailed description of Sakura's outfit: Pink sleeveless top with horizontal stripes, green shorts, blue ninja sandals, long white robe that flowed down to her ankles.)
A few minutes later, Sakura finally arrived, running breathlessly.
"Sorry! Sorry everyone! I'm a little... a little late,"
she said with a red face, realizing all eyes were on her.
"I had to choose the right outfit for our first mission outside the village!"
Sasuke only replied with one word, "Hn."
Naruto, on the other hand, looked at Sakura with sparkling eyes.
"Wow! Sakura-chan, you look so cool!"
Naruto's compliment made Sakura blush, but she didn't forget to thank him with a sweet smile.
"Thank you, Naruto."
All members of Team 7 then chatted for a while, exchanging encouragement and a few jokes, dispelling the nervousness before their first mission.
Not long after, Tazuna, the client who still looked a bit sleepy and dazed, approached them.
The group then officially began their mission journey to the Land of Waves.
The Land of Waves is located across the ocean.
It is a very small island nation, squeezed between large countries.
The narrowest part of the strait between the Land of Waves and Konoha is no wider than a large river.