Silently jumping across the tree, I follow our target Tora as he scurries across the forest floor. Fast, cunning, and deceiving, the brown feline tricks us all as he escapes every trap, making us look like fools. Right we watch as he leisurely walks through the forest, mocking us because we can't catch him. Its tail flicks side to side as if it was checking the vibrations around him.

''For a cat, he quite bright. Involving the traps now using his tail to see how close we are.'

"Sasuke, point B," He said through the comlink.

"Sakura, point C," Her voice rings, though.

"Haru, Point D, I said into the earpiece.

There was a sudden moment of silence.

"Naruto, point A," Naruto said after a few minutes.

"Naruto, you're too slow," Kakashi's voice rang in my ear.

"The target is on the move! Follow it," He instructed.

Jumping from the tree, I ran a reasonable distance as I trailed the small feline. Hiding behind a tree, I stay a few meters away. So it wouldn't feel my vibrations and run away again.

"What's your distance?" Bakashi asked us.

"Five meters," I replied.

They all reply with the same distance length, not wanting to disturb or scare the cat away. We already had to chase the cat through the village and didn't want to chase the cat throughout the forest.

"I'm ready; just give the signal," Naruto said.

"Me too," Sasuke replied as well.

"Ready here," Sakura added in.

"I have been ready," I said boredly and quietly.

Silence rings through the air, making us wait in anticipation. One wrong move, and everything will fall apart. I was breathing steadily as I waited for the incoming signal.

"Go!"

Running through the forest, everyone goes after the brown feline. Spotting us, its eyes gleam a yellow shine as it meows at us in surprise. Naruto's the first one who reaches Tora first, instantly grabbing the cat.

"Target capture," I sated.

"Does it have a red bow?" Kakashi asked.

"Affirmative," Sasuke replied.

"Good. Capture pet Tora is a success," Kakashi confirmed.

I looked to see Naruto sprawled on the floor as he held well squeezed Tora away from his face, which seemed to be all scratched up.

"CAN'T WE GET A BETTER MISSION THAN THIS!" Naruto shouted.

I winced as my ears rang due to the deafening scream. My face scrunched up in pain as a headache began to form. I narrowed my eyes, pulling out the ear before anyone else made my head pound.

I walk up to Naruto and snatch the wailing cat from his hands and softly embrace it. With a gentle touch, Tora snuggles up in my chest before purring. I smiled.

"Pretty kitty, little ball of fur," I said while petting the cat, putting it into a peaceful state.

"Hey?! No fair, why is that beast being friendly to you!" Naruto exclaimed, angrily pointing a finger at the purring Tora.

"First, she is a cat, not a beast. Second I wasn't squeezing her, and my parent's clan specialist in cats," I replied, giving a blank look.

***

I now stood in the Hokage's office with a slight hint of pity on my face, as I watched Madam Shijimi, the Fire Daimyo's wife, squeeze Tora against her massive chest. The said feline yield in distress, wanting to be free and not in the suffocating embrace. Tora glances at me, begging for help, but I can't do anything. She is not my cat. I look at her with a sad smile.

"Oh, mama missed you so much! Oh yes, she did," She sang cheerfully. "Thank you," She said, paying the mission fee before leaving.

"No wonder she escaped," Sakura mused.

"Yeah," I stated.

"Good job. For Team Seven, I have either babysitting the Daimyo's toddler, cleaning the river, picking wee-"

"No!" Naruto shouted out while making his arms form an X. "I want a better mission, not some easy chore!"

"You idiot!" Iruka screamed angrily while slamming his hand on the table. "You're just Genin! You have no experience for harder missions! You have to build your way up from the bottom!" His shouts echo throughout the room.

'Geez, Iruka-sensei is such a loud yeller. However, he has a point about those three. Unlike them, I was raised to fight or spent day and night locked up.' I thought as memories of my past crossed my thoughts.

"Calm down, Iruka," the Hokage chuckles. "Naruto, you see missions are assigned by rank. Genin get assigned D and C ranked missions, so it won't be too hard and also because Genin are the lowest level of Shinobi. The Chunins get missions on the C and B rank, because they're a level higher than the Genins. Missions of B and A-ranked get assigned to Jounins since they're the highest level of Shinobi. But if you become an ANBU, you get assigned the hardest of missions which are S ranked since they're elite shinobi. You see, every mission has a different rank...Pay attention! The only one who's focusing right now is Haru," he explained slowly and boringly before scolding the others.

'That was a boring lecture, but the more you know when you listen.'

"Sorry, Lord Hokage," Kakashi apologized.

"Bah! You always scold me like I'm a little kid, well I'm not a kid anymore, I'm a ninja," Naruto stated, pouting like a kid, crossing his arms.

'You say that, but right now, you are behaving like a little kid.'

"Fine, since Naruto says he's not a kid anymore, I'll give you a C ranked mission," the Hokage agreed as he smiled.

A C rank? That's advanced for Genins. If my memory serves me right, then we'll only deal with bandits, no ninjas whatsoever.

"It's an escort mission," the Hokage informs.

"Who? What? Is it a princess? A feudal lord? Some big shot councilor," Naruto asks excitedly with eyes gleaming.

"Please send him in," the Hokage ushers.

The room became silent as we waited for the client to arrive. With the intense silence, I could hear footsteps as they got closer to the office. The heavy footsteps told me the client was on the heavier side. The stand open, making us stand attentively. I cringed at the rich scent of booze.

A man in his late forties or mid-fifties walked inside. He had tan skin, wrinkles in the corner of his eyes, a grey goatee hanging from his chin. He was wearing a brown shirt, grey slacks, and simple sandals along with a hat and thin-rimmed glasses lying on his nose.

"What?! A bunch of kids are going to escort me! Especially the short one with the idiotic face, do you really expect me to believe he a ninja," He said, taking a swig of alcohol.

"Who the short one?" Naruto asked, laughing.

We all lineup. Sasuke being the tallest, then e a few inches shorter than its Sakura, who is almost the same height as me, then lastly Naruto, who's a lot shorter. A look of realization dawns on his face. Glaring at the client, he charges.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He screeched.

Kakashi acts swiftly and quickly, pulling him back by the collar of his hoodie. The knucklehead stops in his tracks. I sighed at his behavior.

"You can't kill the client, Naruto," Kakashi informed him.

"He's right. Our mission is to protect him no matter what," I sated, crossing my arms.

"My name is Tazuna. I'm a master bridge builder, and it's your mission to protect me with your lives," The man said, boasting about his profession.

'The most we will encounter is bandit on a c-rank mission. Unless there something he not telling us.'

"Okay, Team Seven, go home and pack supplies for the mission. Meet by the gates; we leave in thirty minutes, Kakashi instruct, informing us all.

With a nod, I dismissed myself from the Hokage office, taking my leave to tell my parents I was leaving for a mission, and to pack supplies.

***

After packing and letting both my new parents know I was leaving. I arrived at the village gate, and saw that its only Sasuke at the moment. I slow my pace walking towards the brooding boy. Since he isn't social, plus I am still not close to him to have a decent conversation with him. I decide not to break the silence. Enjoying it as it last because, in this team, we rarely get to experience the peaceful silence.

"Sasuke-Kun, are you ready for the mission!" Sakura squealed, running up to him and breaking the silence.

And once again, my chest ached in pain.

"Hn."

"So, Sakura, are you ready for the mission," I asked, knowing Sasuke won't talk to her.

She turned with a gasp, realizing that I was here. She walked towards me and pulled me away from Sasuke.

"Haru, well, I'm not sure. It's our first mission outside of the village; anything could go wrong," she says, bringing her hands up to her chest in comfort.

"Don't worry, Sakura," I say, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'll protect you if anything happens."

I smile at her, silently telling her to trust me. I might not be an Uchiha prodigy, but I won't let anyone hurt her, even if it means getting the way of danger. I watch as her emerald eyes widen in surprise, her lips forming a thankful smile. Besides, I had fought in a real fight, unlike him, to survive.

"Thanks, Haru," she hugged me, sending pleasant shocks throughout my body. "You're a great friend."

I painfully smile, "no problem. That's what friends do."

She pulls away from the hug and gives me a breathtaking smile. My cheeks instantly heat up at sight. She's so beautiful. I smile at her, before she turns away, walking towards the Uchiha.

My attention then turns to the heavy footfalls caused by Naruto's running. I turn and see the orange-clad ninja running with his signature dazzle-like grin.

"Hey, guys," he smiled.

"Hey, Naruto. What got you all happy?" I asked.

"It's my first time leaving the village! I'm a traveler now!" He exclaimed, happiness gleaming in his azure eyes.

"I guess that's exciting. It's not new to me. I've been traveling way before I came to this village," I said, not seeing the excitement.

"That's right; you're not from here. You still need to tell us why you left dattebayo," He said, pointing at me.

"Maybe another time," I muttered.

"Are you sure he's a ninja?" Tazuna asked, looking at Naruto.

"Hey! Don't underestimate me. I'm the strongest ninja ever," Naruto exclaimed, over exaggerating.

"Yeah, right," Tazuna retorts, taking a swig of his sake.

"It's true! I'm going to become Hokage one day and have everyone acknowledge me, even you," Naruto yells with determination, pointing a finger at the older man.

"I'll believe that when pigs fly. You're nothing, but a brat," Tazuna says, insulting the blonde.

Silence feigns through the air, building suspense as Naruto doesn't say anything.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU," Naruto roared as he lunged towards the excessively drunk man.

Again like in the Hokage's office, Kakashi grabs the collar of Naruto's jacket, stopping him. I watch as Naruto flails in Kakashi's hold like a crying baby. I stifle a laugh and continue watching the arguing duo.

"Alright, everybody, let's head out," Kakashi informed, letting go of the flailing child.

Walking up to Sakura's side, we began our journey to the Land of Waves.

💗💗💗

Hey lovely readers!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Feel free to comment and vote and share this story with your friends and family.

Thanks for reading!

QOTD:

1. What is your favorite part?

2. Will Haru ever get Sakura to notice her?

3. How do you think Haru will do on this mission seeing rouge shinboi from her old village?