Being an otaku in the world of American comics

#315 - Out of Konoha

While Sasuke and the others were busy trying to snatch the bells, Liang Yue went to the river and caught a few fish. When he returned, he lit a bonfire and began to roast them with the spices he had brought.

The whole process was slow and leisurely, but fish generally cook quickly, and it's best not to overcook them.

So, when Liang Yue came to enjoy his grilled fish under the tree, Naruto and the others were still being toyed with by Kakashi, completely lost and disoriented.

During this process, each of the three's personalities and shortcomings began to reveal themselves.

While observing his three disciples, Kakashi couldn't help but test their perseverance and will.

As the most talented student of his generation in the ninja academy, and with a father who was a feared Kage-level shinobi on the battlefield, the White Fang of the Leaf.

Although his circumstances later changed drastically, and his life encountered a series of setbacks, the arrogance within Kakashi remained unchanged.

Not just anyone was qualified to become his disciple.

And just like that, time passed little by little, the sun in the sky moving from midday to sunset.

It wasn't until this time that the test finally came to an end.

Through his Byakugan, Liang Yue discovered that Naruto was still tied to the wooden post, just like in the original storyline.

In the following days, the group began to undertake the most basic and insignificant tasks in the ninja world under Kakashi's supervision.

Finding cats, searching for dogs, babysitting, weeding, picking vegetables, spraying pesticides…

For an entire month, Liang Yue felt like he was dying from these tasks~

In fact, it wasn't just Team Kakashi; all newly graduated ninjas had to start with these lowest-level tasks.

During this time, Liang Yue encountered other members of his class on the road more than once, looking equally disheveled, busy, and impatient.

However, Team Kakashi soon received a decent mission.

And thus, the storyline officially unfolded…

A C-rank mission: escorting an old man named Tazuna back to the Land of Waves.

Tazuna was a bridge-building expert, and Team Kakashi's mission was to protect his safety on the way back to the Land of Waves.

According to the development in the original storyline, Liang Yue knew, of course, that this escort mission was nominally only C-rank, but the actual difficulty had already reached B-rank, or even higher.

Tazuna was indeed a bridge-building expert, and his purpose was simply to build a bridge that would connect the isolated Land of Waves with the mainland, thereby improving the lives of the people.

However, the local tyrant, or rather the local mafia, in the Land of Waves didn't want him to do that.

In order to maintain their power and keep the people of the Land of Waves confined within their small territory, allowing them to exploit them, they had always regarded these bridge-building craftsmen as thorns in their side.

Secretly, they had even issued a bounty on the black market to assassinate Tazuna, the old man who intended to continue building the bridge.

Therefore, the C-rank mission that Kakashi and the others had taken on was no longer a simple escort.

On the way to the Land of Waves, and even after arriving at their destination, they might be subjected to unpredictable attacks, and the level of danger was completely different.

So this C-rank mission was bound to be upgraded to B-rank.

Moreover, if Liang Yue remembered correctly, two other important supporting characters from the early stages would appear during this mission.

Zabuza Momochi and Haku~

The former was a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, an elite Jonin who was once a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a well-known figure throughout the ninja world.

The latter, Haku, although young, possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, was about the same age as Naruto and Sasuke, but already had the strength of a Jonin.

So, considering all of this, this B-rank mission might have to be upgraded again, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an A-rank mission…

In short, Naruto and Sasuke were indeed worthy of being the protagonists of the Naruto world.

They were able to do an A-rank mission right after leaving the village, no one else had such luck~

Of course, Liang Yue was also benefiting from being there.

Because his mentor hadn't arrived yet, according to the Hokage's words, he would have to continue to hang out with Kakashi for a while longer.

…

"Speaking of which~ who exactly is my mentor? It wouldn't be Jiraiya, would it?"

"That guy seems to be coming back for a visit in a while, but he's mainly here to teach Naruto the Summoning Jutsu and how to use the Nine-Tailed Chakra."

"It was from that time that Naruto officially became connected to Mount Myōboku."

"However, if Jiraiya were to teach me, it wouldn't be bad, at least I could indirectly learn Sage Mode from him…"

After completing the departure procedures at the gate and leaving Konoha, Liang Yue was a little absent-minded, thinking about the problem in his mind.

In comparison, Naruto was like a monkey at this time, running ahead.

Jumping up and down, looking around, and occasionally climbing the trees by the roadside, looking around with a face full of excitement.

Obviously, this was the first time he had left the village since he was a child, and he was very curious about everything outside.

Sasuke and Sakura behind him, although they had never seen the world outside the village either, and were also constantly scanning their surroundings, at least on the surface, they were able to suppress their emotions.

"Hey~ that little blondie looks very unreliable, is he really a ninja?"

Tazuna looked at Naruto, who was running around like he had ADHD, as if he was having too much fun, and said to Kakashi with some dissatisfaction.

"Ah? Oh~ Old man, don't worry, isn't there still me here? I am Hatake Kakashi, an A-rank ninja from Konoha, safely escorting you to the Land of Waves is definitely not a problem."

"These kids are all my students, they're just tagging along to see the world, and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have taken on this C-rank mission."

Kakashi heard the words, then yawned lazily and replied in a flat tone.

"Hatake Kakashi… I have heard of this name, it is said that he is a powerful ninja, but you better let your students be careful, it is not peaceful along the way."

Tazuna said meaningfully at this time, and a few worries unconsciously arose on his old face.

"Hmm? Not peaceful? What do you mean?"

Kakashi heard the words, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he asked the old man next to him.

"Ah, hahaha~ It's nothing! I'm just reminding them to be careful, and not to be hurt by any ferocious beasts on the road, after all, they are still children."

"Hahaha~ Let's get on the road~"

Looking at the old man's perfunctory appearance with a smiling face, Kakashi suddenly narrowed his eyes, but he didn't say anything.

After all, the group had only just left the gates of Konoha, even if they noticed something was wrong now, they couldn't turn back until they had definite evidence.

…

Afterwards, the group continued on their way.

Kakashi didn't bring Naruto and the others out this time for an outing.

Therefore, on the way, this team leader and teacher was very responsible and began to explain to everyone some knowledge that was not in the ninja school textbooks.

For example, the geography of the ninja world, the Land of Fire where Konoha is located, the neighboring four major countries of Lightning, Water, Wind, and Earth, and the basic overview of the many small countries interspersed in the middle, and so on.

This bucket of fresh cheese poured down, and everyone immediately listened with a refreshing feeling and widened their horizons.

Even Naruto couldn't help but be fascinated, with a look of yearning on his face.

…