Naruto: I Am Uchiha Sasuke!?

Over the next few days, Sasuke continued to send a Shadow Clone to complete missions with Naruto and the others, ensuring that no one noticed his absence. Since Shadow Clones retained the same abilities as the original, even Kakashi didn't suspect a thing.

Meanwhile, Sasuke trained in secret, focusing on refining and expanding his mastery of Chidori.

"Go!"

In the dense forest, several shuriken whizzed through the air, following an unpredictable trajectory. At that moment, Sasuke extended his hand, and in an instant, the Chidori in his palm elongated into a sharp, lightning-infused blade.

"Chidori Sharp Spear!"

With swift, calculated movements, he slashed through the incoming shuriken, bisecting them with precision before they clattered to the ground. Then, with a simple wave of his hand, the blade dissipated, and the electric energy dispersed into countless thin, needle-like projectiles.

"Chidori Senbon!"

The storm of lightning needles pierced the surrounding wooden targets with pinpoint accuracy, leaving behind smoldering holes. Without pausing, Sasuke surged his chakra outward, unleashing arcs of electricity that spread like a violent storm.

"Chidori Stream!"

The resulting shockwave crackled through the air, striking multiple targets and reducing the surrounding trees to ashes.

Sasuke exhaled, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. "Good. I've mastered all the derivative techniques of Chidori."

He knew that in the original timeline, it had taken him nearly three years of training under Orochimaru to fully grasp these techniques. Now, he had achieved the same feat in mere days. The power of his comprehension ability was truly astonishing.

Yet, despite his progress, one issue remained.

"Since I've been stuck in the village, I haven't had a chance to absorb chakra with different elemental attributes."

Without other chakra natures, his Onimaru Technique was practically useless. He could theoretically use it on Konoha shinobi, but doing so would put him at serious risk of exposure. Even though he had mastered the technique to the point where he could control the amount of chakra drained, leaving an ally severely weakened would still raise suspicion.

"For now, I'll have to wait. I can't afford to become a rogue ninja too soon."

Sasuke took a deep breath and refocused. "Next, it's time to develop that move..."

"Naruto, don't you get bored doing these low-level missions all the time?" Sasuke asked casually as they made their way to the mission hall.

"Of course I do!" Naruto groaned. "We've been stuck doing tree climbing and water-walking exercises for days now, and these D-rank missions are way too boring. I want something exciting!"

Naruto suddenly perked up, clenching his fists. "That's it! I've decided!"

As soon as they arrived, Kakashi accepted the mission rewards from the Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the team's paperwork and nodded. "Alright, your next task is... helping the villagers harvest sweet potatoes."

"Are you kidding me?!" Naruto exploded. "Grandpa Hokage, stop giving us these lame missions! We're ninja, not farmers! Give us something better—like an A-rank mission!"

Sakura groaned, rubbing her temples. "Naruto, are you insane? A-rank missions are way out of our league."

Kakashi sighed, pulling Naruto back. "Sorry about that, Lord Hokage. Naruto doesn't quite understand how mission rankings work yet."

Naruto pouted, crossing his arms. "I just want something more challenging! We're never gonna get stronger at this rate."

Hiruzen chuckled, stroking his beard. He had planned to keep Naruto close, strengthening his bond with Konoha and ensuring he remained under watchful guidance. With Kakashi overseeing them, a slightly more difficult mission should still be manageable.

After a brief moment of thought, he spoke. "Alright, Naruto. If you're that eager, I'll assign you an important mission. It's a C-rank mission—to protect a client."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. "For real?! Who is it? A feudal lord? A princess?!"

The Hokage smiled knowingly. "Come in."

The mission room doors swung open, revealing a middle-aged man stumbling in, clutching a bottle of sake. His clothes were slightly disheveled, and his glasses sat crooked on his face.

He took a long sip of his drink before squinting at the group. "Huh? You mean these brats are my bodyguards? Seriously? Especially that short one—he looks like a total idiot."

"Short one? Who are you calling short?!" Naruto yelled, only to realize Sasuke and Sakura were standing taller than him.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Kakashi swiftly restrained him. "Calm down, Naruto."

Turning to their client, he said, "Mr. Tazuna, please don't provoke my team."

Tazuna took another sip of sake. "Well, whatever. My name is Tazuna, and I'm the best damn bridge builder in the Land of Waves. Your job is to protect me until my bridge is completed."

Kakashi nodded. "Understood. Mr. Tazuna, we'll depart this afternoon."

Sasuke smirked slightly from the sidelines. Things were finally getting interesting.

After lunch, the team packed their gear and gathered at Konoha's main gate.

"Finally! We're leaving the village!" Naruto cheered, hauling a large backpack over his shoulders.

Tazuna sighed, puffing on his pipe. "I sure hope you kids are reliable. Especially that loudmouthed brat."

Naruto clenched his fists. "Old man, quit calling me a brat! My name's Uzumaki Naruto, and one day, I'm gonna be Hokage!"

Tazuna snorted. "Yeah, sure, kid. Keep dreaming."

"Don't worry," Kakashi interjected. "I'm a Jōnin. You'll be safe. Now, let's go."

With that, Team 7 departed Konoha, heading toward the Land of Waves, completely unaware of the dangers that lay ahead.