After Sakura finished speaking, Sasuke frowned, his gaze solemn as he nodded.

Meanwhile, Naruto, looking completely bewildered, leaned over and asked, “What, what?”

“What explosion?”

Naruto had slept soundly last night; the explosion hadn't even woken him.

Sakura gave him a blank look.

Then she looked at Sasuke with anticipation.

Although Sasuke was usually aloof, he had indeed noticed yesterday's explosion.

And last night's explosion was extraordinary.

Sasuke had never seen such a terrifying explosion, so much so that he almost thought another village had invaded.

“I’m not sure, but yesterday’s explosion was something even a Jonin couldn’t do.”

Sakura was stunned; she only knew that last night’s big explosion had been very loud.

She hadn't thought about any of this.

“Even a Jonin couldn’t do it? Kakashi-sensei couldn’t do it either?”

Sakura looked at Kakashi.

Naruto walked beside them, scratching his head; he really wanted to interject, but he didn't know what had happened last night.

Sasuke also looked at Kakashi.

Kakashi acted as if he hadn't seen them, remaining silent.

“Kakashi-sensei, you must have known about last night, right? You couldn’t have done it either, could you?”

Under the gazes of Sasuke and the other two, Kakashi shook his head: “I couldn’t do it either, but last night’s explosion was the village’s relevant department testing a new Ninjutsu. There’s no need for you to guess wildly.”

Sasuke listened, deep in thought.

He just didn't say anything more.

He could feel that what Kakashi said was probably not true.

But since this was a matter for the village's higher-ups, Sasuke didn't want to inquire further.

Sakura, seeing that Sasuke wasn't asking, also said nothing more.

Naruto remained completely confused.

He had no idea what had happened.

The four arrived at the Hokage's Office.

Seeing that it was the Kakashi Squad, the Third Hokage looked at Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded slightly.

Both knew what it meant.

As soon as Naruto entered the Hokage's Office, he ran to the Third Hokage and complained, “Old Man Hokage, stop giving us those troublesome and low-level missions!”

The Third Hokage looked at Naruto and sighed, “You are currently just an apprentice Ninja who just graduated from the Ninja Academy. You should gradually accumulate experience from low-level missions.”

“Moreover, you have only just become Genin; at most, you can only undertake D-rank missions.”

Naruto, however, shook his head and said, “But those D-rank missions are too boring! I want to do higher-level missions!”

Although the Third Hokage was right, Naruto really didn't want to do D-rank missions anymore, so he could only resort to trickery.

On the other side, although Sakura and Sasuke didn't speak, their inner thoughts were actually the same as Naruto's.

They also didn't want to do those low-level missions anymore.

Kakashi, meanwhile, thought helplessly, “I knew he’d resort to trickery.”

At this moment, he thought of Ye Yu.

“I wonder how that kid is doing now. His Chakra was just drained yesterday, and he woke up after only one night of rest. I wonder if there are any side effects.”

In that instant, Kakashi's thoughts had already wandered off.

Seeing Naruto's persistence, the Third Hokage had no choice.

He could only compromise, “Alright, I understand. I’ll give you a C-rank mission.”

Naruto, who had been sitting on the floor with his back to the Third Hokage, jumped up immediately upon hearing this.

“Really? What kind of mission is it?”

Seeing Naruto's expectant expression, the Third Hokage smiled, “To protect someone.”

Upon hearing it was a bodyguard mission, Naruto instantly said fancifully, “Protect who? Is it the Daimyo, or Princess?”

Kakashi looked at Naruto's expectant look, feeling a bit speechless.

How could protecting a Daimyo only be a C-rank mission?

Although Sasuke and Sakura wouldn't be as fanciful as Naruto, they were also very excited.

They definitely didn't want to do those cat-finding and dog-catching missions anymore.

The Third Hokage didn't answer Naruto's question but instead said towards the door, “Please come in.”

Immediately, the four looked towards the door.

A moment later, the door opened.

An old man holding a wine bottle walked in, leaning against the door and looking at the few people in front of him.

He even took a sip of wine and said discontentedly, “Why are they just a few brats? Especially that shortest kid, he looks super dumb. Are you really a Ninja?”

Listening to the old man's words, Naruto chuckled and said, “Hahaha, who are you talking about? The shortest, the dumbest looking…”

As he spoke, Sakura and Sasuke silently walked behind Naruto.

Compared, the smile on Naruto's face instantly froze.

“Bastard, who are you talking about? Who are you saying is the dumbest? You stinky old man, I’m going to kill you, bastard…”

Naruto was about to pounce with bared fangs and claws but was held back by Kakashi.

“Are you going to kill the person we’re protecting? Idiot.”

Ignoring Naruto's shouting, the old man said, “I am the super famous bridge builder, Tazuna is who I am.”

“During the time it takes me to finish building the bridge, you must protect me carefully.”

Naruto really disliked Tazuna; he turned his head away, arms crossed in frustration, not wanting to see him.

Sakura and Sasuke, upon hearing it was a bodyguard mission and one that required leaving the village, were both somewhat excited.

This could be considered their first official mission as Ninja.

But Kakashi frowned, “A mission that requires leaving the village?”

He was a bit worried.

He wasn't worried about the danger of leaving the village for a mission, but rather worried that Ye Yu would be in danger if he wasn't in the village.

After all, who knew if the Third Hokage would truly keep his promise from last night?

What if the Third Hokage used this mission to send him out of the village and then made a move against Ye Yu?

Could Motoki Dōitsu stop him?

Clearly, it was impossible.

Although Motoki Dōitsu was also a Jonin from Anbu.

His status in Konoha was far from comparable to Kakashi's.

The Third Hokage still valued Kakashi greatly.

And Kakashi was indeed currently the strongest Jonin in Konoha.

Tsunade and Jiraiya were not in the village.

Might Guy in his normal state was definitely not Kakashi's opponent.

Therefore, among the Jonin in Konoha, Kakashi was the only one valued by the Third Hokage.

With Kakashi protecting Ye Yu, the Third Hokage would keep his word.

But if Kakashi wasn't there, it was hard to say whether the Third Hokage would be forced by people like Danzo to abandon Ye Yu.

Seeing Kakashi's complicated expression, the Third Hokage knew what he was thinking.

He then said, “Kakashi, this mission is for Naruto and the others to see outside the village properly, to experience more of the outside world. You are their sensei; this is your duty.”

Kakashi frowned.

The Third Hokage was warning him.

Telling him not to forget his current responsibilities.

But the more the Third Hokage acted this way, the more worried he became.

Naruto, hearing the Third Hokage's words, chuckled, “Hahaha, Old Man, I will definitely complete this mission perfectly and show you how amazing I am!”

Kakashi said nothing.

Just as the group was about to leave, Kakashi couldn't hold back anymore.

Looking at the Third Hokage, he said, “Hokage-sama, this mission requires leaving the village to execute. I would like to bring Keibun Yoruha along for this mission.”

“Motoi Jonin asked me to bring his student along whenever I go out on missions.”