Naruto (SI) Starting With Glint Glint Fruit

"Pakkun, I need you to help them out with a mission today."

"No problem."

Pakkun waved his paw casually, then looked at the three of them.

"These three kids are your new team, huh? Hmm… those two have decent eyes, but this girl…"

Sniff sniff—

"Huh? You're using the same shampoo as me?"

!!!

Sakura stared at Pakkun in disbelief. Then she suddenly slumped down like all her energy had drained out.

"I… I'm actually using the same shampoo as a dog~"

"Aw, don't be so down. It's not something to be embarrassed about," Pakkun said, hopping onto Sakura's shoulder to comfort her. "Aren't you guys doing a mission? How about this—if you do a good job, I'll let you touch my paw pads as a reward~"

"..."

The three of them looked at Pakkun speechlessly.

Who wants to touch your paw pads?

"Alright, break's over. Time to get to work."

Kakashi clapped his hands and stopped the nonsense.

"Naruto."

"Yeah?"

"Pakkun is great at tracking scents. And sure, talking to animals isn't a problem either. I taught you guys how to work with him this afternoon, so make sure you get the mission done. Got it?"

Naruto didn't say anything—he just gave a thumbs-up.

"Good. Then let's move out—mission starts now!"

...

"Naruto, what should we do next?"

After spending some time together, Naruto had naturally become the leader of their little trio.

Sakura and Sasuke had gotten used to going to him whenever they didn't know what to do.

"I'll go with Pakkun and check with the local stray cats and dogs. Maybe one of them has seen the missing kitten, Little Tora."

"You and Sasuke go ask Mrs. Shijimi for something with Little Tora's scent on it."

Once Naruto gave the orders, Sasuke and Sakura immediately headed off to find Mrs. Shijimi.

Naruto and Pakkun went to search for strays nearby.

"Didn't expect you to be the leader of the group. I thought that taller guy would be the one in charge," Pakkun said as he walked ahead.

"Mm."

Naruto gave a light hum and didn't seem interested in chatting.

He didn't think he had anything in common with Pakkun anyway.

Were they supposed to bond over Sakura's shampoo brand?

Pakkun could tell what Naruto was thinking, but he didn't plan on shutting up.

A confident dog like him never felt awkward or insecure.

"You're a lot like how Kakashi used to be. Though to be fair, Kakashi's gotten a lot softer these days."

"That Sasuke kid is kinda like him too... Honestly, I can't tell if Kakashi's building a team or collecting sons."

"Go ask that one."

Naruto nodded toward a black cat walking past and gave Pakkun an order.

Pakkun trotted right over and said to the cat, "Hey, little black cat. Have you seen a kitten named Little Tora? If you tell me, I'll let you touch my paw pads."

"..."

"You need to ask if it's seen a brown cat with a red bow on its head," Naruto cut in on the dog and cat's conversation.

"I see. Hey, little black cat, have you seen a brown cat named Little Tora, with a red bow on its head?"

"If you have, please let us know. As a reward, I'll let you touch the paw pad of my hand~"

"Meow meow meow~"

"Oh oh, it says it hasn't seen it."

Naruto squinted at Pakkun but held back from saying anything.

Even though he really wanted to tell Pakkun to stop offering the paw pad as a reward—because that might make some animals stay quiet even if they know something—Naruto felt like Pakkun wouldn't listen anyway.

From Pakkun's perspective, being allowed to touch his paw pad was the highest honor he could give someone.

As a dog who lives in his own little world, there was no convincing him otherwise!

With that in mind, Naruto and Pakkun walked through several more streets until they finally ran into a white cat that seemed to have seen Little Tora before.

But the cat only said it saw Little Tora that morning, and didn't know where it went after that.

That kind of info was almost useless.

Naruto had Pakkun ask where exactly Little Tora had been seen that morning, then decided to head that way and try their luck.

Just then, Sakura's voice came through his earpiece.

"Naruto, we're here! Where are you?"

"I'm on Mingcha Street. Come meet me here."

A short while later,

Naruto met up with Sakura and Sasuke.

"Got the stuff?"

"Right here!"

Sakura took out a fancy little outfit from her pocket.

These days, cats really do live better than people.

Naruto muttered in his head, then handed the outfit to Pakkun.

"Pakkun, find where the owner of this outfit went."

"Leave it to me!"

Pakkun got serious, walked up to the outfit and sniffed it, then quickly locked onto a direction.

"This way!!"

With Pakkun leading the way, Naruto and the others finally didn't have to wander around like headless chickens anymore.

They crossed several streets in Konoha and came to a wooded area, where Pakkun stopped.

He sniffed the ground and said, "It should be in there. The scent is really strong—must have been left not too long ago!"

"In the forest, huh?" Sakura thought of Kakashi's earlier guess and was a bit surprised.

"Let's split up."

"If either of you spots the target, don't act on your own. Let me know first, got it?"

"Got it!"

Sasuke and Sakura nodded, then each went off in different directions into the forest.

Naruto entered from the center, with Pakkun by his side.

"You really are dependable, Naruto. Want to make a contract with me?" Pakkun asked, jumping onto Naruto's shoulder.

"No."

Naruto replied flatly, "Can you confirm where it is?"

"You're really cold, huh."

Pakkun sniffed the air again. "To the left!"

With Pakkun leading the way, Naruto had the best chance of finding the little tiger first.

But Sasuke and Sakura, searching in other directions, could also find it before him.

After all, the jungle was pretty complicated inside, and no one knew where the tiger might be hiding.

Soon, Naruto's earpiece picked up Sasuke's voice.

"Target spotted!"

After getting the message, Naruto and Sakura quickly moved toward Sasuke's direction.

"I'm less than five meters from the target, and it hasn't noticed me. Should I act?" Sasuke was trailing the tiger and asked Naruto for the go-ahead since the others hadn't arrived yet.

"Think you can do it?"

"I do!"

"Then go for it. Just don't mess this up."

"Got it."

Once Naruto gave the green light, Sasuke moved in.

He got close, then charged out at full speed, taking the target down and holding it in place!

"Target secured."

"Mission complete."

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