Secret Missions of the Hidden Leaf Village:
A Genin's Nightmare! Mission on the High Seas!

Spring had come around in the Hidden Leaf Village, and early blooming cherry trees had begun to blossom in beautiful shades of pink and light crimson. Birds chirped in the trees merrily. Flowers sprung up and burst into bloom in the sunlight. Early morning dew was drying off the leaves as the sun started to rise in the east. Truly this was a wonderful day to be outside for everyone, not a cloud in the sky to be seen or any troubles to be worried about. Except of course for Naruto Uzumaki.

Speeding down the street in his orange and blue outfit he seemed to blur as he ran down the streets screaming, "Damn! I'm late! That old fart never heard of sleeping in!"

As he made his way towards the Hokage's office Naruto bounded up the stairs and blasted through the door still screaming, "I'm here! I'm here!"

Naruto panted and gasped as he gazed at Sasuke, Sakura and the Third Hokage standing in the room. The Third had a pipe in his mouth and soft puffs of smoke billowed out of it. The glares of the Sakura and Sasuke were malicious and cruel, but the Third seemed as if he expected this entirely.

He spoke in a raspy baritone voice, "Let's get started. The three of you are going on a mission that is ranked D, an adequate test of your abilities as Genin."

"Alright! This will be easy!" cried Naruto.

"You three are to set out for Ganaho Port, you'll be delivering a message and some tribute to the Land of Wind's ruler. This mission should be easy and safe, however because of the value of the goods and the threat of piracy, we've received a request for exceptional Genin to take this job--"

"Hear that Sakura!? Exceptional!"

"--BUT they are all out and only you three have yet to prove yourself in missions. Under Kakashi's recommendation the mission has been turned over to you. Don't forget you represent Konoha and all of the Fire Country in this matter."

Sasuke nodded softly and asked, "So we're delivery boys?"

Sakura gasped as it dawned on her that this mission was truly mundane and as glorious as it initially sounded their would be little to no chance to prove anything. She kept her cool, but inside was raging with fury at such tasks. Naruto shouted out his thoughts however, "Delivery boys!? Gramps, come on!"

The Third glared at Naruto and sneered, "Call it delivery boys if you want, it doesn't change this mission's success is critical to our diplomatic relations between countries. As such you can expect the Village Hidden in the Sand to be your allies on this mission."

Naruto sighed and Sakura smiled softly and mumbled, "So it is important after all."

Sasuke turned and started to leave, provoking Naruto as he passed with, "Isn't it a little early to be stupid?"

Raising his fists to the challenge Naruto yelled back at Sasuke, "I can be stupid anytime I want, but I was being--"

"Loud." Sasuked noted softly, interrupting Naruto mid sentence.

Sakura giggled and followed after Sasuke, trying to be in his presence all the more as her crush and frequent attempts to get Sasuke to notice her had recently been stepped up. Whether it was just spring or the fact she was more satisfied with Sasuke's cool and calm attitude when it came to showing up Naruto it made her all the more devilishly cute. So much so that the Third tipped his hat down over his face, wishing he had more luck with girls like Sasuke.

Naruto was beaten and insulted so thoroughly it took some time to register in his head about what happened and by the time he could even figure out his comeback, both Sakura and more importantly Sasuke, had left.

The Third looked at Naruto and another series of puffs came from his pipe, billowing up and dispersing in the room. Naruto blinked and looked confused, but the old man just smiled at him and said, "Naruto, be ready for anything."

"I know that! Tell me something I don't know!"

"Don't call me an 'old fart' because you overslept."

Naruto turned red with embarrassment and tried to lie, "I didn't know you can hear that well with your old--"

"--Get going."

After being forced out of the hokage's office Naruto walked down the steps annoyed and angry. Sakura and Sasuke were waiting for him as he reached the last step. Sakura turned towards Naruto and mocked him, "You know you really are useless and downright pathetic Naruto!"

"Sakura…" whimpered Naruto

Together the three of them headed off in silence down towards the dirt path that would take them to the port of their departure. From there it would be a boat trip across to the Land of Wind and then to deliver it to the hands of the ruler.