Disclaimer: I don't own that wondrous manga/franchise called Naruto.
A/N: Originally completed on 12/25/10 (yes, you saw the correct date) as a Christmas present for my twin sister. I like to go right down to the wire. :) My longest story ever! Set before the manga began.
Rated T for depictions of graphic violence. Please let me know if the rating should go up!
Mission: Rescue!
Master Raido stood taking down names as Iruka waved the last of the stragglers through the Fire Gate. "That's the last of them," Iruka announced. Raido made a few more check marks on his paper and shook his head.
"Sure is. And you didn't even need the attendance list."
"All right!" bellowed Master Iruka so that the students scattered around could hear him. "That's the end of the training drill—"
"Field trip," one boy amended to his comrade with a grin.
"—so we're heading straight back to the Academy," Iruka went on. As the cadets reluctantly headed back, he added, "And I'd better see all of you back there. Anyone who plays hooky can stay after class doing pull-ups." Raido leaped on ahead of the boys and girls, and Iruka fell back to spur on any who were dilly-dallying. Jogging, running, or bouncing off buildings, the students and teachers made their way to the Academy. When Iruka caught up to the rest, he saw to his unease that the children were clustered in the playground in front of the Academy, and Raido was holding out a hand to ward them back. Immediately Iruka pushed his way to the front of the throng. "What is it?" he hissed.
"Something's not right," Raido muttered to him. "This place should be crawling with kids, but there's no one here." With a glance at the sun overhead, Iruka realized Raido was right. They had reached the Academy at recess time. Why weren't children swarming in the front yard?
Kamizuki Izumo pushed open the front door and rushed out of the building, seemingly disoriented. His wide eyes fell on the sensei, and he stumbled over to them. "Iruka . . . Raido . . ." He gulped and blurted out, "The Academy was attacked! The students were taken!" The men's mouths dropped open in horror, and the air filled with the children's gasps and cries.
"What?" Iruka yelled. "When? How? Who was—?"
"Hold it," Raido broke in, his voice tight. "We have to get these children home—now. Iruka, come with me. We'll make sure they get back safely. Izumo, let Lord Hokage know about this right away. Get the Anbu out here. This attack was probably part of a bigger plan, and we have to make sure no enemies are still within the gates."
"Right," Izumo muttered, and took off. Iruka and Raido turned to attempt to soothe the fearful cadets.
"Class is over for the day," Raido declared unnecessarily. "We're going to take you home—"
"My brother was in there!" the Inuzuka girl screamed. Her shrill voice seemed to send the students close to panic. Before they could scatter or stampede, Iruka spoke quickly.
"Listen to me!" he shouted urgently. "We are going to find those kids and bring them back. But right now, we have to make sure that you cadets are safe. Follow me and Master Raido. We're going to take all of you back to your homes." He and Raido set off double-time up the main thoroughfare, the children doing their best to keep up. Even though they made clones— one for Iruka and three for Raido—it still took an agonizingly long time to escort all of the cadets back home. "We hardly know more than you do," Iruka explained time and time again to anxious parents. "The shinobi are gathering now. As soon as we have more information, we'll let you know."
The two sensei joined the crowd of ninja in the heart of the village as soon as they were finished. Lord Hokage had called a meeting, and was in the middle of speaking. "The Black Ops have assured me that no enemy shinobi remain," he told them all in a raised voice. "The attack was sudden and precise, with a definite purpose. We have reason to believe that the ninja who attacked were waiting for an opportune moment like this one—when all the teachers but one were absent. How they knew this, I do not know. They may have even planted spies."
"Where were they from?" a shinobi in back called.
"I told you, I didn't recognize their headbands," Izumo said, frustrated, from the Hokage's side. "It looked like it might've been a new insignia."
"And why children?" Master Iwashi demanded. "What possible purpose can they serve?"
"We can only speculate at this point," the Third Hokage said heavily. "In any case, a team must be dispatched to find them as soon as possible."
"What if that's exactly what they want?" Hatake Kakashi spoke up for the first time. "Don't you think it's strange that a team of enemy shinobi infiltrate Konohagakure, and the only thing they do once inside is steal some preschoolers?" He shook his head. "The kids are likely bait to draw us away from our real purpose: protecting the village. Our nemeses could be mounting a huge attack as we speak." Glaring around impressively, he finished, "We can't let the kidnappers cloud our judgment. Our primary objective is the same as it's always been—protect Konoha."
Iruka strode forward. He wasn't going to let Kakashi have the last word. "With respect to Master Kakashi," he began, nodding to the masked ninja, "those children have always been every bit as important as Konoha—because they are Konoha."
Lord Sarutobi nodded at both of them. "Well said, Masters Kakashi and Iruka. I agree with you both." To the villagers around him, he promised, "We will not be slack with regards to the children. A rescue mission will be mounted immediately. Hatake Kakashi will lead a cell to find them." The elders Koharu and Homura nodded their agreement. Kakashi didn't seem very happy with the Hokage's choice, but he got right down to business.
"I want Genma and Kurenai on the team," he said, pointing them out. "Iruka, you're coming, too."
"Right!" Iruka said with a little sigh of relief. He had been hoping to be picked for the cell.
"Get your rations and supplies and meet me in front of the village in five minutes," ordered Master Kakashi, "or I'm leaving without you."
As the four ninja rushed away, they heard the Hokage continuing, "Furthermore, security will be improved. Extra shinobi will be stationed at all entrances to the village, and more of them will patrol the streets. No one will enter our borders uncontested. . ."