Five for Fighting
Chapter 1Dissclaimer : Unfortunately, I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from the Manga
Gemma usually spent his mornings nursing sore wounds or taking a stroll down the main road in Konoha to see if there was anything interesting to do. Not this day. He had been summoned early in the morning by Tsunande-sama, given a mission and sent on his way. The fact that he was on an A-rank mission didn't surprise him: what did was the fact that he would be doing the first half of it alone. Walking casually through the woods of the Fire Country in his Konoha shinobi garb, Gemma looked into the sky and smiled. It was going to be a good day.
Nearing the harbor of the fire country after a few days of traveling, Gemma heard noises coming from the place where he was going to have to take a boat to leave. He was going near the lightning village and he didn't want to be slowed down but he was bored and needed something to do. But with A-rank missions, the faster he was done with this mission, the better.
"Hey, hey. What's the problem here?" asked Gemma as he arrived at the place where the noises were coming from.
There were about fifteen men in all; all had the appearance of thugs and all of them had weapons in their hands. One of them turned around and looked at Gemma who had both hands in his pockets and a long silver toothpick in his mouth and approached.
"Ehh, we don't need you ninja scum involved in our affairs! Get out of here before we make you pay!" said the ruffian who was apparently the leader of the gang of thugs.
Gemma looked behind the man noticed that there was a frightened old man on both knees begging for something which was probably his life. He also noticed that behind the grovelling man, there were boats and pieced together that the man was probably the owner of the ships.
"Well you see guys, I'm kinda in a hurry to get somewhere and I need a boat. If you would kindly let me rent one, I will be on my way." said the ninja very lazily. The leader of the thugs smiled, looked back at his men and took another step closer to Gemma.
"You want a boat, hehehe, well then; you're going to have to pay for one."
"Yeah, that's kinda what I just said…" trailed Gemma with a slight frown on his face. He knew where this was going but, he didn't want to fight them. He could easily…
"Hahahaha! Ninja, today is your lucky day! Not only are we going to beat the shit out of you for being so damned unsure, we are going to take your money for the boat that you wanted. If ya didn't notice, some of us here are ninja too! We have about five or six Gennin and two Chunnin! Hehehehe, scared yet?"
"Oh, Chunnin you say. That's incredible. Glad to hear that you passed the exam now, can I pay the man you've got there and get a boat?" asked Gemma, who was getting more and more annoyed the later it got. Maybe he should not have taken his time walking through the woods but hey, it was a nice day.
"Okay smarts ass, you wanna play it ruff, we'll give it to you ruff!" said the leader and with that, the group of thugs stopped harassing the old man and circled around Gemma. The Jounin from Konoha smiled slightly and closed his eyes.
"Guys c'mon, do we really have to do this?" asked Gemma, as relaxed as always.
"Get em!!!!" yelled the leader and the thugs raced in to kill Gemma.
The first attacker reached Gemman and drove his crowbar through the Jounins stomach only to see that the ninja had turned into a log. Behind them, Gemma was bending down and talking to the old man who owned the boats.
"So we have a deal then…" said Gemma as he shook hands and smiled at the old man.
"Yessss, sir." stuttered the old man as he smiled in response. Gemma turned around and faced the thugs and then two who were most likely the Chunnin in the group, began forming seals.
"Doton-Root Entangle…"
But before they could finish with their techniques, Gemma was already done with his.
"Katon, Fire Dragon Missle!" yelled the Jounin as he released the massive fireball into his opponents. He roasted all of them but, they would live and perhaps think twice about their profession.
"Oops, looks like I over did it. Didn't say I was the perfect ninja now did I?" said Gemma as he chuckled to himself. "Now old man, how about that boat." Minutes later, Gemma was sailing to the Cloud village.
Close by, Rock Lee had just left a wooded area where moments ago, the ninja had sent off a ninja bird with information for the Hokage. He was near the Cloud village but, no one knew that he was a shinobi for he was wrapped in a loose green fighting cloak and he stayed in the shadows. But, he would have to do something if the others werent there by tomorrow night. Every hour, the targets became more difficult to acquire and if this mission was lost, another war could very well break out. That could not happen. That would not happen as long as Konoha's Beautiful Green Beast was here.
But, taking on an entire village alone was suicide, even for a Jounin as capable as Rock Lee. He had the speed and the strength but, he did not have the numbers and he would die before he saw the mission completed. So, he waited but, for how much longer, he did not know.
Shikimaru and Raidou were moving on the waters of the Fire Country's great lake, running on the surface of the water as the excess chakra iminating from their feet made large ripples on the smooth surface. They were closer to the borders of the Fire Country and the Lightning Country than they would have liked but, it was a necessary risk that needed to be taken in order to complete their current mission on time.
"So, we are going to link up with the others near the village?" asked Shikimaru to Raidou.
"That is what I was told but, we have to prepare for the worst. Gemma is going in alone and your friend Rock Lee is an impatient one. We have to assume that we might be the only ninjas alive out of this hastily made group if we arent quick enough." said Raidou, not slowing his pace.
"Well then, lets keeps travelling until we get there. If we continue on this route, we should have minimum encounters with enemies." said Shikimaru.
The two continued to run well into the night, hoping that they would not arrive too late to help their friends.
Hinata was tired of waiting. She had been in the same spot all day and still, no knews had come to her. Her first mission as a Jounin wasn't going at all as she had expected but still, there was no one else to go in her place. All of the Hyuuga Jounins were out on other missions and she was the only one that could be sent. For this mission, her exceptional skills were needed but, when would she get the oppurtunity to use them? As the sun began to set behind the mountains facing her ending destination, she wondered if she ever would.
Gemma docked his boat, hid it and proceeded in on foot. He was a little tired but, not enough to prevent him from meeting with his teamate before he rested. It was dark now and the boat trip had taken longer than he though that it would so, he speedily made his way to little town outskirting the Cloud village. It was a few hours after midninght when he arrived and the town was still bustling with excitement.
"Must be a festival?" Gemma pondered to himself and walked casually through the town.
His senses picked up and he recognized familiar chakra and headed in that direction. He saw a figure standing in the shadows in a forested area of the town, obviously making it very clear that he didn't want anyone to approach him. Gemma put his hands in his pockets and strolled casually to meet the cloaked stranger.
"Yo, you been here long?" asked Gemma casually.
"Finally, I was beginning to think that I would have to go in it alone. Where are the others?" asked Rock Lee.
"Not sure, on their way I would think. I could use a few hours sleep. Could you wake me when they get here?" asked Gemma. Rock Lee nodded and looked around the area to make sure that they were not being watched. Gemma went further into the darkness of the forested area and layed down on the ground. All was still in that little area.
Hinata decided that it was time for her to leave. Maybe she had missed the others but, as she thought about it more, that idea was impossible. She had been there for half a day but, no one had come across her. She thought about using the Byakugan to search out her companions but, decided against it. She did not want to bring any unwanted attention to herself and that chakra from her eye jutsu would do just that. But, she wanted to go back to the Leaf village now and what if the others would just miss her. Thinking about it again, she decided to use her jutsu to see if the others were in the vacinity.
"Byakugan!" shouted Hinata as she peered around the area. She found them almost immediately and released her jutsu. They would be there in a matter of moments.
"Hinata, sorry we are late. Are you ready?" asked Shikimaru to his new teamate.
"Ive been ready since this morning. How are you two doing?" asked the Hyuuga.
"Fine. We didn't …" Raidou was cut off by ten ninjas jumping out of hiding and surrounding them. They all had forhead protectors of Cloud village and faces to kill.
"Shit, we don't have time for this. How can we help you fellas?" asked Shikimaru.
"We want the girl. Give her to us and you two can leave peacefully." said the squad leader.
"Damnit." Hinata thought, knowing that the use of the Byakugan had drawn the Rock ninjas to her location.
"You cant have her. And I don't think you want to try and take her from us, do you?" asked Raidou.
"Cmon now! Ten Jounin here against the three of you. Even if you are Jounin as well, which I can see that you are. You have no chance of winning. Just give us want we want and we will let you leave. A Hyuuga would catch a very high price in our village." said the squad leader.
"If that's how its gonna be then, I guess we have no choice." said Hinata.
The Cloud ninjas began spreading out and forming seals at the same time. Shikimaru stood still as Raidou jumped a few paces back and began forming seals of his own. Hinata closed her eyes and then opened them quickly: deadly chakra emminated from them.
"Havent you heard of the Hyuuga ability?" asked Hinata as she stood in her gentle fist style. "You are all going to die if you are not careful. Senshin-Byakugan!" said Hinata.
Shikimaru looked at Hinata and saw that she was serious so he bacame serious as well.
"How troublesome. Ninpou-Shadow bind technique…" as the shadow techinque was issuing forth, the rock ninjas techinques were coming out as well.
"Doton-Earth unravelling technique…" the ground began to open up and the two ninjas from Konoha would have been swallowed but, that was why they had a third teamate.
"Suton-Water element wave." said Raidou as he sent a wave of water toward some of the attackers but, he was not done yet. "Katon-Fire dragon king!" and with that, the mud slide that was forming was instantly dried. That was it for the attackers for, Shikimaru and Hinata began their attack.
"Ninpou-Shadow manipulation!" and "Kaiton!" The attackers were instantly caught in a web of shadow, unable to move and Hinata's powerful Kaiton rendered them helpless.
"Lets get out of here before more of them come!" shouted Raidou back to his comrades, already on the move out. Hinata glanced back one final time and sighed relief as she new that they had come closer than it appeared to dying.
Rock Lee shook Gemma gently and the ninja woke immediately. They were in a room at one of the hotels that they had rented late last night. It felt good to be in a bed again and Gemma was a little angry at his comrade for disturbing his slumber. Still, it was time to get up and he did not want the targets to get away.
"Raidou and the others should be here soon." said Rock to his fellow Jounin.
"Raidou you say? He's coming and who else?"
"Shikimaru and Hinata." replied Rock.
Shikimaru! Gemma knew him to be one of the greatest strategists in all of Konoha. If he was on a mission with Shikimaru, they were more than likely going to get into some deep shit.
"What ya got to eat?" asked Gemma lazily." Rock Lee looked back at him and screamed.
"What do you mean what do I have to eat! Where is your own food and if you don't have any, wheres your money to buy it!"
Gemma sat up and smiled then, that same lazy expression that he always has appeared on his face.
"I lost my supplies and money. Be a good friend and let me eat with you?" said Gemma putting on the most sad face he could find. Rock Lee wasn't falling for it. Everyone in the village new that Gemma was probably the richest shinobi in Konoha. He never paid for anything, always asking others for what they had and always, they would give it to him, believing that him when he said that he would pay them back. So, he never really had to rely on himself for the resources that he needed most of the time unless, he was on a mission that would keep him away for weeks.
"Just this once because we have a mission that we need to get finished with quickly and we cant have you passing out now can we?" said Rock as he handed Gemma some food.
Gemma smiled to himself and devoured the food before Rock Lee could think twice.
"What kind of leader are you supposed to be anyway? Forgetting supplies!"
Gemma almost choaked on the remainder of his food. What did Rock Lee mean by leader?
"Did you just say leader?" asked the surprised Jounin.
"Yes, I did. Don't you know? The Hokage told all of us on the mission that you were to be in command. We all take orders from you." said Konoha's noble beast.
The day passed quickly and soon the others of the company had arrived and the five were conversing in the little room that Rock Lee and Gemma had rented.
"Hinata, you are looking as beautiful as ever, hows our future Hokage holding up?" asked Gemma.
Hinata blushed only a little and met Gemma's gave with those eyes of her's.
"He is doing well or at least, he was when we last parted. He called me in the middle of the night a few days ago and told me that he was going on a mission with Kakashi-Sensei. Maybe he has returned by now." finished the Hyuuga Jounin. She and Naruto were an item now and everyone thought that they were the cutest couple.
"Well now, lets get down to business. We are after Big Saz Man and his lackeys. His name might sound a little comical but, we are not to take him lightly. The report said that he was a S-class ninja and most of his associates are on Jounin level." said Gemma.
"S-class and Jounins? Why just the five of us then? Shouldn't ANBU handle missions of this sort?" asked Raidou.
"Yeah, Im sure that Tsunande-sama would have sent them if she could but, the ANBU I'm told, are handling other affairs. Aobe, Kiba, Shino and Ino are with them." said Shikimaru.
"So, we have to get this Big Saz guy right? When do we leave?" asked Rock Lee, unable to control his youthful flare any longer.
"We need to go in at dusk, just when the shadows are the longest. Shikimaru will take Rock Lee and Hinata with him. Raidou and I will move in together after you three have located the enemy. Here, take these so we can communicate." Said Genma, giving each of the ninjas an earpiece. "All hooked up?"
Everyone said… "Yep."
"Okay, lets get some rest and head out." said Genma as he returned to his room and went to sleep. The others found a spot in the central room and plopped down.
When dusk came, Hinata and Rock Lee were standing in an area of trees just outside of the Cloud Villages' main gates. Shikimaru was waiting for the perfect chance to use his jutsu.
"Okay guys, I'll get the gaurds while you sneak in." said the Jounin over his earpiece.
Hinata and Rock Lee waited then, about a minute later, the patrols walking on the gates of the village were not making their rounds. Hinata and Rock Lee knew it was time.
Almost quicker than sound, Rock lee was in the gates of the village and on the walls, rendering the gaurds unconscious. By now, it had grown dark and Shikimaru's justsu would not work unless he came in contact with lore light. He could always use the advanced version that he had created but, it required the use of a lot of chakra; chakra that he didn't want to waste. Soon, he and Hinata were through the gates and signalling for Genma and Raidou to come in.
"Okay, we are on our way." replied the team commander. Almost instantly, the two were in the gates, standing beside their three comarads.
"Lets move into the center of town. Hinata, I think that you can use your Byakugan and scout out the interior for us. I don't sense any other ninjas around." said Genma.
Hinata immediately activated her eye jutsu and stared straight into the village. Seconds later, she shut her eyes again and her jutsu was gone.
"I think what we are looking for is in a building near the council tower. I can see the chakra flow of a lot of men and they are all irregular. Something is very wrong though…" and before she could finish her assesment, a group of Cloud ANBU appeared out of nowhere and landed infront of them.
"Damn!" shouted Shikimaru, I knew it was too good to be true.