Konoha village...
3 months before the kyuubi incident...
"I, being the Sandaime Hokage, orders all of Orochimaru's experimental guinea pigs to be on a probationary period of 3 months for further examinations. We all have found out that Orochimaru did forbidden and dangerous experiments on some of the citizens of Konohagakure whether shinobi or not, and this could turn out as hazards to the whole village. I cant risk the security of the whole village having known that Orochimaru's specimens and toys still exist and coincides within here."
"Hear that? He's putting us on a probationary period!" a man wearing a shinobi uniform said.
"So what if he puts us on probation?" a small, brown-haired boy by the age of seven whispered to the tall man on his left.
"Keitsuke... You really don't know?" The tall man by the name of Taku replied. "He's going to kill us..." He immediately said as the small boy looked bewildered.
"We no longer have any connections to master Orochimaru..."
"Shut your mouth!" Taku gritted his teeth. "Don't ever speak of his name that loud, someone might hear you."
The sun turned to a pinkish tint by the west and the sky took on dark shades of blue. The tall man and the little boy walked slowly to their home in the end of Konoha village.
"I don't like that Sandaime..." Keitsuke said as he helps himself to a stick of squid balls. "He called us toys..."
Taku smiled and patted the boy on his head. He didn't want Keitsuke to know more about their situation, he knew that Orochimaru treated them worst than toys.
"Keitsuke! Hurry up! The villagers have gone mad! They're already killing Orochimaru's specimens!" Taku's voice echoed through the night as he wakes the boy from slumber.
Outside, The villagers had gone by the night, burning houses of what they call as specimens and guinea pigs of Orochimaru.
Keitsuke's eyes blurred with tears.
"Taku... Am I going to die?" He cried.
"No... You and I will survive this... Come on, we've got to escape..." Taku said as he clutches the boy's slender arms.
The two fled towards the forest seeing bits of blazing lights from the torches of the mad villagers. Keitsuke held on to Taku's right arm, running through the dark forest.
Darker and darker the forest grew until both of them were encapsulated in plain darkness. The a soft hissing voice like that of a snake sered through the darkness.
"Perhaps you need help... Nidaime's heir?"
After 13 or more years...
Konoha village...
"NARUTO!" a loud scream echoed through the streets illuminated by the early morning sunshine.
"WAH! What now Sakura?" Naruto said, still finishing a bowl of ramen while running away from an angry, roaring, pink-haired (demon) girl by the name of Sakura.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that bowl of Ramen?" Sakura shouted while gaining towards the poor blond boy -Naruto. "THAT-IS-FOR-SASUKE!"
"He wont eat it--" CRASH! Naruto flew towards the river as Sakura let out a strong brutal punch that hit the poor boy strongly on the head.
"ARRGHH!" Naruto let out a cry of pain.
"Want more?" Sakura asked ferociously as she crunches her knuckles.
"Stop killing him..." A cool sexy voice from behind Sakura said.
"But... Sasuke..." Sakura's heat diminished on a very fast rate replaced by a pinkish blush stronger than the color of her hair.
"I told Naruto that I wont eat it so he can have it if he want to..." Sasuke said bending over the dismembered Naruto who is now floating limply in the river. "Look at what you've done to him..."
"I-I'm sorry..." Sakura said as she helped Sasuke carry Naruto to the river side.
"What are you three doing here?" a strong feminine voice said. Sakura looked up to see the Godaime Hokage (Tsunade) looming over the vicinity.
"We are just--"
"What happened to Naruto?... Or what has he done that made him suffer like this?" Tsunade said as she puts her hand over at Naruto's forehead, releasing luminous green chakra that seems to heal Naruto.
Cough... Cough...
"Eh? What happened?" Naruto asked while shaking his hurt head.
"Well, I was actually on my way now to meet you –in your houses, but eventually, we have met here by coincidence." She, The Godaime, said.
"Why Master Tsunade?" Sakura asked.
"I have a mission for you three... A very special, class-A mission." The Godaime smiled.
"CLASS A? How come?" Naruto jumped to his feet, but, due to the brute-punch Sakura had gave him, he almost fell.
"Gotcha!" Sasuke immediately hugged Naruto to prevent him from falling.
"Uhm... Thanks... Sasuke...i" Naruto said blushing.
"Sasuke... Would you mind carrying Naruto for a while before we get to my office?" Tsunade asked.
Sasuke agreed, grinning slightly.
"Will it be just the three of us?" Sakura asked helping Naruto to get over Sasuke's back.
"You sound a little reluctant for the mission Sakura... But no, there will be five of you, one is already waiting in my office, the other one, we still need to fetch" Tsunade said as she started walking.
The four of them stopped in front of a large wooden gate decorated with a large insignia which read as: HYUUGA. Tsunade hammered loudly at the gate until it was opened by a cute girl of short-stature and has a very white, shy-looking eyes.
"Hi Hinata!" Naruto waved at the girl from Sasuke's back.Sasuke shrugged.
"Uhm... Naruto..." For the minute, Hinata seemed to be backing off and was tempted to close the gate. The good thing is, the Godaime pushed the gate further open.
"Where is Neji?"Asked Tsunade.
"Uhmm... He's inside... Would you like to come in Master Hokage?" Hinata asked trying to avoid Naruto's smiles.
"No need" a cool expressive voice said from behind Hinata.
"Just in time Neji... Come on, we need to get to my office..." Tsunade exclaimed.
"Yes Master Hokage." Neji bowed curtly. He is calm and cool until he saw Naruto on Sasuke's back. Trembling, he asked Sakura why.
"Long story Neji, long story..." Sakura replied.
Then they're off to Tsunade's office.
"What the?" Naruto shouted (which annoyed Sasuke who receives Naruto's wiggles as soft punches. But still, he remained calm...) "Why is he here?" Naruto asked incredulously while pointing towards a predator-looking, red haired boy with a tattoo on his forehead.
"Gaara is here to help you on your mission... So be nice to him." Tsunade said.
Gaara smiled looking at the way Naruto is clinging over Sasuke's back.
"You've become an invalid imbecile is that it?" Gaara laughed.
"Never knew you know how to laugh that loud." Naruto said looking away from Gaara, blushing slightly. Sasuke made a noticeable grunt.
"Okay now, better be quiet as I announce the details of your mission." Tsunade said while making her way towards the Hokage's desk which is currently filled with mission-scrolls.
The five shinobi assembled in a straight line in front of the Godaime Hokage. Silence fell in...
"Last week, five of our anbu's have been found dead in five different areas just outside the village's west gate. All of them shows the same marks and indication that they have been killed either by drowning or from deadly weapons like water needles."
Sakura flinched by the thought.
"And, we have reports that three mysterious shinobis have been spotted patrolling the area. And as the report goes... They came from the wave country; that as we know, has a very strong and organized military force. If I'm not mistaken, the records of past missions states that Kakashi's team (composed of the jounin Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke) have already been to the village of Kiri which is under the Wave country, that is why I chose you three..." Tsunade said staring at Naruto.
"But why choose Gaara and Neji?" Sakura asked.
"Gaara is a good ninja and this is a request from the advisers to promote allegiance with the United Countries of KONOHA and SUNA. Neji, on the other hand, can be very helpful in spying regarding his byakuugan ." Tsunade explained seriously.
"Uhm... Sasuke?" Naruto said.
"Yeah?"
"Uhm... I think I could walk on my own now..." Naruto said.
"Oh! Right... Precisely..." Sasuke said bending slightly downward so Naruto's feet could reach the floor. "You're a little heavy you know?..." He said blushing slightly, perhaps because he forgot that he is carrying Naruto (or was he enjoying?)
"Alright then..." Tsunade tossed a scroll over to Naruto. "Let the mission begin!"
--
End of Chapter 1