Tensions

Chapter 1: The Commission

Kakashi herded the team out to brief them on the mission.

"Now, I understand that after a while, your genin feel inclined to… rough house," the old lady had said, looking down at the field records of Team 7. "That, of course, will not be acceptable on this mission."

Kakashi hadn't stiffened at the tone, nor had he shown any other outward reaction to the woman, but he had then allowed himself to think that she was an old hag with unfortunate proportions and out-of fashion court robes that smelled like they had been stuck in a forensics lab for a month. Or maybe that was just her.

He'd met with the client and the Third in a separate room from the genin to discuss the possibility of taking them on what would be their second C-Rank mission. Any other situation and the mission would never have been offered to the genin team, but most other teams were already booked, and the others did not fit the requirements of this fussy client: at least one famous ninja, clearly indicating that this client was a noble, if he couldn't already tell from the behavior of the requestor. They were paying B-rank to get an A-rank ninja or higher on a C-rank mission, good conditions for him, but if he was going to be honest, neither Naruto nor Sasuke were up to the kowtowing this mission would demand.

The tone ended up sealing the deal for the sensei. His genin might suffer for it, but it would be worth it if they got Kimuhara-san good as they went around, what'd she say again, rough housing. It'd be a learning experience for both ends, and good entertainment straight through.

Kakashi settled on the railing of the roof. The genin sat where they had during their introductions all those months before. Naruto clamored as usual.

"Hey sensei, you're killing us right now, what's all the secrecy for? D'we have a mission or no?"

The secrecy was so you didn't lose us the client before I decided if we'd take it or not, Naruto. "Well, you're going to like this at least, Naruto."

They all perked up at that, though Sasuke looked a little wary of whatever it was that Naruto was going to like.

Kakashi snapped the mission scroll open for them to see and eye-smiled at them over the top of the parchment.

"We're on for our second C-rank!"

The cries of excitement he'd expected never came.

Almost instantaneously, Sasuke's wariness jumped exponentially and Naruto's face froze, clear blue eyes wavering.

"Maa, what's wrong?" he lowered the scroll, single eye flicking through their faces.

Sakura was the one to voice their thoughts, chakra pulsing a little quicker, a little tighter.

"Sensei…. another C-rank?"

Ahh…. "Is this about the Wave mission?"

Yes, he had noticed that Naruto had stopped begging for harder, more dangerous missions since the outcome of the first had ended with Sasuke almost dead and his sensei's fist through a 14-year old's chest.

"Hahah, what? Sensei, you joke too much," Naruto grinned the fake grin he wore during his worst lies. He'd have to fix that somehow. "You really don't think we could handle…" Naruto petered off as he saw Kakashi wasn't taking it.

Kakashi slid off the railing to approach them and crouch down. "You do know that the Wave mission developed to become a B-rank, then an A-rank, right?"

They looked down. Sakura nodded minutely. He sighed.

"We will not end up changing the course of a country's economy on every C-rank we do." I hope not, anyway. The three genin looked unconvinced.

"There should not have been genin there at all. I should have turned the team around when we first knew ninja were after Tazuna, and especially not have stuck around after we knew Zabuza was on his trail. That is not what a C-rank looks like." Kakashi looked at Naruto's downturned face. He was biting a lip that was threatening to tremble.

"You should not have been participants in a true ninja fight at this stage in your training. Not in these times." The days of genin having to go out and kill were over. "You did well, you all did well, and the three of you grew because of it. Do not fear the missions to come because of missions that were."

"It's not that, Sensei!" Naruto had given up on the trembling lip. "It's just, I don't want to see another Haku die." He wiped at his nose, then shouted angrily, "I'd never be afraid for myself! Maybe Sasuke-teme if he keeps trying to die on me."

"Hn. I wasn't afraid of this C-rank."

The atmosphere dissipated. Kakashi raised the scroll again.

"This time, I checked with the client thoroughly."

"If it's another drunk man, I'm not going," shot Sasuke.

"Teme, you are afraid! I'd go! Sensei, let's leave Sasuke-pussycat behind!"

"There won't be any need for any such drastic measures on anyone's part, although I will of course keep your preferences in highest priority when choosing missions, because our client-"

"All right! Get us a ramen mission next, Kaka-sensei!" Naruto said brightly, the worries of a moment ago thrown to the wind.

Kakashi simply looked to Sakura to inflict the punishment for being a bonehead. "Idiot, he was being sarcastic!"

"Thank you, Sakura-chan. As I was saying, we will be escorting Lady Hinogawa from Takihishi Village to the capital."

Naruto bounced back up, careless to his developing concussion. "What? A princess? We're guarding a princess!"

"No, dobe, just a noblewoman. Probably fat and old like the daimyo's wife, too." Sasuke said, dodging a flailing, highlighter-orange clad arm.

Sakura, who'd been looking just as cheerful as Naruto, deflated a little at the thought.

"Well, regardless, it isn't something to be overly cheerful about. I don't mind how you three behave-" especially not when that hag is around, thought Kakashi. "-anywhere but in front of Lady Hinogawa. We might lose the contract for the return trip, and nobility have a nasty habit of spreading news about shinobi teams they don't like." The three nodded in unison. "So no commenting on any extra chins, and if she asks for a favor, if within bounds, do as she says. If you're not sure where the bounds are, then-"

"Talk to you, yadda yadda, yeah, yeah, okay, can we go now?"

A look to Sakura and she hits Naruto. He loves that girl. "We're being briefed!"

"Try to be professional for once, dobe."

Kakashi continued. "At most a 5 day trip from Takihishi to the capital, and two days trip back from the capital. So pack accordingly. A note, when traveling with nobles, they will feed you, so you don't need to pack rations for the 5 days with her entourage. But a couple extra hydration pills are always a good idea, especially if the client turns out to be a big drinker."

He knew Sakura was getting all this in her freakishly eidetic memory, so he didn't bother to check if the others were paying attention.

"Possible adversaries: Most likely highwaymen. The Hinogawas are powerful enough to keep ragtags at bay, but bigger bands like to target rich nobles. Possible attacks from political rivals, but we're only counting that because that's always a baseline possibility with nobles in court, not because of any specific fears on the client's part. Think Grade 5 security net: no need to follow her to the bathroom, but sentry duty and chakra scans. You know the procedures." Sakura nodded eagerly, Naruto simply looked at him glassy-eyed.

"We meet at the front entrance at 4 am." He ignored their dismayed cries.

"Scatter!"

They went.

A fond smile tweaked at his masked lips. As sorry as he was about the incidents on the Wave mission, they were cute agonizing over what had happened. It filled him with a bittersweet feeling, hoping they would continue to respond like that with each death they caused, and at the same time knowing it was his duty to wean them of those feelings so that they didn't go mad. He shunshined off.

Even the vigorously punctual Sakura showed at 4:19. Sasuke came with Naruto in tow nearly an hour later. By then, Sakura was sleeping against the watch post with her mouth gaping open. Izumo and Kotetsu watched amusedly, laying bets on when the thin film of spit over her mouth was going to pop.

Sasuke personally figured in the next three breaths, but was disappointed when a carriage skidded to a halt in front of the watch post in the middle of the second breath. The squeal of protesting axles as well as the incredible gust of wind following the trail of the carriage woke Sakura, who rolled up immediately but still caught a lungful of dust.

A cheerful bellow came from where the horses should have been.

"Kotetsu, Izumo! Team Gai with Mr. Okagami the fabric merchant!"

"Wha-?" asked Naruto, still half asleep. "What's going on?"

They saw a black bowl-cut poke out from where it was hidden behind the bulk of the carriage, along with a blinding smile. "My Eternal Rival's youthful students!"

They walked around to where they could see that the bowl-cut ninja was harnessed to the front of the coach. Three genin they hadn't seen before sat in the driver's seat, though none of them, mercifully, were carrying reins or whips. One seemed to be dealing with two horses tied to the top of the carriage for some reason.

"Do you know us?" asked Sasuke warily. The spandex-clad man immediately struck a pose, muscles swelling to strain against the straps holding him to the carriage. The thin man visible through the window looked wild eyed. "No! Don't-"

"I AM-"

"-a bad influence," said Kakashi, dropping from the trees behind his genin. He grabbed the three by the back of their packs hurriedly and disappeared. Gai visibly deflated.

"Gai-sensei? Was that Kakashi-sensei just now?" Tenten asked.

Gai retightened his straps in a way that would have been described as sniffy on a less Youthful man. "My rival has yet again proved too hip and cool for me. But never fear, my blossoming Tenten! My Flames of Youth shall win him over yet!"

"Yosh, Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Can we go now?" asked a small voice from the carriage.

Gai reared majestically. "Let us set forth!"

Neji lurched backwards as Gai accelerated down the street, pulled off balance by the speed and the terrified yanking of the horses Gai had put out of a job.

Note: Hi, Withered Pages here.

I have a soft spot for Gai. He reminds me of my younger sister. Which I probably shouldn't have said on public channels.

Well, let me just go arrange my funeral now.

For those of you just about to click away, the second chapter is lonely and could use some company. Just saying. There's a lot more action in it, though we're still in the midst of the introduction.

Thank you for reading this far!

End of chapter question: Gai pulling the carriage is faster than the two horses, yes or no?

~Withered Pages~