I do not own Naruto or any of the other characters in the popular animie series in Naruto I only own this "story" and the ideas and plot within….blah blah blah.
As the sun rose over Konoha, the streets were quite. The people who were not in bed sleeping were getting ready for another long hard day at work. Everything was harder in Konoha these days. There was still the same general duties, running the shops, running errands. But also many of the villagers worked overtime helping fix the city from several devastating surprise attacks.
Only one man wandered the streets. Walking slowly and silently. He didn't look much… much of anything. He didn't look amazingly strong or handsome or intelligent. He looked like fun… or trouble. Luckily however the only person who seemed to notice this lone wanderer knew what he was. They knew however much he didn't look it, he was MORE than amazingly strong, he was intelligent in his own way and to her… he was the most handsome person in Konoha.
As the blond haired wanderer walked down the solitary street he sensed a presence, he stopped and looked around. He knew someone was watching him. He had felt this before. Everyday whilst walking the streets. He knew it was a friendly stare but it didn't harm after all the village had been through recently to be on guard. He decided maybe it would be better to walk with his hand in his weapons pouch… just in case.
On the other side of town an important looking woman with large breasts sat at a desk pondering. She had long blonde hair and a small blue diamond shape in the middle of her forehead. She put her face in her hands, thinking of the events over the past few days… had it really only been 3 days ago that they had signed the peace treaty with the Sound village. It had seemed at the time that their new leader was a strong ally. A man ready to lead his people into a profitable future. She had agreed to things that she didn't want to at the time. She had regretted it later.
She had allowed the Sound village to invade Konoha. Many innocent people had been killed. Many families left without homes. People with no jobs or income.
However much this woman blamed herself, this was not the case in the village. Everyone had thought the same about the treaty. This would be an important event in Konoha and maybe the best thing since the treaty with the Sand village. For Sound had some strong allies of their own, and more strong ninja to bring to aid if needed.
Nobody had expected them to invade the very next day.
When they first saw the people of the Sound they suspected nothing, after all part of the treaty agreement (the part people regretted the most) was the freedom of the sound ninja as tradesman. The freedom to come and go as they pleased to trade daily goods, but most devastatingly walk around Konoha. As it happened they came in during early morning hours. They needn't have stated their business but if asked they were here for "market trading" they dressed as ordinary villagers, said "there are fruits Konoha sell that we cant get in Sound" they went to strategic points around the village and launched a full scale attack.
The village had been left in almost ruins. It was worse than the time they had attacked under the order of Orochimaru over 6 years ago.
The woman was disturbed of her thoughts by knocking on her door. She glanced quickly at her clock. He was early… she smiled. "enter"
Through the door entered the blonde haired wanderer. He walked near the desk and grinned stupidly at her. She surveyed him closely. Yes if any man was right for the job. It was him. Oh how he had changed over the years. She remembered as a new Hokage of Konoha how he had been the one to convince her. The small Genin boy dressed in bright orange and whiskers had indeed grown into a man. He wore his usual attire of mainly orange still but with a black strip across the shoulders.
She reminisced of her comments about his new forehead protector; he had obtained whilst training for two years with her former team-mate. When she first got chance to talk to him about it. Oh how she laughed. "regulations say that the tails of your headband are too long. They will get caught up in something and inhibit proceedings of missions" he had sulked for days and refused to do it. Saying things about when he was Hokage he would change the rules on these silly restrictions and that he would show her that they were useful. Even at the time when she had known he had grown so much she didn't expect to have to eat her own words as he came back from an A rank mission with the capture tied to the tails of his forehead protector. When interrogated the captive Jounin ninja explained how the blond haired kid had managed to fight using the long tails of his headband and capture him.
The blonde boy started to look at the woman grumpily. "are you gunna tell me why im here granny-Tsunade? Or am I jus gunna stand here all day? I got outta bed early for this." the blonde boys voice brought her back from her thoughts, she gave him a stern look. She put her elbows on the desk, placed her finger tips together and surveyed him over the top of them. He was… after all… however much he had grown… still Naruto.
"you have, I believe, been briefed slightly on this mission?"
"hai" Naruto answered and stood into his more professional pose. Straight back. Hands clasped behind himself and looking straight ahead. Chin high. He looked like he was up for a line up inspection.
Tsunade sighed… if he understands the importance then this might not be so difficult, if not then at least I have my backup plan. She smiled secretively as she started to explain a little more in-depth about the mission at hand.
Not too far away a woman was still staring from behind a curtain… her hiding place. Where was Naruto off to at such an early time. If she hadn't of been getting up early to ready herself for a mission proposal she would have missed him. She wondered briefly if maybe she would be on a mission with him and he was going to the briefing now. But surly not this early. He was probably on a different mission already. She knew they would all be on missions now war had been officially declared. Finally she let go of the curtain she had been hiding behind to turn round and carry on packing for her mission. She never turned down a mission. Even if she didn't like it. This girl wasn't one to speak her mind, it was easier to go along with other peoples decisions. She had only three goals in her life, two of which she made when she was 8 years old. 10 years since she made those promises to herself and 10 years on she still couldn't achieve them fully.
to make everyone around her as happy as possible, even if it meant her being unhappy
make Naruto notice her
and when she was 13 she made her final goal
to train hard and become a strong shinobi. To make her family proud and get Naruto to notice her. To never give-up. For this was her "way of the ninja"
Maybe… if she was on this mission with Naruto he might finally notice her. She noticed another shinobi walking alone down the street, dressed in red with medium length pink hair, tied back… hmmm… then again… maybe not. She sighed and continued. Either way, in her mind seeing Naruto first thing in the morning…. This had to be a sign of a brilliant day. She smiled a small smile to herself and let her mind continue to wander as she placed a couple of books on the top of her rucksack.
"WHAT!? THAT IS SUCH A STUPID MISSION!! WHY CANT I STAY HERE AND PROTECT THE VILLAGE!?" This is what Tsunade had been afraid of. She knew he would not see the importance in this mission. But as one of her best shinobi she needed him there more than anywhere else. "YOU JUST WANT ME OUT THE WAY! I AM NO WAY GOING OUT THERE ALONE TO CAMP WHEN EVERYONE HERE GETS ALL THE FUN AND ACTION AND EXCITEMENT"
"Who said alone?"
Naruto took a breath and stopped, "I wont be alone? Who else?"
He looked at her, his arms crossed, trying to determine whether or not this would be worth his while.
There was another knock at the door
"Enter"
"SAKURA-CHAN! Is she here on the mission too?"
Tsunade sighed, at least her backup plan worked out ok "yes she is a medical ninja.."
Naruto stopped listening at yes and was excitedly jumping up and down "WOOHOO! A mission with me and Sakura-chan, I cant wait, Sakura-chan and me all alone in the forest…" he was rubbing his hands together with a perverted look on his face. Sakura meanwhile was gathering rage and moulding her chakra into her hand. Naruto didn't have time to protect himself for the punch over the head. He hit the floor groaning. "Sorry Sakura-chan"
Tsunade sighed once more "does this mean you are to be accepting the mission?"
Standing up again but with a lump on his head and looking kind of dazed, Naruto grinned at Sakura "HAI!"
At last Tsunade could smile. This is why she asked Naruto and Sakura to come early, she knew if all else failed Naruto would still want to go on a mission if he thought it meant him being alone with Sakura.
Naurto smiled and turned to leave "im gunna go pack, I need more Ramen for a long mission like this… I don't know how long its gunna be yet…"
"Naruto.
Please wait for the others arrival before leaving"
Naruto hit the floor again, without having to be hit… others… dam it. He'd been tricked. He looked at Tsunade who was smiling. Well at least it might not be too bad… he might be lucky enough to land some alone time with Sakura still, maybe share a cup of ramen with her…
Tsunade hated to lose medical ninja at a time like this. Especially one so talented but as she had declared when she became Hokage. She wanted one at least on each team. two for important missions.
"The others should be arriving shortly" she declared to them.
"hai"
Not too long later another shinobi entered the room. He had short black "basin" haircut. Round white eyes and thick eyebrows. He went on and on to sakura about her beauty and how it compared with the sunrise and the spring until Tsunade stopped him pointing out that he would also be on this mission with Naruto in which he declared something about the "energy" and "emotion" of "the springtime of their youths" Naruto had heard it all before and wasn't really listening he was still trying to think about the "alone" time he wanted with Sakura… maybe that was impossible now Rock Lee was here. He wouldn't let Naruto have Sakura-chan all to himself, in fact he would probably be thinking along the same lines.
The appearance of Hinata cheered the whole group up in different ways. Tsunade was glad to see her looking cheerful, she knew Hinata had a problem with depression and got upset easy when not doing things perfect. She knew the reasoning behind Hinata's cheerfulness today. This was a mission with Naruto and Tsunade had long since knew about her feelings for this boy. It had become even more apparent after one of the failed attempts to find Sasuke. Hinata had been the one to beg for the mission and even when it failed ( much to the flatulence of Naruto and disappointment of Sakura) Hinata was happy. She tried harder on her missions from there on and hardly ever failed them again.
Sakura took one look at the blue-haired beauty and smiled. She ran up to Hinata and threw her arms around her. "at least im not the only girl on this mission!" Hinata looked taken back and a little embarrassed "arigato Sakura-chan, I am looking forward to this too." Hinata and Sakura had never been the best of friends but had become very close during the past weeks as Ino had not as much time for Sakura now she was arranging her wedding to Sai. Sakura didn't want to think about it, how it happened was just weird, but at least it left Sasuke all for her. She smiled a little to herself at the thought of her Sasuke-kun.
Lee and Naruto had the exact same thought in mind. If they could get the other to go off with Hinata for a while. They would be left with Sakura for themselves.
Sakura smiled at Hinata in an "all-knowing" way. It had only been a few days ago when Hinata had confessed her feelings for Naruto to Sakura, she wasn't entirely sure she trusted her yet however Sakura had known anyway… how many people knew? did Naruto know? And what did Sakura mean when she said she would help? Hinata looked at Sakura panic stricken for a brief moment. She had promised not to tell anyone including Naruto. At least that was something. But Sakura had said something that day. Something Hinata couldn't get out of her head.
FLASH BACK
"if Naruto hasn't noticed yet, I don't think he will. I mean he is really dense…" "but.." Hinata had argued "is that not one of his good points?" Sakura had given her a sceptical look and carried on "Hinata, your 18 years old, heading on for 19. you need to take control of your life. Making me promise not to tell Naruto how you feel. Its very school like and frankly childish. At least if you tell him he can respond but until you tell him you wont be able to get on with your life."
END OF FLASH BACK
Hinata had taken these words to heart. Maybe during this mission she could tell him but first she would ask him "that" question. The question Sakura had told her to ask. For some reason she thought it would help… "KIBA-KUN?"
"oh – ohayo Hinata-chan" "WHAT THE HELL!!" Naruto and Kiba looked daggers at each other. Sakura smiled, since Kiba was one of the last people to battle Naruto before Sasuke left he seemed to have taken Sasuke's place as Naruto's "friendly Konoha" rival, it also didn't help that Kiba and Naruto had very similar personalities and therefore clashed with one another.
"Now everyone is assembled I will tell you your mission" at Tsunade's word order struck. All 5 Konoha ninjas struck their line-up poses.
Tsunade looked at the once academy students. How far they had come, she had not known them until they had been Genin but it was enough. "as you know. Konoha is at war. We need a strong defence at strategic points around Konoha. You will be based at the South of Konoha. Although this is the opposite of where Sound lies we have inside information that they may be scaling a full attack from this side. A surprise attack. I will give you all the information you need. Co-ordinates and information on sound shinobi, their attack styles and special abilities. I suggest you study them carefully in any spare time you have as you can hardly look at them whilst fighting. We do not know how long your suspected stay will be. We will call on you if you are needed back. You also have communication methods if you need back up. Do you all understand?"
"HAI!"
"so with that. Kiba, Hinata, Rock-Lee, Sakura, Naruto. Do you accept this mission?"
"HAI!"
