The Forest was quiet with few noises interrupting the silence. A spider prepared a struggling cricket for later consumption; a rabbit slowly scampered through the forest; and a couple of small birds chirped quietly to each other. The quiet was broken by heavy footsteps upon the grass; as a lone shinobi was chased by three white skinned foes wearing similar cloaks. The Shinobi was chased into a small meadow as one of his pursuers threw several Shurikens at him. Ichirou Dodged to the side as three White Zetsu bore down on him. Ichirou was more of a duelist and he knew that three would be trouble for him. So he decided to make some space for himself. Ichirou used his Freezing Touch technique though his feet; freezing the ground as he ran to hamper their pursuit. Two of the Zetsu slipped and fell on the ice as they chased after him, and the third used them as stepping stones to close the gap. The Zetsu leapt at Ichirou with a kunai aimed at Ichirou's back. But, Ichirou quickly spun around dodging the attack, and stabbing through the White Zetsu. Ichirou watched as his Freezing Touch did it's work as the White Zetsu slowly froze. The White Zetsu attempted one last strike as he was being frozen over, however Ichirou was able to dodge it easily. Since, The Zetsu's movements were slowed so drastically. The Zetsu Sneered and was about to say something before his throat froze solid. Ichirou watched as Ice closed around the Zetsu's face, and a tinge of fear danced in their eyes before they were frozen solid. No sooner had the Zetsu frozen solid than the second Zetsu broke through the corpse thrusting a kunai for Ichirou's heart. Ichirou rolled backward dodging the kunai and kicking it into the air. Out of the corner of his eye Ichirou noticed four more White Zetsu coming From the edge of the clearing. Ichirou saw the third Zetsu Leap into the air drawing a kunai and throwing it down at Ichirou. At the Same time the second Zetsu threw a kunai with a lit paper bomb at Ichirou. Ichirou quickly drew a kunai of his own Using his Freezing Touch to cool it drastically as he threw it at the paper bomb. Ichirou's kunai hit the paper bomb extinguishing it and firmly planting itself between the second Zetsu's eyes. Ichirou did his best to dodge the two incoming kunai but He wasn't quick enough to dodge the Kunai from in front of him. It sped by grazing his shoulder; While the second kunai harmlessly hit the ground. Ichirou looked up in time to see the third Zetsu descending upon him with kunai patiently gleaming in the moonlight. He pulled back just in time to dodge the downward strike from the Zetsu. The Zetsu then swung quickly up towards Ichirou's throat, but Ichirou pivoted his blade to deflect his opponents attack. Ichirou also channeled Freezing Touch, and began freeze over the kunai. Ichirou could hear footsteps quickly approaching from behind Ichirou, and he saw two Zetsu quickly approaching from in front of him. The third Zetsu Smiled at Ichirou and said, "Looks like it's game o…" He never finished his sentence. A kunai embedded itself in the Zetsu's head. Ichirou saw a note attached to the kunai with a single word on it "Duck". Ichirou Immediately dropped to the ground as a flashing blade flew by Ichirou and decapitated the two Zetsu who had been coming from in front of Ichirou. Ichirou rose looking behind him to see two more Zetsu. One had a kunai in the back of it's head and the other had it's head removed from it's shoulders. Looking over to his friend Ichirou said, "I had that handled."
Ichirou's friend Hiroshi stood tall with a cloak just like Ichirou's. He had an Anbu Katana, and an amused smirk plastered on his face. Hiroshi let out a little laugh, "Well I'm sorry for stealing your thunder, and I told you those notes would be useful"
Ichirou smiled and replied, "Yeah, it only took five years for them to find a use." Ichirou then knelt to examine one of the Zetsu's wearing uniforms in hopes of figuring out what their goal was.
Hiroshi began to talk to himself saying,"Thanks Hiroshi; you saved my life Hiroshi; you really came in the nick of time, Hiroshi. Whatever, can I do to repay you."
"Thank you, Hiroshi." Ichirou said interrupting Hiroshi's Tirade. "If you hadn't showed up when you did I would be dead right now." Hiroshi stood there for a moment. Ichirou didn't often admit he needed anyone for anything, and he assumed his appreciation had caught Hiroshi off-guard. Hiroshi was finally about to reply when Ichirou interrupted him again, "Take a couple steps to the left."
Without hesitation Hiroshi did as Ichirou said; just as the kunai, Ichirou had kicked, finally hit the earth where he had just been standing. Hiroshi looked at the kunai for a moment startled and then said, "I knew that was there."
Ichirou laughed, "Of course you did."
Hiroshi walked over to look at the Zetsu and asked, "Did you find anything?"
"Yeah I think they were…" Ichirou was interrupted as several explosions came from the nearby forest and Akio and Ami came leaping from its depths. They spun through the air in the Allied Shinobi Forces cloaks and landed near Ichirou and Hiroshi. And around 20 Zetsu burst through the forest.
Hiroshi Squared his feet and quickly used one hand to sign Crystal Ice Mirrors. To begin forming a mirror on the ground 10 feet in front of him while saying, "I see you guys brought friends."
"We didn't want to hog all the fun" Ami said mischievously
"Any targets for me?" Ichirou asked calmly.
"None that I could see just a bunch of these tree freaks" Akio quickly replied.
"Well rhen let's get this party started" Hiroshi said smiling and stepping forward.
Suddenly a bright light shone from above and they looked up to see The moon replaced with a strange eye looking down on them.
—
Ichirou woke up to a rap tap tap on his door, and Hiroshi calling from the other side.
"Hey sleepyhead get your butt out of bed it's morning"
Ichirou got up rubbing his eyes. Another dream about the war, and… lost friends. Hiroshi continued to monologue at Ichirou through the door but Ichirou tuned him out while he got ready for the morning… at least he tried to. Ichirou rolled out of bed and walked over to the shower.
"So Yuuto has been making a lot of progress He has been able to move quickly in fights without breaking his legs. So progress, right? Anyway…"
Ichirou turned on the shower and the noise muffled Hiroshi's talking. Ichirou let his mind warm up as he took his shower. Once he finished he got out and began to dry off. As he heard Hiroshi still talking,
"And then, of course, there is Shun. You know if I had as much talent at her age I might be the Mizukage… but, she's distracted because of well… You know.
Ichirou finished getting dressed, got all his gear ready and opened the door when he realized that he had successfully tuned out Hiroshi. Hiroshi was standing there… still talking.
Hiroshi's eyes lit up "Oh there you are! I wasn't sure if you went back to sleep again."
Ichirou walked past him without a word; as he began walking towards where he was gonna meet his students.
Hiroshi hurriedly caught up to his side him still going on about his students, "Katashi has been doing well as a of late though… at least as far as tests go. But, he's still wound so tight that I'm afraid any second he's gonna snap."
"Being wound tight isn't such a bad thing. It helps you see things coming." Ichirou said looking over to Hiroshi who had been walking in step with him .
Hiroshi rolled his eyes, "Of course, 'you' would think that, but I don't want my students to turn into paranoid hermits. And we both know being wound up doesn't stop things from blindsiding you."
Ichirou Stayed silent feeling a slight pain in his chest at Hiroshi's last remark.
"Sorry… Anyway are you ready for the mission tomorrow?" Hiroshi asked quietly.
"As ready as I'm gonna be. Our last time out didn't go so well. I just need Masaru to stop being so reckless." Ichirou said walking up to a nearby railing. Just as he said it; he saw Masaru finishing his morning run. Masaru then made his way up some stairs nearby them and jogged casually without a word to the team's training grounds. Ichirou waited until he was out of earshot to continue, "He keeps rolling the dice with death, and one day it's gonna catch up with him. If he doesn't learn to ease up."
Hiroshi leaned on the railing "Well he has a lot to prove… they all do." They both stayed there silent for a minute just thinking. In all reality they were very similar to Ichirou and his friends when they were their age… No, they were had even more to prove than Ichirou did at his age. Hiroshi then broke the silence loudly saying, "Well, we better get going! We only have one day before the mission." And with that Hiroshi walked off towards the training grounds leaving Ichirou alone.
Ichirou stood alone looking out at the town as the sun slowly rose over it. Only one day before they were out there again. Ichirou knw it was only a simple C ranked mission, but somehow Ichirou couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go very wrong… Maybe Hiroshi was right. Perhaps he was being paranoid, and he just needed to relax. Ichirou pushed his concerns to the back of his mind and turned walking towards the training grounds. After what had happened their last time out the village had decided to send them on an easy mission to make up for it. So there was nothing to worry about… right? Ichirou shook his head he was over thinking this. It just was a easy mission to make up for the last fiasco and nothing more. "Nothing bad is gonna happen" he told himself reassuringly.
…He was wrong