Prologue
When Tsunade finally walked in a hush fell over everyone. Her steady and evenly paced stride was the only noise that echoed in the room. As she came closer, everyone stood up respectfully. She nodded, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders. Everyone sat at the long rectangular table as she did. The meeting was unusually crowded this day, for Tsunade had called in many Jounin, Chuunin, and even Genin. She scanned the room quickly, to her right, sat many Jounin and Chuunin she knew…but could not tell you the names of, and to her left sat the Genin. She smiled as her eyes caught sight of familiar faces.
A scowling raven haired boy slouching in his chair, but still being respectful. To his right, sat a smiling bubble-gum haired female. Her green eyes sparkled and her posture upright. And to the left of the dark haired boy…the gleaming, whiskered cheeked blonde sitting eagerly at the edge of his chair. His teeth shown brightly across his face in a large smile. The closest to her sat…the gray haired Jounin. A mask covering his lower half of his face. Tsunade cleared her throat. Many Jounin and Chuunin raised their hands. Slowly…but surely.
"Thank you all for coming. I'm on a tight schedule so I will keep this brief." She looked at the men and women whose hands were up. "I know many of you must have millions of questions…but I won't answer them so, shut up." The hands quickly shot back down with out any delay.
"I've called all of you hear today for a very important message. Now, we all know that there has been an unreasonable amount of Anbu from the village adjacent to us that have been seen roaming our village. Our resources tell us that they are planning to sabotage our allied pact with the Hidden Mist Village. This I cannot allow. We have worked for too long to obtain that pact. My plan is to slowly infiltrate their own village and receive as much info as we can on their plans. This mission will be a long one….and an extremely dangerous one. I cannot say how many of you will be injured…or even be killed. But this is what you're trained to do."
"For the next two years, our mission will unfold and come into action. Until then I will be sending random groups on what I call 'miny missions'" She took a breath in. Waiting for her words to sink into the ninja. She heard a small snicker. Her eyes flickered over to the once anxious blonde. Naruto Uzimake.
He had his hand cupped over his mouth…suppressing a loud laugh. Tsunade cleared her throat. "Something the matter…Naruto" She stressed his name to an unneeded extent. All eyes darted toward him. He froze at the sudden attention. His voice broke on the first syllable. "Well….It's just that…" a smirked crossed his whiskered face. "I can't really take this mission so seriously when you say…s-say…" He shuddered and snorted…holding in another laugh, "'miny missions!'" Tsunade perched her lips and furrowed her brow. As she crossed her arms across her chest she heard other silent chuckles. A long sigh breezed past her lips.
"Even the Hokage herself doesn't get any respect…" She said to herself, but loudly enough for Naruto and everyone else to hear. She closed her eyes…then soon opened one, looking in Naruto's direction. He gave her an apologetic smile. With a nod, she cleared her throat yet again.
"If any changes or halts come across us in this large mission…I will contact all of you immediately. Now if you will excuse me…I have some business I need to attend to." With this she turned around and left the room her brunette secretary following closely behind. Many Ninja left the room, muttering to each other on how this mission was a complete waste of time. Kakashi stood up from his chair and looked at his students.
"You three do realize how hard I'm gonna have to work you now right?" a part on his masked creased revealing that he had a smile on his face. His three students looked up at him. There was a moment of silence.
"Alright! This is gonna be so sweet!" Naruto jumped out of his chair and began to climb on the table. "I'm gonna go on so many missions and kick butt! Then when those two years finally pass by…I will be so strong that I will take out that whole village!" His knee was on the table but before he could climb anymore a pale hand grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him down. It was Sasuke Uchiha. "Siddown Dobe!" His words slurred a bit.
Naruto pouted and narrowed his eyes at Sasuke. He glared back. Sakura…the pink haired Genin, could feel the atmosphere in the room becoming cloudy. "C-C'mon guys. Let's just go. It's our day off right? So let's take this time to go have fun…before we get worked like dogs...right Kakashi?" She looked over her shoulder…Kakashi had left already. She sighed. The three walked out of the room. Sasuke and Naruto walked nose to nose glaring and yelling at each other, and Sakura walked to the side of them giggling at their immaturity.
Sakura had been right…yes. They were going to have to work hard over the years on this dangerous mission. But none of them, especially Naruto, knew what kinds of difficulties they had to overcome. Thus….the story begins.