Chapter 1: The Mission
The morning in Shadow Village brought an unusual chill and a heavy fog as the two shinobi Ryuujin and Cory-Chan stood and waited for their friend to come back from talking with the Shadow Village Elder. "I wonder what's going on in there?" wondered Ryuujin as he tapped his foot being impatient as he can be at times.
"Well what ever it is, I'm sure it's important and knock that off it's starting to bug me." Cory-Chan sitting on a fence by the home of the Elder waiting patiently unlike Ryuujin.
He looked down at this foot realizing what she was talking about and stopped, "I know, but still, this has to be important if the Elder called us out this early to see us personally with out any other of the shinobi's here."
"Ryuu calm down, this is more of an honor then something to worry about, it's more of an honor that we where called out for a well secret assignment by the Village Elder." She told the jittery nervous Ryuujin.
A heavy sigh came from Ryuu shrugging the situation off, "Yeah your right, lets just wait and see what it is."
Inside the room, lit only by a candle the elder and grand shinobi Reptile talked about the mission that was going to be given. "Okay Elder what is so important that you had to wake up my friends and I for?" asked Reptile with his arms folded tapping one finger against his resting arm waiting for the answer.
"It has been brought to my attention that a couple of powers out there seem to be moving on this select group of shinobi's." spoke the Elder as he set down a file for Reptile, and he took a deep puff on his pipe releasing the smoke into the air resting back in his chair.
"You, Ryuujin and Cory-Chan out there will be protecting the people in that file." He said putting his hands together leaning forward onto his desk.
Reptile picked up the file looking inside of it seeing on name that caught his eye, "Hatake Kakashi?" he raised an eyebrow, "Why would he need protection? He is the best shinobi at Leaf Village; I thought he couldn't be beat considering he knows well over a thousand Jutsu's." Reptile in disbelief about this mission and why they where to protect the Sharingan user Kakashi.
"Reptile, even though he may know all of the Jutsu's that he does, does not mean that he is unbeatable in any such way, don't forget you have been around much longer then he has." The Elder rising from his seat and walking to the window looking out to where Ryuu and Cory were and gave a slight smile at how well they have come and all that they have accomplished.
"Yes I suppose you are right about that, but."Reptile trailed off.
"But what, Reptile?" Elder asked looking over his shoulder at him.
"Well, I know Cory-Chan and I are ready for this kind of thing as for Ryuujin.um I am just not so sure about him." Reptile closing the file and sitting down on the desk of the Village Elder, questioning if his friend was really capable of this mission.
"Don't worry, Ryuu can handle himself, he is from the Ryuu Clan and blessed with the mark that shows up in their blood line once in some odd amount of years." The Elder walking up to Reptile, "So do not worry about him, he is an excellent addition to the team."
"You're right, now for the main question, why are we protecting this group of shinobi's?" Reptile asked thumbing through the file looking at who they are supposed to protect.
"Well the one boy Uzamaki Naruto, he is a unique young boy as."
Reptile cut him off, "I know the one that has the Nine Tailed Demon Fox inside of him, I know that tail, along with Uchiha Sasuke, the last survivor of that clan besides his brother Itachi who slaughtered everyone, I was there I survived that skirmish with him." He said clenching his fist tightly.
"Yes well, Itachi is after Naruto for the fact he wants to use the Nine Tails Fox for himself. But he is not the only threat, for there is another." The Elder taking a puff from his pipe.
"Another? Who is the other?" Asked Reptile in a slight shock to the news of someone being close to Itachi's level in any way.
"The other is a one Amatsu Mikaboshi, He is in equal power, strength everything with Itachi, it's truly scary but that's the other threat someone equal to him, the only good thing is that they are enemies and have a grudge against one another because of their equality though they have tendencies of being better then one another." Elder taking another puff from his pipe sitting back in his chair.
With a heavy and troubled sigh Reptile sat off from the desk, "Okay well where on the case then." He said heading towards the door.
"Wait!" The Elder called out as he reached into his desk and tossed three forehead protectors to Reptile. "You and the others are the first to wear these official Shadow Country forehead protectors." He smiled happily giving out the first set of them to a great group of students.
Reptile took a look at them, "Wow thank you very much." The ninja not much for words at the moment being given the honor to be the first to wear their countries first forehead protectors.
The Elder stood up once more from his seat and walked up to Reptile one last time, "I thank you, for looking over Ryuujin and tell Cory-Chan the same, because you two have taught him a lot, and the only ones who treated him like any other kid." Taking a deep breath for a moment, "But know that people around know who he is and his importance in his life, so be warned that there will be people after him and his life, so make sure he stays safe, but just do it that he doesn't feel like a burden." The old man smiled patting Reptile on the arm as he turned away going back to his seat and groaning a bit as he sat down.
Reptile smiled and waved good-bye as he stepped out the door to meet with his friends and to give an explanation of what was going to happen. Ryuujin sat on the ground still but had to entertain himself one way so he was studying up on his Jutsu's working out the hand movements and finding out the right amount of charka or ki to put into each different attack. Cory was brushing up on her martial art moves, seeing as how she hasn't had a fight in awhile or just a good fight at that and the yearning of battle burned inside wanting to meet a definite worthy opponent to test her skills to their max. "AH HA!" Yelled out Ryuujin as he jumped up in joy, "Cory- Chan check this move out I finally figured it out!" he said excitedly.
"Heh okay lets see this move." She said smiling stopping from her exercise.
Ryuu grinned and he performed the seal technique putting up his index and middle fingers up but slid his right hand in that formation behind his left and grinned, "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu (Shadow Replication Technique)!" he yelled out and soon there where about ten or so copies of him.
The eyes of Reptile and Cory went wide as they watched him perform such an advanced technique such as that. "Ryuujin how did you get a hold of such an advanced technique?" asked Cory-Chan in an uncertain voice and of curiosity.
"Well Hikage samma gave me a group of jutsu scrolls that I could practice with, and this one I have been tinkering with for awhile and finally got it." He explained smiling cheerfully.
Holding the folder by his side Reptile walked up to the two, "Wow impressive kid, you certainly are getting better at this, now if you can just talk to girls you like." He joked around with him.
Ryuujin blushed a bit as it covered his cheeks but then got angry; "SHUT UP DAMNIT!" he yelled sitting back down folding his arms angrily and the shadow clones all disappeared. "Didn't even get to see the addition." He said under his breath.
"Ah don't worry about it Ryuu you know he was only joking with you." Said Cory-Chan smiling and messing up his hair a bit; "Okay so what's the mission for us?" asked Cory as she turned from Ryuujin to Reptile.
"Well, we are to protect and look over a group of shinobi from the Leaf Village." Said Reptile, as he looked into the folder really quick for the group photo of them and then handed the photo to Cory.
She looked at it and as she did her eyes suddenly shot to the silver haired man in the back of the three young ninja's, "W-who is he?" she asked, as her eyes grew wide.
Reptile stepped by her and looked, "Oh that would be Hatake Kakashi, he is the sensei for the three standing in front." He explained looking at her puzzled for a moment.
Her eyes practically turned into giant hearts as she gazed at Kakashi's picture, "Oh my god he is so noopy (cute)." She said gripping the picture tightly not wanting to let go.
A sigh came from Reptile as he shook his head a bit, "Well he is not the only one we are looking after remember that we have to look after the other three, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and finally Uzumaki Naruto." Reptile pointing out the people in the photo as Ryuujin got up to see them all.
Scratching his chin slightly then switching to put his hands behind his head, "Now why are we protecting these people? There shinobi's they should be able to handle themselves.right?" Ryuujin asked curiously looking to Reptile for an answer.
"It appears that there are some people out there that are after them, such as one Itachi, the brother of Sasuke there. We believe he may be after his brother or Naruto there, for the special gift locked inside of him." Said Reptile as he looked at the file of Naruto with all his information, thanks to the spy's of Shadow Village putting their talents to work.
"What might that be exactly?" Asked Ryuujin stepping away from Cory as she was practically drooling over Kakashi.
"Well, it seems that the boy Naruto has the legendary Nine Tales Demon Fox locked inside of him, and Itachi wants that for his own reasons, I would think, I mean who wouldn't want that kind of power for themselves." Reptile explained giving good reasons knowing that any person that desires power would go after that kind of thing for himself or even herself.
Cory-Chan finally tore herself away from looking at Kakashi, "So this young boy has such an evil creature inside of him humph, who put it there?" she asked curiously as Ryuujin giving the look of curiosity himself.
"It was the Fourth Hokage of the Leaf Village, he was the one to seal it way inside him, though from what I have heard, his thoughts on it and what he believed was not shared by the other people in the village." Reptile managing to snatch the photo away from Cory and put it back into the folder as she tried reaching back for it.
Ryuu stood there for a moment watching Cory-Chan trying to get the photo back and he remembered the one thing he forgot and knew he was going to need it, "Hey, you two I will be right back, I forgot something that I think will come in handy." He said and he leaped away with the dust being kicked up from under his feet.
He leaped over the rooftops making no sound as he landed on each one, finally came to the door to his home and stepped inside looking about the room scanning it really quick. "Ah there it is." He said walking to the mantle where a sheathed sword was placed on a pedestal.
The young ninja reached for it and pulled it off, "Ah the Shuurai (Lightning Strike) couldn't forget you." He said and placed the sword on his back tying it tight to him so it would not fall off.
Meanwhile.
Cory finally stopped trying to grab for the picture and they where now waiting for their companion to come back, "Do you think Ryuujin can handle something like this? Trying to protect some younger kids?" asked Cory-Chan slightly questioning their friend's abilities and if he was ready.
A smile crossed Reptiles face and was noticeable through the part of the mask that just covered his mouth, "Don't worry about him Cory he will do just fine, he can handle this and himself I know that for sure." He assured her of Ryuu's abilities for the mission given to them.
"Yeah I guess so, I just sometimes wonder about his abilities and if he can keep a clear head in battle is all and I don't want anything to happen to him is all." she responded folding her arms really concerned about Ryuujin.
Reptile walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Cory don't worry about a thing, its not like he is going on this mission on his own we are going to be there with him to help him out if he really needs it." He assured her doing his best to try and convince her that everything was going to play out just fine.
A heavy sigh came out of Cory as she finally accepted it, "Your right, everything will be fine, I'm probably just over reacting is all." she said smiling and Reptile took his hands off her shoulders and stepped back smiling. "Now we just need him to get back so we can go." He said now folding his arms.
Lightly landing on his feet Ryuujin had returned with his sword on his back and ready, "Okay I'm ready to go now." He said adjusting his clothing a bit.
"Excellent lets get going cant waste anymore time now." Reptile heading out ahead of the other two but Cory caught right up with him and all to leave Ryuu a little bit behind.
"Hey guys wait up!" he called as he ran up catching up with them, as they headed outside the gate of their village leaving their home behind for the quite some time.
The morning in Shadow Village brought an unusual chill and a heavy fog as the two shinobi Ryuujin and Cory-Chan stood and waited for their friend to come back from talking with the Shadow Village Elder. "I wonder what's going on in there?" wondered Ryuujin as he tapped his foot being impatient as he can be at times.
"Well what ever it is, I'm sure it's important and knock that off it's starting to bug me." Cory-Chan sitting on a fence by the home of the Elder waiting patiently unlike Ryuujin.
He looked down at this foot realizing what she was talking about and stopped, "I know, but still, this has to be important if the Elder called us out this early to see us personally with out any other of the shinobi's here."
"Ryuu calm down, this is more of an honor then something to worry about, it's more of an honor that we where called out for a well secret assignment by the Village Elder." She told the jittery nervous Ryuujin.
A heavy sigh came from Ryuu shrugging the situation off, "Yeah your right, lets just wait and see what it is."
Inside the room, lit only by a candle the elder and grand shinobi Reptile talked about the mission that was going to be given. "Okay Elder what is so important that you had to wake up my friends and I for?" asked Reptile with his arms folded tapping one finger against his resting arm waiting for the answer.
"It has been brought to my attention that a couple of powers out there seem to be moving on this select group of shinobi's." spoke the Elder as he set down a file for Reptile, and he took a deep puff on his pipe releasing the smoke into the air resting back in his chair.
"You, Ryuujin and Cory-Chan out there will be protecting the people in that file." He said putting his hands together leaning forward onto his desk.
Reptile picked up the file looking inside of it seeing on name that caught his eye, "Hatake Kakashi?" he raised an eyebrow, "Why would he need protection? He is the best shinobi at Leaf Village; I thought he couldn't be beat considering he knows well over a thousand Jutsu's." Reptile in disbelief about this mission and why they where to protect the Sharingan user Kakashi.
"Reptile, even though he may know all of the Jutsu's that he does, does not mean that he is unbeatable in any such way, don't forget you have been around much longer then he has." The Elder rising from his seat and walking to the window looking out to where Ryuu and Cory were and gave a slight smile at how well they have come and all that they have accomplished.
"Yes I suppose you are right about that, but."Reptile trailed off.
"But what, Reptile?" Elder asked looking over his shoulder at him.
"Well, I know Cory-Chan and I are ready for this kind of thing as for Ryuujin.um I am just not so sure about him." Reptile closing the file and sitting down on the desk of the Village Elder, questioning if his friend was really capable of this mission.
"Don't worry, Ryuu can handle himself, he is from the Ryuu Clan and blessed with the mark that shows up in their blood line once in some odd amount of years." The Elder walking up to Reptile, "So do not worry about him, he is an excellent addition to the team."
"You're right, now for the main question, why are we protecting this group of shinobi's?" Reptile asked thumbing through the file looking at who they are supposed to protect.
"Well the one boy Uzamaki Naruto, he is a unique young boy as."
Reptile cut him off, "I know the one that has the Nine Tailed Demon Fox inside of him, I know that tail, along with Uchiha Sasuke, the last survivor of that clan besides his brother Itachi who slaughtered everyone, I was there I survived that skirmish with him." He said clenching his fist tightly.
"Yes well, Itachi is after Naruto for the fact he wants to use the Nine Tails Fox for himself. But he is not the only threat, for there is another." The Elder taking a puff from his pipe.
"Another? Who is the other?" Asked Reptile in a slight shock to the news of someone being close to Itachi's level in any way.
"The other is a one Amatsu Mikaboshi, He is in equal power, strength everything with Itachi, it's truly scary but that's the other threat someone equal to him, the only good thing is that they are enemies and have a grudge against one another because of their equality though they have tendencies of being better then one another." Elder taking another puff from his pipe sitting back in his chair.
With a heavy and troubled sigh Reptile sat off from the desk, "Okay well where on the case then." He said heading towards the door.
"Wait!" The Elder called out as he reached into his desk and tossed three forehead protectors to Reptile. "You and the others are the first to wear these official Shadow Country forehead protectors." He smiled happily giving out the first set of them to a great group of students.
Reptile took a look at them, "Wow thank you very much." The ninja not much for words at the moment being given the honor to be the first to wear their countries first forehead protectors.
The Elder stood up once more from his seat and walked up to Reptile one last time, "I thank you, for looking over Ryuujin and tell Cory-Chan the same, because you two have taught him a lot, and the only ones who treated him like any other kid." Taking a deep breath for a moment, "But know that people around know who he is and his importance in his life, so be warned that there will be people after him and his life, so make sure he stays safe, but just do it that he doesn't feel like a burden." The old man smiled patting Reptile on the arm as he turned away going back to his seat and groaning a bit as he sat down.
Reptile smiled and waved good-bye as he stepped out the door to meet with his friends and to give an explanation of what was going to happen. Ryuujin sat on the ground still but had to entertain himself one way so he was studying up on his Jutsu's working out the hand movements and finding out the right amount of charka or ki to put into each different attack. Cory was brushing up on her martial art moves, seeing as how she hasn't had a fight in awhile or just a good fight at that and the yearning of battle burned inside wanting to meet a definite worthy opponent to test her skills to their max. "AH HA!" Yelled out Ryuujin as he jumped up in joy, "Cory- Chan check this move out I finally figured it out!" he said excitedly.
"Heh okay lets see this move." She said smiling stopping from her exercise.
Ryuu grinned and he performed the seal technique putting up his index and middle fingers up but slid his right hand in that formation behind his left and grinned, "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu (Shadow Replication Technique)!" he yelled out and soon there where about ten or so copies of him.
The eyes of Reptile and Cory went wide as they watched him perform such an advanced technique such as that. "Ryuujin how did you get a hold of such an advanced technique?" asked Cory-Chan in an uncertain voice and of curiosity.
"Well Hikage samma gave me a group of jutsu scrolls that I could practice with, and this one I have been tinkering with for awhile and finally got it." He explained smiling cheerfully.
Holding the folder by his side Reptile walked up to the two, "Wow impressive kid, you certainly are getting better at this, now if you can just talk to girls you like." He joked around with him.
Ryuujin blushed a bit as it covered his cheeks but then got angry; "SHUT UP DAMNIT!" he yelled sitting back down folding his arms angrily and the shadow clones all disappeared. "Didn't even get to see the addition." He said under his breath.
"Ah don't worry about it Ryuu you know he was only joking with you." Said Cory-Chan smiling and messing up his hair a bit; "Okay so what's the mission for us?" asked Cory as she turned from Ryuujin to Reptile.
"Well, we are to protect and look over a group of shinobi from the Leaf Village." Said Reptile, as he looked into the folder really quick for the group photo of them and then handed the photo to Cory.
She looked at it and as she did her eyes suddenly shot to the silver haired man in the back of the three young ninja's, "W-who is he?" she asked, as her eyes grew wide.
Reptile stepped by her and looked, "Oh that would be Hatake Kakashi, he is the sensei for the three standing in front." He explained looking at her puzzled for a moment.
Her eyes practically turned into giant hearts as she gazed at Kakashi's picture, "Oh my god he is so noopy (cute)." She said gripping the picture tightly not wanting to let go.
A sigh came from Reptile as he shook his head a bit, "Well he is not the only one we are looking after remember that we have to look after the other three, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and finally Uzumaki Naruto." Reptile pointing out the people in the photo as Ryuujin got up to see them all.
Scratching his chin slightly then switching to put his hands behind his head, "Now why are we protecting these people? There shinobi's they should be able to handle themselves.right?" Ryuujin asked curiously looking to Reptile for an answer.
"It appears that there are some people out there that are after them, such as one Itachi, the brother of Sasuke there. We believe he may be after his brother or Naruto there, for the special gift locked inside of him." Said Reptile as he looked at the file of Naruto with all his information, thanks to the spy's of Shadow Village putting their talents to work.
"What might that be exactly?" Asked Ryuujin stepping away from Cory as she was practically drooling over Kakashi.
"Well, it seems that the boy Naruto has the legendary Nine Tales Demon Fox locked inside of him, and Itachi wants that for his own reasons, I would think, I mean who wouldn't want that kind of power for themselves." Reptile explained giving good reasons knowing that any person that desires power would go after that kind of thing for himself or even herself.
Cory-Chan finally tore herself away from looking at Kakashi, "So this young boy has such an evil creature inside of him humph, who put it there?" she asked curiously as Ryuujin giving the look of curiosity himself.
"It was the Fourth Hokage of the Leaf Village, he was the one to seal it way inside him, though from what I have heard, his thoughts on it and what he believed was not shared by the other people in the village." Reptile managing to snatch the photo away from Cory and put it back into the folder as she tried reaching back for it.
Ryuu stood there for a moment watching Cory-Chan trying to get the photo back and he remembered the one thing he forgot and knew he was going to need it, "Hey, you two I will be right back, I forgot something that I think will come in handy." He said and he leaped away with the dust being kicked up from under his feet.
He leaped over the rooftops making no sound as he landed on each one, finally came to the door to his home and stepped inside looking about the room scanning it really quick. "Ah there it is." He said walking to the mantle where a sheathed sword was placed on a pedestal.
The young ninja reached for it and pulled it off, "Ah the Shuurai (Lightning Strike) couldn't forget you." He said and placed the sword on his back tying it tight to him so it would not fall off.
Meanwhile.
Cory finally stopped trying to grab for the picture and they where now waiting for their companion to come back, "Do you think Ryuujin can handle something like this? Trying to protect some younger kids?" asked Cory-Chan slightly questioning their friend's abilities and if he was ready.
A smile crossed Reptiles face and was noticeable through the part of the mask that just covered his mouth, "Don't worry about him Cory he will do just fine, he can handle this and himself I know that for sure." He assured her of Ryuu's abilities for the mission given to them.
"Yeah I guess so, I just sometimes wonder about his abilities and if he can keep a clear head in battle is all and I don't want anything to happen to him is all." she responded folding her arms really concerned about Ryuujin.
Reptile walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Cory don't worry about a thing, its not like he is going on this mission on his own we are going to be there with him to help him out if he really needs it." He assured her doing his best to try and convince her that everything was going to play out just fine.
A heavy sigh came out of Cory as she finally accepted it, "Your right, everything will be fine, I'm probably just over reacting is all." she said smiling and Reptile took his hands off her shoulders and stepped back smiling. "Now we just need him to get back so we can go." He said now folding his arms.
Lightly landing on his feet Ryuujin had returned with his sword on his back and ready, "Okay I'm ready to go now." He said adjusting his clothing a bit.
"Excellent lets get going cant waste anymore time now." Reptile heading out ahead of the other two but Cory caught right up with him and all to leave Ryuu a little bit behind.
"Hey guys wait up!" he called as he ran up catching up with them, as they headed outside the gate of their village leaving their home behind for the quite some time.