Part 1

It was a bright and sunny blue-sky day in Konoha. The citizens bustled around happily with their daily activities. It seemed that everyone was in a cheerful mood. That is, except for one:

"A D-ranked mission?!?! You must be joking, gramps!" Naruto said obnoxiously, pointing a finger at the elderly hokage. He made an exaggerated frown as he kept complaining. "How can I ever become Hokage if you keep sending me on these lame missions? I want an A-rank mission! Believe it!" The blonde shinobi stuck his face close to the Third's trying to emphasize his point.

The Hokage simple removed his pipe from his mouth to blow a putrid smoke ring at Naruto. Naruto's eyes watered as he flailed around on the floor dramatically. The Hokage smiled crookedly as he replaced the pipe.

"Naruto! You are so annoying! Will you stop acting like a kid for just this once?!? Let's hurry and get this mission over with!" Sakura whined, trying to scold Naruto for his 'childish' behavior. She waved a fist at him then, composing herself, turned to the Third with a sweet smile.

"Lord Hokage, please excuse us for interrupting. Thank you for the mission you assigned us." She bowed deeply. Then, stomping over, grabbed the collar of Naruto's orange jacket and dragged him out of the office-pouting the whole way. As she pulled him through the door he stuck his tongue out at the unruffled elder. Sasuke reluctantly followed his teammates, closing the door behind him.

The three ninja waited at the gates of Konoha. Sakura paced impatiently between the large open doors. Naruto sat, cross-legged, still pouting about the mission. Even Sasuke was a little jaded. He was perched on a high branch of a tree that bowed toward the village gates. He nonchalantly flung pebbles at the large entrance sign, occasionally hitting the frustrated Naruto below.

"Where is Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked a little concerned. She looked up at the sky, her hand shading her eyes. "It is already past noon." She stated, annoyance filling her bored voice.

Just then a cloud of smoke announced the arrival of their teacher. Kakashi serenely closed his open book. Naruto and Sakura jumped up and crowded around him. "You're late again! Where were you?" They both asked accusingly in unison. Kakashi scratched the back of his head and smiled under his mask. "I was….uh…well; I'll have to get back to you on my excuse. Where you all waiting for me?" He asked innocently. Naruto and Sakura could only nod, too infuriated to reply. "Oh, well, I just came by to tell you that…I won't be accompanying you on this mission!" He finished, a mischievous joy in his voice. "I guess I should have told you sooner, huh?" Sakura and Naruto fell over in shock, and in the distance you could hear a small thud from where Sasuke fell out of the tree.

Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke before the angry ninjas could chase after him.

"We've been walking for days and we still haven't found the village! It is almost dark and I am hungry! Sasuke, you idiot, you got us lost!" Naruto whined, as team Kakashi walked along an aged trail surrounded by strange foliage. Sasuke crammed his hands deeper in his pockets, ignoring Naruto's complaints.

"Shut up, Naruto! It's only been a few hours! Plus, I'm the one navigating!" Sakura taunted, sneaking behind the griping ninja and successfully putting him in a headlock. Their arguing came to a sudden halt at the sound of bushes rustling.

"W-what was that?" Sakura asked, releasing her hold around Naruto's neck. He dropped to the ground, rubbing the back of his head. The bushed rustled again, revealing malevolent glowing eyes. Naruto and Sakura jumped, and absent mindedly clung to one another.

Sasuke looked back to see what all the commotion was. He saw his two team mates adhered to each other in fear. A look of mocking curiosity stretched across his face. He walked over to the rattling shrub. Without hesitating, he dropped to his knees and reached under the bush.

"No! Sasuke, don't!" Sakura cried, retreating behind Naruto. Sasuke's hands wrapped around the daunting creature. A smirk came across his face. With his back turned to the others he calmly picked up the being. The sun had now set, dark shadows loomed over the trail. In the dim light, Sakura could make out Sasuke's outline. Holding the animal arm's length away, he strode toward them. When he neared them, the creature leap from Sasuke's hands. It clung onto Naruto's chest, its miniature claws scratching his skin.

Naruto howled in surprise and pain as he tried to push away from the frightened beast's grip. Sakura laughed, prying the creature from Naruto. "It's just a stray cat!" She exclaimed, petting it. Naruto laughed too. He reached forward to pet it as well, but was swatted away. Sakura chuckled in amusement.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and crossed his arms; waiting for his teammates to continue their mission. He watched as the stroked the attention-craving kitten. Something caught his eyes.

This cat was like none he had ever seen. Its eyes were a pale green, fur stripped and smoky gray. The feline's tail was bobbed and it had large dark ears and paws-definably not native to the Fire Country.

Sasuke withdrew back to where he had found the kitten. He searched along the ground for a trap, or cage-maybe even a collar. Just then the Earth gave way underfoot. Naruto and Sakura looked up as they heard the sudden sound of twigs snapping and heavy debris hitting the earth. They both yelled in unison, "Sasuke!"

Author's Note: Sorry it is so short and boring. Just stay with me! I promise it will get better! Please review and tell me what you think! Thanks so much for reading!

God Bless!

-Ryu

(Disclaimers are in my profile)