Okay. I tweaked the ages some so the story could go right. This takes place after the Chuunin exam, before Sasuke is taken and also before Shikamaru is promoted to Chunin as well. The Rookie 9 and Gaara - 15 Team Gai and Temari - 16 Kankuro - 17 Kuraani - 25 Kakashi, Gai, Asuma - 26 Jiraiya, Tsunade - 58
Chapter 1
#Hokage Tower#
"Okay, Naruto, why did you ask us to come here?" Sakura asked her blonde teammate.
"I didn't, I just did what Tsunade told me too," Naruto replied.
The Rookie 9, Team Gai, and their sensei's all waited in Tsunade's office. A few minutes later, Tsunade entered the room with Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and Jiraiya following. "Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro are going to help you with this next mission as a sign of good faith between the Hidden Leaf and Sand Villages. I'm sending more people than would normally be needed, but he's paying enough for all of you and this mission should be easy."
"What exactly is the mission and who is our employer?" Sasuke asked coolly.
Tsunade looked at the Uchiha. "The employer is an Outsider by the name of Joseph Volpendesta, But you won't be dealing with him. You'll be dealing with his former son-in-law, Charles Lamb."
"Why Lamb-san?" Ino asked politely.
Tsunade sat down and looked at the group. "Our employer is concerned about his granddaughter who lives with her father." She picked up a folder and pulled out a picture. She hande3d Ino the photo and let it be passed around. "Miss Samantha Lamb. Recently turned 16 years of age. Also recently released from the care of doctors after a near fatal wound." She took the picture back from Neji.
"How did she get injured?" Hinata asked quickly.
"Why would someone want to hurt her? She doesn't look important," Kiba said.
Tsunade looked at the picture again. A teenage girl with should length hair and blue-green eyes was talking to a teenage boy with brown hair and eyes. "Some boys that were in her class were the ones that injured her. As to why, they think it best if the girl or her father tells you."
'Such sadness in her eyes,' Kakashi thought.
"When was this photograph taken?" Kurenai asked.
"About four days before she disappeared. She turned up three days after she vanished, apparently bleeding heavily from her neck and chest. Any other details on the incident will be given to you once you arrive. Like I said before, for all of you, this should be easy. It's just a bodyguard assignment after all. Don't kill unless it's absolutely necessary and be ready to defend the reason why you killed. The way of life of the shinobi is not well known on the Outside, so for the most part you will be expected to play the role of a civilian." She was met with nods. "Good. Now, a house has been arranged for you to stay in while you do your job."
"What of the girl? How can we protect her if we are not staying in the same place as her?" Neji asked.
Tsunade smiled. "Lamb-san will inform you of possible arrangements when you get there."
"Okay, if this assignment is for us, then why is Pervy Sage here?" Naruto asked pointing to Jiraiya.
"Kid, stop calling me that," Jiraiya said. "I, unlike all of you, have met both the client and the girl. Though I don't think they wanted us to meet her when we did," he continued looking at Tsunade.
"Neither do I," she agreed.
"What do you mean, Hokage-sama?" Gai asked.
"It seemed as though her father and grandfather weren't going to tell her of this until you arrived, but she arrived at the end of our dealings and we introduced ourselves. She seemed to understand why they are doing this, but didn't seem very happy about it."
Jiraiya picked up there. "Her father and grandfather didn't seem to notice she was hiding her displeasure. The girl's nice enough, I just don't think she likes the fact the twenty people she doesn't know are going to be watching over her. I don't think anyone in her position would be happy, not after what those boys did to her, and she KNEW them."
"What did they do to her?" Neji asked glaring at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya looked at the Hyuuga. Tsunade glared daggers at him. "We weren't supposed to tell you that, but I guess now we'll have too." Tsunade pulled out another photo. "This was taken before she was released into her father's care," she said as she handed it to Neji.
Neji's eyes widened slightly as he stared at the photo. "What is it, Neji?" Tenten asked and looked over his shoulder. She gasped and brought her hand over her mouth. The worked at the bottom identified it as the right side of her neck. Most of the skin was a raw red color. In the middle of her neck was a strange burn mark that was identified as a cross at the bottom. Neji put up a blank mask and passed the picture on.
When the picture was back in Tsunade's hands, all the genin were showing varying degrees of shock, sadness, and anger. Even Gaara looked angry at the thought of the wound. "That is the neck wound. Her other wounds include cuts around her wrists and ankles from the wire she was bound with and a bullet wound to the left side of her chest that barely missed her heart. Lamb-san will give you a full explanation on the types of weapons used and show you types that were used to try and kill his daughter." Tsunade looked at them gravely. "This goes beyond a failed murder attempt, as the wounds can attest. Apparently, they thought there would be a chance, though small, that she would live and branded her BEFORE they shot her. You all will be her bodyguards until she is sent to live with other relatives, but..."
"But, what?" Kakashi asked.
Tsunade sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Miss Lamb and a boy named Larry Madison are the ONLY two people who can, and are willing, to testify in trial against the other six boys. The only problem with just Madison-san testifying is that he is being charged as being an accessory to attempted murder."
"Wait a minute. He helped do this to her, and he's going to go against the others?" Asuma asked. "Why would he go against his partners?"
Jiraiya answered, "He says he never wanted a part in the whole thing. He said, and the girl confirmed it, that he treated her injuries as best as he could and took care of her while she was held against her will, but he didn't do anything to stop it. The boy claimed he did it to save his younger siblings, but who knows." He shrugged.
"In any case, this is a long tern mission and you have until three tomorrow afternoon to get ready. Be here at 3:00 o'clock sharp, and NOBODY had better be LATE," she told them, glaring at Kakashi.
Kakashi chuckled nervously. The ninja all left, leaving Tsunade and Jiraiya alone. "Do you really think we can keep this girl safe?" he asked his old teammate.
"Her body will make it through the ordeal," she replied.
"That's not what I meant and you know it. You saw the look in her eyes. She's almost completely given up hope. Her mind may finally snap before the trial. You heard what her father said. I'm surprised she's lasted this long," Jiraiya commented.
"Maybe these shinobi of the Hidden Leaf and Sand can help save her mind as well, but that's not all I'm worried over," Tsunade said. "Her father mentioned that she and her brother were taken in him and his wife years ago. He's worried about her finding out. Lamb-san feels that she would break if she found out now."
Jiraiya stared at her. "He's kept it form her for this long?"
"So he thinks."
"You don't think he has."
"No, I don't. The girl is smart. It's more than possible that she knows. Now go do what you have too. You know I'm sending you as well, and I want you here at least an hour before them to go over a few more things," Tsunade said.
"Right," Jiraiya said and leapt out the window. Neither noticed the shinobi walking away from the door.
Cliffie,huh? Sorry, I couldn't resist. The next chapter should be up in the next few days. REVIEW!
Ja ne!