AN: Ok I'm back with another chapter… Actually I got more written for this than my other fic that I was supposed to be writing two months ago, I'm kinda stuck on it. And every time I try to write more for it I end up coming up with stuff for this fic XD
Recap: 7 years ago when all the fighting of the war ended, Naruto disappeared. Despite this he fulfilled his promise of bringing the last Uchiha back to Konoha. Also his parentage was revealed to the masses, leaving the village leaders with more headaches not even related to getting their villages back in order.
Now we go back to the present…
Tsunade analyzed the assembled jōnin in front of her. Starting from the right was her apprentice Haruno Sakura, over the past 7 years she gained the feminine curves she lacked during her teens, not comparable to her teacher but enough that she couldn't complain, she grew out her hair once more but kept it in a bun while on-duty.
Next was Aburame Shino, not much had changed in terms of appearance because he, like many of his genin batch, opted out of wearing the vests but his giant leap in height made up for that lack of change and gave him more presence as he towered over his peers.
And lastly was Hyūga Neji, his hair was now in a low English braid starting from his nape due to its length and he still wears traditional Hyuuga clothing varying only with the color of the pants being either black or brown.
When the three looked like they were about to loose their patience by how their Hokage was studying them, Tsunade began the debriefing.
"Neji, I believe you will be familiar with what this mission I'm about to give you three" the other two jōnin took a glance at their current teammate before giving full attention back to their Hokage.
"I received a request by the New Hyūga Clan head. After the ousting of the previous clan elders and the defeat of the previous clan head, the new clan head immediately decreed the joining of the main and the branch families. And so the abolishment of the Hyūga Sōke no Juinjutsu is imminent, however not only is there a problem with how to safely remove the seal but there is also the necessity of keeping the Byakugan out of enemy hands."
Tsunade let the three absorb the information before continuing.
"Your mission is to locate and escort Konoha's Fūinjutsu Master from his current residence back to the village – " before she could explain further Sakura couldn't stop herself from interrupting.
"But shishõ I thought Kakashi-sensei was Konoha's last Fūinjutsu master, ever since Jiraiya-sama…?"
"No Sakura, Kakashi may be adept in Fūinjutsu but he is no Master. Anyway, this mission will be S-rank due to the conditions set by the Fūinjutsu Master – " again she was interrupted, but this time by Neji.
"Why would he make any such demands?"
"If you would stop interrupting me I could answer your questions!" Tsunade exploded, giving her desk more hairline fractures.
"Ahem, as I was saying, the reason for the high ranking of the mission and the demands of the Fuinjutsu master are there for his and his family's protection, certain precautions must be followed. It is also the reason as to why he does not live within the village. Furthermore, for this mission he will need a long research and preparation time to formulate the process for the safe removal of the current seal and the development of a new seal to protect the Byakugan. He won't be able to move forward in this project by being so far from the village. And thus, he and I have come to an agreement that it's time for him to move back into the village but of course there is a couple of other deals made for the benefit of his children. Now you may ask questions. Neji you first."
"Why would a citizen of Konoha be in any way of risk here in their own village?"
"I cannot answer that without revealing his identity, and I cannot do that until he and his family are safely within the village. Though once you find him I can assure you that you should know him. Shino your turn."
"You mentioned a deal made for the benefit of his child, what did you mean?"
"Due to his lineage and history, and not to mention other unique circumstances, he fears that his youngest child may receive negative treatment or come to harm in some way. Especially since his child insists on entering Konoha's Shinobi academy like the child's father did. His eldest however will most likely be relatively safe upon his initiation into a genin team. Now Sakura."
"Shishō, by the way you speak of the Fuinjutsu master and his children, it seems like you know more inside information than what would have been on file for the mssion request. Are you personally acquainted with them? I thought they have been away from the village for years?"
"Ha! I should have known you'd see through me. But yes, we're practically family. When you get back from the mission, if you want, I could even show you pictures. They're quite hilarious and others endearing. But enough of that, here are the coordinates we received for the town closest to their multi-purpose Fuinjutsu shop called Kogami 狐神 (AN: I made this up, the kanji just means 'fox god'), it's up to you three to locate his shop. There you will find our Fūinjutsu Master and his apprentice and child. Neji will lead this mission, depart in three hours. Dismissed"
It took the three four days before reaching the small farming village of Chigusa (AN: I made it up too, I wont put the kanji since it's not important), it was only an hour distance from the border of Hi no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni, so despite the abundant vegetation, it was quite hot.
The three checked in at the only inn in the village, before setting out to gather information from the villagers for any clues on the exact location of the shop called Kogami.
They went their separate ways and agreed to rendezvous at a small restaurant near their inn.
By the end of the day the team assembled to share the information they found on the elusive shop with each other over dinner.
"Sakura, Shino, what were able to find?"
"I don't know about Shino but all I found was that practically the entire village knows of the shop and makes purchases, but they only do so through a third party service or the Fuinjutsu master himself would make personal house visits following a request. Only a handful would know where the shop is, unfortunately most of those people are currently out of the village."
"While you asked around the main area of the village I went to the farms, why? Because it would be logical to ask the farmers who know the surrounding forests. I found that the target visits the town hall every two days to deliver his wares or to meet clients whom need his services personally. A request box and a catalogue of the ready made seals are there, being managed by whom is said to be the Fuinjutsu Master's apprentice. He just delivered his wares this morning before our arrival."
"Good job Shino now all we have to do is get in touch with this apprentice –" Sakura's praise was cut off as Neji suddenly divulged his piece.
"Actually I learned of another way that would allow us to locate his residence. However, if not handled properly, we may be perceived to be hostile by the target."
"What are you talking about? Why'd they believe we're hostile?"
"We are quite pressed for time, the sooner we find them the better, if we go through the town hall plan, two days will be wasted. What I'm suggesting is we wait by the village daycare and primary school. It seems that the target's Son is among the finishing students, and that the apprentice picks him up every afternoon when his father can't."
"Your plan seems the quickest, perhaps Sakura should be the one visible when waiting at the school. She looks less threatening between the three of us."
"I'll let that comment slide for now Shino, since I know you weren't trying to insult me."
"Well that settles it then, we'll proceed early tomorrow."
Sakura fidgeted as she approached the teacher watching the children who were waiting for their guardians of parents. The elderly lady minding the children looked how the ideal grandmother was supposed to be, but somehow Sakura observed that despite her age she was quite fit as if she had undergone some warrior conditioning during her youth.
"E-excuse me…" Sakura nervously said to get the woman's attention.
"Yes? How can I help you Shinobi-san?" The old lady gave her a closed-eyed smile that just sent Sakura's skin crawling with fear. (AN: If you've watched Bleach then think of the smile that Unohana Retsu gives people)
"W-well you see, my team and I were hoping to meet with the Fūinjutsu master who lives in the area. We were told that he sometimes comes to pick up his son here…" and suddenly Sakura felt the creepy feeling being lifted.
"Oh! You mean Toruna-san (AN: yes I'm a lazy bum, with just rearranging his name XD). Are you perhaps from Konoha?"
"Yes we are. Why do you ask?"
"Well yesterday Toruna-san was saying that he received a summons back to his village, so he was passing the word around the village that as soon as his escorts arrived that he would be moving to Konoha, he said he'd still take orders but it would take longer since it would be by messenger pigeons, also little Kurama would be able to enroll into the Shinobi Academy…. Oh dear! I've held you up long enough, little Kurama and Narumi-kun left a few minutes before the class was even dismissed today. If you head south from here you might catch up to them, if not then just keep going south towards the forests until you see the lake, from there head a little between North East and East for half a mile into the forest. You should be able to find his workshop around that area."
"Thank you! And to answer your question, yes we are the team assigned to escort him and his family. Well we'll be going now."
Sakura quickly returned to Shino and Neji, after reiterating her conversation with the elderly lady they quickly made their way to locate the workshop. Going at a moderate (Shinobi) pace, they reached the lake in less than ten minutes and the half-mile took fifteen.
"Shino send out your Kikaichu to scout out, I'll use my Byakugan to see if there are any possible hidden security seals as traps. Sakura be on the ready to either dispel any possible genjutsu or to aid Shino and I medically. The mission scroll said to proceed with caution when going to the shop."
The three cautiously walked side by side into the beginnings of a small patch of forest. Fearful of what seals could be hidden by the greenery, especially seals of a Fuinjutsu master, they were quite high strung. Ready to defend or flee at the slightest hint of danger.
Too bad it was all for naught because as soon as they passed the tree line hundreds upon hundreds of seals lit up from where they stood and spread out in waves, similar to ripples in a pond.
Startled at the sudden trap the three of them drew out kunais preparing for some kind of assault, when finally the last of the seal waves went deeper into the forest. They didn't dare move for fear of being a target for something or other, suddenly just a foot from where they stood seals slowly emerged on the ground in a spiral, when it stopped moving there was a small 'poof' of smoke. And there on the ground lay a partially unrolled scroll.
Neji scanned it with his eyes before picking it up and reading alound:
Welcome Hyūga Neji, Haruno Sakura, and Aburame Shino. I'm sorry for the shocking greeting, but this entire forest has seals that alert me of anyone entering and in the event that a person has ever received Shinobi training enters the forest, the analytic seals hone in on them and send me information on the signature. Usually just that wouldn't give me your identities, just your strength and nature, but I've been informed by the Hokage ahead of time of your signatures. Anyway please unroll this scroll further, there are three slips rolled in. These are what I call 'guiding seals' attach these either on your arm or for best results some kind of rope or ribbon tied to your person, after just push some chakra into it and it will lead you to it's partner seal that is currently attached to my shop's entrance.
P.S. If no one is at the shop counter just ring the bell. Narumi, my apprentice and eldest son, will escort you into are home. I'm currently indisposed with getting my youngest to wash up, then I have to prepare lunch, and after finish up packing for our trip.
P.P.S. don't worry about the seal traps in the forest I've removed them all – aside from the ones earlier – yesterday.
Neji handed out the seals and each of them attached theirs to some ninja wire and activated it. The seals lit up and started lightly pulling into the same direction. They set of at a more relaxed running pace into the forest as they conversed.
"I've never heard of a guiding seal before, have either of you guys heard of it?" Sakura asked her team mates
"Taking into account that he is a master, he probably designed these on his own." Neji said while still inspecting the floating paper with his Byakugan.
"The farmers that I spoke to told me that Toruna-san also makes seals that can be used by civilians, the seals need no chakra activation but instead have an expiration date instead." Shino added.
"Wow, hey Neji did the mission scroll tell us anything else about Toruna-san? Like appearance or age"
"No not a thing, but then again Sakura, Tsunade-sama did say that she knew them personally. So no other information was exactly needed."
They remained silent as a small shop came into view…