The Mission

Tsunade, the fifth Hokage was reading over a report she had been given an hour ago. "If this continues they could become as big a threat as the Akatasuki have been."

Shizune looked over at her master. "So what should we do?"

Tsunade opened a drawer. "I think it's about time to let our new Jonin lead his first mission." She pulled out a custom kunai knife with three blades and a teleportation formal on the handle.

"Are you sure about that, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune questioned.

"I can't think of anyone better," Tsunade said. A smiled cracked on her face. She threw the knife in the middle of the floor. In an instant Naruto appeared in front of it in his night clothes, yawning. "Aren't we being lazy today." Tsunade stood up, slamming her hands on the desk. "Time to wake up, Naruto. I have a mission for you to lead."

The word "lead" quickly woke Naruto up to the situation. He stood up in urgency. "What is it, Lady Tsunade?" He looked down at himself, noticing he wasn't properly dress for the day. He stuck his arms out in front of him, shaking his hands. "Hold on, I'll be right back."

Naruto flashed out of the room.

A couple of minutes later he reappeared where he just stood. He was now fully dressed in his orange black tracksuit with a flak jacket over it and his long black headband tied over his forehead. Naruto putted his hand behind his back as he closed his eyes. "Sorry about that."

Naruto knew he needed to be more professional now that he was named a Jonin. "So what did you need from me, Lady Tsunade? Something about a mission?" His mother always made sure Naruto learned to address his superiors properly.

Tsunade was now back in her seat with her chin resting on her hands. "That's right. I want you to lead your first mission as a Jonin."

Naruto stepped forward with an excited grin on his face. His eyes lighted up at the idea. "Really, you're going to have me lead an actually mission."

"Not just a mission, but an S-rank mission," Tsunade told him. "So I need you to really pay attention to all the details."

Naruto saluted. "Yes, ma'am." Naruto really wanted to jump for joy at the thought, but he knew he needed to first hear what he would have to do. He could celebrate later with his girlfriend Hinata. That would be a whole lot of fun.

"Now listen up," Tsunade told him. "You'll be leading a team to go and attack the fame fortress that is hidden within the Land of Earth. They seem to be getting stronger as a force that threatens to attack the entire continent."

"I heard they've been a pain to the Hidden Stone Village, but do they really have the power to try to take over the entire continent?" Naruto questioned. He couldn't see how a band of rouge ninja could possibly take on a single country let alone the continent.

"It's believed they're using the rumor Twelve Keys of Nature to increase their strength along with Koi Kanagawa leading them," Tsunade explained.

Naruto took another step forward; this time in anger. "You mean that bastard Koi is in charge of these guys." Tsunade nodded. Naruto pounded his fist into his open hand. Koi was a well known missing nin from the Hidden Mist that went around stealing human body parts from Kekki Genkai users and implanted them into his own body to help him make the ultimate body. He even stole Sasuke's father's eyes after the Uchiha massacred and Hinata and Neji's grandfather's Byakugan in an ambush after that. It was even rumored he stole Pein's Rinnegan sometime after Naruto's victory.

Tsunade grabbed a folder and handed it over to Naruto. He opened it up to see a list of names on it. "Those are all the available shinobi I can afford to give you under our current circumstances. I want you to pick up to fifteen of them to serve as your team. If the situation gets any worse you can call for back up. Remember to observer the situation first, Naruto."

Naruto looked over the list then flipped it over to the Hokage. He pointed out all of his friends who were on the list. "I see," Tsunade said. "I realize they're your friends, but are you sure there the best people for this mission?"

"It has nothing to do with us being friends," Naruto said swinging his arm. "Each one of them are experience Jonin of the Hidden Leaf. Besides that between their combine abilities in tracking, combat, intelligence and medical training they're the perfect team to take on this type of mission. We work well together so there is also a lesser chance of casualties."

"It seems your leader skills are already kicking in," Tsunade said.

Naruto pointed to himself. "Of course, like I keep telling you, Lady Tsunade. I'm going to be a Hokage that surpasses my father."

"Then go out there and gather up your team," Tsunade ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." Naruto vanished.

"I hope he will be alright," Shizune said.

"Not to worry, Shizune," Tsunade replied. "Naruto isn't a kid anymore."

-N-

"Are you sure your eyes are fully healed?"

"Don't baby me, Karin." Sasuke and Karin were leaving Konoha's hospital where Sasuke had just had his bandages removed from his eyes. Karin was walking her boyfriend out, insisting that he hang onto her as they left. She had his arm over her shoulder.

"I just want to make sure that you're alright," she said.

Sasuke leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheek that made her face flush red. He then brought his lips to her ear. "Does that convince you?" he whispered.

"Y-yes."

Sasuke took his arm off of her and brought it down to his side. "Good, then later we can go on a real date."

"That's going to have to wait," they heard a voice call. The couple looked forward to see Naruto leaned against the gate of the hospital. He had both his arms and legs cross with his eyes closed. He opened his eyes and looked over at them. "So your eyes are really one-hundred percent?"

"You tell me." Sasuke activated his sharingan that took the shape of a black and red six point star.

"So that's the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," Naruto said. He turned to face them, dropping his arms to his side. "Guess it's time to put those eyes to work since we have a mission."

"A mission, already?" the Uchiha questioned. He blinked in confusion.

"You said you're all healed now," Naruto answered. "Besides I'm going to need my tag team partner in order to take down the Fortress Hidden in the Land of Stone."

"That fortress is a death trap," Karin said as she stepped forward.

"No wonder you'll need my help." Sasuke walked toward his best friend with Karin following.

"S-Sasuke," Karin stuttered.

"Anyway you both should get ready because you're both coming along," Naruto informed them. "I had you both added to the team. I'll need both of your abilities in order to pull this off."

Sasuke had turned off his sharingan as he stood in front of Naruto. "Right, then we'll get ready and meet you at the front gate."

"Yeah, and I'll finish informing the rest of the team." Naruto then disappeared in an instant.

Sasuke closed his eyes. "Hmph, Naruto always in a hurry." He opened them and looked over at his redheaded girlfriend. "I'll be counting on you, Karin."

Karin looked serious. "Yes, of course."

-N-

Shikamaru was sitting across from Choji at Yakiniku Q that morning having breakfast. He had his arms folded across his chest as he watched his best friend eat like a hog. "You know, Choji, you shouldn't eat so much."

"Oh, come on. Asuma sensei would never get on me about that kind of stuff," Choji responded before he took another bite.

"You make it sound like Asuma's dead or something," Shikamaru said. He had managed to save his teacher in his fight with Hidan and Kakuzu although it was barely. Now he was working on plans to marry his sweetheart Kurenai. They were expecting their first child together.

Hands slammed on the table, grabbing both boys' attention. They saw Naruto standing there; they both wore a curious expression on their faces. Naruto quickly gave them a breakdown on the mission they would be setting out on.

Shikamaru sighed. "Why did you have to drag me into a crazy mission like this?"

"Because you're the best strategist that I know," Naruto answered. The words took the lazy boy's interest. "And I'm going to need the best of the best in order in order for this to be successful."

"Guess you have a good point there," Shikamaru said. "It's a drag, but I suppose I have no choice but to help you out."

"Then meet us at the front gate in one hour," Naruto responded. He then disappeared once again.

-N-

"A mission?" Ino questioned. Naruto was at the Yamanaka Flower shop to get Ino. She was standing behind the counter with her yellow apron on.

"That's right, you'll be a part of my team to take down the Fortress in the Land of Earth," Naruto answered. "The whole gang is a part of the mission because of their different skills. I'll need you ready in about an hour and to meet everyone at the front gate." He then left the shop for the member of the team.

-N-

"Aim a quarter of an inch higher, Hinata," her father instructed her.

"Yes, sir." Hinata was sparring with Neji at Hyuga compound. The two slid back from each other, staying in the gentle fist fighting position. Hinata took a cautious step forward, before she went in to strike at Neji again.

Neji moved in the opposite fashion in order to strike Hinata. Naruto appeared between the two as they threw out their palms, getting strike in the face and arm. "Naruto." Hinata was caught off guard by his sudden appearance. Naruto fell down on his butt rubbing his cheek where he got struck.

"Why would you teleport here?" Neji questioned. He pointed up to the roof at the entrance of the house. On top was a custom made kunai impaled in a tile. "Isn't that why you have that Kunai up there in case you need to get here in an emergency?"

Naruto shifted his eyes up to the said kunai. "Yeah, I guess I should have came in that way."

"Sorry about that, Naruto." Hinata helped her boyfriend get back up on his feet.

"It's ok." He then focused on Hinata, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Anyway I need you, Hinata." The boldness of Naruto's sudden words made her blush.

"Naruto," Neji said. The words sounded inappropriate to him.

Naruto looked back at him. "You too, Neji. We have a mission." Naruto quickly went through the mission before he left for his next meeting. He quickly zipped over to Sai and Shino's places before he went to Kiba's.

-N-

"Taking down the famous fortress of the Land of Earth, huh," Kiba said. He smirked with his fang sticking out. "It sounds like fun." He and Naruto were in the Inuzuka's kitchen. The dog shinobi looked over to his side. "I just need to finish feeding my dogs first."

Kiba was in the middle of giving all the Inuzuka hounds their breakfast when Naruto showed up; which included Kiba's latest pack known as his Fang Force Pack. A blue looking dog looked up at the two shinobi. "You were also assigned to bring back the rumor Twelve Nature Keys isn't that right?" the dog said.

"I see Aoimaru is as insightful as ever," Naruto said in annoyance.

"Don't worry about it we'll be ready by the time we need to depart," Kiba replied.

"Then I'm off." Naruto disappeared.

-N-

Naruto found Rock Lee in the forest training when he informed him and then Tenten in town. She offered to tell Neji for him, but he explained how he had already went by the Hyuga compound. Which Tenten replied by noting he just wanted to see Hinata. Naruto then went to get the last two members of his team.

Sakura and Jugo were in the forest sitting on a log, watching the birds sang. "I never realize how calming and beautiful nature actually was," Sakura said.

Jugo placed his hand over hers. "I thought you might enjoy hearing the bird sang. You've been too stress out lately."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Sakura said sweetly.

"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto yelled from behind.

Sakura's eyes went white with rage. "Naruto!" She spun around to take a swing at him, in pure instinct Naruto quickly retreated behind a tree. Jugo looked back at his former teacher in confusion. "What do you think you're doing here, you idiot."

Naruto stuck his head out from behind the tree. "We have a mission."

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