"What do we have next?" the Hokage's voice rang through the small room.
"Team Four under Shikadai Nara." His assistant informed him.
"Shikadai!" the Hokage exclaimed as the team entered. "How did the mission go?"
"All three fields cleared in six hours." Shikadai answered, presenting his team proudly.
"D rank pay will be given. I'm assuming you want a mission for tomorrow to save some time?" the Hokage questioned.
"Yes please." Shikadai nodded.
"Well I have another D Rank-" he began to explain.
"Actally Sir, we were hoping for a C rank if you could." Shikadai interrupted.
The two shared a look between them. The Genin could tell something was happening but could not figure out what was going on. After a few tense moments, the Hokage chuckled slightly and reached for a C rank scroll.
"One of the border towns has asked for help with a bandit problem. From their report their numbers are quite large so this only qualifies as a C rank since you'll be backed up by a team from Rain. Apparently, the bandits having been hitting their border as well." The Hokage informed them.
"Anything we should be aware of before we head out sir?" Shikadai asked while reading through the scroll.
"We think a rouge shinobi is leading them. If you encounter him specifically then be careful, running isn't always cowardice. Sometimes it's the preparation for the next plan." The Hokage advised.
All four thanked them as they bowed. Exiting Shikadai informed them of what time they would be leaving at and they went their separate ways to prepare…
"Koji what did you pack?" Iyasu asked as she came running to the gate of the village.
"A few kunia sets, some extra shuriken, and of course my tanto." Koji answered counting on his fingers. "What about you?"
"Eh you know the normal things. Kunia, Shuriken, Fuma Shuriken, Nunchaku, and a Kusarigama." Iyasu offhandedly listed.
Koji and Unido both stared at the girl oddly. She barely noticed as she looked through her pack again. A short cough alerted them all to Shikadai's presence.
"You three ready?" Shikadai asked.
"Yes Sensei!" All three responded as one.
"Then let's get a move on." Shikadai ordered cheerily…
"So you're our team up from Rain?" Shikadai asked the four shinobi assembled in front of him.
All four were dressed similarly to one another, black pants grey shirts and gas masks covering the lower halves of their faces.
A click sounded before the Jounin of their team spoke up saying, "Yes. We were sent to ensure that this mission is completely properly and that you are then on your way back home."
"I guess despite the treaty and alliances you still don't trust the leaf too much." Shikadai grunted out.
"We still prefer our privacy over your villages openness." A gennin spoke up before the Jounin snapped his head around to stare at him.
"Either way let's get going and get this handled." Shikadai shook his head…
"Koji are you in place?" Shikadai's voice asked over the radio.
"Yes Sensei." The response fired back.
"Iyasu?" he questioned next.
"Yes." Iyasu told him.
"Unido?" he finished off.
"Correct." Unido stated in monotone.
"Move in." Shikadai ordered.
Out of the trees a combination of kunai, water bullets, and earth projectiles flew towards the small bandit camp. All of their first line perimeter guards dropped to the ground. Less than a few seconds passed as the shinobi group exited the trees and moved into the next perimeter line, quickly silencing the guards waiting there.
Entering the main bulk of the camps setup they split into groups of two. Koji and Iyasu found themselves moving forward together towards the central tent. Every bandit they passed fell either to the flash of the scythe end of a kusarigama or to the quick slashing of a tanto. Finally entering the tent the two of them found a large man wearing a white vest and green combat shorts. He held a large Kanobo in his right hand, resting the head of it on the ground.
"I guess the villages finally took notice." He growled out.
"Koji you think we should get Sensei?" Iyasu asked.
"Probably but-" Koji began when the man suddenly turned and swung his club.
The two gennin barely dodged the strike and were both amazed as a large swath of earth was thrown into the air. Where they had once been standing now a chunk of the ground appeared to be missing.
"-I don't think he's going to let us." Koji finished.
"Hold him off till the others get here?" Iyasu questioned.
"But if you see an opportunity take him out." Koji responded.
Iyasu nodded as she readied six shuriken. Koji placed his tanto in front of him in his starting stance. The shuriken flew forward in a horizontal line forcing the man to bring his club up to block. As it covered is forward line of sight Koji charged and struck out towards his stomach. The man jumped back from the attack swinging his blade out. Koji attempted to get out of the way, almost succeeding, when the heavy slab of wood slammed into his side and threw him across the tent.
Coming to a stop after rolling for a few feet Koji popped up to see the man charging Iyasu. The girl dodged to the left as she threw out the chain section of her kusarigama, wrapping it around the man's weapon. Smiling she pulled hard to disarm him, only to have him pull back and have her rapidly moving towards him. Koji rushed forward and grabbed Iyasu before she collided with the man's fist.
"He has my father's old kusarigama Koji." Iyasu whispered.
"We'll get it back once we have him dead." Koji told her. "You know the lightning shuriken technique, right?"
Iyasu nodded having an idea of where Koji was going with his plan. The boy did a few quick handsigns and spit out three larger than average sized water bullets, one attempting to hit the man and two heading right for his feet. Without pause Iyasu let loose her lightning infused shuriken towards the puddle at his feet.
The man appeared to spasm and Koji started to rush forward to finish off the fight. As he closed though the man shook off the shock and started his own handsigns. Koji barely had enough time to reverse his direction and dodge the fireball that spewed forth. Landing on his feet at the edge of the fire he prepared to move back in when the earth under the man burst open and dark green blur punched into his chin.
"Unido!" Iyasu exclaimed. "Where is Sensei?"
"Right here!" Shikadai yelled out as his shadow connected with the large man. "Shadow possession complete. Guys finish this already!"
"Right sensei!" the three gennin said as one before all moving forward to strike the final blow…
