Damn cat! I hate it AND it's owner! Stupid cat. It runs away every week! We've been Genins for about a month now and every kami damn week we have to hunt down this fur ball! I'm getting sick of it. So is Ducky. We need a mission away from this damn village!

As if sensing my anger and frustration, Jiji hands us a C rank mission. We have to escort a bridge builder to his bridge. If he's supposed to be building it, why isn't he there? The man enters and Jiji tells us to get ready and leave. Well, whatever the reason for him being here, I'm pumped now! We leave for our respective homes and get ready to meet in an hour.

I really don't like this guy. I've been stood here for like two minutes and he's insulted me three times. THREE times! Sigh. Someone hurry up and arrive. "Your team is late." He sounds unamused. Think I'm any better? "Normally only sensei's late." Just then, Ducky runs up to us. "Sorry. Fan girls." Oh. Poor Ducky. I feel bad for him. Must be a pain being blocked from leaving your house by loads of squealing girls. I wouldn't know that pain but whatever. I look behind him and see Pinkie running up too. "Sasuke-Kun! You left without me!" Was she waiting outside his house?! "That's creepy." "I know." I choose to man up and walk between the two. "You know Pinkie, it's not nice blocking someone's path. And it's creepy standing outside someone's home waiting for them without permission." She scowls at me. I hear Ducky and the bridge builder lightly chuckle and stand proud. I made someone's day and we're barely even rolling! Pinkie however, looks like she is planning on killing me. Oh please kami noooo. :3 Don't kill me Sakura-Chan~. I'm too young to die~. :3 Ok ok, I'll stop now.

We stand in, what I would like to think as, an awkward silence. Waiting for sensei to arrive. He's majourly late. Oh, maybe he's carried away reading that book again. I never did manage to ask to borrow it. Think of the devil and he shall arrive. Kakashi-sensei walks up nonchalantly, like he isn't about an hour late. Builder guy looks slightly miffed. "You are an hour late! What kind of ninja are you?!" "Sorry, I saw a little old lady who needed help and it turned out she lived on the other side of the village." Ah sensei. You and your lies. "That's a lie sensei!" Quiet down pinkie. At least he turned up. "Better late than never." "Exactly. Thanks for understanding Naruto." He gives me a thumbs up and I smile. Pinkie now looks as miffed as the builder. "Teacher's pet." Oh kami, please put an end to her complaining.

"Shall we go?" Yay! We're leaving the village! This is so exciting! If you can't tell, I've never actually left the village before. "Naruto? Why are you bouncing?" Huh? Bouncing? I look down and see, I am indeed bouncing. I quickly stop and clear my throat. "I er...I've never been outside the village before." Everyone looks stunned. What? That's normal for a kid my age, isn't it? "Really?" I look at sensei and nod. "Wow. Why am I not surprised?" Oh shut it Pinkie. She must have multiple personalities or something. She randomly goes from ignoring me to hating to being sorta nice and back again. Or maybe she can't tell if she truly hates me yet. Kami I hope she figures it out soon. "Come on. Let's get going." We all nod and follow sensei out. I'm still excited but I manage to hide it this time.

We are silently walking down the path and, man, does it suck! Oh yeah, I have to ask about that book. I jog up to sensei and look up at him. I hope I grow that tall some day. "Hey sensei, could I borrow that book some time?" He looks at me confused. "Book?" "Yeah, you know. The book you read a lot. The orange one." His face drops and I can feel a temperature change. What was that? "Er...sorry Naruto. It's not meant for kids." Oh, it's one of THOSE books. Wow. Who knew sensei was such a perv. I sigh. "Ok." "Sorry kiddo." He pats my head and I glare at him. He immediately pulls back into a defensive pose. Sigh. I wonder if Ducky has any books I could borrow. Huh? What's that?

I stop walking and stare at a puddle on the ground. That's weird. "What's up four eyes?" Oh look, it's Pinkie. Would she scream if I threw her in here? No. I have to be the bigger ninja. I can't act like a child anymore. "This puddle...no, nevermind." Better not tell them. Don't want to worry them. I weave multiple hand signs and create a shadow clone as I shunshin away. I jump along the trees behind my group as my clone walks with the team. That's another jutsu I learnt by the way, it's called Shadow Clone Jutsu. Back to this though. Something isn't right. Believe it.

While I trail behind, I gave my clone a mission. Apparently these clones retain the memories when they vanish so, if I ask a question, I will remember the answer. "Hey Ducky, do you have any books at your house?" Ducky looks like he's thinking. "Well, I do have a few. Why?" "Think I could borrow any? I've read all of my books ten times over. And all of the ones I'm allowed from the library." He looks a bit shocked. Didn't you realise I liked to read by the many occasions you found me reading said books? And I thought you were smarter than most Ducky. Shake shake. "Sure." My excitement is rising...overflowing! My clone shows it too. He's bouncing. Damn clone! Calm down a little, ok?! "Really? Thanks Ducky!" Ducky grins and nods. "Your welcome." Thank you Sasuke-Kun~! What? Might as well say it in my head. That way, I won't say it in person. Well, less likely to say it in person.

It's been hours and nothing. Was my hunch wrong? Just as I'm thinking of returning to the group, a ninja appears in front of them. There's another one! This is bad! My clone jumps in and starts attacking the ninja in front. Meanwhile, Pinkie moves to defend builder guy and sensei and Ducky turn to the guy at the back. They're not after us. That means, their after the bridge builder. That also means this isn't a C rank mission. He lied. No. There's no time for that now. My clone is about to be dispelled. Now's my chance! I jump through the trees until I'm behind the ninja and pounce. I kick the back of his knees so he falls over and drops his weapons, then I place a kunai at his throat. "Don't move." The ninja tsks but does as I say. Good boy.

Sensei quickly knocks out the other one and ties him to tree. Pinkie is staring at me. Whatever Pinkie. Stare all you want, I don't care. Sensei walks over and looks from me to my clone. "When did you make a clone?" I shrug lightly, still holding the ninja captive. "I read a book about mist ninja. It said they can hide in water. So, considering there was a puddle when it hasn't rained for days, kinda obvious." The ninja tsks again. Just calm down you. It's over. Kakashi-sensei takes the hostage and ties him to the tree next to his friend. Then he turns to the bridge builder. Yeah, let's ask about that. "Why did you lie to the village?" He looks at me with wide eyed innocence. Just stop, we know you lied. "These ninja wouldn't attack us for no reason. And considering they kept their gaze at you the entire time, I'm pretty sure you were their target." "Yeah, so tell us builder guy. We're only Genin, this is above our pay grade. Your lie could have gotten us all killed." He looks down ashamed. "I couldn't afford a higher ranked mission. Our village is in poverty. But I knew I needed help getting back so, I went for a low paying grade." Moron. Could've killed us all. Drip? What just dripped? I look around to investigate and see Ducky walking towards us, wiping blood off his hand. Oh no. "Sasuke stop!" "Huh?" "What did you yell at Sasuke-Kun for?!" "He's poisoned, if he keeps moving, he'll spread it further." "WHAT?!" Thud. What the...oh, Pinkie fainted. She is the worst. Hey Jiji, can we trade? "Naruto's right. Here Sasuke, I'll bandage you up." Sasuke's digging the poison out with a kunai. Huh, smart move. I turn back to Pinkie and sigh. Guess I'll have to carry her. I walk over to her and she wakes up. She has an evil glint in her eyes. She swings a kunai at my leg and cuts pretty deep. "Naruto!" "You're pretty smart for a Genin, however, you didn't see this coming." A cloud surrounds the fake Sakura and the mist ninja is laying in her place. I look over to the stump and see a still fainted Sakura tied up. "Substitution." "Oh, he's got it." He goes to cut me again and I'm stuck. If I move, I'll spread the poison. But, if I stay here I'll die for sure! Damn it! He's almost here! Choose damn it! A flash of white sparks and Kakashi-sensei is in front me blocking his attack. "Sasuke, pick Naruto up and move back!" Ducky grunts but does it anyway. I would object but, I am poisoned. This is a smarter move than me walking on my own.

Kakashi-sensei quickly knocks the guy out and switches him back with Sakura. Pinkie is still out. Jeez, what is she doing? This isn't the time for a nap you know. Sensei walks over and examines my leg. "We need a special plant to heal this wound. There's no way you can dig the poison out of that." Wait wait wait...that means Ducky has to carry me the ENTIRE way! That's not good for either of us. Hey, is he blushing? "This is so embarrassing." "Maybe, but it is what has to be done. If not, Naruto will die." Wow, way to lay it on thick sensei. "Sorry Ducky." He shakes his head. "Fine." Was that a female grunt I heard? Pinkie! "Good morning." Woops. Didn't mean to say that out loud. Oh well. She looks slightly sleepy. Nope, that is anger. "Stop being a pain for Sasuke-Kun!" She stomps over and I can sense what's going happen. Yep, I'm on the floor. That really hurt my ass. "Damn it Pinkie. That hurt." "Sakura! He's injured enough!" Ducky scoops me up again and Pinkie looks angry again. Dear kami. "What are you talking about? You and sensei took the ninja out!" Hey! It was ME and sensei. Not sensei and Ducky. Stupid pink faint machine. "One of them substituted with you while you were knocked out and slashed Naruto's leg. Now he's poisoned and needs help." Way to make me feel useless Ducky. "Way to go four eyes! Such a nuisance." "Says the girl who fainted and became a substitution." "WHAT WAS THAT?!" She's going to punch me again. WOAH! Or not. Ducky, please warn me when you're going to jump out of the way. It's a shaky ride.

"Stop it! We have to keep moving! We still have our mission to complete, and we have to get Naruto help." The group nods and we keep moving. I kinda wish we wouldn't though. The wind is hurting my wound. I understand not bandaging it but still, it hurts. Ducky looks determined. He must really want to help me. I should thank him later. AH! Damn that hurt. Ducky's looking at me worried. It is a deep cut you know. I KNOW! GENIUS! I take my jacket off, with a lot of trouble, and hang it over my legs. It hurt putting it in place but, it's working. So glad it's hot out.

Me and my big mouth. Oh, hi there. Guess what. It's raining. Sigh. Now I'm freezing. But I definitely can't move my jacket now. Or can I? It'll sting like a bitch but, it will clean it. At least a little. I scrunch my face in pain as I move my jacket to my top half. Gah! This hurts! Not to mention it feels weird. It's like the rain is literally touching my bone. Without properly thinking about it. I huddle into my carrier. Then I remember who it is and move away again.

I think it's working. My leg doesn't hurt so much anymore. I am kinda sleepy though. This rain is also really covering up my vision. All I can see is drops on my glasses. I guess I could use my hood to cover my face. Yeah, that'll work. With a lot of effort, I cover my face. No one will mind if I sleep a while, right? Gah! Ducky! Don't pull my hood down! Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter if my eyes are closed. I close my eyes and huddle into my carrier a little. He's warm. "Naruto? Naruto. Hey, stay awake dobe!" What did he call me? Oh well, I'll ask him when I wake up. "Sensei! Naruto won't listen!" Tap tap tap tap. "He's loosing too much blood." "What are we going to do?! He's our smarte..."

Thud. Ow! What the hell?! I open my eyes and glare at...no one. Where's Ducky? I look around, with little vision, and see Kakashi-Sensei fighting another ninja. I take my glasses off and clean then before putting them back on and checking his headband. A mist ninja?! Is he a reinforcement? No, he looks stronger. The leader maybe? Huh? What is this? A mist is forming. Oh no. This is a mist ninja special jutsu. He must be a high level ninja to be using this. This is bad! Hang on. Where's Ducky and Pinkie? "Ducky?!" I look around and catch Sakura guarding builder guy. She looks terrified. I don't blame her. For once Pinkie, we agree.

I continue looking and see Sasuke struggling to stand up. He must have been hit by the ninja! Damn it! I will not let my first friend get killed! I struggle to stand on my feet, wincing at the pain shooting through my leg, and look towards the enemy. He may have created the mist but, I can use it against him. If I could see. That's it! I remove my glasses then, replace them with my goggles. There we go. Now, I weave hand signs and make a lot of clones. I'd say about a hundred is a good guess. Then I send half at the ninja. Kakashi-Sensei looks worried a moment but keeps his composure. He must know I have a plan. I just need to get him to the water.

I send the other half of clones to the lake behind the ninja and make them start the jutsu. My clones are hitting him pretty hard, considering my size and all. He dodges backwards and lands on the lakes surface. Time to use it. All of my clones bite their thumbs and thrust their hand onto the nearest surface. "Summoning jutsu!" Kakashi-Sensei looks stunned. Out of the lake emerges an army of toads. Each one varying in size and power. My clones join forces with the toads and manage to take down the mist guy. I hear a chuckle and look at sensei. He's giving me his usual eye smile and thumbs up. Heh heh.

We tie the ninja up and begin questioning him. "Who sent you?" I hear Pinkie sigh in the back. "And how did four eyes beat you?" She whispered so quiet I barely heard her. I guess she was thinking out loud. Also, I don't think calling your saviour names is the way to go. "I don't tend to give my employers away but, I did get beaten by a brat and his army of toads so, I guess I'll oblige." Rude. "He's a wealthy businessman who is enjoying the poverty of that mans village. He knows the bridge will hinder his money gain and is prepared to kill to stop it." "That's a real shitty thing to do." "Heh heh. I like this brat. Not everyone is a saint kid. People do shitty things for shitty reasons, that's how it works." Sigh. How it works huh? I feel a pat on my shoulder and turn to see Ducky smiling. It's a small one but, I think it's supposed to make me feel better. Yeah, he is definitely my friend. I smile back and turn around in time to see our captive get hit with some needle. Is that, a medical needle? Isn't that used for acupuncture? Why would someone throw that?

We all look up and see a masked ninja stood in the tree above us. A mist anbu? So, that means, "Why did you kill our captive?" Sensei seems a bit miffed. Although, that guy did try to kill him so, I guess that's reasonable. I thought that once when a debt collector had killed someone who tortured me for years. Though, I felt ashamed for sinking that low afterwards.

"This is Zabuza of the hidden mist. He is also one of the seven swordsman." THAT was Zabuza?! "I am under instructions to kill him." Well ok but, aren't you supposed to be burning him and not untying him? Sensei has the same sceptical look as me. I guess he's wondering the same. "You are captain Hatake of the hidden leaf, correct?" They used his anbu title! I thought people calked him the copy ninja, not his anbu title. "Captain Hatake?" "Of the anbu black ops?" Kakashi-Sensei sighed. "That's me. I understand. Please take care of him." "I will." And with that, the anbu left. Zabuza going with them. I don't like the fact he wasn't burnt here and now. Though, maybe the mist anbu didn't want us 'kids' to see it. That would make sense...no, it still doesn't feel right.

"Sensei? Were you apart of the anbu?" "And why does four eyes look like he's not shocked to hear about it?!" Damn it Pinkie! Turn the volume down! Jeez. "Yes I was, and Naruto already knew, that's why." They both look stunned. Seriously? Did you guys forget our first day as a team? Hm. Maybe that's what I should do. Naruto Uzumaki, Anbu captain. I like it! That's my new dream then. If I can have a friend, then I can have a dream too! Believe it! "How come Naruto knew?" Huh? Pinkie looks concerned. Why is she so concerned? "Because I saved him when I was still an anbu captain." "Saved?" "I hate to break the chit chat but, one of your teammates is moving around quite a lot for being poisoned." Everyone looks at the builder, then to me. Oh, I guess I was poisoned huh? I smile. "Don't worry about it." I get a smack on the back of my head and look at Ducky. Wait...no, Ducky don't! Sigh. Why? Why did he have to pick me up again? "Don't you think I would be dead by now if I was still poisoned?" He looked at me, deep in thought, then shrugged his shoulders. You just don't care do you Ducky? You want me to feel helpless, don't you?! Want me to look the fool! Damn you Ducky!

"Alright. Let's keep going, we're almost there now." We start moving again, well...I should say THEY start moving again. You know, considering I'm being carried bridal style by my best friend. Huh? Best friend. Wonder what that is. "Hey Ducky?" "Hn." "What's a best friend?" He looks at me with wide eyes then sighs. Oh, I'm sorry. Is my lack of understanding too much for you usuratonkachi? "It's a friend you are extremely close to. You know like..." He's searching his brain for an example. "Kiba and Akamaru." "But one of them is a dog." "Doesn't matter. As long as your close friends, it can be anyone." Hm. "So, can I call you my best friend?" He stops and stands wide eyed. Did I break him? He blinks a few times then shakes his head. "Sure." Wha, really?! AWESOME! I have a new best friend folks! Yawn~. Huh? Guess I'm still sleepy. Good night Ducky. Good night reader. What? You didn't think I knew you were there? You realise I am the one writing this right? Of course I know you are there. Anyway, like I said. Good night.