Naruto Shippuden: TNG—Deeper Bonds
Author: MoonLightDaiyz
The new generation of ninja has come; a younger and stronger era of ninja in training, born of your favorite ninjas! A new Jinchuriki as well as a new blonde, orange hyper-active, second knuckle-headed ninja in Konoha!
Yukino is a sixteen year old genin of Konohagakure. For sixteen years of her life, Yukino has been completely clueless from the fact that she's a Jinchuriki, holder of the legendary and evil Kyuubi. With her father gone, the Kyuubi's power awakening from its long slumber nearly driving the teen crazy, and backstabbing rogue ninjas and close allies scoping out and betraying the young girl; what will all this unleash onto village of Konoha?
Key Notes of Titles and Terms
*Haha/Otousan = father
*Ojisan = uncle
*Sofu/Ojiisan = grandfather
*Chichi/Okasan = mother
*Obasan = auntie
*Sobo/Obaasan = grandmother
*Ani/Oniisan = older brother
*Ototo = younger brother
*Ane/Onesan = older sister
*Imoto = younger sister
Deeper Bonds: Setting out Towards Adventure!
Alternate Title: The Mission of the Watanabe Heir
- -In front of the Hyuuga compound- -
"Oh, Yukino? She left about a while ago, Satoshi-kun." Hinata explained as she held Kanna's small and frail hand. The tiny blonde stood just beside her mother, her head stopping at the height of Hinata's thigh. She giggled gently as she played with a few strands of the young Uchiha's long side bangs with her other hand as he was crouched down, smiling to her. He chuckled at the oh-so young Uzumaki, but kept his gaze on the shy Hyuuga, while he was just in the front of their home, out on the front doorsteps. "She said something along the lines of heading out to train for a bit, but making a few stops along the way, I suppose. She should be back around the evening, I would think."
"Onesan's always off somewhere." Kanna giggled, closing her eyes as she done so. Satoshi grinned at the comment as he stood from his crouch and then turned his eyes up to the now sunny skies with a faint smirk playing across his lips, "Yeah...she can never really sit still." He chuckled. Hinata couldn't help but chuckle along with the boy as she knew that her daughter was quite the busy body...she loved that girl with all her heart and even more if possible, but Yukino could be quite the handful—more or so like her late husband Uzumaki Naruto. Quite rambunctious and enduring like her father, Yukino is a reflecting image of him; it was as if he hadn't passed and that he was still here right beside her.
Hinata turned her lilac eyed gaze over towards her younger daughter, who was giggling amiably as she chatted with Uchiha Satoshi, "…and you promise to be careful and keep Onesan safe too?" Kanna continued with her asking, with a small tilt of her head. Satoshi grinned to the little youth, "Yeah, no worries, Kanna. As Yukino's teammate, it's my duty to keep her and myself safe."
"And Kei-kun to," Kanna added.
Satoshi blinked and rubbed the back of his head as he chuckled faintly, "Yeah...I guess I could...well, help him out a little to, I suppose." He mutters. The Uchiha and Nara sons within Team Four weren't ones to really…well take kindly towards one another.
Kanna giggled at that, with Hinata following suit close after, "You three just be safe now and watch over each other. That's what I learned when I first started out as a genin, from my squad's instructor, Kurenai-sensei; 'You three are a team now, and as a team, you three are all you have. Together you are one whole and if one link in your three-person chain is weakened, the mission will not succeed.' Ha ha, well that's what she told us." Hinata gave a shy, giggling smile down to Satoshi, who merely blinked his dark onyx colored eyes.
"Wow, she sounds pretty smart." Kanna interjected, earning a glance from her mother.
"She is, plus she's an excellent genjutsu user to boot." Hinata added. Kanna giggled faintly as she hugged her arms around Hinata's leg. Satoshi watched this, soon forgetting what Hinata had just told him and he smiled at the scene in front of him, "Heh, alright. I guess...I'll just see her somewhere in the village if we happen to bump into one another." He says.
Hinata blinked as she glanced over towards Satoshi from her daughter, "Oh...well, I suppose that's as best as a plan as any while dealing with Yukino. You'll be lucky enough to catch her."
"Ha ha, it's Yukino, so I'll need the luck." Satoshi said, giving the ebony haired woman a weary smile with a tentative sweat drop slithering down the side of his head, but he shook it off as he turned on the heels of his black sandals and lurched into a mid-run, only to flash from out of sight.
- -Yukino- -
Within the middle of the village, a blonde genin glared up to a man, who nearly peaked into his twenties or so with brown hair that spiked upward. He was cladded in a long dark green zip up jacket with a low-cut collar, a long navy blue thick scarf that wrapped around his neck and trailed down along his back, stopping just at the top of his calves. On his legs was a pair of dark, heavy brown ANBU styled pants, bandages wrapping around his legs just under the pants, showing around his ankles and tucked down into his navy blue ninja sandals.
He tucked his hands onto his hips as he heaved a short sigh, "You really have a knack of showing up when no one wants to find you, but if they really want you around, you're nowhere to be found. The irony in that is just...well, ironic." He sweat dropped, rolling his eyes to the side, seeming to take a high interest in viewing through the window of a shop nearby, rather than watch her glower up to him. Yukino puffed up her cheeks as she continued to glare up to the older shinobi, "Konohamaru-sensei! You promised that you were gonna spar with me today out in the fields."
"It's goin' to have to wait, Yukino-chan...I've been called out to head away on a mission with my genin right now. So, even if I wanted to train with you, I really can't right now." The brunette explained and Yukino's cheeks seemed to puff out some more out of disappointment. She thrust her balled up hands to her sides as she ignited her glare up towards him, "You promised...!" she growled lowly up to him.
Konohamaru sweat dropped, rubbing the side of his head, his eyes still avoiding the small blonde, "Yeah...about that. I think that we're goin' to have to reschedule another time for that—"
"What?! But, I already wasted five days waitin' on your reply to have a sparrin' match with me!"
"Hey, that's your own damn fault! Instead of waitin' on me, you could've gone and gotten someone else to spar with you if it's that big a deal!" The brunette haired sensei snapped, turning around and quickly glaring down to Yukino. The two stood in close, glowering at one another.
"Grr! Forget I even said anythin'! Let's go! Right here, right now!" Yukino sneered up to the man, and within that instant, Satoshi flashed at the side of them and was slightly taken aback by their loud arguing. He blinked his onyx colored eyes in confusion and then glanced over towards the three scared genin that stood off a short distance away from the two feuding shinobi. Turning his face back over towards Yukino and Konohamaru, Satoshi closed his eyes with a soft huff from his lips and he simply walked over and hooked an arm around Yukino's torso, tucking her just under his arm at his side. "I don't have time for this." He grumbled under his breath as he gave the blonde a small jerk under his arm and flashed off while Yukino was in mid-sentence, yelling at Konohamaru.
- -Hokage's office- -
"Eh?!" Yukino's voice exclaimed in utter surprise.
Right now, Team Miaka was standing in the Hokage's office—being requested to, for a special assignment administered from the Hokage herself. The young genin stood in front of Tsunade's wooden desk with surprised and agape expressions etched into each of their faces; Keisuke stood with blinking eyes, Satoshi mirrored the pale-headed blonde but with his hands tucked away in his pockets, and as per usual, Yukino was making a scene with her incoherent rambling from both being excited and flabbergasted by the sudden mission that they were being assigned. Miaka stood along the side of the hyper spiky haired blonde with her hand posed at her hip. The blue haired jonin merely rolled her eyes only to narrow those sapphire orbs of hers down to her young female genin, "Calm it down will you, Uzumaki? A mission isn't such a big deal."
Yukino shook her head and beamed a bright grin up to her sensei, "But, this time it's different! Not a crummy D-rank, not a lousy C-rank, not a borin' B-rank, but a whoopin'—say it again, Granny!" the blonde giggled with a pleased oh-so faint blush beaming at her cheeks. She turned on the heels of her blue sandals and waited for the older blonde's response.
Tsunade sweat dropped at the young Uzumaki's perkiness today, "It's an A-ranked mission this time around..." she muttered out.
"An A-rank mission!" Yukino gasped out excitedly. "It's about time! I can finally show you guys what I got, haha! What a real ninja is made of!" Yukino cheered as she patted her chest in a boorish manner; her cocky and tomboyish exterior taking over with that wide grin of hers tearing into her face.
"Yes, yes...I'm surely certain that you can ultimately show us these wonderful skills of yours while escorting your client from Konohagakure to Hoshigakure (Village Hidden among Stars), located in the Land of Bears." Tsunade hummed as she laced her fingers together and leaned her chin amongst them as her elbows were prompt on top of her desk.
"Yeah! I'm gonna show you all on this escortin'..." Yukino froze in mid-cheer, blinking her eyes in a baffled manner, "...escortin' mission?"
'Idiot...,' Satoshi and Keisuke both thought simultaneously.
"Ahem, yes. If you'd let me finish speaking before bursting into an uproar like that, then maybe I could get the whole of the assignment to the entire team," Tsunade scolded the girl and cleared her throat. "Now, as I was saying before that little fiasco...Hoshigakure has asked for the assistance of Konohagakure on behalf of the Watanabe Clan."
Yukino gave a short pout over towards the village's Hokage as her shoulders sulked at the news of her team's assignment.
"Watanabe Clan?" Satoshi blinked his eyes nonchalantly, ignoring the blonde Uzumaki just left beside him.
"Yes," Tsunade nodded her head, her gaze locked on the team. "The Watanabe Clan is the leading high noble family within Getsugakure (Village Hidden under the Moon), connecting close ties with Hoshigakure. A few years ago, I suppose, the Inoue Clan—which is located in Hoshigakure and the Watanabe Clan have both made a pact on the merging of the two clans, combining and creating a large, noble family tree through a betrothed marriage. That's where you four come in within this agreement; the heir from the Watanabe Clan from Getsugakure is heading here to Konohagakure, but because of the many rogue ninja and various dangers about along the route passing through Konohagakure towards Hoshigakure, both families has asked of the Leaf shinobi's help in escorting and protecting the young noble future monarch on their journey to Hoshigakure."
"Like body guarding a royalty," Keisuke noted with a leisured nod. Tsunade glanced over to him at that statement, "Right, which means that our client is quite valuable goods, in a sense, putting them at higher risk of lurking kidnappers, prowlers, assassins and anyone who would want to do away with the future monarch. Both clans have entrusted the safety of their heir in the hands of Leaf shinobi, having already paid a good fee for our cooperation. So all in all, you should see how critical and how serious this mission is, you mustn't take it lightly. I trust you four will give your all in this mission."
"Understood, Lady Hokage-sama," Miaka spoke up; while placing her hand on top of an angrily pouting Yukino's shoulder. "We'll be sure to take extra precaution on this assignment."
Tsunade glanced over towards the jonin of the squad for a moment, "Alright...all has been said that needed to be. I advise that you all pack and ready yourselves for this journey—it'll be quite a long one. Your departure should be around early noon today. After all is done and taken care of, you four must meet at the village's gates, as per usual. As you head there, it is there that you should meet with your awaiting client; Watanabe Tsubasa." Tsunade finished off, and with another nod, Miaka scrambled up her genin, particularly scolding Yukino on her negative response towards the mission. The spiky haired blonde merely huffed out a displeased sigh before exiting the office.
Tsunade, who was watching the small scene play out in front of her, chuckled faintly under her breath.
"Um, Lady Hokage...wouldn't you think that Team Lee would be a more appropriate squad for this mission?" Shizune commented, leaning down only slightly to catch the amber brown gaze with the female Hokage, her favored pink pig held within her arms, "Oink..." the pork murmured.
"Yes." Tsunade responded simply, making Shizune sweat drop.
"Then why—"
"I have my reasons. You should know to trust my judgment by now, Shizune, really." Tsunade gave a small, quiet chuckle.
- -Hyuuga compound- -
Hinata giggled softly as she and her youngest daughter, Kanna, strolled along the emptied corridor while the both of them hummed a gentle melody amongst each other. They walked closely side by side, holding onto each other's hands; seeming more or less like a mother duck and her tiny duckling. Little Kanna enjoyed trailing about after Hinata most of the day, some of the other Hyuuga relatives has looked down on this for the young blonde Hyuuga's well-being, claiming that it was no way healthy for her to be so clingy to her mother like she was; as Hinata could agree with this in a way, she could only shrug it off as an adorable phase that Kanna had been going through, since she was too shy to leave out of the house on her own. Besides, Hinata had vowed to herself that she would kindly give the love to all of her children, love from a mother that she was without for most of her childhood.
It was until the two barely strolled past Yukino's bedroom, that Kanna blinked her big lilac colored eyes and peered into her older sister's room, finding her packing her favorite earthy blue backpack, "Onesan's leaving?" She gasped quietly, drawing in the attention of both Hinata and Yukino.
Yukino glanced up from stuffing the bag with an extra pair of clothes, just in case something should happen to the ones she was currently wearing—getting either torn, shredded by enemy contact, or drenched from falling into some small lake or something. It was prone to happen...she was pretty fortuitous like that for her to be a kunoichi. She watched as her mother walked into her bedroom, "Are you heading out again, Yukino dear?" she asks in a warm, but faint tone. Kanna was close at her mother's side, her tiny hands gripping gently into the side of Hinata's lavender floral print kimono.
Yukino nodded her head, "Yeah, got a new mission, and this time it's an A-ranked mission, heh-heh."
"Congratulations," Hinata beamed a small smile, "but that also means that you have to defiantly be on your toes. An A-rank mission isn't always easy."
"Yeah, I know, Ma." Yukino chuckled as she stuffed her favorite little frog shaped wallet, a passed down relic from her father; she stuffed it into her backpack with a giggling smile tracing her lips. "I'll be out of the village for a while though; it's an escortin' mission for a noble clan. Headin' out towards the Land of Bears."
"Oh, well that sounds pretty interesting," Hinata noted, unaware that Kanna had released her hold on her kimono and scampered off towards Yukino's dresser.
"I just hope that this "noble clan heir" kid isn't a stuck-up snob. That'll be real annoyin' to have to travel with." Yukino huffed out a breath as her eyebrow twitched slightly at the very thought; but she shook her head and rubbed the back of her head as she stared down to her traveling bag, as if wondering what else she needed for this trip.
"Hehe, you can't always help the client that you get assigned to. Most times, you simply have to go along with Lady Hokage's decisions. Besides, she chose your team for the assignment for a reason." Hinata explained to her eldest daughter as she placed her hand delicately on her cheek. Yukino rolled her pearl-like eyes, "I bet she did it just to annoy me."
"Hehe, I highly doubt that, Yukino," Hinata giggled, but blinked as she noticed Kanna's sudden return to her side. The small blonde was smiling faintly as she held a small white box up to her mother. Hinata gave Kanna a heartwarming smile, "Good thinking, sweetie." This comment made Yukino glance up from her bag.
Hinata gently took the box from Kanna and handed it over to Yukino, who in turn blinked her eyes, "Hm?"
"Just in case someone gets hurt," Hinata smiled. "I know that Keisuke-kun is a bit talented in the medical field, he might already be bringing a first aid kit along with him, but just in case something unexpected happens along your mission. Better safe than sorry, right?"
Yukino glanced up from the box up to her mother's smiling face and she couldn't help but give the lilac eyed woman a smile of her own, "Heh, thanks Ma. And you to, kiddo." She chuckled as she ruffled the top of Kanna's short blonde hair. The small blonde giggled gently, closing her eyes as her older sister ruffled the top of her head.
- -At the Village Gates- -
"She's late," Satoshi mumbled under his breath as he was leaning against the entrance way of the village's gates, "again." He added with a huff. He was garbed in his usual red, long-sleeved V-neck shirt covered by his favorite charcoal gray colored sleeveless vest on top of his torso. Satoshi closed his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest. Keisuke, who was standing a few feet away from him merely shook his head in silent agreement of their blonde teammate's tardiness; the bleach haired blonde wore a bored expression on his face as he tucked his hands lazily into his pockets and Miaka simply breathed a faint dissatisfied breath.
Time was dimming close onto early noon and the village was bustling with the afternoon rush of crowds and such. Villagers wondered about tending to their own affairs, running errands or keeping shop by checking inventory or trying to advertise the goods they were selling. All was simple and thriving amongst the village...and in the middle of the bustle; a spiky haired blonde could be noticed running through the crowds, creating a low uproar among the people who she happened to pass.
"Heh-heh, sorry," Yukino chuckled as she hurried to meet with her team. "Comin' through—oops, watch it there. 'Scuse me," she continues as she squeezed through some people and jogged her way towards the village's entrance gates. As she noticed her teammates, Yukino broke into a short sprint, a small smile filling her face. "Hey guys! Ha ha, sorry I'm a little late. Ma was busy lecturin' me and whatnot about not bein' reckless on this mission and blah, blah, blah—"
"What's the point in meeting at a set time, but you always come late? Jeez, you're such a loser." Satoshi spoke up, cutting the blonde headed female off. She blinked at the out-of-the-blue statement and then gave an annoyed pout, "Oh shut it, Baka Uchiha."
He scoffed under his breath, "Ah, is somebody mad? I don't see a reason for the attitude and you weren't the one standing here waiting. No, you were the one here late. Yeah, that sounds about right." Satoshi teased, crossing his arms over his chest and closed his onyx colored eyes from view.
'Here we go again…,' Keisuke sighed within his thoughts as he lowers his head.
Yukino gritted her teeth lightly as she shot Satoshi a fire-red glower, "At least I'm here now, ya jerk!" she fumed loudly with her hands wound into fists at her sides. Satoshi smirked at her anger as he peeked from out one of his eyes and she growled over to him through pursed lips.
A soft round of laughter brought Yukino from her steaming anger, only to blink a couple of times as she eased back from Satoshi some and glanced around their small area finding a hooded figure that stood about half a head taller than her, "Hahaha," the person laughed. Yukino tilted her head to the side, "Who's the creep in the hood?" she asks obliviously and Satoshi, Keisuke and Miaka fell to the side anime-style.
Being the first to recover from being surprised of Yukino's stupidity, Miaka quickly shot up from the ground only to whack Yukino over the head, "Will you at least try not to act so completely stupid? That's—"
"Haha, no, it is alright." The hooded person spoke up, drawing in the team's attention. The person reached up and pulled down their hood to reveal a head full of long and dark, navy blue colored hair tied up in a high ponytail. Yukino blinked as she took in the person's pale aquamarine eyes and creamy porcelain skin. The person shows a genuine, warm smile, "Hello there. My apologies, please let me introduce myself. My name is Watanabe Tsubasa; I am the heir of the Watanabe clan. I wish to thank the four of you for partaking in this mission on the sake of my behalf. You have my full gratitude; I hope that I will not be too much of a burden to carry." Tsubasa gave the four shinobi another small smile whilst dipping her head.
'Wow...what a pretty girl,' Yukino thought to herself and beamed a bright smile. "Wow, you're pretty cute!" she giggled, earning a faint round of blush from the young monarch.
"This is our client, Yukino." Miaka spoke up from behind the blonde. Yukino blinked her eyes a few times as she glanced from Miaka over towards the new tall female and then shown a rather cheeky smile over towards her, "Ha ha, the name's Uzumaki Yukino! I'm like the coolest kunoichi in this village, so ya don't have to worry, you'll be safe with me around." This statement merely made Satoshi and Keisuke fall over anime-style.
Tsubasa chuckled faintly with closed eyes, "You're quite funny, ha ha. I enjoy people with a good sense of humor, if anything," she smiled and dipped her head over towards the young blonde. "I place my life within your hands, shinobi of Konohagakure."
Yukino grinned widely at the statement and leaned over to Satoshi who had recovered from Yukino's crazy antics, "Heh-heh, ya hear that? Tsubasa trusts me with her life." She boasted proudly in a hushed whisper. Satoshi merely eyeballed the Uzumaki with a passive expression, 'I'm pretty sure that she was referring to all four of us,' he sweat dropped.
Rolling her light blue eyes, Miaka went over to the small two-person hut that stood at the right just beside the open gates of the village. Shrugging at her travel backpack, the blue haired jonin closed her eyes as she pulled a mission scroll from her black hip holster. "Team four, plus client heading out for escorting mission to Hoshigakure in the Land of Bears." Miaka explains as she hands one of the shinobi the scroll to examine.
The spiky haired brunette took the scroll, unrolled it, giving it a quick and observant glance, and he gave a curt nod as he noticed the correct undertaking of the assessment and the Hokage's signature. It was a go from the looks of things and he gave a small, professional smile as he looked up to a waiting Miaka and returned her scroll back to her. She nodded, taking it from him and placing it back into her hip holster.
"You're a go."
"Alright, thank you. See you when we come back." Miaka says before she turned on her heels, heading back over to her genin team. "Team four, let's head on out. We're not going to accomplish anything by just standing here. Into formation with you lot."
The teens nodded and explained to their client how they were to travel in order. With a faintly confused face, Tsubasa nodded her head before being sure to stand in the middle of the three-man's squad order.
- -One hour into travel time- -
"Well, there haven't been any set durations for the ceremony, so time isn't an essential ailment exactly." Tsubasa commented.
"So, all that really matters is getting you to Hoshigakure in one piece, safe and sound." Miaka noted from the back of the traveling assemblage. Team Miaka were already set on their mission through the forest, an hour's time already passed with their brisk, but leisured walking. The trip itself was to undoubtedly take up to at least about nearly a months' time, traveling from the Land of Fire to the Land of Bears. The group already planned to cover as much ground as they could during the day and stop to rest during the night to avoid any run-ins with any enemies along the trail.
"Say...how is this Inoue kid anyway, like in personality and stuff?" Yukino spoke up from the left of Tsubasa, simply fishing for some conversation to pass the time. Tsubasa blinked her pale sapphire eyes as she glanced over to the young blonde. "Well...to be truthful, I do not particularly know much about Inoue-san."
Yukino gave the navy haired girl a baffled expression as she leaned over into her face, "But aren't you guys gettin' married?!"
"This was arranged from birth, yes," Tsubasa blinked with a hesitant nod of her head.
"Then how the heck—"
Keisuke gave a short, tired sigh as he closed his eyes, catching Yukino's attention, "Usually, most noble clans set arranged marriages between their offspring without giving them a chance to meet one another, to avoid any complications with their relationship. But, as time progressed from the olden times, the tradition has lingered in most parts, while in others, most nobles makes best with letting the two heads befriend each other, but that's without saying that small complications would be made."
"But, Tsubasa's marryin' a complete stranger then." Yukino stated.
"Yukino," Miaka stated in a stern tone, "our mission is to take Tsubasa-san to Hoshigakure, not to criticize her or the Inoues' traditions."
Yukino puffed up her cheeks as she folded her arms, "It's still not fair though..."
"There's no need to worry," Tsubasa tilted her head to the side with a warm, light smile. "I do this for my clan's honor and I gladly abide by our customs and the elders' wishes. Since I am the future heir, I must do my part and what I must to commence peace amongst my clan and the future generations to come, as well as to create peace among the Inoue clan as well."
Miaka nodded her head as she closed her eyes, "Hmm, spoken like a true head of a clan." She compliments Tsubasa, turning her gaze to her from the corners of her blue eyes. Tsubasa blinked, glancing over her shoulder behind her and up to the jonin sensei and then broke into a small, faint smile, nodding her head gracefully. The navy haired girl then turned her head as she lingered in the middle of the squad's planned formation: Satoshi taking lead at the front of Tsubasa, Yukino resided at the left as Keisuke took place to Tsubasa's right and Miaka was following up just behind the young heir in case of a sneak attack from behind.
"I'm kinda surprised though...most people would try and bolt before even comin' out on this thing. I mean, the clan's wouldn't even know. Tsubasa could've been attacked and killed; while in reality she'd be off livin' a normal life with an actual person that she knows and loves." Yukino stated as she continued down the path, crossing her arms behind her head.
A noticeable vein popped onto the side of Miaka's head and she swung her fist out, hitting the bright haired blonde over the head, "Oww!" Yukino seethes, quickly hugging at the back of her head. The blue haired sensei closed her eyes, "Saying things like that could create an impulse for some, Uzumaki. Keep "bright" ideas like that to yourself."
"N-ngh...I was just thinkin' out loud, is all..." Yukino whined lightly, holding her head down. Tsubasa blinked at the violent nature of the team's sensei, but turned her vision over towards a wincing Yukino and gently placed her hand onto her shoulder, making the blonde peek over to her past one of her eyes, "Hm?"
"I do appreciate the thought and your strong defense in this, Uzumaki-chan...but, I must follow through with this. It was Okasan's final wish after all, before she passed. 'Make strong bonds and hold them within a tight seal', she said to me in her final hours. I wish to make her dream a reality, even if it's for the sake of two clans only." Tsubasa smiled down to the female blonde, closing her eyes gently, her lips lightly curled upward in a warm, brilliant sense. Yukino stared up to her and broke into a bright smile, reaching up and clasping her hand on top of Tsubasa's, which rested on her shoulder, "Heh-heh, I'll help ya out with seein' that dream come true!"
"Heh, over-optimistic dobe," Satoshi scoffed, closing his eyes. An irritation mark snapped at Yukino's head, "What'cha say, Baka Uchiha?" she growled. Satoshi scoffed a short chuckle, turning his head to the side, "You heard me. Besides, what makes you think that you have any good knowledge about marriage and love? You're just an un-cute, tomboy who'll make a womanly husband rather than a typical caring wife." He teased with a smirk. The female blonde gritted her teeth as she lunged over to Satoshi, who readied himself in a challenging defensive stance.
"Stay in formation, you two." Miaka scolded them, voice hardened and daring them to continue if they so wished to feel her harsh wrath. They knew of that tone by now and the two froze in their stances instantly, glaring amongst one another with Satoshi smirking over towards Yukino. As the two stood frozen, Keisuke, Tsubasa, and Miaka continued in stride.
Blinking, Tsubasa glanced over towards Yukino and Satoshi, "Excuse me, but should we be leaving them—"
"Don't mind them." Keisuke droned in a bored, tired voice; his jaw dropping slightly in a short break of a yawn. He tucked his hands into his pockets, his eyes half-lidded. Miaka closed her eyes, readjusting the strap to her sheathed katana that was strapped diagonally across her torso and backpack. Tsubasa watched the two with a slight raise of her thin eyebrows, but decided best to follow Miaka's and Keisuke's advice. Certainly they know enough about Yukino and Satoshi, so taking their word "not to worry" seemed appropriate to heed to.
After a few moments, Satoshi and Yukino broke away from their mindless and quite pointless dispute and strode down along the wood's path, catching up to the rest of their squad, falling back into formation. The group continued to travel among the wood's road, until the sky warmed into a half orange and half a dark blue mix of conversion, with a tinted purple in the middle to divide and bring it together. The sun was close on its way to setting and the night would soon mend in. Although the skies were hinting to nightfall, the group continued to make their way down through the forest, the rest of the way encased with calm, but alert silence, until they came to a small clearing. It was almost absolutely shaded by the leaves of the many tall trees about the area, the open vicinity was completely bare, and yet then again...it wasn't. It bore coverage, but it was suitable and seemingly functional for a place of rest for the time being. A silent stream rippled alongside of the team's campsite, its short and near quiet waves tickling against the faint coolness of the night.
"Alright," Miaka's voice broke through the silence over the group; she paused in her steps, and turned a small smile up towards the four teens as they paused in their walking in front of her, "we've seemed to have covered enough ground on our first day of travel amid this mission, so I'm declaring a breather for the night and this spot looks best as any to ease and unwind a bit. But, to be on the safe side, Yukino." Miaka stated, making said blonde flinch slightly. "Um, y-yeah?"
"I need you to run a quick scan of the area with your Byakugan, alright?"
Yukino blinked, but nodded her head gently as she closed her eyes. With a soft intake of breath, she rolled her shoulders back before she opened her eyes, 'Byakugan!' revealing the sharp gaze of the pearl white famous Byakugan of the Hyuuga clan, veins rolling towards her glaring eyes in a serious expression. She searched her gaze over the district of the surrounding area, not picking up any chakra signatures, except hers and her team. Closing her eyes, Yukino shook her head faintly; the use of the Byakugan still had its toll on her since she was a simple beginner in its usages. After shaking her head faintly, Yukino turned her deactivated gaze over towards her sensei, "There's not any sign of any enemies, Miaka-sensei." She replied.
Miaka nodded her head in understanding, "Then it's settled. We'll make camp here for the night." She stated with a smile, placing her hands onto her round hips.
Yukino jerked forward in surprise, "Huh? But, I thought we were in a hurry and stuff like that, or somethin'."
"We could keep going for several days if we were on our own, but..." Keisuke started as he and Satoshi strolled up just behind the female blonde and then shared their glances over their shoulders to find Tsubasa sitting on a nearby rock, wiping her bangs from her face tiredly, only to have them flop back down onto her forehead once again. Satoshi bobbed his head curtly in agreement, "Watanabe seems to have reached her limit. You have to remember that she's a noble heir; they're not particularly use to travel like this."
"Oh, yeah...Right." Yukino hummed, closing her eyes in embarrassment before she glances over to Tsubasa with a faint worried gaze. Feeling the concerning stare on her, Tsubasa blinked, tilting her head to the side and gave a small smile, "Oh, I'm rather fine, really—"
"You can't overexert yourself, Tsubasa-san." Miaka tells her as she walked over, placing her hand onto her shoulder. "We'll stop here to rest and be ready to head out tomorrow morning. We need you in top healthy condition to meet with the Inoue clan, remember?"
Yukino chuckled as she jogged over towards her sensei's side, smiling up to the navy haired heir, "Yeah, Tsubasa, heh-heh! You should take it easy and rest! Don't worry; we're here to watch over you. Nothin's gonna happen to you with me around." The blonde grinned into the girl's face, making her ease back hesitantly with a slight blush at her cheeks. Watching
Yukino grin up to her, Tsubasa blinked silently in an awkward sense before she nodded her head oh-so softly before she smiled to the blonde, "Alright, Uzumaki-chan."
"Heh-heh," Yukino beamed a bright smile as she folded her hands behind her head, closing her eyes. "I can help ya set up your tent and stuff, if you want, Tsubasa."
"Oh, th-that wouldn't be necessary, Uzumaki-chan. I can put together my own things—"
"Ha ha, oh c'mon! It could be fun, y'know?" The blonde smiled brightly with her eyes still closed, as she reached her hand out, grasping lightly about Tsubasa's own hand, making said monarch blink her eyes a bit taken aback. Yukino hummed a soft round of laughter as she pointed over towards an open corner of the clearing, "How 'bout over there? It looks pretty nice and stuff and it's a good distance from under the tree's canopy, so ya don't gotta worry 'bout twigs and other junk fallin' and tappin' against your tent when ya asleep." She rambled, turning a smile up to the navy haired girl from over her slender shoulder.
Silently, Tsubasa's gaze followed towards the direction that Yukino was pointing in and she blinked quietly before she glanced over towards the short, blonde haired female. She watched as she animatedly continued to ramble on about putting up the tent and whatnot, and Tsubasa's eyes softens gently as she smiled at the intake of Yukino's side profile, watching as she pointed and made silly hand gestures on building techniques that would help with keeping the tent held up and further on with more details, that the navy haired monarch found endearingly humorous.
"—...don't ya think?" Yukino asks as she turned her head, facing up to Tsubasa with a wide grin and closed eyes. Blinking out of her thoughts, Tsubasa smiled down to Yukino, nodding her head softly, "Ha ha, I agree. It seems like a wonderful thought, Uzumaki-chan."
"Heh, yeah," Yukino trailed off with a sigh, but closed her eyes as she tucked her hands onto her hips. "I'm smart like that, I guess. Ha ha, don't tell the others I told ya, 'cause I don't wanna make anyone jealous or anythin', but I'm kinda like both the brains and muscle around here." Yukino says in a hushed tone of voice as she leaned over towards Tsubasa, with a hand covering the side of her mouth. Tsubasa blinked her light sapphire colored eyes with a slightly baffled and comical sense to them as she stared down to Yukino, but was a bit taken aback as Satoshi leisurely strolled by, who had been carrying various sizes of twigs and sticks under his left arm, smacking the girl rather nonchalantly and harshly between her shoulder blades. Yukino leaned forward with a wince and then turned a full-on glare towards the Uchiha, "What the hell?!" She screeched.
Satoshi simply gave her a side glance as he continued to walk from her, "Everyone's already started on making the campsite. Stop goofing around, dobe." He stated and then made a few quick hand signs as he strode over towards the middle of their small area. "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" He exclaimed, leaning back with his cheeks puffing up some and he thrust the upper part of his torso forward, breathing out a large spinning ball of hot and intense fire towards the gathered twigs, sticks and leaves within the center of their formed campsite. The jutsu made a hot, crackling fire to warm them up and help them see during the night from within a light, gentle blaze.
Tsubasa watched from beside Yukino with wide eyes and a gaping expression. "So that is the use of jutsu." She breathed faintly. "Amazing…" stated Tsubasa and Yukino merely shrugged her shoulders as she glared over towards the Uchiha, who rose up to his full stature and brushed his side bangs from his face. "Show off.." she huffed, crossing her arms just under her chest, but she then turned to the side, glancing up to Tsubasa with a light smile. "C'mon, let's get started on puttin' that tent of yours together."
"Oh, yes, we should." The navy haired monarch nodded her agreement as she followed after the blonde genin. Tsubasa unstrapped her traveling bag from her back and kneeled down to the ground. She silently shifted through her belongings, until she found what she had been searching for and she then pulled out a small folded rectangle with a near silent chuckle. "Here we are."
"Wow." Yukino gaped as she crouched down, placing her elbows onto her knees as she done so. "I thought since you were a noble and all that, that you would'a carried somethin' more extravagant and junk. But this is just a regular old tent."
"Hm, I wouldn't want to draw unwanted attention to myself, would I?" Tsubasa giggled, closing her eyes as she started to un-wrap the tent. Yukino kneeled down alongside of her and pitched in her assistance. With a few minor struggling and frustrated grumbles, Yukino had finished helping Tsubasa with her tent that now stood in a proud, prism-like shape and an unfolded mauve sleeping bag resting along the inside with Tsubasa's now discarded cloak which was folded up and lain out on top of her traveling bag. It seemed as though she were going to use the two as a sort of generic combination as a pillow to sleep on for the night.
After folding up and placing her cloak on her traveling bag, Tsubasa leaned up, wiping gently at her forehead as she gave a gentle chuckle, "There, ha ha. Seems that we are finished. I have to say, it has been different doing things myself for a change, but in a good way, yes." She chimed, standing up and dusting lightly at her loose beige colored pants that stopped just above her ankles by a few inches. Without the dark, heavy cloak, Yukino could see the noble heir's attire from underneath.
Tsubasa wore a neat and dark lavender Chinese-styled shirt with extra-long billowy sleeves that stopped about an inch past her fingertips, the long hem stopping just at the mid-section of her hips; the top's collar resided high, nearly covering her lips and the bottom half of her face. Around the collar and against her chest was laced a thick black string that hung a yin yang charm about Tsubasa's neck, the charms each being it's separate size of about three knuckles each. Her thick, awfully long navy colored hair was pulled neatly into a high ponytail that stopped just in the middle of her waist and pinned into her earlobes were a pair of marble-like yellow colored orb earrings.
Yukino blinked. She looked like a royal from the far off lands of some kind or something, but Yukino imagined that all nobles and high ranking families always dressed like this. But, all in all, Tsubasa seemed rather radiant and traditionally elegant in her appearance. Her exterior and form seemed to make her look even more beautiful and lovely. Not to mention her kind, temperate and polite mannerisms and personality.
After a moment or so of taking in the appearance of her charge, Yukino silently nods her head at Tsubasa's statement. "Ha ha, yeah. Hey, do ya need anythin' else? Ya hungry? I could go and see if Miaka-sensei is finished skewin' the fish over the fire."
Tsubasa glanced up from patting her attire down, looking over in Yukino's direction and as she done so, a low and quiet rumbling hummed from her stomach. She blinked, blushing faintly out of embarrassment and Yukino broke into a loud, short banter of laughter, "Ha ha! I'll take that as a "yes" then. Sit tight; I'll be right back, 'kay?" The blonde giggled as she climbed up to her feet and exited from out of the tent, pushing the flap towards the side as she left.
As Yukino took her leave, Tsubasa watched silently after her with a gentle smile before she turned her face downward, staring down into her lap quietly. Team Miaka seemed so nice and shared…interesting bonds with each other. It was different from what Tsubasa was typically used to from back at the Watanabe compound, but it was surely different in a good sense it seemed. She was indeed grateful that the Lady Hokage of Konohagakure had accepted the mission and chose to help her through this trying trek of hers. It meant a lot to her and the Watanabe clan, as well as the Inoue clan.
After some short time, Tsubasa sighed softly as she reached up and latched her hand gently about the charm hanging from her neck. She closed her eyes with another sigh, "Okasan…for you, I trek this journey." She whispered gently to herself, before she heard a few footsteps approaching towards the entranceway of the tent. Tsubasa glances up, letting her hand fall from her necklace, noticing Yukino's return. Said blonde grinned brightly, "Heh, yeah they're done! I'll take the slightly burnt one, so here ya go." She offered as she eased down to her knees, handing the fish on a stick towards Tsubasa.
She nodded her head lightly in gratitude. "Thank you, Uzumaki-chan."
Yukino nodded her head as well, before she leaned over and took a rather large and unladylike bite from her skewed fish. She closed her eyes in a goofy-like sense as she eased her head back with a delighted hum of satisfied hunger, chewing wholeheartedly over the simple meal, "Mmn~" she nommed happily with a faint giggle tickling past her chewing lips. Sitting quietly for a moment, the navy haired monarch blinked, before she gave a soft giggle of her own.
Tsubasa tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes as she delicately chewed a piece from her own skewed fish.
- -Miaka- -
Low crackling sounded from the middle of the campsite as Miaka sat silently, holding her fish on a stick close, but not too close, letting it cook against the brewing small fire. Her katana was tucked securely within its dull and faded blue sheath, lain against a small log that she was sitting on, by her side. Her pale sapphire blue eyes watched calmly down to the fish as it warmed against the fire's heat and oh-so slowly roasted. The brewing fire, tinted the front of her physique into a hue of orange and yellow slightly. It adorned her scarlet colored lipstick coating her full lips.
A pair of sandals scuffed over the wood's dirt floor from just the left side of her and she gave a minor, casual glance over, finding her young male blonde genin, Nara Keisuke. He heaved a low sigh as he pulled his hands out of his pockets, easing down to sit beside his sensei, who gave a faint chuckle.
"Always dreary, you are there, Keisuke." She smiled, rolling her gaze back down to the bonfire.
Keisuke closes his viewable eye as he lean his head back with a huff. "Troublesome things seem to do that to a person, I guess." He says while tilting his head to the side, his eyes still closed.
"Tch, you complain just like that father of yours," the blue haired Jonin shook her head with a quiet laugh. With his eyes still closed and head tilted to the side, Keisuke couldn't help but chuckle along with his sensei. "Ha ha," he chortled a bit lazily.
A shuffling of leaves made Miaka and Keisuke both glance over towards their right, finding Satoshi exiting from out of a pair of low bushes with a calm expression etched into his face, "I'm back." He greeted the two members of his team. Miaka nodded her head a bit, her eyes still on him, "Report?"
"The east and south borders are clear within the vicinity." Satoshi replied with a tired tilt of his head. Nodding her head to him, Miaka turned her gaze over towards Keisuke, who sighed heavily. "North and west borders were clear also."
"Alright, there's some good news." The blue haired jonin smiled and glanced over to the darkening color of the fish she was making, finding it a satisfied color of readiness. She beamed a bit as she pulled it back from the fire, blowing on it gently, "I guess we can unload our bags and call it a night. Yukino has already settled Watanabe-san in while you two were on patrol. You can unwind for a bit now, but we can't let our guards fully down. Stay cautious, we don't know if anyone is hiding low and pressuring down their chakra so we can't sense them."
Satoshi nodded his head in response, tucking his hands into his pockets as Keisuke heaved another heavy sigh. "What a drag." He droned as he pushed off of the log he was sitting on, and headed over towards his traveling bag to start unpacking his things for the night. Satoshi mirrored the young Nara, unpacking his sleeping bag as well, setting it near the fire and sliding himself into its somewhat warmth.
First day of the escorting mission: successful. At least for the first night so far.
to be continued . . .