Chapter 10

"Very well done" stated the Hokage. "I presume this mission didn't cause you any great problems following your boasting? You should all be fine correct?"

Sakaki held up her two fingers, covered in plasters, while Kimura dropped his slashed gloves to the floor and replaced them with a new pair. He was happy with that- the metallic emblem on the new pair of gloves was much shinier then before. Much more pleasing on the eye. Part of Tomo's face was covered with a dark bruise, having run straight into a large tree. Osaka stood in the centre of the room, the only member not hurt. She had offered to wear a bandage before entering the room, but the suggestion had been turned down. Eventually.

"Then again I could be wrong. I would have thought retrieving a single cat would have been an easy task for ninja of your skill level."

"We got the cat didn't we?" asked Tomo in an annoyed tone.

"That is correct. It would appear as though the cat was treated with great care. Her owner thanks you for that."

Tomo gawked at Sakaki. She'd been the one who'd gotten the cat. What was her deal with animals? Sakaki turned away, noticing Tomo's intense look.

"Well, there do not appear to be any D-ranked missions currently available, so you may leave. Get some rest. It would be good for you, it's been a hectic couple of weeks."

"Wait I heard that- you said there aren't any D-ranked missions" stated Tomo. This could be my chance!

"So?" asked the Hokage, taking a deep puff of his pipe. He didn't appear to notice the eagerness in her voice.

"That means there are other missions available- just no D-ranked missions."

"And your point is Tomo?" asked the man, now attempting to wind up Tomo.

"We should be able to do a non D-ranked mission!" exclaimed Tomo. "The four of us can handle it. Give us a chance, right Sakaki, Osaka?"

"I guess" muttered Sakaki. As a team we could have a chance.

"Lets do it" added Osaka.

"My my, patience seems to have all but died out in this village nowadays. Teams of Genin asking to do higher ranked missions. I don't know if it is a good thing, or if the village has a new generation of arrogant fools."

"Oh really?" asked Kimura.

"Why yes. Only this morning I had Lie requesting a C-ranked mission for his team. Team nine seemed to be very happy at receiving what they considered to be a more important mission. Of course the question is…Kimura do you believe that Team five is ready for a higher level mission. After all it will be your task to keep a watch over the Genin."

Kimura turned towards the three waiting girls. He didn't like his choices. Choose to accept the mission and he'd have to worry about babysitting over a group of young Genin in a potentially dangerous mission. C ranked missions could easily be too advanced for some Genin. Yet he had heard of other Genin of a similar age who had supposedly taken part in B-ranked missions. Decide not to choose the mission and his students would believe that he did not have any form of trust in them. That could be very bad for morale and the overall improvement of both the team and individuals. Why would they bother training if they believed their teacher had no trust in them? And of course Tomo would probably hurt him in his sleep. Possibly maim rather then kill.

However he couldn't allow that to cloud his judgement. He would have to make the correct decision. If he blindly went into a C-ranked mission he could end up with three dead Genin. He couldn't accept the loss of one of his trainees. Tomo had energy and confidence. She had certainly grown in terms of skill and could help to keep up morale. And she did have that vast source of untapped power. He rested a hand against his chin. Sakaki. She had shown proficiency in both Ninjutsu and taijutsu. But could she be relied upon mentally- she wouldn't be one to give secrets away easily yet he doubted if she had the chance to finish an enemy she'd take it. Osaka. Heck he didn't know where to start with her. She could definitely use Ninjutsu and all three had a great degree of comradeship among them.

"Kimura-Sensei?" asked Osaka.

He turned to the girl and smiled, despite knowing she wouldn't be able to see it through the mask. "Well, I guess my girls are ready. As you said, I can keep a look over them."

"Stop calling us my girls!" yelled Tomo pointing to the man. "And thank you for having confidence in us."

"So you have made your choice then Kimura. Very well then." The elderly man held up a paper scroll and handed it to Kimura. "Your mission is a lower ranked C mission. We can't just throw you straight into a mission bordering on a B rank. The mission is an escort mission. A wealthy visitor to our village has grown paranoid that he will be open to attack from various bandits and robbers."

"I see" stated Kimura.

"Despite our promises he is certain that our land is full of people just waiting for the chance to rob him. You and your three Genin are tasked with safely transporting him from this village. All of the details you need are on the scroll."

Kimura nodded and placed the scroll in one of his pouches. His team's first challenging mission. A milestone reached for the Genin he was training. Escorting a civilian to another village wouldn't be the most difficult introduction to a mission at a grade C level. He might even allow Tomo and the others a chance to fight some of the low level bandits that might appear. He was sure Tomo would enjoy that possibility- though Sakaki probably would not. He glanced across at his group. Without a word being said the three followed the teacher out of the room, an aura of excitement as well as doubt around the team.

---

That night Tomo sat in her bed, staring up towards her ceiling. A crinkled poster, the insignia of the village hung above her, often a source of inspiration to her. Always reminded her to keep going, receive the hitai-ate, become a Genin. Now here she was, about to start her most dangerous mission. She wished she had someone to speak to about the situation. She had no family, her friends needed their rest. She couldn't tell them she was slightly worried about the upcoming day.

I can't let them know that. I can't let them think that I'm weak. Kimura sensei had made the decision to accept a mission thinking that they were truly ready. If she revealed she had some doubts, he'd probably decide they weren't ready- or even worse decide that she wasn't ready, and leave her behind. She couldn't allow that. She gripped her pillow tightly. I shouldn't be scared! She wasn't even eighteen. Some nerves would be natural.

"Bah, I bet Sakaki isn't scared is she! Come on Tomo, feeling nervous is ok. It'd be odd not to feel like that. I won't let it beat me. Tomorrow I start my mission."

Across the village Sakaki placed a small saucer of milk down on the floor as the small wildcat approached it. He sniffed it before slowly lapping up the cold milk. Sakaki smiled warmly as the small creature licked the milk from the fur surrounding its mouth and slowly padded across to her. He lay in her lap. Don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep. She knew she wouldn't be able to move if the cat fell asleep- she couldn't wake the poor creature up.

He didn't fall asleep, merely enjoying the comfort of Sakaki's lap. What the heck… She picked up the cat carefully and hugged him, giggling slightly as he rubbed against her chin. She slowly placed him down on the makeshift bed she'd built in a hurry- cannibalizing her own bed in the process. She sat down in the ruins and glanced across at the cat.

"You don't mind staying with me do you?" she asked the cat. He slowly rolled onto his back, stretching his paws out. "You don't have anyone else to be with anyway do you?"

Slowly she stood up and climbed into her bed. Her hand ached as the wounded finger brushed against her bed. That other cat had been particularly vicious. Why do so many animals seem to hate me? I don't hate them.

"You're not like that are you? Goodnight Mayaa" she said softly.

---

Shiro Nakasone brushed the crumbs from his large beard as someone knocked upon the door. He took a dip sip of wine before calling for the person to enter. Kimura stepped inside, Tomo and Osaka following him. Kimura paused, not speaking as Nakasone studied the group intently with what had once been extremely sharp eyes. He placed his wineglass back on the table. He returned to studying the group, and occasionally making sounds.

"And just who might you be?" he asked after a prolonged silence. Tomo let out a sigh of relief. She had been very close to breaking that silence.

"I am Kimura, and I am leader of Team five. We are the team who have been sent to accompany you out of this village. We have been sent to protect you from bandits and other rogues."

Nakasone gulped down a large mouthful of the wine. "What? But you're just some middle age fart and your team is a couple of girls. Who can you protect me from?"

"I must assure you Mr Nakasone; we are all very well trained and will be able to defend you."

"I see" mused the overweight man. "Well I guess the Hokage wouldn't send you if he didn't have faith in you." He pushed his chair out, standing up. "No time like the present. Might as well get moving now." He pointed to a corner. "I have quite a few possessions with me."

"My Genin will be happy to carry it, won't you." Osaka knew that wasn't a question, nor a request. Tomo cheerfully waltzed into the room and picked up one of the packs. Osaka stood waiting, competing mentally with Kimura to choose the lightest pack.

"Careful with that" muttered the man, "It's worth more then your education."

I can see this is going to be fun thought Sakaki as Tomo growled at the man.

Author's note: I am still working on this story, and I am currently close to finishing Chapter Twenty. However for the present I am focusing on my other projects, which are more likely to be completed soon, allowing me to focus on maintaining the level of this story. I'm also pondering a 'movie-length' chapter. Last time I tried that for an unpublished story, it reached over 8000 words.

R.O.TR