Chapter #10: A Dangerous Mission…Journey to the Land of Streams
Naruto and the rest of his team stood in front of the long desk, behind which sat few of the Konoha jonin along with Hokage himself. The Nine-Tails vessel gave the Leaf's leader the report from their last assignment and returned to stand by his students' side.
Kakashi read the note he was given and after a little while he putted it away, saying: "Well, guess I should give you guys a new mission, but it seems that most of the D-rank ones are already taken…"
"Huh?" Kumiko was a little shocked at the statement. "How come?"
"Seems that your friends, team number four, is really active" responded the Hokage with a shrug. "Plus, there are other genin teams except the three that just graduated from the Academy that needs some missions."
"Those missions are lame anyway!" announced Haruto with a somewhat bored tone. "Maybe now we'll get something more interesting! I mean, come on, picking herbs for the local medic? How's that supposed to help us get stronger?"
"It just so happens that that medic-nin that we've been picking herbs for is a teammate of mine" responded Naruto as he glanced at the younger blond. "Besides, did you really expect that you'll get to fight other shinobi right after leaving the Academy?"
"Look who's talking" Kakashi whispered to himself with a sweat drop. "Well, judging from what Naruto told me about you guys…" he said, this time out loud, "I guess I could give you a C-rank mission" with those words he picked out a scroll from his pocket. "I want you to deliver this letter to the lord of the Country of the Stones. He's a good friend of mine, so I do hope you'll do a good job…"
At this the whisker-marks walked forward and took the letter from the Hokage's hand.
"So what's in that scroll?" asked Daisuke curiously.
"That is of no importance to you" replied the Hokage seriously. "But this mission also has a second part. Since you guys will be heading to the Stone Country capitol anyway, I'd like you to take someone with you…"
At the very same moment, a young girl, around eighteen years of age, walked into the room along with Iruka. She is a fair-skinned young woman with long, brown hair that hangs loosely and blue eyes. She also had short bangs that part to the right, brushing over her brows with collarbone-length locks framing her heart-shaped face. Her attire consist of a simple, loose-fitting light-yellow kimono with black edges and a pair of worn, black ankle-boots.
Naruto looked at her and grabbed Daisuke just in time to stop the boy from jumping straight at the girl: "I love you!" yelled the chakra master, right before his sensei smacked him on the head.
"You're a real perv, kid" stated Naruto. "Didn't you say you loved Kumiko last week?" he asked, rising his eyebrow.
"I still love Kumiko, she's a total babe, but you can't master your heart" replied Daisuke with dignity.
"You do realize that she's like six years older than you?"
"Now I get it" announced Daisuke thoughtfully, pointing a finger at his teacher. "You want her for yourself, don't you, Naruto-sensei? Girls want shiny and new, not dusty and old!"
"What the hell are you talking about? First of all: she doesn't interest me! Second… I'm not that old" he said with a sad face. "I'm only 22" he added, much quieter.
"This is Haruna" Kakashi introduced the girl, trying his best to ignore the two. "And she's the granddaughter of the Earth Feudal Lord. Daisuke, I suggest you stay away from her, especially since her wedding is only about ten days away—"
"Wait a minute, you old fart" Haruna interrupted, gazing at the Leaf's leader. "You mean they're the ones who are escorting me? They're wimps! Especially the idiot and that pervy weirdo…"
Daisuke and Haruto's eye twitched, as Takeru turned to Emi and whispered: "You're the royalty expert here. Could you… you know… kill her without any war between our two countries, coz that's the only thing stopping me from electrocuting her." he asked annoyed, holding back his anger.
"We're supposed to protect her" Emi laughed quietly.
"Just what are they talking about over there," Kumiko thought as she looked at Emi and Takeru angrily, "He's mine, got that!"
"Ayo, lady!" yelled Haruto, pointing at the Stone princess. "I don't care who you are, but I'm the one who's going to become Hokage one day and I demand respect!"
"Look here, half-wit" came a response with a frown. "I'm royalty, so if anyone deserves respect around here, it's me."
"Lord Hokage" meanwhile Naruto walked over to the desk, whispering to his former sensei. "I know that this is none of my business, but why didn't the earth lord hire shinobi from his own land? After all, the Stone village is known for their shinobi strength."
"The way he put it" replied Kakashi, also with a lowered voice. "He told me that he's not certain about Hidden Stone ninja loyalty. You see, Haruna is destined to marry Shichiro Kuronagi, the grandson of the Stream Feudal Lord. Both Feudal Lords are still in talks for an alliance but, the citizens of the Stone Village do not want an alliance with the Land of Streams. The marriage marks peace between the two lands."
"Great" came a response. "So why are you planning to send us? After all, they're just rookies and according to your words, fights with jonin are possible…"
"I know, but at the moment you're practically the only jonin available. I promise to send some backup as soon as I can. Besides, you're one of the most respected shinobi in the village. And I trust your judgments regarding your squad…"
"Yeah, they did master tree-climbing already and both Daisuke and Emi are able to walk on water, but they haven't had a real, shinobi battle. Moreover, they still need to work on teamwork and sending them on such a mission is extremely risky."
"I trust your abilities, Naruto" replied Kakashi seriously. "Also, we both know Onoki and we know he'll make sure no one from his village will come after Haruna, but we still do not know how the Land of Stream's citizens feel about the marriage nor do we know what kind of ruler they have so, be on the lookout."
"Well, I'll do my best" announced the Nine-Tails vessel, straightening himself. "But I can't assure the success of the mission this time, I'm afraid. Okay, you guys" he said, this time in the way his students would hear him. "Pack your bags; we're heading to the Land of Streams!"
-The next day-
"Let's go!" yelled Haruto, throwing his hand to the sky.
"Cut it out already!" scold Kumiko, smacking her teammate on the head. "What are you so excited about anyway? It's like you've never gone outside of the village?"
"I did, but we're heading to the Land of Streams!" explained the preteen excitedly. "I heard they have powerful shinobi now! I can't wait to face them!"
"Calm down, Haruto" asked Naruto lightly as he walked besides the princess. "Even if we do run into ninja, the one who'll be fighting them will be me…"
"That's not fair, Naruto-sensei! Why should you have all the fun?"
"Look, I'm not saying that you guys are weak. Actually, I believe that you're tops among Leaf genin, but in the fight against a jonin you still don't stand a chance, so if only a high rank ninja will appear, your mission will be to take Lady Haruna to safety and let me handle the battle. Is that understood?"
"But how are we supposed to get stronger if you don't allow us to fight, Naruto-sensei?" asked Takeru with hands in his pockets as a slight disappointment sounded in his voice.
"I know that for you, youngsters, it's hard to deal with…" responded the vessel with sympathy, "But the ninja we'll unlikely encounter are far above your level and all of you are under my protection. I cannot risk any casualties."
"Yeah, so shut up already and pick someone to carry my bags!" yelled Haruna, raising her chin.
Naruto sighed. "She's even worse than Tazuna…"
And so the princess and her six shinobi bodyguards head to the Country of the Streams, not knowing that they were observed by a mysterious shadow from the tops of the trees.