En Garde: Helping the Falling Jounin!
Last Time
"We'll be there soon, Naruto, stop just as soon as I say."
Naruto nodded and with a cry of stop they stopped outside of a long bridge that was incomplete in the middle. "This bridge looks easily jumpable, Naruto, let's cross here."
"Sensei, I thought Wave Country needed a boat to cross, are we at the wrong place?" Naruto asked.
The man shook his head. "No, I suspect that this bridge is being built as a way to cross into Fire Country without using a boat. But, see up ahead, where the gap is, that is easy enough to pass with a running jump. I have a feeling that this is the reason Kakashi and his team is here, a few genin that decided they wanted to do something bigger than they were ready for. In fact, if Zabuza is here, you are not to get involved with the fighting, Naruto. Zabuza is to powerful to fight with, and therefore you do not get involved fighting the bastard."
"Hai, sensei."
They crossed the bridge a second later, a half-hour behind Gai, and the five genin that were with him. As soon as he saw Genma, the green-covered jounin motioned him over. It was something, all the genin in one place like that, and the fact that they were there at all was reassuring. Genma came back over a minute later and said, "Kakashi has Chakra depletion. We found out because Kiba sent his nindog Akamaru to Konoha, and told his clan that they were in trouble.
We're not staying long, however, just enough time to get Kakashi back into shape, and then we're to leave, but we have to let one genin stay a piece. Tenten will be staying behind, what about you?"
He smiled and said, "Nushi, you are staying behind after we leave. Kimourii and Naruto have already had a chance at acting without the team, I will expect a report from Kakashi-san on how well you worked with his team, so I expect you to try.
She bowed and said, "Arigato sensei." Then her and Sutermaru picked up the other nindog, Akamaru, and walked inside the house. A minute later, a sound thrashing could be heard as she said, "How dare you make the dog run all the way back to Konoha without giving him a treat! That's bad behavior for an Inuzuka to have!"
A silent chuckle was heard outside as the rest of the Nin heard that. Looking at each other, Gai and Genma led their team inside the house.
It took a week for Kakashi to become healthy enough that he could lead his team correctly. In that time Genma and Gai taught the teams twice daily, Gai in taijutsu, and Genma in ninjutsu, and Chakra control. Neji, ironically, had the best control, but the worse knowledge of ninjutsu. Naruto, on the other hand, had the same amount of control as Kimourii, and the best knowledge of the jutsu that they'd went over, only learning two new ones in the few days the team had been there.
The first was the Earth Element, Earth Separation technique, which caused a crater to open in the earth, and swallow the opponent. The second was the Water Element, Water Blast no Jutsu, which caused two streams of water to hit an opponent, thereby knocking them down and causing internal damage. It could be followed up with any of the lightning element moves, to cause external damage as well as the internal.
Gai was impressed at the way Naruto could do the jutsu, because they were so high-powered, Naruto must have had too much Chakra. Too bad Lee couldn't use ninjutsu.
"Gai, Genma" Kakashi called out the morning they were too leaving, "thank you for coming and also for leaving two genin for me. The attack was so sudden, that I'm sure without Sasuke's help, I would be dead now. He really is something, he activated his Sharingan to the first stage, and helped me considerably.
Will you be heading back to Konoha?"
Gai shook his head, "no, Teams Gai, and Genma, are assigned to an information gathering mission after our response to your distress call. We will remain in Wave Country until you are ready to leave, looking for information on the Akatsuki from the Hidden Mist. Are you certain that everything will be alright, Kakashi-sempai?"
Kakashi nodded. "Hai."
They nodded and left, all the while Kakashi thinking that Sasuke deserved a chance at being a Chuunin because of his assistance with Zabuza, and of course that not so hidden fake Oi-nin, Haku.
"Right, Genma, and Team 5, now that the problem with Kakashi is taken care of, we need to head on to our own mission. So, here are the details that Hokage-sama told me about before sending us on our way.
Three days ago, a very valuable cargo shipment coming from Konoha to Wave Country was destroyed and most of the cargo looted. We believe that many of the items are weaponry, and food, due to the adverse affect that the Gatou Corporation is having on the economy here. Obviously, Kakashi-tempai and his team are involved in a mission to protect that new bridge from the Gatou Corporation, but it is our job to find out where Gatou is hiding, and after that, either kill or apprehend him.
The fact that Zabuza of the Hidden Mist is involved with this mission at all means that Gatou is losing his grip on the economy in this country. We want to prevent him from even gaining a foothold into Fire Country before he tries. The Feudal Lord also asks that we help in the guarding of the bridge if, in the event it is attacked, because this bridge is the last hope of the country.
So, that is our mission, Genma-san."
Genma smiled, "hai, we understand. Just alone the fact that they're asking for three Genin teams is troubling, but understandable. Alright, as let's look at the teams as they are. We have Neji and Lee, a Hyuuga and a taijutsu specialist, Naruto and Kimourii, a ninjutsu specialist, and a genjutsu specialist, and then we have both of us, Jounin, and in our case, two of the strongest shinobi in the village of Konohagakure. Between the six of us, there are four active bloodline limits. So, Gai, as this is more your territory than mine, what do you suggest we do?"
"Well, you are right, I've been here many times in the past, but in the past year it's been worse than anything than I've ever seen. I think we will need to utilize all aspects of this team, and pull our resources to find out what we need. Do you agree, Genma?"
"Yes, I do."
"YOSH! IT IS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU AGAIN, NARUTO-KUN!"
Naruto laughed and punched Lee in the arm, saying, "Ohayo Lee! Neji! It's good to see you both! Kimourii-chan and I are happy to work with you."
"AH THE POWER OF YOUTH!" Gai yelled. Naruto flinched away, and Genma covered his ears.
"Alright, so we'll need to set some traps. Neji, use your Byakugan and find the best areas for placing three layered traps, and mark them on this map. Kimourii, check to see if we're near any genjutsu, and if we are, turn them to our advantage by making sure they look disabled, but are still there.
Naruto, Lee, patrol the grounds for anyone bearing a non-Konoha hitai-ate, a mist looks four water marks, with a position at each of the axis marks on a compass." He drew the picture in the sand.
"If you see this mark, do not approach him, unless he attacks, then only fight enough to save yourself. Do you understand this, Naruto? Lee?"
They nodded. "Hai, Genma-sempai! Naruto-kun and I will rely on our nindo to help us not forget who we are!"
Genma laughed and said, "You do that, Lee-san. Hajime!" he said, and the two ran off in very different directions.
Naruto walked along, making a Kage Bunshin to talk too, making sure that nothing was in the area. He pushed chakra to his feet, and pushed himself off of the ground. He hadn't done this in a while, but figured that the practice would help his control, which seemed a little sluggish lately.
When he got to about tree height, Naruto walked forward, letting his Chakra keep him in the air, where he could see well than before. Looking down, he saw Lee, heading towards a very peaceful looking village, and his camp about a half-mile back. Kage Bunshin was walking down the road, looking conspicuously ever few feet.
For about an hour, the two walked along the road, and in the trees as the situation called for, before thinking that no one was within a radius of at least a mile in this direction.
It wasn't until he was back at camp that he realized that there was no reason for puddles of water to be on the road.
He cursed, drawing the attention of his leader and sensei. "Nani, Naruto."
Naruto sighed. "Sensei, there were two puddles on the ground that I realized just now shouldn't have been there."
Genma was up a second later and said, "Kuso! Naruto, that was very reckless of you!"
Naruto nodded and said, "Arigato, sensei!"
Genma sighed, "Fine, tomorrow though, you're to run three hundred laps around the camp, a mile radius."
Naruto nodded and said, "Hai sensei!"
Gai seemed to think that was too much, but Genma said, "That won't even really bother him, his resistance is too large, and his stamina is better than mine. He'll take about three hours and be ready to fight again an hour after that."
Gai nodded sagely, wishing that Lee had that type of stamina. "But, if he cannot do that, I will run five hundred, and I cannot do that, I'll do seven thousand pushups!"
Lee smiled. "AND IF THE GREAT GAI-SENSEI CANNOT DO THAT, I WILL DO TEN THOUSAND ONE ARMED PUSHUPS, AND IF I CANNOT DO THAT, I WILL RUN THREE HUNDRED LAPS AROUND THE CAMP LIKE NARUTO-KUN!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"Alright, enough!" Genma said, ending their little spectacle. "Gai, do you feel that killing intent?"
Gai nodded, suddenly more serious than Naruto had ever seen him. "Whoever it is followed Naruto back to this area. Neji, look around and check to see who it is."
Neji nodded and with a whisper, looked through the Byakugan with a small sniffle.
"There are two, brothers it looks like. They're both about forty feet behind you, Gai-sensei, and are preparing to strike at us with Kunai. Also, they wear the hitai-ate of the Mist. Gai-sensei, they just threw the Kunai!"
Gai, though, was already gone, and the next thing that was heard was a cry of, "DYNAMIC ENTRY!" and the breaking of bones.
One of the brothers flew through the woods and in front of Naruto, the next flew in front of Lee. When they were sure that everything was safe, Lee and Naruto tied the two intruders up. "Good job on your reaction time, Lee, Naruto. And you, Gai, very quick reflexes."
Gai just held his thumb up and, smiled with his sparkling teeth, said, "It was nothing! Haha!"
Genma sighed and said, "Alright. Well, my genin need to get to sleep, and I've taken to getting at least five hours at night. So, I'm going to turn in. Are you going to be alright?"
"We will be fine, for we still burn brightly with the fire of youth!" Gai said, making Genma think that meant "of course, baka".
"Well, goodnight, and if you need anything, we're only a tent away. Naruto, Kimourii, let's get some sleep."
The two nodded, going off for the first time since the group had gotten together a week ago.
The Next Day
Naruto had just finished with the last lap around the group, a full minute under the three hour mark that Genma had set for him. And, as they said, an hour later it was as if nothing had even happened to the genin. Gai was unsurprisingly proud of Naruto, going on about how brightly his youthful fires flared.
So, it was a very happy group that set out that morning.
As it was, the group moved swiftly in Wave Country, only once stopping in a city, when Kimourii made mention that she needed some womanly products. And, even then, the hour that it took only delayed them by a quarter of an hour. And, it made for a better mood in the group. Everyone had noticed the consistent effort that the Kunoichi was putting into her work, as if trying to impress a certain person, but the baka just didn't get it.
"Alright, we'll split up from here. I'll take Kimourii and Lee" Gai said, when they arrived at a fork in the road. Genma nodded and said, "Come, Naruto, Neji."
Neji and Naruto just smirked at each other, and after a quick look at Kimourii by Naruto, the group set off.
It took less than a second before they realized that something was wrong. Neji had activated his byakugan when he noticed it. They were being followed. When whoever it was stopped, Genma attacked them.
"Who are you?" the Hyuuga asked. The masked ninja simply said, "A hunter-nin looking for Momouchi Zabuza," and was off. Genma sighed, and the trio simply went on their way. As the two roads combined again, so did the group. At the next fork, the original teams, Kimourii, Naruto, and Genma, and Gai, Lee, and Neji, went their separate ways.
When the groups merged again, they came to a beautiful looking, modern city. The high buildings making them gasp in delight. Of course, Naruto had a funny feeling in his seal, as if the Kyuubi had been to this city before, but realized that he probably had, being a Demon and all.
It wasn't until they were really into the heart of the city that they found accommodations for the night, a 'hotel' rather than a bathhouse, or brothel.
They booked three rooms, Genma paying for most of the rooms himself, prices so large, it cost five thousand ryuu for the entire group.
"Uzumaki Naruto-san" Lee whispered. Naruto looked. "We shall share accommodations, hai!"
Naruto looked at Neji and the three nodded, while Kimourii was booked a single room, with accommodations.
The next day came early, when a fat man dressed in a yellow business suit barged in the room with a metal device, containing two long cylinders and a small lever on the bottom, which he kept his finger on the entire time.
He glared at the three Nin, and was about to attack when Lee said, "Konoha Senpuu!"
The man wasn't fast enough and after they heard his hand break, Lee picked up the device and said, "What is this?"
"That is a gun, Lee. Put it down!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"You, who do you work for?"
The badly dressed man gulped and said, "I don't have to tell you anything, you're visitors here!"
Gai laughed and said, "We may be visitors here, but we are shinobi of Konohagakure! We can kill you fifteen different ways, before your bullet would ever penetrate our bodies."
The man laughed and scoffed when Gai hit him in the chest, sending him into the wall, cracking it. The man fell over, as Genma entered. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
As the man's cloak caught fire, he squealed and tried putting it out. "GATOU! I WORK FOR GATOU! NOW PUT THIS OUT! PLEASE!"
Genma laughed and said, "Should we?"
Gai nodded. "Hai, we will forgive you, this time."
Genma did the hand seals and said, "Suiton: Suishouha!"
Naruto mentally added to learn that jutsu. "Now, tell us where Gatou is, and any information about the Wave Country's village, and their newly acquired bridge!"
The man nodded. "Hai, hai! Gatou-sama runs a monopoly out of that port village, because it has the best access to water. Without that village, the village also has the most ships, and the best villagers. Gatou-sama runs the city through manipulation, and has even paid to keep the Feudal Lord out. He runs his organization out of this city!"
"And people just go along with him!" Naruto yelled, but was silenced by his sensei. The man nodded anyway, "yes, he rules with fear. He hires ninja from countries, and has them attack. He has two now, an Oi-nin named Haku, and the Demon of the Hidden Mist himself, Momouchi Zabuza! Any shinobi would have to be a fool to face him!"
"And, what of his crimes. Has he ever been confronted on them?"
"A few years ago, a man was killed for standing up to Zabuza. He was killed with a gun, like this one!"
Genma threw the man on the floor and said, "Consider yourself lucky that I'm not Momouchi Zabuza, or you would be dead right now. As it is, we can't have you warning Gatou that we're here. So, Doton: Doryuuheki!"
As the wall surrounded the man, Genma looked to the team and said, "We have to go, before someone gets hurt! We move out in the morning, heading back to that village. Naruto, Neji, head out ahead of us, and try to reach Kakashi before Gatou. Gai, we'll both need to rest if we're going to take on Zabuza and the Oi-nin, I believe we need to rest.
Naruto, before you go, take care of the bill for us."
Naruto nodded and, as he and Neji left the room, Genma sighed, laying down on his back and drifted off to sleep.
"We have several miles to travel, and not much time to travel it, Naruto. So, I believe that the best way would be for you to set the pace. I'm much better prepared if I don't have to wait for someone slower in front of me, and I know for a fact that you're the fastest genin from our year."
Naruto nodded and, making a familiar hand set, created a Kage Bunshin. He ordered it to stay with Genma-sensei, and to wake them up at the earliest convenience. Kage-Naruto nodded and went inside. Naruto, for a moment walked inside the bathroom and came out a second later, his arms and legs a bit more bulgy, but other than that nothing different.
"I put my release weights on and took my body suit off, if we run into trouble, I want to be able to move faster than ever. Now, get on Neji."
Neji wanted to ask, but Naruto didn't give him a chance and said, "Chioku!" before making a familiar set of hand seals and saying, "Shunshin no Jutsu!"
The two sped off, leaving a very nervous Lee and Kimourii behind.
About an hour later, they arrived at the bridge, and Naruto fell to his face, a bit tired. Neji and he arrived at the house that they knew his friends were waiting at, however, and walked inside. "Nushi-chan, Tenten-sama!"
The two kunoichi ran into the room and grinned. "Naruto-Kun!" and "Neji-Kun" were both heard, as the rest of the group entered the room. "Where are the senseis?"
"Resting, we were sent ahead, to warn you that a Gatou is behind all the attacks, and is possibly moving this way. We're ordered to stay out of the fighting because he is traveling with an Oi-nin named Haku and a man named Zabuza. They are both Jounin, but we will help if you need help!"
Kakashi, who entered at the end said, "Yo, we thank you for that, Naruto-kun. Ah, Sasuke, you're awake? Good, good. And you, Sakura? Alright, I'm glad you're both ready. Today, we'll be working on a few jutsu that I think you in particular, Sakura, will like, as will Kiba when he awakens. And of course, you are all invited to join us, but I believe that I would like someone guarding the bridge while we practice. We should still have a few days before anything drastic happens."
"Hai, Kakashi-san." Naruto said, "Neji and I will guard the bridge. You both look like you've not slept lately, Tenten-sama, Nushi-chan."
They both smiled and shook their heads. As they head up to go to bed, Neji and Naruto went to the bridge, waiting for any eminent threats against them, or the bridge.
Luckily, nothing was meant to happen while the genin were on duty, except for the arrival of the rest of their team. Kage-Naruto had been dispelled when they left, and he knew for a while now that they were coming.
"Ohayo, students in the ways of YOUTH!"
"Ohayo, master of the art of youth" Neji whispered, glaring at his sensei for all his worth. Naruto snickered and said, "A master of youth now?"
The boy simply hit him in the head. "So, where is my eternal rival! HAHA!"
"Training his team, Nushi and Tenten are in bed, they were on guard duty last night, while the other's rested. We offered to watch the bridge while they trained. Really, sending rookie genin on a mission of this rank? This is easily a B-rank, we didn't even get our first B-rank mission until... two weeks ago!"
"You've had a B-rank?" Neji asked. Naruto nodded and Genma said, "yes, we were escorting Stone-nin from Iwagakure too the Chuunin Exam. Naruto is the son of the Fourth, and as such it was a very dangerous situation to put him in. In fact, before we came here, he used Shunshin no Jutsu, in a dire emergency. I'm sure that the Hokage will have to do some heavy negotiation, but it was a situation we were well in control of."
Gai simply nodded. "That would be a very good reason for Naruto-kun to be awarded a B-rank mission, a known mission risk for any shinobi or kunoichi, is often awarded a higher rank, Neji-san."
Neji nodded and said, "and this, what rank would this be?"
They sighed, "at most a B-rank, I'll be surprised it's any higher, even with Zabuza of the Mist."
Neji nodded and said, "So, that's two for you, in a row, Naruto?"
Genma's eyes widened and said, "Hai! That is true, is it not!"
No one noticed the evil grin spread on Genma's face.
The Return
Kakashi limped away from the battle that had just been waged against Zabuza with a final act of momentum. As the hands of his teammates wrapped around his arms, Kakashi cursed himself. He had been forced to reveal his summon-dog ability far faster than he would have liked. But, on top of that, his Chidori, the original move of Hatake Kakashi.
He thanked Gai, and looked at his team. Sasuke had senbon sticking out of his back, and Kiba wasn't too much better, though Akamaru had seen worse days. No, his real worry was Sakura, who had been hit with a Kunai right above the heart.
Not that the other genin were much better. Neji had been forced to use his Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou far sooner than he thought when Gatou showed up with about thirty men, though Tenten was in her element with weapon deflection. Then, there was Lee, who surprised even Kakashi with his speed dealing with all the weaponry, save Gatou's 'gatling gun' that had nearly hit the poor genin.
Even with those surprises, though, no one was ready for what had happened when Sasuke had fallen. Naruto, the lovable guy that never lost his temper, had glowed a red-golden hue and crouched low to the ground, as Haku attacked with more senbon. Moving almost as fast as Lee, the genin disappeared and shattered three ice mirrors. Nushi then took that oppurtunity, and attacked the Oi-nin, Sutermaru grabbing his, yes his, ankle and pulling him down. It was then Kimourii showed her true worth, and attacked with a genjutsu that showed the death of Zabuza by eviscerating him on his own sword.
She was a master at mental torture.
And, let him not forget Gai, who cleanly dispelled of all of the 'hired help' while Genma himself killed Gatou. It was as if the genin did all they were trained to do and more, which gave him even more reason to add his team into the Chuunin Exam.
Now, as they left the country, the bridge named after the Konoha-nin that had risked their lives, he smiled.
And, at once, Hatake Kakashi couldn't help but think that all was right in the world.
It wasn't until a week later, when they arrived to Konoha, that he'd realize just how much his words had an adverse affect on the city.
Konoha
"Welcome back, I'm glad to see that both missions went well. However, it seems that teams Gai and Genma are due to go on a joint C-rank mission. This happens after a year's time, when teams are accustomed to working in teams, we will assign a border patrol mission to last a month's time. This month is mostly to allow the genin and jounin teams to practice together. Also, I had an interesting with our visiting Iwa-nin, who have asked why we have not yet had the spar they were promised by our two friends here."
Genma and Naruto blushed. "I explained that there was an urgent mission to Wave Country that required two of my best shinobi, and that Naruto was well on his way to making Chuunin. When Kokoro Kasai all but begged, I stopped and said that I would indeed place them in an open spar with my genin team, I just wanted you to know these events would take place during your trip. I especially want Naruto and Neji out of the city when it occurs, as the two strongest genin in our city, I cannot have your talents seen by anyone before the Chuunin Exam."
Neji simply bowed and said, "Arigato Hokage-sama." He looked at Naruto and said, "It is an honor to be placed in the same group as you, Naruto."
Naruto smiled, "you are a precious person to me, Neji-san, and no matter what, and I know we will always have each other's backs."
Genma and Gai smiled, all the while Gai muttering something about the "youthful spirit of competition", while Tenten simply, and skillfully asked when they left.
"You will all leave tomorrow morning. You will be patrolling the border to Tea Country. Though we have a truce with Tea Country, this is just a cover for the real purpose for you being there. This is a dual team training mission. You will be focusing on obtaining the best ability you can in the shortest amount of time.
There are no unforeseen disturbances to your training, so I expect you all back in a month, at the top of your ability. Also, when you get back, Genma will need to go after Jiraiya, who is ready to keep his bargain, in training you Naruto."
Naruto nodded, ready for anything that is going to happen. He knew that Kimourii and Nushi knew about Jiraiya, and the Rasengan, and he couldn't wait to learn. All he had to do was make it past the Chuunin Exam.
As the two teams walked out, Sarutobi said, "this is an A priority, B-rank training mission. You are to leave immediately. Good training, genin!"
They all smiled and bowed, Naruto saying, "arigato, Sarutobi-sensei!"
And, with that, the training mission began.
End Chapter