Chapter 14: Undercover or Vacation? The Oceanside Mission Begins
"Is everyone here?" Tsunade asked. She looked around, tallying off the teen shinobi filling her office. Naruto took note of the 7 Chunin present. Tenten was standing next to Tsunade's desk, while Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Rock Lee, Sakura, and Hinata stood against the wall. Also present were the newly promoted Iruka, and a twenty-something kunoichi. She had long purple hair and deep purple eyes. Naruto thought she looked familiar, but could not recall her name or where he had seen her before.
"We can begin then," the Hokage continued, "As you may know, Tenten has been on a mission for the past month. I can now tell you that she has been undercover, as a high school student. We have heard rumors of an attempt to kidnap the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. So, Tenten was sent to pose as an exchange student. And sure enough, she was able to thwart an attempt to take the girl."
Their leader leaned forward with a fierce look, "But it turns out that the abduction Tenten stopped was not the real plan. Instead, it was one of the underlings, trying to kiss up to his boss. Unfortunately, he is too much of a peon to know who is orchestrating this crime, but he did know when the real kidnapping is to take place."
She leaned back again, with a slight grin, "The Daimyo's daughter is going on a school trip to Daikaiyo Villa in the Land of Waves. They will be outside the Land of Fire, and are not the only school visiting. All of you will be going undercover as Tenten's classmates. Iruka and Yugao will be leading the mission, and taking the role of your teaching chaperones."
"Does this really take ten ninja?" Shikamaru asked.
"Probably not," Tsunade agreed, "But this is politics. The fact that there was one attack means the threat is real. And this is the daughter of the ruler of our country, so a show of force and commitment is called for. Also, we need to send enough bodies to maintain the appearance of a real group of high school students on a trip."
"Then why not include Kiba, Neji, and Shino," Hinata asked.
"Kiba's clan markings are too obvious, and the hotel doesn't allow pets anyways. Neji has his cursed seal," Hinata flinched when the Sannin said that, "and there is a reason Shino is always covered from the neck down. All of you will need to pass as civilians, and without using jutsu. Which reminds me," she drew a small case out of her desk, and tossed it to Hinata.
"Colored contacts," the leader of the Konoha explained.
"Based on the skill of criminal we caught, this will probably be an easy mission," the Hokage offered, "And most of you are in need a vacation. Take turns watching the girl, but also get some rest and have some fun."
"And I shouldn't need to remind you of this, but it is an undercover mission, so no headbands, minimal weapons, and only civilian clothes and swimsuits."
Hinata's head jerked up at that, and she quickly hid a look of terror. But a certain sharp-eyed blond caught the reaction.
"You leave tomorrow afternoon, so you will need to be ready then. All of you are dismissed, except for Naruto and Iruka."
After the others had shuffled out, the Hokage addressed Naruto.
"Naruto, this is your first undercover assignment," she watched him with concern, "And to be honest, I'm not sure I trust you not to mess it up."
"So, you're gonna ask Iruka-sensei to keep an extra eye on me."
"Naruto," his teacher chided his lack of respect.
"No, that goes without saying," the Hokage grinned, "No I have a special mission for the two of you before you go."
"Really?" the Genin got excited, "What is it?"
"Iruka," she spoke to the Jonin instead, "I've seen Naruto's fashion sense. Or total lack thereof. Take him shopping, and make sure he has appropriate clothing for the week."
"Yes, ma'am," Iruka answered with a chuckle.
"Oh man, is that it?"
In the hall Hinata tentatively called, "Tenten?"
"What is it, Hinata?" the brown-eyed girl asked.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure."
Ino grabbed Sakura's arm as they rounded the corner, and stopped her romantic rival.
"Wha…" Haruno started to ask what Yamanaka what she was doing, but the blond kunoichi shushed her.
"Did you see Hinata back there?" Ino whispered, "I want to hear this."
"It's just…" Hinata was struggling to find the words, "I… umm… I don't have a swimsuit. I mean, I still have my academy swimsuit, but I don't think it will fit. And it has the Konoha Leaf on it…"
She fidgeted, "I've never bought a swimsuit before and…"
"This is the first time Naruto will see you in a suit, and you want to look nice," Tenten supplied. Hinata nodded and looked down at her feet.
"Hinata," Tenten took her arm with a smile, "It would be my honor to help you find a swimsuit that will knock Naruto's socks off."
"Thank you, Tenten."
"You know, I could use a new suit, too," Ino said conspiratorially. Looking at her face, Sakura knew what her competitive friend intended.
"Maybe we should leave them alone," the pink-haired kunoichi suggested, but her inner spirit shouted, "No way I'm letting Ino or Hinata look better than me!"
"Alright Hinata, what are your measurements?"
Naruto's head popped up above a pile of Hawaiian shirts, when he heard Tenten's voice across the store.
"My… my measurements?" Hinata stuttered, then quietly mumbled, "Ummm.. mmm…mmm, mmmm, mmm."
"5 feet, 5 and one half inches," Naruto answered under his breath, "103 pounds, 32B -24-33."
"What was that, Naruto?" his escort asked.
"Oh, nothing, Iruka-sensei," the teen hid his face from his teacher.
"Did you find anything?"
"No, they're all pretty ugly," Naruto lied, "I'm gonna go over there and look at sandals."
Naruto slid silently across the store, hiding behind various racks of clothing. Then he saw the two kunoichi, standing in front of the swimsuits. Each was wearing a loose fitting shirt and shorts, to facilitate changing clothes. And Hinata was blushing furiously.
Naruto was torn. His hormones and Jiraiya's training both urged him to get closer. But his respect for Hinata told him to leave. Then Tenten held up a bikini for Hinata's consideration, and any thoughts of leaving were abandoned.
"Oh, no, I don't think," Hinata stammered looking at the slight two-piece.
"Ok, the maybe too much to start," Tenten acknowledged, putting the suit back, "Hmm, this one is my size."
"5'7", 98 lbs, 30A -24-30," Naruto mumbled instinctively.
"So what are we going to work on first?" Naruto asked. Upon arriving at Jiraiya's mansion, the young Genin had not even bothered to settle in before begging his new sensei to start their training.
"Settle down, Naruto," the Toad Sage waved his hands to emphasize. Then his face twisted in a perverted grin, and a gleam appeared in his eye.
"Alright, Naruto," Jiraiya proclaimed imperiously, "I'm going to teach you one of my most important techniques. The ability to properly size up any opponent."
Of course, rather then teach the boy how to evaluate another ninja's Taijutsu or chakra levels, the pervert had instead drilled Naruto until the young Genin could tell any woman's measurements at a glance. Already familiar with the female form from his Sexy Jutsu, now only the bulkiest of clothes could conceal a girl's figure from his piercing blue eyes.
Tenten set aside the green bikini she had chosen for her self, and took down a lavender tankini and mid-shorts combo for Hinata to try.
"Hinata, Tenten," a loud voice called across the store. Ino's greeting was full of false warmth and sharp jealousy.
"It looks like great minds really do think alike," she simpered as she sauntered over, "If we want to fit in with normal students, we'll need new swimsuits before our 'vacation'."
She looked at the swimsuit Tenten had handed to Hinata, and smirked, "I didn't think that was exactly your style, Hinata."
The Hyuga princess's eyes narrowed. She snatched up the string bikini Tenten had first offered her, and strode proudly into the dressing room.
"So Sakura and I were talking…" Ino suddenly realized she was alone, "Where is Sakura?"
'Uh-oh,' the Genin knocked over a stack of sandals as a panic gripped him. As he bent over to pick up the footwear, he felt a sudden, murderous intent pushing down on him.
"NA-RU-TO," Sakura growled. When he looked up, he could have sworn he could see fire in the kunoichi's eyes.
"Are you spying on Hinata and Tenten? Trying to see them changing?" Sakura demanded, raising her fist to prepare to wallop him.
"NO," Naruto insisted, "Grandma Tsunade sent me here with Iruka to buy new cloths for the mission. She doesn't think I have anything suitable to wear."
His answer was both honest and plausible. Sakura turned, and caught sight of their teacher looking at shirts. Some of her anger faded, and was replaced by equal parts doubt.
"Then what are you do looking at them?" she lowered her hand slightly, but did not stop glaring at him.
"I was over here looking for flip-flops, when I heard Ino shouting, and naturally I looked."
"Alright," Sakura nodded. Then she grabbed a pair of blue sandals in his size and thrust them into his hands, "These will be fine for you."
Then she grabbed Naruto's collar, and dragged him back to Iruka.
"Sensei, you lost something," she said, dropping Naruto next to the newly minted Jonin.
"Oh, thank you, Sakura," Iruka eyed Naruto suspiciously.
"Please keep him over here, ok?" she requested.
"Naruto, what were you doing?" the teacher asked after Sakura left.
"I was just trying to see what kind of swimsuit Hinata is going to pick out," the Genin answered defensively.
"Naruto, you'll get to see Hinata's new swimsuit plenty over the next week," Iruka lectured, "You need to show some more respect."
"Come on sensei, don't you want to see what kinds of tastes those girls have."
"First off," Iruka answered, "They are all my students. Second, I have respect for women."
And then he trailed off, mumbling under his breath, "And if she heard I was looking at teenaged kunoichi, I probably wouldn't survive."
"'She'," Naruto's ears twitched, then he smirked at his teacher, "'She' who, Iruka-sensei?"
"Lady Tsunade," Iruka tried to cover his deception with a cough, "The Hokage charged me with undoing Master Jiraiya's influence on you. Now, come on, let's hurry up and get out of here."
"Fine," Naruto grumbled, trying catch a glimpse of the kunoichi as he picked out shirts.
Naruto was the first in front of the Ninja Operations building the next morning. He wore a simple blue shirt and khaki shorts. He set his overstuffed backpack on the ground, and sat down next to it to wait. He did not have to wait long before Hinata joined him.
"Good morning, Naruto," she offered, placing her bag next to his.
"Hey, Hi… WOW!" Naruto turned to look at the girl, and his greeting was interrupted by his exclamation of amazement. The kunoichi wore a simple yellow camisole sundress, fitted tightly on top, and flaring at the waist down to just above her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a loose braid, highlighting the shape of her face. She blushed slightly under his amorous gaze.
"What do you think?" she twirled to give him the full view, then asked, "Will I pass for normal?"
"No," Naruto answered is if the question was foolish, and Hinata blanched. Then he grinned and continued, "You look way better than 'normal'."
She blushed again and smiled, "You don't look so bad yourself."
Naruto was surprised and happy when he realized Hinata was flirting with him. Then he noticed something else.
"Hinata, your eyes…"
"Oh, I'm wearing the contacts Lady Tsunade gave me," then she looked a little worried, "Do they look alright? Are they straight?"
"I like your real eyes better, but blue isn't bad."
Hinata carefully tucked her dress under as she sat next to him. She continued to regard him with a happy grin.
Sakura arrived next, garbed in a pink tank top and blue jean shorts. She looked at the two ninja with a touch of annoyance.
"Good morning. I should have guessed you two would be the first here," she said, then Inner Sakura added, 'Or rather Naruto would be the first one here, and Hinata would be trailing after.'
"Have either of you two been to the beach before?" Hinata asked as Sakura settled in across from them.
"On missions," Naruto answered, "But I've never had a vacation before."
"Oh, of course," Hinata's joy diminished at her faux pas.
"Same here," Sakura answered, regarding Naruto with veiled pity, "My family never went to the ocean. How about you Hinata?"
"Just once, not long after Hanabi was born," Hinata offered, "I don't remember it well."
The trio lapsed into silence. Before long, Rock Lee appeared, and then Tenten. The young shinobi started to talk about what they had heard about the resort, and what they hoped to do. Naruto grew more excited by the minute, only barely noticing when Yugao, Ino, Choji, and finally Shikamaru arrived.
"Oohhh! I can't wait," Naruto leapt to his feet suddenly, "Lets get going!"
He started walking west, until he noticed no one else was moving and that they were all staring at him.
"What?"
"Naruto, Iruka-sensei is not here yet," Hinata offered. Shikamaru placed his hand to his forehead in dismay.
"Hey, idiot," the lackluster genius stabbed his finger into his palm to emphasize, "You don't think we're walking all the way to the Land of Waves, do you?"
"Why not? I've done it before."
"Civilian high school students don't have the speed or stamina of ninja," Sakura explained, "They wouldn't travel to the resort on foot."
"Iruka is getting our transportation," Yugao informed them, "And unless I miss my guess, there he is now."
The teens heard a low rumbling, and a 20-foot bus rolled into the square. The younger shinobi gawked, but Yugao just walked over to the automobile.
"A bus? Where did it come from?" Naruto darted around the conveyance, examining it.
"The Konoha keeps a small number of vehicles on hand for missions," Iruka told him, "Automobiles are expensive and rare, but certain governments and companies are starting to make more use of them. Schools in the Lands of Fire and Earth use buses to ferry students, both for safety and speed."
He opened the storage compartment.
"Stow your luggage and get on board," the male Jonin instructed, "We need to roll out."
The ninja threw their bags in the bus, and then boarded. Naruto slid into one of the benches and reclined.
"Ah, traveling in style," the others grinned and chuckled in agreement.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei," Naruto sat back up and looked at his teacher, "Where'd you learn to drive?"
"All Chunin who are of legal age are taught to drive," Yugao answered for him.
"Do Lee and Tenten know how to drive?" Ino asked.
"No, you must be 20 to drive," Lee's response was disappointed, "Not merely an adult."
"Everyone sit down," Iruka instructed, "We're leaving."
"…and then the gas explodes, pushing the first piston down and the second piston up. That pulls more gas into the first piston, and puts the second piston in place. Then the process repeats," Hinata explained.
"Huh," Naruto looked amazed, "That's really cool. How do you know about engines, Hinata?"
"Oh, I saw inside one with the Byakugan on a mission. It was so strange, with so many moving parts," she told him, "I was curious, so when we got back I started to read up on automobiles."
"Hinata and Naruto are sure getting close," Ino moved next to Sakura, and whispered conspiratorially.
"So?" Sakura snapped under her breath
"So, you don't seem too happy with the situation," Ino observed her rival intently.
"I don't care if Naruto and Hinata are friends."
"And if they're more than friends?" Ino insinuated.
"I'm not letting you have Sasuke," the pink-haired Kunoichi suddenly stated, still keeping her voice down. But her attempt to turn the conversation back on Ino failed.
"If you still want him, he's yours," she snorted, "Brooding, angsty loners might be my type, but murderous, revenge-obsesses traitors are not. I moved on."
"But, Naruto," Ino needled again, "Who'd have thought he'd turn out like this? He used to be short, inept, and annoying. Now he's tall, talented, and reliable. If I thought I stood a chance, I might make a play for him myself."
Sakura turned to look out the window with a grunt of disgust.
'First Hinata, now Ino,' she thought, 'why do they think I have feelings for Naruto? I mean, of course I have feelings for him, he's my teammate and friend. But not romantic feelings. Not for that knucklehead. How could I?'
As they boarded the bus after their brief stop for lunch, Naruto waited to get on last.
"Can I sit up here with you, Yugao-san?" Naruto asked, "It's just, I've never moved this fast before when I wasn't under my own power, and I wanted to see what it looks like out the front."
"Yugao-sensei," she corrected, "you must remember to call me that at the resort. And yes, you may join me."
Naruto slid into the other front seat. But instead of looking out the windshield, he found himself glancing at the female Jonin. Yugao frowned at the attention.
"I got it!" Naruto suddenly shouted. Eight sets of eyes turned to stare at him, and Iruka had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road.
"I remember where I've see you before," Naruto told Yugao, "You were sitting with Kakashi-sensei at the memorial service for the Third Hokage and the others who died in the invasion."
"Yes," Yugao seemed relieved, "yes, I was."
Satisfied with his recollection, Naruto went back to watching their course. And the former member of the ANBU Black Ops was relieved that was the only reason for his interest.
"So, how do you know Kakashi-sensei?"
The Jonin kunoichi blanched.