Hopefully I can get some good chapters out within the next few days. College starts back up for me soon so updating might be slower than it already is. I really am sorry but school does come first.

Chapter 21: Simple Mission

"This is so boring!" Konohamaru complained loudly as the five continued on their way.

"It's just a C rank mission, Konohamaru," Moegi explained.

"I am sorry," the old man spoke slowly.

"Oh please sir," Akemi replied quickly, "don't pay attention to Konohamaru. He's just eager to show off."

Konahamaru was grumbling up in the front. She didn't have to put it like that.

Udon stopped, pulling out a Kunai. "We have another one coming."

"Positions everyone!" Akemi called out as they turned to face an oncoming enemy. He looked to just be a simple bandit, but they knew than to take any enemy lightly.

Konohamaru ran out ahead and slashed at the bandit with the kunai in his hand. The bandit was quick enough to dodge and run past him. "Guys!"

"Got it." Moegi shouted out as she threw a few kunai at the attacker. He easily dodged those as well.

Udon threw a windmill shuriken which headed right for its target. He barely managed to pull out a kunai in time to deflect the attack.

"You guys are insane? This isn't worth the effort!" the bandit yelled out at the team before he ran off in the direction that he came in.

"That was too easy, just like the others." Konohamaru sighed as he resumed his post at point.

"Just be glad that it isn't more dangerous," Moegi said angrily at her teammate.

Akemi just sighed to herself. If she knew that this team was this high-maintenance, she would have never agreed to fill in for Ebisu-Sensei.

"That was three bandits," Udon counted off.

The five walked for a few more hours before anyone spoke again.

"There it is," the old man had pointed to a small town that was on the horizon.

"We made good time," Akemi commented, "It only took us three days."

"Yes! We're almost done!" Konohamaru spoke loudly as he threw his fist into the air. He started running fast towards the village.

"Konohamaru!" Akemi called out to him. "We still need to stay in formation!"

"It's ok, we're close enough. There's no stopping him, anyways," Moegi sighed.

"Konohamaru…" Udon muttered to himself.

The group made it safely to the village and led their charge back to his house. He insisted on making lunch for them for being such a burden. No matter how much Akemi tried to convince him otherwise, he was determined to feed them lunch. After they ate, the squad left the village and ran home. At the rate they were going, they would make it back in less than two days.

"Stop." Akemi called out, stopping herself.

"What? Why are we stopping?" Moegi questioned.

"Yea, were so close to home already!" Konohamaru complained.

Akemi glared at him, he had been complaining all the way home. She was really starting to lose her patience. "We could keep going like we have, end up getting close to the village, and then end up having to rest on the cold hard ground again. Or we could rest at a town near here. Getting a good dinner and a peaceful nights rest would be nice, right?"

"Dinner, maybe even a shower?" Moegi asked her voice full of hope.

Akemi nodded her head. Moegi immediately grabbed onto Konohamaru's arm, giving him a pleading look.

"How are we going to even pay for all of that?" Konohamaru asked.

"I stay at the same inn each time I'm coming back from a long mission late. I know the owners pretty well by now, so they give me a good discount on everything. It would only but a bit of money for all of us to stay." She had one more selling point, "I'll even pay for you guys too."

"Fine…" Konohamaru sighed, defeated.

"Then let's go," Udon said tonelessly.

They stayed overnight at the inn, getting a good meal and all washed up before bed. They left early in the morning and started on their way back. They had made good time after getting refreshed overnight, making it back before lunch.

They went straight to the Hokage's office to report. Once they reported the mission a success, they each got paid and sent out of the office without a new mission. They started walking out of the building.

"We got paid even less than what you spent on the inn for us," Moegi said sadly.

"It's ok, getting good rest is important." Akemi explained.

"Still, I feel bad. You can have half my share if you want." Moegi offered.

"No!" Akemi replied quickly, throwing her hands up before her. "I can't take your mission earnings."

"If you do that on every mission; you can fill in for Ebisu-Sensei anytime!" Konohamaru responded happily, throwing his hands up behind his head.

As they walked down the street, they bumped into a healthy-looking Ebisu. He bowed to Akemi, "Thank you Akemi for taking such care of my team and taking my place."

"Eh?" Akemi was shocked by his behavior. "It's okay Ebisu-Taichou, it was fun."

Ebisu and his team then left going the opposite way that Akemi ended up walking. She went home and put her things away. After cleaning up she walked around the village for awhile. She was able to find out that Sakura, Kakashi-Sensei, and Naruto were off to the Sand for an important mission. They had left shortly after she had, but it would still probably be awhile before they came back.

She went back to her apartment to find that Grandma Kaede had made dinner for the two of them. They ate dinner together as Akemi told her about the recent mission she had gone on. After dinner, Akemi did her after-mission ritual before heading for bed.

She awoke early in the morning and made breakfast for herself. After walking to the market, buying food to restock her kitchen, Akemi decided to go to a training field and practice her Justus. She didn't even get to fight any of the bandits they came across on the last mission; she didn't want to fall out of practice.

Akemi got to the training field, it was completely empty. After taking a deep breath, she started forming hand signs. She had a visitor before she could even finish one jutsu. Akemi stopped herself and slipped into a fighting position at the moment she spotted her opponent: Hinata.

"Get out."