"That's good. Just like that Sakura." Itachi watched as it seemed that the news of the fox being inside him, didn't dampen Naruto's training spirit any at all. Which was good. And Sakura was starting to catch onto their teamwork and picking up the slack. Though she wasn't really all that great at doing a lot of the ninjutsu. He figured that he would have her start training to do medical ninjutsu instead. A Kunoichi that could heal would be a valuable asset in the field.

Once they were done running the the drill, Itachi sighed. "Do it again." Pleased when Sakura didn't complain this time about it. 'She has to at least be able to anticipate what they are going to do and figure out fast what she can do to help them, not hinder them. They can make sure she stays safe in the process.'

"Itachi."

Looking down, Itachi blinked to see Obito there. "What is it Obito?"

Watching as they drilled, Obito smiled. "They are going to be happy. You have a mission. It is a simple D rank, escorting a bridge builder to the Land of Waves and protecting him as they finish the bridge from bandits and thieves. Should be an easy enough task."

"Indeed." Itachi then held his hand up to his mouth as he gave a shrill whistle, looking down as they all fell before him. "It seems our wait for a mission is over. We have a D rank escort mission." His eyes narrowing at Sasuke and Naruto, Itachi crossed his arms. "It will be perfect real world experience for all three of you, and a perfect chance to further hone Sakura's teamwork with us. Go home and get your packs, and report to the Hokage Mansion as soon as you are ready."

"Right!"

Once they were gone, Itachi glanced down at Obito. "Does Lord Hokage think that it is anything other than what it is?"

"He does not. But he figured running through some basic protection drills will help them work together. I have a few more errands to run for them. Later Itachi!" Obito then winked at him and then he was gone.

Itachi also vanished, getting his pack from his room, and getting to the Hokage Mansion before his three charges. "Lord Hokage."

Looking up Minato sighed. "Show him in please." As the door opened, Minato's blue eyes met Itachi's black ones. "Itachi this is Tazuna. He is the master bridge builder in the Land of Waves. Some bandits have been attacking him and his men as they work on the bridge, and travel back and forth. Your mission is simple. Keep him safe until the bridge is done."

"Yes Lord Hokage."

"We are here!" Naruto smiled as they just appeared in a puff of smoke next to Itachi. "Where are we going dad?"

"This is Tazuna." Minato gestured toward the old man with the bottle as he looked at Naruto. "You are escorting him back to the Land of Waves, and protecting him and his men as they finish the bridge. Once that is done, you will return home."

"Alright then let's get going." Naruto smiled as he looked at Sasuke. "Ready Sasuke? Sakura?"

"Don't be stupid Naruto." Sasuke smiled as he crossed his arms. "You should know the answer to that one already."

"Enough." Turning to Tazuna, Itachi was serious. "You are ready to go then I take it?"

Taking the last swig of his sake, Tazuna nodded. "I am. Come on let's go. I wanna get my bridge done."

X

Watching as Tazuna lead the way next to Itachi, and the three behind him, Minato fixed his eyes on Naruto. 'Just be safe and remember what I said Naruto. Don't talk about the fox. I can't let the Akatsuki know about you yet.'

"Where is he going Minato?"

Without even looking back, Minato sighed as Homura's voice boomed behind him. "He is going on a D rank escort mission with his teammates and sensei. Just like all the other squads have done." He then turned a glare on the both of them as he crossed his arms. "I told you the day that he was born, that he was going to be a ninja. He was going to be one of the greatest that this village has ever known. He is going through the training just like everyone else."

His eyes glaring, Homura slammed his hands down on the desk. "And what if someone learns that he has the fox inside of him Minato? If you wanted your son to be normal, you should have sealed the fox inside yourself or someone else. He can't be allowed to….."

With a sigh, Minato sat down at his desk and fixed his papers and scrolls. "Don't give me that. Lord Third would have let him do the same thing and you would not have argued the point with him and you know it. I may not be the Third, and never will be. But I am not stupid either. That is why he is with Itachi Uchiha." Lifting a paper from the corner of the desk, Minato began to skim over it. "I have work that needs to be done if you don't mind."

"Mark my words Minato. If anything happens to this village because of your son….." Homura then blinked as he flinched to see the glare in Minato's blue eyes.

"You dare finish that threat, and like it or not, advisers or not, Lord Third's friends or not. You will be jailed. You do not threaten me, or my son is that clear? Now get out." Glaring back and forth with them for a moment, Minato was more than happy when they finally left.

Looking up at the picture of the Third Hokage when he was younger and just named Hokage, Minato sighed. "I know that you would approve of what I am doing with my son Lord Hokage. I do wish there was a way that you could make them understand that I know what I am doing."

X

Looking up from where she was just sitting down to eat with her girls, Nagisa blinked to see a very angry Minato coming in the door. "Minato? What is it?"

With a sigh as he forced a smile for his girls, Minato put an arm around her. "OH nothing. Just had a visit from the advisers today that wasn't very pleasant. Nothing that a good night with you and our girls can't fix."

"But Papa where is Naruto at?"

Looking down at Koyuki, Minato laughed. "He got his first mission that took him out of the village for a while. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Itachi are all going to be gone for a couple of weeks while they make sure bandits don't mess with a bridge that someone wants to build. They will be home before you know it I promise."

Laughing as her girls both smiled and ran to him, Nagisa smiled. "Easy now let me get out of the way before you go all crazy like that." Moving toward the table she could feel Minato's eyes on her. "Oh just talk to your daughters."

Blinking as he looked down at the blue and amethyst eyes looking up at him, Minato let his head fall to the side. "What is it?"

Smiling along with her sister, both Koyuki and Hanako put their hands behind their backs. Koyuki speaking. "Well Papa since Naruto isn't going to be here for a while. Does that mean that you can finally start to train us like you did Naruto?"

Blinking, not expecting that, Minato just looked at them for a moment then smiled as he laughed. "You are five now aren't you. I guess it's time to start training. But not tonight. Tomorrow night, after dinner we will start your training girls." He then joined Nagisa in laughing as they started giggling jumping for joy in a circle around him. 'OH what have I done?'