We took our time heading towards the border. I sensed and Neji saw, four shinobi rapidly heading our way. They were coming from the direction of The Land of Fire.
We relaxed then. I was slightly wary though, when Neji said that they were wearing masks. ANBU then.
One of their chakra signatures felt strange. Alive, in a way that I'd never felt chakra before. I could guess why that was.
If I wasn't mistaken, I'd say that it was Wood Style that I was feeling. The kekkei genkai of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
There's only one ANBU with such an ability. Yamato, or Tenzo as he's known by now. A few seconds later, they appear before us.
When I see that their masks aren't blank, I inwardly relax. The leader steps forward. " Jounin Hikaru Uzumaki and Genin of Squad 7, we are ANBU Team Omega. I am Cat. "
" Your clone reported your intentions to Lord Hokage and he dispatched us. Explain the situation. "
I spoke then. " I'll give the full report to Lord Hokage, but basically, the heir of an allied nation requested our aid. His sister and most of their guards were missing, after they crossed the border. "
" I sent a clone to report back to the village and my team and I crossed the border to find them. "
" It wasn't long before we saw signs of a skirmish. We came upon the bodies of some of the guards, as well as enemy combatants. "
" After checking for survivors, we rushed off and later came upon the princess and the remainder of her guards. As well as the corpses of their adversaries. "
" Unfortunately, not long after we arrived, more of the enemy appeared. I should mention that all of them were wearing a headband which bore the symbol of a musical note. "
" Their chakra felt warped and corrupted and I had too many people to watch over, so I used my most powerful jutsu. "
" It killed them. That's when we fled. Hours later however, we became aware of a pursuit squad. We laid traps to slow them down and prepared ourselves for battle. "
" There were three of them. Or four I suppose. One had the strange ability of housing his twin inside his body. Some kind of parasitic jutsu. "
" Naruto and Neji faced off against them. There was a female genjutsu type with them. Yakumo dealt with her. "
" I fought with the final one. The leader. By the abilities he had, I'm willing to bet that he was a member of the Kaguya clan. He used bones as his weapons. I killed him. "
" From talking with my team and from my own observations of my opponent, they all seemed to possess a type of seal. One which corrupted and magnified their chakra. As well as altering their physical appearance. "
There's silence then, as they digest my words. After a moment, Cat nods. We then all head towards the border, and then home.
At a steady pace, it takes us three days to reach the village. The ANBU shadow us. Probably to make sure that nobody tries to tail us.
I think it's unnecessary, but to each his own. Once we arrive back at the village and sign in, we quickly head towards the Hokage Tower, to give our report.
We were quickly ushered into the Hokage's office. He wasn't alone however. To my annoyance, the three fossils were there, as well as Shikaku and Inoichi.
The fossils were the Hokage's Advisors. Danzo, Koharu and Homura. I didn't let my distaste show however. Once we were settled, I gave a full report.
When I was finished, my team gave their accounts of their fights. I'd been watching the reactions of the senior shinobi in the room, but they didn't really give anything away.
It was only when I mentioned the headband with the sound note, that their attention focused. Doubly so when I repeated Kimmimaru's words about there being an Otokage.
Their faces looked pensive once my team finished relaying everything. Silence rang out for a few minutes. After that however, the Hokage spoke.
" This is indeed troubling news. I do however agree with your actions. Helping the prince and princess of our ally was the right thing to do. "
" Likewise, you were right in immediately sending a clone to report the situation. In light of everything I heard, I declare this mission to be an A rank one and the appropriate pay shall be given. Well done Team 7. Dismissed. "
We bowed our heads and then left. I waited till we had left the Tower, before I spoke again. " The Hokage is right. I didn't get the chance to say it properly to you three before. "
" I'm proud of how well you acquitted yourself. By my estimation, your opponents were Special Jounin level. Make no mistake, any other rookie team would have died. "
" It just shows how far you guys have come. That all being said, I want you to learn something very important from the fights that you had. "
" I have no doubts about the three of you being able to beat your opponents eventually. The fact that you won so easily however, is a flaw many shinobi have. "
" They underestimated you three. They thought because you were Genin, that they would be able to beat you easily. "
" Learn from their mistakes. Don't EVER discount the abilities of an enemy just because they might look harmless. I want you to forever keep that in mind. "
" Now come. Let's head to the barbeque place and celebrate our homecoming. Tomorrow morning, it's training, bright and early. "
They've been listening attentively to me as I was speaking, nodding at times. When I finish, Yakumo and Naruto cheer. Neji snorts at them, but there's a small smile on his face as well.
As we were enjoying ourselves at the restaurant, my mind was wondering. It would be time for the Chunin Exams soon. A week, to be exact.
I intended on entering my team. To that end, I decided that we wouldn't be doing any more missions this week. That was for two reasons.
Firstly, there's a chance that the mission could be extended. For extenuating circumstances. I don't want to risk it.
Secondly, there's a new jutsu that I'd like to teach the three of them. They'll find out tomorrow just what it is that I want to teach them.
As Neji and Yakumo head home, Naruto and I make our way home. Him chatting my head off. Soon we wouldn't live in the apartment anymore.
A month back, I'd finally managed to get the required funds to buy a sizeable tract of land in the village. As we speak, a large comfortable house is being built on it.
It is to become the Uzumaki Clan Compound. Once the house has been completed, I shall add security seals of my own creation to protect it.
Naruto is ridiculously excited. Not that I blame him. I am as well. The flat we live in is becoming too small for us afterall.
He is particularly intent on the garden that our compound will have, seeing as he has a fondness for plants.
He has been given charge of creating and overseeing it. My pet projects are the training grounds we will have as well as the library.
These thoughts flit around my head as I lay in bed later. Soon it lulls me into an easy sleep. Tomorrow is sure to be an exciting one after all.
The next day, Naruto and I head out together. He's talking my head off. I tune him out however, mind consumed by other things.
Once we get there, we realise that Yakumo and Neji are there already. We greet them and then I move to stand infront of all three of them.
" Today, the three of you will be learning a new jutsu. The same jutsu infact. I believe that the three of you are at a sufficient level to learn it. "
" I'm talking about the Summoning Jutsu. Generally, one signs a summoning contract in blood and then, once forming the handsigns, offer a bit of blood and mold chakra and then slam your hand onto the ground. "
" That is the conventional method. There is another though. Simply go through all of those steps, but without having signed a contract. "
" What that will do is send you to the Summoning Realm of the animal most compatible to you. Be warned however. There is no guarantee that they will accept you as their summoner. "
" What's more, some animals are violently minded towards intruders. People can die attempting it. That is why people with summons are so rare. "
" You three however, have an advantage. Me. Or I should rather say, a sealing mistress. I will place a seal on each on you. A hybrid sort of alarm as well as summoning seal. "
" In other words, all you need to do if you are at risk of dying, is to channel chakra through the seal. I will see your distress signal and then reverse summon you back. Any questions? "
They had been looking more and more surprised while I was speaking. When I finished, all three, yes, even Neji, was excited. They shook their heads. I smirked.
Channeling chakra through a seal on my arm, I remove a large sealing scroll. I create five clones then. Two, to work on the reverse summon seal. The other three, apply seals to my students.
While my clones are busy, I explain to my team what they need to do exactly. I show them the handsigns as well.
Once my clones finish, they dispel. I then turn my attention to my team. They waste no time going through the handsigns. I feel their chakra being drawn out and suddenly, poof. They vanish into clouds of smoke. Now I wait.
Neji POV
The moment sensei and my teammates dissapeared from view, I activated my Byakugan. My eyes widened when I finally realised just where I was.
I was on a tree branch. But the tree was no ordinary one. Infact, I had never seen something of such immense size. The trunk of the tree was three miles wide.
It was incredible. I didnt have long to gawk however. I saw movement behind me. Strangely, I didnt hear it's approach.
Considering what it was however, perhaps that shouldn't surprise me. It was an owl. Pure white but with specks of black on its chest.
What surprised me though, was it's size. It was just as tall as I was. I was too shellshocked to say anything as it's all too intelligent eyes scrutinised me.
" How did you reach this tree human? Who are you? " If I wasn't flabbergasted before, I was now. I'd heard that some summons could speak, but I was still caught off guard.
His voice, for it was a he, sounded very...boyish. He must be young for his kind. " My name is Neji Hyuuga, I'm a Genin from the Hidden Leaf Village. "
" I performed the summoning jutsu without a contract and I appeared here. " The owl scrutinised me some more, but after a minute of silence, he replied.
" Summoning you say? A likely story. Nevertheless, you must meet my grandmother, for she is our leader. She will decide what must be done with you. Follow me human. "
After a moment's hesitation, I follow him. I obviously can't fly so that means I have to run. It takes me half an hour to reach a large opening in the tree.
It's fortunate that I have my eyes. Otherwise I would not have been able to see in the gloom. I also wouldn't have seen the many owls watching me from the darkness.
The small owl that led me in, let out a hooting sound. It echoed in the large hollow space that we were in. Soon a cacophony of answering hoots answered.
A large form moved through the shadows. It was as tall as the Hokage Tower. To my surprise, I couldn't feel it's footfalls.
" It has been a very long time, since I've seen someone with those eyes. The Byakugan. A very dear friend of mine. His name was Hamura. Not that you would know him. "
" Gaze upon my eyes with yours, young Hyuuga, so that I may have the measure of you. Not seeing anything wrong with that, I did. My entire body stiffened a second later.
I felt a presence rooting through my mind. It was a peculiar sensation. I tried to look away, but my body was frozen. I tried to remove her from my mind, but couldn't.
I thought that it would go on forever. After a few minutes however, I felt the pressure recede. I let out a shuddering breath.
" I saw no true malice within your heart. Only a fervent desire for freedom. It is something that we owls can understand. Based on what I've seen of your character, I agree on you becoming our summoner. "
" Make no mistake though boy. You are not our master. We enter into this partnership as equals. That being said, do not attempt to summon me. You have not the power. "
" Initially, the only one of us that you will be permitted to summon, is my grandson. Taichi. He might be young, but he is a skilled fighter. Treat him well. Now come forward. "
I do. I can see another owl has moved closer. This one is the size of an adult man. It has a scroll in it's beak. Once it sets the scroll down, I know what to do.
Making a small cut on a finger, I sign my name in blood after I've opened the scroll. When I finish, before I can react, the owl near me taps me on the head.
I immediately feel a jerking feeling as my footing dissapears. A puff of smoke envelops me.
Naruto POV
Once I've seen big sis do the signs I quickly draw a bit of blood with a kunai and then I do the handsigns myself. In a puff of smoke, I'm gone.
I land on my knees and groan. It felt so weird. I quickly leap up though. I hope I got a super cool summon. Like a dragon or a lion.
I look around. This place is so freaky though. The sky looks like it's pinkish. There are funny looking trees and the flowers here are huge!
" Hey, who're you? " I look around. I don't see anyone though. Before I freak out though, I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I look down. It's a frog...wearing a vest. I blink.
" Are you stupid or something? Why you looking at me like that! " I bend down to get a closer look. Then I poke it. With a curse, it leaps on my head and starts to jump up and down.
I leap up and try to get it off. It's surprisingly fast though. It jumps off. Before I can retaliate though, I feel the ground shaking.
It starts to get worse, so I channel chakra to my feet and stick myself to the ground. It must be an earthquake I think.
A moment later, I'm almost thrown off my feet. Then a large shadow falls on me. I flinch and look up and up and up. My mouth gapes. " Massive frog " I murmur.