(I've returned with my next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it.)
Late one afternoon, Naruto returned home to the lair where the Transformers greeted him, "Welcome back, Naruto." Optimus began.
"How was your day?" Rhinox asked.
"The same old." Naruto answered dryly.
"That boring, huh?" Rattrap asked.
"More than boring, Rattrap. It's heinous!" Naruto cried, "I swear if I have to catch that damn cat again I'm going to put it out of its misery!"
"Little harsh, Naruto." Cheetor said.
"Actually, I think he'd be doing the cat a favor." Terrosaur replied.
"I've spent years training under a Sannin," Naruto began, "And D-rank missions are just beneath what I'm capable of."
"I hear your concern," Tigatron spoke up, "But remember good things come to those who're patient."
"But patience can only last so long." Scorponok replied.
Naruto sighed, "You both bring up a good point. But doing all this charity work makes me long for travel like I used to do."
Oracle spoke up, "Not to worry, Naruto. With any luck you may get your wish yet."
"I can only hope." Naruto said, as he went to freshen up after a long day.
The very next day, Naruto and his squad reported to the Administration building and stood before the Hokage, "Good to see you all here," the old man began, "I have a new mission for all of you."
Naruto spoke up, "If we have to catch that cat again, I'm humbly denying it."
"Naruto!" Sakura scolded him.
"Oh, come on, like you wouldn't do the same?!" Naruto argued, until the Hokage cleared his throat.
"As I was saying. I've been going over your progress with Kakashi over the last few weeks, and have decided to send you on a C-rank mission."
This news piqued the genin's attention, as Naruto spoke, "Go on."
"This mission is a simple escort mission to the Land of Wave." the old man continued.
"Wave, huh?" Naruto asked, "Haven't been there before. So who're we escorting?"
"That'd be me." came a voice. Entering the room was an old man carrying an empty sake bottle.
"Everyone, this is Tazuna." the Hokage introduced.
The genin eyed the old man not looking impressed at their charge until Sasuke spoke up, "So why do you need protection?"
"Well, kid. I'm a bridge builder in Wave, and I came here looking for more supplies. And let's just say I'm worried about bandits trying to rob me on my way home."
"Well, rest assured Tazuna, me and my squad will make sure you're protected upon reaching your home." Kakashi promised.
"If you say so." Tazuna replied.
Kakashi turned to his squad, "All of you head home and pack. Let's meet at the gate in fifteen."
"Hai!" the three answered, before taking off.
Back at the lair, Naruto was packing his bag with the help of the Transformers, "Well, kid, looks like you're finally going back off to see the world." Rattrap said.
"Yeah, guess the cosmos heard me yesterday." Naruto joked.
"And this is probably their way of getting you to stop complaining." Megatron added, making Tarantulus and Waspinator chuckle.
"Ha-ha." Naruto said dryly.
"In any case it'll be good for you to once again broaden your horizons." Optimus told Naruto.
"I know. And if anything went wrong I have you guys on comm," he motioned to his communicator, "But to be on the safe side, Waspinator and Airazor will follow from the sky."
"As you wish, Naruto." Airazor saluted.
"Waspinator reporting for duty!" Waspinator buzzed. Naruto nodded, as he left with the two flying Transformers.
Soon Naruto met with his squad and Tazuna by the gates, and spoke, "Ok, I'm all set." he told them.
"Then let's get going." Kakashi ordered, as they headed out.
As they left Konoha they walked down the path in the woods leading them out of the Land of Fire. As they walked, Naruto kept taking glances up to the sky and saw Airazor in beast mode flying around while Waspinator wasn't too far behind.
Tazuna himself kept looking up at the large bird, "I swear that bird's been following us ever since we left the village."
Squad seven remained silent deciding not to say anything unless it's necessary, so Sakura changed the subject, "So, Tazuna, you're a bridge builder. Do you already have a project you're working on?"
"Indeed I am," he confirmed, "The bridge I'm currently working will be helping a lot of lives back home." he said sounding hopeful.
The genin took note in the tone of Tazuna's voice and wondered about it. They didn't have time to ponder on it for long, as they walked past a puddle of water on the side of the road. As soon as they past it a camouflaged cloaked man with a gas mask emerge from the puddle and moved to attack.
"We gotcha now!" he called.
"We?" Naruto and Sasuke wondered.
Another figure dressed similar to the first one came at Kakashi's back and the two released spiked chains from their giant sized gauntlets and bound Kakashi.
"Sensei!" the squad gasped.
The two assassins tug on their chains binding Kakashi more until poof he vanished.
"Kawarimi!" one of the figures gasped as they saw Kakashi charging at them with lightning in his fists.
The two gained some distance so the jutsu didn't reach them. They backed up a bit and stared the Konoha ninjas down.
"Who are they?" Sakura asked.
"They're the Oni brothers." Kakashi answered.
"Oni brothers?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, Meizu and Gouzu; nuke-nin from Kiri." Kakashi explained.
"Why would nuke-nin like you be all the way out here?" Naruto asked.
"We've got orders from our employer to dispose of the bridge builder." Meizu answered.
"So stand aside and we just might spare you." Gouzu added.
"Try and make us." Kakashi armed himself with a kunai.
The genin surrounded Tazuna, while arming themselves as well, "Well, brother, what's say we have some fun?" Meizu asked Gouzu who nodded.
The two attacked Kakashi who fought back while avoiding being struck by their clawed gauntlets, 'Those gauntlets are dipped in poison.' he thought, while dodging.
"Sensei, look out!" Sakura cried, as the brothers were ready to dogpile him, until to get blasted away.
"What was that?" Tazuna gasped.
Everyone looked up and saw Waspinator with his blaster smoking, and beside him was Airazor, both in robot mode.
"What the hell are they?" Meizu gasped.
Naruto smirked and answered, "Your worst nightmare."
The two Transformers swooped in and kicked the brothers off their feet. As the two tried getting up, Naruto shot Sasuke a look, and he smirked having caught on. The two ran at the brothers jumped up and delivered a flying kick knocking them both down and out.
"Yeah!" Sakura cheered.
"Well done." Airazor commended them.
"Victory!" Waspinator buzzed.
"Good work, Naruto, Sasuke," Kakashi commended them, before turning to the Transformers, "And thanks to you two."
"No problem." Airazor replied.
"Who or what are they?" Tazuna asked in shock.
Naruto introduced them, "Tazuna, this is Airazor, and Waspinator. Two of my many special friends."
"This is becoming a very strange day." Tazuna said feeling overwhelmed.
"What's strange here is that you never mentioned the possibility of being targeted by Nuke-nin," Kakashi said suspiciously, "A mission involving that possible type of assassin are meant for B-rank missions."
Squad Seven and the Transformers looked at the bridge builder curiously, until the old man sighed, "Ok, you got me. I lied. But you have to understand, I didn't have a choice."
"Why's that?" Sasuke inquired.
"I couldn't afford anything higher than a C-rank level mission. The truth of this matter is Wave is practically a poverty stricken country now."
"How's that possible?" Naruto wondered.
"Wave used to be beautiful and lively. But that all changed when Gato moved into our land."
"Gato as in the head of Gato Shippings?" Kakashi asked.
Tazuna nodded, "He started running protection rackets and swindled everyone, even the wealthy out of all their money. Anyone who stood up to him ended up dead. That's why I have to finish the bridge I'm building, because he controls the waters around the land. If we can bypass that we won't be forced to rely on him anymore. And unfortunately he knows of my plan and will stop at nothing to keep me from accomplishing it."
"That's terrible." Sakura gasped.
Naruto looked at Kakashi, "Sensei, what do we do?"
Kakashi pondered on everything, before coming to a decision, "Very well. We'll stay and protect you for the time it takes you to build the bridge."
"Arigato, you have no idea how much this means to me." Tazuna thanked them almost like he was going to cry.
As Kakashi tied the brothers up and sent word to Konoha of the situation, he spoke to the others, "Well come on let's move." Kakashi said as they were ready to continue on.
"Airazor, Waspinator, back in the sky." Naruto instructed.
"Beast mode!" the two announced changing back into beast mode and flew up into the sky.
As they walked, Naruto spoke up, "Looks like I'll have a chance to bring the rest of my bots out to have some fun in any more like those brothers come our way."
"They better be as good as those two were," Tazuna said, "Gato has very high connections and with his money can hire any trained assassin from anywhere in the world."
"Then I guess we're all gonna have to be at the top of our game." Naruto said wondering who else was out there that could give them a challenge.
(And there you go. Don't miss next time where Squad Seven comes face to face with the legendary Demon of the Mist. But the demon will not be counting on the support aiding the ninjas.)