Okay, so after a while of deliberation and hesitations and rewrites. I'm going to attempt to be back more often. I'm not making any promises since I'm not sure I can keep them, my life has been hectic with three job changes and other situations going on right now in the World. Honestly, I almost considered leaving Social Media and online life altogether but decided against it.
Chapter Twelve: Wave Rising
[Konohagakure - Hokage Tower - With Team Eleven]
"Sir, Team Eleven reporting for duty!" Aoba said as he bowed before the Hokage. The room quieted as the rest of the Genin team entered the room, the Mission board looking on.
"Welcome Aoba-san." Hiruzen smiled as he gathered up the folder he held at the ready, passing it across the table to the waiting Jonin. "Your mission parameters are here. Tazuna-san, the mission giver, hasn't shown up yet so you can collect him from the hotel he is staying at in the folder. Your destination is the Land of Waves as you already know."
"Yes Hokage-sama." Aoba nodded his head in understanding, taking the folder.
"If you would," Hiruzen gestured for Aoba to step aside for a moment, and once the the order was complied he looked firmly at all three of the Genin standing at attention before him. "This mission is a C-Rank, and I am sure you are aware of when I sent Team Seven on their first attempt. This is your first as well, be careful. Be vigilant. I don't want a repeat of what happened to Akane-chan. Am I clear?"
"Yes Hokage-sama!" The three Genin chirped in unison.
"We understand the risks of C-Ranks sir." Sasuke said, stepping forth and bowing to the aging Hokage.
"Yeah, we were just with Team Seven. We saw how bad Akane was." Was Sakura's input, rubbing under her eye. "We'll do our best!"
The aging Hokage couldn't help but smile, and nodded his head. "Good. Now, if you will, Aoba-san."
"Right." Aoba snapped to attention, closing the folder and turning to his team. "Alright Team, go to your homes and gather up supplies for two weeks of tools and food, and meet at the South Gate in half an hour. Dismissed!"
Hiruzen chuckled as he pulled out his pipe and lit the tobacco, puffing some as he watched the Genin salute Aoba before departing quickly by running out the door. "Aoba-san, fair warning."
"Hokage-sama?" Aoba asked, turning from the door to look at his superior with a curious expression.
"The situation in Wave is desperate, beyond what the bridge builder reported for his mission. I suggest you be careful and call for backup if the situation warrants it."
Aoba inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Did you have a team in mind?"
The Hokage nodded his head. "Team Seven is for the most part on standby, but I have a couple of Chunnin who can fill in for their missing member. If the situation calls for it, for I sincerely hope it won't."
[With Naruto's Group – An hour after Team Eleven Departed]
"Alright listen up. I'm only going to say this once brats." Jiraiya shouted, standing with his arms crossed as he looked down at both Ryouken and Naruto when they stood before him. "We're going to be doing heavy training today. Depending on how well you do I'll be teaching you both some jutsu that I feel goes with your fighting styles."
"Oh great, are we doing the bell test again?" Naruto asked, putting his arms behind his head and grimacing. He glanced sideways towards where their regular Sensei was with his back to a tree reading that orange book. Although, knowing some jutsu for once would be awesome.
Ryouken tilted his head towards Naruto, before shrugging his shoulder. "Possibly?"
"While that is something I've done for my own students back when I had a Genin team of my own, no." Jiraiya smirked. "You are both going to work together to take Kakashi's book from him."
"Say what now?" Kakashi looked up from where he was leaning, his visible eye widening in shock as he made a protective gesture to keep his precious book held to his chest.
"Now that I have your attention too Kakashi." Jiraiya said smugly. "You three are going to be sparring with me!"
Ryouken stiffened, his breath halting before he let out a heavy sigh. "We're. So. Definitely dead." He rolled his shoulders back, then looked up to the heavens praying for help.
"... Gotta be joking, so you're not serious. Right old man?" Naruto demanded.
Kakashi put his precious book away in his pouch as he walked to stand between Naruto and Ryouken. "The problem is, he is serious. Got any rules Jiraiya-sama?"
"Of course. Fight me as seriously as you can, because... I'm teaching all three of you!" Jiraiya pointed his right finger towards the sky excitedly, posing dramatically. He ignored the incredulous stares from all present.
Naruto was the first to move, tightening his headband around his forehead. "... Okay. I wanna see how strong I am against this guy!" He proclaimed with excitement, his former disbelief faded.
"We need to work together as a team to handle him. Don't think you can do this on your own Naruto." Came Ryouken's sharp chastisement, looking over his sunglasses at his teammate.
"Indeed." Was Kakashi's response as he raised his headband. Revealing the Sharingan, with both eyes focused intently upon Jiraiya. "This is simulated combat training against an opponent strong enough that he could take us out with little effort if he truly wanted to." He knew the action would impart his own thoughts on the training.
That serious huh? Was Naruto's thought as his eyebrows raised. I know he's a Sannin... But there's no way he can be as strong as Jiji right? He then looked back at Jiraiya with a curious expression. And then he took his Taijutsu stance at the same time as Ryouken in front of Kakashi with the Jonin's silent direction with hand signals. "Alright… We got this!"
"It's good that you're pumped. Now..." Jiraiya began to exhale, shifting himself from his pose and into a fighting stance. His foot raised, he grinned. "BEGIN!" He shouted, leaping backwards with high speed. The ground shattered from the sudden burst of simultaneous momentum, as both Naruto and Ryouken rushed forth to drive synchronized punches at his former location.
Fast! Naruto realized, his eyes widening as he looked up towards where the Sannin was flying through the air.
Fuck. Ryouken thought, looking sideways at Naruto before glancing towards Jiraiya's fleeing form.
The Sannin grinned, throwing two shuriken at the Genin and then holding a handsign. The two shuriken multiplied into forty, spinning with razor sharp precision towards the Genin who scattered from the spot they were at with puffs of smoke and thunks of metal on logs. Excellent job boys. He then looked up towards Kakashi as he landed on the ground several feet back from the crater the boys made. Several shuriken were deflected from the movement of a silver haired Jonin that flashed forth, vanishing in puffs of smoke. To an outside perspective, Kakashi's movements were blurred as he moved. He appeared in front of Jiraiya with an instant passing. Slashing at the Sannin with his kunai with several rapid fleeting strikes that would cripple if they connected.
"You've gotten faster." Jiraiya hissed quietly, dodging and weaving through the rapid slashes that Kakashi was putting forth and directing ones away with careful deflecting palm pushes that had the greatest risk to connect.
"My Sensei always pushed me to get better." Was Kakashi's return as he reversed the grip on his Kunai to step in closer, attempting to move for a downwards stab as the Sannin nearly stumbled on a rock due to the Jonin's constant pressure.
But Jiraiya recovered and righted his form, blocking the attack with both hands slapping onto either side of the blade. He twisted to the left, yanking the weapon from the Jonin's grip and threw it to the side where Naruto was about to come from his blind spot. The flat metal of the blade collided into Naruto's headband with a clang, making him stumble backwards from the force. And then Jiraiya spun and blocked a heavy punch with ease from Ryouken with a backhanded slap.
He blocked me… Ryouken cursed, his fist pulling back as he dismissed the trace Youki that he pulled on from Banrai. Of course he did.
Naruto barely ducked out of the brace of Kunai, rolling back to his feet and launching five shuriken back at the Sannin who leaped back into the air and laughed maniacally.
"Do better, the opening attack came the closest so far boys!" Jiraiya shouted, landing on the underside of a tree branch to stare down at the three. "Synchronize your movements! Be the team you are or you won't even have a chance to land a hit!"
Kakashi clicked his tongue, before looking at Naruto. "Naruto, I'll throw you. Ryouken, I want you to follow up." He hissed quietly.
The Blond gave a thumbs up, grinning as Ryouken nodded and then ran towards the woods. Naruto then raced forth at a breakneck run towards Kakashi. The Jonin then stepped aside, grabbing Naruto's arm and spinning in place to throw the blond with all of his strength towards Jiraiya.
"Take this!" Naruto shouted, cocking his fist back as he soared through the air. "Rrrrraaaagh!" Chakra densely flowed around his hand, surprising the Sannin who flipped around by throwing his weight backward and then away from the tree branch. Naruto plowed his fist into the former perch, shouting loudly as the branch cracked and then splintered into detritus that flew in sudden various directions from the force of the attack.
What was that?! Jiraiya's thoughts raced as he stared down, watching in slow motion as Naruto started to drop. That's eerily similar to Tsunade's monster strength! How did he learn that?! But wait... That's-
"Hraa!" Ryouken appeared like a shadow, leaping from another tree behind the Sannin while attempting to throw a punch at the back of Jiraiya's head. Just as soon as he grazed the top of Jiraiya's head, he grunted in surprise as white hair flowed and surrounded his fist tight in a grapple.
"Not a bad move kid!" Jiraiya spun his hair, throwing Ryouken down towards Naruto to send both of the kids plummeting to the ground. Phew, almost got lost in thought there. But then he turned quickly, gripping a branch to dodge a brace of shuriken launched from Kakashi as they raced deeper into the forest.
What was that technique? Ryouken thought, having landed on Naruto's back and staring up as his mind reeled from what just happened to him.
"Oi! Get up!" Naruto growled out, pushing up and dislodging Ryouken to get up to his feet. "We have to follow Sensei." He said, grabbing his teammate's arm and running deeper into the forest with the startled Tatsujin.
Kakashi ran from tree to tree, moving around the branches as he chased down Jiraiya while using his Sharingan to track the direction the Sannin was moving. He's not even using 20% of his ability. Kakashi realized as he observed his movements.
"Wow..." Akane breathed out, her eyes wide as she sat on the bench next to Shisui.
"Honestly..." Shisui started, his own eyes wide. "He's severely holding back."
"You mean... Jiraiya-sama is a lot stronger than I just saw?" Was Akane's surprised exclamation, her eyes widening further as she turned to look at the older of the two Uchiha who stood next to the bench watching with their Sharingan active and taking in the whole battlefield for what it was.
"Starting to regret your threat to the Sannin?" Itachi decided to ask quietly, nudging his friend in the ribs with his elbow.
The other Uchiha stiffened. "Oh shut up. I didn't realize he was that strong." Shisui snapped back as he struck back with an elbow jab of his own.
Akane inhaled sharply, before exhaling a despondent groan. "I'm going to fall behind..."
Itachi hummed, sat down next to the red-head and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. All you need right now is the rest and recovery. And then some specialized training once you're ready, and you'll catch back up on those two."
"But... They were already technically better than me." Akane lamented.
Shisui smiled from where he was as he sat down on her other side. "A little secret? Naruto had a ton of help to get where he is now. Trust me, the training we can do for you will more than make up the difference."
Akane blinked. "You're both willing to help?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course!" Itachi said happily. "You're one of Naruto's best friends. He'd want you to be just as strong as he is after all."
Akane smiled, before giggling softly. "Thanks... I needed that."
[Several hours later...]
Kakashi couldn't help but pant heavily while he was leaning against a tree, scanning the surroundings alertly as he took a moment to recover. Naruto was on his back nearby, panting as well and groaning some from the effort of prior reckless attacks.
Ryouken chose that moment to stumble out from the woods, wiping some mud from his face. "God, damn, it." He cursed.
"What happened... To... To... You?" Naruto asked, looking towards Ryouken with wide eyes.
"Jiraiya just threw me into the muddy lake is all, no big deal." Ryouken growled with displeasure.
"He's kicking our asses!" Naruto complained, nearly wheezing as he moved with a groan to sit up. "How much longer is he going to keep toying with us!?"
"Well good news, I think we're done." Jiraiya said from his perch on a branch above them all, grinning as he took a bite of an apple. "You all did well. But there's a noticeable lack of Jutsu from both of your students Kakashi. Mind telling me why?"
Kakashi looked up, having tensed for a moment when Jiraiya first spoke, before shrugging. He reached up and lowered his headband to cover his Sharingan. "Because I was waiting for the right opportunity to do so."
"Hmph. As much as that is a fine opinion, I disagree." Jiraiya said. "You should be teaching all that you can to your Genin. If they had Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, of any kind that they could use and counter some of my moves you would've probably won the exercise. Your team wouldn't be what it is now. Your team... Is a mirror of Gai's. Close combat and physical specialists!"
Kakashi's eye widened in sudden horror. His body shook, and then he collapsed to his knees. "Nooooooo!" He shouted in terror.
"But... I know what to teach them for you now." Jiraiya said with a smirk. "Naruto has the most stamina and... The most raw chakra. He's a powerhouse, so I'll teach him techniques to capitalize upon that."
Naruto couldn't help but grin upwards at the Sannin. "Oh sweet!"
"As for Ryouken. While he also has a large well of chakra to call upon, he has a preference for precise strikes and has fine enough chakra control. I'll teach him techniques that have good precision power when applied in a fight. But for now, we're all hungry. Let's go eat." Jiraiya hopped down from the tree he was on, landing next to Naruto and helping him up to his feet.
"Here it comes." Ryouken said, wiping his face off with his hand to clear some smeared mud.
"Can we go to Ichiraku's?" Naruto asked.
"You called it." Was Kakashi's tired quip. "But... I don't think I want to argue today. Ramen it is."
"Yay!" Naruto shouted.
"I'll get Akane then." Ryouken said, turning to head towards the main field where they left her at as they chased the crafty Sannin. I'm impressed... Much stronger than even father anticipated. I wonder who would win between him and any one of the Sannin.
[An hour later – Ichiraku's Ramen]
"Want another round kid?" Teuchi asked with a pleased smile as Naruto polished off his 8th bowl of ramen.
"Mmph, please?" Naruto asked after a moment, swallowing his mouthful of food.
Jiraiya shook his head in wonder as he watched Naruto accept a ninth bowl and begin to devour it with reckless abandon. Sensei was not far off… But I think this kid's obsession is beyond me.
"You'll get used to it." Itachi said from his seat to Jiraiya's left, slowly eating from his own first bowl.
Shisui laughed and grinned at Itachi before looking at the surprised Sannin. "So, you did agree to cover half of the cost along the way because you helped teach the kid. No backing out now."
Kakashi snorted from where he sat. "Pfft… Yeah, but I still have to pay part of that other half with you guys."
Ryouken simply rolled his eyes and went back to eating quietly, sitting next to Akane at a table nearby since her wheelchair couldn't reach the top of the counter where the others were sitting.
"How did you do it?" Akane asked him quietly.
Ryouken paused, his mouth closing over the ramen in his chopsticks and looking fully at the red-head. "Mwhyamean?" He asked around the food. Before holding up his hand to pause Akane's response in order to swallow the morsel. "Sorry. What do you mean?"
Akane giggled some, but took a bit of a serious look. "How did you become so strong? I can understand Naruto's reason, being trained since he was a kid by two prodigees before coming to the Academy and placing with us. But you're also on a level far above what I was expecting…"
Ryouken hummed, sticking his chopsticks in the ramen dish to stir and contemplate his answer. How much can I tell her? He wondered. I suppose I should be as honest as I can be. "I grew up in Nazogakure as you already know. My father is the leader of my village, the Kurokage." He wiped his chin with his sleeve, looking back to Akane past his sunglasses which he then removed to set on the table. "As his son, I was expected to be strong. From the moment I could walk, I was being trained by the best instructors at Nazo. I was drilled in all the basics of Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu. I cannot… Shouldn't tell you all I know. It's a secret all that I do know. But if we went by raw knowledge I'd be on a level similar to a Chunnin here."
Akane gasped in surprise.
"But technically, we all are that level." Ryouken continued. "You supposedly have a rare and powerful Single Nature bloodline if Kakashi-sensei's suspicion is correct. An ability to weave Fire Ninjutsu without any hand seals is incredibly advantageous and will surprise any opponent, and they wouldn't know what jutsu you used without guesswork after the fact of you unleashing it." He kept stirring his ramen as he talked, focused mostly on his teammate. "And Naruto… He's a beast on his own. The amount of chakra he can throw around and end up wasting, but still keep running like a never ending battery… We'd be at a disadvantage if we had to fight him because of it. Now if he was always a loudmouth and dense kid we'd be able to take him down with ease. But the fact is, he's got crazy stunts and ideas he can throw around." He took a breath. "So in short… The chakra alone is what sets Naruto on a higher level than us, but he shares our general level of skill."
"I see…" Akane said quietly, looking at Naruto with a realization. "He's really that powerful?"
"Yes. Hands down, the strongest member of our team. But… Power isn't everything." Ryouken smiled. "I used to think it was, until I realized I was wrong. Our team is the most important part of us. We'll work together, always, and become the best there is. And if that means I help you every step of the way to get stronger." He grinned fully. "Then so be it."
Excellent. Good job boy… You're coming out of your shell further. Banrai thought with a pleased expression as he watched Ryouken open up. It's been years since I've 'seen' that smile of his.
Akane couldn't help but smile widely back at Ryouken. "Got it!"
[Southern Road - Land of Fire - Team Eleven - 1 Day from Departure]
Aoba walked at the near center of his small group, having Tazuna walk directly in front of him. He looked ahead to Sasuke taking point, scanning the surroundings. He then looked back where Kaida and Sakura were at the rear of the group, watching their backs. They are doing just fine. "Ahem, so Tazuna. Mind if I ask you a couple of questions?"
"Eh? What'd you need to know?" The bridge builder asked, looking back towards the Tokubetsu Jonin and falling back in step enough to walk directly next to Aoba.
Aoba hummed as he adjusted his sunglasses. "Well you see, we're on a mission to keep you and your bridge safe is that right? From bandits?"
"Uyeh… That's right. Bandits."
Sasuke turned his head some to glance back at where Tazuna was talking. Hmm… Something is odd about the way he is acting. He turned his gaze forward and frowned with that thought as he walked, paying attention to the woods around.
"Must be a pretty large assortment of bandits to hire expensive Konoha Shinobi." Aoba continued as he walked, hands in pockets. His foot grazed a puddle, prompting the Jonin to look down some as if in afterthought before continuing to walk with the bridge builder. "Is that why you want the protection as you build the bridge? To ensure that these bandits won't take your attempt to allow more travel as a threat?"
"Yes, yes. That is entirely correct." Tazuna agreed. "There are plenty of bandits that took my project as a personal attack, and they've been terrorizing the Land of Wave for a couple of years now."
Well then. If that's the case… Aoba hummed and glanced back as Sakura and Kaida stepped past the puddle as well, not even giving it another glance. None of them noticed… It hasn't rained in three days. He thought while returning his vision fully forward, his hands slowly withdrawing from his pockets.
It happened quickly. Sasuke turned around at the shriek of Sakura, drawing a kunai and watching in shock as a bladed chain surrounded Aoba and two shinobi appeared on either side of the Jonin pulled on it!
A red mist filled the air as chunks hit the ground, and the Demon brothers laughed maniacally.
"Form up!" Sasuke shouted. "Protect the client Sakura!"
"Right!" Sakura moved quickly, standing in front of the shocked Tazuna with her kunai ready while the two Mist shinobi moved towards Kaida.
The female Uchiha reacted, ducking under the brother's combined attempt to catch her with their chain sliding around to bash her foot against the two-horned shinobi's back and leaping from him.
"Ignore her, get the Bridge Builder!" The one-horned mist ninja shouted, and they ran towards Sakura and Tazuna.
I have to protect Tazuna! Sakura thought, spinning her kunai into a reverse grip as she prepared to attempt to block the hovering chain.
But then Sasuke appeared quickly above her, throwing a shuriken that caught the chain and pinned it into the tree. With a flick of his wrist, the kunai he was holding earlier pinned the metal star deeper. He then landed with both feet on the gauntlets of the restrained shinobi, smirking as he then adjusted his body to grip with his hands on their gloves and kick backwards hard, hitting them in the heads and forcing them to reel away and disengage their gauntlet mechanism.
The one-horned shinobi turned to face Sasuke, attacking with his claw and forcing the Uchiha onto the defensive. Damn, they're fast. He realized as he deflected the claw that almost skewered his face.
The two-horned meanwhile ran back towards Sakura, before Kaida appeared in between them and was about to punch him when a sudden flock of crows swarmed the Shinobi, forcing him to attack them in defense. "What in the?!" He shouted in shock as they kept appearing, those he dispatched disappearing in puffs of smoke.
Sasuke threw his kunai at the one-horned man, who deflected it while slowing down his rush simultaneously. He turned to start to run towards his brother, but stopped as Sasuke's hands began to move.
Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu! Sasuke thought as he breathed a stream of flame through his right hand that grew in size and mass until it raced towards his target. He smirked until he heard a sound at his side, turning and ceasing his technique as the opponent appeared and was moving to attack him again with his claw extended.
But then Aoba appeared, slamming his foot hard into the Mist shinobi's chest which was followed up by two kunai piercing the blocking arm the opponent attempted to use to grab the Tokubetsu Jonin. Blue chakra visibly ran through a pair of wires attached to the weapons, and the opponent froze up and became unable to move in an instant.
At the same time, the other Mist shinobi was struck in the back of the neck as Sasuke slid under his guard while he was still fighting the crows, throwing up a kick that connected with the man's jaw. Kaida appeared from above, driving her fists held tightly together downwards into him to redirect him back into the ground, where he lay unmoving. The rest of the crows in the air disappeared upon Aoba holding up a one-handed seal.
"Sensei! You're alive!" Sakura shouted, her tone unbelieving but relieved as she relaxed her stance when she regarded the situation as stable.
Aoba nodded. "Yes, I am. Good job keeping Tazuna safe all of you." He held the wire in his right hand tighter as he stepped towards the paralyzed Mist shinobi with one horn attached to his forehead protector.
Tazuna's eyes were wide in amazement. "So… Fast…"
"Sasuke," Aoba commanded. "Tie up this one for me so I don't have to waste too much chakra with my jutsu."
"Yes sensei." Sasuke moved quickly, pulling out a roll of wire from a pouch on his belt while Kaida and Sakura both tied up the other Mist shinobi. He tied up the paralyzed one, and then Aoba released his jutsu while the Mist Shinobi collapsed to his knees.
"I… I don't get it." The Shinobi murmured. "We killed you."
Aoba chuckled. "Well if it had rained in the past few days, you probably would have. I replaced myself with a log at the last moment." He gestured back where the chunks of 'bloodied' wood remained on the ground. "You 'killed' nothing."
"But… The blood."
An empty capsule dropped to the ground, it's contents spilled. "Just a trick. I had to make it seem like you succeeded after all." Aoba pushed his sunglasses further up the bridge of his nose, the reflective lenses glinting in the light. "But your target wasn't me, it was the bridge builder. You wanted to kill me first to ensure you could handle my Genin. That just doesn't sit right with me you know." He paused, regarding the man before him before looking to the side at the other one. "Give Ibiki my regards." He then knocked out the man with a strike to the back of the head, turning to his team. "Put them against the tree. Tazuna, you have a lot to explain while I write a letter."
"I suppose I do…" The Bridge Builder agreed, wiping some sweat from his brow with the towel he keeps around his neck.
Well here it is… I hope it was a Good Chapter. If you want, leave a Review. I won't be asking for them anymore but I'll be watching the Views on this. I'm very appreciative of everyone who's followed me even during my absence, as well as those views I do see popping up in my analytics page. You guys are all awesome. Chapter 13 is almost finished, so when I complete it I'll be throwing that one up shortly too.