A Path to a Shinobi's Ambition

by Koizumi Tsukiyo

Six years had pasted for Naruto and his friends...what new changes will occur now that they'll all be the new Senseis? Including Side Stories.

7. The Mission

A Path to a Shinobi's Ambition

Chapter 06: The Mission Written by: Koizumi Tsukiyo

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                "What kind of mission IS this?!" Ohito complained loudly, taking a ransom piece of document from a large stack on the floor, scanning through it quickly before placing in its rightful pile on the table.

                "D-Class mission," Hoshi replied absentmindedly, shuffling neatly on his stack before continuing.

                Tenko looked up from her own table, "Fit for Genins like us."

                "The HELL it is!"

                "Such a whiner, are you?" Hagane Kotetsu, a young man in his late-twenties, asked with a grin, leaning back on his seat slothfully, "A mission is a mission, there's no point complaining about it. You three should be honored working for Hokage-sama. Not many could."

                Ohito glared at him, "You're telling me these papers belongs to her?"

                "Yeah, my partner, Izumo, and I had been doing this for the past years," Kotetsu said in slight displeasure, "Hokage-sama can get a bit lazy when it comes to paperwork."

                All four looked up once the door opens as Izumo walk inside with a large pile of more papers in his arms, dumping them by the frowning Kotetsu. Taitan, Kometto, and Junpaku quickly followed behind, their arms full of more dreadful papers as they stack them carefully by each of the desk.

                The sound of Ohito's jaws dropping to the desk was pretty loud, "MORE?!"

                "You guys try carrying these halfway through the whole village," Taitan grumbled, stretching his aching arms, "These are the last stacks so far."

                "Last?" Tenko looked at them with a glint of hope in her eyes, "So we'll be finished after these?"

                Izumo chuckled, sitting down on Kotetsu's desk tiredly, "Wishful thinking, but no. Just give it another hour and more paperwork will arrive soon. We have to go and pick it up again."

                Ohito looked ready to faint, "How can you guys put up with this alone?"

                "Same question I asked myself everyday," Kotetsu snorted, looking up at the ceiling wearily, "At least someone will take over for us once the Chuunin Exam starts."

                Kometto perked up interestedly, "Chuunin Exam?"

                "It's an exam where Genins like you can become a Chuunin if pass," Izumo answered, looking at his nephew with his visible eye, "It comes twice each year and is held here in Leaf hidden village. Lots of Genin-level shinobis from many other hidden villages come here to take them."

                Tenko looked over at the worried Junpaku, "Do you think we could take it? Kakashi-ojisan had said he became a Chuunin when he's only six, so it must be easy."

                "Top Genin-level shinobis from each village comes, Tenko," Izumo corrected himself. "Kakashi is quite different and a very highly skilled shinobi, even as a child. And no, it's never easy...from what we've seen, many people quit being a shinobi because it has been too much for them and there's been death involved as well during the exam."

                Junpaku's eyes widen, "Deaths?"

                "Kotetsu and I had failed it three times to be able to pass, if I remember correctly," Izumo said, lowering his gaze, "But our last member..."

                "I doubt you six will be enrolled, it depends on your Senseis actually," Kotetsu smirked, quickly changing the subject while gazing at them from the corner of his black eyes, "But knowing Naruto...maybe it's possible."

                "Izumo-ojisan," Kometto called to his uncle, "You and Kotetsu-san are also in charge at one part of the exam too, ne? Can you tell us about it?"

                Izumo laughed, "It'll spoil everything even if it changes every year, now that each of the leaders had partners so it's going to be even harder to pass."

                "That's it for today, you guys!" Naruto's voice cried from outside, banging the door open with impatient hands as many papers flew out from their neat piles at the rush of the open door. He paused, smiling sheepishly at the other's glare, "Gomen, gomen! My fault!"

                "We need to go quickly and report to Hokage-sama," Ikazuchi said, poking his head into the room, "Not disturbing you, are we, Kotetsu? Izumo?"

                Izumo gave a tired smile, "Not really..."

                "You Genins better go before Naruto will causes us more trouble," Kotetsu sneered, leaning his chair back to relax as Naruto glare at him.

                "Thanks for the information," Taitan said, giving a small bow and walked out of the door with the others. Naruto gave Kotetsu his last glare, banging the door close as hard as he could while many stacks of papers began to fly around the room. Izumo gave a small sweat-drop as Kotetsu sat up from his seat angrily with a loud curse.

                "Hokage-sama probably assigns them to a different mission after this," Izumo said, kneeling to the ground and pick up the papers.

                Kotetsu easily caught the still flying papers, glaring at them as if wishing they would burn to bits, "And again, knowing that little fox, he'll probably be asking Hokage-sama for a higher class mission."

                "I definitely know one word that will come out of her mouth, even before he could ask," Izumo grinned crookedly, "A very big and loud ear-threaten-"

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                "-NO!!!" Tsunade bellowed, surprising everyone, except for Naruto, that's present in the large room as she gently slam her fist onto the table, creating a large crack.

                Eyebrows ticking in irritation, Naruto stares at her with his close fox-like look, "I...haven't said anything yet..."

                "If you even think of asking me for a higher class mission, you're definitely not in luck," Tsunade said knowingly, glaring at him from the other side of the table as he return it equally.

                "It's going pretty well so far." Sakura said with a smile.

                Kama watched Naruto from the distance, giving a low mumble, "And we trust him to talk to Hokage-sama?"

                "Out of everyone here beside Sakura-chan, Naruto is the only one who gets along with her the most," Ikazuchi answered with a strained smile, "Both stubborn and very scary."

                Kometto snorted, Not to mention very loud too.

                "Come on, Tsunade! The mission you had given them is not even counted as one!" Naruto said with a frown. "It's called work! Work that belongs to you!"

                Ohito grinned, "I knew it wasn't a mission from the start."

                "Naruto, these six Genins are not even ready to take anything outside of this hidden village," Tsunade said, crossing her arms under her chest, "They're still beginner Genins and a C-class mission may be a bit too advance for them."

                "They got me! Nothing to worry about!"

                She rolled her eyes, "That's what I'm worrying about the most."

                "HEY!"

                "The only mission that is the safest are D-class one," Tsunade continued, looking at the scroll in front of her, "I do not wish for any of them to be threaten going on mission higher than that."

                "You never even given them a chance yet, Tsunade!" Naruto exclaimed in frustration, clamping a hand to cover the written scroll, "I don't care what you think of them, but I believe they're ready for anything! I'll give them a chance if I were you!"

                Tsunade raised her eyes to his while they stared at each other, as if having a silent argument. They stared at each other so long that Naruto felt his eyes watering. Until finally, she responded, "No."

                "Heh," Naruto stood up straight, crossing his arms as he held his head up high, "Who would have thought our own Hokage-sama would never listen to other's opinion."

                "Now wait a second here!"

                Sakura nodded in affirmation, "Yes, very well."

                "Well?" Tenko asked, staring at her in bewilderment.

                Naruto shrugged as he continues, "Then again, of course you wouldn't agree because you don't want to be responsible for anything to save less trouble, ne? After those pile of papers I saw in your office, no wonder you made others do your work."

                "Naruto..." Tsunade whispered in a low threatening tone.

                "And what do you do all day? Probably drinking or better yet, use all the money you were given, since you're the Hokage and all, and spend them all on gamblin-"

                BAM!!

                All the Genins jumped at the sound, looking up at their Hokage in surprise while trailing their eyes to the broken table on the floor. Ikazuchi and even Kama looked a bit uneasy as the people present in the room froze in fear. Naruto, still completely stubborn as a bull, stood there with a smirk on his lips, unaffected from her anger.

                Sakura smiled to herself, "He did it."

                Both male Senseis could only stare at her.

                Tsunade took several breaths, kneeling down to pick up a scroll as she scan them, looking back into his smiling azure eyes, "This mission I'm going to give was suppose to be for you and Sakura only, since it was actually requested. But it seems like you'll be having more people coming along with you."

                The hyper Jounin had the nerve to beam at her as he jumped over the broken desk and stood beside her; an arm placed on her shoulders lazily and leaned in to read the scroll, "What kind of mission is it, Tsunade? Is it exciting? Any action? Ne? Ne?"

                She laughed, "It's a C-class mission, Naruto. You'll be protecting someone and escort him safely home. This is all I'm giving you so better not ask for anything higher."

                Ikazuchi sweat-dropped, "You're right, Sakura-chan."

                "For a moment there, I thought Hokage-sama would do the same to Naruto-sensei the way she had done to the table," Taitan said, scratching behind his head in confusion, "Now they're back, acting as if long-lost friends. Odd relationship they're having..."

                "The person you're protecting is waiting for you outside," Tsunade said, waving him away, "Now go before I change my mind."

                "You're the best, Tsunade!" Naruto said, running towards the group quickly and push them out the room. "Let's go everyone! Our first true mission!"

                Watching them go, Tsunade heaved a heavy sigh as she slumps on her chair, looking down at the pieces of wood from what's left of her table. For some reason...I'm not regretting this. One SCRATCH on those kids, Naruto, then I'm going to enjoy squashing you slowly and painfully as possible.

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                "Does this remind you of our mission in the past, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked happily, dragging the irritated Ohito behind him. "I wonder who would be requesting us though. It seems like I'm pretty known, ne?"

                "I don't think so, Naruto." Sakura giggled, shaking her head.

                Naruto grumbled, looking around in confusion, "Where's the person we're protecting? I wanna get going!"

                "That'll be me, Naruto-niisan..."

                Naruto paused, eyes widen at the voice he thought he'll never hear again as he slowly turn to face a young dark boy. At the age of fourteen, the boy still haven't change with the same silly grin on his lips, body fully covered carefully in big clothing that seems to swallow him whole with his old bucket-hat on his head. "Inari...?"

                Inari nodded, his black eyes going big as it turns glossy, running up and gave a forceful hug, "Naruto-niisan!"

                "I can't believe it's you!!" Naruto exclaimed, holding him out and examine him excitedly, "Sakura-chan!! It's Inari!"

                Sakura nodded, showing her affection when placing a hand on the boy's head, "It's been a long time, Inari-chan."

                "Sakura-neesan," Inari said properly, his grin sketches even wider across his face.

                "So tell us!" Naruto cried, "Who are we protecting you from??"

                "Nothing, I just want to see you all and welcome you back to Wave Country, just for old times," he answered proudly, "Though I hadn't expected things to change so quickly that you'll be bringing a whole group."

                "Oi, Hoshi," Ohito called, nudging him on the side, "All three know each other, ne?"

                Hoshi sighed, "It's a bit too obvious, don't you think?"

                "Do you know him, Ikazuchi-sensei?" Junpaku asked him curiously.

                "No, never seen or heard of him before but maybe Kama," Ikazuchi replied, looking around in confusion at his missing partner, "Eh? Where did he go?"

                Inari flinched when hearing the name, his body starts to shiver as his hidden fist inside the long sleeve clenched tightly at his side, Kama...?

                "I saw him left, Ikazuchi-kun," Sakura answered naturally, releasing her hand from Inari's head and smiled, "He'll catch up to us eventually."

                "Hm?" Tenko faced Naryu when hearing the snow leopard hissing in her ears, looking over at Inari, "You smell fear in him, Naryu?"

                Fear? Hoshi repeated in his mind, overhearing her words while eyeing the laughing Inari, who was chatting happily with Naruto as they began walking through the forest. Inari is afraid of something and he's pretty good at hiding it. What is he so afraid of?

                A hand on his shoulder snaps him out of his thoughts and looking up at the smiling Sakura, "Keep your eyes open, Hoshi-kun, you'll never know when an enemy will arrive and attack."

                "Yes, Sakura-sensei."

                "Naruto-niisan," Inari whispered, lowering his head as his hat shadowed his eyes, "I wanted to talk to you about something...important."

                "Ne! Do you all want to know why Tsunade became our Fifth Hokage?" Sakura suddenly asked, pushing the Genins ahead.

                Taitan raised an eyebrow, "Because she's the strongest woman on earth that can give one hell of a punch?"

                "And one of the legendary Sennin." Hoshi quickly added.

                Junpaku blinked, "Sennin?"

                "Hokage-sama with two others were pupil under the Third Hokage of the village," Sakura began the story, smiling at Naruto's thankful look, "In the past, she become quite known but not only by her amazing strength, but the fact that she's a Slug-Sennin."

                Ohito looked almost fearful, "S...Slug?"

                "Yes, slug," Ikazuchi laughed, ignoring the poor boy who's turning almost blue while smiling nicely to the Genins, "Though, there's rumors that she's not the only one...especially if I had found out that Naruto was the second Frog-Sennin, actually supervised by Jiraiya himself. He's was in Tsunade's team in the past, therefore the other legendary Sennin."

                "Jiraiya," Kometto grunted, stuffing his hands into his pocket, "The most perverted man I ever heard of from the elders."

                "And that also."

                "Alright, Inari, what's wrong?" Naruto asked, hands on his hips while cringing at the large clothing the boy wore, "And aren't you hot in those? It's like ninety degrees out here!"

                "I can feel the heat now, so you don't have to remind me of it. It'll only get hotter," Inari said with a smirk and dismiss it just as quickly, "Naruto-niisan...this mission..."

                "We're really protecting you from someone, are we?" Naruto said intentionally, narrowing his eyes at Inari's shock look, "More than one, perhaps?"

                Inari lowered his cap, "So you notice..."

                "What's happening with the Wave Country now? I thought we had solved the problem already in the past."

                "It had gotten worse just two years ago...a lot worse, Naruto-niisan," he began in a mere whisper, rubbing his arms subconsciously, "The village was doing wonderfully well after the Naruto Bridge was built-"

                "Naruto Bridge?!" he interrupted hastily, eyes widen in surprise, "You named that bridge after me?"

                "Of course! And I'm glad I did!" Inari gave a large cheesy grin, "No one complained about it either."

                Naruto nodded, going back to the subject, "The village...?"

                "The village was controlled by Missing-Nins again, that was what Ojii-san said to me," Inari continued, "I don't know from which village, but there seems to be so many. Ojii-san was hoping the Hunter-Nins will come and get rid of them but it seems like they haven't got any news about it yet."

                "Again with the Missing-Nins? Your village sure attracts attention from them or something. But it's strange though...why didn't you talk to Hokage-sama about this?"

                "Because I'm afraid that the cost of this mission would increase, especially if I'm the one that was able to sneak away from the village to get here. Beside, who would believe a mere boy like me?" Inari sighed in sadness, "I don't trust anyone helping me or the village expect for you and Sakura-neesan. But speaking of that, I requested to the Hokage-sama that I wanted Kakashi-san and Sasuke-niisan as well."

                "Kakashi, the lazy guy, is now teaching the upcoming Genins with Iruka-sensei," Naruto said, his tone changing quietly, "Inari, please...say anything but do not speak about Sasuke in front of Sakura-chan."

                The boy stared at him in puzzlement, "Why?"

                "Something had happened and I don't want Sakura-chan to..." He stopped, shaking his head, "Just don't say anything. Right now, we must concentrate on this mission. You and your grandfather are definitely alike, requesting to do a cheaper mission when it's actually very big."

                "Ojii-san does the same thing too? No wonder! He's the one that told me to do so when I told him my plan to escape the Wave Country."

                "HA! The old geezer!"

                "I want to ask you something...Sakura-neesan mention another person is suppose to come along with us?"

                "Kama? Yeah, I don't know why he isn't here though."

                "Do you...know much about him?" Inari asked as Naruto shook his head. Inari bit his lips in fear, It must be a different Kama...not the one I know that went missing a few years ago...it can't be him.

                "Well, what do you know? It's starting already," Naruto murmured, arms behind his head while looking to the side at the corner of his eyes with a grin, "Inari...stay close to me."

                "Naruto..." Sakura called him in a warning tone, her back still facing his.

                Ikazuchi smiled, "So you guys sense them too, eh?"

                The Genins, including Inari, can only gaze at them in confusion.

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                "There's the little bastard," a deep voice said within the shadows between the trees, watching Inari unpleasantly, "So he had managed to get some help..."

                "That blonde guy beside him looks annoyingly familiar," his companion growled, unsheathing his sword with a flick of his thumb, "I'm going to slice them to piece, Zouri, and want to do it now."

                "It's going to be hard, Waraji, consider those three adults there are Shinobis compare to us samurais," Zouri said, grabbing his own sword.

                Waraji spat, flexing one of his arms that are full of tattoos, "No matter, I had taught someone to become a Shinobi in the past. If they are as pathetic as him, then I'm sure we'll be fine."

                "Your own missing grandson?" Zouri smirked as the old man grinded his teeth in anger, "I still wonder how Inari can escape from us. But orders are orders, so we must either kill him or bring him back to the boss."

                "He'll be dead," Waraji growled, "But we're going to bring him back in three pieces. I'm going to enjoy chopping him for causing us more trouble."

                "Whatever you say."

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gomen: Sorry

-niisan: Big Brother [Inari and even Konohamaru had called Naruto this in the episodes]

-neesan: Big Sister

Ojii-san: Grandfather

Sennin: Sage

A/N: Zouri and Waraji are the two bodyguards of Gatou in the early episode in the anime Naruto, with Inari as well. Just to let you know if you're confused since I'll be repeating old characters into this story. Arigatou! Oh, whenever I had time, I'll promise to go back on the chapters and redo some stuff, like UchiHA for one. Lolz. Arigatou to you all!

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