Chapter 3 "Missions"
"Target in sight," whispered Sasuke in to a headset, "Positions ready?"
"Hai!" said Sakura.
"Roger!" said Naruto loudly.
"On my mark… Go!" whispered Kakashi.
"Geronimo!" yelled Naruto as he leapt from a tree at a small cat. Sakura and Sasuke were close behind. Naruto quickly snatched the cat up into his arms. "Hey! Hey! That does not tickle!" yelled Naruto as the cat started to scratch is face up, "The cat ain't declawed like the Lady said he was!"
"Collar marked with the identifying name of 'Tiger'. Mission accomplished," said Sasuke into his headset.
"Roger. Return to base," said Kakashi.
Later, at the Hokage Tower.
"Ugh! No surprise at the reason why the cat keeps running away," said Naruto. A surprisingly overweight lady with pale skin and way too much make up was rubbing her face in Tiger's face. Naruto shivered.
The Chunin at the desk, Iruka, was holding a list of D class missions. "I believe your next missions will be: weeding the Lady of Fire's garden, running to the store to buy food for an old couple…"
"Nuh uh! I'm sick of these boring missions! Give us something harder, like a B class mission!" whined Naruto.
"Naruto, no. You must remember that you are only a Genin, a recent one at that," explained Kakashi. He held up a chart and began to explain, "Genins, in the beginning only receive D class missions. Once a Genin has some experience under their belt they are allowed to go on C class missions. Chunins, Journeyman class Shinobis, are generally assigned C class missions but once they have experience they are allowed to take B class missions. Jounins, Elite Shinobis, on the other hand are generally only assigned A class missions."
"From the available information you have only been a Genin for 2 months," said Kakashi, "Even if it is boring, you will continue to perform D class missions,"
"Let's see I had pork ramen yesterday, so I guess I'll have… miso ramen today," muttered Naruto. Kakashi hit lightly upside the head.
"You didn't even bother paying attention to my description!" yelled Kakashi.
"Why bother! All the old man thinks I'm good for is playing pranks! He never listens to my side," yelled Naruto. The Hokage smirked.
"Well I guess when you put it that way, perhaps you should have a C class mission," the old man holds out a scroll, "You are to protect one person on their journey back to the country of the mist."
"Wow! Who is it? A daimyo? A princess?" asked Naruto.
The door opened to reveal an old man in his 60's. "Hmph. This is who's protecting me? I don't like the look of the short one, he looks like an idiot," he said.
Naruto looked at Sakura and Sasuke and realized he was the shortest. He leaped forward and yelled, "I'll kill you old man!" Kakashi caught the back of Naruto's shirt.
"Wrong. No killing the man we're assigned to protect," said Kakashi. Turning to the old man, he bowed and said, "Don't worry. I'll be there in case anything goes wrong."
The old man grumbled and took a swig out of a sake bottle and mumbled, "My names Tazuna. I expect you to be able to protect me."
'Geez! Not a very happy client!' thought Kakashi as the four shinobis led the old man away. Kakashi turned to his students and began to speak, "I expect you to be at the North Gate in one hour. Pack enough clothes for 2 months. We are going to be gone for a while so do not forget to say goodbye to your parents." Each of his students nodded and turned home.
Naruto arrived home first much too a little regret. "So I hear you have your first "C" class mission, son. You realize what this is going to mean?" asked Kadge.
"Yeah… It means you're going step up the training and make me master some jutsus on the trip. Don't give me break, just keep me working at all times. Isn't that your philosophy?" said Naruto as he followed Kadge to the armory.
"Actually I was going to give you something first. But if you're going to get snippy about it…" shrugged Kadge.
"No! Sorry father. I was just getting upset at the childishness of one of my teammates," said Naruto dejectedly. He scuffed the floor and hung his head as if he was ashamed.
"What's the problem? Not getting along?" asked Kadge as he opened the doors to the armory. He walked in and flicked the light on. The light reflected off several weapons down the long room. Kunais, katanas, sickles, and other various weapons each gleamed with a deadly light. Kadge walked up to a box that was covered in dust and lifted it up.
"Sakura is getting to be… quite annoying. At first, it seemed to be cute, but now it is driving me nuts. She does nothing but praise Sasuke. It's like she doesn't realize that it is a three man team. Sasuke is also getting annoyed. We haven't seen her do anything. Sure she helps with the missions but she does nowhere near the amount of work that Sasuke and I have done. It's just getting really frustrating," said Naruto as he watched his father blow dust off the box.
"Give her a chance. You never know because she just might surprise you. You have to realize that both you and Sasuke received quite an advantage in training. Sasuke was taught by his father and older brother for a short period of time," as Kadge said that his face darkened for a second, "While I spent several years training you. She hasn't received the same amount of training but she stills managed to receive the highest grades in the Academy in 20 years." Kadge held the box out for Naruto to take. "Go on… take it," said Kadge.
Naruto opened the box and inside were two beautiful crafted kamas. They were set atop of purple velvet. Kadge pulled out another box and handed it to Naruto. Inside it was a long length of chain. "Why? You didn't need to give me something this valuable Dad," said Naruto.
"Actually, yes I did. I didn't think you needed to bring your training kamas. Those are ridiculously dull and there is no way you could protect yourself with those. Besides, this is your first time leaving the village. I thought I would give you something to celebrate the occasion," said Kadge as he leaned over and kissed Naruto on the forehead, "besides do I need a reason to give my son a gift?"
"Thanks Dad. I love it. Now where's Mom?" asked Naruto.
"Eh… should be upstairs in your room. Said she had a surprise for you. Don't know what it is," said Kadge, "Want to head up now kiddo?"
"Sure pops. Race ya?" said Naruto as he took off running down the halls and up the stairs.
"Hey! No fair!" yelled Kadge as he raced to catch up to Naruto. The room soon fell back into the darkness as the lights were flicked off.
Naruto quickly made it to his room to find a backpack and the rest of his family waiting for him. "I knew that this day would eventually come but I still can't resist crying. My little boy is growing up," Lily choked out. She blew her nose on a handkerchief. Both Miyabi and Kei looked like they were going to cry, but they hid it by burying their face into Lily's skirt. Naruto kneeled down and drew them both into a hug.
"Don't worry my dear sisters. I will be back and we can play another game of Catch the Ninja. So don't you cry because I will be back. Besides, you need to play some pranks to keep the villagers on their toes," whispered Naruto into their ears. He stood back up and hugged his mother.
"The second I heard you were going to be leaving I hurried home and I felt the need to pack for you. In the backpack are some spare clothes and a few little goodies that I thought you might like," said Lily. She looked like she was about to cry.
"Mom?" asked Naruto as he hugged her, "Do you think you can help me set up the chains and Kama?" She nodded and picked up the chain that lay in one of the boxes and began to wrap it around Naruto's arms. Each chain coiled around one arm and ended up in a figure eight. One figure eight was across Naruto's chest while the other was across his back. The Kamas were set up on either side of Naruto's hips. Naruto then picked up his backpack and slung it across a shoulder. Naruto's family then buried him in a hug and sent him on his way to the meeting with his team.
The North Gate
Naruto was the last to arrive at the North Gate. Sasuke glared at Naruto for arriving so late. The chains and Kama captivated Sakura. Tazuna merely kept drinking, eager to leave. Kakashi's one bared eyebrow raised as he saw the Kamas. "Your father finally gives you those? This truly means that the Otrozans are back in action," said Kakashi.
See you next time!
Kitsune-Itai: Don't worry I agree with you. I review… most of the time.
Jewelclaw, Lady of the Wind: Nice to know I made you laugh.
Samurai, Demon God of Sekikage: Thanks for the idea about the Kama. You will have to put up with Sakura for a little bit.
srusse87: Nice to know I have another fan.
