Unknown Losses
This chapter should get things moving finally. I've never been good at making things get started in stories. Anyways, enjoy.
Chapter 2: A Mission to Start Them All
"Buunshin no Jutsu!" A small child failed at creating a clone.
Iruka whispered to Naruto, "I don't want to hurt their feelings. Some of them can do it, and others… well, they just can't."
"Well, they should know that they've failed." Naruto looked directly at the child and said, "Moegi! You should have trained harder! You have completely screwed up- again! You've failed three times, you can't fail any more."
Iruka saw the miserable look in her face. "Don't worry Moegi…" Trying to think of something to say, "You still have three more tests on different subjects. You only have to pass three out of six of the tests."
She pouted as she scampered off, "Okay."
"Well, that concludes the clone testing. We're going to do a kunai and shuriken accuracy test and then we'll complete one more jutsu test." Iruka formed a line out of the kids and marched them out of the classroom.
Naruto stood up and followed Iruka with a box of kunai. He plopped it on the ground beside the throwing line. Iruka let the kids sprawl themselves out on the ground in a random group. As he stood beside the throwing line his eyes scanned a clipboard. "The first up to attempt this test is… Udon!" Udon walked up to the throwing line, nervously. Iruka spoke softly to the kid, trying to calm him down. "Don't worry Udon, you just have to get two out of four kunai in that circle." Iruka knelt down beside Udon and pointed at a large white circle on a wooden wall. "You've only failed once so, you can fail twice more, but try your best." He patted Udon on the back and handed him two kunai.
With his congested voice he said, "Thanks…" Udon stepped up and threw his kunai one at a time. He missed both. Iruka handed him two more. He threw both at the same time, getting one in the large circle, which was only ten feet away.
"Good try Udon." Iruka patted him on the back once more. "Next is, Matsuri."
She walked to Iruka, who gave her two kunai. She promptly threw both into the circle.
Naruto was impressed, since it was a kid and all. He walked over to Iruka. "She is going to be a successful shinobi. She hasn't failed any, and has even finished faster than all the other kids."
"Yeah, she has always been one step ahead of her classmates. She looks up to TenTen. Matsuri is also a very likable kid to adults. She is really smart and has always seemed a few years more mature than all the kids her age. Anyways- next is Moegi!" He handed two kunai to the girl. "You can do it Moegi. You can't fail any more though. Anyways, I know you are good at the physical things."
She threw both at the same time, getting one in the circle. She was handed two more and made both. "Yay!" She ran back to her spot beside Konohamaru, who was called next. He did the same as Moegi. The rest of the kids took their turns. They all passed the shuriken test, except for Udon. Everyone successfully completed the shuriken test except for Udon again. Everyone completed the last test as well, the Henge no Jutsu test.
As parents came to congratulate their children, Naruto noticed they all had some sort of relative or guardian who was there to support them. Even Konohamaru had gotten a new adult figure in his life since Sandaime. He also thought about how there were really no outcasts like him when he was in the academy. 'I shouldn't be angry or jealous. I'm happy these kids are more fortunate than I was.' Naruto watched, bitterly, from a distance. With his arms crossed, he walked back into the classroom and waited.
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"You've probably seen this before Sakura." Tsunada opened a door and led Sakura into the ICU.
"This was where Neji was taken care of after the battles against the Sound Four."
"Yes." Tsunada then motioned to the floor. "These symbols and designs are an example of what you may one day need to create out in the field for your team members."
Sakura stared at the many circles. "Each of these symbols has a different effect?"
"Yes. I know I have taught you many symbols already, but those were the most basic designs."
"You're going to teach me these symbols?" Sakura looked at the ground with a doubtful look.
"As many as I can until you're off."
"Off for what?"
"I'll tell you as we walk to my office." Tsunada opened the door and walked out with Sakura trailing behind her.
As they walked up stairs and through hallways, Tsunada spoke seriously. "I've just received news on a new mission. I'm assigning you on a team of five for this."
"Five people? Why so many?"
"Well, there are a multitude reasons." They reached the office. Tsunada opened the door and walked to her desk. "Sit down Sakura." Sakura sat down on a seat in front of the large desk. Tsunada spun her chair around so she could look outside of the wide windows and see Sakura at the same time. "Although we do not have the permission from Tsuchikage, you will be going to the Hidden Rock village. You will be doing reconnaissance for information on a country above the northern border of the Earth Country. You must learn where the country is as well as its name and all issues relevant towards the leadership of the country. You shouldn't have any trouble until you get inside the Earth Country. Your team members will be Neji, Shino, Ino, and Naruto."
"I thought Naruto was still Iruka's assistant at the academy."
"He was assigned five weeks ago as an assistant and his work was to end when the genin exam took place, and that happened today." Tsunada spun her chair around so she was facing Sakura completely. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desk, and clasped her hands together in front of her chin. "The council and I have not found any approaches towards mission that may be connected to Sasuke since he left. We are not sure if this mission is directly connected to Sasuke or not but-" Tsunada opened a drawer in her desk and pulled a folder out. She handed it to Sakura. "That is information on the Rice Field Country. When Orochimaru became the leader of the Hidden Sound Village, the output of that country doubled. Normally the leader or Kage of a hidden village doesn't have power over the country as a whole, but in Orochimaru's aggressive nature, he did. While Orochimaru doesn't seem to care for the opinions of the citizens, he did care for economic issues, probably so he could hire more mercenary shinobi. As we looked into how the country had become so predominant and after we found that Orochimaru had full control, we learned that he had basically forced his country to work endlessly so there would be more money flowing to him."
Sakura thought for a moment while looking at the document. "I think I know what you're getting at. Basically the country north of the Earth Countries borders has been showing the same signs that the Rice Field Country had shown when Orochimaru took control. You think that Orochimaru may have gained control of another country. And because Sasuke is with Orochimaru now, he might be related to or in this unidentified country."
"Exactly. You will have tomorrow to prepare and on Wednesday you are to leave early at 5:00 in the morning. But- you will be traveling in two groups. Ino, Neji, and Shino will be going farther north through the Waterfall Country and then going west through the eastern border and on toward Iwa. They have a shorter distance to travel than you and Naruto have. You and Naruto will be traveling directly west and into the Rain Country. Once there you will travel north through the Earth borders and onto Iwa. Neji's group may get to Iwa before you, but it may only be half a day's difference. You are to meet each other at the fountain of Iwa every day at noon for as many days as it takes you to get the information you need, on the third day you will meet once more and then, as a group, take the quickest route back to Konoha. I will keep you here and teach a few more advanced designs until I release you at 7:00 the evening. Afterwards, you must tell your teammates what will happen and everything surrounding the mission. You can use those papers to help them understand the mission more clearly."
"Yes Ma'am." Sakura placed the folder inside a small purse-like bag beside Tsunada's desk.
Tsunada stood up and walked to the door. "Remember, this is a B-rank mission and may very well turn into an A-rank mission." She opened the door to the hallway. "Lets go learn some symbols."
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Iruka was looking over test results. "Well, everyone did well. It seems this next generation has a variety Naruto."
Naruto shrugged. "I don't really care." He was picking up trash on the floor of the classroom.
"You should. These are the kids who you might be on teams with one day. You may even be a sensei to a team of their kids. Some of these kids are average in everything while others excel at only the physical areas. Udon can hardly do anything physical while Moegi is only good at that."
"I guess you're right, but, I just can't imagine these kids staying in the shinobi field. Except… maybe Matsuri and Konohamaru and a couple others."
Iruka closed the book. "Well, you've matured over the years, physically and mentally, but you're still a little naïve some times." Iruka laughed and placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Ahahahahah…ha… very funny."
Naruto's stomach growled after his sarcastic comment. Iruka pulled out his wallet. "Why don't we get some Ichiraku Ramen?"
"I can't disagree with that. You're paying right?" He smiled.
Iruka sighed. "Yeah, sure."
They then left for ramen.
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"Wow. This sounds like it's going to be tough." Ino put her hands on her sides and swayed backwards.
Sakura nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I'm excited but nervous. Anyways, I'm off to tell the others."
"Okay. Well, I'll see you at the front gate on Wednesday morning right?"
Sakura looked back at her best friend as she left the flower shop. "Yep. Well, see-ya Ino."
"Bye!" Ino was waving over dramatically as she left and pretended to wipe away a tear. The two girls laughed.
Sakura continued to walk down the streets of Konoha and passed by Ichiraku Ramen. She saw the black pants that Naruto had started to where lately. 'Well, if he's there, I guess I'll tell him now.' She walked into the ramen shop and sat down beside Naruto. "Hi Iruka-sensei, Naruto."
Iruka, who was sitting to the left Naruto, leaned forward to see Sakura past Naruto's head. "Hey Sakura."
"Hi Sakura-chan. Do you want to order something?" He laughed and looked at Iruka. Iruka sighed and looked down at his bowl of ramen in return.
Sakura looked at Ayame. "I would like medium bowl of Karai-Ebi flavor."
"Okay." She turned around and prepared the bowl. "Here you go. Enjoy."
Iruka finished his meal and took out his wallet. "I'm going to get going now Naruto, I'll see both of you later. Good night." He placed enough money to pay for their meals and a tip and left.
The two looked at each other. Naruto was about to say something, but Sakura cut him off. "Naruto, I'm not here to chat. I have something important to tell you."
"I do too Sakura."
"Well, what I'm going to tell you is related to Sasuke." Sakura took swallowed some of her ramen.
Naruto finished his ramen. "Well, I had something to tell you about Sasuke as well." He handed his bowl to Ayame. "Three years ago, when the mansion was collapsing. Arashi had said that Orochimaru had to protect Sasuke for three years before he could be used as his new container."
"Yeah, I remember too. But, a few hours ago, when I was with Tsunada-sama, she told me some great news…" Sakura continued to tell Naruto about the upcoming mission.
By eight in the evening Sakura had visited everyone's homes and told them all about the mission. Once she got home, she lay in her bed, wrapped tightly in her sheets and drifted off into that frightening hall once again.
The story will become increasingly better, more exciting, and more eventful as the chapters progress. This is a new version of this chapter b/c when I went back and read it; I found a whole lot of mistakes. You may still find some but I fixed some I found. Anyways, give me some feedback. I'll get the next chapter up soon. (the line still doesn't work right! argh again!)
Next Chapter: This is not the way we were told it was going to be
Shino looked at Neji and the limp Ino in the hyuuga's arms. "We have to go back to Konoha now."
"Yes."
"This is not the way we were told it was going to be." Shino looked up as reflections in the water appeared.
Suddenly the five men were over their heads as the jumped off the dock. "We've got you now!" Shino fell before getting a chance to fight. Neji didn't fall with out a fight, but- his opponents overpowered him after a few intense moments of tai-jutsu fighting.