Bad Omen

It was a bright sunny day in Konoha, as it was the Summer's peak. There were birds flying around and chirping, butterflies dancing from flower to flower, bees collecting honey, cicadas singing and...

"No way!" a yell was heard followed by a "Ouch, what was that for!"

Inside the Hokage's tower, in a large room with a big table displayed along, there was an awkward moment going on. Uchiha Sakuya had just smacked Uzumaki Naru on the back of her head, making several people, including the Hokage himself, sweatdrop while laughing loudly.

"To shut you up!" answered an angry Sakuya. "You're just too damn loud, are you even a girl?"

The two girls' other teammate, Oozora Yuusou, frowned at the scene and looked away, embarassed, while their jounin instructor, Konohamaru, could only chuckle.

"Come on, Sakuya-chan, you know I'm right. Aren't you tired of D-rank missions? We've already accomplished like fifty of them, it's time to move to the big league!" Naru complained to her childhood friend.

"Actually it was 9 D-rank missions, that is if you count with that helping at the coffee shop one." corrected an amused Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, making the jounin who were sitting at the big table with the Hokage, who included Hatake Kakashi and Yuhii Kurenai, and a chuunin, Maki, sneer and chuckle at the scene.

Naru, crossed her arms and looked away, pouting. "What's so funny?" Turning back to her father right away. "Anyway, what matters is that I'm tired of doing crappy missions like these D-rank ones. Why do they need ninjas to take the dogs to a walk or fix people's roofs? I want a mission, you know, where I can shine!" She said, trying to make a 'cool' pose.

"Well, I do agree that with our potential we're being held back..." Agreed Sakuya, but only trying to sound matter-of-factly.

"Come on, Sakuya, Naru. You're still genin who got out of the academy only about two months ago, don't expect to be flying around facing missin-nins already. D-rank missions are just perfect for you." Said Konohamaru, trying to sound authoritary.

"Actually, sensei," interrupted Yuusou shyly "Teams #3 and #4 have already accomplished two C-rank missions."

Konohamaru exploded "What? You mean Hanabi-san's team is already ahead of mine! 'Nii-chan, I demand an A-rank mission! Let's kick that anemic girl's team's ass!" Konohamaru overreacted to his team, who sweatdroped.

"I think a C-rank mission would be enough by now, don't you think Kono-kun?" Chuckled Kakashi, Naruto wide-eyed at him. "Come on, Naruto, give them a try. Don't forget they were well ranked among the academy students and they have a more than qualified instructor."

Naruto looked around, trying to find help, but everyone nodded in a way that tried to say that they should be given a try. He ended up giving up. "Ah, whatever," he narrowed his shoulders, sighing, and handing a sheet to Konohamaru. "I think that one is good enough for you."

Konohamaru and Naru faced each other with a happy face, Sakuya smirked and Yuusou sweatdroped yet again. "Yes!"

As they left the room, Kakashi turned, with his visible eye curving into a 'smile', to Naruto. "'A mission where I can shine'? Now, that rings me a bell..."

Naruto just smiled and called forth the next ninja awaiting for their mission.

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Two hours later, team #6 was walking on the road, setting for their new mission. It was blazing hot that day, so they tried to walk under the shadow of the trees that ocasionally grew on the left side of the road. Even so, they couldn't help but feel thirsty and trying to ease the clothes off their bodies. Naru and Yuusou were the most bothered, but Sakuya was also uncomfortable. Konohamaru wasn't even affected.

"So, sensei." Naru started, breaking the silence. "We have to go to this village near the boarder with the Rain Country and the Grass Country?"

"That's right, Naru." Answered Konohamaru. "It's a little village called Koyama, mostly sustained on farmwork and fishing. It's about two miles from the border with the Grass Country and a mile and a half from the border with the Rain Country."

"So, what's wrong over there?" asked Sakuya, taking a casual look to her instructor.

"Well, apparently the cows from the village's leader are disappearing without a reason. Our mission is to investigate the case and, if possible, bring the cows back to their owner and catch the perpetrators." explained Konohamaru, keeping the pace.

"Che, crappy mission aswell..." snorted Naru. "But oh well, it's always better than taking care of dogs and cleaning up their mess. Maybe the cows are being stolen by some bandits and we can get into real fun." Naru suggested, with an anxious face.

Konohamaru smiled. "Unlikely. Probably just some kids messing around or some old geezer who's jealous of the village's leader. It should be nothing serious. But we're getting payed, so, it's worth it."

"Bah, it would be more worth it if there were real burglars who we could fight. I'm eager to show off my new jutsus." Said Naru, adjusting her bag, so it would be more comfortable.

"Naru-san is always so well-spirited. It's a pity we won't at least meet some bad guys, just so Naru-san could be a little happy." Yuusou said casually, making Naru blush, though no one noticed it.

"Well, if it was to be like that time when we were chasing that dog and Naru hit face-first against a bees' hive, I bet she wouldn't be so happy about it." Said Sakuya in a mocking tone, triggering Naru.

"That's another story, Sakuya-chan! No need to be brought over here." She complained, blushing even more, but now for a different reason.

"Yes. If I remember correctly you ran away from the bees like a rabbit runs from a fox." Sakuya pointed out, pretending not to be listening to Naru's complains.

"Yeah? And what about you?" answered Naru, awaking Sakuya's atention. "When we were doing that old lady's garden. Just because of that cute little mantis you had to call it a day."

Sakuya gasped. "That's different! I was slashed on my nose by a mantis when I was still a little kid. I was traumatized and now I just can't hear about mantis, much less seeing one."

"Well, that just shows you" said, unexpectedly, Konohamaru. "Who the real brave one is, huh Yuusou? Never saw you running away from nothing..." He grined at the boy, who also smiled, a little embarassed and a little proud of himself.

Team #6 kept traveling during that day, but had to stop over night, to rest. Since Konoha was in the middle of the Fire Country and Koyama was near the border, it was still a great distance to be run in a day, if you were just traveling at a walking pace. Early in the morning, they got their stuff back together, packed up and left.

They hadn't walked for very long when Konohamaru halted and raised his arm, signing for his team to stop. He looked concerned about something.

"What's wrong, sensei?" Asked Naru.

"Something's not right..." he said in a serious tone. "I smell blood... over there!" He pointed at something that was on the road and dashed at it. It looked like someone was laying in the middle of the road, not wanting to get up. Naru, Sakuya and Yuusou looked at each other and ran to meet their sensei.

When they caught up with the body on the road, Konohamaru was squated examining it. It was a middle-aged man, certainly a traveler. He sported a big bag on his back, such as they themselves were sporting. He also had a small pouch that was empty. His clothes were ragged and torn in some spots. The body itself had several scratches and scoriations, but apparently nothing serious. Konohamaru put his fingers on the man's throat, trying to feel some blood rush.

"He's alive." Said Konohamaru, not taking his eyes away from the man. "But he has a high fever and is dehydrated. Help me bring him to the sidewalk under the trees' shadow. Sakuya, lend me your water-bottle." He looked up to his students. At first they were quiet, staring at the body, but after a couple of seconds, they answered to their instructor's demands. Yuusou and Naru helped Konohamaru lift the body while Sakuya prepared several pots of water.

After bringing him to the sidewalk and laying him carefully on the ground, Konohamaru squated again, while his three students kneeled at the body's side, opposit to their instructor. The jounin cut a stripe from the man's ragged clothes, soaked it in water and layed it on the man's forehead. He then pat is cheek several times. The man eventually woke up.

"Water..." he said weakly. Sakuya handed a pot with water to her sensei and he helped the sick man drink it. The man then looked around, taking in all those faces. "W-Where a-am I?"

"You're in the third secondary road of the second main road of the Fire Country. The road which leads to the border with the Rain Country." Informed Konohamaru. "Now, please, tell me what was your mission and I'll try to acomplish it." Said the jounin in a serious tone. The man smiled.

"What do you mean with that, Konohamaru-sensei?" Asked Naru, a little concerned.

Konohamaru sighed and turned to Naru. "I checked up his wounds when we found him. They're infected. This man was seriously poisoned. And by the looks of it, the poison has already reached every part of his body. It seems fatal also. He will surely..."

"Die." said the man weakly again.

The pre-teens face was one of shock. They looked away still wide-eyed.

To be faced with death so soon. I really didn't want this for them. Thought Konohamaru, while watching his pupils' expressions.

"So" proceeded Konohamaru. He had a job to do, after all. "Tell me what was your mission and what happened to you. Who poisoned you?"

The man coughed. "I am a messenger from the Rain Country. I had a mission from our country daimyo. I was to deliever a secret letter to Konoha's Hokage. But the letter was stolen when I was already in the Fire Country."

"What was in the letter?" asked Konohamaru. Naru, Sakuya and Yuusou had now turned their atention back to the man again.

"That I don't know. It was top secret business with the daimyo and the Hokage."

Konohamaru looked confused. That's weird. I've never heard of conversations or any kind of relationship between Konoha and the Rain Country.

"Who attacked you?"

"Sorry. I don't know that either. It was just too quick. Once I was travelling at night through the road and the next time I notice, a man with a black cloak showed up in front of me. He was as quick as a bolt, made some kind of ninjutsu that struck me with hundreds of needles." The man coughed again. "That's when I knew I got poisoned. Then he lept over me, stole the letter and I don't remember anything else."

"I see..." finally said Konohamaru. The jounin turned to his pupils. "You go on ahead. I'll just ask a few more questions to..."

"Goro." identified the man.

"But sensei..." started Sakuya.

"You will go now." Konohamaru made a serious tone, that made the genins obey immediately. They got up, Sakuya put her water-bottle in her bag, and left.

When Konohamaru made sure they were a good distance away from them, he took out a kunai from his pouch. "It's gonna be quick, I swear."

The man nodded and looked up to Konohamaru's face. Only then did he notice the jounin's forehead protector.

"You... you guys are shinobis from Konoha, right?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I see..." The man chuckled a bit, followed by hard coughing. When he recovered he faced Konohamaru again. "Well then, tell your Hokage that the Rain has one of his kind. The letter that was stolen was probably about that."

Konohamaru got confused again. One of his kind?... Then it struck him. He was not expecting that. "I... I see..."

The man coughed hard again. "I guess now is the time. I trust your skills, Konohasaru-san."

Konohamaru wide-eyed at Goro. Goro chuckled. "You're quite famous back in the Rain Country, especially in the Hidden Village of Ame, Konohasaru-san."

"You're a shinobi... It makes sense."

"Yeah."

"Well, now then..." Konohamaru approached his kunai from Goro's neck.

About fifty yards away from the two, Naru, Sakuya and Yuusou rested under a tree, not able to see what was going on between Konohamaru and the man called Goro.

"Think Goro-san's going to be alright?" asked Yuusou, a little unsure of the answer.

"I hope so." answered Naru, followed by a nod from Sakuya.

They heard a faint noise coming from above and they looked up. Konohamaru was standing on a tree branch, packed up and ready to go. "Let's go. We finished already."

"Is he gonna be okay?" asked Sakuya.

"Yes." answered Konohamaru not even daring to look back to her. He jumped from the tree and turned to the genins. "We will now pick up the pace. I want to arrive at Koyama by the end of the day. Try to catch up." And started running. The genins looked at each other, a little confused and followed their instructor.

Why do I feel that something bad is going to happen? thought Konohamaru, biting his lip softly.

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New chapter everyone! This one is a little one, but I think it's a good start for the upcoming saga. The previous chapters were like introduction of the characters. The fun starts now. Please, review. I'd like to know your opinions about the fanfic, suggestions, praises and critics. Looking forward to the next chapter!