Team 9

Team 9, with Ran Yuuki as leader, is considered as the second strongest team next to Team 7. Seki Orikasa, from the well-known Orikasa clan of cats, is a born leader, second in sharp shooting and fourth in hand to hand combat. In short, he can battle in any range, either far, mid or close range, yet he is easily weakened. Hiroaki Reiji, from the only Chinese clan in the world (though his surname isn't Chinese) has hand to hand combat and setting traps as his strength. Kaede Yukino, from the Village Hidden in the Mist at the Country of Water, is known as the second best rookie after Uchiha Sasuke. Because of her advanced bloodline limit, she can manipulate water as she wishes. Finally, Ran Yuuki, the team's leader and teacher, is the grandson of the Nidaime Hokage (Don't blame me if ever their surnames are different. If you know his surname, please let me know…)

Ran used the same first training as his grandfather, which is to get one of the bells that he has or else there will be no lunch for them. Fighting when hungry is difficult, so Seki thought of an idea how to get those bells easier. "Make sure it will work," Reiji said. "It will surely work if we cooperate with each other," Seki made a thumbs up sign, "We will attack him at once from different sides." "There are two bells," Yukino reminded him, "Even though we will work as a team, one of us will not eat lunch." Seki smiled, "That depends on our ranking."

They hid behind the bushes and trees surrounding the targeted teacher. Seki started counting… one… two… THREE!

Reiji laughed, "How unlucky of you, Seki Orikasa! You're the one who thought of the plan and yet you didn't get a bell," he continued laughing at the tied-up Seki. "Hn!" Seki faced away from Reiji. Ran smiled and patted his head, "Don't worry. There's still room for improvement," he paused, "However, you already have a skill in leadership and teamwork." Seki looked at his teacher with his teary-eyes, "Thank you, Ran-sensei."

Their mission came after another. Every time, Reiji grew angry because of it. "It's only a one-day job, not a mission," Reiji said.

"There are no more Class-D missions for today," Sandaime Hokage (let's call him Sandaime in short) said. Reiji smiled, "Then give us a Class-C mission… Come on, old man." Sandaime laughed, "You're so demanding, Reiji. Well then, if you insist, I'll give you a Class-C mission." "Yeah," Reiji shouted in joy. "But, Hokage-sama, Reiji's just kidding," Ran spoke, "We'll come back another day." "Don't worry, Ran-kun. I can see that your students are improving fast and they are included in our top rookies of this year, so I'll give them a chance," Sandaime looked at the door, "Mr. Hiroaki, I already found your bodyguards." The door opened and out comes Hiroaki Kyou, Reiji's uncle. Reiji's eyes widened in surprise, "Wha-What! We're going to bodyguard that… that… that old bastard! I'm expecting to bodyguard a rich man or a princess." Ran gave him a knock on the head, "Behave, Reiji." Kyou sighed, "I didn't expect that you will bodyguard me on my way to the Country of Winds and back. I guess I'll be robbed before I get there." "Don't worry, Hiroaki-san. I'm joining them so there's nothing to worry. Besides, they're good students of mine," Ran reassured Kyou. He nodded, "If you say so."

After the three ninjas packed their bags, they immediately headed to the Country of the Winds. "Uh… Yuuki-san," Kyou cleared his throat, "Should I…" "Should you what?" Kyou looked at Reiji, "Should I walk together beside Reiji? He's very clumsy and I thought that he's not that talented." Reiji stopped walking. Yukino looked at him, worried, "What's wrong, Reiji-kun?" He looked down, "I'll follow you from behind." Seki, on the other hand, heard everything that Kyou said. He shot him an angry look, He doesn't know that Reiji, my rival, is pretty good. As a matter of fact, I envy his strength...

After a long period of walking, they saw an old man along the way coughing. "Hey, are you alright?" Seki worriedly asked. The man continued to cough until he fainted and fell into Seki's arms. "Wha -- ? Hey, hold on!"

It was midnight. Everyone is sleeping, except for a stranger who crept through the hallway, where Team 9 and Hiroaki Kyou were staying. The lights were off and no one can see the stranger's smile spreading across his face, After the acting part comes the killing part. Let's start with the kind boy, Seki Orikasa. He opened the door slowly as he took out his knife. "Hey, old man," Seki smiled. The man widened his eyes in surprise, "H-How did you --!" Seki laughed, "I can tell that my instincts still surprises me." "Whatever you say, stupid cat," Reiji stood beside the door with Yukino. The man turned to see the other two Genins, "Darn it!" He took off his mask, "You may know that I'm disguised as an old man but you may never beat me or my comrades." "Yeah, Yeah. Whatever," Seki stood, "Just put on your mask again so I won't get a heart attack by just looking at your face. To tell you that truth, you look like one of the monsters in the horror house." Yukino held back her laugh, "Good one, Seki-kun." The man growled in anger, "Damn you!"

Meanwhile, another two strangers crept at the other side of the hallway. They slowly opened the door and found the lights on. "Huh?" "Hiroaki-san, would you let me entertain your visitors?" Ran asked while grinning. Kyou nodded slowly, with mixed emotions of nervousness and relief. He held the money tightly, "Make sure you finish them, Yuuki-san." Ran smiled, "With pleasure."

They gathered at Kyou's room, with the three suspects tied up. "Good job, Team 9. We caught the burglars," Ran smiled "By the way how did you know that Hiroaki-san carries with him a big amount of money?" The burglar snorted, "Hn! I don't know!" Ran eyed him and took out a kunai, "Would you like to die earlier?" The burglars trembled, "We-We were ordered to get that man's money." "By who?"

"Thank you, Yuuki-san," Kyou shook Ran's hand, "Finally I delivered the money to my relatives. Who would've thought that my relative's neighbor would hear that I'm going to deliver the money? Anyway, thank you again." Ran smiled, "You're welcome, Hiroaki-san. It's our job." Kyou turned to Reiji, "And thank you, Rei-chan. I didn't know that you were this good." Reiji laughed, "That's what you get when underestimating me, the best rookie of the –" "Cut it out, will ya?" Seki interrupted. Reiji growled, "Damn you. You cut my line." "Are you challenging me, Rei-chan!" "What do you think, stupid cat!"

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Translations:

-chan

Honorific. Can be used either as a diminutive (e.g., with a small child—"Little Sasuke"), or with those who are grown, to indicate affection ("My dear").

-kun

Indicates familiarity or affection.

-sama

"Master" or "Mistress."/ This honorific is used primarily in addressing persons much higher in rank than oneself, and in commercial and business settings to address and refer to customers.

-san

Honorific. Carries the meaning of "Mr.," "Ms.," "Miss," etc., but used extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent.

Sandaime

Third Generation/Third.

Sensei

Used to refer to or address teachers, practitioners of a profession such as doctors and lawyers, politicians, and other authority figures. It is used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art form or some other skill.