Previously on Naruto…
"My name is Peri Senju. I love food and to take walks and I don't like bullies or if somebody wakes me up from my sleep. My hobbies are to train and cook. And my dream is to become the next hokage and to be the greatest shinobi in the world!" Peri smiled with determination.
…
"The test is very simple. You have to take these two bells from me that's all." Kakashi explained holding up two small bells.
…
"Those who break the rules are scum that's true. But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. So congratulations to you all. Team Seven, we'll begin our first mission tomorrow!" Takashi declared giving them a thumbs up.
"This Sasuke. I'm a Point B."
"Sakura here, at Point C."
"...Naruto at Point A, believe it!"
"You're slow Naruto. Where's Peri?"
Meow.
"You're such a good kitty Tora! Oh, I got the cat."
"...Alright mission completion."
-Hokage's Office-
"Oh Tora dear I was so worried about you sweetie!" a middle-aged woman squealed. She was wearing fancy robes and covered with makeup squeezing the life out of her cat. "The poor thing." Peri said feeling bad for it
"No wonder he ran away." Sakura added
"Ha! Stupid cat deserves it! Naruto laughed before he was harshly elbowed by the brunette. The hokage was reading another request to the new ninja team, "Alright here's a list of missions for Team Seven. Picking potatoes, babysitting the federal lord's son, going grocery shopping for-"
"NO! Come on I wanna go on a REAL mission!" Naruto complained, crossing his arms.
(He's got a point.) Sasuke and Peri grumbled.
(He's such a twerp!) Sakura hissed.
"HOW DARE YOU?! You're just inexperienced ninjas. Like everybody else, you start at the very bottom!" Iruka yelled.
"Babysitting isn't a mission it's a stupid chore-OW!" Naruto cried holding his head rubbing the bump on his head. Hirzuen sighed, shaking his head triely.
Even as a shinobi Naruto was still Naruto. The hokage looked up from the report and cleared his throat. "Naruto, it seems like you don't understand how the ninja system works. Like Iruka said you are only genin so you will receive D-rank missions. As you climb up the ranks the missions will become more advanced so-" the homage stopped his explanation noticing that none of them were listening to him and talking about ramen instead. "So I'm thinking about tonkatsu ramen since I had miso ramen yesterday what do you guys think?" Naruto asked, sitting on the floor. Peri nodded before remembering something. "I heard there's a limited edition sale at Ichiraku's maybe we all can go." she offered.
"PAY ATTENTION!" the hokage roared with an amine tick mark on his forehead.
"You're always lecturing like your grandfather, but I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a ninja and I want a ninja mission!" the Uzumaki pouted. He actually made himself look even younger than he actually, almost like a little kid.
But he did make a good point. They were ninjas now and none of them would get any stronger with this kid stuff. So Hiruzen decided to grant their wish. "Alright. Since you're not brats anymore I'll give you a C-rank mission. Please send in our visitor." he ordered. The door opened as an elderly middle-aged walked smelling like alcohol with a towel around his neck. Peri just sweatdropped at his appearance in disbelief.
(Really? This is our client?) she thought
"What the? These are my escorts? They're just kids!" the man groaned.
"Please rest assured that my students are more than capable of taking care of you." Kakashi replied. The client rolled his eyes taking a swig of his bottle gazing at the four children. "What's with the little guy with the stupid look on his face? Are you telling me he's really a ninja."
"Hey don't make fun of Peri, she's not little or stupid!" Naruto said
"Naruto. I'm taller than you." the brunette stated. Naruto looked at his teammates confused as they moved closer to compare their heights. Sasuke was the tallest, followed by Peri, Sakura, and finally, the shortest Naruto. When he found out that he was the shortest launched at the man, but Kakashi and Peri held him back. "This is Tazuna, he's a bridge builder from the Land of Waves. Your mission is to take him back to his homeland. Pack your things and you'll leave in one hour." Hirzuen finished. He just hoped that all of them would return safely, especially the young Senju who was like a grandchild to him.
…
(I can't believe I'm leaving the village. I left the village after that time.) Peri said to herself, quickly shaking off the sad thought. This was her first real mission and she should be happy, but the girl couldn't feel nervous. Naruto kept on fighting their sensei to get to Tazuna while Sasuke kept on ignoring the pink-haired girl who was trying to ask him out. "I'm so excited! This is my first time leaving the village!" Naruto cheered
"Am I really supposed to trust this shrimp? He's a joke!"
"Don't talk down to me cause I'm gonna become the hokage, believe it!" the blonde yelled.
"I'll turn into a pig before that happens."
"Why you!."
(Can he not start an argument every five minutes?) Kakashi sighed watching the blonde argue with Tazuna once again. Sakura then asked him if they were any ninja in the Land of Waves and he replied that there wasn't as she let out a sigh of relief. Kakashi told them about the five great nations, their leaders, and the ninja system, but Peri zones him out already knowing about this. The six of them continued their journey through the woods without any trouble until she noticed a small puddle of water on the ground. Curiously she looked around confused before looking back at the puddle.
(That's weird it hasn't rained in weeks.) the brunette thought to herself. She was about to ask her sensei about it, but then a long chain wrapped about Kakashi as two rogue ninjas jumped out of the trees. Tazuna, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Peri gasped in horror as they watched their leader fall to the ground in a lifeless clump. "KAKASHI SENSEI!" Naruto yelled, but froze as the one of them was about to cut his back, the Senju shoved him to the ground dodging the ninja's poisonous metal claw.
"TAKE THIS!" Peri yelled, slamming her fist at his face. The force of her punch was so great she sent the rogue ninja crashing through the trees.
Sasuke grabbed the other rogue ninja's claw and kicked it away from Sakura who was guarding Tazuna. Grabbing his kunai, trying it to the rope and pinned him against the tree. The other enemy stumbled out of the trees and with his metal claw in the air. Takashi came out of nowhere and slammed his elbow against the ninja's neck knocking him unconscious. "Sensei you're alive!" Sakura cheered.
"Why wouldn't I be? Good job Sasuke, Peri, and Sakura! Naruto I'm sorry I couldn't help you, but I didn't think you would freeze up like that." Kakashi apologized before walking over to the defeated rogues. Naruto didn't have the strength to look up at his sensei feeling ashamed that he couldn't do anything. (I'm a total idiot! And Sasuke was so cool, so was Peri! Didn't they feel scared at all?) he thought, biting his lip in frustration. Peri looked at her blonde friend in concern she knew that he was jealous not being able to do something to help. But this wasn't the first time she put her life on the line.
It wasn't the first time she had to fight for her survival. The first time was the night when her parents died and almost her as well. She wanted to say something to comfort him, but didn't know what to do. Then Sasuke walked over to Naruto and it looked like he was going to take her place. "Hey, you're not hurt are you? Scaredy cat." he taunted
Boy was she wrong.
"Naruto! Don't move, those ninjas had poison in their claws. You will only spread the poison if you move." Kakashi instructed.
"Then we should go back and take Naruto to the hospital. This mission is obviously not what we thought and we're only genin." Sakura reasoned. Gritting his teeth the blonde took his kunai and stabbed his own hand. "Why am I always so different? I worked my butt off all these years and it's still not enough. But there's no way I'm giving up. I'll surpass Sasuke and become the hokage so let's keep going!" Naruto declared grinning.
"That's great Naruto, but if you keep moving like that, you're gonna die." Kakashi smiled.
"...NO, NO, NO HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Naruto yelled, panicking.
"Give me your hand." Peri said, examining his hand. She opened up her backpack pulling out a media kit filled with different types of ointments, gauges, painkillers, bandages, antibiotics, and a small pack of senbon. She pulled out a small bottle and smeared a clear colored ointment on his hand. Slowly the poison began to ooze on the surface of his hand. Naruto slightly gagged at the sight, but Peri didn't flinch as she added more of the ointment. "Where did you learn how to do that?" Tazuna asked, impressed.
"My mom used to own a clinic and she let me work there sometimes. Luckily, the poison wasn't too toxic otherwise there would have been nothing I could have done." she explained tying the bandage around his then put her supplies away.
"Well, since Naruto's already let's head over to the port town to discuss what to do now." Kakashi said, leading the group once again. He'll have to talk about this to Tazuna when they get there. It was obvious that somebody was targeting the bridge builder for some reason. The reason nobody was killed was that those ninjas we're the only chunin however, the next time they won't be so lucky. After making sure Tazuna wasn't hurt Peri saw a cut on Sasuke's cheek. It didn't look serious, but it could get infected. Walking over to the Uchiha she handed him an ointment. "Here use this." Peri said
Sasuke just stared at her with a blank look.
"It's for your cut, it can get infected. We're probably going to have to fight again and we don't want you almost dying like Naruto." Peri said, placing the ointment in his hand. Out of jealousy Sakura walked over and pulled away from Sasuke. "Stop flirting with Sasuke, he's mine!" Sakura yelled.
"Why the heck would do that? Until like you I have something called dignity and self-respect for myself." Peri shot back pulling her arm away from the jealous girl.
(Geez she really needs to get a grip.) she scowled I mean come she barely knows that guy for crying out loud! Peri decided not to let the girl not to get to her if Sakura was that childish then she can continue being that way. Looking back at Sasuke she noticed his cut was gone.
That made her smile.
…
They finally made it to the port. Since the Land of Fire is mainly forests and countryside the ports were located at the most southwestern part of the country. Where the land and the ocean met. When they got there one of Tazuna sailed them to the Land of Waves. It was a small boat so they had to cuddle in close so nobody would fall overboard. Sasuke and Peri were sitting together much to Sakura's jealousy. Every time she would move closer to him the raven-haired boy would move closer to Senju. Letting out a sigh the girl sat next to Uzumaki while Kakashi and Tazuna were sitting up front. "Mr. Tazuna, before we make it to shore I need to know exactly what we're dealing with. If you don't I'll have no other choice but to cancel the mission." Kakashi said.
"Well, you have all traveled with me this far. I have no other choice but to tell you. The truth is there's a wealthy man who seeks to end my life, I'm sure you know him, his name is Gato." Tazuna began.
"Gato? From Gato Transport? But he's a businessman." Kakashi protested.
"True, but he's also an illegal drug dealer. A couple years ago he took over our ports and shipping businesses. As an island nation we depend on the sea for business and our way of life." the bridge builder began.
(What a horrible man!) Peri thought she wanted to punch the life out of this Gato now.
"Gato's the most powerful man in the land but the one thing that will break his control is the bridge I'm building. Once my bridge is complete it will connect us to the mainland and finally break his control." Tazuna explained looking at the waves. Everyone, especially looked at the bridge builder with a brand new respect.
"So that's what's going on. You're in this gangster's way." Peri summoned up
"If that's the case why did you lie to Lord Hokage? The ranking should have been a B or A-rank mission." Kakashi asked.
"Because the Land of Waves is a poor nation, not even the feudal lords have much money. A B rank mission is simply too expensive." Tazuna answered.
"What will we do now sensei? This mission is still beyond our abilities." Sakura asked. She still thought it would be best if they went back home.
"Now, now. I certainly won't force you to help me. But if you don't and I did my poor little grandson will be heartbroken. And my sweet daughter will curse the Hidden Leaf for allowing her father to die." Tazuna sighed dramatically.
Naruto was holding back tears.
Peri frowned.
Sakura looked worried.
And Sasuke looked a little concerned.
"I guess we have no choice. We'll just have to keep protecting you." Kakashi decided.
…
The group finally made it to the Land of Waves with extra precaution. They knew that more rogue ninjas.
"Over there!" Naruto yelled, throwing a kunai.
After a few tense minutes, a mouse ran out of the bushes. "It was just a mouse." he said coolly
"Naruto, those are kunai knives! You can't just throw them around carelessly." Kakashi scolded.
"QUIT TRYING TO SCARE ME YOU LITTLE DWARF!" Tazuna roared in anger.
Naruto wasn't listening to anyone still carelessly until he almost hit a small bunny only to miss it by a hair. "Naruto look what you did!" Sakura yelled, hitting his head.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry little bunny!" he cried cradling it trying to comfort the poor thing. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the animal.
Why was a snow rabbit in a warm place? Something was wrong and he could feel it.
"GET DOWN!" he yelled, pushing Tazuna to the ground as his students dived for cover. A gigantic blade flew over their heads and impaled itself into the tree in front of him. "Well, well, well. Kakashi the Copy Ninja huh? No wonder those fools failed to capture the old man." a dark-skinned man said standing on the handle of his blade.
He stood up and immediately recognized who this man was. This mission just turned from bad to worse.
"Zabuza Momochi...never thought I would run into you." the famous copy ninja said
"Enough I don't have any business with you Leaf ninja. Hand over the bridge builder." Zabuza ordered.
Tazuna tensed up and took a step back. Peri, Sasuke, and Naruto quickly stood up running in front of the man. Kakashi let out a quiet sigh of relief, it was a good thing the four of them were fast learners. He couldn't fight Zabuza and protect Tazuna at the same time.
"I'm afraid I can't do that Zabuza." he responded.
Author's Notes
Hi everyone! I hope all of you are having a great day and staying safe. Now Team Seven are getting about to face their first real test as ninjas so stay tuned. I hope you guys have an amazing rest of the day, wear a mask, and stay safe!
Thank you for reading!
