Note: I have no ownership to Naruto

Part 9 – 05/29/06

Missions!

A Kitsune's Adventure

"Okay Team, are you ready for your next mission?" asked Kakashi as he pooffed onto the bridge railing. Currently team seven had been working together for two weeks, and there had already been a large number of changes in the genin's performance and attitudes.

Sasuke was a bit more eager to start training in the morning and he did not frown in disapproval quite a much as before. Hinata had stopped staring at the ground as her confidence grew; and she stuttered a lot less then previous. Each morning she bought a bento lunch to share with the team, which increased the teamwork and their working relationship. Kakashi even started to come earlier to watch his genin team train with Kui. He would occasionally add additional comments to improve their performance and to increase their shinobi knowledge and to fine-tune their jutsu capabilities.

"Depends!" shouted Naruto as he pumped his fist into the air; as Kakashi formed sweat drops and Sasuke smirked and Hinata generated a small smile. Kui and Yuki were posted on either side of Naruto as he smiled up at his sensei.

"Why?" questioned Kakashi as he walked closer to his team and put away his Come Come Violence book into his back pocket pouch. "Why, because if it is another D rank mission and if it is fetching that blasted cat" hissed Naruto with Yuki growling in distaste of that particular neko. "Then I can not be held responsible for the full safety of that specific cat" hissed Naruto again. "Who know it might have run into a nasty trap out in those dark and dangerous woods" smirked Naruto in thought of various traps that he could quickly rig together for that individual neko. You could also see Sasuke thoughtful smirking look, which could only be generated with the thought of future bloodshed. Hinata shrugged and mumbled something about "boys and dumb cats" as she lend back against the bridge railings. Yuki lay down at Naruto's feet and was daydreaming about the taste of neko ala ramen. Kui was being patience thus waiting for the mission details.

Kakashi had walked up to and stopped by Hinata and thought 'oh well that would be the third time we've caught him this week'. He then confirmed out loud, "then we are off to the mission room to see if we can have a difference mission. Although it will not look good on the team since we have not completed the current assigned mission. Oh well, maybe the Sandaime still has the potato digging mission or maybe a babysitting the council elders great grandchildren mission. Those were some of the available D rank missions that were still open this morning."

"But we want a C ranked mission" wined Naruto. "Right guys!" as Naruto looked at his two-genin team members for support. "A higher ranked mission would be nice," stated Sasuke with a smirk in hope for a mission to truly test his growing abilities. "Ano if we catch the neko, do you think that hokage-sama will grant us a higher ranked mission. We have completed fifteen D ranked missions as a team and Sasuke-san and I have completed ten D ranked missions before Naruto joined the team" quieted reasoned Hinata to their jonin sensei.

"Well if we complete the assigned mission first then we can ask the Sandaime for a C ranked mission, but first the current mission of catching Tora the missing neko.

"Here you go," stated Yuki as she released Tora the missing neko at Kakashi's feet. "One missing neko found and caught. Let's go see about that mission," stated Kui calmly as she started heading for the mission room.

The group looked dumb founded at Kui who continued to walk away from the bridge. "How, When, Where," stuttered out Naruto, as he looked in amazement towards Kui. Kui stopped and looked back at the group. "When: Why simple while you all were talking and planning about how to get a C ranked mission. Where: Why just off the bridge. I saw the neko attempting to sneak under the bridge and into the woods. How: Why simple by pouncing on it in a surprise attack. Thus the current D rank mission is complete and we can go and see about a C ranked mission.

"Yeah!" screamed Naruto and Yuki. "Let's go!" as they started to follow after Kui. Sasuke smirked and thought 'finally a decent mission' he then started for the mission room. "Well the neko was found, eh Kakashi-sensei" remarked Hinata as she left to follow her genin teammates. "Yes, the neko was found" replied Kakashi as he leaned down to pick up the neko that Kui had placed at his feet. "I guess we will see about a C ranked mission now" stated Kakashi to the wind, as the bridge was empty of his genin team.

"Hey old man – We want a C ranked mission" yelled Naruto the moment that he walked into the mission room. Kui, Yuki, and Sasuke with Hinata following a few steps behind quickly followed Naruto into the mission room.

"What happen with your current mission Team Seven?" questioned the Sandaime to the genin team. "And where is the said mission and your team sensei," remarked Iruka as he sat next to the hokage. "Yo! Someone missing a cat," remarked Kakashi as he strolled into the mission room; in his arms was the said missing neko, who was struggling to get loose to avoid its fate.

"See there's the mission objective; can we now have a C ranked mission," replied Naruto to the hokage with repressed hope of a better mission. "Well, I do not know!" slowly spoke the Sandaime to the genin team to draw out the suspense.

"Please hokage-sama. We have completed a number of D ranked missions successfully. We would like to respectfully request a C ranked mission," Hinata asked with respect and patience, waiting for the hokage's response. Sasuke nodded an agreement to the request and hoped to receive the requested mission. Behind the genin team, you could see Kakashi give a little nod to the Sandaime as the hokage had raised an eyebrow in question to Kakashi.

"Well then since you asked so nicely; how could I refuse," commented the hokage as he blew a column of smoke from his pipe.

"Yahoo!" yelled and barked Naruto and Yuki in excitement. Hinata was giving the two a small smile at their antics. Sasuke was smirking up a storm at the thought of testing his capabilities. Kui and Kakashi were standing back watching Naruto and Yuki's impromptu dance. Iruka was shaking his head in amusement, while the Sandaime smiled and smoked his pipe.

"So what is the mission?" Naruto suddenly asked as he stopped jumping around to stare at the hokage.

"Well there is that one or maybe this one," replied the Sandaime as he shuffled around some papers that were on the table in front of him.

"Old man" wined Naruto with a pout, while Yuki gave the hokage his sad foxy frown.

"Alright already, stop with the crying or you'll flood the mission room. How does a diplomat mission to hidden sand sound to you," the hokage replied as he handed over the mission scroll to Kakashi.

"This mission is a C to a B ranked mission, so I hope you're happy. Your mission is to go to Hidden Sand for a week and training with one of their genin teams and to also complete some of their genin missions while you are in Hidden Sand. We do this every year to build better relationships between hidden shinobi villages.

"Oh yeah!" hollowed Naruto then continued back to his previous jumping and dancing. "We're going to Sand! We're going to Sand! Hey, I can visit with Gaara again. I have not seen him in two years with all the traveling with ero-sennin," remarked Naruto as he came to a halt. "I'll need to bring him his gifts from all my traveling. Oh and something from Hidden Leaf also; hmm maybe that t-shirt I saw last week that said, "My friend when to Hidden Leaf and all they got me was this t-shirt" 'he he' Naruto laughed in thought of what Gaara's reaction would be to the gifts.

Sasuke was smirking at Naruto's reaction and trying to contain his excitement at going to another hidden village. Hinata was lost in thought as she was planning what to pack for the trip. Kakashi was seen reading his little orange book and trying to hide his blush. Kui was getting an update from Yuki about Hidden Sand and any other information pertaining to Naruto and his previous visits to Sand.

The hokage then coughed to get everyone's attention. "Now that everyone is with us, you will leave for Hidden Sand tomorrow; it will take you three days to get there. You will meet with the Kazekage of Hidden Sand to get your genin team assignment with them. You will train and complete genin missions with them for a week then return back to Konoha. So you will be gone for around two weeks, so go home and pack for whatever you need," stated the hokage as the group listened to the mission details.

"Okay team, we will meet at 8 am at the North gate" remarked Kakashi as he then strolled out of the mission room. Sasuke and Hinata followed quietly after Kakashi while Kui rounded up and herd out Yuki and Naruto.

Naruto could be heard as he walked out of the mission room wondering out loud; "how much instant ramen he should take on the trip" as Yuki yipped "plus my ramen too".

To be continued

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