I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

First Mission

Ryuu flipped as his ANBU master's sword flashed under him before landing and spinning, slashing his trench knife at her, the ANBU blocking it with her own knife before slashing downward at him with her sword. He blocked it with his tanto again before shoving her knife aside and slamming his palm into her gut, a paralysis seal shooting across her body instantly. Her eyes widened behind her mask and he stood, placing the tip of his tanto to her throat. Then, he released her and she nodded, lowering her sword.

"Impressive," she smiled. "You've gotten very good."

"Thank you," he nodded.

"I know you don't like attacking," she said. "But sometimes you don't have a choice."

"I know," Ryuu said. "And I know there are people I would kill to protect. It doesn't make it any easier."

I know it doesn't," she sighed. She stopped for a moment before pulling her mask off.

Ryuu's eyes widened. She had told him the first day that he might never see under her mask, since ANBU were supposed to keep their identities hidden.

"My name is Yugao Uzuki," she said. "It's nice to meet you properly."

He smiled, nodding and sheathed his tanto and trench knife.

"Alright, have you been practicing the jutsus I taught you?" she asked.

He nodded. "Wind Style Air Bullets, Vacuum Blade, Wind Style Gale Palm, and Wind Style Wind Scythe."

"Good," she nodded.

Just then, someone dropped into the clearing behind her and she put her mask back on, turning to him. Ryuu looked and smiled, seeing Iruka.

"Ryuu, you've got a mission," Iruka said.

Ryuu nodded, jogging over to him then turned, waving to Yugao who waved back. Then, Ryuu followed Iruka to the Hokage's office, finding Hinata's team was present. He stepped up beside Hinata and she gave him a quick smile before turning back to the Hokage.

"There you are Ryuu," Hiruzen greeted, smiling. "I've decided to attach you to Team Ten for an escort mission. It shouldn't be a difficult mission, by any means. However, you need to be able to work with a team, and for that you need experience on a team. I believe you all will work well together. In addition to that, I believe I heard that you were interested in learning Genjutsu. Your temporary captain, Kurenai Yuhi happens to be the village's best Genjutsu specialist."

Ryuu glanced at her, the first thing his brain registered were her piercing, blood red eyes that reminded him of Sharingan. He turned back to Hiruzen, bowing. "Thank you for this opportunity, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen chuckled and nodded. "You're welcome. As I said, I don't expect much danger at all on this mission, but perhaps that will give you chance to run team-building exercises."

Kurenai nodded and the Hokage dismissed them. They all walked outside and Kurenai turned to him.

"As Lord Hokage said, I'm Kurenai Yuhi, Team Ten's Jonin captain," Kurenai said, Ryuu taking in her appearance as she spoke.

She was beautiful, even his preteen brain could understand that, with messy raven hair down to her waist, those piercing red eyes, pale skin, white dress looking to be made of wrapped strips of cloth, the top of the dress being cut low and the bottom ending high, a mesh-armor shirt under it, a red shirt with only a right sleeve under that, bandages wrapped around her upper thighs for shorts, and bandages around her hands and forearms.

"I've heard from my team that you're very skilled, but that you were unlucky enough to be left without a team," Kurenai said. "That's actually the reason I suggested you coming along with us for this."

"Thank you," Ryuu said, bowing slightly. "I'll do my best to be useful."

"Oh don't worry about that," Kurenai smiled. "Once we're on the way, I'll teach you what I can about Genjutsu, however, I can't teach you any that use the Sharingan. Kakashi Hatake will have to teach you those."

"Hatake?" Ryuu asked.

"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know," Kurenai said. "Kakashi Hatake was wounded when he was younger and an Uchiha friend of his gave him one of his Sharingan."

"He just gave up one of his eyes?" Ryuu asked.

Kurenai was silent for a moment before answering. "He...he was dying when he gave him his eye. It was during the last Great Ninja War. Obito Uchiha didn't survive that battle. He saved Kakashi's life at the cost of his own."

Ryuu's eyes widened before he nodded. "I see. Thank you for letting me know about Kakashi."

Kurenai nodded and cleared her throat, deciding to get things back on track. "Anyway, everyone go home and pack for several days on the road. It's a three day round trip to the Hidden Waterfall Village."

Ryuu nodded, curious about why they were headed there but deciding to ask later. They all left, heading to their homes and packing. Ryuu, deciding he didn't want to carry a backpack, simply sealed everything he needed into three storage seals in a scroll, then took Yomo out of his cage.

"Ready Yomo?" Ryuu grinned. "We're heading on a mission."

Yomo turned to look at him and opened its beak as if it were yawning before closing it and flying from his hand to his shoulder, staying there. He chuckled, walking to the Main Gate where the others were just arriving.

"Where are your things?" Kurenai asked.

Ryuu held up the scroll, unrolling it to show the seals and Kurenai's eyebrow rose.

"Good idea," Kurenai nodded. "Alright then. Everyone, allow me to introduce the client."

She held her hand out, indicating a man wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt with black down the center, black gloves with a metal splint on the back of each, a grey pauldron on the left side with a leather strap across his torso diagonally, light grey pants, a Hidden Waterfall Village headband, and black sandals.

"This is Shibuki," Kurenai introduced. "The current leader of the Hidden Waterfall Village."

"Hello," Shibuki greeted.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Hinata bowed. "My name is Hinata."

"I'm Kiba," Kiba said, grinning cockily.

"My name is Shino," Shino said.

"Ryuu Uchiha," Ryuu said.

Just as he did, Yomo squawked and shot forward, streaking past Shibuki's head, Shibuki shouting in fear and crouching, hands over his head. After a moment, Yomo returned, holding a chunk of frog in its mouth, judging by its leg.

"This is Yomo," Ryuu introduced, holding a hand up for Yomo to set the dead frog on while it ate. "He won't hurt you. Yomo, you really couldn't find anything cleaner to eat?"

Yomo pecked him on the side of the head and he rolled his eyes.

"You have...a pet crow?" Shibuki asked.

"That's right," Ryuu nodded. "Why?"

"It's...a crow," Shibuki said.

"And?" Ryuu asked.

"Well...nevermind," Shibuki said. "Let's just get going."

Ryuu nodded and they all walked out of the village, Yomo quickly finishing its frog and Ryuu tossing whatever it didn't eat away. As they walked, Kurenai explained how Genjutsu worked to Ryuu, then demonstrated a few basic ones, like hiding something from view, and a few more complex ones, like taking someone's equilibrium. Ryuu began to practice the basic ones, quickly getting the hang of it. After several hours, the sun began to set, so they stopped, setting up camp for the night. Ryuu unsealed his tent from his scroll, setting it up quickly, then beginning to help Kiba, who was struggling horribly with it.

"Thanks," Kiba said when they finished.

"No problem," Ryuu said.

They set up a watch schedule, Ryuu taking first watch while the others settled in for the night. Once the sun began to rise, they packed up their tents, continuing. After roughly half a day, they reached a small pond against a cliff with an enormous waterfall falling into it and trash floating on the surface.

"Alright, this is as far as you're all going," Shibuki said. "I refuse to let anyone know how to get into my village. You can all get lost now. Your mission's over."

"Lord Shibuki!" a voice shouted as several children ran over.

Shibuki turned to them, smiling as they crowded around him, laughing and cheering. Ryuu grinned. Even as a coward, Shibuki was a hero to the children.

"Lord Shibuki, are you gonna help us clean up the trash?" a young girl asked.

Ryuu saw Shibuki freeze before glancing at them and sighed.

"Actually, I happen to have the perfect helpers for you," Shibuki said, turning to them. "Leaf Ninja, you are to stay and help clean up."

"Is that so?" Kurenai asked. "Well, technically, our mission was only to escort you here. I suppose we could, for an extra fee."

"Deal," Shibuki nodded.

"As you wish," Kurenai nodded. "Well Team Ten, let's get to work, shall we?"

The others all nodded and Ryuu walked out onto the water, the others staring at him in shock, Kurenai included.

"You already know how to walk on water?" Kurenai asked.

"My brother taught me to climb a tree early, so my Master taught me this," Ryuu explained, beginning to pick up trash. "I guess it'll be pretty helpful."

Kurenai nodded, joining him on the water. The others stuck to picking up garbage on the shore, the five of them putting the garbage in bags held by the children. As they were nearing the end of their work, a messenger bird flew down, landing on Kurenai's outstretched arm. She took the message, the bird flying away, and her eyes widened.

"There's an emergency Jonin meeting," Kurenai said. "Looks like we're going to have to cut this mission short."

Ryuu looked around, seeing that they were almost finished. "We can finish up on our own, Sensei. There's not much trash left, and all we're doing is cleaning. We can head back once we're finished and meet you at the village."

Kurenai considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Shino, you're in charge while I'm gone."

Shino nodded and Kurenai turned, leaving for the Hidden Leaf. Ryuu returned to his work, the others doing the same a moment later. After about another twenty minutes, they were finished. Ryuu walked off of the water, dropping the last of the garbage into the bag.

"Alright, now go away!" Shibuki snapped. "I'm not revealing my village's secrets to anyone!"

"It's alright, we're not interested in the village's secrets," Shino said. "Have a nice-"

"Lord Shibuki!" a weak voice cried out, terror thick in it.

They all turned, seeing a wounded woman limping toward them, a kunai sticking out of her side.

"Mom!" one of the children shouted.

Ryuu sprinted forward as the woman began to fall, catching her and gently setting her down, inspecting her wound. "She's going to be okay. It's not fatal, as long as you bandage it as soon as you take the knife out."

"Lord Shibuki! The village...it's under attack!" the woman said. "It's...it..."

Her eyes fluttered closed and Ryuu pulled an ace bandage and gauze out of his tool pouch, drawing his knife and cutting her shirt off about halfway down her abdomen so he could bandage her wound. Then, he pulled the knife out, pressing the bandage to the wound and wrapping the gauze around her quickly, tying it off.

"Done," Ryuu said, standing. "Okay, Shibuki, what do you want to do?"

"I-I...u-uh..." Shibuki stammered.

"We'll help," Shino said. "Why? Because it's the right thing to do."

Ryuu nodded, turning to Hinata. "Can you get the children and her somewhere safe?"

Hinata nodded, carefully lifting the woman onto her back and turning, running back toward the Hidden Leaf Village. Ryuu turned back to Shibuki.

"Okay, let's head into the village," Ryuu said.

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