Chapter 19 – C-Rank: Saving Tamaki

Kiba was petting Akamaru and feeding him some pieces of cooked meat. Shino was busy doing nothing while Kurenai and Hinata was talking. They had just finished there D-rank mission to deliver an important scroll to an outpost. It was kind of insulting to be delivering mail but at least they got out of the village. Kiba didn't want to boast but his team was one of the best. Even the Hokage agreed. Either way, he was just going to enjoy his lunch.

"Excuse me." A voice called out. The team looked around but they did not see anyone. "Down here please." The voice said. They all looked down to see a cat. The cat was a light-colored brown with darker markings along his ears, on his cheeks, paws, and tail. It was wearing a simple blue kimono with mesh armor underneath, held closed by a simple white sash. On his forehead, is the kanji for 'shinobi'. They all blinked at the cat and was wondering what was going on.

"Did that cat just talk?" Kiba asked.

"Yes, I did. I saw your forehead protectors and I need your help." The cat said.

"Since you are talking, I am assuming that you are Ninja Cat. How can we help you?" Kurenai asked.

"We have an emergency in the Sky Ward. Someone has heard that we keep weapons of a certain clan under our care. We were threatened by some ninja but we easily dealt with them. They returned however and kidnapped Granny Cat's granddaughter, Tamaki. We are trying to search for them but they have covered their trail. Please, we need the Leaf's help." The cat explained. Kurenai thought very hard about this.

"While I would like to help you, we would have to go back to the Hidden Leaf just to tell the Hokage. This request is at least a C-rank mission and we need our leader's permission." Kurenai explained. The cat looked saddened by that. Kiba was a little annoyed because he was about to miss out on a C-rank mission.

"Man, if I still had my scroll, I could send a message to Naruto and he could tell the Hokage." Kiba growled. Kurenai looked at her charge with confusion. That's when she remembered something and reached into her pouch. It was a small tube that she was given at the gate. It came with a small brush and a compartment that held some ink. She remembered the small meeting that all the jonin, including the ANBU, had to attend.

"Is this the scroll that you are talking about Kiba?" Kurenai asked. The team looked at the scroll and were surprised by it.

"That's Naruto's scroll. Why do you have it sensei?" Shino asked.

"You little friend created something for everyone. From what I understand, messages can be sent and received?" Kurenai asked.

"Oh sensei, it does more than that. I'll tell you what to do. The first thing you do it write the message." Kurenai nodded and took the small brush and wrote out the request. When she was finished, Kiba continued. "Okay, focus your chakra and touch the scroll. The words will vanish and it will go to the other scroll. Then we just wait for a reply which should not take long." Kurenai focused her chakra and touched the paper. The message disappeared and all they had to do was wait. It would only be a few moments when words appeared on the scroll. Kurenai looked at the message.

Team Kurenai,

The request will be fulfilled by you. You are tasked with the retrieval of Tamaki and return her safely. This is a C-rank mission and pay will be negotiated later. Should the mission difficulty increase, inform me quickly and assistance will be sent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi

The Hokage's seal was on the scroll. Her team read it with her and Kiba was excited.

"Oh yeah, we're getting a C-rank mission!" he cheered.

"That's enough Kiba." Kurenai said with seriousness. "While a C-rank is not hard, it is not easy. It is now time for your all to be serious and professional. Am I understood?"

"Hai sensei." They all said.

"Good," She then turned to the cat. "I'm sorry, I did not get your name."

"My name is Denka. Thank you for your help in this matter."

"Everyone, gather up your things. We are heading to the Sky Ward." Kurenai said.

XXX

Training was over for team Kakashi and the jonin had left his genin to do something. As they were leaving the area to do their own thing, something surprising happened. Sasuke, after ignoring Sakura for a date, called out to Naruto. The blond looked a little surprised but went back to his dismissive look he always gave his team.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"What's with the scroll?" Sasuke asked, pointing to the large scroll hanging off his back. Naruto recently began to carry the scroll. It was the scroll he got from Ibiki when he graduated. It was actually his personal scroll that he wrote down all of his ideas for jutsu. He never carried it before but that was because he couldn't afford a strap for it. He saved up enough to buy one so that he could take it with him when he worked out his jutsu and make notes. He was curious as to why Sasuke was so interested in it.

"What's it to you? It's just a scroll." Naruto answered him with a tone.

"Is it where you keep all those jutsu you know?" Sasuke asked demandingly.

"Again, what is it to you?" Naruto asked hard. He didn't like the way Sasuke was eyeing his scroll and decided it was time to get going. He turned to leave the training ground, something that did not please Sasuke. The 'Rookie of the Year' quickly moved to take Naruto's scroll. However, he got the shock of his life when he was blasted by a burst of wind. Not only was he sent flying, his clothes received several cuts. Sakura was instantly at his side. She turned a glared at Naruto.

"What did you do Naruto?!" Sakura demanded loudly.

"Me? That jerk just tried to take my scroll! What the hell is his problem?!" Naruto shouted. Sasuke growled and stood up.

"What was that loser?" Sasuke demanded.

"None of your damn business. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a report to make." Naruto said and did some hand seals. He vanished in a puff of smoke. Sasuke and Sakura was glaring at the spot with rage. Sasuke was not going to let this stand. He was going to get a change of clothes and he was going to find Naruto. He left with Sakura trailing behind him.

XXX

In an outpost near the Sky Ward, four men waited for that old woman to give them what they wanted. Each of them had a forehead protector with the symbol of their village. That village was the former Heat Devil Village. They were survivors of the destruction of the village and swore to get their revenge from the ninja of the Valley country. They had heard the Uchiha clan of the Hidden Leaf Village had weapons stored in the Sky Ward and was watched over by the Granny Cat. They believed with those weapons that they would have their revenge.

At first, they tried to reason with her and pay for the weapons. The old cat woman was stubborn and refused them. They resorted to force and were quickly defeated by her cats. It was a humiliation that they would not stand for. They waited and kidnapped the child. They left a note for the old cat and told her what they wanted. That was three days ago.

"This is taking too long." The kunoichi said.

"Look, I'm nervous too but we need those weapons. Just image it when we have weapons from one of the founding clan of the Hidden Leaf, we would be unstoppable and we will be able to pay back those Valley scum." One of them spat.

"Still, what if that stubborn cat went to get help from the Hidden Leaf?" she asked.

"Don't worry so much." The leader said. "My guess, that old woman is using those stupid cats to try and find us. After they can't find us, they will have to give in to our demands. If they were to go to the Hidden Leaf, it would take two days. Then they would negotiate and that will take time. By then, the old cat will give us what we want and we will be long gone."

"You guys are going to get it when Granny Cat catches you!" a voice shouted. The person who shouted and small little girl. She had shoulder-length brown hair and she wore an orange sleeveless blouse with a dark red shorts, fishnet stockings, and sandals.

"You shut up brat!" Another ninja shouted. He made his way over to her and retied her gag. The girl struggled but she could not get free. Unknown to them, a small bug flew out of the hideout and made its' way several feet to the east. It landed on the finger of Shino. Shino just looked at the bug for a moment before facing his team.

"There are four of them. Each one is covering an area, making approaching silently and unseen difficult." Shino said. Kurenai nodded at him and looked at Hinata.

"What do you see Hinata?" she asked.

"Shino-kun is right. T-There is no easy approach. Strength wise, t-they are only chunin level." Hinata said. Kurenai nodded and brought her team together. They were with several cats who were sent by the Granny Cat sent. The old cat woman was very happy for the help. While Kiba and Akamaru were bothered by the cats around them, they were able to pick up the trail fairly quickly. He led them out of the ward into a neighboring ward. The small outpost that he led them to was nothing grand but Kurenai could see that it could easily be defended if one knew what they were doing.

"Okay, we are not going to be able to sneak in. I could probably use my genjutsu to approach but I do not know if they have a sensor on their side. Are there any suggestions?" Kurenai asked. Everyone was trying to think of a way. After a while, it was Kiba that spoke.

"What if we force them out?" Kiba asked.

"Using force might put Tamaki-chan in danger." A ninja cat said.

"I don't mean a frontal assault cat." Kiba said harshly. "I mean, what if we draw at least two of them out. That cuts down their visibility. If we distract them long enough to get close to the shack and take them by surprise."

"It is a sound plan but we still can be caught if they have a sensor on their team." Kurenai explained.

"Not if my bugs take out the sensor before he can signal his friends. They are small enough to avoid detection." Shino added. Kurenai thought about it and could find nothing wrong with the idea. They began to discuss what their next move will be.

XXX

It was close to noon when one of the men stood up suddenly. Everyone was up and alert.

"What is it?" the leader asked.

"It's a kunoichi and judging from the chakra, she's a jonin." The man said. The leader looked out to see Kurenai walk out with two cats. He saw the symbol and cursed.

"She's a Leaf kunoichi." He stated.

"There's no way! They could have never gotten here fast enough!" the kunoichi exclaimed.

"Calm down!" he hissed. He looked at the others. "You two, stay here and keep the guard on the brat. You're coming out with me. Something tells me that she's not alone." They nodded and went to complete their objective. The man stepped out with his kunoichi subordinate. The two sides looked at each other. "I thought that stupid woman would have been smarter than this."

"My name is Kurenai Yuhi, jonin of the Hidden Leaf. I am here to negotiate the release of the girl you have." She said.

"I don't see any weapons with you. Since you don't have those weapons on you then we have nothing to negotiate about." He said.

"You are being unreasonable. I do not want to have to use force in this situation." Kurenai said.

"Maybe I need to make my point clear! How about I have one of my men cut something off the girl and send it back to the old bat?!" he shouted in frustration.

"That would be a mistake. The second you make any move against the girl, these ninja cats will tear you apart. You don't want a repeat of what happened the first time, do you?" she asked. The leader snarled and was about to do what he said. Kurenai acted quickly and vanished like mist. The two pulled out their weapons to defend themselves.

"Fang over Fang!" the shout came. The kunoichi turned toward the sound and was blasted from two sides. She was sent spinning in the air. She was dazed, confused and hurt. She only caught sight of two spinning drills coming at her at incredible speeds. The second strike took her out of the fight. Kiba and Akamaru, who was transformed like Kiba, came out of their spins. The leader cursed and wondered why his sensor did not detect him. He was doing hand seals when he suddenly could not move. He looked to see that he was now ensnared in a tree. Appearing from the side was Kurenai.

"You should have released the girl." Kurenai said before hitting him with a horrible genjutsu. He screamed before falling down unconscious. Kiba and Akamaru walked up to her.

"Remind me never to make you angry sensei." Kiba said, earning a chuckle from her. They heard two thuds from the shack. The other two men from inside was immobile. Shino and Hinata stood next to each of them. Tamaki was standing behind them. The cats who were with Kurenai quickly went to see if she was okay. The two walked up to Kiba and Kurenai.

"What did you guys do to them?" Kiba asked.

"Once I took out the sensor, Hinata knocked out the other one. Tamaki was not harmed." Shino explained.

"Well team, we are not done yet. We must escort Miss Tamaki home." Kurenai said. The nodded and made their way over to their saved victim.

XXX

"Oh Tamaki, I so happy that you're safe." Granny Cat said as she hugged her grandchild. The separated and the old woman faced the group. "I can't thank you enough for your help. I know that I will have to speak with your Hokage about this. I will thank him personally."

"We can escort you to the Hidden Leaf if you like." Kurenai offered.

"You have done enough for my family. After I situate everything here, I will be arriving. I hope that you will meet us at the gates." Granny Cat said.

"I will inform the Hokage. If you will excuse us." Kurenai said. With a bow, all four shinobi left their home. They were out of the Sky Ward and making their way home. As they walked, Kurenai turned her attention to her team. "Team, I am very proud of all of you. You did your assignments with professionalism and completed your first C-rank with little difficulty. Be proud that you were able to complete that."

"Thank you sensei." They said. The rest of the trip was done in happy silence.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Sorry for the late update. I had family issues that needed my attention. Anyway, this mission I did for team Kurenai was a little similar to the original. One of the reasons that I decided to re-write this story was because of reading the last chapter of Naruto. It just got me curious as to how the two got together. I did go to the wikia page but it only gives out vague explanations. I saw a chance to use this. No one else was doing anything and it was a strange pairing.

Those who also read the last chapter like me, will get that one of the other pairings is going to be Choji & Kauri. However, Shikamaru will not be getting together with Temari and Naruto will not get together with Hinata. I have a plan for that which might surprise you. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.