Chapter 20 – C-rank mission: Protect the Tycoon

Team Asuma stood in front of the Hokage. The old kage looked at the team with a critical eye.

"You believe that they are ready for a higher mission?" Hiruzen asked.

"I know that they have issues but they are a well put together team. I know that they will do their best on a C-rank." Asuma answered.

"Very well. Actually, I do have a mission that will use at least one of your genin skills. Do you know the name Fujita?" Hiruzen asked.

"He's a business mogul. Made his name by finding natural hot springs and building around them. He owns several hot springs around the countries and has made a lot of money. The hot springs that he owes are the best." Asuma said.

"Recently, he sent a request. Apparently someone has been trying to kill him. He has nearly been killed several times, the attempts to look like accidents. Your mission is two-fold. You are to protect Fujita. The second part is to investigate these accidents. Since you have Miss Yamanaka, she can scan those around him. However, she must be very discrete about it. Do you accept this mission?" Hiruzen asked.

"Yes sir, we accept this mission." Asuma said before turning to his team. "Alright guys, gear up for a long mission. We'll meet up at the gate in one hour." They nodded and quickly left the Hokage's office.

XXX

The team was geared up and waiting for Asuma to arrive. Ino was giddy due to the fact that she would be the important part of the mission. It was something that annoyed Shikamaru and he hoped that she would listen to the Hokage and be discrete. Asuma arrived and he started to usher his team out. Just as they were leaving, team Kurenai was coming in.

"Hey, I didn't think a delivery mission would have kept you away for so long." Asuma commented.

"Sorry, we took a C-rank mission out in the field. I need to report it to the Hokage." Kurenai answered.

"Wait a minute, how did you guys get a C-rank out in the field?" Ino asked demandingly.

"It might have to do with Naruto. I'm surprised that he was able to keep quiet about that." Shikamaru said. Ino looked at him for answers but he ignored her.

"Anyway, we have to get going. I'll see you when we get back?" Asuma asked. Kurenai just smiled and ushered her team into the village. Ino was still asking about what Shikamaru said but she was still ignored. Asuma just sighed and accepted a scroll from an amused Kotetsu. They team moved out to do their mission.

XXX

Naruto looked at the three cups with a critical eye. Across from him, Ibiki looked at the young blond with a serious face. After a while, Naruto picked the cup to the right. Ibiki raised the cup and under it was a small metal ball. Ibiki was amused and looked at the blond.

"Five out of five, you're improving." Ibiki said.

"Well, it's as you told me. It's all about focus." Naruto said with a grin. Naruto would meet with the interrogator two days out of the week. The point behind the training was to improve Naruto's mind and get him to think before he leap. Ibiki also gave Naruto pointers on how to read people and the situation. Naruto was still the type to think on the fly but he was slowly becoming better at surveying things.

"So kid, why are you skipping out on your team? Something going on?" Ibiki asked.

"Tch, I'm not on a team. I don't know why but I think that I'm begin punished." Naruto answered. Ibiki looked at him and Naruto continued to talk. "You know that two days ago, that prick Sasuke tried to take my scroll? I'm lucky that I've protected all of my stuff with seals. Oh, here's the kicker. I go to my 'sensei' and complain about the attempted thief. You know what happens? Nothing, he does nothing. He doesn't punish Sasuke. Instead, he tries to get me to drop it. Really? I tell you that someone tries to steal something and you're telling me to drop it? What kind of jonin is this guy?"

"That's pretty harsh Naruto." The two turned to see Kakashi. He didn't have his book out this time. "I only told you to let it go because it was a lapse of judgement. I spoke to Sasuke and I did warn him about his actions. He will not bother you or attempt to take your scroll again."

"Is that all you did Kakashi? If I was running the team, Sasuke would have been suspended for his actions. Just because the boy has a superiority complex does not give him the right to take his stuff. A stern talking to will not stop Sasuke from trying again, especially since he's been spying on Naruto's extra training." Ibiki said.

"I will deal with my team Ibiki, thanks." Kakashi said.

"If you were dealing with your team, Hatake, they wouldn't be the worst among the rookies. That is a fact that you cannot dispute." Ibiki stated. Kakashi didn't really like the way Ibiki was talking to him but he did not comment about it. He just turned his attention to Naruto.

"It's time to go Naruto. We have a mission that we have to get to." Kakashi ordered. Naruto sighed and gathered his stuff. He turned toward Ibiki.

"Same time?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah kid, I'll have a new exercise for you." Ibiki answered.

"Alright then, I'll see you around Ibiki sensei." With that Naruto walked away with the silver haired jonin. As they walked away to meet the rest of the team, Kakashi gave Ibiki a look. Ibiki saw it but he didn't even flinch at the man. They walked away and was gone. Ibiki was a little worried about the blond. He hated to admit it but he grew on him. He had a sharp mind and he was glad to work with it. It was also a little bit of an ego trip that he got to teach the son of the Fourth.

Still, he was concerned about Naruto due to all the issues that were surrounding his team. The fact that Kakashi did nothing to stem the problems was something that was upsetting. He respected him for his skills but it was slowly starting to go away. He was a veteran of the Third Shinobi War, he should know better. He would take this up with the Hokage but he felt that it really wasn't his business. He just hoped that Naruto could handle it for a little while. He was pretty sure Kakashi was going to keep screwing up and Naruto would do something about it.

Meanwhile, Kakashi was thinking about a way to solve this problem. He truly did not think that Naruto would be this angry. When Naruto came to him, he only saw it as a little misunderstanding and told him to drop it. After Naruto stormed off in a huff, he did speak to Sasuke and did tell him to leave Naruto alone. Sasuke was not too happy about it but reluctantly agreed. He thought that things would go back to normal but that wasn't the case due to the fact that Naruto sent his clone to deal with the team. It also did not help that he would speak with Iruka or Ibiki and not him.

Kakashi was really starting to worry. He promised both the Hokage and Tsume that he would be the perfect sensei. However, his team was not going the way that he thought. His team was among the lowest of the five rookies, which really bugged him. He needed to get this team together and fast. Perhaps it was time to get a C-rank mission.

XXX

Team Asuma was at work, checking out the latest accident that was plaguing their client. It took a day and a half to arrive at Fujita's business. The man was very friendly but a little paranoid due to all these accidents. He introduced the team to his assistant, Hironobu. He was a quiet man who was also very friendly. For two days, the team protected their client and also investigated the accidents. However, things were not going as planned.

Ino did not really take to heart the fact that she had to be discrete. She went up to some of Fujita's workers and immediately scanned their minds. She was at least caught three times and she started to annoyed several people. Hironobu was also very annoyed and demanded her to stop. Asuma quickly apologized for his genin actions. Due to that, they had to investigate these accidents the old fashion way.

Choji decided to cook for Fujita and some of the workers. He was a big hit and was able to get some information for some of his workers. When Fujita was nearly killed in a construction accident. Shikamaru was looking at everything at that moment. He saw some things that confused him. After he got all the information, he decided that a team meeting was in order. They waited until it was night time to talk. Shikamaru secured Fujita with a barrier and set up similar barriers that would alert them. Now alone, the team decided to talk.

"Okay team, what have you found out?" Asuma asked.

"Well, I didn't find anything out because you benched me." Ino said with annoyance.

"Perhaps when we get back we can work on you stealth skills. Besides, you managed to get something when you helped me protect Fujita." Asuma countered.

"I didn't learn anything. All I know is that he is frazzled about everything. The only thing I could gather is that he was worried that he might have offended some of his competition." Ino said unimpressed.

"That is something that I got to. Some of the workers think that the main guy is someone named Yugo. The two use to be partners until Yugo began to make some decisions about the business. Fujita cut ties with Yugo and took all of the business. Some of the workers say that Yugo was pissed about it and still is until this day." Choji explained.

"So are we thinking about assassination for hire?" Asuma asked.

"It would be the best bet. That accident was done by a jutsu. There were marks on the metal that would have split apart with all the construction going on. The metal was just too cleanly cut for a blade. However, I think that something up with these accidents." Shikamaru said.

"What do you mean?" asked Ino.

"The accidents seem amateurish. Whoever this assassin is, he doesn't what to kill him or hurt him. This guy is going out of his way to make sure that Fujita isn't caught in the accident. So that only means to things. Either this person is not so skilled," Shikamaru said.

"Or they're being forced. He doesn't want Fujita hurt but they have no choice. However, they are going to have to do something soon. By now, the employer is getting restless and he might go through with their threat. We need to figure this out and fast. We should talk to Fujita in the morning. He might have some answers." Asuma stated. Everyone nodded and began to get ready to do their jobs.

XXX

Fujita looked at the team with surprise. Hironobu was also surprised but Shikamaru noticed that his expression was not like Fujita's.

"So you think that it is someone who is being forced to kill me?" Fujita asked.

"From everything that we have investigated, that is the conclusion that we have come to. We would like to know if you hire people with loved ones." Asuma asked.

"There are men with families that I employ. I'm close to some of them and their families. Hironobu can get you the names of these men?"

"I can. I'll get them right away." Hironobu said. Shikamaru continued to keep his eyes on Hironobu. It was a stupid thing that Naruto did to him, Choji and Kiba from time to time. Hanging out with that Ibiki guy, Naruto kind of became a human lie detector. The blond could tell if they did something even though he wasn't with them. Naruto would boast that he learned a simple way to figure out if someone was lie. It was observation. Naruto just looked at things around him and he could usually know what they did or not.

It was stupid to Shikamaru but he was now starting to see that it may have some merit. Hironobu was nervous. The small twitch he caught meant that he knew something. Shikamaru also, discretely, noticed his hands. They were rough and had cracks. It could be from construction work but from his size and the presence that he had, he was more than just a construction worker. He also seem to care a great deal for his employer. Shikamaru deduced that he had found his assassin. The only question is why. It looked like they would need Naruto's scroll after all.

XXX

Kiba and Akamaru growled at the cat that the daimyo's wife was currently squeezing the life out of. While he could understand Tora's plight, the little fur ball was just too violent. He had the scratches to prove it. Anyway, he turned his attention back to the Hokage.

"A nice job well done. Do you wish for another mission or are you done for the day?" Hiruzen asked.

"I believe that we are done for the day sir." Kurenai said. The old man nodded and returned to his paperwork. Kurenai was leading her team out when someone entered the office. It was the Granny Cat and Tamaki was with her.

"Ah, if it isn't my granddaughter's saviors. I was hoping I would run into you." The old woman said.

"Oh?" Kurenai said. Granny cat took three scrolls out of her robes and handed them each one.

"That is a thank you for everything that you have done. You didn't have to help but you did anyway. You have my eternal gratitude and this is a way of showing it." She said.

"Wow, that's neat. Are they jutsu or something?" Kiba asked.

"I think that they will help you. I picked what I thought would further your strength after I got a look at you. I hope that you accept them well." The team bowed and thanked her before walking away. Kurenai decided to let them open their gifts at home and they would do a reveal tomorrow during training. They agreed and went their separate ways. Kiba and Akamaru sped home to open their scroll. They went to his room and opened the scroll. It was a jutsu like he thought.

"Lightning Attack, this looks real interesting boy." Kiba said with a smirk.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

I'm just coming out with these chapters faster and faster. Anyway, this chapter is going to be split in two halves. The other half is going to end quickly and I'll start, the Wave Mission.

Anyway, please enjoy the new chapter.