Chapter 4: The Mission
Kakashi watched his team at a safe distance. Their mission was simple. Catch Tora. Tora had a ribbon on the left ear making it easier for his team to find and capture the target.
"Whats the distance on the target?" he whispered in his ear piece.
"Five meters. I'm ready anytime!" Naruto said pumped up. He had lowered his voice to not scare off the target again.
"So am I," Sasuke said from his position.
"Me too." Sakura said ready to show off her skills.
"Hai." She could see the target. Sitting there peacefully, basking in the sun while licking her paw.
"Okay then…go!" Kakashi shouted. It was time for the attack.
The four teens shot out of their positions and launched at their targets. Naruto was the first to get there and capture. Tora was blocked in. And being a terrified cat that she was she attacked.
"AGH! GOTCHA!" Naruto yelled as the feline started to scratch up his face. "Hey! Ouch! Quit it you mangy…" Naruto was shouting at the cat.
The poor dear was shaking in fear and did what most scared animals would do. She didn't know if he was going to hurt her or not.
Kira slowly detached the cat from Naruto's face and clipped a leash around her neck. She was struggling to be let go, her heart pounding in her tiny chest.
"Ribbon on the left ear…are you sure this is the target, Tora?" Naruto questioned, small trickles of blood fell down his face.
"Yeah, we're sure." Sasuke answered looking over at Kira who was petting the cat softy.
"HOW CAN YOU BE NICE TO THAT THING! LOOK WHAT IT DID TO MY FACE!" Naruto shouted. His best friend was supposed to hate that thing for hurting him. "He's scared. Look he's calming down. I'm sure he wouldn't do it again." She explained picking him up this time.
Tora started to purr knowing that she wasn't going to hurt him. Sasuke couldn't help that his heart started to beat extra fast. She really did love animals. Slow to gain their trust. Patient and sweet. She was perfect. They were perfect for each other. He could see them having a future together. All their kids running around playing. Him sitting back watching them play, Kira taking care of the new baby and the two year old that was a momma's boy. They'd have a perfect life together.
Naruto stepped up and slowly pet the cat. He seemed to enjoy that. Sasuke glared. He was stepping in on where he shouldn't again. Stupid Naruto. Getting in his way again. And she was looking at him like that. Sasuke saw read. His woman was looking at Naruto the way Naruto looked at Sakura! She couldn't possibly have a crush on that idiot! He wasn't right for her!
Kakashi coughed gaining everyone's attention. "Good, Lost Pet 'Tora' Search mission Complete!" Kakashi said walking away. It didn't take long before Kira was joined at his hip and the two were in the lead.
Hokage Tower:
"OOH, MY CUTE LITTLE TORA-CHAN. I WAS SO WORRIED!" A beastly looking woman cried. She was dressed up in what appeared to be her fanciest clothes, squishing the poor orange in her bear like arms.
No wonder the cat ran away… was what the whole team thought as they watched the cat try to escape the 'energetic' woman.
"Now…" Konoha's Hokage said when the ballistic woman paid her bill. "Kakashi team seven, your next duty is, hmm, babysitting an elder's grandson, shopping in the neighboring village, and help with the potato digging."
"NO! NO! NO! NO! I want to do, you know, more incredible missions. Find us a better one, old man!"
"Naruto…" Iruka started. You could see the vein starting to pop out of his head in irritation.
"I agree…" Sasuke and Kira stated at the same time. Sakura was glaring at Naruto. She quickly looked up shocked that Sasuke agreed with Naruto. Sasuke smirked to himself. Kira was on the same picture as him.
"YOU IDIOT! YOU ARE JUST A ROOKIE! EVERYONE STARTS OFF WITH THE SIMPLE DUTIES AND WORKS THEIR WAY UP!" Iruka shouted. He couldn't believe this. Everyone did simple jobs. They can't just up and get a big one without doing the little ones!
"But! But! We keep on getting the crappiest possible duties on earth!" Naruto shouted. His hands were thrown up and thrown back down to make his point.
"Be quiet you!" Sakura shouted as she bashed Naruto hard on the head. Kira could only growl. Kakashi, Iruka, and the Hokage were watching them. She couldn't kick her ass in here.
"Naruto, it seems I have to explain to you what these duties are all about." The Hokage started. "Listen, every day, the village receives numerous requests, from babysitting to assassination. Each request is written down on these lists and divided into an A, B, C, and D ranking based on difficulty. The village is also divided based on skill. Starting with me to the Jounin, Chuunin, and Genins. We then hand out the missions at the top to ninjas based on their abilities and if the duty is completed successfully, we receive payment from the client. You guys just recently became Genin. D-ranked missions are perfect for you." The Hokage finished.
"…last night I had pork ramen, so miso sounds good for tonight, what do you think?" Naruto asked Kira. She was half listening. Giving her input about how he should have something besides Ramen for once. "HEY LISTEN!" Iruka yelled at Naruto. "I apologize, Hokage-sama…" Kakashi said softly. He knew his team was getting antsy. They wouldn't be able to do this for much longer.
"Geez! All you do is give lectures like that. But you know what? I'm not that trouble-making brat you still think I am."
The Hokage sighed. "Okay."
"Huh?" Naruto couldn't believe that actually worked.
"If you want it that much…I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's a protection mission of a certain individual. Are you up for it?" The Hokage asked.
"Yeah!" Naruto shouted.
"Hn." That's a yes from Sasuke.
"Alright!" Kira and Naruto high fived each other. She couldn't wait to do something different.
"S-Sure." Sakura stuttered. She didn't want a higher ranked mission. She was fine with the D-ranked stuff. But if Sasuke could do it then so could she.
"Are you ready to meet him?" The Hokage asked. The children didn't get a chance to answer. A drunken old man, clutching a sake bottle in his hand slammed the door open. He made his way through the door while holding the wall for support. He reeked of alcohol, the stench made Kira scrunch up her nose in disgust.
"What's this? They're all a bunch of super brats. Especially…" he looked them all over before landing on Naruto. "…the blond with the super stupid looking face. Are you guys really ninjas?" he asked like he didn't believe they were really capable of protecting anything.
"HEY!" Kira shouted insulted for Naruto.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?! I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto shouted. How dare he! He didn't know what he was capable of and some guy who didn't even know Naruto just decides to insult him for no reason!
"Whats the point of killing the person we're supposed to protect, Naruto?" Kakashi said with an eye roll. He smacked the back of Kira's head to get her to quit growling. Kira let out a small yelp, rubbing her head while grumbling about how stupid this guy was being.
"What's your problem?" he snapped looking her over. "I'm supposed to rely on you for protection? What are you going to do? Growl at my attackers if there is one?"
"Outside." Kakashi commanded.
"But…"
"Out." Kira grumbled walking outside. Kakashi looked at the rest of his team. "You three outside too." They slowly walked outside leaving Kakashi alone with the Hokage, Iruka, and the client.
"I would refrain from insulting my team. They are plenty capable of protecting you."
The client snorted not believing Kakashi. "Meet us by the entrance of the village in twenty minutes. We'll be ready to go by then." Kakashi spoke before leaving.
Kakashi smile at his team, walking home to go grab a few things with Kira.
Twenty minutes passed and everyone was ready to go. The Client was there waiting patiently. When everyone was there he spoke up. "I am the expert bridge builder Tazuna. I expect you to provide me protection until I get back to my country and complete the bridge."
The team nodded understanding the job.
Naruto was hopping in excitement. "LET'S GO!" he shouted bouncing, no longer able to contain his energy.
"What are you so excited about?" Tazuna asked. He still couldn't believe these kids were going to protect him.
"Cause! I've never left the village before." Naruto exclaimed. Kira could only giggle at his excitement. When he smiled at her a light blush coated her cheeks. He really was dreamy. Naruto didn't notice though. He never did.
"Hey, am I really going to be safe with this brat?" Tazuna asked Kakashi under his breath.
"Hehe, well I am a Jounin, don't worry." Kakashi responded. "Hey old man! Don't mess with ninja's!
Naruto shouted.
"I'm incredible!" Tazuna shouted back. "One day, I will take on the super elite ninja title Hokage! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! Rememebr it!" Naruto glared at the older male. He still seemed to be drunk but stable enough to walk on his own now.
"Hokage's the village's number one ninja right? I doubt someone like you could become it…"
"Shut up! I'm prepared to do anything to become Hokage! Once I become Hokage, you will acknowledge me!" Naruto shouted. This man was going to pay!
"No I won't, you brat. Even if you did become Hokage."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto started to lunge for him again.
"Stop it, Naruto…" Sakura said annoyed. "This is really not the time for you to use your lungs to its full extent.
"Oh, okay Sakura-chan." Naruto said listening to Sakura. Kira sighed, he'd so anything for Sakura to like him back.
"What's your problem. Telling him he won't be Hokage. For all you know he would be. He's has the right amount of potential to be Hokage." Kira defended. What point was it to mess with Naruto's dream? He was ambitious, caring, and willing to make a difference to protect his people. Why didn't anyone else see that?
"I just don't see it." Tazuna said shrugging his fat shoulders.
"Maybe if you stopped drinking as much as you do you'd be able to see clearly, drunky." Kira walked away from the fat older man who was spouting insults. See how he liked it being insulted. Naruto smiled at Kira. The one she loved to see.
She wished he would like her instead of Sakura but she knew it would never happen. He only had eyes for Sakura.
For a while no one spoke, all you could hear was the marching on the dirt road, the wind whistling through the tree's a few snaps of twigs from the animals, and the birds chirping in the distance. The warm sun felt nice. No one felt too hot or too cold. It was just right.
"Umm…Tazuna-san?" Sakura asked suddenly.
"What?"
"You're from the Wave country, right?" Sakura asked.
"What about it?"
"Um, Kakashi-sensei? Do they have ninja's in that country too?"
"No, not in the Wave country. But in most other countries the culture and customs may be different, but hidden villages exist, and so do ninjas." Kakashi explained. "To many countries of the continent, the existence of a Shinobi Village means military power. That is how they hold and maintain advantages over each other. But it's not that the villages rule the countries, they merely stand equally with the country's government. A small Island country like the Wave country doesn't receive much interference from the larger countries and may not need a Shinobi Village. Within the many Shinobi Villages , Leaf, Mist, Cloud, Sand, and Stone are large and powerful and thus referred to as 'The Great Five Shinobi Countries'. And, these are the only countries whose leader receives the name 'Kage'."
Kakashi paused to catch his breath. "The 'Five Kage's' Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage, they reign over the thousands of ninja's in the world."
"Wow! Hokage-sama is the best!" Sakura cheered.
"You guys just doubted Hokage-sama didn't you?" Naruto, Kira, Sakura, and Sasuke all flinched as if being caught.
"But don't worry. There won't be any ninja combat in a C-Rank mission."
"Then we won't come in contact with foreign ninjas?"
"If course not! Hahahahaha." Kakashi patted Sakura's head to calm her worries.
Everyone was back to their thoughts when they came across a puddle. Many of the group ignored it but two. Kakashi kept walking while Kira paused a moment. Looking around before glancing at the puddle again. Something was going to happen. She just knew it. The hesitation only lasted a moment.
Walking over the puddle she rejoined the group. Kakashi smirked down at her. 'At least someone is aware of their surroundings' Quickly slipping away he replaced himself with a log he found.
A head appeared out of the puddle. The first man quite literally threw another man out of the small puddle. Both throwing chains around Kakashi they both pulled hard. Kira's eyes widen. Fear bubbled inside her. That was her big brother.
"WHAT?!" everyone shouted. A cry escaped Kira as Kakashi's body was torn apart into bloody pieces. "Kakashi!" She called out. Her chest aching. They murdered her brother. They were going to pay.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura cried as she quickly ran in front of Tazuna.
"Two down." Someone whispered from behind Naruto's ear. "What?!" Sasuke acted quickly and deflected the chain attack from the man about to attack Naruto.
"Mizu Peretto." Bullets of water seemed to attack one of the brothers, he did his best to deflect them but not all. The second brother changed courses. Sasuke seeing they were going to hurt his love got went into action.
Kicking the one brother out of the way saved a nasty cut to her face.
"Thanks!" She called out tossing her kunai at the one brother when he was momentarily distracted. Sasuke nodded.
Sakura watched nervously. These guys were really tough. They just wouldn't stop coming back up. Sasuke and Kira were stuck battling one and Naruto was having trouble with the one directly in front of them.
Suddenly the man Sasuke and Kira were fighting changed directions. Heading straight for Sakura, Naruto, and Tazuna. Sasuke quickened his step pushing himself in front of Sakura so she wouldn't get the blunt of the attack.
Just when Sakura thought they were done for Kakashi appeared, stopping both brothers completely. Kira fell to her knees. He was okay. He was alive.
"Good job, everyone." Kakashi said very pleased with the fight.
"Kakashi!"
"Nini!" Sakura screamed. "Weren't you there a minute ago?!" Sakura asked as she pointed at the pile of flesh created by the Kakashi replacement. It suddenly poofed away, leaving a large chunk of tree standing on the road.
Kakashi quickly tied the two men up and stood. "Tazuna-san, I need to speak with you." Kakashi didn't get far. He enveloped in a hug. "I'm glad you're okay." He chuckled softly. "Come on now, you didn't expect me to die off that quickly." She let him go nodding knowing he was right.
"Go rest with the others." She nodded before running over to Naruto to see how he was. He had two cuts on his hand but nothing else.
"What is it?" Tazuna asked looking at Kakashi.
"These look like Hidden Mist Chuunins…These Shinobis are known to continue fighting no matter what." Kakashi stated.
"How did you read our movements?" One of the brothers asked, his voice raspy as he gasped for breath.
"How couldn't we read your movements?!" Kira snapped glaring at the two. She was still mad that they targeted her brother first.
"On a sunny day like this when it hasn't rained in days…there's not going to be a puddle." It was obvious what Kakashi had said. He was always aware of his surroundings. These two were just stupid enough to think a small puddle would work on a sunny day.
"If you knew that, what did you let the brats fight?!" Tazuna demanded Kakashi.
"If I had wanted to, I could have killed these two instantly, but there was something I needed to find out. Who were these two ninja's after?"
"What do you mean?" Tazuna asked, started. Had they found out about him after all?
"Meaning…were they after you? Or one of us?" Kakashi replied, tearing his eyes off the demon brothers to look at Tazuna. The four Genin's were watching the two adults in silence.
Sasuke being closest to Kira 'accidently' moved his hand on top of hers and she didn't move it! Sasuke called that a success.
"We haven't heard that there are shinobis after you. Our mission was to simply protect you from thieves or gangs." Kakashi reminded the old man.
"This has now become at least a B-rank mission. This was supposed to be simple protection until you completed the bridge…If we were known that ninjas were after you, this mission would have been set as the more expensive B-rank. I'm sure you had a reason, but it causes problems when you lie about the mission. We are now operating outside of our duties." Kakashi was now glaring at him. He didn't like being tricked.
"We aren't ready for this mission. Let's quit! We should go back and have the older ninjas guard Tazuna." Sakura was relieved that they wouldn't have to continue this mission.
"Hmm…This might be too much." Kakashi stated.
"WHAT, NO WAY! WE ALL TOOK ON THIS MISSION; WE PROMISED TO PROTECT THIS OLD GEEZER EVEN IF WE DIDN'T LIKE HIM. WHY DO WE HAVE TO QUIT NOW!?"Naruto screamed. He wasn't going to give up this mission without a fight.
"I agree with Naruto, we took on this mission, so we should finish it." Sasuke stated.
"Kakashi, how can you expect us to stop now when we've come so far? We're protecting Tazuna as a team. Isn't that what you wanted?" Kira freed her hand from underneath Sasuke's and stood up. "We have to do this." She stated keeping direct eye contact with him.
Kakashi faced Sakura to see her opinion on the matter. She let out a sigh. "Might as well if I want to stay with my Sasuke-kun." She looked at Sasuke with hearts in her eyes.
He scoffed, as if he would ever like her. She didn't ever have an opinion. She did everything to make him happy not herself. With Kira she would voice her opinions openly and fight for what she wants not what she thinks he might want.
"Well…since you guys are up for it. Alright then, we shall continue this mission. But let me warn you, the next person they send to kill Tazuna is going to be a lot stronger than the one before." Kakashi stated warning every one of the dangers ahead.
They knew that it would be dangerous and knew the risks but were still willing to continue. The six went back to walking. Naruto and Kira chatting about how exciting it is to work on a B-ranked mission. Sasuke stayed close to his woman. She never clung to him to Sakura has, she never freaked out like Sakura did. Basically Kira was a millions times better than Sakura. And if she wanted to gain his affection she would have to be just like her and maybe then he would look her way.
Night was coming up fast and everyone was walking in a comfortable silence. Sakura couldn't handle silence. She needed to talk to someone! She needed girl talk! The only other girl here was Kira and as much as she hated her the two needed to bond somehow.
"So Kira…" Sakura started off.
Said girl glanced over at Sakura confused. "Yes?"
"Who do you like?" Her eyes widen in shock. What? She didn't have this kind of talk. She talked to Hinata if she wanted some girl talk. Why was Sakura wanting to talk to her about this though? Kira thought she hated her.
"Uh…"
"Come on please, I need some girl talk."
"A guy."
"What guy?" She pushed further.
"You know a guy." The only guy Kira liked right now was staring at her confused. Naruto told her about his crush on Sakura, he was hurt why she wouldn't tell him her crush. He narrowed his eyes at Sasuke. She couldn't like him…could she?
"I-I'm not really comfortable talking about this right now…" Kira muttered trying to escape the stares. A lightbulb went off. She knew.
Sakura stared at Kira. She was looking at the ground as Sasuke and Naruto looked at her heatedly. She likes Sasuke! I knew she liked him!
"Is he here?" Her head shot up.
"N-No!" her face was beet red. She was embarrassed.
Naruto glared at Sasuke and Sasuke glared at Naruto.
"S-Sakura I'll tell you if you shut up!" She was pleased with herself. Kira walked over to Sakura leaning over and whispering his name.
Her eyes widen in shock. She wasn't expecting that answer. But now that she thought of it made sense. "Naruto."
"Oh!" Kira shoved her hands in her pockets and kept her head down.
"Kira! Come on can't you tell me who it is?" Naruto pestered.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"But…"
"Naruto I don't want to tell you okay!" She snapped.
Naruto stared at her shocked. Her face was red with embarrassment, she was chewing on her bottom lip as she stared at him, her eyes hard and focused on his.
Kakashi stepped up wrapping an arm around Naruto and pulled him away. "Naruto I believe it's time I tell you a thing or two about girls."
Sakura frowned and watched as Kira's head was held low as she walked slower than before. Sakura didn't mean to embarrass her like that.