Chapter 6- A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves
****Ren's POV****
"Is everyone in position?" Kakashi-Sensei's voice questions through the headset as we searched for a cat, Tora. "Sasuke, I'm at point B." Sasuke's voice sounds through the headset after a pause so Sakura says "Sakura, I'm at point C." "Ren, I'm at point D." I say before Naruto's voice says "Naruto, I'm at point A. Believe it!" "You're slow Naruto." Kakashi-Sensei's voice sighs before starting "Okay, Squad Seven. Hmm…?" and then exclaiming "The target has moved! Follow it!" I watch as a shadow in the shape of a cat quickly runs past me before following it and hiding behind a tree while the others do the same. "What's your distance from the target?" Kakashi-Sensei's voice asks so Naruto says "Five meter's. I'm ready just give the signal." "Same." I answer so Sasuke says "I'm ready too." Causing Sakura to say "So am I." "Okay…" Kakashi-Sensei's voice starts before exclaiming "Now!" causing the four of us to run full speed at the cat. Naruto grabs it exclaiming "I got him! I got him!" causing the cat to start screaming, or is it meowing, as it scratched at Naruto's face and struggled to get free. I laugh watching the scene with Sakura as Kakashi-Sense's voice asks "Can you verify…ribbon right ear?" "Affirmative. We've got a positive I.D." Sasuke says so Kakashi says "Right. Lost pet, Tora, captured. Mission accomplished." "Can't we get a better mission than this?! I hate cats!" Naruto shouts then causing me to jump slightly, not ready for the outburst, before taking the cat from him saying "They don't like you either." "You're cute when you're startled." Sakura suddenly says then giggling causing my eyes to go wide, my cheeks to burn in embarrassment, and me to shove the cat in her arms as I exclaim "I'm not cute!" "Sure…" She answers looking at me with a smile while the cat is calm now that's it's away from Naruto as said boy says "See I told you so." Causing me to get depressed and I could have sworn I heard Sasuke mutter "Seriously? Isn't that what girls want to be called?" before he scoffs "Let's go."
****Time Skip****
"Oh my poor little Tora! Mommy was so worried about you! Mommy's little fuzzy-kins! Yes!" A large woman with multiple rings on her fingers says rubbing the poor cat on her face, practically smothering it. "Ahahah stupid cat. That kitty deserves to be squashed." Naruto says smirking as I mutter "I understand how it feels." Glancing at Naruto, who has done the same to me multiple times. "No wonder he ran away." Sakura says before the Third Hokage says "Now then for squad seven's next mission we have several available tasks…hmm among them is babysitting the chief councilor's three year old, helping his wife to do the shopping, digging up potatoes and-" "No!" Naruto yells interrupting him so he looks up from the paper at Naruto as he crosses his arms in an X adding "I want to go on a real mission! Something challenging! Exciting! Not this little kid stuff! Come on old man!" He's got a point.. I think glancing at Kakashi when he sighs. "How dare you! You're just a brand new Genin with no experience! Like everyone else you start with simple missions to develop your skills and prove yourself!" Iruka-Sensei yells standing up and slamming his hands on the table causing Naruto to argue "Are you serious?! Babysitting is not a mission! It's just a stupid-!" before getting cut off by Kakashi-Sensei punching him in the head asking "Will you put a lid on it?"
"Naruto." The Third Hokage starts as Naruto starts crying and rubbing his head. "It seems you don't understand the task you have been given. Listen many different kinds of requests come into our village every day. From babysitting to assassinations. These requests are carefully recorded, analyzed, then ranked A, B, C, or D. Depending on their difficulty. We ninja are also ranked by ability. Hokage at the top, then Jounin, Chunin, and Genin at the bottom. At the highest level we select the missions and assign them to ninja with the appropriate skill and experience. And if the mission is successful we receive a fee that supports our village and our work. Since you are untried Genin just starting down the shinobi path, you are given D level assignments of course, hmmm?" "So I had this tonkotsu ramen yesterday and I'm thinking miso ramen today." Naruto says after turning around, still siting, so I say "I want Shio ramen." "Silence!" The Third Hokage exclaims then so Kakashi looks at him while rubbing the back of his head and saying "Oh. Sorry." "Ah!" Naruto exclaims then turning back around, still sitting, before continuing "You always lecture me like you're my grandfather or something! But I'm not the little brat that used to pull pranks all the time! I'm a ninja now and I want a ninja mission!" He then pouts and turns back around, still sitting causing Kakashi to rub the back of his head again mumbling "I'm going to hear about this later."
"So be it." The Third Hokage says then causing Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and I to question "Huh?" as he continues "Since you are so determined I'm going to give you a C ranked mission. You'll be bodyguards on a journey." "Really?" Naruto questions turning around again before excitedly continuing "Yes! Who? Who? Are we guarding a princess? Or some big wig councilor?" "Don't be so impatient. I will bring him in now. Send in our visitor!" The Third Hokage says then so the five of us turn to look at the door before it opens slowly revealing an old man with a bottle of alcohol who questions "What the? A bunch of little snot nosed kids?" before taking a long drink from the bottle and then adding "And you the little one with the idiotic look on your face. You really expect me to believe you're a ninja?" "Hahahaha. Who's the little one with the idiotic look on his-" Naruto laughs before realizing he was the shortest, by just a centimeter in relation to me, as Sasuke, Sakura, and I stood beside him in a line causing him to get anger and yell "I'll demolish you!" while getting held back by Kakashi-Sensei. "You can't demolish the client Naruto. It doesn't work that way." Kakashi-Sensei tells him as the man drank from the bottle again before saying "I am Tazuna a Master Bridge Builder and I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge there that will change our world and I expect you to get me there safely even if it means giving up your life."
****Time Skip****
"Yeah! Alright!" Naruto exclaims with his hands in the air as the group were walking out of the village gates causing Sakura to question "What are you getting so excited about Naruto?" "This is the first time I've ever left the village. I'm a traveler now believe it!" Naruto exclaims excitedly as he looks around causing Tazuna to look back at the rest of us and pointing at Naruto questioning "Hey! Am I really supposed to trust my life to this runt? He's a joke!" "Hehe. He's with me and I'm a Jounin. So you don't need to worry." Kakashi-Sensei says as I watch Naruto slowly boil over with anger thinking Three…two…one. Naruto then turns around pointing at Tazuna exclaiming "Hey! Never insult a ninja it's a big mistake! And I'm one of the greatest ninja ever! Someday I'm gonna be Hokage and you'll look up to me! My name is Naruto Uzumaki! Remember it!" Unfortunately Tazuna just takes another drink from his bottle and says "Hokage are powerful and wise. You are puny and brainless. The day you become Hokage I'll sprout wings and fly." "Ah! Shut up! I'm willing to do anything to become Hokage! No matter what it takes! And when I do everyone will have to admit I'm the top ninja including you!" Naruto yells angry but Tazuna just "Huh. You could become Hokage ten times over and to me you'd still be nobody. A loser." "Ah! I'm gonna make you pay for that!" Naruto yells going to attack him and is held back by Kakashi-Sensei again as he tells him "I told you. You're supposed to protect the client not attack him." While Tazuna simply starts walking again.
****Time Skip****
"Say…Mr. Tazuna." Sakura says suddenly after we've been walking for a bit so he asks "What is it?" "Your country is the Land of Waves right?" She questions causing him to respond "Yeah. What of it?" "Kakashi-Sensei, there are ninja in that country too aren't there?" She questions looking at Kakashi-Sensei causing him to answer "No. There are no ninja in the Land of Waves…But in other countries there are hidden villages. Each with their own different customs and cultures…where ninja reside. To the people of this continent the existence of shinobi villages means strength…Military strength. In other words that's how they protect themselves and maintain the balance of power with neighboring countries. The ninja villages aren't controlled by any government. They're independent and have equal status. Now a small island like the Land of Waves has natural protection from the sea. So there's no need for a ninja village. The five ancient lands that possess shinobi villages are the Land of Fire, Water, Lighting, Wind, and Earth. They each have vast territories. Together they're known as the five great shinobi nations. The Land of Fire has the village hidden in the leaves. The Land of Water, the village hidden in the mist."
I get a sharp pain in my head then which causing me to pause while wincing out a small "Ow." "What're you doing?" Sasuke scoffs having almost ran into me so I answer "Kakashi-Sensei's lesson is giving me a headache." giving him an innocent smile. "Idiot." He scoffs then stepping around me causing me to wonder He really doesn't like me. What did I do that caused him to hate me so much? as Kakashi-Sensei continues "The Land of Lighting, the village hidden in the clouds. The Land of Wind, the village hidden in the sand. And the Land of Earth, the village hidden in the stones. Only the leaders of these hidden villages are permitted the name Kage which means shadow. Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage, Tsuchikage. These are the leaders, the five shadows that reign over thousands of ninja." "Then Lord Hokage is really important." Sakura says with a gasp and smile while I think But Naruto got him with his sexy jutsu. "Hey! You all just doubted Lord Hokage didn't you? That's what you were thinking." Kakashi-Sensei says causing Naruto and Sakura to quickly shake their heads while I just gave him a 'Yeah.' Look. He then put a hand on Sakura's head saying "Well, anyway, there are no ninja battles in a C rank mission. So…you can relax." "And we're not going to run into any foreign enemy ninja. Or anything like that." Sakura says relieved causing Kakashi-Sensei to laugh "Not likely." I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this. Oh well. Huh? The pain is gone. Must have actually been from Kakashi-Sensei's lesson. I think as we walk over a bridge over a small river.
****3rd Person's POV****
As the group kept walking Kakashi notices a small puddle on the side of the road and wonders Ninja huh? But who are they after? Us or Tazuna? Since it hadn't rained in days while preparing to do a replacement jutsu. Once the group were a few feet away two ninja, the Demon Brothers, appear from the puddle, rush forward, and bind Kakashi with their chain. Oh crap. This isn't good. Ren thinks in slight fear as Sakura exclaims "Huh?!" and Naruto questions "What?!" "Do it." One of the brothers says before they pull the chain crushing Kakashi into pieces. "Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto yells as Sakura screams in terror while Ren mutters "Really not good." Quickly taking out a kunai. The Brothers then appear behind Naruto saying "Now it's your turn." "Not a chance." Ren growls as her and Sasuke jump up, him pulling out a shuriken. He throws it hitting the chain so Ren throws the kunai to keep it bound to the tree making the two brothers stuck since the chain was linked to each of their arms. Sasuke grabs hold of their arms and kicks them both in the face as Ren sweeps their legs out from under them. They quickly recover, one going after Naruto and the other Tazuna. "Stay behind me!" Sakura exclaims standing in front of Tazuna thinking I've got to stop them! Sasuke appears in front of Sakura and Tazuna with a determined look as Ren appears in front of the frozen Naruto just as a claw makes contact with his hand and quickly throws her hand up and into the ninja's arm sending it up and away from them while forcing Naruto to get down. Unknowing that the reason it didn't come right back down on her and get her injured as well was the overwhelming fear he got when they locked eyes. Why do those eyes strike me with fear?! He thought as his body screamed for him to run, to get as far away from them as he could.
Just then Kakashi appears grabbing the two brother's by their necks effectively knocking them out with a simple "Hi." Kakashi-Sensei! He's alive! Sakura thinks happily as Sasuke thinks Humph. Show off. Glancing at Ren thinking She wasn't bad. While she was wondering But didn't he die? As she looked at the remains of the replacement jutsu while Naruto does the same saying "But he was!" Kakashi-Sensei used the replacement jutsu. Ren and Naruto thinks before Kakashi turns to them saying "Naruto. Sorry I didn't help you right away. I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just didn't think you'd freeze up like that." While Tazuna lets out a breath in relief thinking They saved me after all. "Good job Sasuke and Ren, very smooth and excellent teamwork. You too Sakura." Kakashi says as Ren looks at Naruto questioning "Are you hurt Naruto?" But her question is drowned out by Naruto's thoughts of I was useless! And Sasuke and Ren looked so cool. Not a scratch on them. Like they've done it a thousand times. Didn't they feel scared at all? And I was so lame! They had to come up and save me. Ugh why can't I keep up with them?! I'm the one that's supposed to protect Ren not the other way around! "Hey." Sasuke says then causing Naruto to snap out of it and question "Yeah?" "You're not hurt are ya? Scaredy cat." Sasuke says looking at him with a smirk causing Ren walk up to him while questioning "What exactly is your problem, Sasuke? Can" before poking him in the chest continuing "You honestly say you haven't been afraid of something? Because I can't." "Ren." Naruto breathes out calming down a little before getting full blown angry at Sasuke when he just glares at Ren saying "I can." Causing him to go to attack him exclaiming "Sasuke!" "Naruto!" Kakashi yells then causing Naruto to freeze and look at him so Kakashi tells him "Stand still. These ninja have poison in their claws. We need to take it out of you quickly. You have to open your wound and remove it. It's in your blood so don't move around. That spreads the poison." Before looking at Tazuna adding "By the way Mr. Tazuna. We need to talk." Sighing Ren tells him "I'll hold you to that then." Before going over to Naruto and gently taking his hand wondering How are we supposed to open the wound? while Kakashi was tying the ninja to a tree.
"They're Chuunin from the village hidden in the mist. Their specialty is relentless attack. They keep fighting no matter what the sacrifice." Kakashi starts and instantly Ren gets another sharp pain in her head. Her wince goes unnoticed by Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna whose attention is on said Chuunin but is noticed by Sasuke and Kakashi each thinking a quick Again? "How did you know about our ambush?" One of the Brother's ask so Kakashi answers "A puddle on a clear day when it hasn't rained in weeks." This causes Tazuna to look at him and question "In that case why'd you leave it to the Genin to do the fighting?" "I could've taken them out quickly but then I would have learned nothing. I had to know who their target was and what they were after. I wanted to know if they were after us, ninja attacking ninja. Or…if they were after you, the master bridge builder. When you put in your request you asked for standard protection from robbers and highwaymen. You didn't say there were ninja looking for you…hunting you down. If we knew this it would be a B rank mission or higher. Our task was simply to get you to your destination and protect you while you finished building your bridge. If we knew we would be fielding attacks from enemy ninja we would've staffed differently and charged for the cost of a B mission. Apparently you have your reasons but lying to us is not acceptable. We are now beyond the scope of this mission." Kakashi answers so Sakura adds "We're Genin this is too advanced for our level of training. We should go back. And I really think we need to treat Naruto's wound and get the poison out as soon as possible. Back in our village we can take him to a doctor." "Hmm. Naruto's hand could become a problem. I guess we should go back to the village." Kakashi says then causing Naruto to get mad, take out a kunai, and stab his own hand opening the wound to take out the poison shocking everyone.
"Naruto!" Ren exclaims worried but he turns away from her questioning "Why am I so different? Why am I always?" anger in his voice causing Sakura to say "Naruto stop that! What are you doing?" as Ren smirks at Sasuke thinking Who's the scaredy cat now? "I worked so hard to get here! Pushing myself until it hurt! Anything to get stronger. To reach my dream. I will never back down again and let someone else rescue me. I will never run away and I will not lose to Sasuke. Upon this wound I make this pledge. Believe it. Bridge builder. I'll complete this mission and protect you with this kunai knife. Don't worry I'll be fine." Naruto says turning back around and looking at them determined causing Kakashi to say "Naruto…uh. That was really cool how you took the poison out and all but if you lose any more blood you're going to die." Naruto instantly goes pale and starts to sweat nervously as Kakashi comes up to him adding "Good idea to stop the bleeding now. Seriously." Ren laughs "Just give me your hand." approaching as Naruto starts panicking "No! No! No! I'm too young for it all to end like this! No! No!" "Naruto you've got a self-abusive personality. It's called masochism." Sakura says while Ren takes Naruto's hand again saying "It shouldn't be too bad if I heal this." Causing Ren to pause, look at Sakura with the look of 'I don't understand', and question "Masochism?" "You don't need to know." Sakura sighs thinking I just can't explain it to her. so Ren looks back at the wound as Sasuke glances at her again wondering What does she mean by 'It shouldn't be too bad if I heal this'? While Ren thinks Huh? The wound is already starting to heal. Maybe the fox? As Kakashi gets a serious look thinking the something similar.
"Uh…Kakashi-Sensei, Ren. You both have a serious look on your face. You're scaring me. Am I gonna be okay?" Naruto questions shaking so Ren smiles at him and places her other hand on Naruto's saying "Sorry, you'll be fine." As a green light appears around her hand. "The Healing Palms Jutsu." Kakashi hums then so Ren nods saying "I'm afraid it's the only medical jutsu I know. And…" tailing off as she slowly releases Naruto's hand and shows the other, now with an almost identical scratch, before continuing "This happens." So it's not actually the Healing Palms Jutsu but the Wound Share Regeneration Jutsu. How did she manage to do an extremely advanced Jutsu and without any hand signs instead? It's unheard of. Kakashi thinks watching as both wounds slowly heal at the same time before Tazuna says "I just noticed him now." "Hmm?" Kakashi hums looking up at Tazuna and following his gaze to Ren adding "Oh you mean Ren." "Don't feel bad Mr. Tazuna. I'm used to it." Ren tells him with a small smile.