Chapter 71 – Mission to Takigakure I

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.

A/N: Thank you MattKennedy, thor94 and Wrought Iron Hero for your comments.

A/N: Thank you blackf0x, crali reynoso, timijaf for your supports =D.

Hokage Office

"Your sensei is slotted for another mission so for your first mission as chūnin, Uchiha Sasuke will join team Kakashi for their mission in Takigakure no Sato" said Shishui.

"Yeay! We've got to go to a new place!" shouted Naruto.

"I heard it's a beautiful place" said Noriko.

"I wonder what Kakashi-sensei is doing?" pondered Tenzō.

Shisui just grinned at Tenzō's question before talking "Takigakure had heard that we've defeated their missing-nin; as such, they sent a representative to negotiate a return of his body. Our negotiation has ended yesterday and your mission is to escort the representative safely back to Takigakure no Sato".

"I suppose our potential enemy is bounty-hunter" said Noriko.

"Most likely, after all, Kakuzu was an S-rank missing-nin. His bounty must be high" added Sasuke.

"This will be a C-rank to B-rank mission, depending on the bounty-hunter" Tenzo chipped in.

"So, we need to be extra-cautious" said Naruto.

The door to Hokage Office was knocked before a man with long spiky hair, small dark eyes and a goatee, wearing a dark, blue jacket, grey pants, sandals and a bandanna entered.

"Team Kakashi, meet Suien of Takigakure no sato" said Shisui.

After meeting with Suien, Team Kakashi (and Sasuke) planned for their mission.

"We need to appoint a leader" said Noriko.

"Tenzō" suggested Naruto.

"Why me?" asked Tenzō.

"You are the most level-headed amongst us" said Naruto

"Agreed" said Noriko.

"But Naruto knows about all of our abilities including Sasuke" countered Tenzō.

"You can be our leader during the trip and Naruto can take over if we have to fight" suggested Sasuke.

"Alright" said Tenzō "For our trip, I proposed that Sasuke will be at the front, Noriko, your byakugan is suitable for rear guard whereas Naruto and I will be guarding the sides".

"Hait" said Noriko while Naruto and Sasuke just nodded as a sign of agreement.

Following morning

"I hope you don't mind if we move at a fast pace" said Suien "I wish to be closer to Takigakure before dark"

Naruto, Noriko and Sasuke looked at Tenzō, who nodded and said politely "Very well, do you mind leading the way?"

Suien grunted and began tree-jumping. Tenzō moved to his left while Sasuke moved to his right whereas Naruto and Noriko made up the rear guards.

That night

They stopped moving when it is too dark to see. Once they had stopped, Tenzō was the first to collapse before quickly pushed himself and said to Suien "Apology, it was momentary lapse"

Suien mumbled something that sounded like 'loo' before took off.

"Are you okay Tenzō?" asked Noriko "You know you should ask for a break if you need it".

Tenzō smiled wanly "I'm okay, Noriko".

"Gee, what's wrong with that guy" grumbled Naruto "I understand that he wants to get there faster but pushing us like this is ridiculous. What's the point getting us all worn out!"

Noriko drew sharp a breath while Tenzō looked startled and shared a worry glance with Sasuke.

Before any of the chūnin could do anything, they heard "Water Release: Transform-at-Will!"

Konoha chūnin suddenly found that they were covered by a jelly-like substance which rendered them unable to move as well as had their visions obstructed.

'Goodbye, Konoha shinobi' Suien turned his back and disappeared into the night.

'Ok, no movement, so…no byakugan, no jutsu, which left only one' thought Noriko. She released her chakra from all of her tenketsu which pushed the jelly-like substance a couple centimetres away from her before the substance bounced back and stuck to her again.

'More chakra' thought Noriko grimly. She gathered as much chakra as she could before releasing them from her tenketsu, causing the jelly-like substance being pushed even further thus allowing her momentary mobility.

Capitalizing the moment, Noriko shouted "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" and released fireball at the jelly-like substance, causing it to shrivel up and drop on the ground.

Looking around, Noriko saw that Naruto, Tenzō and Sasuke were still trapped inside the jelly-like substance.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" cried Noriko and released fireball into Naruto's, Tenzō's and Sasuke's direction, causing the jelly-like substance to shrivel up and broke into pieces. Naruto, Tenzō and Sasuke dropped onto ground, coughing and gasping for air.

"Thanks Noriko" said Naruto and Sasuke, "I almost use the Kyūbi chakra" added Naruto.

"Yeah, thanks Noriko" rasped Tenzō.

Noriko just smiled faintly as she kneeled in front of Tenzō and asked "What are we going to do now, Tenzō?"

"We have to go after him" said Tenzō "Our mission is to escort him to Takigakure no Sato since we fear that somebody is after Kakuzu's body. His action suggests that he may want Kakuzu's body for himself and blame Konoha, or Takigakure planned to cheat Konoha; either way, we have to get the body back or Konoha will be in trouble!"

"You put your sōshinki on him?" asked Noriko.

"What do you think?" grinned Tenzō.

"You are sneaky, you know" commented Naruto

"What's a sōshinki?" asked Sasuke.

"Something that I use to track people" answered Tenzō. He stood up, stretched himself and turned to his teammates "Ready?"

"H*** yeah!"

End Chapter 71

A/N: I cannot find 'Water Release: Transform-at-Will' in Japanese, so I had to write it in English. It is Suien's technique but it appears in novel only.

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu – Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique

Sōshinki – Signal seeds

Takigakure no Sato – Hidden Village of Waterfall

Tenketsu – chakra point