The past few weeks have been to put it simply boring, Team Nine had been assigned the standard D-Rank missions that all genin teams would do. Finding lost pets, weeding gardens, fixing fences, and other minor things like that which keep them in the village and gave them the rounds as the lowest of ninjas. Today was going to be different Hitomi had asked them to gather up a bit earlier then normal so they could talk, soon everyone arrived at the wall just outside the Hokage's manor. Hitomi pushed off from the wall she was leading on and smiled, "You three have been making such great progress, normally someone would have complained about these missions but none of you have. With your skills and the work you have put it I requested that the Hokage assign us a C-Rank mission today."
Toshiro cheered, "Now I get to show off the strength of my genjutsus."
Riku laughed softly at Toshiro's reaction, "Sensei if you think we are ready then I'm glad we can do this."
Koji had a small smile as he watched Hitomi who spoke up again, "Right now then it is time to head out and find out if the Hokage agrees with me."
Team nine made their way inside the building to the room where missions were given out and recorded once finished, behind the tables were four people, two older people one male and one female they had to be elders of the village since the genin never really learned their names no matter how many times they came here. Next to them were Iruka and the Third Hokage the pair smiled once the team entered. "Good you four have arrived right on time, as I'm sure Hitomi has told you she has requested that you be given a C-Rank mission. After some talking I have agreed but with what happened not all that long ago to Team seven I'm going to assign another genin team just in case."
"Oh who will be joining us?" Koji asked giving a confused look.
The door suddenly opened as a man in a green fullbody outfit under his flak jacket came flying through the door, "No worries Team Guy and the spirit of youth are here to assist!" he announced with a thunderous laugh. Close behind him was a young kid who looked like a mini version of the Jounin who flew in the room first.
"Like Guy-Sensei said with us here this mission will be beyond easy now!" a large smile on his face as he gave all of Team nine a thumbs up.
"I'm so sorry Lord Third please forgive our Sensei and Lee for just barging in." the girl on the team spoke to the older man.
Following the girl a young man entered the room his long black hair tied in a ponytail with white eyes he was silent once they had entered.
The Hokage laughed on the inside before he spoke, "Good as of today your two teams will be assigned to protect a shipment of gold and various other goods to the Land of Lightning, tensions are still rather rough between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. The Fire Daimyo wants to ease these tensions." The Third finished as he looked at both Hitomi and Guy, "I trust this mission to both you and your teams. You are to escort this to the border of the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning where a team of Kumogakure shinobi will take control of it and bring it the rest of the way."
"We will get this done Lord Third!" Guy cheered.
"Gather up all your equipment and meet at the gates of the village in fifteen minutes." Hitomi ordered.
Guy looked to be in an impromptu speech about the power of Youth and how this mission will bring not only the two teams closer together but will untie two lands in a peace. Once he had finished he looked around to see everyone had left the room but Lee who had the passion of fire in his eyes as he stared at his Sensei.
At the gates of the village the first two to arrive were Koji and Riku, the duo were sitting down next to each other leaning against the gate waiting for the others Riku pulled at her shirt and was fiddling with her braided hair. Koji took notice of this and looked towards her, "Riku, did I ever tell you the first lesson my brother taught me?" Riku shook her head as she focused on the Uchiha, "I think I was four or maybe five at the time, Shisui came into my room after I had a nightmare, he told me that as long as I keep those I care about in my heart I won't need to fear anything. So I want to keep you and Toshiro in my heart at all time, I mean yeah Toshiro can be a dick at times but I know there is a good guy in there, and you...you have been there for me for as long as I can remember. Even with the issues my clan had with your clan you still looked out for me. So thank you Riku and I promise to do everything I can to protect you."
Riku blushed lightly as she smiled, "Thanks Koji...there is something I had been thinking and I'm glad to have you and..." Riku was speaking softly until she was interrupted by a loud yell.
"KOJI!" The shout was from Lee as he came charging through the gates. "Darn it! It seems you and Riku have beaten me here, that leads our series at twenty one to twenty three." Lee looked down in defeat.
Riku looked confused as she looked at him and then turned her head to Koji hoping for answers, "Oh well after...you know, I was taken in by a sweet family who live near Lee. Since I moved in we have been training together since, he has called me his Rival. Just like how his Sensei has his rival he has claimed I am his."
"Ha! Another challenge most finger push ups in under ten seconds, GO!" Lee declared as he dropped down and began to do as many as he could. Koji just kinda looked at his confused as he pushed himself up and did the peace sign, "It seems I have one this time my friends, Twenty two to twenty three now."
Neji and Tenten passed through the gates now Tenten muttering something under her breath as she looked at Lee, Neji on the other hand spoke up. "Lee we don't have time for such pointlessness we have a mission to get ready for."
"You are correct Neji, oh Koji, Riku I'm sorry to have not introduced my team, these are my teammates Neji Hyuga and Tenten. Neji, Tenten this is Koji Uchiha and Riku Sarutobi." Lee said jumping between the two pairs as he introduced them.
Neji looked at Koji in silences as if he was trying to get a sense of the guy, Tenten on the other hand smiled and gave Riku a pat on the back. "It's nice to meet you two, I'm sure you will be more helpful then Lee."
"I'm here!" Toshiro announced as he finally arrive.
Riku smiled and waved, "Hey Toshiro this is Neji, Tenten, and Lee. This guy here is Toshiro Yamanaka our genjutsu member."
Toshiro smiled and held out a rose to Riku, "Your sweet words are what keep me going Riku."
Koji laughed a little before he looked at Riku, "Riku you were telling me something before Lee joined us but you stopped."
"Oh I was just saying I am glad that you and Toshiro have been placed on my team." she laughed as she change the subject. "So where are Guy and Hitomi Sensei?"
Toshiro after giving the rose to Riku turned his attention to Neji a look of hate slowly formed on his face as he stared daggers at the Hyuga.
Inside a dark room stood The Third Hokage, Guy, and Hitomi the air was tense as Hitomi broke the silences. "Third are the rumors true?"
"And what would those rumors be?" the old man asked as he placed his pipe in his mouth.
Guy spoke up, "That Shimogakure plans to get involved in this and set the Land of Fire against the Land of Lightning."
Hiruzen lowered his pipe as a stream of smoke left his mouth, "I see that has made the rounds...it is true, I have informed the Raikage of the situation. He too has had heard of this and wants to avoid another war as well, his team will not meet you on the border they will meet you in the Land of Frost and you go with them until the border. The Raikage informed me he was going to send his best tag team to make sure this gets done."
"Well we will still keep our guard up just in case." Hitomi said as she turned.
"Wait...take this as well." He handed each of them a folder, inside was a picture of a Shimogakure ninja named Tadashi, "He has many people in the village who listen to him and he has made it clear that he wants to bring our two nations to war, if anyone is going to be leading a team or attack the two teams, it will be him. Should he attack tell your students to get out of the area only you two should engage him." Hiruzen warned them of the dangers of this man and all the intel the ANBU had gathered on him. "I have let slip that Kumo and Konoha ninjas are working together on this to discourage his agenda. Guy you are the lead in this mission, Hitomi you are to act as his second."
"Lord Third with the possibility of an attack by a Jounin shouldn't we send a team of Chunin not our Genin?" Hitomi asked.
The older man stroked his beard gentle before exhaling another breath of smoke, "Sadly we can't at the moment, this needs to be done now and I don't have a Chunin or Jounin team free to do this, that is why I'm sending the two of you and your Genins."
Guy and Hitomi both nodded as they flash stepped out of the room arriving at the gate in a matter of seconds, the two were happy to see both their teams getting along for the most part but the tension could be seen between Neji and Toshiro of all people.
"Are you done staring Toshiro?" Neji asked his tone was that of an annoyed person who was staring at a nat.
"What does it matter to you?! I'm just making sure you don't stab me in the back this time!" Toshiro's face was hot with angry as he looked as if he was going to strike the Hyuga.
"Stab you in the back?" Neji was honestly confused as to why he would say that. The two had been friends in their childhood, well as much as Neji could be friends with people.
"Forget it!" Toshiro growled as he turned his back on Neji looking to his teammates who had sympathetic faces.
Lee leaned in close to Koji, "What was that all about?"
Koji shrugged, "I have no idea...even when Toshiro has gone off on me...I've never seen him use angry like that, I used to think nothing could piss him off that much but...that was something." he whispered back hoping Toshiro would be alright.
Guy cleared his throat after the outburst and pointed to the path away from the village, "It's time to go, for now we need to put aside our differences because for now we are a large team and we need to work together, the cart with the goods will be at a small village near the border of the Land of Fire and Land of Hot Water. Now go!" He ordered as the two teams charged down the path not about to waste a moment on this mission.