Chapter 6: A Rank Mission!
"Huh… What? Oh, must of overslept." said Jiraiya sleepily. He got out of his bed and started to get dressed. He went over to his dresser to put the slightly cracked, leaf headband around his forehead, when the thought dawned on him. "The Mission!" Jiraiya finished getting dressed and sprinted towards the door, to the gates of the village.
By the time he had gotten to the other three, he was completely out of breath. "You are late." said the jounin, a little more impatience in his voice than usual.
"Sorry" said Jiraiya, a blush spreading across his face.
"Are their any questions, before we set off to the mission?" asked Sarutobi, thoughtfully. Tsunade's hand instantly shot up, while the hands of the boys both stayed down. "Yes, Tsunade?" asked Sarutobi, obviously expecting that Tsunade would ask a question.
"Why are we assigned an A rank mission, when we have only recently become genin?" asked Tsunade in a matter of fact tone.
"Ahh, I knew you would ask that question Tsunade. Smart girl. The reason is because if an ANBU team should go Soriu would know, and send an attack squad to the leaf. Besides, Nidaime-Sama thinks you three have very… how shall we say, unique abilities. To put it bluntly he thinks you can handle the job."
All of the genin both felt honored, and amazed! They never imagined Nidaime-Sama, the HOKAGE, would be asking THEM to do an A ranked mission! Though it was true Tsunade was the grand daughter of the Shodai Hokage.
"Shall we go then?" asked Sarutobi, smiling.
"Yes Sir!" Shouted all of the genin at once. The four shinobi then set out on a mission of a life time.
None of the ninja talked until after exiting the forest of the leaf, when Jiraiya piped up "Are we there yet?"
"No Jiraiya we still have a long way to go." said Sarutobi, calmly.
It had been one and a half hours. "ARE WE THERE YET!!!" cried Jiraiya for the 132nd time. Tsunade was counting every time he said those words, for there was nothing better to do except look at the scenery.
"We will stop for lunch now." said the jounin abruptly halting. "This is ten miles away from the border. It should be safe out here." Each of the genin pulled a sack out of the backpacks they were wearing and began to eat. Lunch was silent except for the occasional yawn, sneeze or wild animal. "Shall we go now?" asked the Jounin, gathering up his pack and waiting for the children to do the same.
Jiraiya grew more and more excited, though he could not help but be a little afraid. Tsunade did not say anything, but it was clear she was just a little bit afraid too. And no one could tell how the strange boy with the piercing eyes felt. He just kept going, silently.
The crew got across the border with ease. Once across they all used a transformation jutsu to make themselves look like servants to Keido. "What now?" asked Tsunade?
"Some of our ANBU have gathered a little bit of information on where Soriu may be hiding. In fact we know that he assassinated the Mizukage, and is now the official Mizukage, despite what some of the villagers may think." said Sarutobi.
They continued, without suspicion until they came within sight of the Mizukage's fortress. Two passing ninja, wearing the bloody mist forehead protector, halted them. "We know who you are." said the first. "We know you have come to capture Soriu the great!" spat the second. "But we are here to stop you Sarutobi!" cried the two men at the same time.
"They're Chuunin level." whispered Sarutobi, before saying "Well I guess we've been found. But before we kill you I just have one thing to say. You shouldn't have left your guard down. KAGE SHURIKEN NO JUTSU!" cried the man shurikens flying in all directions toward the men. But only two of the shurikens hit, because in an explosion of bubbles the two were gone. "Water clones!" said Sarutobi. "Oh well. Kage bunshin no jutsu!" cried the jounin this time. Twenty three clones of Sarutobi came out of thin air. Their was only one problem. The children were missing!