As their first month as Genin comes to an end Naruto and the others make their way towards the Hokage Tower to meet up with their Senseis and receive their next Mission Assignments. Along the way they are met by five of Sasuke's Fangirls who had dropped out of their last year at the Academy. "Sasuke-kun," one of the fangirls screeches causing Naruto and Kiba to cover their ears at the sheer volume of her voice while Akamaru whimpers. "Please go out with me tonight," she begs the Uchiha Heir.
"Forget that fat cow," another of the girls tells him, "And take me out tonight."
"Why would Sasuke-kun want to go out with a skank like you when he can take me out?" yet another asks.
"Get lost," Ino tells all five of them, "Sasuke has better things to do then to waste his time on losers like you who couldn't even Graduate from the Academy."
"Ino's right," Sakura adds, "Get lost. Thanks to you we're now late for our meeting." Pushing their way past the now scandalized girls they make their way towards the Tower. "I swear if I ever start acting like those air-heads please just kill me," she says causing everyone else to laugh.
0o0o0o0o0
Standing before the Hokage the Rookie Genin stand in front of their Jounin Senseis divided into their respective Teams silently awaiting their next Mission. "Well it seems that each of you have already completed the required number of D-Ranked Missions," the Hokage tells them with more then a hint of pride in his voice. "As such you may with your Senseis' approval receive your first C-Ranked Mission."
Outwardly the Genin show no visible signs as to what they might be thinking inwardly they are each franticly hoping and praying that their Sensei agrees that they're ready for a more difficult Mission. The Senseis themselves have all spoken with the Hokage before hand and have requested a specific Mission for their respective Teams. Now however they stand silently behind their Genins letting the preteens sweat it out as they "think" about whether they should accept the Missions or not.
After nearly two minutes Kurenai finally takes pity on her Team and speaks first, "I believe my Team is capable of a simple C-Ranked Mission." This statement earns a grin from Ino a silent nod from Shino and a mutter of troublesome from a slightly smirking Shikamaru.
"I think the brats can handle it," Asuma says earning a dark look from Sasuke at the brat comment. "If it's too much for you Sasuke,' he tells the Uchiha, "There's always baby-sitting." This has the desired effect as all the color suddenly drains from the Uchiha Heir's face before he quickly turns back towards the Hokage doing a perfect imitation of a marble statue, color and all causing Hinata to giggle while Choji hides his own amusement by eating his ever present chips.
"Well…" Kakashi ponders as he takes out his favorite reading material. "They have been asking for something more challenging," he drawls causing a faint glimmer of hope to appear on the faces of his Genins. "But they still take too long catching a single cat," he adds causing his Team to face-fault. "What the hell," he says putting the book away as his Team begins picking themselves up off the floor, "They could use the experience," he says with an eye smile. "And if they get themselves killed at least I don't have to listen to their complaining any more."
The adults try not to laugh as Sasuke and Choji struggle to restrain Naruto from clawing Kakashi to death while Shino and Shikamaru attempt to prevent Kiba from strangling his Sensei leaving Ino and Hinata to stop Sakura from castrating her perverted Instructor.
Once order has been restored, or at least as much as it could be with three upset Genin still muttering about mean perverted Senseis the Hokage produces three Mission scrolls before once again addressing the assembled Genin. "Now I have a Diplomatic Courier Mission, an Escort and Protection Mission and a Tracking and Possible Rescue Mission," he informs them. "Now which Team should receive which Mission," he ponders innocently.
"With all due respect Hokage-sama," Naruto says addressing the village leader. "I believe it is obvious which Team should be assigned which Mission based upon each Team's Specialty."
"Do explain," the Sandaime tells him leaning back so that he can enjoy the lecture to come.
"Sasuke's Team is obviously a Combat Unit,' he tells the old man, "So naturally they'd be ideal for the Escort and Protection Mission given the likelihood of ambushes and bandit encounters." Earning a nod for his use of logic he continues. "The Tracking and Rescue Mission should go to my Team giving that Tracking and Combat are our Specialties leaving the Courier Mission to Ino's Team who has better Political and Diplomatic Skills then the rest of us."
"Sound and logical assessments Naruto-kun," the Hokage tells him handing the proper Mission to the proper Jounin. "I wish you all luck on your Missions."
"Alright everyone,' Kakashi says after the Missions have been handed out. "Go home and pack enough weapons and supplies for a couple of weeks and meet at the main Gate in one hour."
The Genins simply chuckle as they each pull out a storage scroll from their utility pouches. "Shinobi Readiness Rule Number Five," Naruto tells his Sensei with a foxy grin.
"Carry a month's worth of food and supplies with you at all times," Sakura finishes for her Teammate as she they follow their friends out the door.
"So Barbeque," Kiba asks as the Genin make their way out the tower so they can grab a bite to eat before heading out on their next Mission.
0o0o0o0o0
As the Hour draws to a close Naruto and the others arrive at their appointed meeting spot to find their Jounin Senseis and one other waiting for them. The client, Tazuna, seems to the Genin little more then a drunken old man whose breath stank of sake to such an extent that Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru grimaced from the smell each time he exhaled. Taking pity upon his young charges Kakashi leads his team away towards their own destination leaving Sasuke's Team to deal with the drunken bridge builder.
After nearly two days of light travel by shinobi standards they arrive at the village of Aoiki. Although the village was called Green Tree it was actually in fact a small farming community that has in recent months been terrorized by bandits hiding in the caves of a nearby mountain range. It was because of the gradual increase of bandit activity over the past few months that Aoiki has request Shinobi from Konoha following the abduction of four of the village's girls only last week.
After speaking with the village elders about the situation Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru begin sniffing around the perimeter outside the village trying to find the bandits' scent. After nearly ten minutes of sniffing Akamaru catches a whiff of something and begins barking signaling the others. Both Kiba and Naruto begin sniffing as well and soon catch the same scents that the nin-dog noticed. After a brief conference with their Sensei and Team Medic the Team takes off following the trail in order to complete their Mission as quickly as possible.
0o0o0o0o0
As the Team arrives at the edge of the forest they use the thick foliage for cover as they observe the cave entrance directly in front of them. "Naruto," Kakashi tells his blond Genin, "Send one of your Shadow Clones inside to scout around."
"Hai," the Jinchuuriki responds before making a single hand sign. In a puff of smoke another Naruto appears before using the Henge Jutsu to transform into a tiny black rat that quickly scurries towards the cave to see what's inside. The rest of the Team waits patently for nearly fifteen minutes when Naruto suddenly stands up growling as a faint red glow begins emitting from his body. "Those bastards are dead," the Genin snarls in an almost evil voice as he takes off towards the cave with his Team racing to keep up.
"What happened," Kakashi asks moving along side the Kyuubi container.
"You'll smell it once we're inside," Naruto tells the Jounin as his normal features begin to take on a more feral almost animalistic appearance. His whisker marks are now darker and more pronounced while his canines and fingernails which have always been fairly long have grown into actual fangs and claws.
Just like Naruto told him once they enter the cave Kakashi's nose picks up the unmistakable smell of blood and sex in the stale air. 'The smells still fresh so that means it happened recently,' he thinks to himself as he feels his own anger beginning to raise knowing better then most what they're likely to find haven come upon similar scenes more times then he ever wishes to remember during the last two wars. The matching growls from Kiba and Akamaru as well as a faint gasp from Sakura tell him that the rest of his Team notice the smells and have a fairly good idea as to what awaits them.
0o0o0o0o0
The massacre, for it was far too one sided to be considered a battle, was quick and brutal and in the end not a single bandit was left alive. Twenty-Five shredded, burnt, bloodied, torn and mutilated corpses and numerous body parts litter the ground around them as a blood soaked Kiba and Naruto sit silently against the rough rocky walls of the cave after emptying the contents of their stomachs after their initial adrenalin rush have worn off and the realization of what they've done begins to sink in.
Although sicken by the scene before her, Sakura pushes her own feelings aside as she tends to the six girls they found in bandits' base leaving her Sensei to help her Teammates after their first kills. Each of the girls, ranging in age from 13 to 16 has been repeatedly raped, beaten, severely dehydrated and showing signs of malnutrition.
"You both have nothing to feel ashamed of," Kakashi tells the two boys as he sits down between them. "I won't lie and say that it'll get any easier cause it won't," he says, "And honestly it never should. The taking of a life is never an easy thing nor should it ever be." Leaning his head back he closes his visible eye as if lost in his on memories. "After my first kill Minato-Sensei told me, 'Each time you take a life you should not think about the life you are taking but about the lives you are saving.'"
"At the Academy they used to talk to us that taking a life was a necessary part of being a Shinobi," Kiba says quietly. "They used to tell us that when the time came it would be difficult but in the end it was a necessary part of life. But they never mentioned it would feel so hollow."
"Kiba's right," Naruto says not really looking anywhere but straight ahead. "I don't feel upset or sad that I killed those men," he tells Kakashi, "I don't really feel anything but tired."
"They were bad men who hurt a lot of innocent people," Kiba adds as he slowly strokes Akamaru's fur as the pup rests in its master's lap. "They got what they deserved and the world is better off without them. It's just that… I don't really know," he admits, "I guess I thought I'd feel worst then what I actually do."
"You feel guilty because you don't feel guilty," Kakashi asks earning a nod from both boys. "It's natural," he tells them placing a reassuring hand on each boy's shoulder. "You'll all do just fine," he says slowly getting to his feet. "I'm proud of all three of you," he tells his Team, "And I'm honored to be your Sensei."
0o0o0o0o0
A shadowy figure moves silently through the mansion on a small island in the Land of Waves. Covered from head to toe in black clothing including a mask covering the person's head not a single bit of flesh was visible as the figure searches for their target. In the basement of his mansion the business man and Crime Lord Gatô remains unaware of the intruder as he goes over plans for the death of the bridge builder Tazuna as well as double crossing and killing the nuke-nins he had hired for the task.
At the meetings end Gatô moves through the halls of his home felling better about his position of power in this poverty stricken land then he has since killing the country's only hero in front of the man's village. So lost in his own thoughts and so content about his ambitions is the Crime Lord that he never even knew that the assassin was in his private quarters, not even when his head was silently removed from his shoulders with little more then a faint swishing of wind as the assassin's sword passed through the air ending his life.
0o0o0o0o0 Flash Back 0o0o0o0o0
Sasuke and Choji stood watch outside of Tazuna's house while Hinata tended to Asuma's injuries following their Team's encounter with the Demon of the Bloody Mist, Zabuza Momochi. Reflecting upon the brief yet intense battle between the nuke-nin and their Sensei Sasuke couldn't help but think about the strange Hunter-nin that saved Zabuza by placing the nuke-nin in a death-like state.
Although his Uchiha pride would never permit him to admit it aloud Sasuke was at first relieved at the Hunter-nin's arrival. All that changed however once it became clear that the Hunter-nin was a fake since it took the body away for disposal rather then behead and incinerate it on the spot as they learned in the Academy was proper procedure when dealing with missin-nins. "How long do you think it will be until they try again," Sasuke asks Hinata when she joins them.
"Given what I remember about death-like states and chakra exhaustion," the heiress told them, "I'd estimate from a week and a half to two weeks at the most."
"And how long until Asuma-Sensei is back up to speed," Choji asked the Team's Medic.
"A week to a week and a half," Hinata told them sitting down on the steps.
"So assuming that Asuma-Sensei and Zabuza recover around the same time we've got about a week and a half to prepare," Sasuke said as he sat down beside Hinata.
"So we train," Choji asked his friends.
"We could…" Sasuke said as a plan began forming in his mind.
"What are you thinking Sasuke-kun," Hinata asked noting the look upon his face.
"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking," Choji asked seeing the mischievous look in the Uchiha's eyes. "If you're thinking of finishing Zabuza on your own then forget it," he warned his Team's unofficial Leader. "You'd have to get past that fake Hunter-nin to get to him assuming of course that he's actually weak enough for you to actually kill him."
"Don't be ridiculous," Sasuke chuckled, easing his friends' concerns, "Even if we kill Zabuza and his helper Gatô will just hire someone else and we'll be back right were we started." Closing his eyes he allowed his mind to play out various thoughts and strategies as he tried to map out some sort of plan or at least the beginnings of a plan. "What we need to do is find out where this Gatô is and take him out before Zabuza recovers and attacks us again."
"You're not seriously considering an Assassination Mission, are you," Hinata asked worriedly.
"It's the only way Hinata-chan," Sasuke told her.
"What you're talking about goes far outside our Mission Parameters," Choji reminded them.
"Our Mission went outside its original Parameters when the Demon Brothers attacked," Sasuke reminded the Akimichi. "We went even further outside of our Mission Parameters when Zabuza showed up. So what difference does it make if we finish it now or later? Either way we'll have to face Gatô and his men eventually."
"Hai you're right," Choji admitted, "I'm just not too keen on the idea of killing just yet."
"I know my friend," Sasuke told the robust shinobi. "I don't much care for it either but this is what we've trained for," he reminded them, "This is what Raven-Sensei and the others have prepared us from the time we entered the Academy. This is what we knew would eventually happen the moment we put on our hitai-ites."
0o0o0o0o0 End Flash Back 0o0o0o0o0
The following morning word of the Crime Boss' death and the still smoldering crater where his mansion once stood spread throughout the Land of Wave like wild fire. What made things even more unusual were the bags of money found outside the homes of villagers and the deeds to the companies once held by the late unlamented Business Man that were mysteriously delivered to the Land's Daimyo.
With the threat to his life now gone Tazuna had no problems recruiting workers to help him complete his bridge nor was there any trouble paying the Shinobi he had hired for the C-Rank turned A-Rank Mission. All in all things had turned around for the once poor Country and no one save three ever knew the identity of their benefactor or benefactors.
As for the three Genins assigned to the Mission they remained silent about the whole affair as two of them watched their friend and Leader withdraw in upon himself over what he had done. While Sasuke knew that he had only done what needed to be done he still found it difficult to sleep at night as images of the death and destruction he had caused replay in his mind. Asuma suspected what his Genin had done but remained silent about his suspicions until they're ready to return home.
0o0o0o0o0
Even though the trip back to Konoha is much quicker without their client slowing them down Asuma allows his Team to move at a semi-leisurely pace not wanting to push them too much given the somber mood of his Genins. After traveling for most of the day they move off the main path and set up camp for the night near a stream. After they have eaten Asuma finally decides to speak with his Team about what happened while he was temporarily out of action.
"So whose idea was it," he asks his Genins.
"Mine," Sasuke admits knowing what their Sensei is referring to. "Choji helped me gather the necessary information and scout the area while Hinata Guarded Tazuna. But they both stayed behind while I carried out the Assassination on my own."
"Please don't be upset with Sasuke-kun," Hinata pleads.
"We all knew what we were doing," Choji adds showing his support for his Teammates.
"You should have come to me first," the Jounin sighs. "I understand your reasoning but I'm responsible for your safety," he reminds them. "Besides," he chuckles taking a cigarette out of his pack, "You performed an unsanctioned Assassination Mission without pay when you should have gotten paid for an A-Ranked Assassination Mission."
"Actually…" Sasuke says pulling a scroll from his hip pouch before tossing it towards their Sensei. "I didn't give all of Gatô's money away."
Asuma can only laugh at his subordinate as he catches the scroll. "How much did you keep for yourself," he asks with a grin.
"I gave Choji and Hinata half a million each and kept half a million for myself," Sasuke admits blushing slightly at his Sensei's whistle. "That scroll contains another half a million for Konoha for the trouble Tazuna-san caused us for falsifying his request."
"Damn kid you've been hanging around your mother and Raven too much," Asuma laughs putting the scroll away. "Is that the last of it?"
"It better not be," a voice says from their left, "Or else the kid can forget about our deal." Zabuza and his partner Haku step out from behind a tree and slowly make their way towards the camp.
"I haven't forgotten anything," Sasuke says as he pulls another scroll from his pouch. "Three Million just like we agreed to," he tells the former Kiri-nin as he tosses the scroll to the man.
"Thanks," Zabuza replies as he catches the scroll, "pleasure doing business with you."
"Hold up," Asuma says as he stands up eyeing the two nuke-nins carefully, "What deal?"
"I agreed to pay Zabuza and Haku the money Gatô had promised them if they'd leave Tazuna-san along and not try to kill us after Gatô's death."
"Now that I've got the money I've got no more problems with you or the brats," Zabuza tells Asuma as he and Haku turn around to take their leave.
"You could always come with us," Hinata calls out to them causing them to stop. "Konoha could always use Shinobi of your skill and with Haku-kun's Kekkei-Genkai he could start his own Clan."
"We'll keep that in mind," Zabuza says before taking to the trees followed closely by Haku.
"Maybe you should start at the beginning and tell me everything that happened while I was laid up," Asuma orders his Team.
0o0o0o0o0
And Cut… I know some of you might be a tad upset that I glazed over the missions again but honestly I didn't even want to write the details about what Naruto and the others found in the cave or what they did to the bandits so I'll leave that to your imaginations. Honestly from the brief descriptions I gave you it should be very clear what happened and writing that kind of gore is just not my style.
As for the abridged Wave Arc… sorry but again please use your imagination. Let's just say that Sasuke might have gone a tad over board with the explosive tags and leave it at that. As for Zabuza and Haku… they will be showing up again in the story although I can not promise if they'll be returning as good guys or bad guys or even if they'll actually accept Hinata's offer or not. You'll all just have to wait and see and yes Haku is a boy in this story.
As always please remember to leave a review and let me know your opinions and suggestions as they really do help me improve my writing.