Into the Void
By
Ragnorokrising
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Chapter Four: First Assassination
Naruto walked into the Hokage's office. "You wanted to see me Lord Hokage?"
"Yes, I did. I was wondering if you had looked at those files."
"Yes sir, but I haven't decided on a team yet." the Hokage nodded and lit up his pipe.
"Well, don't worry about it. Thought I do need you to pick one."
"Could you please explain sir?" the Hokage threw Naruto a scroll with a red A on it.
"That is an assassination order for a man named Gato. He has taken over the Land of Waves. A bridge builder named Tazuna has come to get ninja to escort him. I intend to give your team the mission, even though it is an A-rank at the least."
"Gato has hired a man named Zabuza Momochi to assassinate Tazuna. I think you might be able to persuade him to come to the side of Konoha. Do what ever you can to get information on Gato as well. Once you do, summon a Void to capture Gato and bring him here for retribution."
"Yes sir. How many may I take with me?"
"Kakashi will be going with you as well as two people who will be your ANBU back up. But choose wisely Naruto."
"I choose Anko Mitarashi and Asuma Sarutobi." the Third Hokage smiled and nodded.
"I will inform them. But I suggest you get back to your team. A Shadow Clone will only last as long as the chakra you put in it holds out." Naruto nodded and disappeared
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Naruto switched places with his clone right as he disappeared. He moved towards Kakashi and tossed the scroll to him without Hinata and Sasuke seeing.
"Who'd you choose?" Kakashi whispered.
"Asuma and Anko."
"Asuma's a sensei to Team Ten." Naruto carried a bag of empty cans to the shore.
"He can take a break."
"Whatever."
(The Next Day)
Naruto rushed through the forest and tackled Tora. Looking him in the eye, he cast a Genjutsu using the technique one of the ANBU members had taught him that sent the chakra through the hands.
Tora dropped to sleep instantly. Sasuke and Hinata came around the corner quickly.
"Caught him napping under a tree." Naruto said. Together they nodded and ran to the Hokage Tower. Once the cat was returned to its owner, Naruto started their plan.
"Hey, old man, quit giving us stupid D-rank missions! Give us a freaking C-rank or something!"
"Naruto," yelled Iruka. "These mission are made specifically to-" he started to say but the Hokage held up a hand.
"Okay Naruto, I'll give you a C-rank mission. Here. An elderly man needs body guards to the Land of Waves so he can build a bridge to the main land. Mr. Tazuna, please come inside!"
The door opened and an elderly man with a traveling pack and a bottle of sake in his hand walked, well, stumbled, in.
"These are the people who are gonna protect me? A bunch of kids and a pervert?" Team Seven started to growl. "Just meet me at the village gate in twenty minutes." he turned and stumbled away down the hall.
"Naruto and Kakashi, I need you to stay. But Hinata and Sasuke may leave." ordered the Hokage. Sasuke and Hinata walked out of the room. Iruka and the council members shifted and became ANBU members. Asuma and Anko stepped forward.
"Come on brat, we gotta get going." said Anko. Naruto rolled his eyes and his form started to shift. Instantly he was in his ANBU armor.
"Okay, here's the deal. Track down this Zabuza person. Most likely he will attack the Genin squad and Kakashi. At this point, I'll be knocked away into the woods and change into my ANBU gear. Then we will intervene and say that Konoha sent us as reinforcements. After the battle, I'll make a Shadow Clone with enough chakra to last for several weeks."
"I wish you good luck." said Sarutobi. They all bowed to him and disappeared.
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Naruto and Kakashi walked together to the gate. Hinata, Sasuke and Tazuna were waiting for them there. "By the looks of things, Tazuna has been irritating Hinata and Sasuke." said Naruto.
"How can you tell?"
"They tied him upside down with his own underwear and painted his hair pink." Kakashi eye smiled and flashed through two hand signs.
"Water Style: Cleansing Spring Burst!" a blast of water slammed into Tazuna. He fell to the ground with his appearance back to normal and no trace of pink from the sake in his cheeks.
"Is everyone ready to go?" Sasuke and Hinata nodded and Naruto nodded to the guards. They pushed the doors open for them and they started to take a step out when a horrible shriek ripped the serene silence apart.
"SASUKE, IT'S ME, SAKURA!" Sasuke jumped behind Hinata to hide as Sakura came running towards them. "Sasuke, where are you going?"
"We're going on a C-rank mission to the Land of Waves." Naruto stepped in front of Sasuke.
Sakura looked at Naruto in confusion. Then she stared at Hinata with Sasuke's arms around her waist. She tossed Naruto aside and looked Hinata in the eye.
"Sasuke, why are your arms around this weakling girl?" she asked.
"Because he's my boy friend you pink haired banshee." growled Hinata. Sakura stared at them in surprise.
"Excuse me, are you Sakura Haruno?" the pink haired girl turned to see Naruto.
"Yes, that's me. Who wants to know?" Naruto reached for his sword, but Kakashi stopped him.
"I'm Sasuke's other teammate." he said through clenched teeth. Kakashi was holding his wrist to stop him from chopping Sakura's head off. "And we need to be on our way. So could you please leave?"
"Go away you stupid blonde." Naruto's eyes flashed red and a fireball set Sakura's hair on fire.
"RUN WHILE WE STILLL CAN!" yelled Sasuke. They grabbed Tazuna's collar and pulled him away. He flapped in the wind like a loose rag. Sakura rolled on the ground and tried to put the fire out.
Anko and Asuma trailed behind them.
"What'd you think Asuma? Can Naruto handle his first assassination?"
"I uses we'll find out soon enough.