The trip as they moved toward Tea Country wasn't bad, it was rather nice actually, though Naruto didn't feel that useful as he knew that the others were pulling most of the weight as they moved, Hinata was keeping an eye on the things around them in all directions from the ground, and Sai was using his birds to keep an eye on things form the air. Naruto himself couldn't do such amazing skills to help out. Still, he wa able to see just how impressive his teammates were as they were both great at tracking. He was so very impressed with both of them, especially Hinata who had such amazing skills that she didn't show during the academy even once.

Naruto leaned against the side of the wagon, he knew a lot of tricks, his grandpa had showed him so much during the time that he had been raised by the old hokage. He knew he was a wind type and he learned a few jutsu that used such moves. Most were not that complex, but they would help, or at least he hoped that they would help in case they got in a fight. He figured that would be his role to be the muscle for the group to help in the direct fight with any foes they ran into along the way. Well that was what he told himself so that he would feel like he had some purpose on the mission as the traveled at least.

He looked around though at the countryside, not watching to but either his teammates as they were focused on looking for possible threats that might be around them or moving into their area, given this was a easy target or made to look like one, it was not going to be surprising when they did, a group of kids were here and one older ninja. Plus Aoba had been resting at that moment and wasn't even visible as he trusted them to handle it during the day and he would handle all the work at night so that Hinata and Sai and himself could rest then during the night so they could travel throughout the day.

"I see them, a group of four people moving form the southwest, they are about 5 miles out still though but they will catch up with us if they keep at their current rate of speed," Hinata commented as she looked over the others as Aoba woke up and looked at her, and then Sai after her.

"Well, Sai get on one of your ink birds and fly up high hide for the moment now.," he said instrusting Sai to check that area knowing that it would be able to most likely pick up what was their and double confirm it. "Good job, Hinata, you did well, I am sure we would be in trouble without you here," he said as he looked at the young woman before taking off his sunglasses and putting them on Hinata, "remember your not a ninja for the moment, you eyes would of given you away," he said taking off his protector and taking a jack from the merchant and putting it on to hide his identity from those coming along. "Sir, slow down and then stop just ahead of us, your things will be protected."

"Aoba sensei what do you want me to do for this plan of yours," Naruto asked quietly not sure what to do or what his sensei would have him do for the mission.

"Naruto use your multi clone jutsu and move along the road, then transform into rocks and sticks normal stuff on the side of the road, blend in, when I raise my right hand turn back and attack, you are the linchpin to this attack. How well you listen and are able to work will determine if we can pull this trick off, remember being a ninja isn't about fighting straight up but using trick and smarts to get into a fight you can win easier."

Naruto did as he was asked which cause Aoba to smile, he had potential his whole team did. They were doing well. He watched as he sat idly on the trailer and saw four men appear, one was a former Konoha ninja, most likely a genin who gave up when he fail to advance. The other two most likely common bandits. He knew the former leaf ninja cause of how he looked and remembering seeing him in one of the files of missing nin from the village. He smiled as he looked over at them. "Well hello, how are doing, what are you doing out here," he said politely like he had no clue why they were there.

The leader a man with short dark hair and a strong look to him looked at Aoba and smiled as he didn't know him, he nodded his head as he looked at the goods, "Well there is a new tax on the roads you see, and you have to pay it to get through, say one barrel of your goods and well if you do that then I am sure there will not be single problem letting you through here," the man said gruffly as he looked at Aobi, the three men with him looked like your typical bandit strong with more muscle than brains.

"Well, we need everything, we have to make money sir, we have to pay our bills and bills are rather high now of days," Aoba replied as he looked at the missing-nin who looked pissed off at him for saying that to him.

"No, you don't understand, there isn't a choice here, you don't have a choice if you want to take any of these goods to market, you will hand over now two barrels, if not I can't promise you will keep your live now, we will enforce the tax, we do make examples of those who don't pay after all," The missing-nin commented taking out a kunai and smirking as if he thought he was stronger.

Aoba raised his hand as he looked at the four, "No, your just a idiot who things he is tough and most likely only became a genin by luck," Aoba said as he used his scattering crow technique to confuse them blinding them from the danger these bandits and the missing-nin were in. As they were blinding all the Naruto's returned to form and surrounded the group before they could do anything else. A plan well planned came together perfectly, he looked at the bandits shock when they found dozens of Narutos around them, as well as himself, A Hyuuga s he took back his glasses and then the Sai dropped down to join them drawing out two ink lions to join the group that vastly outnumbered the four of them.

"I think you are, well outnumbered here," Aoba commented with a smirk on his face as he looked at the men, who were panicked with no where to go, "I would surrender now, cause well you can't win against real ninja," he commented as he looked at them, the fight was over without a real fight even needing to happen. It was good, his students could listen and could take orders, it was a good thing to know and they could work together which made Aoba even happier than anything else at that moment. Aoba looked over at Naruto and tossed him some rope having Sai send a letter where the bandits were before they continued along the path to Tea country having taken down a group of annoying bandits who were troubling the trade route.

A/N-hope you liked this, I think there will be one more chapter of this mission going over them getting the Tea but more the return trip back.