Disclaimer: Repeat after me…
I!
DO NOT!
OWN!
Naruto!
Just the girls this time… *Cricket chirps* Ok I get the point
---
Chapter 8: Missions, Missions, oh and look, A Team Swap
What? You were expecting more missions?
"I have spotted the target at 3 o'clock of my current position."
"Roger that. I'm movin in."
"B-Be Careful Kiba-Kun."
Just then, Mutt jumped out of a bush at a cat with a ribbon tied to its ear. However, because he fails at life, he missed and the cat got away. (Please don't kill me Kiba fans)
"The target is getting away," Beetle said as he ran past the downed Mutt.
"Arrgh," Mutt growled as he got up, "I'll get him this time. Let's go Aka-Hey! Akamaru! Where are you?"
"I can't find Naruto either," Hime stuttered as she looked around for Naruto.
Elsewhere, on a branch, Akamaru, Naruto, and the cat with the ribbon, which had somehow sprouted an additional 3 tails were sitting leisurely as Beetle, Mutt, and Hime were running around trying to catch the cat. "HA HA HA," Naruto laughed as he watched Mutt fail once again, "This is more fun than that time I put Superglue in Mutt's shoes! You have got to teach me that technique Tora."
"Sure my young foxy friend," the cat, now identified as Tora replied with a huge Cheshire smile, "I'll teach ya after I finish toying with the humans down there."
"As amusing as it is to watch the humans run around chasing a shadow clone," Akamaru stated with a yawn, "Don't you think we should be down there helping them? You know to avoid suspicion."
"I guess you're right," Naruto said shrugging, "Alright Tora, I'll give you an hour at most, and then I'll have to end this little game of cat and mouse."
"More than enough time," Tora said as he stretched and lay out on the branch, "I'll just set my internal clock for one hour then I'll switch with my shadow clone."
One hour and two small broken bones later, courtesy of Naruto jumping off of Mutt's head in order to catch Tora's shadow clone, we find team 8 in the Hokage's office.
---
"Ok," Alpha said as he looked over a piece of paper at team 8, Mutt wearing a cast on his arm, "Considering that this is the 3rd mission related injury involving Naruto and Kiba, I have decided to change the teams around a bit. As it just so happens, another genin has been having troubles with her team so, Naoko, please come in."
Sugar walked in through the door, a sheepish smile on her face. "Heh Heh," she chuckled, "Hey there Otousan. Kiba-Baka. Hinata-Chan. Shino-Kun. Kurenai-Sensei."
Sighing, Alpha continued, "Alright, now that you are all here, as of this moment, Kiba Inuzuka, you are an official member of Team 7, under Kakashi Hatake, and Naoko Namikaze, you are an official member of Team 8, under Kurenai Yuhi."
"Yays," Sugar cheered while Mutt groaned, "Oh come on! How come Shino gets to be on a team with a bunch of hot chicks?"
Cue Mutt getting beat up by Alpha and Sugar… Alpha because he was insinuating that his little girl was hot, and Sugar because she just doesn't like him. So as of now, Mutt is not a member of team 8 and I can no longer be bugged about it. Yay!
---
The newly reformed team 8 went on many terrific adventures, saved thousands of lives and fulfilled all their wildest dreams… just kidding. They just did a bunch of random D rank missions, like walking dogs, cleaning the river, catching Tora… 5 times, and a bunch of other unimportant stuff, until one day.
"That's enough Otousan," Sugar said with a huff, "I am tired with all these lame ass missions! Give us something with a little more zing!"
"Well, considering that you have accomplished the required the number of D rank missions," Alpha said as he stamped pieces of paper and placed them in differing stacks, "I guess if Kurenai-San believes that you are ready."
"I think that they are more than ready," Mirage replied with a smile, "They have proven to me that they can work very well as a team and I believe that they can handle something a little tougher."
"Very well then," Alpha said with a grin as he pulled out a piece of paper, "As it just so happens, I have the perfect mission to break you guys in. It's a C-Rank mission on the border of Lightning and Fire country. A group of bandits have been terrorizing a village for the past month and then disappearing without a trace. Seeing as Team 8 is a tracking squad, this should be the perfect mission for you."
"Sounds like fun," Sugar said clapping her hands with joy as she jumped up and down with excitement. Hime smiled shyly and Beetle merely nodded. "Very well," Mirage said, the smile still on her face, "We accept this mission."
"Very good. I hereby assign the 'Missing Bandits of Thunder Clap Village' mission to Team 8. You leave in 24 hours so get plenty of rest. You can pick up your mission requirements and map of where you need to go at the gate tomorrow before you leave."
---
"All right lets go on an adventure," Sugar yelled out excited, a leather pack on her back.
Naruto yawned and thought, 'Does she have to be so noisy this early in the morning?'
"Alright team," Mirage said as she held a slip of paper in one hand, and a map in the other, "Gather round so I can explain the mission."
Everyone did so as she spread the map out on the ground. "Alright," Mirage said as she pointed to spot labeled 'Konoha', "This is where we are now," she then pointed to dot just inside a line marking the border of Fire and Lightning country, "This is our destination. It will take 2 days at least by foot so we will need to get started. While we walk, I would like each of you to look at and study the jutsu on these scrolls." She then pulled out three scrolls, and handed one to Hime, Beetle, and Sugar. "Hinata, your scroll is on the more advanced Jyuuken stances given to me by Hiashi-sama," Mirage explained as Hime opened her scroll, "Shino, your scroll explains how to use your Kikaichuuchu to create bug clones, and Naoko your scroll shows how to do 'Earth Clones'."
"Oh come on," Sugar whined, "Earth Clones?! Outosan knows I suck at Earth Jutsu! Why couldn't he have given me some flashy Wind Jutsu instead?"
"Your father believes that learning a Jutsu of an element that you have difficulties with would be good training for you," Mirage explained calmly, "So I don't want any complaining. Got that?"
"Yes Sensei," Sugar pouted as she opened her scroll and began reading.
'This could take awhile,' Naruto thought, 'I better just sleep until we get there.'
Naruto's Mindscape
"Alright," Naruto said smiling as he used his tails to open a large scroll, easily twice as big as he was, "What Jutsu should I work on today."
He began looking over the various Jutsu depicted in the large scroll, several of them had large check marks painted next to them to show which ones he had finished and which ones he still needed to work on. "Hmm," Naruto mused as he came upon one depicting a rather strange looking barrier type looking Jutsu, "The Yokai Detection Jutsu would probably be useful. Never know when it may come in handy. Especially since we will be out of the village for awhile."
Naruto proceeded to work on the Jutsu.
Real World 2 Days Later
The trip was uneventful, unless you count Sugar accidentally knocking over a wasps nest and setting the entire hive after them. She just didn't have any luck when it came to insects, something that baffles even Shino. They all managed to learn everything on their scrolls, although Hime was still having a little trouble getting the footing just right in her Jyuuken.
"Finally," Sugar sighed as they crested a large hill and spotted a small village, "We made it to Thunder Clap Village."
"No time to rest team," Mirage said as she continued walking, "We need to find the Elder's house and report in."
Just then a villager walked up to them and asked, "Are you lot from Konoha?"
"Yes we are," Mirage replied, "Could you please direct us to the Elder's house?"
"Of course," the villager said with a grin, "We have been expecting you. Please follow me."
---
"Welcome," a rather wrinkled old man with a walking stick greeted as Mirage, Sugar, and Hime walked through the front door, "I was wondering when the ninja's a sent for would show up."
"I apologize for the delay Elder," Mirage said with a bow, "But we did not receive your request until just recently."
"That's quite alright," the Elder replied as he bowed in return, "I have one question however. I thought you ninja worked in teams of four? Where is your other member?"
"Right here," Beetle's voice came from outside as he too walked in, "I was outside looking for leads on where we might find the bandits. Unfortunately it would seem that they have done a good job covering their tracks."
"Well that's no good," Mirage mused, "Tell me, do the bandits have usual routines, or any traits that we can use to catch them?"
"As a matter of fact," the Elder replied, "They usually show up on Thursdays, which just so happens to be tomorrow."
'Thank Kami for convenient loopholes,' Naruto thought as he stretched out and walked outside, 'Looks like we won't be here all that long after all.' Maybe if he had stuck around to listen to the rest of the Elder's explanation, he would have learned that this mission was not going to be as easy as he thought it was going to be.
---
"So tell us," Kurenai asked as she sat down after seeing Naruto walk out, "What exactly have the bandits stolen anyways?"
"Well not much," the Elder explained as he too took a seat, "Mostly just the usual things. Money, food, riches, an ancient artifact housing a bloodthirsty demon, that kind of stuff."
"Well it doesn't sound like all that mu-WHAT," Kurenai exclaimed as she stood up suddenly, "What do you mean an artifact housing a bloddthirtsy demon?!"
The Elder laughed and said, "I was merely joking. There's no way a village such as this would ever posses such an object."
---
Meanwhile, in the bandits hide out.
"I tell ya Bob," One particularly short and fat bandit said to a tall skinny bandit, "I don't see any reason to stick around these parts to loot dried up towns like this one."
"And I'm telling you Bill," the tall bandit replied in a grumpy tone, "The boss is looking for something in that run down old village, and we can't leave until we find it."
"I still don't see why we need a dusty ol' key for anyways," Bill said with a huff.
"Silence," a louder more authorative voice said as a strong built man walked into the room, "I have told you time and time again, that key is going to land us heap of cash, so I don't want any complaints, you hear me?"
"Hai, Captain Rugby," Bill and Bob replied with a salute then hurriedly ran off so as to not anger the bandit chief any further.
"…or at least," Rugby said, seemingly to himself, "That's what you keep telling me, isn't that right, Koorimasu (1)?"
There was a shimmer in the air at the bandit's question and then he said, "Very well, soon you will be free, and then I will be rich."
---
"Alright team," Mirage said to Beetle, Hime, Sugar, and Naruto, "According to the village elder's information, the bandits should show up sometime tomorrow, just as the sun rises. We need to prepare for that so I want each of you to work on fortifying the village's defenses. Shino I want you to place your Kikaichuu beetles in strategic points around the village so as to alert is when and where the bandits appear. Hinata, you and Naruto will patrol the center part of the village and direct the rest of us while using your byakuugan. Naoko, you will use your earth clones to repair the village walls. I myself will organize the villagers. We have only a few hours people, so let's get to work." Everyone rushed off to their designated areas. Everyone except Naruto that is, who merely yawned, curled up and fell asleep.
The next day, Just before dawn
"Is everyone ready," Mirage asked using a hand free radio strapped to her neck as she stood atop the wooden wall surrounding the village.
"All clear on my end," Beetle responded, "My Kikaichuu beetles are working at top efficiency. No sign of the bandits has been reported yet."
"I-I don't see anything either," Hime added, "But I will keep my eyes peeled."
"Zzz," came a rather loud noise over the radios. "Naoko," Mirage yelled, "Wake up!"
"Huh," Naoko said abruptly as she awoke, "What's that? Are the bandits here yet?"
"No," Beetle said calmly, "But it would be best if you remained awake so that you are not caught by surprise."
"Oh come on," Sugar wined, "As if I could be caught off guar-"
"Bandits spotted," Hime said suddenly, "They are coming from the south, just outside Naoko's checkpoint."
"That's odd," Beetle said, "My Kikaichuu beetles have not reported anything, they must be using some sort of counter measure against insects."
"We don't have time to think about it, "Mirage explained, "Everyone, be on your guard."
Sure enough, the bandits appeared just south of the village, numbering at in at least 25, all wielding some sort of weapon. At the head of the pack were Rugby, Bill and Bob. "Alright," Rugby said with a huff, "I don't want any fooling around. We go in, burn the place down, find the key, then scram, got it?"
The bandits all let out a cry of confirmation as the rushed towards the village, only for them to trigger a trap set by Sugar the night before. Kunai launched from a nearby tree, killing 2 bandits instantly, and wounding a third. "Be careful men," Bill shouted, "It would seem that the pesky villagers have hired some shiboi so watch where you step."
They continued to move forward at a rapid pace, this time watching out for traps. By the time they reached the village gates, there were still 21 bandits, not including Bob, Bill, and Rugby who had fallen to the rear of the pack.
Suddenly, the leaf ninja leapt out from their hiding spots and put themselves between the bandits and the villages.
"Looky here boys," one particularly ugly bandit with an eyepatch and Mohawk said with a crooked grin, "Looks like we got ourselves some pretty young things. Try and take them alive, kill the boy."
"I don't think so," Mirage said with a disgusted look on her face, as she ran through hand seals, "Magen-Jubaku Satsu (2)." A tree burst forth from the ground, trapping a large number of bandits in its grip. "Go Hinata, Shino, Naoko. Finish off the rest while I handle these pigs."
So now the score was 3 leaf ninja versus 12 bandits, not including the three mentioned earlier.
"Kikaichuu no Jutsu (3)," Beetle said as he let loose a swarm of bugs. "Oh good lord," the bandits cried as the bugs promptly began eating up all their chakra, "Get them off! I can't stand bugs!" Four bandits down.
"Doton: Tsuchi Bunshin no Justu (4)," Sugar said running through hand seals. 4 clones appeared from the ground and proceeded to beat the crap out of another four bandits.
"Naruto, let's go," Hime cried as she threw him a kunai, which caught in his mouth, "Juken (5)!" She proceeded to attack the internal organs of two bandits that were closest to her. Naruto on the other hand, made a beeline for the other two bandits, then using his chakra, ran up and around the first ones body, and when he reached his neck, slit it with the kunai. Then using the still standing, now dead bandit, leapt at the other one and proceeded to do the same thing to him.
Overall, it wasn't the longest of battles. Soon the entire troop of bandits layed dead or horribly beaten at the shinobi's feat. "Well that takes care of that," Mirage said as she dusted off her clothes, "Now lets clean up here."
"Not so fast," a voice came from behind them. Startled, the ninja turned and saw Rugby and his two goons standing there looking triumphant. In his hands was a sort of key looking object. "You killed my men, and therefore, I cannot let you leave here alive."
"Ha," Sugar laughed, "What good will you and two other men do. We have you outnumebered a nd out gunned."
Rugby chuckled evilly at this, which confused everyone, including the two other bandits, "You say you have me outnumbered and outgunned. But I must disagree. We actually have the same numbers, but we also happen to be stronger."
"Stop bluffing," Mirage said as she pulled a kunai from a her waist pouch, "I can only sense three of you and it is plainly obvious that none of you are ninja's."
"That may be true," Rugby replied as he raised the key above his head, "But once I unlock him, the tide of battle will shift into our favor."
'Something is fishy about all this,' Naruto thought, ' I better use that detection jutsu.'
He focused and suddenly, he sensed a powerful presence, originating from within Rugby, 'NOT GOOD!"
"Now come forth," Rugby said with and evil laugh, "Koorimasu!"
He brought the key down and slammed it into his chest, a burst of energy leaping forward from the point where it made contact. The ninja brought their arms up to shield their eyes from the dust that was kicked up from the burst of energy, and standing before them was a grotesque, humanoid creature with blue gray skin and horns, wearing nothing but a tattered pair of pants. "Now that I have released you, you must do my bidding. Destroy these four and make sure that nothing is left behind."
The creature just stood there, not moving an inch. "Didn't you hear me," Rugby asked, angry, "I said kill the-" He was cut off as the creature, Koorimasu, swung around and plunged one sickly looking claw into his stomache. "I heard you," Koorimasu said in a faint, raspy voice, "But what makes you think that I will obey the likes of you, human."
"But," Rugby wheezed out as he slumps to the ground with a thud, "We had a deal."
"You should know better than to make a deal with a hell demon," Koorimasu laughed as he turned towards the two remaining bandits, "Boo."
They screamed and ran for their lives but to no avail. "Aoi Honoo (6)," he said as he brathed out a blue fire towards the fleeing bandits. As soon as the flame touched the fleeing bandit's skin, they fell to the ground, frozen in a thick block of ice. Koorimasu walked over to the downed bandits and said "Itadakimasu." With a rattley intake of breath, blue energy rushed from the bandit's bodies and into his mouth. "Disgusting," He said as patted his stomache, "And not the least bit filling this chakra." It was at this time that he finally took notice of the shinobi. "Awe," he said as he licked his lips, "Now this is more like it. What fine chakra you four have. Now be good little humans and let me eat it."
At this Sugar could take no more and lunged at Koorimasu, kunai drawn. He simply caught her by the throat and said, "Let us see what we have here… Wind chakra. Disgusting, dry, not in the least bit filling, but quite a bit of it no doubt." Suddenly Beetle appeared bind him and tried to stab him. Koorimasu just threw Sugar at him knocking the both of them over. "Lightning chakra, sour and tangy, but my least favorite type."
"Magen-Jubaku Satsu," cried out as she tried her genjutsu out on him but it didn't seem to work.
"Fire and earth chakra," Koorimasu said with a contemplative look on his face, "Fire I admit is fairly tasty. Very spicy. But like wind is not very filling. Earth on the other hand is bitter but is the most filling of all the chakra."
Then he spotted Hime who was shivering in fear, clutching Naruto to her chest. He was growling protectively, as if daring him to even try to get close to her. With a sudden burst of speed, Koorimasu was at Hime's side in an instant. He knocked Naruto away as he tried to leap at him. "My what have we here. Water chakra? Now we are talking."
He grabbed Hime's arms, pinning them to her sides. "Water is both juicy and sweet. My absolute favorite. Yours is particularly pure and delicious looking. Well it is time to dig in."
He started to breath in, sucking out Hime's chakra. No one could get to her in time. 'NO,' Naruto thought, 'I won't let you have her!'
Suddenly, a light burst forth from him. Chakra flying all around him in paper shaped formations. The chakra began to layer itself on him. His third tail had emerged.
Koorimasu was sent flying as a fist connected with the side of his head. "What was that," he asked as he sat up. His eyes widened at what he saw.
"You won't touch Hime ever again you filthy, low class, Oni," Naruto said, his eyes red with rage.
Cliffhanger.
Yes I am just that evil
---
Extra 3
"Hello everyone," a robed figure said as he sat in a comfy armchair next to a large fireplace that was currently lit with a warm, welcoming fire, "My name is Gora. Necromancer Gora. But you may call me Gora. None of the characters will be able to host today as they are busy preparing for the next chapter. So, I will be your host today. First of all I would like to apologize for the poor quality of this chapter after making you all wait so long for it. The next one will be much better, I assure you. Full of action, drama, and humor. Not to mention the long awaited appearance of Naruto's human form."
Gora flicked his wrist and a book flew off a nearby bookshelf and landed, open, in his lap. "Today we will be discussing just what a demon's human form is. Well obviously it is when demons take the appearance and shape of a human but just what are the benefits of this? Well, for starters, it allows demons to interact with humans without revealing their demonic nature, but it also serves another perpose. You see, although demons are essentially beings made entirely made up of chakra, they actually have very little control over it. This means that they can only perform very large techniques while in their demon form. However, when in their human form, the essentially limit the amount of chakra they can use by at least two tails worth. This is the reason why a demon must have at least three tails in order to take a human form safely. While a demon is in human form, they have less chakra at their disposal, bur in return their chakra control increases substantially, thus allowing them to use a wider variety of techniques."
He closed the book and it flew back to the bookshelf. "Now let us head on to our character appreciation portion. You all voted, or at least I hope you all voted. So here he is, the Toad Sage, Jiraiya."
At this Jiraiya walked in, and sat in a another armchair next to the fire, "I hope you have the payment."
"But of course," Gora replied as he handed a sealed envelope to the perverted hermit, "10 pictures of Tsunade in a string bikini. It's all there."
Jiraiya giggled perversely as he opened the envelope and looked at the photo's. "How did you get her to pose for you," he asked.
"I promised to make sure that no debt collectors would hound her during this fan fiction," Gora replied simply, "But enough about that, I do believe you have come here to advertise something."
"That's right," Jiraiya said happily as he tucked the photo's away, "Today I would like to talk about my latest novel, Ichi Ichi Foxy Love."
"What is it about," Gora asked although to be hoest, it sounded like he really didn't care.
"Well it's about a princess who falls in love with a demon fox," Jiraiya explained, "They make love and have may children without the king lord knowing about it. In the end, well, you'll just have to read it and found out for yourself."
"Sounds interesting," Gora said with a yawn, "Anything else?"
"Nope," Jiraiya said with a grin.
"Alright everyone," Gora said as Jiraiya walked off, "Give a big hand for Jiraiya."
The male half of the audience whistled and clapped happily while the female half booed and hissed in distaste.
"Well next we would like to introduce a new segment of our show. The Supernatural Characters portion. In this portion we will describe in greater detail the various mythical creatures that show up in the story. We only have one today but next time we will have more. Today's topic is on the demon cat Tora."
With a snap of his fingers, a detailed graph appeared in thin air, a picture of the four tailed Tora next to it.
Name: Tora, first name is unknown
Age: Mental (60), Chronoligical (750-estimated)
Species: Demon Cat
Tails: Four
Known Relatives: Mate, Daughter (the two tailed demon lord)
Hobbies: Messing with Genin and instructing younger demons
Favorite Technique: Shadow Clone
This demon cat is well known for his stealth. He only can be caught when he wants to be caught. He is several hundred years younger than Kyuubi but is still a good friend of his. He served as the two tailed demon lord for about two hundred years before handing the title over to his daughter. Despite the fact that he is a cat, he gets along surprisingly well with Naruto and Akamaru. It is unsure just how he came to be the fire lord's wife's pets but he refuses to exaplain.
"Very good," Gora said as the graph faded out, "Now we have the final segment, the Fan Appreciation segment. We still are short by 19 reviews before our next reviewers list, but no need to fret; I feel that it will probably reach that point after this chapter. Until then, I have two new pole for you. The first is in regards to what we should talk about in our next demon lore segment, and the second is who you would like to see in our next character appreciation segment. So once you are done reading, head on over to my author page and vote. If you would like to suggest an option not listed in the polls, PM me and I will add it. Just make sure to go back and vote once I have. As always, thanks for reading. This is Necromancer Gora, signing out."
---
(1) Koorimasu / Freeze
(2) Magen-Jubaku Satsu / Demonic Illusion-Tree Binding Death
(3) Kikaichuu no Jutsu / Destruction Bug Technique
(4) Doton: Tsuchi Bunshin no Justu / Earth Style: Dirt Clone Technique
(5) Juken / Gentle Fist
(6) Aoi Honoo / Blue Flame
Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get out. I have been really busy lately. I would like to also say sorry that the quality is not as good as usual but I am sure you can forgive me once you see what I have cooking up for the next chapter. Please review and I hope you will continue to read and enjoy 'Son of Kyuubi.' Goodbye.