A Jinchuuriki's Tale Chapter 3: A-Class Mission! Protect the Wind Lord's Daughter!

Naruto was excited, he hadn't been on a mission in four long years! He could finally show some results of his training, maybe it would be a rescue mission? Or an assassination? Naruto flashed his trademark fox-like grin as he thought of the many possibilities.

-Meanwhile at the Hokage Tower-

Tsunade had just finished what she considered a big chunk of her paperwork and felt a bit proud of herself, she looked around to see if she was alone, and the moment she did she pulled a scroll out of her robes, unrolled it, bit down on her thumb, made a series of hand signs and smeared the blood across the scroll as she whispered to herself with a sly grin: "Sake Summoning Jutsu."

A bottle of Sake manifested out of thin air in a thin layer of white smoke. Tsunade took a swig and after a long sip(Or two) she sealed the half bottle of Sake back in it's scroll for another day such as this. She sighed and after a moment of silence a knock was heard from the other side of Tsunade's office door. Ino emerged from the doorway and walked inside as she asked: "You wanted to see me Lady Hokage?"

Ino had changed much since her Genin days in the areas of intellect, power, but mostly beauty. Ino had changed a lot quite physically and recently she's been eye candy for much of the men in the village, young and old, her ponytail ran all the way down to the back of her butt, she wore short sleeved black t-shirt which was tight enough to show off her bust, she wore a pair of tight black pants that showed off her curves, when she was younger she craved for attention but now since she's had her share of that she just wanted to fall in love. You know? Have a sweet guy that's loving, kind, and strong.

Tsunade who was slightly flushed smiled as she said: "Yes but your teammate has yet to arrive."

Ino sighed and leaned against the wall as she asked: "I hate waiting.. By the way who is my teammate?"

Before Tsunade could answer the however the door burst open with a handsome, excited looking blond Shinobi emerging from the doorway. The Blond Shinobi kept a sly grin on his face as he said: "Hey Tsunade what's the mission?"

Ino eyed the blond in confusion and looked at Tsunade and asked: "Tsunade who is this?"

Tsunade laughed and a moment later she said with a smile: "This is Naruto Uzumaki, since he went to the Ninja Academy with you I was under the assumption you've met."

Ino blushed hard, not because she didn't know who the mysterious Shinobi was, no she was blushing because she had actually thought of Naruto as handsome! Since when did he look like that?

Naruto grinned at her reaction and a drop of sweat moved down his forehead as he said: "It's alright Ino don't worry about it, you're not the first one to not recognize me." Ino merely nodded as she thought: Why am I acting so damn nervous! You're not Twelve anymore get a grip girl! Ino smiled and covered up her nervousness as she said: "Hey Naruto it's good to see you again, sorry I didn't recognize you, you just look…. Different…" Naruto smiled and eyes Ino up and down as he said: "I could say the same thing about you…"

Ino blushed as she thought: "Is he Flirting with me?"

Tsunade motioned them to quiet down so she could explain the mission, she cleared her throat and said: "You two have been training hard for years and have abilities that are considered to be Chunin level if not higher, you two have an Class-A mission to protect and escort the daughter of the Lord of the Wind country. Your mission is to get her to the Hidden Sand Village at all costs even if it costs both you your lives, understood?" Ino bowed in response as she said: "At once Lady Hokage." Naruto smiled and responded: "I can't die until I become Hokage anyway, this will be a piece of cake."

Tsunade nodded and said: "Very well you may come in now."

A tall slender girl who was about five feet and ten inches in height walked into the room, she was very beautiful with long black hair and makeup on her face. She bowed to Naruto and Ino and said: "Thank you very much for protecting me, if there's anything I can do for you….." She eyed Naruto with a sly grin and winked at him as she continued: "Just let me know, okay?"

The setting sun shone brightly over the Hokage Monuments as Naruto, Ino, and the Daughter of the Wind Lord stood by the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village. They walked through the Konoha forest westbound toward the Wind Country and as they walked the daughter of the wind lord clung herself to Naruto's arm as she said: "I'm so glad my daddy hired a big, strong Ninja to protect me."

Naruto blushed and smiled as he responded: "I'll risk my life to make sure you're safe."

The Wind Lord's daughter flashed a sly grin as she said: "My hero!" She smiled and eyed him up and down as she asked: "So my name is Jade, what's yours?" Naruto smiled as he replied: "I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Jade giggled at Naruto's sudden exclaimation as she said: "Cute name."

Ino on the other hand was watching the wind lord's daughter and glaring at her with a burning look of jealousy embedded into her eyes as she threw hersef into Naruto's arms like that.

As she watched this girl a sudden realization hit her: Was she actually jealous of Naruto?

When Ino woke up Naruto and Jade each were sleeping peacfully in their respective beds. Ino stood up and woke Naruto and Jade up and began to put away her sleeping back and put out the fire as she got her things together. After about twenty minutes they had continued their mission to the Hidden Sand Village, they had finally made their way out of Konoha forest and they now walked along a dirt road with a river running along the left side and some deep forest running along the right side.

Naruto and Ino sensed movement from behind them, Naruto and Ino made eye contact, nodded and immediately turned around. Naruto immediately formed his trademark hand symbol as he called out: "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Several shadow replications of Naruto's figure manifested in a cloud of white smoke. Three Clones protected Jade as Ino and Naruto rushed forward into the group of Bandits that surrounded them, several of Naruto's clones took out the small fry as Naruto charged up his Rasengan and rushed at the leader full force. The leader who was not expecting such a rushed move took full impact of the attack the flew through countless trees landing in a fresh crater in the ground. Naruto made another group of shadow clones to keep the bandits busy as him, Ino and Jade disappeared without a trace. The bandit leader stood over the spot where their target was a moment before and swore to himself as he said: "Damn they got away."

Hey guys did you like my new chapter? Ino's jealousy is going to play a major role in her and Naruto getting together, first she begins to feel attracted to his character but her jealousy is going to evolve those feeling into something a little more romantic, anyway I'm not going to do much with the Jade's character, The next chapter will be up shortly within the next few days, please REVIEW! Peace! - DemonicLove555