Chapter 3: Protect the Bridge Builder
The mission for today for Team 7 was to retrieve someone's pet. A D-rank mission to be most precise. None of them were really excited about this mission, but they had to do it anyway. Team 7 got into their positions to capture the pet. Sasuke and Sakura were behind the bushes of where they got perfect visual of their target: a cat. Kagome and Naruto were somewhere else at the time because they had their own plan. Sakura shot towards the cat. She grabbed onto the cat's legs just before it could enter the bushes.
"Got ya!" Sakura said, smiling. But then her smile disappeared when the cat glared at her. It turned around with a glare in its feline eyes and rewarded her with scratches. Sakura let go of the cat in order to stop receiving more scratches. Then the cat took off. Sakura was clutching her face, whining about the cat that 'ruined her beautiful face'. Sasuke sighed when he saw her mental state. He couldn't believe he had her for a teammate.
Haruno is a hopeless case, huh Naruto-kun? Kagome thought, sighing as she heard Sakura's cry. Then Naruto sighed as well.
I have to agree with you on that one, Kagome-chan. Naruto thought. Kagome and Naruto were in a different position not far from Sasuke and Sakura. They heard rustling and a cat appeared in the clearing. It spotted the fried fish on a stick that was standing in the ground. It walked over and started eating the fish that Kagome and Naruto had left out for bait. The cat looked up at Kagome and walked over to her and jumped into her arms. Kirara started to hiss with jealousy as she sat on Naruto's right shoulder, glaring at the cat who was receiving Kagome's attention.
"Don't worry, Kirara. You're still my favorite cat." Kagome said as she pet the cat who was purring at the gentleness of Kagome's fingers. Kirara mewed in happiness, the glaring look gone.
"Before you give the cat anymore comfort, did you find a bow on its left ear?" Kakashi asked through the microphone.
"Hai, found it." Naruto said, spotting the dark pink ribbon on the cat's ear.
"Alright, mission complete. Tora, lost pet, has been found." Kakashi said.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the cat. Kagome thought.
Me, too. Naruto thought. The both of them, even Kirara, sweat dropped as they watched the cat nearly being suffocated by its owner.
"The cat deserves to be suffocated after what it did to me." Sakura huffed while crossing her arms. Unfortunately no one heard her because the others stared and sweat dropped at the sight of the cat attempting to escape its owner tight grasp. The lady paid the Hokage and left afterwards. When the Hokage told them more of D-rank missions, Naruto finally snapped.
"I'm tired of all these chores! I want a real mission!" Naruto yelled.
This was going to happen sooner or later. Kagome, Sasuke, and Kakashi thought with a sweat drop on the back of their heads. On the other hand, Sakura thought he was being annoying.
"Naruto! You're still genin! You have no experience and you have to do D-rank missions until you can improve your skills!" Iruka said with a tick mark on the back of his head.
"How exactly are we supposed to do that if we keep taking all of these D-rank missions?" Kagome asked. Everyone looked at Kagome, surprised that she was agreeing with Naruto.
"Not to be rude or anything, we won't be able to improve if we continue doing these missions. In order to do that, we need a chance to show our sensei of what we're capable of. Right, Naruto-kun?" Kagome asked as she turned to Naruto. He nodded.
"Hai, we want a better mission!" Naruto said.
"I agree with Kagome-chan and Naruto. How else are going to improve ourselves?" Sasuke asked. He also agreed with Kagome's logic. He was also getting tired of these low rank missions. Besides, he wasn't in the mood for babysitting anyway.
Sarutobi was surprised to hear that Kagome, Naruto, and even Sasuke wanted a better mission. It was true that Naruto wasn't the same boy who always did pranks to cause attention. He seemed to have better himself with the help of Kagome. Maybe Kagome is right, they do need a chance to improve themselves. He wondered if this mission will work out for them.
"Alright then, I will give a C-rank mission." Sarutobi said. Everyone brightened at the news of a C-rank mission.
"You will be bodyguards for this mission." Sarutobi said.
"So who are we guarding? A feudal lord? A princess?" Naruto asked, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Calm down, Naruto-kun." Kagome said. Naruto stood still.
I don't think we're quite ready for a lord or princess yet, Naruto-kun. We might get someone with a low social status. Kagome thought.
Like who? Naruto thought, confused.
"Bring him in." Sarutobi said. The door opened and a old man who looked drunk appeared. You could easily tell by the pink color across the nose area and the bottle of sake in his left hand.
So this is the guy we're guarding? Naruto thought, staring at the drunken man.
I'm afraid so, Naruto-kun. Kagome thought with a sweat drop on the back of her head, On the bright side, at least we don't have to do weed picking.
I would rather call that more of the dim side, Kagome-chan. Naruto thought, his left brow twitching.
Hai. Kagome thought, the corner of her lips started to twitch.
"So these are my bodyguards?" The man asked after he chugged down the last contents of the bottle of sake, "A bunch of snot-nosed kids?"
That grew a tick mark on the side of Kagome's and Naruto's heads, including Kirara who hissed at the man. But everyone else sweat dropped at the comment.
"So who are you?" Sakura asked.
"I'm Tazuna, an expert bridge builder. You'll escort me back to my land safely at the cost of your lives." Tazuna said.
"Don't worry! You'll get you there safely!" Naruto said with a thumb up while grinning. Tazuna turned his eyes towards Naruto and scoffed.
"I'm not so sure that I can trust my life to this idiot." Tazuna said. Another tick mark appeared on Naruto's forehead. Kagome quickly held him back from attacking the rude man. Even though she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but they can't kill the client. Even if he's just plain rude.
This is going to be one long mission. Kagome thought with a sigh.
Kagome's mother wished her and Naruto good luck on their first mission outside of the village. Kagome could easily tell that Naruto was very excited about traveling outside of the village. She and Kirara were excited as well. Traveling outside started to remind her of her adventures around the feudal era. They met up with the rest of their team and Tazuna at the village gate. On the other side of the gate, Kagome sensed that someone was watching them. But what now caught her attention was when Tazuna said a rude remark about Naruto. Then Naruto began fighting a battle of pride with Tazuna. Kagome luckily broke up the fight before it got even worse.
I can't believe we have to protect this drunk! Naruto thought, angrily.
I fully agree with you, Naruto-kun. Kagome thought, sighing.
"So Haruno." Kagome said.
"What?" Sakura asked.
"Are you excited about leaving the village?" Kagome asked, smiling.
"Of course." Sakura said, huffed.
"You're screaming with excitement on the inside, aren't you?" Kagome asked, smiling smugly.
"NO I'M NOT!" Sakura screamed at Kagome.
She so is. Kagome and Naruto thought at the same time.
"Are you sure I can trust these kids?" Tazuna asked, turning towards Kakashi.
"Don't worry, I'm a jounin." Kakashi said. Tazuna's expression changed at that moment.
"We're all good?" Kakashi asked and everyone nodded, "Then let's go."
"So Kakashi-sensei, are there any ninja is the Country of Waves?" Sakura asked as she walked next to Kakashi.
"No, there aren't." Kakashi said, "This is a C-rank mission. There won't be any battles."
Sakura let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, she won't have to fight. She glared at Kagome as she walked between Naruto and Sasuke. She couldn't figure out why Sasuke wanted to be near Kagome. Sasuke had never shown interest in any girl during the academy. What does Sasuke see in Kagome?
There's a smell of water up ahead. Kagome thought.
Is there a river nearby? Naruto thought.
No, by how small the scent is, it must be a puddle. Kagome thought.
A puddle? Last time I checked, it hasn't rain in days. Not to mention it's sunny out. Naruto thought.
Exactly. Kagome thought.
Does that mean? Naruto thought.
Hai, we're being followed. Kagome thought.
Are you sure? Naruto thought.
I sensed two auras near us since we left the village gate. Kagome thought.
So how are we going to handle it? Naruto thought.
Something tells me that Kakashi-sensei already has a plan. Kagome thought.
Really? Naruto thought.
Hai, we'll just go along with it. Kagome thought.
Gotcha ya. Naruto thought. A few minutes later, two figures with iron claws appeared out of nowhere and threw their metal chains that wrapped around Kakashi in a vice grip. With a powerful yank of the chain, Kakashi was sliced into pieces.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Sakura screamed. Everyone's eyes widened with shock when the chains was yanked.
"One down." The first ninja said as he headed towards Naruto.
"Kirara, protect Tazuna!" Kagome said as Kirara left her shoulder. She quickly rushed towards Naruto, who stood frozen, as the chains were headed towards him. She stood in front of Naruto and summoned a barrier. The chains bounced off the barrier and Kagome grabbed one of the chains and pulled the ninja towards her. She punched the ninja in the face and he landed smack against the tree behind him. Sasuke kicked the second ninja into a tree who tried to attack Kagome's unprotected back. The first ninja recovered quickly from Kagome's attack and headed straight towards Sakura who was standing in front of Tazuna with a kunai in hand. Suddenly, Naruto and Kagome were in front of her. Naruto held his kunai against the ninja's right claw while Kagome held her katana against the ninja's left claw. Both of them pushed one of their legs on the ninja's chest and shoving him away. The ninja stumbled and headed straight for them once more. Sasuke rushed to the four of them. Unexpectedly, someone caught the ninja in a headlock.
"Kakashi-sensei, you're alive!" Sakura cried out with tears of relief in her eyes when they saw their beloved sensei holding both of the ninjas in a headlock who were struggling in his tight grip on each arm.
"Yo." Kakashi said in a carefree tone. Naruto was pointing at him with shock and then he turned at the spot where his sensei was torn to pieces. There was a pile of torn pieces of wood.
You thought he was torn to pieces, huh? Kagome thought.
Yeah, for a few seconds. Naruto thought.
Right. Kagome thought, sarcastically.
"Well done, Kagome, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto. Especially you, Kagome." Kakashi said. Then he heard a sad mew near his feet. He looked down and saw Kirara with her ears down.
"Of course, you too, Kirara." Kirara mewed happily at the compliment.
Shortly after that, Kakashi tied up the two ninjas to a tree. Real tight.
"How did you know we were following you?" The first ninja asked.
"Use your head, you idiots." Kagome and Naruto said at the same time.
"What?" The second ninja asked, confused.
"There was a rain puddle on the side of the road." Kagome said, "It hasn't rain in days."
"Plus, it sunny out." Naruto said while pointing at the clear sky.
"A puddle shouldn't even be there." Kagome and Naruto said.
"Correct." Kakashi said.
"If you knew that, why did you let the kids fight?" Tazuna asked. He couldn't believe that this man would let his students fight against two ninjas that could have killed them. Kakashi turned towards Tazuna.
"Tazuna, I need to talk to you. These two are chuunin-level ninjas from the Hidden Mist Village. They're known to fight no matter the cost." Kakashi said, "Genin are not suppose to risk their lives. We're suppose to protect you from armed robbers or gangs, not ninjas. In other words...this isn't a C-rank mission. It's a B-rank."
Tazuna looked down at the ground, "I'm sorry."
Kagome caught the scent of blood in the air. She traced it which lead to Naruto's left hand.
"Naruto-kun, you're injured." Kagome said, pointing at Naruto's hand, which was bleeding.
"This mission is too advance for us. Let's go back." Sakura said, "We need anesthesia to get the poison out of Naruto and find a doctor!"
Naruto clenched his fists at the thought of not finishing the mission. He quickly took out a kunai from his holster and pierced it into his wound. Everyone's eyes widened as his blood squirted out and dripped onto the kunai.
"Naruto, what the heck are you doing?!" Sakura exclaimed when she saw Naruto made his wound even worse.
"I will be stronger. I've accomplished many missions up til now. I've trained everyday with Kagome and Uncle Koichi. I'm never going to turn my back on someone who needs my help. I'm never going to get frightened again and back out of things. I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE TO SASUKE! I vow on the pain in my left hand that I will protect the old man with this kunai!" Naruto said. Kagome's eyes widened at the look in Naruto's blue eyes. It was a look that showed courage and determination. Someone who has the guts to fight against his opponents and never back down. Then she realized the situation.
"That's great and all that you got the poison out spiritedly, Naruto-kun. But we won't be able to continue the mission if you die from blood loss." Kagome said, pointing at his hand that had his kunai pierced in it. Naruto's eyes slowly widened when he stared at his wound. There was a silence as his mind began to process the situation.
3…2...1…
"AAAAAHHHHH! NOOOOOOOO!" Naruto yelled while letting out tears that came out like sprinklers and waving his arms up and down at a rapid pace. Everyone sweat dropped at the sight. Kagome quickly caught his wounded hand and used her miko-ki to heal it. She cleaned off the blood and put some medicine on it.
"Kagome-chan, why are you putting medicine on a wound that's already healed?" Naruto asked.
"It's to soothe your nerves which were pierced by your kunai. To make the pain go away for awhile." Kagome said as she finished wrapping the bandage around his hand.
A few hours later of walking, Team 7 along Tazuna sat in a boat with a rowing man steering the engine it. He cut the engine and started rowing with a oar. Just when Naruto was about to ask why the engine was cut off, Kagome gave him the explanation.
"We don't want be caught, Naruto. The engine causes too much attention." Kagome said.
"Oh, that's makes sense, Kagome-chan." Naruto said.
"Tazuna-san. Before we get to the pier, there's something I want to ask you." Kakashi said, "Who is the one that is after you and why? If you don't tell us, we will abandon the mission as soon as we port."
Tazuna was silent at that moment.
"Gatō is the one after you, right Tazuna-san?" Kagome asked, "Gatō, the marine transportation billionaire?"
"Hai, how did you know?" Tazuna asked. He was surprised that the girl knew who was after him. Everyone else, besides Naruto, were also surprised that she knew who Gatō was.
"I snuck into the Hokage tower a few times and looked up on some important things." Kagome said while scratching the back of her head. She gave them half of a truth. Her mom used to be a member of the ANBU before she became a mother. She also did peek into a few things of hers before she was finally caught. Luckily her mom wasn't mad at her for wanting to know more about the shinobi world.
"You did WHAT?!" Kakashi exclaimed. He couldn't believe that Kagome was capable of sneaking into the Hokage tower. Not to mention that she had the guts to do so. He was going to have a word with the Hokage and her mother.
"I suppose I should tell you the real story." Tazuna began, "Gatō is one of the richest men in the world. On the outside, he's the president of a marine transportation company...but on the inside, he uses gangs and ninjas to smuggle drugs and illegal goods. He does terrible things like taking over other countries and companies as well. Around a year ago, he set his sights on the Country of Waves and entered it with violence and wealth as his shield, which quickly took over the sea traffic and transportation." Tazuna paused before continuing, "An island like our own, controlling the sea means ruling over the wealth, the politics, and the people of this island. The one thing that Gatō is terrified of is the completion of the bridge that has been under construction for quite awhile now."
"So that's why he fears you, because you're an expert bridge builder." Sakura said.
"Then those ninjas from earlier were hired by Gatō." Sasuke said.
"But there's one thing I don't understand. We now know that he's a dangerous man who uses ninjas. Then why did you hide that fact when you came to us for help?" Kakashi asked.
"Financial problems." Kagome said, catching everyone's attention.
"Hai. We're a poor country and we couldn't afford a B-rank mission or above." Tazuna said, "I apologize for not being honest with you from the beginning. I will understand if you wish to abandon this mission."
"Are you that dense, Tazuna-san?" Kagome asked.
"What?" Tazuna asked, confused yet angry that the girl called him 'dense'.
"Didn't you listen to Naruto's vow earlier? He vowed that we would get you home safely." Kagome said, "Once we start a mission, we follow it to the very end."
"Well, there's your answer." Kakashi said, grinning underneath his mask.
"Thank you so much." Tazuna said with a small bow of his head. He felt relieved that they will finish the mission.
"Well then, let's get you home safely, Tazuna-san." Kagome said, smiling.
They were glad that they weren't caught when they reached the pier. They spent the rest of the way walking. Soon after, Naruto and Sasuke were having a who-can-look-cool-while-walking competition. Everyone sweat dropped at the sight. Later, Kagome noticed that Naruto was looking jumpy for some reason.
Naruto-kun, what's wrong with you? You look a little bit jumpy. Kagome thought.
I feel like something following us. Naruto thought.
I feel the same. Kagome thought. Unexpectedly, Naruto threw a kunai in a random direction.
"Naruto, what the heck are you doing?!" Sakura screeched as hit Naruto on the head.
"Something is following us, I swear!" Naruto whined, cradling his head with his hands. Kirara jumped off Kagome's shoulder and went near the location where Naruto threw his kunai. She mewed and pointed towards the bushes. Kagome walked over to investigate. When she got there, she saw a white rabbit laying on the ground twitching, petrified to be most precise.
"Um, guys." Kagome said, pointing to the white rabbit.
"Look what you did, Naruto!" Sakura yelled as Kagome picked up the rabbit.
"I'm so sorry, little rabbit." Naruto said to the white rabbit as Kagome handed the rabbit over to him. She noticed something strange about the rabbit. Kakashi was focusing on the rabbit as well.
A snow rabbit. The color… Kakashi thought.
A snow rabbit's fur only changes to white during the winter time. So then that means-! Kagome thought. Then she heard a twig snap. She quickly summoned Hiraikotsu.
"Kagome, what are you…" Sakura began to say.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Kagome yelled as she threw Hiraikotsu over their heads, which banged into a giant blade that was about to decapitate them. The blade lodged itself onto a large tree trunk. A figure appeared on the blade's hilt. It was a male, around Kakashi's age. He had short spiky hair, brown eyes, and the bottom half of his face was covered by bandages. He was shirtless with two belts that formed an 'X' shape on the front of his chest and on his back. He wore matching cameo arm warmers that went from his wrist to his elbow and leg warmers along with baggy pants with pinstriped pattern and black ninja shoes. Lastly, he wore a hitai-ate with the symbol of the Hidden Village of the Mist on it which was slanted sideways on his head.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Momochi Zabuza." Kakashi said.
Lying is the most simple form of self-defence.
-Susan Sontag
