Updated: June 7 2014

I recommend you reread chapter 7 and 8 to get the beginning of this chapter.

17. The First Mission

Minato was stuck in deep thoughts.

He had been training with his team, and lay down on the grass. Something in his mind had recently grown bigger and bigger; he found himself utterly confused for the first time in a long time. Kushina had found him there and sat down next to him, and when he hadn't given any sign of acknowledging her existence on the training field, she had grown curious.

"What're you thinking about?" she asked.

"It's just something I don't really get," Minato said, frowning. "Remember that mission Danzou sent me on that nearly had me killed?"

Kushina nodded. She wouldn't forget so easily.

"Well, I just don't see how it fits," Minato continued, supporting himself on his elbows and looking at the trees as though they would give him the answer. "First of all, anyone could've taken on the intruder, it didn't have to be me. But Danzou seemed really sure that it should be me, because I would suit well for the job."

"Well, you did, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but what are the chances a lightning wielder is running on his own, trying to get into Konoha on one of the main tracks?"

"He was a decoy though, wasn't he?"

"Yep," Minato said. "And that's really what I don't get. How could they've known I was going to go after him?"

Kushina thought about this for a while.

"A spy wouldn't help, the decoy was already on his way, wasn't he?" Kushina asked. Minato nodded. "Unless," she continued. "They knew you were free and about to see the general?"

"So you mean they took a chance that I was going to be assigned the mission?" Minato said.

"An intruder should be taken care of quickly, right? Maybe they took the chance that they would time it right with your return to the border post."

"Maybe …" Minato said, but it still seemed rather far-fetched. Then, he looked up at Kushina as though he had just seen her. "What're you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Kushina replied with a smile. "Old man's sending us on a mission."

"Really?" Minato said. This would be the first time they would go on a mission together after they came back to Konoha.

"We're meeting at the Hokage tower in fifteen minutes," Kushina said, getting up and reaching out a hand to help him up. "Let's go."

Peace negotiations.

For the first time in his life, Minato actually felt that he could do something Hokage-related. He was one of those who had been sent in the third's place, because obviously, the Hokage himself couldn't leave Konoha in such a state.

They were travelling to a country far North, a country he had barely heard of. It consisted of an unknown group of islands, and they kept themselves rather hidden, unnoticed and away from any inter-continental conflicts. Also, it was a country that was supposed to be freezing cold. Apart from his showers, Minato had never really known what that was like.

The Hokage had prepared the meeting with the Northern Islands' lord for a long time in order to secure themselves a good spot on their ally list; the country, albeit unnoticed, was full of skilled, well-trained soldiers, and any threat against them could crush the opposing land. They might not be engaged in war, but Konoha currently had a sorry relationship with the other countries up North, and having an ally not too far away would be wise in case they were engaged in a battle outside the Fire country.

The Northern Islands had demanded that the Hokage sent 'his best, most promising warrior, their biggest weapon and their most organised leader in his place', and in return, they would show them the same. The third had explained that the Islands liked to know how their allies worked, and by showing off their strongest and smartest, they would be given loyalty and a confident friendship back.

And so, the two leaders of the two countries had agreed that the two strongest should battle together. Minato was highly curious and could honestly say he looked forward to fight someone who might be as equally strong as himself.

Kushina had departed with the same determination on her face, but he knew better; she hated being called a weapon. The Kyuubi was Konoha's strongest protection (even though it was out of control), and the Northern Islands could be sure there was nothing stronger than that; and by exposing their jinchuuriki to them, they would be sure Konoha was serious about their peace negotiations.

Their organised leader was general Hiromu, and Minato felt somewhat weird about being given instructions by him again. Having trained a team of his own had given him the freedom to rule, and he had gotten quite used to it as well.

"Sensei, how far are we going?"

Minato looked down at Rin. He had been allowed to take his team with him; they had shown so good progress lately that he felt a mission like this, protected by three skilled jounin, was good experience for them.

"Very far North," Minato replied. "It takes about two weeks to get there, as far as I know."

"Two weeks?" Obito asked a little taken aback.

"We're travelling the last bit by boat," Minato said to answer Obito's unspoken question of why the travel took so long.

The first part was the easiest. Walking in their own country was, after all, rather safe, and they met several people they knew on their way; a much more pleasant meeting than an ambush. Though the travel took one whole day and nothing in particular happened, Minato had to smile at his little team of excited genin and unofficial chuunin; this was the first time they went outside the Fire country, and they took in every single part of the journey, even though they hadn't even left the safe and secure shade of their own trees.

When they reached the border, however, Minato felt that it was time to knock the seriousness and danger of the mission in their heads.

"Listen, you three," Minato said and stopped to kneel before them as they were about to pass the guard at the border post. The three kids looked at him in silence; Minato was rarely not smiling, and when he wasn't, they knew he was going to say something important.

"It's important that you follow our instructions from now on," Minato started. "We're heading into enemy territory now, and we have to do so carefully so they won't notice us. We're walking in formation: general Hiromu first, then you, Kakashi – you're the fastest of you three, you can take on any direct ambush quickly with the general – then you, Obito, because you have techniques that suit well to back them up in case they're having difficulties, and Rin, you're in the middle. As the medic-nin, you need the most protection. Kushina's right behind you, and I make the end of the line."

He looked at the three of them in return, watching how the information was sucked inside their heads.

"Don't make any loud noises or sudden moves. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to go back to Konoha, you do so. Do you understand?"

The three kids nodded, if a little frightened; Minato had made it sound like they would be in furious battles because he knew they wouldn't take it seriously enough if he didn't.

"Good," Minato said, now smiling reassuringly at them. "Let's go."

And treading across the invisible line that marked the border between two countries, Minato had a feeling there might be more furious battles than he had liked.