So I finally finished this chapter! I had such a writers block! Well here is the chapter. Its short and there is not much to it but the next couple of chapters will be awesome.

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TheRokudaimeHok

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Chapter Twelve: C-Rank

"Seriously!" Ashi yelled as he stomped his foot.

Naruto and his genin team stood in front of Tsunade, who sat behind a long desk with several scrolls scattered around. Shizune was holding TonTon and standing behind the desk to the Hokage's left while Iruka was sitting to the right of the Hokage. Naruto face palmed as his student made the outburst.

I'm so going to get yelled at for this… Naruto thought to himself.

"Another D-rank! Come on! We are perfectly suited for a C-rank!" Ashi continued to yell.

Tsunade smiled at the kid, He reminds me a lot of Naruto.

Déjà vu… Iruka thought.

"Come on! Please give us a C-rank! I am tired of chasing cats and picking weeds!" Ashi continued to complain.

I happen to agree with him, but this is not the appropriate way to get a higher ranked mission… Morimaru thought.

Oh… he's going to get us in trouble! Kasumi thought.

"Ashi! Quite down!" Naruto yelled.

Ashi glared at his sensei, but then did what he was told. Naruto shook his head and sighed.

"Ashi, do you know why Genins get missions like those?" Tsunade asked.

"Well… no…" Ashi shook his head.

"Because missions like these bring money into the village. They help build houses, and pay the shinobi. Missions like these keep the village running. They also help teach genin the responsibility of carrying out missions and teach them discipline," Tsunade explained.

"Oh…" Ashi replied.

"Genins receive D-rank missions, and C-rank on occasion. Chunins receive C-rank and B-rank missions. Jonins receive B-rank and A-rank missions," Tsunade continued, "Usually, I only give C-rank missions to Genin who aren't rookies and whose sensei agrees they are ready for them."

"I see," Ashi nodded.

"But," Tsunade said, "If Naruto agrees, I will give you a simple C-rank mission."

"Tsunade-baa-chan," Naruto started.

"Please, Sensei!" Ashi clapped his hands together and faced Naruto.

Kasumi and Morimaru also turned to face Naruto.

"Please, sensei!" Kasumi repeated.

"Sensei, I do believe we are ready," Morimaru said logically.

The three genin stood and starred at Naruto with pitiful faces for what seemed like forever. Naruto smirked and turned towards Tsunade.

"Thanks, baa-chan. Put the responsibility on me," Naruto glared at her.

"Hey, they are your responsibility, Naruto," Tsunade sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, "So, what you do you think? Are they ready?"

Naruto turned back to the three genin who were still starring at him, then back at the Hokage, "Yeah, I guess."

"YES!" Ashi yelled.

"Yay!" Kasumi giggled.

"Hn," Morimaru grunted.

"Alright then, your mission is to take a sealed scroll to Suna for the Kazekage," Tsunade sat up and place her arms on the desk.

"Suna, huh?" Naruto huffed.

"Yep, Suna. I thought you would appreciate that, Naruto," Tsunade grinned.

"I do," Naruto nodded.

"What's in Suna, Naruto-sensei?" Kasumi asked blinking up at the blonde.

"I'll explain later, Kasumi," Naruto said as he walked up to the desk to grab the two scrolls. One containing the mission details and the other one for the Kazekage.

Tsunade handed Naruto the scrolls but didn't let go of the second one. She pulled him down to whisper something to him.

"The scroll is sealed, only the Kazekage will be able to open it," Tsunade explained, "Be careful, Naruto."

"I always am," Naruto smirked.

"No, your not," Tsunade shook her head and let go of the scroll. Naruto place both in his pack and headed out with his genin following him.

Naruto met with his Genin outside the Hokage tower and told them they would leave tomorrow morning at 7. The trip to Suna would take about 3 days each way and the mission itself would take about a week. The genin nodded and went their separate ways.

The next morning, Naruto met his team at the gate about an hour past when he told them too. They yelled at him for being late and Naruto just smiled while he gave them his latest excuse. Everything seemed to be going perfectly fine.

"Alright, according to the information Tsunade gave us, the scroll is sealed so that the Kazekage is the only one who can open it. It contains classified information. We are to deliver it in three days. It will take us about two and half to get there, giving us plenty of time, but we should head out soon," Naruto explain to the three genins.

Kasumi raised her hand, "What's in Suna that Tsunade-sama thought you would appreciate?"

"Oh, um… well one of my best friends lives in Suna," Naruto smiled.

"Oh, are you planning on seeing him, Naruto-sensei?" Kasumi continued to ask.

"Yes, I do believe so," Naruto smiled.

Kasumi nodded understanding. Morimaru stood off to the side with his arms crossed. Ashi was standing in the back facing away from the group and starring out of the gates.

"That's right," Naruto smiled, "This will be your first time out of the village. Isn't that right?"

Ashi turned towards his sensei and nodded.

"Well, let me check your bags and we will head out," Naruto instructed.

The three genin opened their bags and handed them to Naruto for him to check. Once he was finished, they placed their bags back and headed out. They had to travel by foot because Naruto hadn't taught them to climb trees yet.

Maybe I will teach them too, while we are out. Naruto thought to himself as he walked behind them.

Kasumi and Ashi were walking next to each other and chatting quietly about something while Morimaru was walking silently slightly behind them with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Naruto laughed to himself when he remembered how excited he was when he received his first mission outside the gates of Konoha. His group of genin resembles him and his friends so much that it was a little ridiculous.

"Naruto-sensei!" the call of his name shook him out of his thoughts.

Kasumi, Ashi and Morimaru all stopped walking and were staring at him.

"What?" Naruto replied unsure who exactly called him.

"Aren't we taking the wrong path to Suna?" Morimaru asked.

"No, we are taking the faster route, but its slightly more dangerous," Naruto shrugged.

"More dangerous?" Kasumi questioned with a hint of worry in the tone of her voice.

"Slighly," Naruto nodded as he continued walking, the three genin following, "Normally shinobi don't allow civilians to take this route due to the fact the this is bandit country, as well a missing-nin."

"Bandits?" Ashi repeated.

"Missing-nin?" Kasumi repeated.

"Ah, " Naruto confirmed, "But you three asked for a C-rank mission and because you three don't know how to jump through trees, this is the fastest route for us."

"We'll be fine," Morimaru huffed and rolled his eyes at his teammates worried expressions.

"Yes, you will," Naruto looked around, "Although since the war, there haven't been as many bandits or missing-nin around, so I believe we are pretty safe."

"See, Kasumi?" Ashi said, almost as if he was trying to convince himself, " we are fine."

After numerous hours of walking, the sun was finally beginning to set and Naruto decided it would be best it they stopped for the night. He found a small clearing in the forest and instructed the three to set up their tents. Naruto finished setting up the basic security seals around their camp site, something he learned to do in his few months of ANBU missions, while the three genin sat around a small camp fire, which Naruto had also started. Naruto sat down across from the genin and laughed to himself. They were tired. None of them had probably ever walked this much, and they still had and day and half left.

"You three are quiet," Naruto observed.

"Tired is all, sensei," Kasumi replied with a weak smile.

"You sure?" Naruto pushed.

The three remained silent once more and this finally push Naruto to find out more.

"Alright, what is it?" Naruto asked.

Ashi lifted his head and was about to speak but something stopped him. Morimaru shook his head and Kasumi remained silent watching the logs slowly burn.

Naruto sighed, "You know, I've got some friends in the interrogation division and they taught me a few things. Don't make me force it out of you."

"Alright, you don't have to go that far, sensei!" Ashi about yelled as his eyes widened.

"So? What's bothering you three?" Naruto glanced at each of their faces seeing who would talk first.

"Well…" Kasumi started.

"We wanted to ask you a few things but they are slightly inappropriate questions," Morimaru explained, "So we were hesitant to ask."

"Slightly inappropriate?" Naruto repeated slightly confused then laughed, "Do you know who you are talking to?"

"Good point," Kasumi smiled sweetly.

"So…" Naruto pushed once more.

"Are you the Kyuubi, sensei?" Ashi asked slightly above a whisper.

Naruto chuckled slightly forgetting that they younger generations aren't taught the difference between the Kyuubi and the Jinchuuriki, "No, I am not the Kyuubi it self, but I am the Jinchuuriki for him."

"The Jinchuuriki, sensei?" Morimaru repeated.

"Yes, the host or vessel for any tailed beast is called a Jinchuuriki. I am and have been the vessel for Kurama since the day I was born," Naruto nodded.

"Kurama?" Ashi asked.

"Yes, the Kyuubi's real name is Kurama, although he doesn't like any one else calling him that," Naruto shrugged.

"Oh," the three chimed at once.

"Any other questions?" Naruto asked.

"Is it true that the Kyuubi attack the village at one point?" Kasumi asked.

"Yes, the day I was born, that's how I became the Jinchuuriki," Naruto explained, "But the details of that day are classified, so I can't give you any more than that."

"I see," Morimaru nodded.

"Are you really the Yondaime son?" Ashi asked.

Naruto laughed again, "Yes, Namikaze Minato is my father. Can't you see the resemblance?"

Kasumi and Ashi both laughed and Morimaru just huffed.

"Are there any stories you can tell us from the 4th Shinobi War?" Ashi asked.

"There are a few I suppose that aren't classified," Naruto thought aloud.