Chapter 4:
"Sensei we're in position, can we move in?"
Kakahi sat in the shadows and listened to his students, murmur in agreement with the girl, well Sasuke murmured, Naruto shouted excitedly. Though more controlled than usual as their target was close, and they did not want to lose the demon again.
"Ok then, GO!"
They moved in quickly and in a swift movement Naruto caught their prey.
Which then started to violently scratch the blondes face.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH! GET IT OFF OF ME!"
The rest of the team winced at the loud blondes voice, Makoto sighed and took the demon cat off of Naruto's face keeping a bundle of cat nip under it's nose.
She grinned slightly at the blondes pouting face and Sasuke smirked slightly at the sight, "Moh, I why would anyone want that demon back, for crying out loud this beautiful face almost got destroyed by it's evil clutches."
"Pfft, beautiful. Yeah right."
Naruto gained a tick mark and turned to the uchiha in an angry huff, "HAH, you wanna go teme, dattebayo!"
"Please as if I'd waste my time on you." The boy turned from the blonde and then spoke, "C'mon they're expecting us back with the pet."
Makoto sighed a little as she watched the two interact, Naruto huffed and then proceeded to give a foxy smirk to the girl, he gained a snobby air around him and in a monotone voice gave an impression of the last Uchiha, "Come along, Makoto they are expecting my pompous ass back at the station, we must hurry or the tea will get cold. *clap* Chop, Chop!"
He then walked behind the irate Sasuke, sashaying his hips exageratedly and pointing his nose into the air.
Makoto laughed, "Spot on, Naru." She ruffled his hair as they walked back to the missions office.
In a tree a few feet away a sweatdropping Kakashi sat, as he thought 'They completely forgot about me didn't they...'
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They arrived at the admissions station, and then proceeded to feel a bit bad about the demon cat for he was promptly squished by it's owner.
"Poor thing no wonder it ran away..." makoto looked as the woman left with the cat being suffocated by her, Naruto winced, "Yeah well, karma's a bitch."
Sasuke grunted in agreement and the rest of the shinobi in hearing distance agreed with the sentiment since they too had been subjected to the horror of the Tora mission.
The hokage coughed interrupting the silent agreement of all present, "Good job Team 7, now for your next mission you have the exhilirating choice of either cleaning our wonderful park or taking care of lady Riki's children."
Team Seven grimaced at the thought of taking care of Lady Riki's children, and the thought of cleaning the park again was less appealing, you'd think in a militaristic style government that the citizens would have enough discipline to not litter or grafitti the place, but they still did.
"NO! NU-UH! NO WAY! I don't want to take care of another babysitting job, or cleaning mission, please this is literally killing my awesome ninja pride. C'mon old man I'm not the same kid as in the academy, I don't prank and I'm getting better at this whole discpiline stuff, please give us a tougher mission. We can gaurantee a success, right Makoto."
The girl raised a brow, but turned to the Hokage and bowed respectfully, "I do believe that we'll have success with a slightly higher mission if you'll allow us the chance Hokage-sama, and also if Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke agree."
She looked at the other two with imploring eyes and Sasuke nodded and bowed as well, not as deeply but just enough to show respect.
Kakshi scratched the back of his head, "Mah, I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be, the only way we'll grow is if we continue to challenge ourselves, I believe a tougher mission will prove to be the challenge you all need to grow."
The entirety of the rooms occupants jaws dropped, even the Hokage looked surprised, Kakashi sweatdropped, "You know I'm not just a lazy good for nothing right."
"*cough* Of course," The hokage looked through the mission scrolls and nodded, "Fine, if Kakashi believes you are ready I think I have the perfect mission for your team, it's an escort mission."
"Ooh is it a princess, a government official, what is it!"
Hokage looked at the over excited blonde with fond exasperation, Makoto lightly slapped the back of his head, "If you'd let Hokage-sama finish you'd find out."
Naruto looked at the girl slightly embarassed and quieteted down, "Now as I was saying, it's an escort mission to the Lan of Waves. You'll be escorting mister Tazuna, please bring him in."
Makoto's nose crinkled with disgust at the overwhelming smell of alcohol, 'Not a pleasant smell when your sense of smell is stronger than most, not a pleasant smell even with normal senses.'
The man looked at the 3 teens with glazed a eyes and a dissatisfied shine, he points at the lot his voice slightly slurring, "This is what I'm stuck with three kids who don't even look as if they could clean up after themselves, a runt, a freak, and a pretty boy."
Makoto sweatdropped at the man's speech and didn't take notice of the insult directed to her, "Sir to you we may not seem like much, but do not underestimate Konoha's ninjas. We are the strongest ninja village and for good reason, he may seem runtish but Naruto's trapmaking and stealth skills are on of the highest in our graduating class, and Sasuke was at the top of our class. Also I may seem freaky, but usual it's the ones with the most peculiar appearance which are the strongest, take my sensei for example, " Kakashi sweatdropped at that, 'I do not look weird... do I', "He is strong extremely so, so do not fret for you are in good hands, sir."
She bowed to the man.
He looked at the girl surprised and the glaze from his eyes seemed to lift a bit and he nodded, "Well, we'll see kid."
He walked out.
The hokage nodded, "Good Makoto you handled it well, and Naruto I'm surprised you didn't attack the ma- Ah, you were holding him back Makoto."
She looked to her right and nodded and she let go of Naruto, he glared at the door where the man left, "Tch, Bastard he doesn't even know you and he wrote us off like that, he pisses me off. Why'd you stop me Mako-chan?!"
She sighed, "He did not know us, and also the insult was insignificant to me, I got my point across."
Naruto pouted, "That doesn't mean I don't still dislike the guy."
In his mind even Sasuke was angry at the man forwriting them off, and also for insulting Makoto. To him it did not matter how someone looked like as long as they were strong, and this man just insulted them not taking into account their strengths.
Hokage nodded, "I see, well tomorrow you leave please go and prepare."
"Yes, Hokage-sama"
Kakshi also spoke, "We'll leave at 8:00 a.m. sharp, I won't be late so be there early or I'll leave without you."
Team Seven looked at the man in surprise at the strictness in his voice.
"Yes, sensei!"
Either way though they were excited for the next day.
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That Night.
'I don't know if I can do this, i know I've trained my whole life for this and I know what is most likely to come, but whagt if me just being here changed what was going to happen, what if I didn't train enough, if me being here gets my team my family killed, I -I -I -I -I -I-'
"Hey, HEY! Makoto, you there!?" A worried Naruto sat in front of the worried girl, she sat in the corner murmuring to herself in the beginning before he heard through the thin walls her crying and distressed voice.
His eyes shined with worry and were a tad moist, he had never seen his strong friend like this so vulnerable, and alone. In the dark corner of her bed worrying and scared for the next day.
How many times had she had to hide her worries from him?
He looked at her slight dissapointment in his eyes not for her, but for himself for not being there for her.
Her eyes were glazed over with the millions of possibilities of things going wrong of screwing up everything of making someone die just because she was there, of-
*SLAP*
The sound of skin meeting skin echoed through the room, Naruto looked at her with hope in his eyes that she had snapped out of whatever she was in.
Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Naruto, she felt at her cheeks and gained a look of embarassment. She quickly wiped away her tears of worry, she grinned a bit in apology. Forced.
"Ah, Naru-chan, sorry did I wake you up? The walls sure are thin for you to have heard me, I made sure to keep quiet too."
"Why?"
He looked at her with sad eyes and eyes brimming with unshed tears, she looked at him confused, "Wha- What do you mean, we have a mission to do tommorrow and you need your strength-"
"Why, would you keep quiet, why would you need to stay silent when you cry, to keep your worries to yourself, why would you choose to do that, aren't I your friend, can't I help you?"
He gripped her arms and looked at her, "Please Makoto, I'm here too, you know. I may not be the most mature or the smartest, but I'm here to help, I'm your friend, and your mine so please. Let me help."
Her forced grin wavered, tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, and she cried.
It was quiet as if she had practiced enough, so that no one would hear, and even more muffled since it was into the shoulder of her longtime friend.
"I-I'm scared Naruto, wh-what if I mess up, what if you die, what if Sasuke dies, what if Kakashi-sensei dies?! I don't want to lose you guys, your everything to me, my family."
He gripped her, tightening the hold around her comforting her with his warmth and scent.
"Your not alone Makoto, you aren't I can gaurantee, and you won't be not after this mission or the next, or any after that for that matter, you get it. We'll come back from every mission maybe a bit scuffed, hurt, or even missing an arm or two, but guess what when we walk through Konoha's gates, we'll be together, and smiling about something stupid I probably did, and then we'll eat Ichiraku Ramen, and then we'll come home. The next morning you'll force all of us to eat breakfast in Sasuke's house, because he has a stick too far up his ass to invite us himself. You'll make the miso with a bit of an extra kick, and you'll give Sensei extra eggplant's in his miso."
Her crying turned into slight sniffling as she smiled slightly, she looked at him and his eyes shined brightly in the moonlight, he looked at her focused and determined.
She sucked in a breathe at the intensity in his eyes.
"And we'll continue to do that until we're old and senile, you get it. Because we're Team Seven and we're stronger together, and we'll be together until old age and boring death's do us part."
She smiled a soft and kind smile, her teeth shined, and her eyes held a sort of relief and happiness as she looked at him.
He leaned down and connected their foreheads, "Don't forget Makoto, your not alone. I won't let you be."
They stared into eachother's eyes, a calm and relaxed atmosphere surrounded them, naruto smiled brightly at her.
She grinned then, "Thanks Naru-chan, umm... you can let go now."
His eyes widened and he quickly let go, already missing the heat she gave off, he rubbed the back of his head embarassed, "Sorry abou that I kinda got really sappy there-"
She kissed his forehead, and smiled "Don't worry you being sappy saves me a lot of worrying."
He blushed brightly.
"Ummm... well I only cam here to check on you, are you sure your alright?" He questioned his eyes serious again, she nodded.
She was truthful too, since while she still had worries they were quelled by his words of reassurance.
He let out a breathe, "Okay, then well I need sleep *yawn* so go to sleep too, kay."
He got up to leave, but she grabbed his arm.
"Can you stay just for tonight, like when we were kids, please." Her voice lost confidence as she continued on her line, ending in a desperate whisper.
He nodded, "Sure, dattebayo! I'll stay!"
He smiled widely and she smiled smally, "Thanks."
They settled into the small bed, squeezing together, since they last time they shared a bed was when they were 7 and were much bigger now.
They slept.
Unaware of the comforting warmth they shared, becoming something a bit more.
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The next day Naruto awoke early to the smell of food being cooked, "Naru-chan you should get your pack we'll have to leave in 30 minutes after breakfast, kora."
He groaned, "Yeah, yeah *yawn* I got it-"
She nodded and turned back to making the food, a comfortable silence filled the room, "Thank you Naru-chan."
He smiled, his crinkling at the corners as his eyes sparkled in happiness that he could help his friend, "Anytime Mako-chan!'
She smiled a bit of heat rushed to her cheeks, her dark skin though did not let it show.
He left the room saying he would be back later after a shower and gathering his things, 'Ah how embarassing, aren't I supposed to be the older one, jeez...'
She served their breakfast and they ate.
Soon they left, meeting with Sasuke on the way to Konoha's entrance.
He nodded to them and they cotinued on their way Naruto filling up the silence that his two rather stoic compatriots left.
By the time the client and their Sensei arrived, it was exactly 8:00, he looked over them satisfied by their determined expression, "Alright Team 7, Let's move."
Naruto pumped a fist in the air, "YEAH!"
Sasuke grinned in excitment, and Makoto smiled a bit worried for the events to come, but excited all the same.
Tazuna grumpily, exclaimed to keep quiet as he winced and held his head in pain.
They continued on their way, following a path that many have walked on and many more will walk upon, to carve out their own stories.
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Hey author here please leave comments if you can, and sorry about the cheesy end to the chapter but I thought it would be nice after Mako's meltdown.