WAVES: DAY 1
"Sasuke talking. I'm at point A." The voice came from Hikari's earpiece.
"Hikari, at point C." She informed.
She frowned at the silence. Where was -
"... Naruto, I'm at point A, dattebayo!"
"Naruto, you're too slow," their sensei sighed. "Alright, Team 7. Target has moved. Give chase!"
They scrambled. The cat was smart. They had tried and failed to get it for most of two hours. Hikari had first proposed a trap. Naruto was very skilled at them, but the cat hadn't even sniffed at the bait. Next, Sasuke had proposed a food trail leading to a drop trap. They had tried to guide the cat with a small laser, but it had haughtily ignored the red light. Finally, they had resigned themselves to Naruto's ambush idea, although both Sasuke and she were weary. The blond had volunteered to be the one to make the move, and they had all agreed on the spot. Even the mellowest animal would panic at three people coming at them. She didn't fancy being scratched.
Still, Hikari thought it was a very strange feline. Tora wasn't interested in food, hadn't reacted to catnip, and stuck to the ground instead of trees.
"What's your distance to target?" Kakashi's voice asked.
"Five meters, dattebayo! I'm ready. Give the signal, sensei!"
"Ready," Sasuke agreed.
"Same."
"Now!"
Hikari leapt down from her perch as Naruto and Sasuke came from the sides.
"I have it! I have it!" Naruto announced.
Hikari leaned back as the cat hissed, scratched, and tried to bite Naruto.
"Can you verify a red ribbon in the right ear?"
"Affirmative. Identity verified," Sasuke replied. His voice echoed through the transceiver. Hikari caught Sasuke's eye and gestured to her ear. They both took the earpieces out.
"Right. Missing pet, Tora, has been captured. Mission is complete." They could hear Kakashi fine from Naruto's device. She wondered how the blonde hadn't gone deaf. Maybe that is why he is so loud?
They started walking back to their sensei's position. Naruto tried to hold the animal at arm's length to avoid its claws. Hikari winced as she saw the state of Naruto's jacket. That thing was vicious.
"CAN'T WE GET BETTER MISSIONS!? I HATE CATS, DATTEBAYO!"
The three of them exchanged glances as they heard a crash ahead of them.
"Sensei?" Hikari called. A groan answered.
"Dobe, Kakashi still had his earpiece on."
Naruto's sky-blue eyes widened. "Kakashi-sensei! I'm sorry!" He made to go after him.
"Don't let Tora go! I'll go check on him. Keep your grip tight," Hikari ordered. If she had anything to say about it, they weren't chasing that demon cat again.
"Naruto-san?"
"Yeah?"
She walked closer to him. Sasuke glanced at them. She gave him a small smile but focused on Naruto. Sasuke frowned and approached them, hands in his pockets.
"Do you remember who Tora's owner is?"
"The Daimyo's wife," the blond answered, trying to settle the cat as far from his body as he could.
"Yes. The Daimyo is Fire's political leader. He's the one who builds our alliances with other countries and decides Konoha's privileges and budget. He and his family typically reside in the capital, surrounded by advisers."
"He's important!"
"Yes, exactly. I don't know why his wife is here or how she lost her cat. Still, we need to be above reproach. Spouses routinely tell each other about their day, and we want them to have a good impression of shinobi."
"Alright!"
She shot him a sly smile. "Plus, their daughters are some of Fire's himes. If they ever need help, you don't want them to hesitate to reach out to our Team, right?"
"No, dattebayo!"
"Some of Fire's himes?" Sasuke interrupted. "Aren't they the only ones?"
Hikari glanced at her sensei. He winked at her and let her answer. She bowed her head, thankful.
"No, they're not the only ones. For example, the heiress of one of Konoha's founding clans is considered one."
"She's one of the Sannin. The Slug Princess. I thought it was only a ninja title."
She looked at Sasuke, surprised. She had figured that, as one of the last members of Konoha's other founding clan, he'd know about the last Senju.
"No, Senju Tsunade-sama saved hundreds of shinobi and civilians in the Second War. She fought in the front lines and revolutionized medical knowledge. She's acknowledged by all, even though she chooses not to wield political influence, because of her contributions to both shinobi and civilians. The daimyo's daughters are acknowledged because their family's political power affects the entire country. Himes are important to Fire as a whole, for one reason or another."
She could feel her sensei's dark eye staring curiously at her.
Hikari stood a bit straighter as they entered the Mission Desk. The Hokage sat next to their Academy teacher. What is the Hokage doing here? We've never seen him, or Iruka-sensei, at the Mission Desk. Is it because of the seishitsu? Their eyes met. She bowed her head. He nodded back, pipe on his mouth. Hikari turned, looking for their client.
A plump woman dressed in a dark purple cape that matched her eyelids hurried over. Hikari inclined her head in respect. After a brief pause, Naruto followed and offered the cat. The feline struggled wildly as ringed hands reached for him.
"Oh, my beautiful Tora. Mommy was worried for her naughty furball. Yes, she was," The woman hugged her pet to her chest and squished their cheeks together.
Hikari tugged Naruto's jacket when he opened his mouth. She didn't feel any sympathy for the beast, either, but the Daimyo's wife seemed to be in love with it. And still hadn't put it in the carrier. Until it was secure, Hikari didn't want the one holding it to be distracted. The least they said, the happier the Lady, the faster they'd both leave. Hikari didn't want the woman to recognize her. She knew it was improbable, but she didn't want to risk Naruto's wide-eyed surprise or Sasuke's calculating gaze.
The finely dressed figure moved to the other table, and delivered the payment. Team 7 turned to the Hokage.
"Now, for your next mission, we have several available tasks: babysitting an advisor's three-year-old, helping with groceries, planting potatoes... "
Naruto snapped.
"No!" He made a cross with his arms. "Get us a true mission! Something daring and exciting. No chores. Alright, jiji?"
Did he just call the Hokage old man? Hikari eyed the shinobi leader warily. However, it was their ex-teacher who stood up from his seat and started screaming.
"How dare you?! Naruto, you're a new genin. You'll start out with simple missions, like everyone else! They'll build up your skills and only then can you move forward."
"Seriously?! Babysitting isn't a mission. It's stupid!" Naruto crossed his arms.
Naruto's face crashed into the wooden floors, aided by their sensei's fist. Sasuke and she glanced down and then up at the jounin. He already had his hands back in his pockets.
"Maa, can you stop behaving like that?"
Naruto sat cross-legged, rubbing the back of his head.
"Naruto, it seems to me that you don't fully understand the privilege given to you," the Hokage spoke around his pipe. What a strange choice of words. I'd go for responsibility. And it wasn't given. Naruto passed by his own merits, didn't he?
Naruto listened to none of the Hokage's explanation of mission ranking. Instead, he told his teammates all about yesterday's dinner.
"And I want miso ramen today!" He finished.
"SILENCE!"
Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck. "I apologize, Lord Hokage..."
But Naruto wasn't remorseful. "You always act as if you were my grandpa or something. But I'm not a little child. I'm a ninja, and I want a ninja mission, dattebayo!" He crossed his arms and turned his back to the Hokage.
Hikari wanted to hide her face in her hands but couldn't show weakness. She forced herself to look forward, out of the window, as her teammate slighted the head shinobi.
The Hokage chuckled. "Naruto wants to prove he has grown up. Fine! I'll give your team a C-ranked mission. You'll escort and bodyguard someone and travel outside of the Land of Fire."
"Who!? Who!? Are we going to protect a princess or a diplomat?"
The Hokage turned his head minutely towards her. She stared back, steady and placid. His eyes creased up, but he didn't comment as he gave his attention to Naruto again. "Don't be impatient, I'll bring him in now."
Team 7 turned as the door slid open.
"What the hell! They are bunch of brats!" An unkempt senior civilian took a drink of his bottle of beer. Half of the mouthful slid down his chin and stained his tunic further. "You really want me to believe that the short idiot is a ninja?"
Naruto laughed, not understanding the insult to his person. Hikari took a step forward. She wouldn't, couldn't, stand there quietly. Show no weakness.
"And the cute little girl -"
"You may call me Sakasu-san," Hikari interrupted him, offering him a polite smile. "Unless you'd prefer to be called the unpleasant old man?" She gestured with a nimble twist of her wrist to her team and continued lightly. "We are Team 7. Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and I have graduated, showing full understanding of the curriculum. Along with our jounin-sensei, Hatake Kakashi, we will be in charge of your safety."
She stepped back, closer to her teammates than she had been. The man in front of them sneered, but he stopped drinking.
"I'm Tazuna, the great bridge-builder. I need to get back to the Land of Waves and finish building a bridge that will change my homeland. You will take me there, safe and sound, even at the cost of your lives."
None of them answered. Their sensei came up behind them and put a hand on their shoulders. "Meet me at the gates in half an hour. Pack for a couple of weeks."
Hikari made her way home at a quick jog.
"I'm home!" She called out, hoping someone else was.
"Here, sweetheart," her mom called out from the office. Hikari hurried up the stairs. The door was open.
"Mom," she greeted.
"Hikari-chan," her mother closed her arms around her and pressed a kiss to her head. "What are you doing home? Did your sensei let you go early?"
"We got our first C-ranked mission. It's an escort that should take at least a couple of weeks."
Her mom released her. "Alright. Do you need anything?"
"Can you help me pack? I'm supposed to be at the gates in about twenty minutes, and I need to change and put my hair up again."
"Of course. Let us go."
They headed to her room. Her mom immediately took a bag and started gathering stuff on the bed. Hikari took off the bodysuit and settled on a green tank top and a long-sleeved shirt with thumb-holes on top. She put on the same jacket, with her neko-te in an inside pocket she had sewn into the sleeve, and redid her bun so it had hairpins with tiny barbs hidden inside. Her mom raised an eyebrow.
"Ino helped me with it. It's so no one can grab me, but I won't stab myself with them."
"Good. Take a small medical kit."
Hikari nodded and started putting the supplies her mom had put together inside the bag. In went clothes, the kit, extra bandages, three doses of her antidote, weapons, rations, water, money, and pair of finger-less gloves. She went to a drawer and got dozens of rolled ribbons and stuffed them in a side pocket. She hesitated.
"Mom? Can you take a note to Shika?"
Her mom smiled gently. "I'll make sure it gets to Shikamaru-kun. You have fifteen minutes left, so hurry."
She scribbled out a note.
Shika,
Gone off to Waves on a C-rank. Can you tell Ino, please? Good luck with your training and see you in a couple of weeks - or more.
Yours,
Hikari.
She folded the paper and handed it to her mother.
"I think I'm good. Can you ask dad to check on the choreography I gave to Mai-senpai?" Mother and daughter moved down the stairs and started the walk to the compound's gates.
"Alright," the tall woman agreed. "It's a beautiful piece. Mai-chan will make it happen."
"You don't think it'll be offensive? That it's not really shadows but a play of silhouettes?"
"I'm certain that the Naras will like it."
They were at the gates now. Her mother turned to face her, knelt, and cupped her face in her hands. Hazel eyes met their mirror. "There is ebb and flow, song and silence, open secrets, and constant change." Thumbs stroked over her cheekbones. "Be smart, sweetheart. Be mindful of your choices. And, Hikari-chan, always remember that your father and I love you."
"I will, mom," she promised. "Say bye and pass my love to dad and Arata for me?"
"Of course."
She gave her mom a tight hug and set off with an "I love you!"
Hikari slowed down as she saw Sasuke standing with the bridge-builder. She intercepted Naruto before they reached the pair.
"Naruto-san, I know Tazuna-san is unpleasant. However, he is a client. You don't have to be respectful if he isn't, but try to be polite? At least call him Tazuna-san if you decide to... express your outrage."
"Like you did?"
"Yes. You don't need to keep silent, but you need to remember that he hired you for a job."
"Okay. It's the only time he didn't insult us."
She cocked her head.
"After you introduced us to him," Naruto clarified.
Hikari shrugged. "People get caught off guard if you tell them off politely."
Naruto grinned at her. "Or I'll leave him to you."
She smiled back and tugged his jacket so they joined Sasuke, flanking the dark-haired boy.
They had only been standing in silence for a couple of minutes when a hand settled on top of her head. "You're all here. Good. Let's go," Kakashi ordered.
Naruto immediately dashed forward and outside the wooden doors.
"Yes! Yes! This is great!"
"What's so exciting, Naruto?" Their sensei asked, hands in his pockets but no book in sight.
"This is the first time I leave the village!"
He kept peering all around, completing a circle in front of them.
"I'm supposed to trust my life to this weakling? He's a joke!" Tazuna pointed at Naruto.
"Never insult a ninja! It's a big mistake. One day, I'll be Hokage and you'll have to look up to me. My name is Uzumaki Naruto, remember it!" Hikari kept walking. That was actually an alright response. No insults.
"All Hokages are powerful and wise. You are puny and empty-headed. The day you become Hokage, I'll grow wings and fly."
"Shut up already, Tazuna-san! I'll become Hokage no matter what it costs me. And when I am, you'll have to admit I'm the greatest ninja in the world."
Hikari sighed. This wasn't really what she had meant but she'd take it.
"You may become Hokage, but you'll always be a nobody and a loser to me."
She winced. That was unnecessarily harsh.
Naruto lunged, hands outstretched. Kakashi put a hand on his backpack and held him back.
"You need to protect the client, not attack him."
"Let me go! I'll hit him good! I'll teach that old man Tazuna-san who is boss!"
They kept walking, with Naruto in front and their sensei between their client and her and Sasuke on her other side.
"Excuse me, Tazuna-san," Hikari broke the silence.
"What do you want?"
"This bridge of yours, will it stretch from the Land of Waves to the mainland?"
"Yes. And?"
"That's a big shift. How do your people feel about it?" Opening a small and secluded island that relies on shipping for commerce would drastically change their economy. Their market and jobs would increase and prices would have to stay competitive, but... Fire had greater bargaining power and could flood their industry. Some would win and some would lose. Not everyone in the island can be happy about it.
"I don't know what that has to do with you."
"Of course, Tazuna-san." Hikari traded a glance with her sensei.
"Naruto, Sasuke, can you tell me why Tazuna-san had to come to Konoha for an escort and security?"
Naruto was lost, and settled on turning briefly to glare at the bridge-builder.
Sasuke shrugged. "They don't have their own."
Their sensei nodded and looked at Hikari as he added. "A small island like the Land of Waves has the natural protection of water. They don't have a Hidden Village and haven't needed one for years."
Hikari's eyes narrowed. They'd lose that line of defense with a bridge. If they didn't have combatants, why would they risk commerce with a wealthier and militarized nation? She nodded to her sensei, indicating she'd noticed what he was pointing out. He continued explaining the shinobi map of their continent to Naruto, and the role of the Hokages. Maybe he was hoping Naruto wouldn't yell at the man called The God of Shinobi next time.
A hand settled on top of her head, bringing her attention back to her sensei. "Still, there's no shinobi fights in C-ranks. You can relax."
Is he trying to tell me that, whatever the bridge's implications may be, it doesn't involve ninjas?
They crossed a stream and came upon a clearing.
"What!" Kakashi exclaimed.
The rest of the party glanced back to see chains enveloping their sensei, held by two shinobi with metal claws.
They pulled their arms back, shredding their captive. Blood splattered outwards and soaked the ground.
Hikari's eyes widened. Without thinking about it, she tugged both of her teammates back with her. As her mind caught up, she rearranged them so they stood in front of their client.
"Ka- Ka - Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed and dashed forward.
The two unknown shinobi flanked the blond. "Your turn," they snickered and readied their arms.
Hikari's hands were already moving. Ram. Snake. Tiger. A clone materialized and tackled Naruto out of the way. The claw struck. It puffed out. Next to her, Sasuke leapt forward, gaining the advantage of height. His shuriken flew, pinning the chains to one of the trees. A kunai followed, embedding it in the tree.
Sasuke used his momentum to land, gripping the metal claws. He kicked the masked ninja's heads as his body came to be horizontal from the ground. The metal screeched as it detached from the arms. Hikari grimaced. Yes, they no longer had the chain but now they were free and the three of them were scattered. Naruto still hadn't recovered, and Sasuke was too far away.
She stepped in front of the client and made two clones to her right. She leapt up at an angle and threw a couple of shurikens towards the ninjas approaching. They deflected them easily with their gauntlets, but it gave Sasuke the chance to come to stand in front of her clones. His fingers twined together as she came down. He hefted her up and away. She twisted and glanced down, assuring herself that they were still facing Sasuke and Tazuna, and came to stand with Naruto. He picked himself up from the ground. Hikari assessed their situation. They now surrounded their two adversaries, who were still facing only Sasuke.
Across from them, Sasuke pulled out a kunai and put himself on the defensive. Hikari put on her neko-te, preparing herself to attack.
Their sensei blurred into view as he came to stand between the two groups of Team 7, holding their assailants by the neck. They dangled down, limp.
"Hello," he deadpanned.
Hikari was torn between relief, amusement, and wanting to hit her sensei for scaring them all. She locked gazes with Sasuke and reassured herself. She wasn't the only unamused one.
"But... what? He was - " Naruto spluttered.
Hikari briefly turned her head, too, but didn't put back her weapon. A couple of logs stood where they'd last seen Kakashi. No blood stained the ground. Was that a genjutsu? How hard is it to create simple visual illusions?
"Naruto, I'm sorry for not helping you right away. I didn't think you'd freeze like that. Good job, Sasuke and Hikari."
She nodded and turned to Naruto. His eyes were wide and dilated. He was looking at Sasuke. She cocked her head. Sasuke isn't hurt, so why the staring? I thought only Naruto got scratched with the chains, while her clone got the claws, but...
Sasuke put his hands back in his pockets.
"You're not hurt, are you, Scaredy-cat?" Sasuke drawled.
Naruto drew back and then shifted his weight forward. "Sasuke-teme!"
"Naruto!" Kakashi's voice stopped him from dashing forward. "Don't move, the claws had poison. We need to open up the wound and draw it out."
Hikari stepped up to Naruto as Kakashi asked Tazuna to explain himself.
"Naruto-san?" She called.
He tore his eyes away from Sasuke, who was helping Kakashi tie the limp bodies to a tree, and focused on her.
"Do you remember if the claws cut you or if it was the chains that grazed you?"
"Hikari?"
"Yes. We're all alright," she gave him a soothing smile. "Sensei used a substitution jutsu. We need to figure out if we should treat you for poison or just bandage it."
Naruto regarded her blankly and turned back to the tree. Hikari sighed and nudged him so they stood in a semi-circle, with Naruto flanked by their sensei and her. She hoped that, once he heard an explanation, he would be calm enough to recall the altercation.
"The Demon Brothers - chunin from the Village Hidden by the Mist. They're known for not backing down from their fights, no matter the cost," Kakashi pointed out to them.
"How did you figure out our ambush?" One of the brothers asked from behind his mask.
"A puddle in a clear day? When it hasn't rained in weeks?" the jounin questioned. Hikari closed her eyes for a brief moment, berating herself. She hadn't noticed that, much less scrutinized it. "I could have handled it from there, but I wanted to see if they went for the genin or you, Tabuza-san. This wasn't shinobi fighting shinobi." Kakashi turned so he was facing the man. His voice turned hard. "You didn't say you were being tracked and pursued. You asked for standard protection against bandits, not foreign shinobi. That would have pushed up the mission's rank - and price. Your lies, Tabuza-san, are unforgivable."
The Land of Waves must be impoverished - and desperate. But why? They have their own system of shipping routes and have always done quite well. Something must have changed that makes the routes unreliable and a bridge desirable. This would explain his alarm at being escorted by a genin team.
His dark eye came to rest on them, studying them up and down once more. He's checking us again for injuries. "Naruto's wound is a concern. Perhaps we should go back to the village."
Or it may not. I don't think he's poisoned, just shocked. Still, he's been mostly quiet and subdued. Is that because he's still processing or did he get cut by the claws?
Naruto suddenly drew a kunai from his pouch and stabbed the back of his hand. Hikari drew back, startled. Naruto shivered with his whole body. She moved her pack so it was in front of her and drew the medical kit out. "Naruto-san! What are you doing? I think you got cut by the chain, and Kakashi-sensei only mentioned that the claws were poisoned." She closed the space between them. Naruto gave her his back.
"I trained hard to reach my dream, dattebayo!" He declared. "I will never back down or let someone else rescue me. I will never lose again against Sasuke. I promise you on this wound, bridge-builder, I will complete this mission! A real ninja never gives up!"
Hikari watched as blood dripped from his hand to the ground.
"Naruto! Great speech, but if you lose more blood, you'll die," their sensei pointed out.
She drew out bandages. If he'd been poisoned, all the poison - along with his blood - was out. Naruto made to wave his arms around. Hikari tossed the bandages to their sensei and caught both of her teammate's flailing arms. "We need to stop the bleeding, Naruto-san."
Their sense crouched in front of them and took Naruto's hand. Hikari released the blond. Naruto continued to yell, moving his feet frantically. Hikari shook her head and went to stand on Sasuke's side. They shared a bewildered glance and settled on watching Kakashi wrap the mostly self-inflicted wound.
"Did sensei say what would happen to the brothers?" Hikari asked Sasuke. They had assumed a tighter formation, with Naruto in front, followed by them and the bridge-builder, and their sensei guarding their backs.
"He'll alert the outpost, so they come to arrest them."
Hikari nodded. She offered him a smile. "That double throw was stunning." It was. Not only had he caught the chains with a shuriken, but he'd nailed the shuriken's eye to the tree while moving forwards.
He smirked back at her. They kept walking.
"You covered Naruto well," he told her, voice stiff.
She laughed airily. He doesn't like to give compliments, does he?
"Thank you."
They continued in pleasant silence until Kakashi gave them the order to build camp.