Sasuke's POV:
There weren't many times that he could say he was thankful that blond idiot was on his team but this one of those few times. A C rank mission was better than any D rank even if it was guarding an old drunk bridge builder.
The old man was finishing some business with the inn he was staying at when Sasuke heard the woosh of the body flicker technique. He turned to see who it was and saw a beautiful woman with long dark red hair framing her heart shaped face, with beautiful black eyes that reminded him of the midnight sky on a new moon. Her sleeveless kimono hugged her body in all the right places. She was carrying a box in her left hand. This red haired beauty reminded him of the picture that he found in an old photo album of his mother's, showing his mother next to a beautiful red haired woman.
She smiled at him when she saw him looking at him. His cheeks felt hot and he was certain that he was blushing.
Kakashi said, "Yo, Honoka. Are you here to finally accept my offer of a date"?
That got everyone's attention, Naruto being too loud as usual. Yelling at Kakashi for hitting on his cousin. Hmph. As if someone that beautiful was really related to that loser.
She said, "Have you stopped reading those filthy books"?
Kakashi almost seemed to smile through his mask, "Of course not".
She replied with an adorable smirk and said, "Then in your dreams, Kakashi".
Kakashi replied, "So what brings you here? Surely not to tease an old comrade or your cousin"?
Cousin? Could this beauty really be related to Naruto?
She said, "I brought you guys something. Naruto was supposed to bring it but he conveniently forgot two of them. Besides I wanted to see Naruto off before his first C rank mission".
She opened the box and revealed three amulets, emblazoned with the spiral of the Uzumaki clan and some kind of jutsu formula; they also smelled like flowers. They were just like the one Naruto gave Sakura this morning.
She said, "They're inscribed with a barrier jutsu formula and the compounds within the Wisteria flower improve chakra control and regeneration. So I would recommend wearing them at all times as they can greatly help you".
Sasuke said as he grabbed one, "Thank you for the gift. I'll make sure that I'll wear it and keep it safe".
Of course that got that loser to open his big dumb mouth again, "My God, I can't believe Sasuke actually thanked someone".
Sasuke said, "Shut it, Naruto".
Honoka simply smiled and said, "I thought that might be you Sasuke. My my, how you have grown. I've seen you since you were a little kid when your mom had me babysat you a couple times when I was a genin".
Again he blushed, this time his cheeks felt like someone had hit him with the fireball jutsu. Honestly he didn't really remember her, but he blocked out a lot of things back then so as not to feel the pain as sharply.
Kakashi said, "Now that Naruto knows, he will ask you for any juicy secrets so he can torture Sasuke".
Honoka said, "I know, but that will be your problem not mine until you get back".
Kakashi replied, "As cruel as ever Honoka. Tell Aoba and your brother I say hi".
She replied, "Can do. By the way Kakashi, I need to talk to you in private".
Kakashi stiffened before moving away from them and closer to Honoka.
He said, "Alright, shall we find a quiet roof"...
Honoka said, "No need".
She threw a kunai with some kind of counterweight with an unfamiliar kanji between them before performing a quick succession of hand seals. Which created a barrier around them. The strange thing is that they were still talking but no sound was coming from them. She handed him a scroll and a stack of some kind of tags which Kakashi put in his pouch. The barrier came down and she picked up her special kunai.
They walked back to them and she rubbed Naruto's head before she said, "Alright Naruto, don't be an idiot, this is a real mission. Listen to your sensei and remember what we taught you. Trust your sensei and your squad mates.", she turned to the rest of the squad, "Same goes for you guys. C ranks can get dangerous, so take them seriously and fight as a team. Good luck".
Just as quickly as she appeared she left.
The girls in his class honestly drove him more insane than Naruto. But there was something about this woman he really liked. Maybe it was the red hair. Afterall, he liked it on the lady in the photo with his mom. He never did figure out who it was in the photo, and his mom always told him to call her tomato lady. Hopefully one day, once his mission of vengeance is complete, he can find his own tomato lady to marry.
Sakura said, "Naruto, who was that? Is she really related to you"?
Naruto replied, "Yep! She is my cousin, though I have always thought of her as my big sister. She and her twin brother Hayate were the ones who primarily trained me".
Sasuke had to admit that was a flaw on the redhead's part, though Naruto was at least good at taijutsu.
The bridge builder finally arrived and told them they were ready.
As they left the village, Sasuke wondered. If Naruto was going to annoy him the whole time, especially about his past. Then he might as well get some useful information like who the tomato lady in his mother's old photo album was.
Kakashi POV:
As they left the village, he couldn't help but think about what Honoka said to him inside the barrier.
Honoka said, "Kakashi, what I am about to tell you is classified. Have you heard of the rumors of villages being massacred throughout the southern reaches of the Land of Fire"?
Kakashi replied, "Yes, I have heard of them, but so far whatever reports the teams that were sent to investigate have been labeled classified pending the conclusion of the investigation".
Honoka said, "Lord Third believes it to be the work of bandits and pirates, but my clan knows better. Several months ago there was a rise of the Hidden Whirlpool paraphernalia and artifacts. This led to Lord Third believing there was a smuggling ring that was grave robbing my ancestor's resting places. The elders and a squad of anbu were sent to investigate and eliminate the grave robbers if they were present. What they found was more disturbing. In addition to the usual grave robbing, the graves of powerful Uzumaki shinobi were looted, and several sealing shrines were desecrated and their seals broken. Those shrines sealed away inhuman horrors. The people of the world are in grave danger with their release. According to the scrolls we have, those shrines sealed away man-eating demons that have a preference for those with bloodlines that are said to go back to the Sage of the Six Paths. This was proven accurate as they attacked my brother's squad. Specifically targeting him and another of our kinswoman. Sakura is likely at no more risk than a normal shinobi and the Nine Tails within Naruto keeps the demons away from him due to them fearing the tailed beasts. But they will hunt Sasuke for his Uchiha blood and most likely you too for your sharingan".
Kakashi said, "I see the danger, why not object to this assignment then? Your clan elders should have enough political influence to make Lord Hokage reconsider this deployment".
Honoka smirked and said, "Simple, he doesn't believe the threat is as great as we say and we cannot afford to coddle Naruto. He needs to be pushed and trained harder. Lord Minato would not have sealed the Nine Tails within his own son for no reason. He must have foreseen some great threat that required the power of Nine Tails to face…" she pulled a scroll out from her pouch and handed to him before continuing, "This is a dossier containing what we know of the demons that have escaped, the general information of their kind, and the weaknesses of their kind. By the way those amulets are tailored to protect people the demons prefer to feast on. I left a special gift sealed inside for you and Naruto if something happens".
Kakashi took the scroll and placed it in his pouch before replying, "I see, well this mission certainly got a lot more interesting".
Honoka continued as she grabbed something from her pouch, "That is certainly true. This last thing I have to give you is something that shouldn't be necessary but the clan elders figured better safe than sorry," she handed him a stack of tags with the kanji for "suppression" before continuing, "They're suppression tags. In case the Nine Tails chakra ever leaks out and Naruto can't control it. The seal was designed for the beast's chakra to add to Naruto's own and for him to be able to call on it but unlike Lady Mito or Lady Kushina, Naruto doesn't possess the special chakra kekkei genkai that allows for him to fully suppress the Nine Tails. Hopefully you will never need them. Good luck, Kakashi".
Kakashi replied, "Thank you Honoka. For everything".
She replied, "No problem, Kakashi. Just keep our little knucklehead safe".
He hadn't had a chance to read the scroll yet, but between Naruto being a jinchuriki and the amulets warding them, he could have some peace of mind on that front. Though he couldn't relax no matter how routine or low level a mission was. Especially as he was finding out, having a mission with Naruto on his team.
Even now the kid was making too much noise and craziness. Regardless if Naruto didn't stop making a fuss about every verbal jab the client made, this would be a long mission.