Yoshi was sulking as he and his brother Saki were on a 'mission' with their uncle Mashimi. 'Ughh this is so boring!' He could not help but compline as they walked around, in search of a missing cat. Yes, a missing cat! Their first mission and it was the lamest mission on Earth! Not only that, but their father had ordered Mashimi to babysit them!

"I am very excited for you boys," Mashimi said while glancing at the sulking boys over his shoulder. "I remember when I went on my first mission."

"You went on a mission?" Saki asked in disbelief. His uncle never seemed like the type who has been in any fights. He has helped them in their training, yes but only because Yuuta orders him to. Mashimi mostly likes to sit around, be lazy and read books.

"Yes."

Yoshi snorted. "What was it? Waxing the floors?" Mashimi glared at Yoshi for that remark. "Har, har, very funny but believe it or not, I actually did go on missions and they were terrifying which is why I am thankful that this one is so simple."

"Of course you are," Saki said, with a roll of the eyes. Yoshi glanced at Mashimi who was now looking behind a dumpster and he grinned mischievously as he leaned in Saki's ear. "Hey, want to ditch the babysitter?"

"Definitely," Saki replied dryly and just when Mashimi was about to turn, Yoshi and Saki darted, striking out on their own. "No cat. I suppose we must keep looking, boys," Mashimi said, fully turned now but he blinked when he saw that his nephews were nowhere in sight. "Boys?" Realization came to him and he gulped nervously. "Atsuko is going to have my head..."

...

"So, how do we find one cat in a big city like this?" Saki asked as he and his brother leaped over rooftops. "Set a trap?" Yoshi suggested. "A trap?"

Yoshi shot him a scowl. "Got any better ideas?" Saki rolled his eyes. "Okay but what kind of trap?"

...

Later,

"This will never work."

"Sh!"

"You saw this on television, didn't you?"

"Shh! Shut up!"

Hiding behind dumpers, Yoshi and Saki were waiting for the cat to fall into their trap. The trap was a box, being held open by a single stick that was attached to a string and inside the box was a can of tuna. Yoshi had the other end of the string in his hands, for when the cat shows up but so far, nothing has happened.

Saki exhaled. "Father would be disappointed in this plan."

"He's always disappointed," Yoshi said sullenly. "Yoshi, we live in Tokyo, it is a big city, there are cats everywhere. What makes you think this pathetic excuse for a trap will-"

"Meow!"

Both boys paused at the sudden sound and they looked to see a white cat with orange and black spots, slowly heading towards the can of tuna. "It can't be," Saki whispered in disbelief as Yoshi grinned smugly. "Still think my trap is stupid?"

"It can not be the same one!" Saki insisted while reaching in his pocket and taking out a photo that looked similar to the cat. Saki squinted his eyes, trying to find any difference but found none. "I still do not believe it is the same cat."

"Who cares?That old lady won't even know the difference. The sooner we get this stupid mission over with, the better."

"But what if-!"

"Listen," Yoshi quickly cut off, glaring at his brother. "Do you want to spend all day, looking for some dumb cat and go back to father saying that we failed which might make him put us in even dumber missions or do you want to catch this cat and go back to father telling him we succeeded this easily without any trouble?"

Saki considered it. On one hand, if they get caught possibly taking home the wrong cat, their father would scold them and lecture them on their arrogance for hours but on the other hand Yoshi did have a point, plus...Saki really did not want to search the whole city just for one stupid animal. "Alright...hurry up before I change my mind."

Yoshi grinned and the two looked back at the cat, waiting for it to take the bait. It was a smart cat. It seemed suspicious and cautious but like most animals, it could not ignore the smell of a good meal. One step the cat took and the boys grew anxious. Another step and Yoshi ready the string. "Come on, just one more step."

The cat took one last cautious sniff, testing to see if it smelled anything odd but it did not, so it lifted its foot to take another step and the boys grinned, only to be taken by surprise when the cat bolted, knocking over the box before Yoshi could trap him and taking the cane of tuna with him!

Saki gawked while Yoshi growled, "DAMMIT!"

"Nice plan, Yoshi!"

Yoshi did not respond, instead he rose to his feet and began to chase after the cat. "Come on, we can still catch him!" Saki rolled his eyes but not willing to fail his first mission, followed after his brother. The cat was fast but both Yoshi and Saki were determined to catch him by any means necessary. They ran at fast speed but could not reach the four-legged animal that had twice the speed as them.

Yoshi shot his brother with a challenging grin. "Hey Saki! Last one to catch him has to clean the dojo for a whole week!"

"And if neither of us catch him?!" Saki asked, starting to run out of breath. "That won't happen!" Yoshi declared before climbing up a fire escape. "Where are you going?!" Saki asked, but got ignored.

Yoshi raced across the building, trying to cut the cat off. He noticed how Saki seemed to be chasing the cat into a dead end and saw his chance. Using all his energy, Yoshi dashed and jumped down just as the cat came in. "I have you now, stupid cat!"

The cat narrowed his eyes and let out an ugly growl. Yoshi growled back before pouncing but the cat saw it coming and jumped up high, landing on Yoshi's back and scratching him. "WOAHW!" Yoshi screamed and tried to reach for the cat, but it climbed all over him to get away from his hand.

They fell on the ground, with the cat clawing Yoshi's face as he screamed and tried to pull him off. Finally, when Yoshi ripped the vicious animal off of him, Saki showed up and froze at what he saw. Yoshi was holding the cat at arm's length, as it screeched and tried to fight out of his grip while Yoshi was just completely still. His hair was messy, his face all scratched up, his eyes wide and his body trembling.

"Y-Yoshi?" The fear on his brother's face had Saki nervous that he stuttered. "What happened?"

"I-I-I ha-te c-c-cats!" Yoshi finally got out and Saki gave him a, "are you serious?" look. Just then- "BOYS!" Mashimi ran in, panting, looking relieved when he saw his nephews. "I have been searching for you two everywhere! Where-!"

"We found the cat, Uncle," Saki informed, making Mashimi shut his mouth. "Really?" He went to expect but paused when he saw the terror in his oldest nephew's eyes. "Yoshi? Are you alright?"

Before Yoshi could answer, the cat started hissing again, making him tense and freak out, "TAKE THIS THING AWAY FROM ME!!!" Mashimi quickly obeyed at the distress in his nephew's tone then looked at Saki questionably. "What on Earth happened?"

"I think Yoshi now has a cat phobia," Saki stated, dryly while they continued to look at Yoshi who was staying wary of the cat. "Well-" Mashimi cleared his throat. "Let us return it back to its owner then go home."

"Do you think Father will be impressed?" Saki asked hopefully and Mashimi smiled. "I do not see why not? You boys found the cat rather quickly. Though...he may be a little upset that you boys ran off on your own." Mashimi shuddered while adding, "Especially your mother."

"We don't have to tell them," Yoshi said.

"Yoshi, I can not just-"

"You rather deal with my Pop's disappointment and my mom's anger?"

"...Fine. I will not tell them but only if you boys promise not to do it again."

"Yes, Uncle," Both Yoshi and Saki said while crossing their fingers behind their backs.

...

Back at the dojo,

Turns out...their uncle was not the only babysitter their parents had watching them. During their little adventure, their father sent ninjas to check on them and their uncle, only to see Mashimi failing to watch over his sons and his sons failing to capture the right cat.

Yes, turns out it was the wrong cat.

"This is not Fufu!" The old woman had yelled. "Yes, it is! He looks just like the one in your picture!" Yoshi had argued and the woman glared at him. "He is a she." The boys' jaws dropped at the new information and Yoshi was quick to yell, "You didn't tell us that!"

"I clearly did!" Yoshi and Saki looked at their uncle who was nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh...may have forgotten to mention that." Yoshi and Saki both began to yell at their uncle for not telling them while the ninjas had given the old lady the right cat back.

After that, the ninjas got in between their argument with their uncle and brought them home to tell their parents everything they had witnessed. So with their heads down and Mashimi sweating like a dog at their mother's glare, the boys awaited their doom.

"Did I not tell you boys to stay by your uncle's side at all times?" Yuuta scolded. "You did, father," Saki answered, keeping his head down. "Yet you completely ignored my orders and went off on your own?"

"Hai, sensei," Yoshi admitted in a mutter with an annoyed edge.

"And you Mashimi!" Atsuko yelled, making Mashimi gulp. "How could you let them out of your sight?! Do you have any idea what could have happened to them?!"

"It is not my fault!" Mashimi pointed accusingly at his nephews. "They ran off! I had only turned my back to them for one second and they were gone!"

"Yes, but they are children who you were responsible for! Anything that happens to them, is your fault!" Atsuko continued to yell until Yuuta grabbed her shoulders. "Now, we can not blame Mashimi for all the boys' actions, Atsuko. Mashimi should have kept a closer eye, yes but the boys should also know better than to disobey orders," Yuuta said while looking back at his sons. Saki remained quiet but Yoshi just about had enough.

"What's the big deal?! You guys are acting like we went after a murder or something!" Yoshi immediately regretted his outburst when his mother shot him, The Look. The look that always made her children silent and nervous. The look that reminded them why everyone in the clan was terrified to anger her. Yuuta was one thing but their mother was for sure a force to be reckoned with. Yoshi immediately hung back his head into submission and looked only to the ground nervously.

"Hamato Yoshi, I do not want to hear a single word from you!" Atsuko raged. "This is not about your capability to handle a mission! This is about your safety! You boys are still very young, and still have much to learn! If someone more experienced than you had shown up-!" She stopped herself and took a breath to calm down. "You boys still lack maturity to use your skills wisely and today, you proved just that."

Yoshi nor Saki had anything to say to that, so Yuuta continued with, "We are very disappointed in the both of you. When we give you orders, you are expected to follow them." He looked at his eldest. "Yoshi! You are to lead this clan one day; therefore, you should be leading by example, not encouraging disobedience!" Then at his second son. "As for you Saki, I expected far more from you!"

"Both of you are grounded for a week and be thankful we do not take away your rights to continue on missions!" Atsuko added. "You boys are dismissed," Yuuta finished and the two brothers bowed their heads before silently leaving.

...

Later,

While Saki was busy reading a book, Yoshi was laying on his back, sulking up at the ceiling. Saki glanced at him. "Still think you had a good plan?"

Yoshi grunted and rolled on his side away from his brother. "Shut up."

"It was bad enough we did not realize we were being watched, but to fail like that, in front of our clan, was embarrassing!" Saki continued and Yoshi growled, "I know!" He sat up. "How do you think I feel?! I was just trying to get Pop them to see that we can handle ourselves!"

"Well, according to Mother, we proved we are far from ready! Thanks to you!"

"Hey! You were in on it too!"

"I knew it was not the right cat, I told you it wasn't!" Saki argued. "She wouldn't have noticed the difference if the cat had been a girl!" Yoshi argued back. "But he wasn't!" Saki sighed. "...and now it might take years for us to go on a real mission."

Yoshi frowned chin going to chest as he scowls miserably when they hear a knock. The door opened and Tetsumi slowly walks in. "Tetsumi, what are you doing in here?" Saki asked. "I brought you guys some snacks since Father is not going to let you have dinner," He whispers then empties his pockets, giving his brothers a bunch of snack bars.

Yoshi smirked and ruffled his brother's head. "Thanks, Sumi."

"How did you guys get grounded anyway? What did you do?" Their six-year-old brother asked, curiously. Yoshi exhaled, "We disobeyed Pop's orders and went off alone without Uncle Mashimi."

"Oh," Tetsumi pondered for a moment, humming and tapping his chin. "Maybe if you work hard in training and be extra good, they will unground you early!" Yoshi snorted at his brother while Saki just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that doesn't work, little brother. Not this time anyway. They were really mad at us this time."

Tetsumi raised a brow and titled his head. "Why? I thought you were just looking for a cat. You didn't do anything dangerous, right?"

Neither brother answered, for they did not think they did but their parents thought otherwise. Tetsumi just looked between them, unsure why they were so upset. Tetsumi has yet to start his training since his parents have been really busy the last few years but by the looks of his brothers, Tetsumi was not too sure he wanted to start training to be a ninja any time soon.