Team 7, minus Kakashi met Tsunade at the mission desk. The three of them had been called for a mission. Tsunade started debriefing them about their mission, a B-rank. They were to go to Cha no Kuni, they were asked to escort a participant in the race to the Great Todoroki Shrine. Tsunade told them she didn't have all of the intel, as an assailant killed the messenger. And even though both Sakura and her shishō knew the truth, this mission was neither important or concerning enough for them to draw on their future knowledge. Sometimes you just had to let things run their course.
"Hey, wait. Kakashi-sensei isn't here yet." said Naruto.
"Kakashi will not be joining you. As you already know, most of the jonin are on different missions right now, Hatake included. This time it will be all three of you alone, since Sakura is already chunin she is allowed to take you two out of the village with her. For this mission, she will be your squad leader."
"Oh, I guess we should call you Sakura-taichō." said Naruto with a grin.
Sakura laughed. "Absolutely not. It would be way too weird. Besides, I'm not even wearing my vest."
"You should." said Tsunade. "It would probably shut up those bastards still talking about favouritism."
Sakura shrugged. "The people can talk as much as they want, shishō. Wearing a flak jacket won't change that. Besides, green isn't my color."
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Whatever. This is all I had to say to you. Dismissed."
Sakura led her teammates out of the tower, they stopped outside to talk.
"So, what are your orders, Sakura-taichō?" asked Sasuke with a smirk.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Ugh, stop it you two. I mean it. For now we should go home and pack, we meet at the gate in half an hour. Make sure to bring more than ramen, Naruto."
"That was one time!"
...
Team 7 entered the Land of Tea successfully after a few hours of jumping through the trees. Once they entered foreign territory the stuck to the road, going at a leisure pace. Sasuke was telling them about his correspondence with Itachi.
"He suggested I learn kenjutsu. Do you think I should?"
"I think you would do great with a sword. Tenten has a blacksmith friend in the village, I think she could get you a good deal." said Sakura. "They come from the Land of Frost. Did you know Shimogakure swords are known to be the most durable in the world?"
"Interesting..." said Sasuke, considering her words.
"Ne, are you guys hungry?" asked Naruto.
"You just ate, dobe."
"Yeah but that was like an hour ago and I'm starving..."
"Well, I am a bit hungry I guess. I have some food pills on m-"
"Great! Then it's settled. We'll stop by that tea house!" said Naruto before running ahead.
"Wait, Naruto, don't run off on your own!" but her voice fell on deaf ears. "Ugh, so much for Sakura-taichō, I guess."
Sasuke snorted. They made their way to the tea house where they ordered their food and some matcha tea. Sakura ordered some dango, Naruto some sweet bean soup and Sasuke ordered kaki no tane. They ate in comfortable silence. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was quickly broken.
"Having sweet bean soup when it's so nice outside. Ninjas must have it so easy." said a boy with long spiky brown hair and brown eyes.
"What did you say?" asked Naruto.
"Things must be really peaceful for you, Konoha people. So unbothered and carefree, a bunch of dense idiots, really..."
"What?!" exclaimed an enraged Naruto.
"Naruto, calm down." said Sakura.
"Ah, hello. I didn't know I was in the presence of such a beauty. I think I'll take back my words. After all, if there is a hidden gem in Konoha, it would be the fair lady with emerald eyes."
"Excuse me-" said Sakura.
"Let me introduce myself, enchantress of spring, Idate Morino. What might your name be, oh lovely goddess?" Idate lowered himself on the table to look at her better. In response, Sasuke pulled Sakura back.
"None of your business." said Sasuke.
"Don't hit on Sakura-chan like that you creep!" yelled Naruto.
"Ah, Sakura. What a lovely name. You know, I think fate has brought us together. Legend says a chance meeting is due to karma in a previous life, so why don't we talk about our future?"
Before Naruto or Sasuke could respond and skewer this guy with a Rasengan or a Chidori, Sakura got up and took Idate's hand. The look on Naruto and Sasuke's face was priceless and it almost made her break character.
"Our future, huh? My such a bold question, Idate-kun. I do not know what to say...Although personally I believe it's our past actions that define our future." Sakura caressed his hand while Idate ate out of her palm. "You know, you seem a bit familiar. But I can't put my finger on who you remind me of...could it be...Ibiki-san?" At that, Idate's eyes widened while Sakura tightened her grip on him, using her strength to inflict pain, Idate crumpled to his knees. "Ibiki-san was my teacher, and you know what he told me? There is no one easier to extract info out of than cowardly, cocky, womanizers. Better hope we don't meet again, Idate-kun."
Sakura released his hand and Idate sprung to his feet. "Ah, my bad. I almost forgot all shinobi are scum. Thank you for reminding me, ugly."
But before Sakura could pound this guy and destroy the tea house, Naruto blew up. "Oi! Watch how you talk to Sakura-chan, you asshole!"
Idate rolled his eyes. "Mind your business, blondy. Idate here hates shinobi, even if this one hadn't rejected me, I wouldn't have given her a chance. If I see any of you around Cha no Kuni again, there will be hell to pay."
"Oh yeah? Bring it on."
"Naruto, drop it." said Sakura.
"We have better things to do than worry about a hooligan." said Sasuke, even though he was looking at Idate suspiciously. Why would Sakura say he looks like Ibiki? Where's the resemblance?
"Zip it Sasuke. I'm not letting this guy make fun of shinobi and disrespect Sakura-chan like that!"
Sakura rolled her eyes as Sasuke and Naruto glared at each other. "I am not a maiden in need of defending, Naruto. Besides he already left."
Naruto and Sasuke looked bewildered in the spot that Idate just was. The woman that served them came with the bill and gave them 2, apparently Idate left it to them. This enraged Naruto even more.
"Naruto calm down, the bill isn't a problem." with a grin, Sakura lifted her hand. "I swiped his wallet."
Sasuke smirked and Naruto grinned. "Alright, Sakura-chan! That should teach him!"
...
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke arrived at Jirōchō Wasabi's house around 6. They were immediately greeted and ushered into the house. Jirōchō was waiting for them in the main room.
"Thank you for coming."
Naruto stepped forward. "Begging your pardon, begging your pardon! I was born and raised in Konohagakure no Sato in Hi no Kuni. I was bathed in birth water at Ichiraku Ramen. My given name is Naruto and my surname is Uzumaki. People call me..."
"Usuratonkachi." said Sasuke.
"Usuratonkachi! Wait, no! Not that!"
Jirōchō laughed. "Funny as usual, I see."
"It's good to see you too, Boss Jirōchō." said Naruto with a grin.
Sakura sighed. "Forgive us, Jirōchō-san. Naruto-"
"We still haven't house trained him yet." said Sasuke.
"What did you say?!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Boys.." said Sakura with a menacing aura. Sensibly, both Naruto and Sasuke stopped.
Jirōchō laughed again. "Ah, that's fine. I like his spunk."
"Jirōchō-san, Godaime-sama told us to get the details of the mission from you. Can you shed some light on our task?" said Sakura.
"Yes, yes. Of course. Come take a seat you three, it's a long story." Jirōchō told them about the legend of the Great Todoroki Shrine, about how in order to subdue a storm, Ryuko's Jewels were dedicated to it. This birthed a tradition where once every four years a race would take place where the winner became known as the man/woman of the year. However that changed when the war between the Wasabi Family and the Wagarashi Family became too much for the port of Degarashi. These days, the ceremony was a way to determine which family would control the port.
"Four years ago, the Wagarashi Family easily won by hiring a shinobi and we have learned they had hired a shinobi again this year. In order to counteract that, we sent a messenger to Konoha with a request, but they were ambushed." Jirōchō bowed his head. "I beg you, please lend us your power. We cannot afford to lose this race to the Wagarashi Family!"
"Of course we'll help, Boss Jirōchō! Team 7 is going to make sure you win that race in a landslide!" said Naruto.
"I hope not a literal one though." said Jirōchō with a laugh. "Thank you."
"Who do you want us to escort?" asked Sasuke.
Jirōchō clapped his hands and the door slid open to reveal Idate on his knees. "Did you call for me, boss?"
Sakura felt a headache coming, even though she knew this would happen. She herded the boys to go fast through the Land of Fire specifically so they wouldn't interact with Idate earlier than necessary. However the universe had other plans for her.
"EH! YOU?!" yelled Naruto.
"Oh, you already know each other? This makes things easier." said Jirōchō.
Sakura sweatdropped. "That might not be the case, I'm afraid..."
"Hn." said Sasuke, eyebrow twitching.
...
Sakura and Sasuke trailed after Naruto and Idate, as the two argued. Sakura felt her eyebrow twitch with every word that came out of their mouths, the two were arguing who was better, the Hokage or Boss Jirōchō.
"Why did you say this punk looks like, Ibiki-san? I don't see any resemblance." said Sasuke.
"There was a photo of a kid that looks like Idate in his wallet. I saw it when we went to our weekly Yakiniku Q dates." said Sakura with a giggle. "He likes to act that he hates everyone, but he gets really grumpy if I don't show up, y'know."
"So what, do you think he's his brother or something?"
Sakura shrugged, she did know, but he didn't need to know that. "Who knows, it could be a coincidence."
"Except those don't happen in the ninja world." said Sasuke dryly.
"Yeah...Although he probably wasn't a ninja, I don't see Ibiki-san letting a missing nin go, even if it was his brother."
Sasuke snorted. "He would probably drag him back to Konoha kicking and screaming and then torture him himself."
Sakura laughed. "Yeah definitely."
...
Team 7 waited for the ceremony to start. Sakura explained to Naruto and Sasuke the path they will take to the Great Todoroki Shrine. They start in Degarashi Port, from there they go to the Modoroki shrine by boat, the halfway point. There Idate will take one of the Ryuko's Jewels and run on foot to the Great Todoroki Shrine. Those being the only rules of the race, made everything else fair game, including sabotage, shortcuts and hiring ninja.
"You guys can just relax and watch, I don't need help from a bunch of losers. Don't follow me around." said Idate.
"Why you-" started Naruto, but did not get far. Sakura punched both him and Idate in the head, before putting her arms around their necks and bringing them close.
"Listen you morons, I don't know what kind of bullshit testosterone induced rivalry you have going on and I don't care. This is more important than your grudge. We have been asked by Jirōchō-san to work together, so we will. Now-" Sakura turned her head to Idate. "Idate, I have a lot of shit on you and I'm not afraid to air the dirty laundry if you don't try to get along with Naruto." she turned her head to the blonde. "And Naruto? If you don't put this behind you I will personally make sure that Tsunade bans ramen in Konoha and that only thing you will ever be allowed to eat are green peppers for the rest. Of. Your. Life. Are we clear?" The boys gulped and nodded. "Great, I'm glad we can get along."
...
Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto ran after Idate in the forest. The brown haired man ran left and took to the forest. After a little mishap with a double layered genjutsu, where Idate almost fell off a cliff if it weren't for Team 7, they reached a boat shop in the north. There the boat keeper lend them a boat and Idate explained his plan involving the curents.
"That's a great plan Idate, but it was a bit unnecessary. I already accounted for the wind and had a plan." said Sakura.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Idate.
"You'll see." said Sakura with a smirk. She tied a rope around her ankles and threw the other end to Sasuke. "Make sure I don't fall off. Naruto, Idate, you two hold onto something. We're about to go really fast." and with that she jumped off the boat. Sasuke pulled on the rope and kept Sakura suspended over the water, but low enough she could touch it with her hand. Focusing her chakra, she pushed the boat using the water, with a speed that almost threw the boys off their feet.
"Holy shit! This is so fast! Now we'll definitely arrive faster than Fukusuke!" exclaimed Idate.
"You're amazing Sakura-chan!" yelled Naruto over the wind.
...
Naruto and Idate had a small conversation about the chunin exams, that Sasuke was ignoring, more concentrated on making sure Sakura wouldn't fall in the water.
"A warning would have been nice." said Sasuke.
"I knew you would catch me, so stop complaining. I'm doing all of the hard work."
"Hn."
Suddenly, a kunai appeared out of nowhere and cut the rope. Sakura plunged in the water with a scream.
"Sakura!" yelled Sasuke, looking overboard for her. Behind him, two Ame shinobi appeared. They had hid themselves in the hatch. They probably caught onto Idate's plan and snuck onboard before they arrived. They created water clones that Naruto and Sasuke cut down. They continued this until a boat appeared, when that happened, one of the Ame nins used the signs for Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu, while the other jumped on the other boat. A huge water dragon appeared, ready to destroy the boat, only for another one to appear and meet it head on.
"If you fuckers think a little soak is gonna kill me, then yoU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING!" yelled Sakura, as she jumped on the boat. "Sasuke, fried serpent strategy, Naruto blow that bastard off our boat!"
The boys nodded, Sasuke sent lightning chakra into Sakura's water dragon, filling it with lightning that allowed her to take down the Ame ninja's. Naruto used Fūton: Daitoppa and blew the enemy nin into the other boat. Just as Sakura was about to suggest a strategy to take the Ame team down, it started raining oil. The Ame team sent a flaming arrow at them and the boat went up in flames. Having no other choice, Team 7 and Idate abandoned the boat. Idate went on ahead while Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto remained behind to deal with the Ame nins.
"Naruto, Sasuke, fry and drown." said Sakura, putting her hand in the Dog seal.
"Hn." was all Sasuke said, putting his hands in the Snake seal.
"Alright!" said Naruto, putting his hands in the Bird seal.
Fry and drown was a strategy Team 7 developed after their mission in Wave, after Sakura shoved 2 Chakra Induction Papers in their hands to find their affinities. It consisted of Naruto creating a whirlpool with wind, Sasuke filling it with lightning chakra to electrocute their opponents and Sakura creating hands of water from inside the whirlpool that would drag the enemy to the bottom. The whirlpool would continue downwards, keeping the enemy paralyzed and trapped until Sakura's water hands would arrive at the bottom.
After the Ame team reached the bottom, team 7 ran after Idate.
...
Team 7 found Idate getting beaten up by another Ame shinobi, and Sakura, after almost drowning and becoming barbeque, snapped. With a cry of "SHANNNNAROOO!" she launched herself at the Ame nin and punched him in the gut, sending him flying.
"I have HAD IT WITH YOU AME SHINOBI!" yelled Sakura, as she, Naruto and Sasuke ran to attack the Ame nin. He was fast and slippery and while Sakura definitely broke his ribs, he was still able to fight them. Sending a myriad of senbon at them, Sakura threw herself over Idate to protect him. Many pierced her back and for a second Sakura felt like she was back in Wave, fighting Haku.
"Those have been coated in poison made in Amegakure. They will send you to hell in a few minutes." said the Ame nin. Naruto and Sasuke tried to get up but couldn't due to the pain. Cheers were heard from afar, signaling that Fukusuke reached the halfway point. With that, the Ame nin left.
"Sage fucking damn it, this shit again?" said Sakura, trying to look at her back. There were at least 9 senbon sticking out of it. "Naruto, Sasuke, take these things out. Don't worry about the poison, I have antidotes on me. Sage, when I catch that motherfucker I am going to skin him alive!"
...
Idate woke up sometime later. Team 7 took him to a cave to dry up. He stood up and asked about Aoi, the ninja that attacked him. After this, Sasuke demanded he tells them the truth.
"You seem to know quite a lot about me already, Sakura-san. Would you like to do the honors?" said Idate while she healed his hand.
Sakura nodded. "You are Idate Morino, Ibiki Morino's younger brother. You vanished from Konoha years ago with Aoi Rokushō. Many believe you stole the Raijin no Ken for yourself."
"I did not! At least...I didn't steal the sword for myself. Aoi was my sensei and he tricked me, after I failed the chunin exam he told me there was another way to become one, by stealing the Raijin no Ken. He was working with the Hidden Rain. After I realized what I'd done, I ran away like a coward, fearing for my life. I am an irresponsible man who can't do a single thing right, but Boss Jirōchō believed in me. Even though I've never been of any use to him, the boss had faith in me. And yet I...Aoi was right, I am...a worthless guy, I have no right to live."
Sakura and Sasuke were not very impressed by his sob story, but Naruto was. Jumping up he yelled at Idate. "You idiot! There's a person who still trusts you, right? One is enough. The race isn't over yet! You'll never know how things will end if you never try! Now get up, you have a race to win! Boss Jirōchō is waiting for you, pull yourself together!"
"I...I can't-"
Naruto pulled his collar. "If you run away now, you'll remain a loser for the rest of your life. For the people who believe and wait for you, get up on your own two legs and go!"
Idate nodded determined and ran out of the cave, team 7 followed him close from the trees. Reaching the stairs of the shrine, Idate run up. Thanks to Sakura healing him and giving him a food pill, he was full of energy. Naruto ran side by side with him while Sasuke and Sakura remained at the bottom, too tired to follow.
...
Idate had just reached the bridge, where Aoi intercepted him. The Ame nin mocked him and told Idate he was a coward. He told him the truth about that night when he capture him and Ibiki, about how his brother managed to escape. After finishing his monologue, he raised the Raijin no Ken, ready to kill him only to be intercepted by kunai thrown by Sasuke.
"Toad over toad!" yelled Sakura before running straight at Naruto. Putting his arms low so Sakura could step on them, he threw her in the air before doing the same to Sasuke. In the air, Sakura did the same for Sasuke and threw him even higher in the air. Now above from everyone Sasuke did the hand signs for a jutsu at the same time as Naruto.
"Idate, dodge!" yelled Sakura, and Idate threw himself away.
"Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu!" yelled Sasuke.
"Fūton: Toppa!" yelled Naruto.
The two attacks combined at the halfway point to create a huge fire dragon that almost burned Aoi alive if he hadn't dodged. The Ame shinobi looked enraged and he jumped at Team 7 with the Raijin no Ken. Sakura tied a chakra string to his ankle before throwing him over her shoulder and slamming him in the ground. From there, Naruto and Sasuke jumped at him with a Rasengan and a Chidori each. Before they could slam it into his stomach, he jumped away and swiped with his sword at them, electrocuting them both. They fell dead at his feet. Sakura jumped at him, ready to obliterate the fucker, only for him to behead her. Turning to Idate he smirked.
"See Idate? This is what happens to people who oppose me. Don't worry though, you'll join them soon."
"Are you sure about that?" said Sasuke and Aoi looked around confused. His surroundings warped and Aoi found himself standing in a cloud of poison. Looking back he saw Team 7 looking at him smugly. Next to them was Idate, getting healed.
"Nobody taught you not to look an Uchiha in the eye? So sad..." said Sasuke, his Sharingan spinning lazy.
Aoi coughed in the cloud, the poison making him weak. "That attack was just a distraction."
"For my cloud of poison and Sasuke's genjutsu, yes. Thank you for falling for it, Aoi-kun. I'm sure the bounty on your head will bring me a pretty penny." said Sakura as she finished healing Idate.
Aoi fell to the ground, the poison finally getting to him. He didn't die, as Sakura's poison wasn't that potent, but he will be unconscious for a week. Tying him up to a tree, Sasuke took all of his belongings and put them in a scroll.
"Hm...Maybe I'll use this as my sword." said Sasuke, pocketing the Raijin no Ken. "Nidaime-sama would be rolling in his grave if he knew an Uchiha got his hand on this."
Sakura snorted. "Take it up with Tsunade. Chances are she'll let you keep it just to spite the council. For now, we should get Idate to the finish line."
"Oh! We should use our new combo, where we fly. What did you call it Sakura-chan?" said Naruto.
"Flying mountain? Sure, but only over the ravine. It drains too much of our chakra."
Going in reverse triangle formation with Sakura in the middle, team 7 put their hands on the ground. Idate stood behind Sakura, looking down at the three. Suddenly the ground under them lifted and Idate crouched in fear as they were suddenly in the air.
"W-what is happening?" asked Idate.
"This is our one and only, Team 7 original combo, the Flying Mountain! Sakura-chan uses her secondary affinity to earth to create a platform, I Uzumaki Naruto lift us in the air with wind and Sasuke-teme acts as our horse by pushing us from behind with fire release. Together we fly over our enemies as we strike fear into their hearts!" said Naruto with a radio host voice.
"Call me horse one more time dobe and I'll set you house on fire!" said Sasuke as flames appeared behind the platform and propelled them over the ravine.
Idate looked at the trio in bewilderment. "All of you are insane."
Team 7 just laughed at him.
...
Idate won the race with everyone cheering him on. Team 7 watched him pass the finish line from the top of one of the red torii gates. The Wagarashi Family tried to get the Wasabi Family in trouble, but they were easily thwarted and dissolved as punishment by the Land of Tea daimyō. With everything solved, Konoha forces came and took away the Ame team and Aoi. Ibiki even got a sort of reunion with his brother. Once they were on the boat and on their way to Konoha, Sakura decided to tease him.
"My, my Ibiki-san, I didn't know you were such a softie. Lying to protect your brother like that? How sweet~"
"Mind your business, Haruno. I did no such thing, I've never seen that boy in my life."
"Uhuh, suuure~ So I suppose you also won't care to hear that he won the race, no?"
"The actions of a hooligan are of no interest to me."
"Right, right. My bad."
Ibiki sighed. "Get out of here Haruno, you're giving me a migraine."
Sakura giggled. "Ok, ok, I'll back off. See you next week at Yakiniku Q!"
Ibiki rubbed the bridge of his nose, he did not get paid enough for this shit.