Generation of Prodigy's Chapter 2:
A/N: thank you for the review's, follows and favorites they keep me motivated. Today's chapter will have team 6 on their first C rank mission, and I will introduce the main ship.
First mission:
Natsumi had spent the last few weeks training with her team and completing D rank missions, consisting of weeding crops, catching a poor abused cat and returning it to its fat owner, and other small odd jobs. She knew that this is how every team started out but she could not help but feel bored with the monotonous D ranks. She knew better than to ask her father for a harder mission; she remembered what had happened to Naruto when he had done the same; the idiot got himself stuck on D ranks for a whole six months. So to say she was surprised when she and her team had gotten to the hokage's tower to be offered a C rank escort mission would be an understatement.
"Team six you are being assigned to this mission to escort Miss Uzihiko to the land of waves for her marriage in about a month. The four of you will be guarding her caravan from bandits and highwaymen, you will be meeting a team from Uzo no kuni half way and leaving miss Uzihiko with them to complete the rest of her journey" Natsumi took a moment to look over to their benefactor a young woman no older than Sakura-Sensei with light auburn hair that came to the small of her back it was done up in an intricate design. She had light green eyes that seemed to glow with anticipation. Sakura stepped forward bowing as she accepted the scroll with the rest of the information for the mission. With that Team Six alongside the soon to be bride and her entourage left the Hokage's office with a bow.
Sakura turned to Miss Uzihiko, "Hello Miss Uzihiko my name is Sakura Haruno Jonin Sensei of Team six, we can leave when you like we will just need about an hour to gather travelling supplies."
"Yes please miss Haruno. I wish to make haste, I have been dreaming of the day I would be married since I was a young girl." Natsumi had to fight the urge to retch at the woman's statement, she couldn't imagine tying herself down like that; she still didn't understand why anyone would want such stagnancy. But she also thought most would think she was insane, she was half listening as Sakura-sensei ordered them to go home and retrieve all they would need for a three week journey.
Natsumi and her fellow genin responded with a "Hai Sensei" as they scattered towards their respective houses. It only took Natsumi a moment or two to get home as the Hokage mansion was very close to the Hokage's office. She rushed through the door with a quick greeting to her mother who was sitting on the couch sipping some tea with her close friend Mikoto Uchiha. "Hi Mom, Aunty Mikoto cant talk and ive got a C rank mission to prepare for, love you!" Both women laughed at the girl unable to hide their amusement.
"Well, that was fast. Minato must really believe in her and her team to be sending them on a C rank already." Mikoto mused as she sipped at her tea, Kushina was about to respond when Mikoto continued. "From what I've heard from Itachi they are quite talented so I'm sure a C rank will be no problem for them."
"Your damn right Dattebane!" Kushina exclaimed.
Natsumi was sure she had everything she would need, as she hoisted her backpack onto her back and tied her sword to her lower back under the small pack. She locked her door from the inside hoping to keep her brother out before hopping out the window to head toward the gates of the village. When she got to the gate Sakura-sensei was already there speaking with the woman outside her covered wagon, Natsumi waved as she landed.
"As expected you got here first, how is your mother?" Sakura asked.
"She seemed fine..." Natsumi responded while rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. Sakura chuckled at the response but did not question her student further, instead returning to her conversation with Miss Uzihiko. Natsumi blushed as she moved over to the gate to lean against it. It did not take long for her other teammates to get there, Kumoharu got there first followed by Ryujin.
"Sorry I'm a little late Mum made me stay for lunch" Ryujin said with an embarrassed look on his face. This just made those waiting for him laugh lightly.
It did not take long for them to get on the road. Natsumi was mid guard by herself while Sakura was at the front and Kumoharu and Ryujin took up the rear. For the first few hours she had been on high alert but all that had done for her was give her a light headache. So now she was simply scanning the area with her eyes and not her chakra itself lessening the strain on her mind. She knew it would be dark soon and they would have to stop to make camp not too long from now. A Voice called from the front of the caravan, "We will camp here for the night and make it quick Lady Uzihiko is tired and hungry!" the man who seemed to be with Uzihiko all the time yelled, making Natsumi smirk. 'She is tired aye' she joked to herself as she spotted Sakura coming towards her.
"Natsumi would you mind securing the area, I'm sure there is not any danger this close to the Village but best to be safe." Sakura asked.
"Hai sensei" Natsumi responded.
"But remember if you find any hostile forces return here and don't engage." she said in a serious tone Natsumi nodded sharply before taking to the trees to scout the immediate area, she made a two mile perimeter spotting nothing greater than a few herbivorous wild animals. As she made it back to the camp she found it nearly fully built.
She landed near her sensei, "All clear as you expected Sakura-sensei!" she reported as she landed.
"Well done, set up your tent and we will discuss the night watch over dinner." Sakura said with a nod over to where her and the other members of team six's tents were.
"Hai sensei!" she said as she made her way over to the location Sakura had pointed out. Ryujin approached as she began to set up her tent. "How you liking our first mission outside the village?" he said with a clear nervousness in his tone.
"Its not what i expected i spent the first few hours on high alert i ended up giving myself a headache." she said with a laugh.
"So even a prodigy like you gets nervous... i guess i shouldn't feel bad then huh..." he continued with a dark look on his face.
"Hey Ryujin what has been eating at you recently... I get nerves but you are starting to worry me." Ryujin looked like he wanted to tell her everything but something was stopping him.
"Look its just nerves... you know id tell you if there was something serious." he said as he retreated to the fire that had been built at the centre of camp. Natsumi scowled as she stared at the back of her oldest friend, she wanted to call after him but she couldn't bring herself to. Instead she turned to her tent, finishing the quick build and laying her pack inside it, not forgetting to place an alarm seal on the flaps of her tent.
Natsumi made her way to the fire where Kumoharu and Ryujin sat near Sakura as they talked, "Ahh so you are done already, we can start now then."
Kumoharu was the first to speak up, "regrettably sensei i stayed up late last night reading may i take last watch i am rather tired." the tall boy confessed.
"Very well but you best not make this a habit," Kumoharu nodded before making his way to his tent. "Ill take the first watch then, Natsumi, are you okay with the second watch? Ryujin has asked for third." she asked, turning to her only female student.
"That's fine with me, I am not picky" Natsumi said with a shrug before reaching into her pouch to produce a scroll catching her sensei's attention. As Natsumi activated the scroll out popped a hot bowl of soup and dumplings she had sealed for an occasion just like this.
Sakura deadpanned and she nearly fell off the stump she was sitting on, "Wait Natsumi do you have hot food stored in those scrolls?"
Natsumi looked at her sensei confused, "No not all of them, only about three more of them. The others are in my bag. This was going to be my lunch but I kinda forgot." she said with a blush.
Sakura sometimes forgot that the Matriarch of the Namikaze family was an Uzumaki and probably one of if not the best seal masters in the world so seals like this are child's play to someone like her. "So your mom sealed those for you right?"
"No" Natsumi said simply as she sealed the food back in the scroll before releasing it again.
Sakura was dumbfounded, seals like that were expensive as all hell and this genin was capable of doing it effortlessly. She may not have had the mind bogglingly insane amount of chakra as her brother but she seemed to have picked up the Uzumaki's knack for the sealing jutsu.
Natsumi ignored the looks she was receiving as she began to eat her dumplings, she had forgotten that basic seals like this were far beyond most outside the Uzumaki clan. As she finished her food she sealed the bowl back in the scroll before standing, she made her way over to her tent wordlessly as she grabbed her bag rummaging through it she found another scroll this time the scroll was old and worn looking. Returning to the fire she began to read the scroll intriguing her sensei and teammate.
Ryujin was the first to speak up his curiosity, getting the better of him, "Whatcha reading Natsumi?"
"Its a family scroll containing all the knowledge we have on Namikaze clan techniques, my dad gave me a copy when i became a genin." Natsumi responded looking up from the scroll.
Ryujin looked at his friend wide eyed, "Should you have that here? Isn't that some kind of clan secret, what if you lost it or it got stolen?"
Natsumi laughed as she turned the scroll around revealing a blank scroll to her Sensei and teammate, "No one but someone with Namikaze blood can even see the text written on this scroll. I think it's safe, but I appreciate the concern." she said with a bright smile.
Ryujin looked away with a light blush on his face pulling a light laugh from the blond, their attentions were pulled to Sakura as she cleared her throat. "I think it's best if the two of you head to bed. We will have an early morning and you both still have your watches tonight." She announced in a commanding tone leaving no room for argument.
"Hai Sensei!" they said in unison before standing and turning to their tents.
The next week went without a hitch with the caravan making good time until they came upon what seemed to be a broken cart on the side of the road. Sakura threw one hand above her head, "Halt something is ahead Team six to me!" Her three Genin quickly made their way to their Sensei's side, Kumo spread your spiders out to scout the immediate area and stay with the caravan. Natsumi, Ryujin with me," she commanded as she strode forward. Kumoharu did as he was told as Natsumi and Ryujin followed their Sensei. They slowly made their way to the cart as they heard Kumoharu call from behind them.
"Its a trap, someone has set up an ambush!" he yelled, as they turned around they spotted several bandits being strung up with Kumo's webs. Before they could return to the Caravan a man stepped out of the carriage with Miss Uzihiko held by knife point, this man however was not a bandit he wore the headband of Iwagakure with a slash through it meaning he was a missing nin.
"I would let them go if you want this cutie to get to her wedding" he said as he licked her face. Kumoharu looked to his sensei asking what to do, she nodded and he sighed as he released the men, one of them punching him to the ground and the other kicking him across the ground. Kumoharu skidded to a stop in front of his team, Natsumi scowled as she helped her friend get to his feet.
"What do you want?" Sakura asked, clearly angry she had been duped.
The man laughed, "Money what els..." the man stiffened up as he felt a sharp pain on his neck. Not even a second later he collapsed to the ground paralyzed.
"Good job Kumo" Sakura praised, the bandits seemed to get scared and began to run away as soon as their leader was beaten. Sakura smiled as she approached their employer, "I'm so sorry about this Miss Uzihiko. How are you doing? Were you hurt?" she asked as she approached the woman who seemed to be muttering to herself.
As Sakura was about to offer the woman a hand as she had fallen to her knees after the missing nin was paralyzed. However as she reached forward she was met with a blade slashing her palm.
"You useless bastard!" She yelled as she stood kicking the paralyzed man as Sakura reeled from the unexpected pain. "How could you let a Genin ruin our plan..." she yelled as she kicked him again. As she turned to look at the shocked Sakura, "as for you pinky i guess we'll just have to kill you and your little genin." She growled as she removed her henge, surprising the pink haired jonin further. The woman revealed her turn form as a light brown haired woman with striking bile green eyes, she had an angular scarred face and also wore a scarred Iwa headband. And wore old worn holey Iwa jonin gear. The man on the ground is likely a chunin, "Iragaki get out here the cover has been blown, you have some genin to kill!" She yelled and as she did the man everyone had assumed to be her butler appeared beside her in full combat gear. He however did not wear a Iwa headband that Sakura could see, she growled as the man bowed to the insane looking jonin.
"Team Six formation 1b you will be on your own for a time I'll help you as soon as I can!" Sakura yelled as she blocked to Jonin's first kunai strike with her own.
Team Six fell into a triangle formation with Ryujin in the front and Natsumi to her left and Kumo to his right. Iragaki charged, batting Ryujin out of the way before attempting to do the same to Kumo, underestimating Natsumi as the smallest and seemingly weakest of the bunch. However this led to him getting a light cut of the face from the sword of the kunoichi. Hissing Iragaki jumped back before using the hand signs of Tiger and Ram. "Earth style: Underground Projection Fish" he announced as he sunk into the ground. Natsumi attempted to decapitate the man before he could fully sink into the ground just coming up short with her blade.
"Shit! Get to the trees!" Kumoharu yelled.
"No! He is trying to split us up! We need to stick together!" Natsumi retorted as she grouped up with Ryujin going back to back. Kumoharu nodded trying as he tried to get to his team. As he ran he called his spiders back hoping the bulk of them would be back soon, he was about to reach his team when he saw a hand reaching for him out of the ground he back flipped and threw several poisoned senbon at the hand sticking him at least once causing the hand to turn to mud.
"Mud Clones!" Kumoharu yelled as he looked at Natsumi and Ryujin winking. "To hell with this you idiots can get yourselves killed I'm going to the trees!" he yelled hoping to get the remaining clones and the real man to come out. He jumped towards the nearest tree and as he did another hand shot out of the ground, Kumoharu predicted this and threw some more senbon this time with spiders on them the hand dodged the senbon as if on instinct but the spiders jumped off the projectiles as they landed biting the hand. It too turned to mud, one more jump and Kumo was in the nearest tree. As he landed he began to weave through hand signs, "Secret technique: Mother's Web!" he thrust his hand forward covering the whole clearing in webs. Natsumi and Ryujin recognized this technique it was one of the first Kumo had shown them as it was impossible to avoid unless you knew which webs you could step on. He had spent a week teaching the whole team which webs were safe which would allow Team Six to travel unhindered over the webs as long as they were careful.
A few moments earlier with Sakura and the Iwa jonin.
Sakura had slowly been losing ground as this woman seemed to have unnatural levels of agility; she was confidently dodging Sakura's attacks. But the Pinkette was not worried; she was starting to see the attack patterns of her opponent who was getting more and more frustrated and was clearly beginning to slow.
"What is with you? How are you healing so fast!" she growled as she watched another one of Sakura's injuries heal before her eyes.
"I am a medical ninja trained by Tsunade Senju herself, if i were not able to heal these types of injuries on the fly i would have died in training." Sakura said as she dodged another strike and attempted to counter only to meet air. This was something she was used to. She trained with Itachi Uchiha on the regular after all and that man was impossibly hard to hit even with knowledge of his fighting style, but Sakura was good with battles of attrition. Despite her lower chakra reserves she had near perfect chakra control allowing her to store and replenish it in a near infinite loop though it did put strain on her, the only people she knew that could outlast her in a fight were Naruto and likely his mother.
She smiled as she heard a jutsu she was waiting for to be cast, in the background they heard "Secret Technique: Mother's Web!" She and the other jonin both dodged the webs getting to the trees.
"Perfect timing Kumoharu" she said with a smile. "Now you are on our turf" she yelled to the missing nin as she jumped onto one of the safe webs.
The Iwa jonin growled as she flew threw some hand signs and jumped towards the ground slamming her hand into it ignoring the webs. "Earth style: Heavy Quake!" The ground around the area began to shake violently as trees and rocks were scattered by the Jutsu.
Sakura frowned the woman was now hidden by rocks and she couldn't know whether she was stuck in the webs or not. She made way over to see the woman tangled in webs Sakura slowly approached and knocked the woman unconscious with a sedative. "Why would someone do all this what could be their true goal?"
Her thoughts were cut off by Ryujin and Kumoharu shouting for their teammate, "Natsumi!"
Sakura forgot about the unconscious ninja and made her way over to Kumoharu and Ryujin. Kumoharu was holding Ryujin back from jumping into the hole where they had last seen Natsumi. "What happened where is Natsumi?" She asked as she saw the hole in the ground.
"The guy we were fighting said something about Namikaze scum before grabbing her and taking her underground down that hole" Kumoharu responded pointing at the hole.
"Well we know what we need to do then... We're going after Natsumi!"Sakura yelled as she jumped into the hole followed by her remaining genin.
Natsumi's eyes were having a hard time adjusting the the darkness of the underground cave she had landed in across from the man who had pulled her under. "What's the big idea asshole?" She asked as she stood wiping dirt off herself.
The man ignored her as he stood, "My name is Iragaki of the Yamaruki clan and I've brought you here to kill you for the sins of the man known as the yellow flash... He killed my family now I will kill his!" He rushed Natsumi with wild abandon, she blocked his first kick aiming a counter with her sword however it did not find purchase. He followed up his kick with a right cross sending the girl to a heap on the floor.
As he attempted to follow up he found the girl was gone reappearing behind him she swung her sword down only to hit rock like skin. "What the!?" She exclaimed as she jump back making distance, she expected the man to chase after her however the man just stood there smiling. "You know they were in a war right? It's not like my dad went to your village and massacred civilians!" She yelled as she sheathed her sword. 'This man must have some sort to of kekkei genkai for his skin to be able to turn to stone like that...' She was going to have to use ninjutsu her taijutsu and kenjutsu would be useless here.
"That doesn't matter to me! He took everything from me!" He raged as he charged Natsumi again, as he struck he could have sworn he had hit he but some how she was behind him pointing her finger at his head.
"Lightning style: Volt shot!" A small line of electrical energy arced from her finger to his temple leaving a small burn and making his body stiffen.
"Argh" he yelled as his body seized. Natsumi used this time to back off, she could not underestimate this opponent last time that happened it proved dire. "You bitch that hurt!" He raged.
"I see now why you made me your target." Iragaki scowled at the words, "you are weak... If you had attacked any of my other family members the would have killed you in an instant." Iragaki's eyes went wild as he charged her once more only to find she wasn't there anymore. Looking around he spotted five clones of the girl, "I'm going to finish this you are to dangerous to let live..." The Natsumi's said in unison, before the man could respond Natsumi ran through several hand signs to fast for the man to see. "You should have killed me when you had the chance instead of ranting. Lightning style: Guiding Bolt!" An arc of electricity connected the five girls and a ball of lightning began to speed between them. Iragaki dodged and weaved as the ball came close to hitting him, but it was speeding up with each "bounce" and it would eventually hit him.
"Curse You Bitch!" He yelled as the ball of lightning was about to hit him. The ball hit man and the room was filled with the smell of burning skin and hair.
Natsumi scrunched her nose at the smell. taking the time to look around the underground cave they had been fighting in, it was too dark to see any exit. "I need to find a way to tell everyone I am okay." She thought out loud, Natsumi wandered around the area looking for something to light on fire so she had some light. It did not take her long to find a thick dead root using her over shirt and a bit of oil she had for cooking she made a makeshift torch and as she did Natsumi realised that they hadn't been fighting in a underground cave but an underground temple. Walking around large statues of cats lined the walls in the room, alone the vibe covered walls Natsumi found braziers lining the walls which she lit with her torch. The only wall without any roots snaking up and down it was the one with what seemed to be an altar in the middle of the room on the roof she could see where Iragaki pulled her into the room making her scowl she could not get up there if she tried it was a good fifty feet in the air. She instead made her way over to the altar where she found an old looking scroll on it. Cocking her head to the side she reached for the scroll, she did not know why she almost felt a compulsive force crash over her. As she grabbed it she thought she heard a cat meow, however she didn't have a chance to think about it or the scroll as she put the scroll in her pouch. She heard Sakura-sensei calling for her, "Sakura-sensei! I'm down here!" She called out.
Within five minutes Natsumi saw a rope being lowered down to her, "thanks guys!" She yelled up as she grabbed onto the rope, she was going to start climbing but she felt her team begin to pull her up so she decided to rest a bit on the way up. As she was pulled into the tunnel she found herself in the arms of Ryujin.
"What the hell happened Natsumi?" He nearly cried as he crushed her to his chest making the cherry blond girl blush deeply.
Sakura put her hand on the boys shoulder, "let her breathe Ryujin."
Natsumi let out a few breaths before thanking her friend, "thanks for the help." She said still trying to hide her blush. Natsumi explained what had happened in the underground temple as the exited the caves. She did not tell them about the scroll she had found though she wanted to study it before she showed it to anyone.
Sakura looked around at the destruction cause by their scuffle with a frown, "So much for an easy C rank... I'm going to have so much paperwork..." She complained as she made her way over to the unconscious jonin missing nin. "Natsumi are you capable of making a Chakra restraint seal?" She asked looking to her student.
"I have a few already made but I don't know how well they will work on a jonin." She said as Natsumi handed her teacher the seals.
"It should be good enough, I'm going to place these you three get some rest we will be heading back to Konohagkure in an hour to report what happened!" Sakura commanded the three genin nodded slowly in response their adrenaline no longer keeping their bodies going.
Natsumi hissed as she sat, "damn a broken rib..." She whispered as she felt a sharp pain from her right side.
"You okay Natsumi?" Kumoharu asked as he sat down wincing at his own pain.
"Yeah just a bit sore that bastard Iragaki got some good hits in before I was able to put him down." She responded while rubbing her sore jaw. Ryujin sat down near his friends in silence, this odd behavior brought Natsumi's attention to the boy. She then remembered their last conversation there was something going on with Ryujin. But why wouldn't he talk to her about it, this frustrated her to no end the boy was usually too open with what was bothering him.
Over the hour they had to rest, Ryujin ignored his teammates, he could feel a burning sensation through his whole body making it slow and unresponsive. He clenched his fist and as he did he clearly felt the lag between the thought and movement. This made him frown and remember what he had been told the week before becoming a genin.
He sat in a doctor's office with his mother and father waiting on the doctor. His mother had forced him to go, she had said he was acting odd but he couldn't see it. The doctor walked into the room with a clear sad look on her face, Rin was the first to notice being a medical ninja in the past she knew that look all to well. "What is it Kyouka" she asked in a serious tone, the woman looked at her with a solemn look.
"The tests revealed that Ryujin has a rare condition called Chrarenkenisi, it slows the brain's signals leading to nerve pain, slow reactions and movement." Kyouka explained.
Before either Kakashi or Rin could respond, "does this mean I can't be a Ninja?" Ryujin questioned clearly upset.
Kyouka frowned slightly, "not necessarily, it won't be easy but you can use your Chakra to boost your abilities but you will always be working with a handicap."
Ryujin had fought for a few hours with his parents that night and they finally agreed to allow him one chance, but they told him if he were to ever feel his condition could hinder himself or others he would have to quit being a ninja.
"This is nothing I can still do this..." He argued to himself.
"What was that Ryujin?" Kumoharu asked almost hearing his friend.
"Nothing! Haha, I was just mumbling that I was tired..." He responded I little louder than necessary, Kumoharu cocked his head to the side before returning to the ration he was eating. Ryujin looked to Natsumi who was looking at him with a look of concern, he just smiled at the strawberry blonde girl hoping to convince her he was fine. Natsumi sighed deeply before returning to their scroll.
Not five minutes had passed when Sakura called her team to her, "Okay break is over we are heading out!"
Returning to their Sensei they found three slugs the size of large dogs. Natsumi cocked her head to the side, "Lady Katsuyu right?"
"Correct, from Sakura's description you would be Natsumi right?" A feminine voice came from the slug. Natsumi nodded in response with a smile on her face.
"You are well informed Natsumi, I summoned lady Katsuyu to carry our prisoners and the remains of Iragaki." Natsumi couldn't help but feel a shiver run over her as she heard the name of the man she had recently killed. She felt sick to her stomach as she remembered the smell of burning flesh and hair. It took all of her will to not lose her lunch there and then, Sakura gave her student a knowing look. "Natsumi you are with me in the front Lady Katsuyu will take the middle Kumoharu, Ryujin take the rear." She commanded each member fell into their position's, as they travelled Sakura looked to her student.
"Are you okay? That was your first kill was it not?" Sakura inquired.
Natsumi was about to lie saying she was fine, but the feeling of intense nausea hit her again. This time she felt her lunch starting to come up, swallowing hard she decided she needed to talk about what happened. "Yeah, at first I didn't think much of it." She began staring at the ground as she did, "but now anytime I think of what happened all I can smell is the smell of his flesh burning." With the final word Natsumi shuddered, "all I can do now is fight the urge to vomit..."
Sakura looked to her student with a look of empathy, "I wish I could tell you it gets better with time. But there is a reason most of the Uchiha are mostly vegetarian." Natsumi looked at her sensei with a look of realization, "Alot of Uchiha that are ninja tend to be vegetarian. Because after having killed someone with fire they tend to hate the smell of cooking meat or cooked meat."
"I guess I can understand that... That smell is not one I'll easily forget" Natsumi responded while cringing slightly. "But I think I'll be okay... As bad as it sounds the only thing about the whole situation that I regret is not plugging my nose. He was trying to kill me, I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again. And I don't doubt that I will again, but thanks for asking sensei talking helped... I think."
"Just let me know if you start having nightmares... I need to know these things." Sakura used a commanding tone to indicate this was not an optional statement.
"I will... I do have one question though sensei." Sakura cocked her head to the side, "have you noticed anything weird about Ryujin? He has been acting strange and earlier I heard him saying something about about something being nothing and being able to do this."
Sakura looked on in deep contemplation, she knew of Ryujin's condition, and he was still keeping up with his teammates as far as she could tell. "Natsumi this conversation never leaves the two of us... Ryujin has a condition that makes his Chakra radiate through his body. It causes certain bodily functions to be slowed, like reaction speed." Natsumi looked on in horror, "there are ways to bypass this disability but it is not easy. In truth it is part of the reason I was made the sensei of team six, so I could keep an eye on Ryujin and his health. The Hokage gave him special permission to become a ninja, as he saw his potential as a ninja. But he did not want to risk lives he placed me with the team so I can make sure he is healthy and not dragging his team down."
Natsumi really didn't like the way that sounded but she sort of understood why her father would make such a decision. "I understand sort of but why are you telling me?"
"I want you to help me keep an eye on him, and report any suspicious activity."
"I guess... I don't want to be the one to kill his dream but I'd rather him be alive." Natsumi said solemnly.
"I know this is alot to ask and I appreciate your help, but now we best make haste to Konoha." With that she jumped into the trees and began to move faster.
Natsumi joined her sensei meeting her pace easily, looking back she saw both of her teammates join them in the trees. On the ground she could see Katsuyu keeping up without much effort. They travelled like this through the night reaching the gates of Konoha as the sun was coming over the horizon.
"Sakura-san, team 6 welcome back... But we were not expecting you back for another week or two." Kotetsu questioned.
"It turns out our employer was the missing nin Mezu Kyo or more commonly known as the master of henge. She and her "team" attacked us when we were sufficiently away from the village I can't say much else until I talk to the Hokage." Kotetsu nodded and motioned for them to go through, making their way quickly to the Hokage's office. They knew he was informed as soon as they were spotted, he was likely to be waiting for them. Sakura didn't hesitate to knock on the door as they reached it.
"Come in team 6" none of them were surprised that the Hokage knew it was them. So they entered the door immediately Katsuyu still carrying the prisoners and the corpse of the attackers. "Report" he stated simply, Natsumi had never seen her father like this he seemed quite disturbed.
Sakura bid Katsuyu to move forward as she did she revealed the the two alive members of the attack. "These are Mezu Kyo and her former student Mahato Jikoh the final man is Iragaki Yamaruki. They attacked us after we got outside the direct vicinity of Konoha. Mezu Kyo otherwise known as the henge master was disguised as Mrs Uzihiko and Iragaki was disguised as her bodyguard. I am not positive on Mezu's goal but Iragaki was after Natsumi, it seems it was mostly a fluke that he got her team according to Natsumi." This visibly changed the Hokage's mood. "Team 6 was able to not only incapacitate Jikoh but while I was fighting Mezu Natsumi was able to defeat Iragaki after being separated from her teammate's."
"This is most unfortunate... To think someone such as Mezu and Iragaki were able to just walk in and hire a team of genin and their Sensei... All under my nose... This is my fault the four of you will all receive double compensation and be credited for an A rank mission. You are also being granted two week paid vacation, thank you for your service to the village." He said while giving Natsumi a look that said 'we will talk when I get home.' "you are dismissed, good job. And one more thing Sakura can you take the prisoners to Ibiki for interrogation." Team 6 bowed in unison before leaving the office.
Natsumi waved to her team as they left the office of the Hokage and made her way home. As she entered the door she was pulled into a hug by her mother, "Natsumi your father said something happened on your mission are you okay?"
Natsumi hissed in response, between her broken rib which she had completely forgotten about. And her mother's bone crushing hug, she could not speak. Kushina blushed as she let her daughter go, "Natsumi you are hurt!" she said while lifting her daughter's shirt revealing a blue and purple bruise on her side. "Why didn't you get this checked out?"
Natsumi sighed as she pulled down her shirt, "because it's a reminder that I'm alive and I survived that day." Natsumi said with a smile, "I won this time mom, it may not have been that bastard Mitsuki but I won."
Kushina looked at her daughter with a stern look, "what happened don't leave out any details."
Natsumi rarely heard her mother use a tone such as this, sure she got angry alot but there was always a bit of whimsy behind her eyes. This time she had the hard cold eyes of the former ninja Natsumi knew she was. She knew she had no way out of this so she told her mother about everything including Ryujin's condition. "So that is what happened... I'm conflicted and tired... Can we talk more in the morning?"
Kushina could hear the sleep in Natsumi's voice, she wanted to tell her to eat but she knew that after a first kill it's usually hard to eat. "Rest well Natsumi," she said while kissing her daughter's forehead. "I love you and I'm proud of you, if you wake up hungry come and find me I'll be in the kitchen." With that Kushina left the room.
"Love you too mom" Natsumi grunted as she stood every injury feeling fresh and at the front of her mind. "Remember this Natsumi... Next time you will do better..." She slowly made her way to the bathroom to take a bath, however standing outside the room leaning on the door was Naruto.
"You look like shit Natsumi... I heard you and mom, you okay first kills are rough." He asked.
"I'd say I am okay... But that's just not true... But at the moment I am okay for now, just tired and sore." Naruto simply hugged his sister lightly making sure not to hurt her.
"I'm going back to bed, make sure to rest and use this tonic in your bath it will help it always helps me." He said as he produced a vial, "they are made by Sakura to help repair muscle and such."
Natsumi smiled as she accepted the vial, "thanks Baka..." She said as she entered the bathroom. After a quick bath she entered her room and softly made her way to her bed.
Natsumi slept for a good 16 hours and when she woke up it was pitch black out. Making her way down the stairs she saw her family having dinner. "This is so weird... She growled as she sat down." However as she did she caught the smell of the roast on the table she had to run to the bathroom to vomit.
"I should have made a vegetarian dinner for tonight..." Kushina sighed, "I'll go check on her." She said as she stood, making her way to the first floor half bath she found Natsumi retching into the toilet. She kneeled beside the cherry blond girl pulling her hair out of her face. She rubbed Natsumi's back as she continued to retch. The harsh movements came to a stop as Natsumi began to breath deeply.
"I sorry mom I love you cooking I really do but that smell... That smell it made me think of..." She shuddered heavily as she remembered what she did a tear came to her eye before the dam broke. Kushina pulled her daughter into a hug sitting on the cold floor to pull the girl into her lap as she cried.
"It's okay... Just let it out..." She comforted, Natsumi continued to sob into her mother's chest.
Several minutes past as the ladies of the Namikaze household sat on the floor the elder comforting the younger. Natsumi wound up crying herself to sleep in her mother's arms clearly still exhausted. Kushina brought the sleeping genin back up to her room before returning with some vegetable broth that she placed a seal on to stay warm until consumed.
The next day Natsumi found herself wandering the village, her mother had forbidden her from training for the first few days of her vacation. Still she found herself at the training grounds but not the one for her team she had found her self at team 10's training grounds. She had heard the training going on and had decided to see if she could talk to Itachi.
It did not take her long to find him, however she figured he knew she was there much before she had found him. He was watching his team spar in a three way free for all. "What can I do for you Natsumi? And no I won't help you train your mother had a memo sent to the whole ninja corps you are on forced rest." Itachi asked in his normal straight forward way.
Natsumi couldn't help but laugh, she had been angry at first when her mother told her she was to rest and no training. "Don't worry even I know my limits walking here has me tired, I plan on enjoying my days off." Itachi finally took his eyes off his team to look at her inan expectant way. "I just wanted to ask you a question... Have you ever burnt someone... I... I."
Itachi stopped the girl before she could start breaking down, "I have.. it is not something easily forgotten, I'd be worried if it was for you." He began for some reason despite the man not even looking at her anymore she could feel herself relaxing. She knew her family and friends would just fuss over her and tell her what she wanted to hear, but she knew Itachi was being genuine. "I believe you have the strength to move on, just take it one step at a time. Live your life, you did what you did because you had to. Allow this to make you stronger, not weaker." Simple words but for some reason Natsumi felt better than she had since getting home.
"Thanks Itachi-senpai I think that was exactly what I needed to hear," she was about to leave when team 10 approached.
"Namikaze what are you doing here" Ino asked in a obnoxious tone.
"Why is that your business Ino? I had a question for Itachi if you really have to know." She had always know that Ino had some weird form of rival complex with her, she sometimes fed into it to make the girl try harder in training during the academy.
"I heard you just got back from a mission, what rank we have already been on a C rank." Ino bragged making her team cringe.
"Ino this is a waste of time... We are all on the same team so to speak" Shikamaru argued. Choji nodded in agreement and Itachi just shook his head in exasperation.
"It's fine Shika, if you want to make it a contest my last mission was an A rank." Ino's jaw dropped, "I guess that's what happens when you find yourself in combat with a A rank missing nin." She said with a shrug.
Ino was sputtering when Choji pulled her away telling her she would get in trouble if she attacked the other girl. "From what I heard it was a C rank to begin with wasn't it?" Shikamaru asked as he picked his ear with his pinky.
"Well yeah... But she doesn't know that" Natsumi responded gaining a chuckle from the lazy Nara.
"You know this is going to make her insufferable" Shikamaru groaned.
"She is always insufferable Shika, that is why I'm glad she is on your team and not mine." Natsumi said with a laugh, "you two have fun and thanks again Itachi-senpai." Natsumi said with a wave as she turned around.
"I'll walk you home you look rough today Natsumi..." Shikamaru said as a nearly imperceptible blush crossed his face.
Natsumi cocked her head to the side, "you don't have to I'm not that hurt." Natsumi responded her cheeks feeling warm, 'what is going on its just Shikamaru you have known him your whole life.'
Shikamaru just grunted and followed the strawberry blonde girl, Itachi smiled as they walked away. "I knew you had it in you Shikamaru," he chuckled to himself as the genin got out of earshot.
Shikamaru walked silently beside a slightly blushing Natsumi, 'oh come on Natsumi he is just being nice... Him walking you home is just a friendly gesture for sure... Why is this flustering me so bad...' Shikamaru clearing his throat brought Natsumi out of her thoughts.
"Umm you want lunch?" He said pointing with his thumb to a small barbeque place they were walking past.
Natsumi was about to say no when she felt her stomach growl, "yeah that sounds great Shika..." She almost squeaked, 'god I'm so awkward... Sure he is asking me to lunch but that doesn't mean it's a date or anything... Is it...' her thoughts only made her blush further.
The woman at the front counter eyed the genin as they walked in, as she did a smile spread across her face. "Afternoon table for two?" She always loved seeing youngsters on their first dates and she could tell by the blushes on both of their faces this was likely a date.
"Uh yeah... Thanks..." Shikamaru sounded as nervous as Natsumi felt, 'the longer this goes on the more it feels like a date.' Natsumi thought as she sat down at a cozy table with a blushing Shikamaru. 'oh god he's blushing this is a date!' she thought in realization. 'Why an I okay with this? Do I like Shika?'
"I'll bring you the house tea and menus" the woman said as she turned to leave the youngsters to their date.
Natsumi took a deep breath she had to ask the boy she had known forever whether this was what she thought it was. "Umm Shika..." Shikamaru who was looking away trying to hide his blush looked to his long time crush. "What is this? Are we on a date?" Shikamaru looked on in surprise, "I mean I wouldn't mind if it was. I just want to make sure I'm not reading something into this situation that isn't there." Natsumi's face felt like it was burning she hadn't meant to say all of what she had just said but it came out like verbal vomit.
Shikamaru sat stunned for a few moments making Natsumi feel even more nervous. When he shook off his initial shock he saw her looking at him expectantly. "I don't mind either..." He wasn't trying to be cool Shikamaru just couldn't bring himself to say anything else his brain was too fried. He had never intended this to be a date but he had to admit as soon as he and Natsumi walked through the door that was the only explanation for the feeling he was getting.
Neither genin could bring themselves to talk other than to order their food, but if anyone had asked either they would have said it was the perfect way for it to go. They would have time for getting used to eachothers company in such a situation, for now they sat in silence happily. After lunch Shikamaru walked Natsumi home, Natsumi instinctively grabbing his hand making them both blush deeply. As they got to the door, Shikamaru let go of her hand. "That was... Great."
"Great" they said in unison, making Natsumi turn away to hide how red her face got.
"Uh I need to get back to the training grounds... Let's do this again sometime..." He said before jumping off.
Natsumi smiled brightly, and whispered to herself "I'd like that." She made her way into her house seeing her brothers and dads shoes were not home she quickly took her own off. She needed to find her mother she needed to talk to someone about what had happened. She would have normally sought out Tsuji but she was out of the village at the moment. She found her mother in the back garden, she was currently weeding around her flowers. "Mom..." Her voice was quiet and it sort of cracked.
Kushina looked up from her garden to see her daughter standing before her red faced and looking like she clearly wanted to talk. "What's up Natsumi?"
"Can I talk to you inside?" The younger Namikaze asked. Kushina nodded and wiped her apron off as she stood following her daughter inside.
"Okay so what is going on?" Kushina asked concern clear in her tone.
Natsumi felt her face burning again, "I just went on a date with Shikamaru..."
Kushina lit up at her daughter's confession, calming herself before she spoke. "Oh really? did you have fun?"
Natsumi smiled brighter unconsciously, "yeah we just had lunch but I enjoyed it."
Kushina smiled and hugged the younger Namikaze, "Shikamaru is a bit lazy but he is a good hearted boy I'm happy for you."
"Thanks Mom..." She said while hugging back.
"Did I ever tell you about the first date your father ever took me on?". Kushina asked as she leaned forward intent on swapping stories with her daughter.
Natsumi smiled as she shook her head no, this lead the mother daughter duo into a deep conversation about their first dates.
After the first week of their vacation team 6 met up for the first time each of them wanting to get back to training.
Natsumi stood with heat teammates, Sakura pacing infront of them. She stopped pulling three scrolls from the pouch, each genin knew what those scrolls were. "The Hokage informed me this morning that the Chunin exams will be taking place in our very own village next month." The members of team 6 stood stunned, "the Hokage has requested the three of you represent the village. He has asked me to increase your training schedule so you will have the best chance of standing out."
Natsumi fingered the scroll in her pocket she had opened it once since getting home confirming it was a summoning scroll. "Sensei would you be able to teach us the kuchiyose Jutsu? I picked up this summoning scroll back in the cave that I fought Iragaki in." She said as she produced the scroll.
Sakura face palmed, "your telling me you grabbed a unknown scroll in a underground temple..." Sakura said with a sigh.
Natsumi blushed as she was now the center of attention, "I recognized the seals on the scroll it was clearly a contract scroll."
"Just be more careful next time... But as long as everyone has a contract I can teach you three for sure." She lamented.
"I already have a signed contract," Kumoharu confessed. "I just don't use it much as it uses too much Chakra."
"I can ask my dad if I can sign his contract with the ninken!" Ryujin exclaimed.
"Okay that will be the first goal over this month you will all get comfortable with summoning." Sakura said with a clap.
A/N: next chapter will begin the Chunin exam arc and will delve into a few side characters.