Team Baki was currently near the northern border. They were being sent on their first A-Ranked mission. It was a test to see how well they could fight against more skilled enemies. There was news of Iwa sending shinobi into the Land of Wind. This was something that Rasa couldn't allow. It had come to two teams that were being sent.
Team one was a group of three Shinobi. A Jonin by the name of Korikio. He was a skilled wind jutsu user. The other two with him were two chunin, Ikiko, she was skilled in binding cloth and the last was Zamatu. He was an archer that used wind jutsu to move his arrows in different ways.
Korikio was annoyed at first. The thought of going on a difficult mission with genin frustrated him. That was until they saw that the genin that was with Baki was none other than the Son of the Kazekage. The demon monster Gaara. Along with that was the son of Sasori, Eien Uzumaki. They had heard stories that this genin team was vasty above the rest. The only thing making them Genin instead of Chunin was the fact that Rasa hadn't promoted them yet.
"Hey Gaara!" Eien smiled happily at his friend, "Why do you think Iwa is trying to scout us out?" Gaara shrugged but his eyes lit up at the boy's smile. Shira though answered the question, "Well my dad says that Iwa and Konoha had tried to get into the Land of Wind in the Last war. It had been super close, and we lost a ton of ninja."
"He's right." All three kids turned to see Baki looking down at them, "We were forced back and never truly went on the offensive. We still haven't recovered either." Korikio glanced back over his shoulder at the genin, "It's why Rasa pushes our genin more than most villages. We need our shinobi to be as strong as possible."
Baki continued the conversation, "You are different as well. Eien you're the son of one of the strongest puppet users of all time. Not to mention you're a prodigy in the field. Gaara you're the son of the Kazekage and Suna's weapon. While you Shira are an anomaly of our village and headed towards becoming the strongest Taijutsu user in all of Sunakagure's history."
"No preasure." Shira responded confused and annoyed. Eien though just wrapped his arm around the bigger boy's neck, "Come on! We'll be even better than anyone could imagine."
Gaara just watched the boy. He was so positive and nice. Gaara couldn't take his eyes off of Eien. He wanted to be near him all the time. See him smile and watch him fight. Eien was the only one he viewed as an equal in the village. His skills were incredible. Almost like an art.
"We are getting close to the border." Korikio looked at the genin team, "Let's split up. We will keep going North. Baki you and your team should go East."
"Fine. Don't get yourself killed Korikio." The slightly younger man smiled before turning with his team and charging off. Baki rounded his team up and set off to hopefully cut off the enemy shinobi.
Eien was looking around the area for any signs of the enemy shinobi. Making a mental note of exactly where Gaara and Shira were the entire time. Stopping near a small village on the outskirt Eien tried to see what his sensei might see. There weren't any civilians out and about which alone was strange. There wasn't much to this village. In fact, Eien was trying to figure out why this village would fall under target of any foreign force.
"Be ready." Was all Baki said as they walked into the village. The stench of death filled the air. There was something definitely going on. Shira stood just off the left of the puppet user. On Eien's right he could feel Gaara's chakra moving. Almost like he was readying to destroy whatever target they were about to run into.
Just as they were about to reach the middle of the village rock a dozen golems stood up from the ground, "Gaara! You go left get any shinobi that could hit us. Shira with me! Eien, destroy these golems."
Moving quickly Eien summoned Kinja. Standing on top the snake he saw that the shinobi viewed him as the biggest threat. A smile formed on his face as he watched Gaara move down a small alleyway by himself. No, he wasn't the one they needed to worry about. Lifting his hand, he began smahing through the golems. Rocks smashed into the snake but never broke its armor. Reaching out Kinja grabbed one of the Golems before hurtling it two more.
"I'm impressed. Didn't think puppets were that good," A tall dangly man walked out. He was in his early twenties. He wore a very formal looking kimono. His light brown hair was tied into a ponytail behind his back, "Think you're strong fighting a kid?" Eien said with a deadly tone.
"Oh I know who you are. We were hoping to get you out here." A smirk on his lips almost mirrored the concern in Eien's eyes, "You and that little Jinchuriki."
"Wait that means you're," Before he could finish kunai rained down from the other building. Dropping down into Kinja. He let it wrap around him saving him from the onslaught of explosions. Summoning Byakko and Futsuumeichi. Jumping back up he looked down at Kinja. It was in bad shape, it was overall still functional and effective but the plating had taken a beating.
Explosions could be heard in both directions. From one end he knew Baki and Shira were in a fight. In the other he understood Gaara was fighting alone. Lifting his hands the moment all three shinobi attacked he made his move. Futsuumeichi flew at the ninja to his left. It's bladed arm striking at the kunoichi. She was fast but Eien had already seen better kenjutsu.
Byakko though was already on top of the ninja to his left. Claws slashed out cutting into the man's chest causing him to yell out. Jumping back, he threw up a mud wall. Byakko though broke through in an instant. Long blades launched into position from its sides. Before the shinobi could react though Byakko ran past him. The long weapon slicing the man in half.
Eien balanced the fight. Using Kinja to stay on the defense as well. It's massive tail coming up smacking the golems out of the way with ease. Seeing Futsuumeichi maneuvering the konouchi in place he turned Kinja's head opening its mouth. In a cloud of green, poison rained down onto the ninja. She screamed out as she panicked.
The leader was shocked and terrified. His teammates were killed so quickly by a twelve-year-old boy. Covering his hand in a stone fist he grabbed the small gremlin looking puppet. Only for Byakko to latch onto his leg. With a flick of the wrist, it pulled severing the leg from the shinobi causing him to scream out in agony.
Looking up he saw the red headed boy's nearly emotional face as he rode his puppet to him, "Why are you after us?"
"I won't tell you anything you Suna brat!" Eien's face scrunched in disgust. This man and his ninja come here to trap his team. Insult him and his home yet can't even handle fighting him. Lifting Kinja he forced its mouth down letting it bite and crush the man's upper body.
"I need to get to Gaara." Re-sealing his puppets Eien took to the rooftops. He could hear the fighting, so he knew that Gaara was close. Jumping to the edge of the tallest building he could see sand reach out crushing two ninjas. Several though were still active. This trap was definitely a quanity over quality battle.
Summoning four puppets he placed Nanto and Hokuto next to himself. An energy shield surrounded him while he sent Shinigami to go and help Gaara. He could see four giant stone walls surround his friend. The ninja jumped up onto the hill and started forming hand signs. Eien decided to end this quickly.
Shinigami moved its sythe twirled as it appeared behind one of the shinobi taking off his head. Sand shot out like pullets killing two of the ninjas before lifting the other boy out of the trap. Another shinobi tried to draw his sword only for a massive blade stabbed through him killing him instantly.
Eien smiled to himself as he turned the puppet to face the next ninja. Only out of the corner eye to see movement. In his shock he saw a man dressed in a full body armored suit. Steam was seeping out of it. Moving so fast that he didn't have time to pull out Kinja. The hit smashed the shield nearly breaking it. To Eien's surprise though it sent him flying through the air with his puppets.
Hitting the ground hard it took a minute before he could catch his breath. Rolling to the side he barely avoided the foot that smashed into the ground creating a crater. Eien knew his ribs were broken. This guy was crazy fast, and he needed to be careful. Shinigami was on the ground next to Gaara. He had Byakko and Kinja in their scrolls along with Tennyo. She was probably his best bet.
Pulling the twin puppets back to him he had them hold their staves throwing up a barrier just in time to block his opponent's attack. Forcing them forward they launched hundreds of poisoned darts at the shinobit but he already disappeared before landing on top of Hokuto destroying it instantly. Nanto's mantis blade appeared. Allowing his own chakra into his puppet, it moved faster than he has ever forced it to go.
Steam came out of the back of the ninja's suit. His fist punching the puppet so hard it crushed the upper body. The remains smashed into Eien. Tumbling back, he felt his body starting to give up, "What is this guy." He asked while forcing himself to stand up.
Looking at the powerful warrior in front of him he saw a strange cloak covering him, "You did well for a child. I am sorry but these are my orders.
Everything slowed down as the shinobi flew towards him. He wished he would have realized this was a jinchuriki beforehand. Eien felt fear creep in as his death was coming. As the man's fist was about to hit him sand shot around him. Eien lost all sight of the ninja for a split second. As the sand cleared, he saw that the ninja was maneuvering away from him as he avoided the sand tendrils.
"You don't touch Eien!" Gaara was almost feral. Murder was coming off him in waves. His sand dropped Shinigami next to Eien filling the boy with relief.
Lifting his right arm pain shot through his arm up to his shoulder. Eien knew his arm was broke. Using his opposite hand, he watched as Gaara's sand slowly surrounded him. His body hardening to a weird mix of boy and monster. Han didn't want to give Gaara time, so he moved at incredible speed. Shinigami though cut him off before the enemy jinchuriki could reach Gaara.
Shinigami moved quickly bocking and attacking almost as fast as Han. Eien was forcing as much of his own chakra into the puppet to increase its durability. He knew he couldn't win this fight. Gaara who now had a massive sand claw on his left hand. His face was partially transformed and a tanuki tail waved behind him as he finally attacked. The clawed attack hit the shinobi sending him crashing through a house.
Han broke out of the rubble with massive force. Eien summoned kinja, forcing himself to ignore the pain in his arm so he could use it to mover around the fighters. Gaara was fast but not even close to Han. Eien used Shinigami to take on most of the damage. It was getting battered, but it was working. Unfortunately, Han realized what was happening and directed his assault on Eien.
Eien wasn't prepared for the following attack. Han's fist smashed into the side of Kinja throwing Eien to the ground. Rolling up he tried pulling Shinigami but Han was already on top of him. The jinchurki grabbed his right arm and squeezed. With a well-placed kick Eien was sent flying back after feeling the pull of his arm. The muscle tore and the bone broke. It was more pain than he had ever felt.
Laying on the ground he looked up to the blue dessert sky. He felt the heat on his face but not much else. Looking down he could see where he arm had been. Blood was pooling in the sand making him feel offended by the fact it was looking at him. Hearing the roar of a Tailed Beast he looked back up to see Gaara on the head of the giant monster.
"Huh? I thought it was a raccoon. I guess it's a tanuki." Sand and wind attacks shot out, but he couldn't see how it was going.
"Eien!" Shira appeared in his vision with Baki, "You're going to be okay I promise. Baki sensei what do we do?" Before Eien heard the answer everything faded to black.
Gaara was pissed. How dare he hurt Eien! Kill kill kill kill. The four-letter word echoed through his very being. Han was holding out well. His chakra cloak even developing a two tailed form helping him stay in the fight. Garra and Shikaku though were to in sink. Thier attacks were powerful, and this was their environment.
The other team of sand shinobi appeared. They were shooting out ninjutsu at Han. Explosive seals were going off and he was being pushed back. In a joint voice Gaara and Shikaku yelled out as the massive tail smashed into the man destroying his armor. Han must have realized he was going to lose because he tuck tail and ran.
Turning around Shikaku was still mostly in control. Looking down he saw that the shinobi were ready to protect their downed genin from him. Slowly he bergan releasing himself back to Gaara. He wanted to know if the strange boy was okay. The boy that reminded him of his last human friend.
Baki watched as the sand fell away. Shrinking and breaking apart until suddenly the red headed jinchurki was standing in front of them. His eyes not leaving his teammate. Looking around he could see the destruction that the fighting had caused. This was a trap that leveled an entire village. They still weren't sure where the civilians were.
"Gaara." The boy didn't respond. Kneeling down he put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "Gaara." The boy looked at him with wet eyes. Something he'd never seen on the boy before, "We did what we could for now. I need you to use your sand to carry him back to Suna."
He didn't respond though. Letting his sand reach out to gently pick up the puppet user. Shira was doing his best to hold back his own tears as he watched Gaara pick up Eien. Baki sighed before looking at Korikio, "How did you know to come back?"
"We ran into a small group of shinobi. They had intel that they were targeting Gaara-kun and Eien-kun. Apparetnly they knew we would have sent your team." The man paused before shaking his head, "This doesn't feel right. There is no way they could have known."
Baki nodded. Korikio was right, there was never a way they should have known. This was a trap by someone inside of the Kage office. One of the elders maybe? He couldn't imagine it came from the Kazekage himself. Nothing made any sense, and he would figure out why.
They made as quick of time as they could. Arrving back to the village and getting Eien to the hospital. Word went out to the Kazekage and Kyatsu. Baki stood in the waiting room with his team. Gaara hadn't said anything since the battle. Horror was the only thing he saw on his face. Fear of his friend dying. Shira was very much the same. Eien being part of the reason he'd improved so much.
Lady Chiyo walked into the room. Looking around Baki saw she was almost on the hunt. Seeing him she marched over, "What happened? What happened to my grand baby!"
Baki bowed his head slightly in resignation, "I'm sorry Chiyo-sama, we were ambushed. We fanned out against what we thought was just a standard shinobi team. Iwa sent one of its Jinchuriki against us. Eien and Gaara fought him but at some point, Han got the advantage over Eien."
Kyatsu was there and heard most of the explanation. Her team was right behind her. Ameno ran past her and wrapped her arms around Shira. Kyatsu approached keeping herself together, but he could see the struggle in her eyes, "W-what is the damage?"
"Several broken bones, concussion, and the missing of his right arm." Kyatsu's voice broke at the thought of her baby boy mission his arm. Chiyo turned around and walked out, "Where are you-"
"I'm going to make him something to help him stay a shinobi. So shut your mouth you've done enough." Baki felt the weight of his failure bare down on his shoulders. He had never meant to get attached to these kids. Especially Eien, however that just wasn't in the cards for him. The boy was kind, strong, and intelligent. Baki wouldn't fail his genin again.
"Kyatsu-san I'm sorry." Bowing he closed his eyes, "I was not kind to your son when he first joined my team. I failed him than and I failed him on this mission. I should have protected him!" Kyatsu shook her head, "He wouldn't think that. Eien fought against a Jinchurki. He never would have expected you to be there to protect him."
"But I-" Gaara though interrupted, "Eien got hurt because of me sensei. He helped me and made himself a target." Tears filled his eyes, "It wasn't your fault sensei." Baki was stunned quiet. He never expected this much of a change in Gaara. The boy had changed so much over the last few months together.
"Baki-san." Turning they saw the Kazekage walk in, "I want you and Kyatsu to come with me. The kids will stay and inform us if there is any improvement."
Both jonin followed Rasa back to the office. Nobody spoke until they were inside the office and the room was cleared, "It has come to my attention we have a a traitor in our mists. I am unsure of where they come from or why, but that mission was known by myself and the council."
"So what do we do?" Baki asked. This couldn't happen again. They needed to prepare the kids for another betrayal before it happens. Rasa though let out a sigh, "I do not know. I have plans in motion so we can discover how this happened. However, I must ask a favor for you two."
Turning he looked out towards his village, "Gaara wants his seal to be fixed. I assume that his tailed beast doesn't object either. Something has changed in him since he met your son." Kyatsu was shocked but didn't interrupt, "I would understand your…..reservations of helping me when I was unkind to your plight when coming to this village."
"I'll help." Rasa turned around to see the Uzumaki's smile, "Gaara saved my baby. I'll do whatever it takes to help him now. I owe him more than he will ever know."
"We will do it as soon as possible than. What will you need?" Kyatsu nodded, "I need three of your sealing master's and I'll need Eien when he wakes."