Chapter 33 Mission and Team up

Team 8 was once more in front of the Hokage and his staff as they reported a completed mission. Although it was just a dog walking on, although Kiba didn't mind it so much plus Akamaru got to make some new friends as well. But as Kurenai was making the report he couldn't help but be bored. He was sick and tired of these kid missions and wanted something better than this. When the Hokage heard the report he was looking for other missions to give them, still all D ranked as well.

Iruka who was there filling in before the new school season started up read off all the lame (in Kiba's mind) missions he just couldn't take it anymore. He knew that Hinata was too kind hearted to say anything and Shino never said much anyway so it was all up to him.

"Oh come on can't we do something better?" Kiba asked.

"Kiba," Kurenai snapped at him and he did flinch but he still didn't seem deterred.

"But we've done these kinds of missions for months now. Aren't we ready for a real mission yet? This kind of stuff is lame and we can't get any stronger by doing this stuff. Can't we at least do a C ranked mission?"

"Kiba that's enough," Kurenai told him in a stern manner. "I know you want to do more but I have to think of the entire team and not just you."

Kiba didn't like it one bit, "So you're saying as a team we're weak?"

Kurenai noticed the reactions that got out of her other team members. Shino arched an eyebrow at that, which spoke volumes she learned. Although she wasn't sure what the young bug user was actually thinking. Hinata looked down and she knew what the young girl was thinking, she was most likely blaming herself for this like always. Kurenai mentally sighed thinking about all of this, her team had great team work but they lacked experience. Plus she wasn't sure how they would deal in a life and death situation and would like to train them a bit more.

However everyone's attention was suddenly attracted to loud sounds coming from behind them.

"Where are you going, we have to wait!" Came a female voice.

"Oh come on like the Old Man won't see us and besides we finished that lame mission anyway!" said an equally loud and familiar voice.

The door was thrown open as a dishevelled looking Naruto as he came walking in, his team following him. Sasuke with his hands in his pockets looking bored, Kakashi with his usual lazy stance and Sakura looking worried.

"Hey Old Man what's the deal by having us chase that demonic furball again?" Naruto demanded of the Hokage.

"Naruto!" Sakura scolded him grabbing him by the ear and then bowing to the Hokage, "Sorry Hokage-sama."

"I take it you didn't like the last mission Naruto?" The Hokage said smirking at the young blonde.

He managed to pull himself out of the ear hold Sakura had in him, "Yeah, you know that stupid cat is insane next time I see that thing I'm pinning it's hide to a wall."

"Naruto stop it!" Sakura told him making him flinch and cover his ear again.

"But Sakura-chan these missions are lame, I want to go on another C Rank mission again," Naruto whined to her. Even though they all remembered how the last mission had gone on, but after the time to heal from it they were all much better. They were back up to being able to do actual missions again and Naruto was getting antsy again.

"Oh come on," Kiba sighed and for the first time Naruto noticed them in the room.

Kiba turned to Kurenai, "Come on sensei they got to do a C Rank mission already and now they want another one. We're ready for this and we deserve a shot at least."

"Well actually it got bumped up to a B so officially we haven't actually been on a C Rank mission," Naruto told him smirking a little bit under his mask. He smirked a bit more at seeing Kiba's eyebrow to that tick thing when he was really getting mad too.

"See they already had a B so the C rank mission is ours short stuff," Kiba said to him.

"What did you call me?" Naruto yelled at him.

"You heard me runt," Kiba smiled knowing that Naruto was sensitive about his height. Some of the girls in their class had been taller than him and Kiba made sure that he never heard the end of it either. Besides it was run riling Naruto up too, just as he knew that Naruto did the same to him. It was just an odd thing the two of them did in their friendship to one another.

His sister often described the two of them as two dogs trying to get the alpha position while both trying to get a bone. That had been lost on Naruto when he heard it but to Kiba and anyone else in his clan that made perfect sense.

Kurenai and Kakashi shared a knowing look, they both knew how this could turn out and how Kiba and Naruto got when they were together for too long. First the name calling, then the arguing and then both boys would be soon on the ground trying out every grapple hold they could think of. Normally they would let the boys do it just to let them blow off energy but being in the Hokage's office was not the time and place for it.

"Naruto that's enough," Kakashi said using his 'father' tone of voice in order to get him to listen.

"Kiba back down now," Kurenai said almost like a command to a dog. When she first tried that tone she thought he might be insulted but his mother assured her that, that was how you had to handle him. And it normally worked as well, she guessed it was an Inuzuka thing. All that time spending with dogs she guess there would be some transference.

Now that she thought about it, she guessed the same was true with Shino and his clan as well. She never thought about that before and wondered if other clans in the ninja world that bonded with animals had the same thing going on with them as well. But that was something to think on at another time as Iruka cleared his throat after the boys had finally settled down.

"Well we only have one C Rank mission anyway and the pay for it only means one team can go," Iruka said looking at the file. "It's a simple bodyguard duty from here to the country of Wave."

"Well then we should get this since we haven't done a C Rank," Kiba said crossing his arms trying to make his point again.

"Hey no way, I'm getting stuck with stupid D Rank mission like said," Naruto shot back at the taller boy.

Iruka sighed, "I'm not sure either team should do this Hokage-sama. Given what happened the last time the genins went on a C Rank mission." He said referring to the mission Naruto had told Kiba about. He really liked these kids and he didn't want them to get hurt. He had seen how they were after the last mission and it was only now that Team 7 seemed to be back to normal.

The Hokage nodded his head knowing what he was talking about as well.

Although it wasn't uncommon for mission ratings to change, given what happened to Team 7 and the emotional shock that it gave them he was reluctant to give it to either team. Team 7 had just got over things and he wanted to make sure that they were truly alright. Then he had Team 8 who was still 'green' as it were in dangerous situations. So he wasn't sure if he should give this to either team or just assign a couple of chunin for it.

Naruto frowned behind his mask, he really wanted to go on a new mission so why couldn't they do this. He knew how the last mission went but if the client could only afford one team then how could he make sure his team was picked? He looked over at Team 8 and saw that Hinata was looking down at the floor deep in thought. He knew that expression on her face she was doing that self doubt thing again. Maybe she needed this mission as well, he knew that she had a need to prove herself just like he did but for her she had to do it for her entire clan.

"Hey Old Man, if the client can't pay for more what if we all split the pay between us?" Naruto asked.

The Hokage looked at the boy, "what do you mean?"

"Well what if both teams go and we all take half of the normal cost? I mean I don't really need the money and mostly everyone comes from a clan here except Sakura-chan and myself but I'm not hurting for cash like I said. Sakura-chan I know isn't either, what about the rest of you?"

There were a round of negatives from that, everyone from a clan usually had decent money anyway. Especially Hinata since her father was head of the most prestigious clan in the village as well. Sasuke had inherited everything from his clan as well too. So it really wasn't a question of money for them at all.

The Hokage thought about this, if they were willing to take a pay cut he could send both teams out. Since Team 8 needed more experience and Team 7 had the experience it would balance out, plus if things got too dangerous like last time they would have numbers on their side. They would also have two jonins with them as well. As he thought about it he also thought about how it would be to deal with the kids if he said no to them. Naruto and Kiba would be the most trouble and the last thing he needed was to deal with them acting out like that. Plus the client might feel a bit better about the number of ninja he was getting, so in the end he decided that it might be good to agree to the idea.

"Very well then I'll make this a joint mission between Teams 7 and 8." The Hokage said finally as he started on the paperwork.

The reactions varied although the genin looked pleased at the thought of going on this mission. Hinata herself felt great about this for two reasons, first was that she was going on her first C Rank mission. This would be her first real mission and first time outside of the village. The second was the fact she would be spending time with Naruto on the mission as well. She blushed a bit as she thought of that and she hoped that she could work up the courage to express her true feelings for him. For awhile now she had been wondering if she should or shouldn't say anything.

But a few days ago Naruto had been kind of depressed and when she asked why he told them about the sparring with Neji's team and how Sakura had said she was seeing Sasuke. She knew that Naruto had a crush on his team mate but although she felt bad that he was depressed over it, she knew now that with him not chasing after the girl anymore she had a chance now.

"So who is the client?" Kurenai asked breaking Hinata out of her thoughts.

"Ah yes, please send in Tazuna," the Hokage said.

A moment later the door opened and an old man with grey hair, a beard with glasses stepped out. He was dressed somewhat poorly and smelled strongly of alcohol as well. He staggered a bit showing that he had had been drinking before the meeting as he looked at the people in front of him. He seemed to be studying them and forming an opinion.

"Hn, a bunch of damn kids? The two adults I don't mind but what's with this, I thought I was paying for ninjas not a punch of wet behind the ears children." Tazuna said.

"Hey!" both Kiba and Naruto shot at the man as well as a cold look from Shino and a small glare from Sasuke as well. "We are ninja."

"Great a boy that smells like a dog and a midget in a mask thinking they are playing ninja," the old man sighed seeing the two boys.

Kakashi sighed at this, the mission hadn't even officially started and already he knew that this was going to be a very long one. He made a mental note to make sure he brought some aspirin as he could already tell that Kiba and Naruto would not get along with this man on the mission and it was a long way to Wave as well.

-Later-

By the large gates of Konoha both teams were getting ready, well the majority of them. There were still two members still not counted for and they were the Hatake men. So far both were an hour later and Kurenai was getting impatient. She remembered that Kakashi was generally late as some sort of personal rule for some reason. However she wasn't sure if Naruto picked up on that habit.

"Do you two have any idea where the Hatakes are?" Kurenai asked the two members of Team 7.

Sasuke just shrugged as Sakura looked a bit embarrassed for her late teammates.

"I honestly don't know, Naruto is usually one time but our sensei...well..." Sakura trailed off not sure what to say.

"Hey guys!"

Everyone looked to see Naruto walking with a backpack happily walking up to them. Kurenai looked at the young boy with her arms crossed as she walked up to him. He stopped when the women got in front of him, he knew that look. Anko got that look in her eyes too when she got annoyed with him. He gave a smile up to him closing both eyes making him look like a mini-Kakashi in a way.

"Where were you and where's your father?" Kurenai asked him.

"Don't know," Naruto shrugged. "I mean he's normally late so I decided to take it easy and get in some ramen before we left."

Naruto then looked to see the annoyed looks on his friends, "What? You all know my dad is always late so why bother showing up on time? He's got a system, unless it's life and death he won't be on time. If it's a mission he's usually an hour late and if it's training or something he can blow off for later he can go from two to three hours late. So instead of just waiting around for his lazy ass I went to get a snack."

Kurenai sighed pinching the bridge of her nose, although she hadn't had any missions with Kakashi before she knew his reputation and so she should have expected of this. It also didn't help that for the past hour they had to keep their client 'happy' while they waited. That was already giving her a migraine as the old man and Kiba were already at each other's throats.

"So your father should be here soon then?" she asked him.

"Yep, he shouldn't be too far away actually." He told her.

Naruto then saw Hinata and he needed someone to talk to, he'd been kind of depressed losing out to Sasuke and although he hadn't really talked with Sakura about it, he didn't feel up to talking with her. So he decided to walk over and join his best friend. He gave her a warm greeting as she blushed and greeted him back. Hinata was glad for this mission already, this would be the longest time she would ever spend with Naruto in her life and maybe on this trip she could finally work up the courage to talk to him. The two young teens started talking, mainly just about ordinary things although they were being watched by Kurenai slightly.

Kurenai was well aware of the young girl's feelings for the boy, and watching them now she could see just how badly the young girl had it. She remembered being at that age, so unsure of yourself and then when boys came into the picture things got very complicated. Looking at them she had to admit it was very cute image, it was just too bad that Naruto didn't seem to notice. Although how he never noticed was something that she couldn't figure out but then again Naruto seemed to have an odd intellect.

At some points he could catch on or figure things out in surprising ways, but sometimes he could be so dense it was frustrating. The boy was just totally unpredictable but there had to be a way to get him to listen. Also she wondered why not one bothered to tell him. Well Sasuke she reasoned didn't care, Sakura had her own reasons, Hianta's teammates she had asked too embarrassed if Naruto found out that she liked him. Kurenai shook her head at just how complicated things could get in relationships, but as Anko always told her that was part of the fun of it all.

Perhaps she could use this mission to help the young girl out. Hinata was turning out to be very precious to her, the young girl had such a pure heart that Kurenai couldn't help but care for her. She cared for her entire team and that was why she had been nervous about taking this mission, she didn't want to see them hurt. Maybe she shouldn't take things so easy on them, but this was her first team and her first job as a jonin.

It was then that finally Kakashi decided to show up, he gave some lame excuse as usual, but Kurenai just tuned him out. She knew the kinds of excuses he always had from meetings anyway and that they weren't true at all.

-Hyuga Compound-

Hiashi Hyuga was in his study working on several clan affairs that needed him to look at. Being a clan head was always a busy task. He had to not only have the usual political meetings and dinners with the elders and of course with certain business contacts that his clan dealt with. There was also the paper work such as request forms. New buildings to be created, more supplies needed, wages needed to be handed out and so on. Plus there were those that needed to be sent to the Hokage for missions that clients asked for their special talents specifically so he needed to send over those that fit the missions.

Some of his clan were already in the actual ninja forces like his daughter and nephew but not all their clan went through the academy. So some Hyuga although were trained as ninja, not all of them were actual ninjas. These were sometimes hired around the Hokage since none wanted any written information about them being hired and in turn the Hokage turned a blind eye as it were to this for ninjas trained persons who could be sent on missions that couldn't be labelled as official.

Plausible deniability in other words, but it did help with the clan's income other than from trading.

At the moment he was also looking at a marriage proposal between two members of the main branch. Apparently two members of the clan wanted to put their eldest children into an arranged marriage. Hiashi never was one for these but it was clan tradition and as head he had to uphold those traditions. So far everything was in order and he sighed it off, he just hoped the two children grew to love each other as these things were never made with the children's well being at heart.

That brought his thoughts to his two daughters, most times in the past both daughters would have been promised to someone already but many knew of Hinata's gentle nature so many thought she wasn't worthy. Another issue was that unless something happened to Hinata, Hanabi would be put into the branch house and no one in the main branch would want to enter into an agreement with someone on their way down. And no one in the branch would ever think of asking for the hand of someone in the main house.

Hiashi sighed at how the clan politics could get. Sometimes he wished to just wipe the slate clean but he couldn't. That was the reason he was pushing Hinata so hard, weakness in the clan even if it was just perceived as weakness had a way of making trouble for you. She was coming along but she still needed to catch up, or else something could happen that he didn't want to happen. If Hinata was found unfit to lead she would have the seal put on her and cast out of the main house and Hanabi be put in her place.

The trouble was if Hinata couldn't get strong enough before Hanabi was old enough, Hanabi would have the seal placed on her then with both daughters in the branch family and no heir things would get ugly for the clan. A new head of the clan would be made and among the main branch there was no clear succession, that would mean in fighting that could lead to a civil war with the Hyuga. He had to prepare and avoid that but his power could only give Hanabi a certain amount of time.

A knock on his door got his attention as he called whoever it was to enter. He saw his twin search brother with his youngest daughter enter the room. She gave the formal bow as she entered with her uncle.

"Yes what is it?" he asked of them.

"I was just coming to inform you that I will be leaving the compound today," Hanabi said.

"Oh and why is that?" normally you didn't have to give reasons but given her position and what happened to Hinata years ago both daughters had to make it known when they were leaving and when they might be back for security reasons.

"I was just going to meet Konohamaru, he said he wanted me to meet two friends he made." She explained.

Hiashi ran the name through his mind and he remembered who that was, it was the Third Hokage's grandchild. He remembered that the young boy apparently had met the resident masked boy that had her eldest daughter's attention. From what he heard of the dinner conversations with the family the young boy seemed to be having a case of hero worship for Naruto.

"You seem to be seeing a lot of the boy lately," he said slightly judging the reaction out of her.

"H-he's my first friend father, at least outside of the clan. He's a nice boy and...he's fun," Hanabi wasn't sure what was going on with her father. But he seemed to be studying her for a bit.

"Very well then enjoy your time," he told her and she gave a small smile and bowed before leaving.

After she left Hizashi judged his elder search brother for a bit before speaking, "What are you planning search brother?"

"What do you mean?" he asked looking neutral at him.

"Don't give me that you never were able to lie to me," Hizashi smirked at him. "You're planning something."

"I'm thinking of seeing if the Sarutobi family would be interested in a possible union with Hanabi."

Hizashi's eyebrows lifted up to his brown, which for a Huyga was a very surprised expression. "You sure about this?"

"She knows the boy and seems to like him, I know it's not much but if they accept she doesn't have to go through with it." Hiashi told him. "If she was promised to a high ranking family like the Sarutobi then the elders wouldn't tare put the seal on her, it would be an insult to the Sarutobi family. It would protect her at least long enough to give Hinata time to become strong enough to lead and protect her sister."

Hizashi read the undertone there, he knew that his search brother tried to save him from the search fate of the seal that was on his brow now as well but he had failed in that. He never had any malice towards him but it was obvious that his elder twin still felt like he had failed his younger search brother.

"Well it's a good plan and who knows, she may even fall for the boy. Anyways I just wanted to let you know that Hinata has left the village."

Hiashi nodded his thanks, he had been unable to see her off because of business but he silently hoped that his daughter would be okay. She was so much like his lost wife it hurt at times, but he had to remain strong. "I just hope this mission will help her. She still has a long way to so and time is starting to run out. Within a few years I might not be able to protect them anymore and they will have to learn to be strong and stand on their own."

Hizashi nodded his head gravely, he knew full well what he meant. He had been there when his son had gotten his seal and it hurt to see his son with that mark. Although at the time Neji didn't think much of it but he knew that at any time a main house member could give his son immense pain and the only reason it hadn't happened was because of how closely related Neji was to Hiashi.

"I pry for her save return and she is with the Hatake boy as well," Hizashi told him. "You know how he can always get her to try harder and reach new levels. Maybe on this mission he can help her find some more strength."

Hiashi nodded again, that was one thing he was hoping for as well. The boy was unpredictable and yet seemed to bring out the best in people. The boy also tried his hardest at everything and if he kept that up he could one day be a good suitor for his daughter. But he had to prove himself and already some of the elders didn't like the boy for what was inside of him. But so far Naruto had proven himself to a few when he save his daughter all those years ago. If he could keep that up, and if either he got a clue or if his daughter could tell him her feelings, things might work out.

He smiled sadly, knowing how much his wife would have loved to have been here to see this. But he could enjoy it for her in the meantime.

Next up chapter 32: Trouble on the road