30 My New Team and First Mission

Early in the next morning, I start to prepare all my ninja tools and equipment as I will be assigned to a Team today.

I wore my leaf protector around my forehead. A seal with kanji symbol 'Storage' is imprinted on a metal bracer as I wore it on my left hand. The pair of bracers is a gift from Kushina when I asked her to make me a storage space. This pair of metal bracer is one of the items from the Uzumaki clan heritage and Kushina gave it to me as she said,

"This pair of metal bracer was eating dust in our Uzumaki compound. I thought that you will like them, so big-sister brought them for you. Now give me a hug for this gift."

I happily accepted this generous gift with a begrudging expression as I was squeezed in her embrace. These bracers are very handy as I can use them to store my Ninja tools. The left hand's bracer stores my shurikens whereas I store my kunais in right hands bracer as it would be easy to summon them in a fight. I wear fingerless gloves with metal plating on backhand similar to Kakashi. This ninja gear seemed practical to me.

I arrived at the entrance of the academy. I am supposed to meet my new team here today. I have graduated during the ongoing session of the academy so there were no new graduates to be paired with. I will join an existing team that has a vacancy for now.

I waits for an hour near the academy. Two genins arrived to meet me as one of them spoke,

"Follow us we will meet with Sensei."

I nod to them and start to follow them. There is no interaction between us. None of them introduced themselves and I also never bothered with them. I can feel some repulsion from their behavior. I can pretty much guess their reason but I paid no heed to it.

The genins lead me to the bridge on the Naka River. The Jounin sensed our presence and looked towards us. He smiled at us as he waved,

"So, You two have already met your new teammate. Guess I will introduce myself first.

I am Tendo Onikuma from the Onikuma clan and I will be your Jounin Team Leader. Now all three of you introduce yourselves to each other."

"I am Izuna Uchiha. I just graduated from the academy. Nice to meet you all. Please take care of me in the future."

I introduced myself to the team, whether they like it or not I am a part of their team. After all, they will be ones who will have my back during a mission. Both of them snorted but still replied,

"I am Ryo Aoki. I am not from any clan. My father is a small shopkeeper and he sells clothes."

"I am Takeru Hoga. I am an orphan and I am not from any clan."

There is no further greeting or cheering. The atmosphere becomes awkward. To ease some tension, Tendo claps his hands as he speaks,

"Now, now don't be so tense. Izuna-kun will have to complete his first mission and it is a tradition in Village that the first mission will be assigned by Hokage-sama himself for any new ninja. Izuna-kun you go and visit Hokage-Sama's office. We will catch up with you, I have somethings to talk with the two of them.

"Ok! Tendo Sensei! I will be right at Hokage-Sama's office.'

I start to dash towards the Hokage's office as I jump over roofs and vanish from their vision.

"We can't accept him Tendo Sensei. It has been two weeks since Haru passed away in the mission. How can the Hokage office be so cruel to replace him just like that without even our consent? And that too with a kid who barely left even the borders of his Clan. I am sorry sensei, we can't take care of a pampered Clan Kid."

Both of genins start to complain to Tendo. Tendo holds his head in frustration as he rebukes them,

"Listen! Ryo and Takeru, both of are you a ninja now? Both of you should have known that casualties will occur during a mission before you become a ninja. The job of a ninja is dangerous and full of blood and murder and also the world won't wait for you to get over your grief. You have to continue taking missions and fulfill your duty as a ninja.

The Hokage-sama had already given you two weeks to overcome your grief and now after two weeks, you should be ready for more missions. As for your third teammate Izuna Uchiha, he is a member of powerful Uchiha clan and his abilities are personally approved by Hokage-sama. So, you don't have to worry about him holding you back."

"Tendo Sensei! You are a jounin right. You could have saved Haru if you tried. You are also at fault for Haru's death."

This time Tendo is pissed at their remark as he snaps at them,

"I am your Jounin Instructor and Team Leader, not your nanny who will tend to your every need and will always protect you. It was Haru's fault for ignoring my orders and triggering a trap and blowing himself up. Now quit bitching around and prepare for your new mission. I don't want to hear any more complaints from both of you. If you complained even once then both of you will be retired as a Ninja. Now move on towards the Hokage office."

Tendo is angry at these kids,

'Do you think being a ninja is like playing house? You want to get all the praise you want for a successful mission and blame others for your failure.'

I entered the Hokage's office as I knocked on the door. The usual grumpy face of Hokage appeared in my vision as he spoke,

"Oh! It is your Izuna-kun. So, you have already met your team and are ready for your first mission. Come with me to the Mission room, I will personally choose a mission for you. Since it is your first mission after graduation, it won't be too hard. I will give you the simplest D-Rank mission for you to experience."

We entered inside the mission room and I see a receptionist frantically trying to appease a woman.

A corpulent woman with dark brown hairs separated in three poofs is jumping around in the room. She wore pink-lipstick, pink-nail polish, and purple eyeshadow. There are many gold rings with various gemstones in her fingers.

The woman is crying buckets of tears as she blows her nose in a white handkerchief with gold lining. She notices Hiruzen as she jumps towards him,

"Hokage-sama, Hokage-sama…. My poor Tora is lost again. Poor kitty, how will she survive in this world without my love and affection. Hokage-sama you should hurry up and send some ninjas to find my poor Tora."

Hiruzen sweatdrops at the woman enthusiasm, as he convinces her,

"Don't worry Madam Shijimi, we will find your cat soon."

"Yes, Hokage-sama! If it is your promise then I can breathe in relief."

I recognize the woman from the anime. I forgot her name from the anime but I remembered that this woman has a literal immortal cat that likes to run away from home.

'Like come on! Her cat lived longer than poor Asuma in the anime. Also, this cat is the source of income for all of the genins of the village. So, I won't complain but seriously this will be my first mission.'

As if right on Cue, Hiruzen pulled a picture from his pocket and handed it to me.

"This is the portrait of Madam Shijimi's cat Tora. I always keep this picture with me as her cat usually runs away almost every day. Madam Shijimi is the wife of Fire Daimyo."

I grab the picture of the cat and begin to memorize its features.

The cat has brown fur with a black line running down its forehead with three lines going across it. It has amber color eyes and a red ribbon is tied on her right ear.

The receptionist jots down my name on a sheet of paper together with my Ninja registration Id as she issues the D-rank mission 'Search For Tora the Cat' to me.

In the meantime, Tendo Sensei and my two other teammates arrive in the room. Tendo Sensei takes the paper with mission details on it as he orders us to move out.

This mission is one hell of a pain in the ass. That cat is agile like a leopard and quick-witted like a fox.

'Fuck! This fucking cat is more useful than my two useless teammates if I train it like a ninja.'

I curse in my mind to my two useless teammates who contributed almost nothing in the capture of this Cat.

The Fat lady grabs the cat and nearly squeezes the life out of the cat as she strangles the cat in a hug.

"Don't leave me again, my dear Tora-chan."

'Serves you right! You darn cat!'

I murmured to myself as I can't bring myself to pity that cat.