Chapter 21

My plans to hang out with Hinata for the day were thoroughly crushed as I tried my best to channel my inner Minato.

Currently Hiruzen and I are training a bit away from the village past the Hokage mountain. "Again." He intoned. My body was tired, my muscles felt heavy, in all my life I had never trained so hard in my life.

The old man had asked me to increase my weight seals until I could barely stand properly, then told me to try and body flicker. So I followed his orders and I instantly face planted.

"Again."

I forced myself to my feet and tried again, my face once again slamming against the solid rock. I never knew this type of training existed. I would relish in how ingenious it is if not for the pain I was in. The strain on one's muscles from the heavy weight and then using body flicker to move quicker than one normally could, it ends up forcing your muscles beyond what they can naturally do, while also giving you a sort of simulation feeling of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

With the heavy weight, you can't control your body beyond moving straight, it's pretty similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique. According to the old man, one cannot move or contort their body mid teleportation, at least with Tobirama's incomplete variant. In order to be able to control my movements, I must gain the perception to know when to catch myself. If I do it too early, my legs will buck and I may tear a muscle, if I do it too late, I'll eat dirt.

Truly it was incredible training that I wish I had known about before, the progress I could have made had I been training like this for months or even a year could have been astronomical.

"That's enough for today." Hiruzen sighed.

"Really, we've only been doing this for…" I started saying before looking up at the sky and seeing that it was becoming dark.

"We've been at this for eight hours and you have a mission first thing in the morning." The old man helpfully informed me.

Eight hours!? The time flew by with how many times I had to pick myself from the cold stony ground of the mountain.

"Head over to the hospital tonight, I've already had my clone alert them of your impending presence. They'll make sure you're ready for your mission, physically at least."

I could tell that I'd be feeling a little sore tomorrow morning, no matter how much they healed me, but I settled for bowing to the old man.

"Thank you, Gramps. I never would have thought of this training. I feel as though I've grown so much from just this one session."

He gave me his signature grandfatherly smile. "Of course, I've taken you on as my successor, and in a sense, my student. This will be the last I see you until after your mission is completed, as such, I would like to inform you that when you return, we'll be getting more serious with your training. There are also a few things I would like to talk to you about." The last bit was spoken with a more heavy expression.

I could read between the lines. Not only would our training together be much harder than this was, whatever we had to talk about was gonna be some heavy shit. Like the Uchiha Massacre, levels of heavy, at least if my critical thinking skills aren't failing me now.

"I look forward to it, Gramps. I'll see you when I return." I bowed before lowering the weight in my seals, and body flickering towards the hospital. My body damn near collapsed from the sudden lightness I felt, but I ended up moving with minimal difficulties and reached my destination.

The check up was relatively quick with the medical nin using their mystical palm technique to heal my torn muscles, as well as all the scrapes and cuts I suffered from repeatedly falling on the hard rocks. They couldn't do anything for my chakra reserves though, a soldier pill wouldn't be ideal since I'd be exhausted come three days' time, plus a nights rest should handle most of that issue, so they just sent me on my way.

I was absolutely exhausted, so tired in fact that I didn't even consider going anywhere else but my bed. So when I entered my house and found Naruko laying in my heavenly spot, knocked the fuck out, I didn't even question it, instead I just slipped in right beside her and drifted off to dream land.

—

"You ready?" I asked the blonde haired girl who was putting on her shinobi sandals. She looked up at me, an excited smile etched onto her adorable face.

"Of course!" She jumped up, hugging me. "It's finally time to go on a real mission!"

Her excitement was contagious, even if things were most definitely going to go wrong, I couldn't help the happy anticipation bubbling in my chest.

"Good, then let's head to the gate."

She nodded vigorously and disappeared in a flash of yellow. I paused for a moment as I realized just how good she had gotten with the body flicker. Should I ask Hiruzen to include her and my other girls in our training when we return?

The obvious answer was yes.

I followed Naruko, body flickering over to the East Gate of Konoha.

Upon arriving a smile formed on my face when I saw Satsuki, Kakashi, Tazuna, and Hinata.

"You two are late." Kakashi said dryly, not even bothering to look up from his bingo book.

"Blame Naruko." I chuckled, jabbing a thumb at the girl giving me a betrayed look. "And should you even be talking, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Good point." He shrugged.

Satsuki and Hinata looked way too amused as they walked over to Naruko and I.

"You disappeared last night." Hinata pointed out a disappointed frown on her lips but no real heat in her voice.

"Yeah, sorry about that, Gramps had me training all day." I explained, getting the girls to give me curious looks. "I'll go into it later."

"Yeah, and how long is later for me?" Hinata pouted cutely. My heart dropped at the remembrance that I wouldn't be seeing her for months.

I held out my arm to her, which she took immediately and pulled her into my embrace. "I don't know, but we'll be back as soon as possible."

Hinata didn't respond, instead she buried her head deeper into my chest. No one talked for a long while as we held one another.

She sighed as she slowly pulled away from me, and immediately was scooped up by Naruko in a bear hug that lifted her off the ground.

"I'm gonna miss you sooo much!" Naruko whined. Hinata's lips twitched upwards as she tried to return the Uzumaki's embrace, but couldn't due to the death grip the blonde girl had on her.

"This feels odd, never have we spent so much time away from one another." Satsuki frowned, approaching the two girls to join the embrace, albeit in a more restrained way.

Her words were true, in all honesty, since we've all started training together, I don't think we've ever spent a single week apart. The dependence we've all built around each other can be a good thing, but in this profession of ours where people die young, it may end up being our worst nightmare.

"I think it's time you all go." Hinata's frown returned. "If you don't go now, I don't think I'll be able to let go."

Naruko and Satsuki both hesitantly let go, and I approached Hinata once more, taking her lips in a deep kiss. Her arms wrapped around the back of my head and pulled me closer. I could feel the longing through the kiss, and in that moment resolved to return, to hold her like this again.

"Let's go." Kakashi said with finality, and we broke apart.

"See you later, Hinata." I backed away from her, both Naruko and Satsuki doing the same.

"You three better come back to me."

—

After saying our goodbyes, we walked out of the village in formation. Kakashi at the front, Satsuki at the left, Naruko at the right, Tazuna in the middle, and myself in the back.

No one had said anything for around five minutes, only the sound of nature and our footsteps could be heard. I raised an eyebrow as I saw Tazuna slow down a bit so that he ended up beside me.

"That girl back there, that's your lady?" He asked quietly, although with everyone's superior senses, they all heard him easily.

"She is."

"Saying goodbye ain't the hardest part, it's the journey that will start to knock you down, my advice, don't worry too much." He explained, and to my surprise, I could hear some emotion in his voice.

"You speak from experience?" I asked, and didn't get a response. "I see, I shouldn't have asked."

"You're young, asking is all you should be doing." He waved me off, accepting my apology, then sped up so that he was in the middle of the formation again.

Tazuna from what I remembered was an unrepentant drunk, and kind of an asshole, but he didn't seem so bad here.

Another few minutes of quiet walking and I was unsurprised to see a stray puddle of water ahead. In true OG fashion, it hadn't rained for days, so with a slight flex of my sensory chakra, I analyzed the puddle, and canon remained true.

Two chunin level chakra signatures.

I glanced at Kakashi who hadn't reacted in any noticeable way, not even a turn of his head.

So he is still insistent on testing us.

That's fine, but for us something like this wouldn't even be a real test. I glanced at Satsuki who was looking back at me, her eyes hardened. A smirk tugged at my lips, she had seen through it.

Naruko on the other hand was still acting all nonchalant, but she normally always is, so I can't tell if she's noticed them or not.

I decided I'd take care of these guys quickly. As we neared the puddle, I attempted to control it with my proficiency in water release, but it didn't even budge, so I tried something else.

Monkey - Ox - Boar - Tiger

'Lightning Release: Rat Violent Quake.'

Five disks of electricity were launched towards the puddle, the two chunin didn't remain stationary, dropping their disguise and avoiding the disks, but that's exactly what I wanted.

'Wood Release: Underground Roots.'

Since they were already in the air dodging my first attack, the roots that had sprouted out of the ground had no problem wrapping around their legs and dragging them down. The roots worked up their bodies, trapping them completely.

I frowned at how easy that was. Looking back, I eyed the others, more specifically Tazuna who looked like he was about to shit bricks.

"Nice instincts." Kakashi complimented, although it was clear he barely cared thanks to his bored tone.

"Beat me to it." Satsuki smirked as we approached the two men wriggling in their wooden binds. Judging by Naruko's surprised face as she looked between me and the captured mist chunin, she hadn't known they were there.

"How come you didn't tell me?" She pouted cutely which replaced the frown on my features with a grin.

"If I told you then they'd know two." I jabbed a thumb at the captured Kiri nin. Her pout increased at my words so I placed my hand atop her head. "Not everyone can be as gifted as your future Hokage." I chuckled as Naruko hit my chest.

"So, Demon Brothers of the Mist, Gozu and Meizu, why exactly are you here, and with such horrible cover?" Kakashi questioned as he put his bingo book away.

The two brothers snarled at him, but didn't produce any words.

"It's fine if you don't feel like talking. I'm sure Ibuki would love to take his sweet time getting those answers." Both brothers grimaced at his words. Ibuki Morino, tokubetsu jonin and the leader of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Forces. From what I can assume, no one from other villages take on missions against Konoha without fearing that man. For if they get caught, death will always be a mercy, whether they spill all the information they have, or not.

"Goodnight." Kakashi stepped forwards, giving quick strikes that I could barely follow to their heads, knocking them out instantly. His glaring eye locked onto Tazuna.

"Mr. Tazuna. Lord Hokage said this was a C-rank mission, excuse me if I'm a bit curious, but I don't believe C-rank missions should ever include guaranteed contact with shinobi. Perhaps you should explain before we turn around and return to the village."

Tazuna's expression shifted from surprised to grave, his wrinkles looking more prominent than ever.

"...I apologize. I knew I was being pursued by shinobi, yet I paid for a C-rank mission to evade costs." The elderly man explained slowly. "I knew it was wrong and still did it, but I couldn't afford a higher rank mission."

Kakashi wasn't affected by the man's words. "The village offers ways to work around cost, that doesn't justify this. Lying about the details of a mission and having it misranked is a crime. One that usually results in the deaths of good men and women."

He's not wrong. This mission should definitely be ranked as a B rank, sending some genin who aren't strong enough to handle it would not only result in the failure of the mission, but could also end up with kids losing their lives.

Good thing we weren't just some genin, but he didn't know that.

"Why did you lie though, Mr. Tazuna?" Naruko asked, her empathetic side showing.

Tazuna gave the girl a sad frown. "My land is poor, and desperate. Some years back, we were invaded by vicious money hungry bastards." The way he spat out the word 'bastards' radiated the emotions he felt. "Three businessmen took over our land and began sucking us dry of everything we have. They have us in the palm of their hand, but they fear that one day we'll be able to rid them from our home. That's why I'm building the bridge, to connect us to the mainland and establish a path for trade. That way, those snakes would be completely powerless over us."

"That's horrible!" Naruko shouted, surprise and anger dominating her face.

His story was one of the poor suffering under the rich, a story all too common unfortunately. Though I noticed a few things he said that had my attention. First of all, "three businessmen" doesn't sound good at all. Gato was supposed to be the only one. If there are more…then that means they have more money, if they have more money…

They have more shinobi working for them.

Which means this could very well be an A-rank, depending on how many it is. An A-rank mission concerns state matters, the Land of Waves is their own individual state, and Tazuna could be regarded as a representative of that state. If there are more than five shinobi, ranking chunin and up, then that would be grounds for classification of a shinobi militia.

Another thing I noticed is he says that the bridge will be their salvation, but that's completely incorrect. Even if Tazuna completes the bridge, Gato and his partners can easily destroy it with the might of their shinobi. At the very least Zabuza or Haku would be able to.

Which means he expected three genin and a jonin to come in and cripple/kill the shinobi that were hired.

I think Kakashi noticed that by the way his eye narrowed and remained locked on Tazuna's grave face.

After a tense staredown between the two adults, Kakashi looked at me. "So, do you want to continue or not?"

He's asking me!?

…No, that makes sense. I'm sure a B rank - low A rank mission wouldn't be hard for Kakashi and with our skills he most likely believes we are capable enough to complete this mission.

"Of course we're gonna keep going!" Naruko stomped, looking at Kakashi like he had grown a second head.

Satsuki was looking at me. She hadn't said anything yet, but by her look I could tell she would do whatever I decided.

I looked back at Kakashi, indecision plaguing my mind. On one hand we could turn around and completely avoid this entire mission, I could get extra training with Hiruzen until we got another C rank mission, and we could stay beside Hinata.

On the other hand, the Land of Waves would suffer, Hiruzen wouldn't send anyone until Tazuna amasses enough money to make a down payment for a B rank mission, and by then Gato and his associates could have even more shinobi under them.

More selfishly, if we deal with this, I could ally with the Land of Waves in the future. Even though they don't have shinobi, their land is great for the fishing market and without any business oppression they'd thrive. Plus it would be a great base of operations for some of the companies I want to create to amass even more wealth. Maybe I could make a beach there. Totally not because I want to see my girls in swimsuits…

"What will it be?" Kakashi asked again.

Returning would be the smarter move, there aren't that many positives to continuing.

"Lei." Naruko looked at me, her eyes pleading with me to make the morally correct choice.

"...If you wish to continue, Kakashi, I'm in."

The decision was ultimately his afterall, hell there's a chance this was just a test and he just decides to to turn around anyways.

"You already know my answer." Naruko eyed our jonin sensei.

"A harder mission to test ourselves, count me in." Satsuki shrugged, walking towards us.

Kakashi remained silent, his gaze on Tazuna. We turned around to see the older man wiping tears out of his eyes.

"...Thank you, all of you."

It would be a real dick move if Kakashi said we're heading back…

"Fine." Kakashi sighed. "I'll contact Lord Hokage, he will decide whether we move forward or not."

The white haired jonin bit his thumb and slammed it on the ground, a summoning circle forming immediately. A puff of smoke obscured our vision and when it cleared a small dog was scratching its ear with its leg.

"You rang, Kashi?" The dog I recognized as Pakkun asked.

"I did, Pakkun. Need you to run back to the village and tell Lord Third that our mission just got upgraded to a B rank, possibly an A rank if things are really bad."

The dog paused for a moment, turning around to eye us. "...I think you may have been hit a little too hard, Kashi. Why are you bringing your kids on an A rank, no, why the hell are you bringing your kids on a B rank!"

"These kids forced me to use my sharingan during the bell test, and they still got the bells." Kakashi explained curtly.

Pakkun slowly looked back at all of us then back to Kakashi. "Still seems like a disaster waiting to happen."

"That's why I want Lord Hokage's input. He knows their strength better than I do." The jonin man sighed.

"That's…sad." I frowned at our sensei. "A man more busy with the entirety of the village's problems knows us better than our own sensei."

"You get what you get and you don't get upset, didn't your parents ever teach you that?" Kakashi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"They're dead." I answered with a deadpan.

"That makes all of us." He shrugged, pulling out Icha Icha Violence.

Y'know, he has a point.

Doesn't make him any less of a dickhead though.

"Get lost, Pakkun."

"Yeah, yeah."

The dog gave us a tired smile then jumped up to trees, heading back to the village.