ARRIVAL

Konoha, Shopping Precinct.

A family went out of Yamanaka's, the father carried two bags of jasmines, his wife on his right.

"Minato, don't go far ahead!" the father laughed. The family's 7-year-old was kicking his new ball.

"What should we buy for Akane-san?" the wife said.

"She'll come over?"

"Yeah, wanted to help with the flowers."

"Dunno what she likes."

"Ichiraku's Ramen?"

"Isn't it too soon?"

"So, anmitsu?"

"Throw in hanami too!" then the father shouted, "Minato, we'll get some dangos!"

"Yeah! I want mitarashis!" Minato clenched his fists, then he kicked the ball, but it bounced quite far.

Minato chased the ball despite his parents' warning, it rolled gently until it hit someone.

It was another child, no different than Minato, the child picked the ball.

"Here you go!"

"Thanks, my parents just bought it for me, wanna play later?" Minato reached out for the ball.

"Really?" the child beamed.

"Sure, why not?"

"Don't touch it!" before Minato could get his ball, his parents screamed. The father handed the flowers to his wife and pursued his son, he pulled Minato away.

"Are you okay?! Did he do something to you?! Did he touch you?" the father inspected.

"N-no, Dad…"

"You…" the father turned to look at the child, "the hell you want with my son?!"

"I… I just want to return this…" the child mumbled.

"Keep it," the father grabbed Minato's hand, pulling him away.

"Dad, but my ball…"

"We'll buy another, that one is contaminated."

"..." the child blinked at the family, he pressed the ball onto his chest and hugged it tightly.

"Why…?"

(***)

Kuoh Town, Iwatodai Station.

"Attention, attention, the train will soon arrive at Iwatodai, please prepare your belongings."

Naruto felt a light punch on his right shoulder.

"I heard it," he groaned with closed eyes.

"Wake up and check your stuff! Don't make us wait until later!" Sakura hissed.

"What's to check, it's just one bag and it is right under!" Naruto lobbed his bag.

"The conductor told us to prepare, so we should prepare!"

"Arrgh, it's a tip, not a damn order, go away!"

"Fine, don't blame me when your bag is missing or you lost your toothbrush," Sakura snorted, then she squinted her eyebrows, "you do bring a toothbrush, right?"

"What sort of question is that?!" Naruto glared.

"Well, for what is worth, I did wake you up," she grinned.

Naruto rolled his eyes and decided to cast his sight beyond the window.

Kuoh was an urban town, an eight-hour distance from Konoha. Their mission was to assist in maintaining security. It was a union mission with the Fallen Angels' faction.

This mission honestly wasn't for Genins, but under Kakashi's request, the management gave them a green light. After all, they had gone through two failed missions to advance to Chunin.

One more failure and they would have to wait for the next year.

The train arrived at the station, a black-haired beauty waited for them at the gate.

"Raynare?" Kakashi extended his hand.

"... You four doesn't seem very convincing," the beauty had her hands remained cross.

"Yeah?! Well, you don't look so hot either!" Naruto's vein popped out.

"Calm down, Naruto, she isn't wrong," Sakura said.

"Your forehead... Did you have an accident?" Raynare stared at Sakura.

"You bitch!"

"Okay, okay, please forgive them, they are rookies after all," Kakashi placed both Naruto and Sakura on his back.

"Get moving already," Sasuke ordered.

"Who are you?" Raynare frowned.

"A person who is tired of clowns."

"Haha, nice one, Sasuke!"

"Clown? Heh, you have some guts…" Raynare squinted her eyes.

After a brief moment of silence, Raynare was no longer insulted, then she drove them to their residence. Kakashi was in the front seat while Naruto and the rest were in the back.

"Miss Raynare if I may, how many personnel did we have?" Kakashi said.

"Apart from you, there are five excluding me, three Fallen Angels, one rogue exorcist, and one nun," Raynare kept a stone-cold face.

"And what is the detail of our mission? Who will be our enemies?"

"Your mission is to make sure my operation goes unharmed, anyone who tries against us is the enemy."

"Any clear name?"

"Issei Hyoudou, although he isn't much of a threat."

"But he does potentially?"

"No, he dares to approach, he dies nonetheless," Raynare grinned.

"..." Kakashi didn't say anything again, and the trip went on in silence.