Mission from Tsuchikage

Two weeks have passed after Suna decided to pull out from the second Great Ninja war. Now it is just between Konoha and Iwa.

As I predicted, Onoki shifted all of the remaining Iwa forces to Konoha except the Iwa invasion force in Suna land. They are now defending our newly-obtained land from Suna force.

While every Iwa shinobi is marching to Iwa-Konoha battlefield, for some reason, my squad and I were called back to Iwagakure under the order of Onoki.

At first, I thought it was Uncle Masashi's work to pull us out from this bloody hell war. But Shuji's name was not mentioned in the order, which proves Uncle Masashi has nothing to do with it.

Although it was puzzling as to why Onoki called us, we still packed our stuff and said goodbye to everyone, including Shuji and Uncle Masashi, and left right away.

We didn't rush or slow our speed and steadily went to Iwagakure. In one week, we have arrived at Iwagakure.

It has been almost two years since we left Iwagakure to fierce war battlefields, but it was like decade years for us. We all got a bit emotional seeing Iwagakure. Who wouldn't after coming back home from life & death battles.

Iwagakure didn't change much instead, there were lots of patrols and shinobi guarding Iwagakure gate.

I knew the defense of Iwagakure has to be strengthened since we are in the war, but still, it was too much.

We encounter patrols in every 5 minutes and have to verify that we are the real Iwa shinobi.

We finally arrived at the Tsuchikage building after being checked eight times by patrols. We waited a few minutes to have an audience with Onoki.

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"Greetings, Tsuchikage-sama" we all kneeled one leg to greet Onoki.

"Oh, Genji. It's been a long time since I saw you. You brats finally arrived."

Onoki smiled and told us to stand up. He was awfully kind that I got goosebump all over my body.

"It seems like you brats performed very well during battles. I am very proud of you guys, as expected of Iwagakure's Geniuses!! Anyway since you brats just arrived Iwagakure, you must be tired.

Go rest for now and come back to me in the evening."

'Onoki is praising us and even giving rest time to us? Something must be wrong with his head.'

We accepted Onoki's words and started to leave the office. But just as I was about to leave, I heard Onoki's voice.

"Genji, you stay and have a chat with me for a bit."

I quickly nodded my head to others to go first and re-entered to Onoki's office. It seems like Onoki wants to speak with me privately. Though I could hardly imagine what would Tsuchikage speak to 14-years old boy privately.

"So, what do you want to say to me, Tsuchikage-sama?" I asked Onoki.

Onoki stared at me for a few seconds and started talking while sighing.

"Genji, you have experienced the war for almost two years now. I am sure you know full well how dangerous war is.

Until now, I have kept Kitsuchi my side to keep him safe from on-going war. but ever since Suna's retreat from war, my boy Kitsuchi has been restless, asking me to send him to the war."

I frowned while listening to Onoki.

'God, another spoiled kid that wants to go to the bloody battlefield!'

"And now even his girlfriend Kimiko is asking me to send them to the war together. Although I want to keep them safe from war, som part of me also want them to experience war and become stronger." Onoki continued.

'Oh, I got it now. Onoki decided to send Kitsuchi and Kimiko to the battlefield but too worried. So he called me and my squad to babysit them. No wonder he was being very kind to us. But why us? What a pain in the ass.'

"Why not send them to Ishika-san's place? Since Suna retreated, that place is the safest battlefield." I suggested to Onoki.

"I tried that, but Kitsuchi refused, saying he wants to go to the real battlefield. By now you must have realized why I called you and your squad." Onoki replied.

"I get that Tsuchikage-sama wants us to accompany and protect him. But why did you pick us, Tsuchikage-sama? I am sure there are many shinobi better or stronger than us for this job." I questioned Onoki.

"Well, it's because you are close to Kitsuchi. Others wouldn't dare to order around Kitsuchi due to his position as my son, but I know you won't care about that kind of stuff.

I also heard that you have a strength of elite Jounin according to Masashi. You and your squad additionally have experience in infiltrating to Enemy base camp.

Most importantly I chose you because Kitsuchi considers you as a rival. Seeing his rival became stronger, Kitsuchi will definitely train hard to catch up to you."

I sighed deeply while listening to Onoki's reason. I couldn't argue Onoki as what he said were all true.

"Alright, I will accept your order. But I have a condition, sir." I spoke to Onoki,

"Ohh, you even dare to ask for the condition to me? Genji, you have grown too overconfident."

"I am not asking the impossible one. I just want a sensor and medical shinobi in my squad."

"Well, Kimiko is a sensor, so don't worry about it. As for medical shinobi, I am afraid I have to decline it. Don't ask why. It's secret." Onoki said.

'What? we are protecting your damn son and future daughter-in-law and you don't even want to give medical shinobi to us!! You damn stingy old man.'

"Alright, then. You can go now, Genji. Come back to me in the evening to receive the mission."

"Yes sir" I went out of the office, saying the words.

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(At night)

I arrived at the Onoki office again with my 3 squad members, Gari, Gin, and Kan. Kitsuchi and Kimiko were already in Onoki's office and surprised to see us.

"Hey, Genji and Gari. I heard you guys were on the battlefield. When did you guys come back?" Kitsuchi asked us.

"We just came back this morning," Gari replied.

"Say, how is the battlefield? Did you guys kill a lot of shinobi?" Kitsuchi asked us again.

Just as we were about to answer, Onoki coughed, telling us to pay attention.

"Ahem, I called Genji and his squad to assign a mission to them. And Kitsuchi and Kimiko will join their squad to finish the mission."

Kitsuchi suddenly got excited and asked Onoki.

"Wait, does that mean you finally going let me and Kimiko join the war, dad?"

"Well, depending on your performance in this mission. If you do good in the mission, then I will send you to the battlefield.

Now about the mission. One of our spy in Konoha got exposed and currently on the run. Your mission is to infiltrate to Konoha land and bring him back to Iwagakure.

Since he is just a low ranking spy, I am sure Konoha won't send any Jounins to pursue him. It's just a B-rank mission, so consider this as a test for you Kitsuchi.

Genji will be the leader of this mission. So he will be one to judge your performance. Listen to him well, Kitsuchi."

Kitsuchi looked at me with a bright smile and puppy eyes. I was shocked to hear Onoki.

'Wait, I thought we will go to the battlefield straight. I never heard we will do mission and judge Kitsuchi and Kimiko. Did I misunderstand him? What is this old man thinking?' I thought.

"Understood, Tsuchikage-sama." Nevertheless, I replied to Onoki and went out of his office.

Soon, Kitsuchi, Kimiko, Gari, Gin, and Kan followed me out.

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(In Konoha, Hokage's office)

Hiruzen (third Hokage) was sitting in the chair, piping his smoke while thinking about the current war situation.

Suddenly the door opened and the short light-brown haired boy came in while shouting.

"Old man, I can't wait any longer. Why are you not sending me to the war?" the brown-haired kid shouted.

Hiruzen sighed and breath out the smoke he was holding in. He was very tired of dealing with this kid.

"Nawaki, you know very well why I am not sending you to war. You are the youngest Senju member in Konoha.

I am afraid something might happen to you. Your sister especially asked me not to send you to war, no matter what."

"Exactly, I am Senju. How can I stay and do nothing while Konoha is in the war? How can I become Hokage and protect Konoha if I back down here!! Come on, send me to the war now!"

As Nawaki and Hiruzen were fighting, suddenly Anbu appeared in front of Hiruzen.

"Greetings Hokage-sama, Senju-sama." Anbu greeted them.

Seeing Anbu is not talking because Nawaki, Hiruzen assured Anbu,

"Don't worry about Nawaki. Just tell me your report."

"Sir, the spy we have been tailing, run away yesterday night secretly. We request your permission to pursue and capture him" Anbu reported.

Just as Hiruzen was about to agree, Nawaki who was listening quietly, cut him off.

"Wait, can I go instead and capture this spy? Come on, old man. Please? You didn't send me to war and now are you going to stop me again? Just this once, please??" Nawaki literally begged at Hiruzen.

Hiruzen thought for a while. He knew the spy they were tailing is just low-ranking one. He deemed it might be a good idea to send Nawaki along with other Konoha geniuses to capture the spy as to let them gain experience.

Hiruzen raised his hands and pretended to give up to Nawaki.

"Okay, okay. You win. I can send you to capture the spy, but you need to go with other kids too. That's my condition."

"YES!! Thanks, old man. I owe you one, hahaha" Nawaki jumped high for celebration.

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(10 minutes later)

In Hokage's office, eight kids (12-14) years old gathered under the order of Hiruzen.

Nawaki, Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuuga's twin Hizashi and Hiashi, new Ino-Shika-Cho formation Inojin, Choza and Shikaku, and last but not least Minato were present in Hokage's office.

None of them were sent to war as all of them except Minato, are off-springs of their respective clan heads. Minato just got graduated from Academy, considered a natural prodigy as a ninja, the likes of which appears only once in a generation.

Hiruzen considered these eight kids as future pillars of Konoha. Relationships between these kids are not bad, in fact very good except Fugaku and Nawaki. Even now they were bickering at each other.

Hiruzen also wanted these two to get along after this mission.

"Now, listen, all of you! Yesterday Iwa spy knew he was exposed by our Anbu and fled to Iwagakure. I want you eight to work together and capture him before he enters Iwa land. Bring him back alive if you can.

Shikaku Nara and Fugaku Uchiha will be the co-leaders of the team.

Also, DON'T YOU DARE CHASE HIM IF HE ALREADY ENTERED IWA'S LAND. COME BACK IMMEDIATELY!!!!" Hiruzen ordered them.

""'Understood!!"""