Chapter 8: The Might of Konoha(2)

Saru decided to speak on behalf of Karasu and Nezumi. "You're going to eat those words later on, beautiful." Nezumi sighed; Saru was always hitting on women. Even now, in a foreign country and in the presence of what the blond could feel to be a powerful kunoichi.

The woman's predatory smirk intensified. Yup, Nezumi definitely liked this one. "Oh? Now I just can't wait to see what the youth of Konoha is capable of." She almost sounded genuine, but she couldn't escape Nezumi's abilities. No matter how good of a liar she was.

"Our Hokage has given us orders to shadow the Resistance and assist in any and every way possible. Our goal is to get Yagura alone with Nezumi here." She informed the woman, gesturing to the smallest member of the cell.

A delicate eyebrow rose on the beautiful woman's face. "And why would you're Hokage wish to have a child confront a Kage-level Jinchuuriki?" Nezumi was glad that he had his mask on, because if he didn't, everyone would have seen the absolutely terrifying smile on his face.

"The Lord Hokage wishes to end the life of the Yondaime Mizukage. The easiest way for that to happen is if we wake our sleeping comrade." The blond really loved how his team understood him so. He would have started laughing if he hadn't trained so hard to be capable of keeping his emotions in check. The woman was now really confused.

He guessed that she'd never met a monster before.

"Black Harbor," Terumi Mei began, "is a Loyalist controlled prison. It houses a good portion of our people." Here, an angry expression flashed across the woman's face. "The ones the bastard keeps alive."

It had only been a few hours since the Team Ro contingent met with the Resistance, and they were already being put to work. Karasu was indifferent. Saru was annoyed. Neko was ready to serve. And Nezumi was excited. If they could help win the war for the Resistance, Kiri, with whoever became the Mizukage – Nezumi thought it would most likely be Mei – would be indebted to Konoha. He was going to have a hand in creating a peaceful alliance for his home and Kiri. He would save so many lives.

And take so many more. It was a win-win situation.

"You want my team to, what, pull off a prison break?" Neko asked. She didn't see how this would help them any.

"Yes, that is exactly what I want of you and your little team." Nezumi could feel that Neko didn't like Mei too much. "My top General went in to find information on the whereabouts of Yagura's top weapons manufacturing buildings." The green-eyed woman brushed a stray hair back into one of the four bangs that framed her face. "I was planning on sending three of my teams in, but if what you say about the two kiddies is true, then I haven't the need to, now do I?"

Nezumi could understand why she wasn't Mei's biggest fan. She kind of came off as arrogant, but maybe that was just because she didn't know them all that well.

Nezumi wanted to chuckle again; he could play that game if that's what she wanted. "No." The smallest out of the Konoha ANBU said, looking at Neko. "Let me go in alone, captain." Ah, there it was. The emotion he was looking for from the auburn-haired woman; incredulous. "This doesn't call for the four of us." He turned his masked face towards Mei. "I should be more than enough. Any more would be overkill."

While Terumi was shocked into silence, Neko was mulling it over in her head. Nezumi usually never outright asked for a solo assignment, he was just given them because he was the only person strong enough to take them on. So why was he doing so now? That's when she realized what he was thinking. The Resistance didn't trust them, and worse, they thought they weren't capable.

That little genius! He had worded it as a suggestion, giving her the authority to make the decision. He knew she was worried that he would try and take over, and to squash those thoughts, he showed she had seniority in front of the others.

He also knew that the only way for the Resistance to realize just how valuable the team was, they needed to be shown that they were more than capable of fighting the good fight. If the youngest of the group could take down an entire prison filled with enemy combatants, not only would the cell be shown respect, but he'd be showing them Konoha's might. It did everything that both they and Konoha needed all in one go.

It still astounded her how the boy was able to think and strategize to win the game with only one move. He truly was the monster he claimed to be. It just took her a while to fully understand what that meant.

"Permission granted." Neko nodded her head, both in confirmation and thanks. She was sure he could feel her gratitude. "Do as you see fit to complete the mission."

Nezumi got the message. I agree, and thank you. "Yes, captain."

"Wait a minute here!" Mei finally spoke up. "You're really going to just send the one kid?" She couldn't believe the boy was as strong as they were implying him to be, she just couldn't. She knew that Konoha was the greatest of the Five, and that they produced child prodigies in bulk, but this was just ridiculous. What the hell did they feed their children in that village?

"Yes. Nezumi is very special, and more than capable of accomplishing the required task." Neko replied. "Don't be so quick to underestimate the ninja of our village. Its fell mightier shinobi than you." Nezumi wished he could laugh, that was a good one. And it was the truth, which made it even better.

Mei was silent for a moment, her narrowed eyes on the blond boy. Then she relented. "Fine, but if he gets my people killed it's on your heads."

Nezumi cocked his head to the right. His suspicions were correct; she was beautiful at every angle.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk in his office, once again stuck doing paperwork. It really became overwhelming at times if he didn't take much needed breaks. Speaking of much needed breaks, "Jiraiya-kun, it's good to see you again." He said to seemingly no one.

That's when the aforementioned Sannin seemed to melt out of the wall, his camouflage technique deactivating. "Damn, sensei, you're almost as good as the gaki." Student spoke to teacher, his ever present smug smirk on his face.

"You can't fool me yet, Jiraiya; I taught you everything you know after all." The Sandaime made a pouting face. "Besides Senjutsu."

The Sennin roared with laughter. "That expression you made doesn't belong on the face of the Hokage, old man!" Hiruzen mock glared at his pupil.

"Careful, Jiraiya-kun, you're getting pretty old yourself." The Sage's laughter immediately stopped. Great, was he really a geezer now?

"Whatever." Jiraiya mumbled. "Where's the gaki? I've got some time before I need to head back out." The white-headed man leaned against the Hokage's desk. "Thought I'd get a little training in with him before I leave."

Hiruzen shook his head. "Naruto-kun is out on a mission, he won't be back for some time." He informed his former student.

Jiraiya sighed. "Another one?" He asked. "Do you ever give the kid a break?" It was true; Naruto was always out in the field, probably more so than he was in Konoha. His mission count was off the charts, and he hadn't failed a single one yet.

He'd been virtually everywhere the Elemental Nations had to offer, and that was a year ago. His success rate was one hundred percent, something no other before him had accomplished. Jiraiya didn't know if he should be proud or nervous that Minato's son was already able to whip his ass in a spar.

Naruto was a true prodigy, a genius among geniuses. He had surpassed many of the world's most powerful men and women by now, and he was only ten, nearing his eleventh birthday. He shared the Sandaime's worries of what the young Uzumaki would become in the near future.

Hopefully he would stay the same; a loyal Konoha patriot.

"He enjoys what he does Jiraiya." The Sandaime said, rubbing his temples with his thumbs. "He gets restless if he doesn't serve." He finished.

"I guess…" The Toad Sage mumbled. "So, what are you having him do this time?" He asked, curious of what the blond was up to.