CHAPTER 59: TEAMS AND FIRST MISSIONS

Two days later all the jonins gathered in the hokage tower to give me an update on the genin teams that have passed their jonin's exams. One by one they atepped forward and announced the results.

" Team 1: Fail."

" Team 2 : Pass, but needs advanced training." 

" Team 3 : Pass, needs more training before sent on C ranks."

" Team 4: Fail. "

" Team 5 : Fail, but have potential. Needs better coordination and battle tactics."

" Team 6: Pass, but needs more training."

" Team 11: Fail"

"Team 12: Fail"

" Team13: Pass. Needs more training."

" Team 15 : pass."

" Team 16 : pass"

" Team 17: Pass."

"Team 18 : Fail."

" Team 19 : Pass."

" Team 20: Pass. "

" Team 21 : Pass "

Asuma stepped forward, " Team 10 : Pass. Good coordination and tactics."

Kurenai was the next to voice her team, " Team 8 : Pass. Sakura Haruno needs to expand her jutsu repertoire. Otherwise they have good potential."

 Shisui was the next one, " Team 7 Pass. Good strength as you ad mentioned. Can take on low C ranked missions. But Uchiha Sauske remains an unstable factor who refuses to follow orders sometimes." 

" Okay. I see. Those of you who have failed your team will train them for 6 months and take the re exam after that. If they are still not ready then... well it's not to be I guess. Those of you who have passed your teams will report tomorrow for your first missions. Dismissed." I said.

After the Jonins left, " Let the story begin."

The Next day

It was in the morning that most of the teams came to collect their first missions. Eventually the original Konoha 9 came and took their missions. All teams were assigned D ranks except for these three teams. They were given C ranks to start their journey. Team 10 lead by Asuma was Handed the task of delivering a Scroll to the fire temple. Team 8 lead by Kurenai was given the task to escort a merchant to a Town. Team 7 lead by Kakashi was given the Mission to Wave country to escort the Bridge builder Tazuna. 

I did not expect Tazuna to come a month before he was apparently supposed to come. Well the sooner the better. 

" Rat!" I called and an ANBU came to my room, " Call Tsunade, Jiraiya ,Shikaku and Fugaku to my office."

" Hai Hokage- Sama"

Half an Hour Later, The four were sitting in my office facing me. Tsunade started the conversation, " What happened Brat! How come you called all three of us together?" 

" Hmm. Four of us together. Has anything Significant happened?" Fugaku asked

" Yes." I started, " There is a specific reason to which I have called you all." Turning towards Jiraiya I said, " What do you know of the Akutsuki?"

Jiraiya's eyes widened but the calmed down quickly. Clearing his throat, he began, " Well I didn't know you knew about them yet."

Tsunade cut in, " Stop talking in suspense and tell us already."

" Fine Fine. After Orochimaru left the village he joined up with a group. Naturally as the one chasing after him I came to know of this group. They consists of many S ranked criminals led by someone. I know this because I overheard Orochimaru's subordinate once. But apart from that I have no real clue to what their purpose is. Oh and they wear black cloaks with red clouds. That all I know." Jiraiya finished.

" A group of S ranked missing nins. And on top of that they have a leader." Tsunade said.

" That means the leader is more powerful than multiple S ranked Missing Ninjas. The only one who fits the description and is of that caliber is.." Shikaku did not finish but turned towards Fugaku.

" Madara" Fugaku finished." But he was killed by the first Hokage. and no one has found a trace of the man in years." 

" No I don't think it is Madara." I voiced my opinion.

" Why?" Tsunade asked

" Uchihas can be many things but not cowards. Madara is dead, no doubt about it. My main concern is the man in the mask who attacked Konoha with the Kyubi. He can be the leader. but I am not sure." Turning towards Jiraiya I said, " Use your spy network and fish out as much Information as you can about this group. Somethings must not be left unchecked."

" Okay I will get right to it." He responded.

Turning towards Fugaku I said, " I want to send Itachi to infiltrate this group. He is already a Kage level shinobi with a Mangekyou. With his ANBU skills and trainings it would be easier for him to infiltrate the group. Although Jiraiya can get the general information, we need someone in the inside to send us information. "

Fugaku looked worried for a bit but regained his composure. " I will go and inform Itachi." He said and got up.

" Send him to me. I will provide him with more details of the mission." I said.

" Okay I will send him today." He said and left the room.

" Can Itachi really do it?" Jiraiya asked.

" He can and he will. And if he fails I will extract him from there in an instant. I will not let a brilliant Shinobi die for nothing."

" I see." Tsunade hummed.

Later in the evening, Itachi visited my office.

" Hokage Sama. May I come in?" 

" Oh! Itachi, come in."

Entering the room Itachi kneeled on the ground and bowed his head ANBU style.

" Stand" After he did I began, " Has your Father informed you of the mission?"

" He has told me all he knew and said the rest would be explained by you, sir"

" Yes. Akutsuki is a dangerous organisation. I believe that their goal as as complex as the organisation itself. In this mission your main task would be to infiltrate the organisation and find out their objective. I believe they will start their real plan in a few years. This would be a log term mission. The story will be that you had gone rouge and killed your Anbu team in a Sharingan induced rage. word will spread and Akutsuki will seek you out. the rest would be up to you." Pausing for a bit I said," Can you do it?"

" I will give my best, sir. "

" That is all I ask. And if worse comes to worse, I will pull you out of the mission. " I said getting up from the chair. Putting my palm forward a white light shone from there for a few seconds before dimming down. 

" What happened?" asked a confused Itachi

" I have healed your disease. you were developing a lung cancer. also I have imprinted my flying raijin seal on you. Also you can use you mangekyou freely for now, I have upgraded it to an Eternal Mangekyou , so you will not go blind from using it." I said

" H-How?" He stammered.

" Somethings should remain secrets. Don't you think?" I said with a smile.

 Itachi nodded his head and asked, " When do I leave?" 

" Tomorrow night. I would have preferred you leave today but I will give you a day off to spend with your family before this mission. Only you, me, Fugaku, Jiraiya, Tsunade and Shikaku know about this mission and it must remain as such."

" Understood." He said and bowed. " I shall take my leave now." 

Looking at the empty office I turned and looked out of the window into the bustling Town, " now it's going to be fun."