The morning sun cast long shadows across the bustling streets of Konohagakure as Arashi prepared for the day ahead. "Finally," he muttered, a determined glint in his eyes. "Time to make him proud."
He meticulously adjusted his headband, the cool metal a reassuring weight against his forehead. With practised ease, he secured his chained kunai, the gleaming links coiling around his arm like a metallic serpent. A surge of anticipation coursed through him as he approached the village gate.
True to the Hokage's words, the usually crowded gate stood eerily quiet. Arashi, clad in his standard shinobi gear and a backpack laden with supplies, was the first of his team to arrive. He leaned against the weathered stone wall, his gaze scanning the horizon, a mixture of impatience and nervous excitement churning within him.
The approaching footsteps broke the silence of his teammates. Itachi, the composed leader, offered a curt nod. "Good morning, Arashi. I hope you're ready for our mission."
"I'm ready," Arashi replied, his voice firm,
Kazuya brushed past Arashi without making a sound or greeting. He still wasn't fond of his new teammate. Miyu, however, beamed at Arashi, her cheerful demeanour starkly contrasting Kazuya's seriousness. "Hey, Arashi! Are you excited for our first C-rank mission?"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and a smile spread across Arashi's face. "Yeah, I'm excited. It's my first time leaving the village in years," he admitted, his voice trailing off as a shadow of a painful memory flickered across his expression. "The last time I left… Well, it was a long time ago."
Miyu's smile softened with understanding. "You'll love it out there, I promise," she reassured him, her voice warm. "Woof woof!" Shiromaru, her canine companion, barked in agreement, his tail wagging excitedly.
Itachi cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the task. "We should get going," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The sooner we complete this mission, the better."
Just as they were about to depart, a figure emerged from the pre-dawn shadows, panting and struggling under the weight of an enormous backpack. "Wait!" he wheezed, his voice raspy and strained.
He stumbled to a halt before them, clutching his knees and gasping for air. This was Kinoshita Tetsu, their client.
"Kinoshita-san will be our client. We will protect him on his way back to the hidden hot springs village," Itachi explained his tone as calm and collected as ever. "Our mission is to ensure his safe arrival."
Arashi couldn't help but stare. Kinoshita was an odd sight – cargo shorts, a beige shirt straining against his ample belly, and a bushy moustache that seemed to quiver with every breath. His eyes, narrowed and suspicious, scanned the young Genin with open disdain.
"Are ya kidding me?" Kinoshita sputtered, his voice laced with disbelief. "A buncha kids are supposed to protect me?" His gaze landed on Arashi, and a sneer curled his lip. "The hell is this one supposed to be? He's hardly ten by the looks of it! There's no space for brats playing ninja in this world."
Despite the stinging insult, Arashi maintained a polite smile. "I know it's hard to believe," he replied, his voice surprisingly steady, "but I'm even more dangerous than I look. But I don't blame you for thinking that way. I am the youngest on the team."
Kinoshita scoffed, his eyes filled with contempt. He shoved past Arashi, nearly knocking him off balance with his oversized luggage. He jabbed a finger towards Itachi. "If this brat dies," he growled, "his blood is on your hands. You understand that, don't you?"
Itachi met his gaze with unwavering composure. "Mr. Kinoshita," he said, his voice firm yet respectful, "I assure you nothing will happen to him. And, more importantly, I promise nothing will happen to you either. Rest assured, you have nothing to worry about."
"Tch," Kinoshita spat, "you shinobi have always been so cocky. Thinking you have more power than you do." He lumbered past Itachi, his heavy footsteps echoing in the morning stillness.
Itachi turned to his team, his expression serious. "Let's go," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "The sooner we move, the better. It's far too risky to guard him at night, even if we are capable."
With that, he set off, leaving the village gate and into the vast, unknown wilderness beyond. Arashi and his teammates followed, their eyes fixed on Kinoshita's imposing figure as he trudged ahead, his presence casting a pall over the start of their mission.
The world unfolded before them like a scroll, revealing landscapes that were, for some, entirely new. Rolling hills gave way to cascading waterfalls, verdant forests bordered shimmering lakes, and towering mountains pierced the clouds. For Arashi, it starkly contrasted Konohagakure's carefully manicured training grounds and familiar streets.
He walked alongside his teammates, their formation a loose triangle around Kinoshita Tetsu's lumbering form. Hours blurred into a tapestry of sights and sounds, the rhythmic crunch of their footsteps on the dirt path a constant counterpoint to the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves.
'I lied about this being my first time out of the village,' Arashi mused, his gaze sweeping across the breathtaking scenery from their vantage point atop a hill, 'but it's not completely untrue.' His thoughts drifted back to his clandestine missions as an ANBU operative. 'The Hokage tries to keep a tight leash on me,' he realized. 'I'm only allowed as far as the borders of the other Great Nations. The old man assigns me to smaller countries because he has better reach there.'
He had never been to the Land of Hot Springs, though. He knew it was close to Kumogakure, the Village Hidden in the Clouds. 'If I get bored,' a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes, 'I might sneak out with Sora and see what it's really about.'
"So? How'd you like it?" Miyu's cheerful voice broke through his thoughts.
Arashi quickly donned his mask of innocence, feigning the wide-eyed wonder of a first-time traveller. "I can't believe this is what it looks like out here!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with feigned enthusiasm. "There's just so much I've never seen, you know? Have you been to other villages?"
Miyu beamed. "Yeah, Kazuya and I went to a bunch of other places. But we've never been to Kirigakure. It's the only one we've never stepped into."
"Incredible," Arashi breathed, widening his eyes for effect. "I hope I get to see more places just like you."
Their path wound down the mountainside, leading them toward a grassy plain with farms. A day's journey had brought them closer to their destination, and the lights of a small, sparsely populated town twinkled in the distance.
"We'll stop ahead," Itachi announced, his voice cutting through the peaceful serenity. "See if you can find some resources."
A palpable tension settled over the group. The only sounds were the wind whispering through the tall grass and the distant chatter of villagers.
'It's about time,' Arashi thought, a prickle of unease dancing across his skin. He sensed a shift in the atmosphere, a subtle change that hinted at danger lurking nearby. 'I better get a grip,' he told himself. 'I'll keep quiet and see how this team reacts. Itachi is probably doing the same.'
Suddenly, Shiromaru's playful demeanour vanished. "Woof woof!" he barked, his teeth bared in a low growl. He lowered his body, his tail stiff, his keen senses searching for the source of the disturbance.
Miyu's brow furrowed with concern as she glanced at Itachi. "Itachi-sensei," she began, her voice hushed, "Shiromaru senses two enemies nearby. Should we be heading towards the village? Won't they harm the villagers or try to use them as hostages?"
Itachi, ever stoic, shook his head. "No, it's better if we stay here. I already have a plan," he reassured her, his voice calm and steady. "Just listen to me and try to remember this is a C-rank mission. Fighting enemies is completely out of the question."
Miyu nodded, trusting in her leader's judgment.
Itachi's gaze shifted towards Kinoshita, who seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. "Besides," Itachi whispered, a hint of suspicion colouring his tone, 'there's something I want to confirm with our client regarding this mission.'
As they entered the town, Arashi half-expected the villagers to react to the sight of shinobi with curiosity or even fear, but they seemed unfazed. Perhaps encounters with ninjas were a regular occurrence in this remote settlement. Itachi led them to a modest inn and secured rooms for the team and Kinoshita.
The room assignments raised an eyebrow. Kinoshita was placed in the centre, with the Genin surrounding him. But to Arashi's dismay, he was sharing a room with Kazuya.
"Itachi-sensei," Kazuya grumbled, his face contorted in a frown, "why do I have to share a room with this brat?"
"Hey, it's not like I'm enjoying this either," Arashi retorted, emerging from the room with a glass of water. "But we're on a mission, so just deal with it."
"This is your problem," Kazuya sneered. "You always think you're so much better than us."
Arashi scoffed. "I am," he said matter-of-factly. "But you always think you're the leader just because you're older than us." He turned and walked away, taking a leisurely sip of his water.
Itachi, his expression unchanging, merely said, "Make sure you get along soon," before disappearing down the hallway.
"Tch!" Kazuya clicked his tongue in frustration. "Damn Arashi…" he muttered under his breath.
The night air was still as Itachi and Arashi watched the inn. The soft glow of the moon illuminated the quiet streets below.
"Arashi, why don't you take a break with the others?" Itachi suggested his voice barely a whisper. "I'll keep watch."
Arashi shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes. "I'm fine; I can stay up with you. Don't forget that I said I'd surpass you and Shisui Nii san by first cruising through the ranks. Had it not been for these new laws protecting you, I'd have surpassed you already."
A small smile crept onto Itachi's face. 'At least that hasn't changed,' he thought to himself. "You fought well during the bell test. He'd be proud."
Arashi scoffed. "I don't need you to tell me that. Shisui can say that for himself."
Before they could continue, a sudden disturbance broke the silence. A chilling sensation washed over them as they sensed an unfamiliar presence lurking in the shadows.
"Who's there?" Arashi demanded, his voice sharp as he unsheathed his tanto. His eyes transformed to the ripple-patterned Rinnegan.
Three figures emerged from the darkness, their silhouettes cloaked in mystery. A woman with flowing brown hair and a striking purple and black outfit led the group. Behind her, a towering, muscular man brandished a massive katana while a lean, nimble figure in a tight black suit moved with silent grace.
The intruders launched a surprise attack, their movements swift and deadly. Arashi and Itachi, however, were ready. Their blades flashed, parrying the incoming blows with practised ease.
"Arashi, watch out! These guys are dangerous," Itachi warned, his voice urgent.
Arashi nodded, "I know." his eyes locked on the enemy. He unleashed a barrage of attacks, his movements fluid and precise. With a swift motion, he activated a genjutsu, blinding his opponents and creating an opportunity to strike.
Swoosh! In a blur of motion, Arashi darts through the group of foes, slicing neatly through them in a single graceful strike. For a heartbeat, they linger motionless—then, with a soft explosion, their bodies dissolve into red-tinged gas. Arashi's eyes narrow. He clamps a hand over his mouth and nose, swiftly leaping backwards to avoid the spreading toxin.
"These were clones," he thinks, grimacing as the crimson smoke disperses. "They were rigged to release poison on impact—just a diversion. Which means…"
Without another moment's hesitation, Arashi races toward Kinoshita's room. He bursts inside—and then halts, eyes widening. The two assailants he thought he'd destroyed now stand inside, holding a poisoned kunai to Kinoshita's throat.
"Heh heh heh…" The male assailant chuckles darkly. "Stay back, brat, or this one dies."
The woman, apparently in charge, tightens her grip. "Let go of me!" Kinoshita protests, trying to break free. A sudden headbutt stops him cold, leaving him stunned and compliant. She drags him outside, edging onto the building's precarious ledge.
Arashi narrows his gaze. "I know who you are," he says evenly, voice cutting through the tense air. "You three have a place in the bingo book. Aya, the older sister, if I'm not mistaken. You carry a blowpipe for long-range poisoning. Supposedly quick and nimble." He shifts slightly, meeting her glare. "From what I've seen, though, you're overrated."
Aya's lips curl into a snarl. "Tch! Shut up, brat!" She flings two shuriken. Arashi smirked, barely tilting his head as they whistled past, missing by a hair's breadth. "Hmph," he murmurs. His confidence never wavers, even as tension coils like a drawn bowstring.
"Earth Style!" Arashi snarls, plunging his tanto into the soil. A jagged crack streaks across the ground and rushes beneath Aya's feet. She reacts quickly, leaping upward while keeping her grip tight on Kinoshita.
"Huagh!" Aya suddenly chokes and spits up a mouthful of blood. Shocked, she looks down to find a jagged earth spike piercing through her chest. Kinoshita slips from her grasp, falling away from the ledge.
But just as Aya's eyes glaze with pain and confusion, Arashi's lips twist into a knowing smirk. The grisly scene fades like smoke—it was a genjutsu, a crafted illusion. In reality, Aya never had a chance. She plummets helplessly off the building's edge, her scream swallowed by the wind as Arashi stands safely on solid ground, Kinoshita at his side.
"So, the little brat's got some skill, huh?" the old man remarks coolly, glancing at where Aya fell.
Kinoshita manages a shaky breath, still rattled. Arashi's gaze turns steady and calm. "I suppose you have a lot to answer for. But I'll let Itachi deal with you before I do." He places a firm hand on Kinoshita's shoulder, and with a single well-practised seal, both vanish in a blur of swift movement.