Chapter 40: Their First Assignments

Time has passed. More precisely, two months have passed since the formation of the, aptly called, "Rookie 9" group. Although this title was only known to the Jonin at first, since they came up with it. Not long after, the Chunin of Konoha learned of the group and their collective name.

"Although I hope we lose the 'Rookie' part of the name someday." Kiba said, frowning a bit. He didn't want to be stuck with a title that implied that he was still green around the gills.

The group was assembled once more with the teachers and had just learned about the title that has very recently been approved by the Hokage himself. It was a catchy name, most thought.

"Aw, don't worry. Before you know it, we'll be known as 'The Fire Nine' or something cool like that." Naruto said happily.

"Maybe, but it will also always be known we graduated as one and were put into this group." Shikamaru said lazily. "Especially if we do well on our first Chunin exams and get promoted, it will cement our fame as rookies who rose in rank together. That hasn't happened in ages if I'm not mistaken."

"Partly right, it is rare that rookies get nominated for the Chunin exams en masse." Shino corrected. "I have not heard of rookies making it far enough to get promoted in those instances it has happened, however."

"There's always a first time!" Naruto exclaimed confidently. "And we will be that first time!"

"Damn right, Naruto!" Kiba agreed with a high-five.

"Maa, maa." Kakashi said with a 'calm down'. "Let's not get overconfident. Many have failed the exams before, some died too, because they weren't ready. You are well on your way to being ready, but you're not yet."

Several of the group shivered at the thought of dying, the rest took it better. "But we will be ready by the time it comes around, right?" Sakura inquired, a hopeful tone leaving her mouth.

Kakashi rubbed his masked chin in contemplation. Kurenai, irritated by Kakashi's tardiness, as he was late to the meeting although only by half an hour (a miracle to those who knew him), as well as his unwillingness to try to inspire their charges, even doing almost the opposite, decided to take over.

"I have every confidence in each and every one of you to be ready, more than ready, to take on the exams. I've seen enough to think it would be a crime, once it comes, not to let you take it." Kurenai smiled as she looked at all nine of the Genin, but lingered most on Hinata, who looked rather uncertain about the whole thing.

"Agreed." Asuma said. "But readiness doesn't come on its own, you all still have to train hard in order to compete with the other Chunin hopefulls that will no doubt enter. It is far from unheard of that strong Genin enter the exams. Once in a rare while, there has even been Jonin-level material taking the exams, though it isn't possible to receive that rank through the exams. Only experienced Chunin can earn Jonin rank."

"More than just train hard, you guys need some mission experience too." Kakashi finally chimed in. "At the moment, there's a couple of C-rank missions available. We choose certain members of this group to go with a Jonin on a C-rank mission and the rest will have to do more advanced simulations than we've done so far."

"How advanced are we talking?" Sasuke inquired coolly. Sakura blushed a bit at his, to her, attractive attitude.

"Well, let's see. There's "Spy vs Hunter", "Capture The Scroll", "Escort/Assassinate The Civvie", "Recover Tora"... Kakashi counted.

"Hold on, we don't understand what they are about." Kiba said.

"I thought it was pretty self-explanatory." Ino said with a shrug.

"Oh yeah?" Kiba challenged. "Tell us what they mean, exactly, then."

"That's easy," Ino began know-it-ally. "Spy vs Hunter is about one side, the Hunters, trying to capture the Spy while other side is trying to get past the Hunters. Probably one at a time try their hand at getting past them, either to get to a location or to read a scroll. Possibly then try to return to the starting area.

Capture the Scroll is, in a way, a ninja game. Each side has a scroll they have to defend at 'almost' all costs, since it's only a game. While defending, each side also has to try to secure the other side's scroll and return with it to the spot where their own scroll is. If a side has 'lost' all their members but one, they have no choice but to defend until defeated or until they have, somehow, managed to hold out until the timer runs out or the opposing team has lost all members through his/her defense of the scroll.

Escort/Assassinate the Civvie is as simple as it sounds, some of us escort someone else designated the 'Civvie', who cannot use any ninja ability, not even increased strength, speed or agility through chakra. Though they are still allowed to try to escape if they think they can get away, but that is rare.

The other side has to try to either kill or capture the 'Civvie' depending on predetermined simulation rules. Capture is considered fully accomplished if the capturing team has managed to lose their pursuers with their target in custody. If assassination is their goal, then some form of simulated weapon or powered-down jutsu is used to attack and 'mortally wound' the 'Civvie'. No escape is considered necessary if the target is killed, but will sometimes be required, especially if a primary goal for the assassins is to remain undetected."

Everyone stared at her, blinking.

"Okay, you could NOT have known ALL that based on the names alone, Ino!" Kiba accused with an accompanying index finger pointed at the blonde girl.

Before Ino could respond to the accusation, Sakura spoke up with a smug smirk. "She didn't. Ino-pig read over my shoulders when I was reading up on ninja simulations the other day."

"Forehead!" Ino shouted in embarrassment. Everyone laughed while Kiba was laughing in a more mocking tone.

"What about 'Recovering Tora'? What sort of simulation is that?" Chouji asked once he calmed down.

"That's more of a hybrid between a mission and a simulation." Asuma said with a wry smile.

"Whatcha mean?" Kiba wondered.

"He means that it's a mission, a D-rank one, that is as good as a simulation so it's used for training purposes when available."

"You are implying that this mission is a recurring one." Shino observed.

"It is, indeed. Tora the cat is the pet of the Daimyo's wife. However, the cat has run away from its owner more times than anyone has cared to count and it has gone so far that the Daimyo has posted a standing bounty on catching the cat whenever it has been reported missing. Over the course of its repeated escapes, the cat has gained an infamous ability to even managing to evade Genin and give a respectable fight when caught, for a normal cat. Due to its abnormal abilities, it has been classified as an acceptable simulation for search-and-capture missions."

Astonishment was the prevailing reaction to the explanation. No one was expecting that. Some of the faces were quite funny and garnered chuckles and giggling from the teachers.

"As amusing as this is," Kurenai spoke after her small giggle fit. "we need to move on. Ino was indeed correct in her explanations. And those simulations are merely some of the ones we have in store for you. Anyway, those who will go on the C-rank will be chosen based on what we know about the mission and subsequently the most suitable abilities required for the mission."

"A-are any of us g-going today?" Hinata asked, slightly nervous about the prospect of taking on a C-rank mission. She knew what those could entail, but she wasn't going to shy away from her duties. Especially since she wanted to make her family, Naruto and Kurenai proud of her. She also didn't want to be the weakest of them, she wanted to make everyone proud to have her as a member of their group.

"As a matter of fact, yes, some of you will." Kakashi said with an eye-smile.

"What's the mission, Kaka-sensei?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"You don't even know if you're going, dobe. Stop acting so excited." Sasuke reminded him, that condescending tone ever present.

"Shut it, teme! Aren't you excited about the mission and possibly going on it?" Naruto fired back.

"No. Whatever comes, comes" Sasuke said nonchalantly. He was lying, he was looking forward to the mission, or at least the first one he would be a part of. But he didn't want to let Naruto know that.

"Will you guys be quiet so we can hear the mission already?" Kiba complained. Others agreed with mumbles. Once they all focused back on their masked sensei, he resumed.

"The mission..." Kakashi began with a raised finger and trailed off. The Genin leaned closer with expectancy. "... is to be given by the Hokage himself."

'DONG!' Came the collective face-plant of the group. Kakashi chuckled, Asuma shook his head but smirked, Kurenai giggled a little.

"The hell!?" The more hot-tempered of the group exclaimed when they recovered. Those being Naruto, Sakura, Ino and Kiba.

"I never said that I had the mission details on me, did I?" Kakashi said with that irritating eye-smile of his, at least it was now that the pranked them slightly. "I said some of you would be going, that's all. We'll be going together to meet the Hokage and there and then will we know the details and who will be chosen to go on it."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Naruto shouted and took off to the tower. Or he would have had the neck of his shirt not been caught by Asuma.

"Easy there, hot-shot. We go in an orderly fashion." Asuma reprimanded neutrally before letting him go and a more subdued Naruto took his place with the group as they passed.

Once at the tower, the group was admitted to the briefing room where the Hokage, Iruka and Yokai were sitting and giving out missions and the corresponding instructions.

"Ah, welcome Rookies!" Yokai greeted the group amiably.

"Heya, senseis, jiji!" Naruto greeted back.

"Greetings, Hokage-sama, Iruka-sensei!" Chorused the rest. Yokai didn't need to be addressed, least of all formally since he wasn't a Kage. (If only they knew)

"Welcome to your first mission assignment." Hiruzen greeted formally but also warmly. "Today, we have a handful of C-ranks available. I am aware that Kakashi-kun informed you that the rest who wouldn't be going would perform simulations, but I've reconsidered after Kakashi-kun left and decided that most of you shall go on separate missions."

"But, Hokage-sama!" Kakashi widened his lone eye in surprise. "Wont that affect the possible quality of the other missions if one gets someone with a skill suitable for it while the other or others that happen to require the same skill gets left out? They should develop their skills and experiences optimally."

"Such is the reality of the world, and you know it Kakashi-kun, that you cannot always put the most fitting shinobi on a mission every time. But I am confident that any extra strain put on the groups will be handled and give even more valuable insights. These are, after all, only C-ranks." The Hokage said in a calm, confident tone.

"Very well, dad. What are the missions?" Asuma said, not even a little upset over this development. While sometimes lazy, he knew the values of insights gained from doing missions the hard way sometimes. His experiences with the Guardian Shinobi, who were assigned to be the closest defenders of the Daimyo, taught him that.

The elderly leader perused the list. "Let's see, we have the following: A caravan guarding mission to Kyouboku no Sato, the shipment containing medium grade valuables and goods. Obviously the shipment is in danger of being raided by bandits and the caravan leader have thus asked to hire some of us as escorts. Expected duration of the mission; 6 days. 4 to get to the destination and 2 to get back with a shinobi's relaxed pace (This means a shinobi jog/tree hopping, which is much faster than walking but not outright sprinting). Once the caravan has reached its destination, the caravan's future loads are of no real value for bandits and thus will be relatively safe from their greedy, bloody hands."

Yokai took over. "Next up we have another escort for a master bridge builder to Nami no Kuni. Not only are the chosen Genin and Jonin to escort the builder back to his home town, they are to provide security for the bridge building crew until completion of the bridge being built there. Time to completion; unknown, but early estimations lie around 1 month."

"Excuse me, sirs?" Sakura piped up.

"Yes, Haruno-san?" Yokai acknowledged the girl.

"Well, isn't it strange that bridge builders would be under threat of some sort? Who would possibly want to harm them?" She asked.

"The given reason is a rival businessman who is known to be much less than scrupulous in his business tactics." Yokai said, although he had a feeling about the whole thing and was silently agreeing with the observant girl.

The third and final member of the mission assignment team, Iruka, then spoke. "Moving along, the next mission is a search and destroy mission. Bandits have been reported near a town and causing lots of trouble and now there's been a possible sighting of their main gathering area. The squad assigned to the mission will locate and eliminate the bandits, while also trying to capture when so can be done safely. After all, the affected village would want to exact their own justice. Estimated time for completion; 3 days. 1 to get there, 1 to execute the main objective and 1 to return to Konoha."

"There is one more mission after that one, but due to its nature it's better suited for our newly formed section. Meaning it will be dealt with by Naruto and Shino, Yokai has expressed his absolute confidence that the two of them can handle it on their own." The elder Sarutobi spoke formally.

Barely containing his excitement, Naruto asked. "And what is the mission, jiji?"

"That, my dear Naruto, is classified for yours and Shino's eyes only, besides us three of course."

Literally shaking with anticipation, Naruto nodded and stepped back with Shino to allow the rest to get their assignments.

"Well, that puts our total available Genin down to 7. How will we divide them up between the three missions?" Kurenai inquired.

"The two escort missions are to be assigned 5 Genin in total and one Jonin each. The S&D mission a Jonin and 2 Genin. The numbers of the bandits are believed to be low enough to warrant a smaller squad to deal with them. The bridge builder mission will be the one of the two escorts that gets 3 Genin, due to the fact that the builder has requested his family be protected from foul play as well, so the squad has to be divided up in two pairs with the priority going to the bridge. That means, that the Jonin, along with one of the Genin, will oversee the protection of the bridge while a Genin of the Jonin's discretion will be in command of the other pair. As far as the other escort mission, we have calculated that the route which the caravan will take has only between light to medium bandit activity. A Jonin with a pair of Genin will suffice nicely." Yokai informed.

"So, who will go on which mission?" Asuma asked.

"The combination we've come up with for optimal efficiency is the following: Asuma takes Hinata, Chouji and Shikamaru. Hinata's role will be mainly to scout for hostiles and threats, Chouji will provide muscle, both in combat and in construction if the builders require a hand. But bear in mind, this isn't a requirement, only an opportunity to learn. Shikamaru will be the one to provide a safe manner in which to dispose of any hired mercenaries that threaten the mission through his shadow manipulation.

As for the caravan mission, Kurenai will bring along Sakura and Ino. Ino and Sakura's roles will be to provide extra protection while Kurenai deals with any immediate threats that comes along. Should anything slip by her, you two will work together to take down the threat before any permanent harm comes to the caravan or its members.

Lastly, Kakashi will take Kiba and Sasuke with him on the S&D mission. Here Kakashi's vast experience in the matter will help to both safeguard the Genin as well as teach them the finer points of stealth and assassination. Remember, you aren't to outright assault the camp, when located. Unless it can't be helped, you are to give them no opportunity to fight back, am I understood?" Hiruzen laid out the mission parameters with a firm voice.

"Perfectly, Hokage-sama!" The Jonin acknowledged, along with bowing to the man.

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" The Genin in question mimicked their senseis.

"Very good!" The Hokage said with a smile. "All three missions are to begin this very day. Jonins can find their clients in the room next door for agreement upon just when to depart. You Genin, save for Naruto and Shino, will wait outside for your senseis. You two remain here."

"Right, jiji." Naruto saluted in an affirmative, with Shino nodding.

Once the group, sans Naruto and Shino, had departed, the trio of mission assigners started their briefing.

Meanwhile, inside the client's waiting room.

"So, am I to understand that I and my colleagues will be well protected with the one Jonin and a pair of little girls?" Said a main of somewhat rotund figure, only Chouji could outshine in that area, not that anyone would admit that to either of them. The man was, while slightly obese, not unattractive, surprisingly. It was a man who was well traveled and proud of his business, but also knew to enjoy life occasionally.

Kurenai, while miffed at the derogatory remark of the Genin, couldn't fault the caravan leader for not being impressed with the given escort. Ino and Sakura especially didn't give a very reassuring feeling for a person who was in need of their protection. Not out of a lack of confidence, but a lack of an intimidation factor. The two girls standing just outside the open door, who heard the statement, wisely kept quiet. Though their brows twitched in indignation.

"That is correct, although you might be surprised along the way by the 'little girls'. They are quite qualified, even for Genin, for a duty such as this." She responded with a confident tone. 'I hope.' She added as an afterthought.

"Okay then, I will take your word for it, my dear." The leader said with a nod. Normally Kurenai would be annoyed by the last part of his statement, but he wasn't being rude while saying so. If anything, he seemed to genuinely believe her word and showed nothing but sincere respect. Although it could be he was aware that he was dealing with kunoichi, women trained in the use of sharp and pointy objects, as well as being their escorts. Getting on their nerves would not be in his best interest.

"Hmpf!" Snorted a man only about ten years younger than Hiruzen, he was holding a half-finished bottle of sake. "I don't understand how you can be content with a substandard escort like that, Raido-san. The Jonin looks like she's woman enough for the job, but the two lassies don't inspire much confidence."

"Be that as it may, Tazuna-san, I've dealt with shinobi enough times to know that they are more often than not more than what meets the naked eye." Raido replied congenially. The two had had an amicable conversation while waiting for their hired escorts to collect them for the impending journey.

"Pfeh, if you say so. I just hope I get a larger escort than what you got." Tazuna said pessimistically.

"As a matter of fact, you will." Came Asuma's voice as his calm, confident figure entered the room. He was a tad later in entering since he had ordered his assigned squad to prepare immediately and head for the gate with the road leading to Nami. He knew from the scroll he got that the client was itching to get underway so he didn't want to waste time.

"The escort will consist of myself and 3 Genin. Two will be boys if that is to your liking, sir?" Asuma finished his statement.

"Yes it... *ahem*, as long as they are competent, I don't care." Tazuna said, he was going to agree initially but a glare from Kurenai altered his planned response just a tad.

"Good to hear." Asuma said jovially. "We are ready to leave within the hour. Meet us at the gate you arrived through." Asuma said and promptly left.

"And when do you wish to depart, Raido-san?" Kurenai inquired of the well traveled man.

"I need to inform and prepare my colleagues for the journey, now that we have a sufficient escort. Give us two hours and we'll be ready to be on our way. We will travel through the northern gate since we plan to make a brief stop in Momijigari no Sato before heading straight to Kyouboku no Sato."

"How brief?"

"Not more than a couple of hours. A part of our load is going there and we're not picking anything up. If anything, the lightened load will allow us to catch up some afterward."

"Sounds good, we will meet you there, then." Kurenai said before giving a slight bow and left the room, the Genin girls tagging along before heading home to prepare.

Back in the briefing room

"So do you understand the orders that you have been given?" Hiruzen inquired of his youngest subordinates present.

"We understand, Hokage-sama." Shino responded with a firm bow.

"Crystal clear, jiji." Naruto said seriously.

"Excellent. You are dismissed and we await your first mission's result with great interest."

"Hai." Chorused the two before leaving.

10 hours later – with the caravan

The caravan members were idly talking amongst themselves while the kunoichi, walking along the 7 wagon and 3 carts long group, were evenly divided along its length. Kurenai was in the front, as she was the best sensor and had the best chance of discovering an ambush before it happened and then have all of them react to it using their radios.

Raido was calm and enjoying his ride on his wagon, occasionally adjusting the course of the dragging oxen trudging along the road. His colleagues were not so reassured by their protectors, some of them were misogynistic, though they would hotly deny it if confronted about it. Their views were that women aren't able to handle the harsh reality of combat. This despite the fact that some of their earlier hired guardians were indeed of the female gender and did just as well as their male counterparts.

In fact, a few of them had the upper hand since they fooled or distracted their almost entirely male opposition with their attires, civilian looking and provocative respectively, and consequently took them out efficiently. Some were emasculated by the fact that they were relying on females for their protection. Some had the barest knowledge of self-defense but nothing a bandit couldn't match or outmatch. Only a minority didn't mind one way or the other, as long as they got to live another day.

Today, however, almost all were in agreement that, aside from the lovely Kurenai, the escorts didn't look like they would survive a bandit raid. Some even went as far as say that they had a better chance at protecting them rather than the other way around.

Sakura and Ino, who have been told to expect such talk from their charges and to not let it get to them, were silently fuming nonetheless and sorely tempted to show them just what they were capable of.

With the S&D squad

Sasuke and Kiba were leaping through the trees after their sensei, Kakashi. They had only a few hours left of travel before reaching the half-way point between the victimized village and their own.

So far, the mission was nothing but travel and nothing but trees. But Kiba and Akamaru were fine with that as it was almost like an extended "walk" of theirs and they enjoyed those. Kakashi was used to travel and had no opinion of it. Sasuke was, in his own aloof way, eager to get started with the main event. He wanted to experience actual combat, although he knew that might not happen if they went about as intended, to kill or incapacitate them without raising an alarm. Still, the prospect of finally putting his hard earned skills to use was a thrilling one for the youngest remaining Uchiha.

Kakashi, though appearing focused on his heading, was silently observing the two others, mainly Sasuke. He was aware that most Genin would either feel nervousness or anticipation, some even both, when faced with certain, imminent kills and possible combat. Kiba was either already used to the idea through some clan means involving animals or he simply was easygoing. The former might make this easier on him while the latter will most likely cause problems in their mission, if not get him killed if he completely freezes up. Sasuke, on the other hand, appeared to be of the anticipating kind, and given his special case that might be a cause for concern. He could become cold-blooded and a natural killer. And while that is a boon in their business, Kakashi wanted to help him get a good balance in life and to help the last loyal member of his long departed friend's clan to get over his trauma. He just didn't know how yet.

With Tazuna's escort squad

Asuma was walking at the rear of the group, keeping a deceptively lazy expression and stride. But he was unceasingly vigilant for anything that might come to harm him, his Genin or their client. Tazuna was right in the middle of the group and was sipping every now and then on his sake bottle, evidently trying to calm himself from some form of pressure. Asuma shrugged it off, seeing as he can't do, nor should do, anything about that. It wasn't in his job description to act as a psychiatrist.

Hinata was in front, occasionally activating her bloodline, the Byakugan, to scan for anything threatening. Shikamaru and Chouji were walking on either side of their client. Shikamaru was rather relaxed, seeing as there were two members of their squad with far reaching senses. Hinata's visual one and Asuma's own honed senses. Between the two of them, very little would get passed them and he was therefore not going to make things more troublesome for himself by worrying or keeping superfluous watch.

Chouji was happily walking along and every hour would take out a new bag of chips to munch on. Tazuna couldn't help but wonder how the fat kid could carry so many bags without it showing somewhere, or even making that noise those bags do when in motion. Chouji was of the same mindset as Shikamaru regarding vigilance. But he was not going to slack of entirely, as he couldn't keep himself content with doing nothing but walking like Shikamaru could. So to keep busy, outside of snacking on chips, he regularly kept his senses sharp before relaxing after awhile.

"S-sensei... there's s-something up ahead." Hinata spoke slightly hushed back to her squad leader.

"What is it and how far?" Asuma demanded looking straight ahead of them.

"I-I think it's a g-genjutsu. I can't make out anything p-precise, but I th-think there's more than one unknown individual hiding within it. The genjutsu t-takes the appearance of a p-puddle of water on the road."

"That's not the smartest thing to do, it hasn't rained in days. If they expect to ambush other shinobi they should have gone with a more subtle disguise." Shikamaru commented with a more focused expression, now that imminent danger was present.

"Agreed, Shikamaru." Asuma said, nodding. "But don't stop moving, keep going like all is well. Hinata, you take up defensive position between Tazuna-san and the hostiles, should they attack. The rest of us will handle the rest should they prove to be after us. Shika, you know what to do if that's the case. Chouji, you as well."

"Hai, sensei!" They acknowledged the instructions.

"Are we really going to be attacked? Already?" Tazuna asked, shaking a bit.

"There's a distinct possibility, Tazuna-san. But don't fret, we can handle it and we'll reach Nami safely." Asuma said reassuringly.

"Okay then." Tazuna said, trying to sound just that, but couldn't fully shake the feeling that things were about to take a turn for the worst.

They soon came into normal visual range of the puddle. Even sooner, they were on top of it, passing it by. Then an agonizing minute passed by without anything happening. When out of earshot, Asuma told Hinata to activate her Byakugan to see what they were up to.

"Byakugan! Umm... They have d-dispelled their genjutsu and have run b-by us and are now ahead of us, still m-moving."

Asuma frowned, that spelled trouble. If they weren't after them, they would have been after someone else they expected to come by soon if they were in their genjutsu disguise. However, since they abandoned their position and now hurry on ahead in the direction of Nami, it could only mean that they have aborted their attempt on Tazuna, for there was now no doubt about their intent, when they discovered that they must have known about their presence, through their Hyuuga member.

"Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru addressed his superior with a contemplative frown.

"Yeah, I know Shikamaru."

"Know what? What's going on?" Tazuna said, his voice quivering from stress.

"A couple of things. One, we've discovered that this mission is going to be more difficult than previously assumed. Two, there's also now no doubt that you've withheld vital information regarding this mission of yours." Asuma said with a piercing glare at the client.

"What are you talking about?!" Tazuna said with a mix of indignation and fear.

"Those ninja in that puddle disguise just left it and are now running ahead probably to warn someone else, either their client or someone stronger than them. If they were after someone else, they would have stayed put, awaiting their arrival. But since they must have aborted their attempt altogether, the only reason must be because their target is you, Tazuna-san. And they didn't dare go against us because they knew that we knew about them when they saw young Hinata here."

"What's so special about the girl?" Tazuna asked with a glance of disbelief towards the lavender eyed Genin.

"She is a member of the Hyuuga clan of Konoha. Holders of the bloodline called Byakugan, as you've no doubt heard the name of by now. This bloodline allows them to see in all directions and see through objects and detect chakra signatures from large distances. That is a widely known fact among shinobi all over the continent."

"I.. I... Well, that's got..." Tazuna tried to reason his way out of the precarious situation he found himself in. Finally he gave up, seeing as there was nothing he could say to refute their accurate observation of their situation.

"Alright, you've got me. I have held back on some information." Tazuna admitted with a low-hung head.

Shikamaru was the one to ask further. "Why, what's going on? What's so important that you had to withhold critical information? You have put us in a seriously troublesome situation, Tazuna-san."

"The reason is because we couldn't afford a higher ranked mission. We've been made poor to the point of collapse and this mission was all that we together could scrounge up. As it is, we builders are constructing the bridge purely voluntarily."

"What's the deal with this bridge anyway?" Asuma continued the interrogation.

"The bridge is the one hope we have remaining to get our lives back to the point it was, and perhaps beyond, before... him!" Tazuna explained, speaking the last word with such venom it actually startled Hinata slightly.

"Who?" Chouji asked.

"Gato of the Gato Corporation." Tazuna stated. "He's a shipping magnate that has made several dealings in the dark with mercenaries and small-time pirates to setup a blockade of the waters surrounding Nami. That way, we have no choice but to meet his demands in order to get our much needed trade going. But the thing is, he's bleeding us dry, we aren't getting enough income to compensate for the expenses Gato has put on us. If we try to fish, the pirates he has under his employ harass us and Gato does nothing about it. We are slowly dying, and the bridge is our solution. We started out in secret on a seldom traveled point of the island and worked our way towards the mainland. If we finish it, his hold over us will break and we will be free to prosper again."

"What's there to stop him from stopping you finishing the bridge, or sabotaging it or blocking it once it is finished?" Shikamaru asked.

"He only recently discovered it, it was too big not to get noticed really. That's where you come in, now that he's aware of it. He hasn't the means to get enough explosives here in time before its completion. Or so we estimate. It's a big, sturdy bridge, as you will see." He said with a clear hint he hoped they would go on with the mission. "But he will try to stop us through more conventional means, primarily by stopping their leader, me. If not, then he will take harsher measures.

I have also made a deal, a completely honest one, with the Daimyo of your country, of which the bridge will eventually connect to, which states that, once finished, it will be under his protection, since it will be considered our gift to him. It was the best we could do to ensure his agreement. He was gracious enough to agree to assign Samurai guards for our traders entering and leaving Nami. We don't have that many traders, since we are mainly fishermen and craftsmen, so it wasn't a big strain on his forces. Any traders from the outside wont be touched or bothered by Gato or he would suffer the wrath of the Daimyo."

"H-how did Gato stop the outside t-traders from coming in until now?" Hinata asked, her sympathy showing.

"Through ferrying fees. Fees so expensive all traders eventually stopped coming altogether. We hope once this all has been resolved, they will come back again, and soon.

"What about the pirates?" Asuma asked.

"That's a separate problem, once they realize they haven't any reason to stay employed by Gato any longer, 'cause he will simply not pay them any longer, we fear they might start trouble on our waters. Unfortunately, the Daimyo's concerns does not stretch that far."

"What can you tell us what to expect from Gato?" Asuma inquired.

"Well, besides those shinobi we ran into, expect a lot of mercs and pirates if you're near waters. He might have more shinobi but I wouldn't know, this was the first I saw of any shinobi under his employ."

Shikamaru turned to his squad leader. "We might need some help with this one, sensei."

"You're right, Shikamaru. But I don't know who the Hokage could send our way. Still, better ask then not. Do you guys want to go back and wait for the back-up or carry on and hope our back-up comes in time, if needed?"

"Teh!" Shikamaru sighed in frustration, but was thinking about it. Chouji decided to follow the rest, but if he was a tie breaker, he would be unsure what to do.

Hinata was very torn. On one hand, she was almost certain this was over their heads and the wisest course of action, for their safety, was to turn back. But her heart went out for the people of Nami. And she also knew without a shadow of a doubt what Naruto would do if he was here. He would bravely soldier on with a bright grin and boldly declare how Nami would soon be free again once he was through with 'that Gato bastard.' She almost giggled at the thought and was mildly mortified that she thought that on her own, even if it was something Naruto would indeed do.

"S-shikamaru-kun, Chouji-kun. I b-believe we should... continue." She said with a pleading expression.

"What?!" Shikamaru exclaimed, astonished. "I never thought you would volunteer for something so hugely troublesome as this?"

"I-I know. B-but we're n-ninja, we d-don't seek safety. We do w-what we m-must." She said. It would have almost sounded sagely if not for the stutter.

"But Hinata, we aren't ready for this. I also sympathize with them, but it's just too risky." Chouji added his thoughts.

"W-we can't just abandon them. Th-they need our h-help!" She stated with an air of finality.

Shikamaru wasn't blind, he knew just where she got this from. 'Troublesome blond, even when you're somewhere else you cause things to become a drag.'

He then crouched down and held his fingertips together, one set on their counterparts' tips in what almost looked like some form of hand-sign for a jutsu. He closed his eyes and then considered all their options and odds in more detail. Tazuna was confounded by this act, while the other three merely stood by and awaited his evaluation.

Asuma would be the first to say that Shikamaru's brain is on par with the best of strategists, sans his father Shikaku. Therefore he always took seriously anything Shikamaru came up with in their simulations back in Konoha. This would be no exception.

After a minute, Shikamaru opened his eyes. "Before I say what I concluded, I think Chouji should have his say as well."

"Well, I'll follow you guys whatever we choose to do." Chouji said automatically.

Asuma looked on the rotund boy with a small frown. "Chouji." He said with a firm voice. "Your opinion has weight, just as much as any other team-member. If you don't want to go, say so and we'll go with that if Shikamaru has deemed it not worth it. If you agree with Hinata more, then we'll go with that instead."

"But I don't like being the tie-breaker, especially in something as important as this." Chouji pouted and hung his head a bit.

"Chouji." Shikamaru said to his friend. "You have to realize that as a shinobi that you have to bear responsibility. I may act lazily but I wont act irresponsibly or chicken out when I am needed. Part of being on a team is to make your own choices, decisions and opinions and contribute those to the team. Avoiding it wont help neither you nor us in the long run."

"Th-they're right, Chouji-kun." Hinata said with a kind smile. "Please, let us k-know what's on your m-mind."

Chouji gave a small smile. He was happy to know that they valued his input, but he wasn't too fond of possibly being partly responsible for getting them into serious trouble, or even worse, killed. That thought made his stomach churn slightly, unsettled. Still, they were right and he should make his voice heard just as much as the rest of them and not be a follower, a background figure in everything. How could he expect to eventually get promoted to Chunin if he can't make serious choices?

Thinking on the situation, his heart, as he said, really went out to the people of Nami. There was the option to turn back and come back with a stronger force and more odds in their favor, but there was no telling if that move would be the end of Nami for the extra time it would require. Time that Nami possibly didn't have.

Still, back-up could come while they were there anyway. There's really nothing to say that they would meet overwhelming opposition straight away. As long as they keep the builder safe and don't seek out trouble, things could work out.

Making up his mind, Chouji said finally: "Let's do it!"

Hinata smiled happily at his agreement, thankful for the support. Asuma smirked proudly and nodded approvingly at him. Shikamaru sighed, but had a smile on his face nevertheless.

"Alright then, here's what I've come up with. If we keep a low profile when we arrive and stick to guarding Tazuna with Asuma and one of us, that should do for any harassment team Gato might send his way. At Tazuna's home the remaining two of us ought to do the trick against any men Gato sends there to make things more of a troublesome situation than it already is. Should either team be overwhelmingly outnumbered or outmatched, they can call on the other team to sprint to their location, acting as reinforcements. How far is it from the bridge to you place, Tazuna?"

"10 minutes walk roughly to get to the finished end, from there to the end being worked on, about another 10-15 minutes."

"That gives us about 10 minutes to arrive to either position as backup with full shinobi speed. It's worse than I feared, but it's still doable. It's within radio range at any rate, if barely. As for the remaining trip to Nami, we have to remain on constant alert. No telling what may come our way."

"Well then, that settles it." Asuma said before turning to Tazuna. "You are in luck that you got such compassionate Genin for guards, eh Tazuna-san?"

"Y-yeah, I guess I am." Tazuna said, humbled by the Genin's actions and attitudes.

"I will send a messenger bird back to the Leaf to alert the Hokage to our situation. Then we'll be on our way." And as he said it, he released a spare messenger bird form one of his storage scrolls in his chest pocket. He wrote his father a message, detailing the situation and his request for assistance. Then he sent the bird on its way.

"Alright, let's go and see this mission through." Asuma declared.

"Hai!" The Genin chorused and assumed the standard escort formation around Tazuna.

As Tazuna strode along the road towards his home, he realized that he was fortunate to have gone to the Leaf for assistance, and even more fortunate that the Genin would be so kindhearted. He might have looked down upon them as being insufficient for his needs. But he was sobered and humbled by how dedicated they were to him and his people, even though they aren't their own. Not to mention they were well within their right to decline to continue.

It also brought forth something he had not felt for a too long a time. Something he was too pessimistic to think of when he learned just what he would get as an escort. An almost tangible sense of hope for his home. Maybe these ninja will be the one thing that will turn this all around. Perhaps there was truth in the words of his fellow client Raido, that there were something extraordinary beneath the surface of most ninjas.

He most certainly hoped that was the case now with these ones. His life and that of his fellow villagers hanged in the balance.

End of Naruto: The Ghost Stalker

Ghost Stalker Will Return in:

Ghost Stalker Chronicles (GSC): The Paths of a Ninja

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