Here you go, a new chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.
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A few months later, in the Hokage's office;
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in," Hiruzen said as he looked up from his paperwork.
"You called for me, sensei," Naruto inquired as he entered the office and closed the door. He got called by Hiruzen to come to his office in regular Shinobi attire, which is why he isn't in his Anbu gear.
The few months after the war with Kumo ended had nothing out of the ordinary. He had a few Anbu missions, and his twelfth birthday came and passed. Also, Little Mito is now four years old.
During that time, while also completing missions, Naruto continued his training and worked on developing new jutsu and training on existing ones. One of which he had as a backup plan during the war, even though it wasn't completely ready for combat, now it is ready, and he is still improving it, as he still has a long way to master this jutsu fully.
"Yes, Naruto-kun. I have an important mission for you." Hiruzen said as he looked at Naruto, who stood right in front of his desk.
"I need you to go to Suna to inquire about their situation and their recent escalating attitude towards us," Hiruzen said as he took out his smoking pipe and lit it.
"Suna? What happened?" Naruto asked
"When we sent the members of the Uchiha clan to monitor the border of the land of wind during our recent escalation with Kumo, Fugaku reported that the presence of Suna Shinobi increased to a large degree that we estimated the Suna had stationed one third of their total forces. At first, I let it slide since the situation was critical with Kumo, and Suna may have feared that another shinobi war might break out. But at the same time, the number of shinobi that were stationed didn't spell good intentions, especially since we are supposed to be allies." Hiruzen began as he passed documents and reports to Naruto, who read them.
"That isn't all, Suna Shinobi has become increasingly hostile towards our shinobi ever since our peace agreement with Kumo. While not escalating to fights, they are making everything difficult for our shinobi anytime they encounter each other. While our relationship with them was a bit heated before that fiasco with Kumo, it didn't reach this degree." Hiruzen said as he smoked his pipe.
"So what do you want me to do?" Naruto asked since Hiruzen said that he was giving him a mission, meaning that he had already made up his mind.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair as he reached for a sealed message scroll and tossed it to Naruto, who caught it.
"I want you to deliver this scroll to Rasa, find out what is going on in Suna, and come back with a reply," Hiruzen said
"Alright." Naruto agreed before asking, "Am I going alone?"
"Yes, sending you is enough, and I can't send Reiko with you for obvious reasons," Hiruzen replied.
(Reiko is Pakura to those who forgot; she is also the Anbu code-named Phoenix)
"Ok, sensei, I will go get ready and leave as soon as possible," Naruto said as he turned around to leave. By all means, this is an A-rank solo mission; he has to get ready.
"And Naruto," Hiruzen called, stopping Naruto, who turned to look at him.
What is it, sensei?" Naruto asked
"Don't reveal yourself on their border. Make their first sighting of you at their village's gate. Sending you is already a strong enough message. I have had enough of one Shinobi village giving me a headache just for a second to try to start something else. Whatever is causing this issue needs to be addressed and resolved. I am not up for another international drama." Hiruzen said with a fed-up tone, to which Naruto nodded slowly before exiting the office.
As Naruto left the office, Hiruzen took a deep breath from his pipe before setting it aside.
"I am too old for this," Hiruzen said to himself as he let out the smoke in his lungs before returning to his paperwork.
Half a day later, Suna's main gate;
"It really had become harder on us since Konoha and Kumo had established their peace treaty." One of the two Suna chunin gate guards said.
"But is it worth stressing our relations with Konoha?" the other guard said
"I don't know about that, but they are directly or indirectly the main source of our problem. Most of the missions that came from the capital went to Konoha before they fought Kumo. And since they came back victorious, the capital sent almost all the missions to Konoha as if the Wind Country didn't have a hidden village. No wonder our Shinobi and Kazekage-sama feel bitter towards Konoha." The first guard said
"Are you saying we might break our treaty with them?" the second guard asked with surprise
"I didn't say that, but I won't be surprised if it leads to that. No one will hold a treaty if it starves and economically restricts your own people." The first guard replied.
After that was said, a moment of silence fell on the two guards as the second one processed what he had just heard. The two were talking for some time about the situation that Suna was in. For one, it is a really serious situation that Suna is going through. Secondly, they needed something to talk about to spend the time, as their shifts are usually long and utterly boring while being seated in their guard booth near the main gate.
"Hello there"
The two guards were startled by the new and unfamiliar voice as they looked up from their seats at who just said that, only for them to feel as if their hearts jumped into their throats as they stood up abruptly, eyeing the one who spoke with extreme wariness and caution.
"Sweet Kami." The second guard breathed out as he tried to calm his nerves
"You. Who are you and where did you come from?" the first guard shouted while internally feeling mortified.
The person in front of him came out of nowhere. He and his partner didn't see, hear, or feel this person approaching, and that is what scared him greatly. If this person can do this and only announces his presence when he talks, what if he wanted to kill them?
The commotion at the gate got the attention of some people nearby, especially Suna Anbu operatives who appeared and stood between the intruder and the entrance of the village.
"I don't think I hid where I am from." The person said with a blank face that hid his amusement as he pointed at his headband that displayed Konoha's insignia.
The chunin guards, along with the Suna Anbu, eyed the person's attire, which included a Konoha jonin flak jacket and the Katana hilt visible from behind his back,
"As for me, I am Naruto Uzumaki. I carry a message from Hokage-sama to the Kazekage." Naruto said with the same look on his face as he gave a side glance towards the Suna Anbu.
The two chunin guards looked at each other for a moment before looking at the Suna Anbu.
"Wait here." The leader of the Anbu team said before disappearing, leaving behind an atmosphere of silent tension.
To be continued.
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