The morning mist rolled gently across Konoha's eastern gate as two groups gathered—half groggy, half tense, and one very loudly annoyed. (Naruto)
Team 8 arrived first. Not that Team 7 was late, but as a whole, Team 8 were the first to arrive, once again because of one sleepy, knuckle-headed ninja.
Even to this day, after years of morning training, Naruto wasn't used to waking up early. He usually joined Sukuna and the others late for training sessions, though he more than made up for it with his almost inhumane stamina and the constant load he put onto himself during training.
"Can't you ever arrive on time, dope?" Sasuke chided, annoyed out of his wits. The mission was halted just because of this idiot teammate of his.
By now, he was more than used to Naruto's antics. However, this mission had personal stakes for him. The seething rage inside him toward whoever harmed Kiyomi and killed Izumi was making him lose his composure.
"What did you say, teme?" Naruto, already grumpy from Sukuna knocking on his door at 4 in the morning, didn't plan to stay silent.
But Sakura was there to play intermediary in time. That is her version of an intermediary, meaning Sasuke is always correct...
"Sakura-chan..." Little Naruto's heart felt like giving up; beating 24/7 was asking too much from him.
Hinata stood politely with her pack. The little girl longed to go and comfort the lovable blond menace, however, was too shy to do anything.
Shino looked as unreadable as ever behind his collar, and Kiba was pacing like an impatient hound. Much like Sasuke and Naruto, he was both grumpy about being forced to wake up this early and then finding out they were late because Naruto couldn't wake up on time.
Akamaru yawned on his head. He was the least affected by the mission. Kiba's head acted as a personal bed for him anyway.
Both Sukuna and Karin were to join Team 7 and Team 8 respectively as genin on this mission. Something the redhead didn't like a bit. Much like her self-proclaimed future sister-in-law, the girl didn't wish to be separated from the boy she liked.
'Tch... can't I just go with them.' Her eyes roamed toward where Team 7 stood with longing, particularly on one pink-haired boy.
Mostly unaware of the girl's plight, Sukuna was absorbed in his own little bubble of thoughts.
Something related to the mission itself.
Though with no proof, Sukuna didn't believe that anyone outside Itachi was proficient enough in Genjutsu to put a Sharingan user like Kiyomi in a coma with an illusion. At least in this state of the story, where Obito no longer existed, Itachi should be the only one.
This then immediately contradicts the fact that someone like Itachi would kill Izumi for no reason.
Yes, the man was a mass murderer, but not without reason. Danzō no longer existed, and there was no one forcing Itachi to kill his fellow Uchiha—his one-sided lover at that—so then why would he do it... let alone take her eyes, Mangekyō, for himself?
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense.
Or perhaps, there was someone or something that forced his hand... Sukuna, for once, couldn't imagine any situation where that might be the case.
'Sigh... my brain hurts just thinking about it.' He sighed.
Outside the mission itself, he couldn't understand Hiruzen's actions. Why put two entire teams behind this mission? Not only trying to find out who killed Izumi, but even going as far as sending someone to bring back Tsunade this early in the story just to recover Kiyomi.
There was certainly something he was missing here...
When the two groups finally faced each other, the mood twisted into a strange mix of dread and familiarity.
"So," Kiba said, grinning, "looks like we're all heading out."
"Not together," Karin snapped, shooting a look at Sukuna. Her irritation was loud, but the subtle worry in her voice wasn't lost on anyone.
Sukuna blinked. "Listen, stay focused while you're outside. I don't expect your mission to be particularly dangerous; however, stay cautious," Sukuna said, with a hint of worry in his tone.
Ever since the story had changed to the point where he didn't know what would come afterward, he was a bit worried. Not about himself, but about the people he cared about.
Karin marched up to him and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Don't tell me that. It's not me who runs off to fight a Bijū the first minute they see one." There was much heat in her tone.
But Sukuna realised what the half-tsundere really meant was to stay cautious...
Naruto snorted. "Karin, you're like a clingy—Ow, hey!" Sakura chopped him on the head before his mouth could cause an international incident.
"Can't you ever shut your mouth, you idiot." Sakura, being a good wingwoman, shut Naruto's mouth before he killed the mood.
Karin just happened to send her an appreciative nod, which her sister-in-arms responded to in kind.
Karin huffed and stepped back, adjusting her glasses. "Just don't die, idiot."
Sukuna just smiled at the girl's warmth. Perhaps his decision to wait until they were a bit older was too hasty, he thought with amusement.
Kurenai let out a sigh that held the weight of someone who already anticipated future migraines. "Our mission is difficult enough without relationship drama. Finding Lady Tsunade is not going to be easy. So, I suggest don't expect to see your boyfriend for a while..."
She said it, though there was a hint of tease in her voice as well.
"What... we... we are not like—"
"Oh, shush it... you ain't fooling anyone here." Came a snickering remark from somewhere, making Karin's head form a tick mark. Her red irises suspiciously turned toward the only other pink-haired teen in the place, who was actively avoiding her eyes.
"Well, technically, we are not separating until the next town nearby, so it isn't goodbye just yet," Kakashi decided to add that little bit of intel, albeit the kids would really die of embarrassment after knowing it later.
"What!" Karin snapped, pink dusting her cheeks.
Kakashi didn't bother responding to the redhead's glare, which demanded why he hadn't told this earlier. He didn't have time to handle the girls' love-life problems; his own team had enough problems for him to go around giving life advice to others.
He turned to Sasuke, who was still bothered by the news, and sighed.
"This mission…" he murmured, "shouldn't have been given to a genin team."
Naruto glanced up. "Kakashi-sensei? You okay?"
Kakashi offered him a thumbs-up far too stiff to be comforting. "Absolutely. Perfectly fine."
Kakashi exhaled. "Everyone stay sharp. This isn't a normal mission. We treat it like an S-rank until proven otherwise."
Naruto grinned. "Good! Then we'll crush it!"
Kurenai stepped forward. "Team 8, move out."
Kakashi nodded. "Team 7… let's go."
xXx
A/N : A little smaller chapter since the next part of the story would take a chapter of its own. Too big. Sigh.. this is the trouble only writers understand....
Anyways. Do tell how you like the chapter and please consider giving stones.
I need stones...
Also tell where I can improve the story.
Please Consider Donating Power Stones if you like the Chapter.
Every 250 Stones for an Additional Bonus Chapter.
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
If you want to read up to 20+ Chapters in advance, check my Patreon on
Patreon.com/Kamidemond