Since becoming Chunin, Naraku and Kakashi had both become quite busy. Besides participating in B-rank missions, they also acted as temporary captains leading Genin on C-rank missions, spending most of their time apart.
Perhaps it was precisely because their time together had become shorter that every moment they could share during a holiday felt so precious, making them cherish it even more.
A year passed in a flash, and it was once again the height of summer.
It had been almost a month since Kakashi and Naraku last had a holiday together. Now that their vacation times finally overlapped again, they naturally headed to the training ground to see how much progress the other had made.
Swish—
Kakashi sliced through a fireball, took a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart, and complained, "That's too much Fire Release!"
"Then quickly learn some Water Release, Kakashi. I remember you have Water-style Chakra, right?"
Naraku smiled, clasped his hands together, and rapidly formed hand signs.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!
Kakashi quickly plunged his sword into the ground beside his foot, his hands a blur.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
A thick, wide earth wall rose in front of Kakashi. The raging flames crashed into it, diverting along the wall's surface and spreading out like a lotus made of fire.
Kakashi didn't linger, immediately pulling out his sword and flashing away to the other side of the wall. He knew Naraku definitely had another move waiting.
A whistling sound cutting through the air came from behind him. Without looking, he blocked with his sword to his side, feeling a huge force collide with it.
He turned his head slightly to look, and behind the incoming blade, sure enough, was Naraku's smiling face.
He frowned.
How could this guy look so smug? I clearly blocked it...
The next second, Naraku watched as Kakashi's eyes lost focus, and he fell straight down.
After a while, seeing no sign of Kakashi waking up, Naraku squatted down, rubbed his forehead with his right hand, and raised his left hand in a hand seal. "Release!"
The person who had been lying on the ground immediately jumped up, looking around nervously as if something had been chasing him. After recovering, he gave Naraku a speechless look.
"Another genjutsu?"
"Yes, and," Naraku wagged his finger proudly, "it's the completed version from the Chunin Exams back then."
"This time I didn't even realize I'd fallen for it... Very impressive."
Kakashi praised him honestly; he never hid his feelings when facing Naraku.
They had fought enough, and neither had any intention of continuing, so they began to pack up, preparing to go home for dinner.
While retrieving the kunai and shuriken scattered across the training ground, Naraku casually asked, "Kakashi, do you have any mission arrangements after this holiday?"
"Not for now." Kakashi wrapped his sword back around his back and tightened the straps. "I'll see then."
Naraku returned after picking up the weapons. "Then let's find one we can do together."
"Alright, it's been a long time since we went on a mission together." Kakashi readily agreed, then asked, "What's for dinner?"
"Why do I have to think of it again?... How about pork cutlet bowl, and then we'll buy two skewers of dango after eating?"
"Sounds good."
...
Holiday time always passed by especially quickly. Naraku felt like he had just started his holiday yesterday, and yet it was already the second day and time for a mission.
In fact, four days of the holiday had already passed.
This time, before they even entered the Hokage Building, they ran into Minato Namikaze coming down from upstairs.
"Minato-senpai."
"What a coincidence. I was just coming to find you two, Kakashi, Naraku."
Seeing their puzzled expressions, he waved the document in his hand and smiled. "There's a rather difficult B-rank mission here, and since you're both available, I requested Hokage-sama to let you be my teammates. However, if you have other plans, that's fine too; we can just do it another time."
Naraku and Kakashi exchanged glances, then looked at Minato and said in unison, "We'll take it."
Minato said happily, "That's great, but we still need a few more people, and they have to be Chunin. Do you have anyone to recommend?"
Both spoke at the same time again: "Might Duy-senpai."
"Might Duy, huh..." Minato remembered this Ninja rumored to be extremely skilled in Taijutsu. By age, Duy was actually the senior. So he nodded in agreement. "He's indeed a very strong teammate. I'll find the remaining open spots."
He paused, then added, "First, let me tell you about the mission content. It's like this..."
As Minato explained, Naraku and Kakashi gained some understanding of the mission.
In simple terms, it was an escort mission.
The client was Matsukata Seikō, the head of the Matsukata Family, a famous noble in the Land of Fire.
As a top noble, Matsukata governed vast and fertile territories, possessed immense wealth, and maintained many samurai and Ninja under his command.
At the same time, the entire Matsukata Family was also an important source of missions for Konoha Ninja. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, had specifically instructed that this mission must be completed perfectly so as not to betray their years of trust.
According to Matsukata Seikō, a family under his command known for producing samurai had developed rebellious intentions and conspired with other forces to betray him, so he decided to strike first.
Although the Matsukata Family had its own armed forces, they were still very cautious and issued a mission to Konoha, mobilizing two Jonin and six Chunin to protect the family head, Matsukata Seikō, and his children, just in case.
"Alright, go home and prepare. Gather at the village entrance tomorrow morning at eight."
"Understood."
Early the next morning.
Naraku and Kakashi arrived at the village entrance, where Minato and Might Duy were already present, chatting about something.
The four greeted each other, waited for the remaining teammates to arrive, and after a headcount, everyone departed together.