Opening the door of that place, Yamato sighed, it had already been three days since the first mission. Something to keep in mind was the performance of his students.
Hinata showed that she could keep calm in difficult moments, besides her strength was considerably good. With Toru it was something similar, he proved to be extremely intelligent and reasonable, also his agility and reaction time were worthy of an experienced genin. But the problem was with Ino, she was too selfish and questioned every word Toru said, her strength was not very good, plus her agility was average, the only good thing about her was the ninjutsu she used, which was inefficient if she used it without thinking.
(I should pay more attention to Ino, if this continues like this, she will end up failing as a ninja).
Yamato closed his eyes for a moment before looking at the man in front of him.
"Team 11, your performance has been very good in these last four missions, that's why we decided to raise the rank of your missions a bit" The man said as he looked at the four people in front of him. At first glance you could see that the man was an old man, he had a small wart on his nose, in addition to his graying hair and the white colored clothes he was wearing. This man is Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage.
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama, I assure you that we won't let you down" Bowing, Yamato thanked, he was a bit confused by the Hokage's sudden words, besides, he wasn't sure if his students can carry out a C-rank mission.
"Okay, now, the next mission that team 11 will carry out, is an escort mission. You will have to accompany and protect the Hyuga Clan leader and his daughter, you four will be keeping an eye on them all the way to Kawa no Kuni [River Country] Make sure to complete this mission with caution, Mr. Hyuga is waiting for you at the 3entrance of our village" Closing his eyes, the Hokage spoke.
Hearing the mission they had been tasked with, Hinata looked down at the ground.
(My father...) With a nervous expression on her face, Hinata looked up. Not only does she have to escort her father, but also her own younger sister.
"Then we'll be leaving today then" Yamato said as he bowed, seconds later he walked out of the office together with his students.
"Hey, Hinata, is the leader of the Hyuga clan your father?" Ino asked, she didn't know her classmates very well, the only thing she knew about Hinata was that she belongs to the Hyuga clan.
"Um... yeah..." Hinata replied as she avoided making eye contact with Ino.
Ino noticed this, although she could often be very annoying and selfish, on this occasion she let Hinata think about the mission.
Meanwhile, Toru could only think about what will happen during the mission, he already knew the leader of the Hyuga clan and his two daughters, so he could already see what would have to happen later.
(We'll have to escort Hanabi along with her father, huh...) Remembering that little girl, Toru sighed, it had been many years since he last saw her, not that he had spent much time with her.
"Sensei, so we can now complete C-rank missions whenever we want?" breaking the silence that had formed in the place, Ino spoke up.
"Um... I don't think so, we will still continue to complete D rank missions, even so, I think this mission is just a test to measure your skills, that's why I hope you will try your best to complete this and you can increase your experience as ninja" Yamato said, this time he had a neutral expression on his face, although he knew that the leader of the Hyuga clan was an excellent ninja, he couldn't help but think why he brought his youngest daughter with him.
-Outside of Konohagakure-
With a serious expression on his face, Hiashi looked at the horizon. At this moment he was waiting for people to escort him to Kawa no Kuni [River Country] And by his side, there was a girl, her name was Hanabi. Her hair was black as the night sky and her eyes were the same as her father's, they were the eyes that carry the Byakugan.
(I wonder when they're coming?) Hanabi wondered, she still didn't understand why her father wanted to take her along, but she was a little excited, as this would be her first time leaving Konoha.
"They're taking too long..." Hiashi complained, he had been waiting for thirty minutes, this was something that annoyed him a bit, but he still remained patient.
A few seconds passed, and in the distance four people could be seen, one adult and three children. Hiashi's eyes widened at the people coming, as he knew two of them.
"Sorry for the delay, Hokage-sama gave us the last minute mission" Yamato bowed in apology, to which Hiashi sighed and replied.
"No problem."
After Yamato apologized, behind him appeared the three children, Toru, Hinata and Ino.
"Nii-san!" Hugging Toru suddenly, Hanabi spoke, a smile formed on her mouth as she looked at the gray-eyed boy.
"Hanabi..." Toru replied as he stroked Hanabi's hair. More than four years had passed, but she was still as energetic as ever.
After seeing Toru and Hanabi so close, Ino couldn't help but think.
(So they already know each other, huh. Although it's not like I care too much either, I'll just concentrate on completing this mission, so I can show off to Sasuke, then he'll fall in love with me and we'll live happily ever after) Ino thought while laughing in her mind.
*cough fake*
Seeing that his daughter had hugged Toru without a second thought, Hiashi stepped in while faking a fake cough.
"Then we should leave" Hiashi spoke while looking at Hinata, who had been staring at the ground avoiding looking her father in the eyes.
(I don't know if I can handle this mission) With a nervous expression on her face, Hinata sighed, she had been worried ever since she heard the mission she would have to accomplish, and it was getting worse since her sister was there.
Hinata always thought she was the weakest of all the people in her clan, she was always outclassed by Hanabi, even her father reminded her of that every three minutes while training.
"Onee-san...?" Hanabi said, causing Hinata to jump a little from the shock she received.
"Hanabi...?" Hinata looked up and met her sister, at that moment she didn't quite know what to say, she just kept quiet as she looked at Hanabi.
"Try your best" With a low tone of voice, Hanabi spoke, there was a slight smile on her face.
(Thank you...) Although she tried to say it directly, she couldn't. But that didn't matter, since Hanabi knew her sister, that made the words not so important.
After that, Hanabi returned to Toru's side. She was smiling as she looked at the grey-eyed boy.
"Tell me, are you still drawing weird things in your notebook?" Hanabi asked, this made Toru close his eyes for a moment before answering.
"I don't do it that often anymore..." Opening his eyes, Toru replied, for a moment Hanabi thought Toru was lying, after all he was very good at it.
"Ha~ it's always so hard to talk to you, I feel like I'm talking to a rock" Hanabi shook her head, a few years had passed, but Toru was still the same.
"Actually, a rock would talk more than you" Placing herself in front of Toru, Hanabi smiled, making the grey eyed boy stop.
Toru closed his eyes for a moment, he had forgotten the times Hanabi did the same. Possibly it was already a habit that stuck with Hanabi.
"Rocks don't move, I do" Toru said, seconds later walking on.
Hanabi watched this with a smile, to her it was fun to interact with Toru, after all the grey eyed boy was very different from anyone she had ever met.
"Yeah, but rocks are more fun" Hanabi said, causing Toru to look back at her, he was silent for a few seconds before returning his gaze to the front.
Meanwhile, Ino was getting bored.
(Ha~ I already want this all to be over, I don't know how many days it will take us to reach Kawa no Kuni [River Country]).
Ino dropped her arms on her shoulders, not much had happened, but she was already wishing for the mission to end.
(If Hinata's father is the leader of the Hyuga clan he must be very strong, why isn't he going alone? It's kind of weird, though maybe I'm thinking about it too much) Ino stretched her arms a little as she walked.
(When I finish this mission, I'll earn a lot of money. I'll use that money so I can impress Sasuke, I just hope I can find him when I go back to Konoha) Ino nodded her head while smiling strangely, in her mind she believed she could impress Sasuke with something as shallow as money, in the end she will end up being ignored.
A few minutes passed, team 11 was still escorting Hiashi, after all the river country is a bit far from Konohagakure.
(My father hasn't looked at me since the mission started...).
Hinata looked at the ground with a sad look on her face. Hiashi was always a strict man with her, this was something that made Hinata become extremely shy, for a long time she was someone who had difficulty talking to other people, but that changed when she met Toru.
(I wonder if I can become as strong as him?)
Hinata looked at Toru, he was walking next to Hanabi, apparently the girl next to him was trying to get Toru to talk, pitifully Toru kept silent.
(Hanabi...) Hinata looked at the ground again, at that moment she was remembering some things from the past.
Hanabi was always better than Hinata in many aspects, strength, intelligence and many other things. This was another factor that forged Hinata's shy personality.
"Hey, hey, hey. Listen to me, do you want me to hit you?" Hanabi said, she was trying to get Toru to talk, but he just sighed wearily and continued walking.
(I should stop thinking so much about that... I should concentrate on the mission, if I manage to escort my father and Hanabi back to Konoha, father will be able to see that I have changed) Hinata shook her head, even though she was nervous about having to escort her own father, she felt that, if she managed to finish the mission successfully, Hiashi would accept the new Hinata.
"Nii-san, when will you visit our house again?" Hanabi asked.
This sudden question made Toru stop and think, it's been a long time since he went to the Hyuga house, besides, he never entered the house as such, the only time he was inside was when Hinata lent some brushes to Toru, and that was only because he stood waiting at the front door.
"I'm not sure..." Toru replied, his expression still the same poker face as always, this made Hanabi pout.
"So, how about this? When this trip is over, you will go to my house, and then I will prepare any dish you want" Hanabi said while looking at Toru with a smile.
To Toru, the proposal didn't sound bad at all, it would be free food, plus he would be revisiting that house, he's not going to stay for a whole day either, so, looking straight ahead, Toru replied.
"I'll think about it..."
At Toru's answer, Hanabi smiled, she knew he would go, after all, if you offer food to a boy it's pretty sure he will accept.
(I can't wait anymore...) Hanabi thought, but she never imagined what would happen next...
-In some strange place...
The shadows of various ninjas could be seen, they were moving between the branches of the trees.
"The target is near, wait for the signal."
The weapons of those ninjas shone from the reflection of the sun, and then....
*metallic sound*
The sound of weapons clashing was present.