In Hokage's office, I and Tsunade were standing in front of Hokage and waiting for his call.
"Hirata and Tsunade, you have both been assigned an A-rank special escort mission by the client. Your mission details were here in this scroll." He handed over the mission scroll.
'A special request from a client for an escort mission.' While I was thinking, I opened the scroll. Looking at the mission we both were surprised to see the client, which is Mito Uzumaki-sama. Grandma Mito is traveling to Uzumaki village and will be accompanying Tsunade and me as part of the escort mission by issuing a mission at the mission center.
The escort mission begins tomorrow from Mito-sama's house. So, we excused ourselves and walked to the clan. Along the way, I am observing Tsunade, who has been avoiding me for the past few days. Today I decided to confront her.
"Tsunade, why are you avoiding me?"
She continued walking silently. So, I called her again.
This time, she replied, "nothing."
"I know you have been avoiding me recently and now can't you even tell me why?"
Tsunade stopped walking and turned towards me, throwing a punch at me. My clothes were scratched and I barely avoided it. A series of punches were thrown at me and I avoided the punches until a solid punch landed on my stomach, and sent me flying. Slowly, I stood on my feet, looking at Tsunade who was crying and angry.
Looking at Tsunade my heart softened. "Did I do anything wrong, Tsuna?"
"You idiot, you are the one who is avoiding me. You are either training on Mount Myoboku or doing missions. Why are you not spending time with me like before? Is it because I am weak and not suitable to fight you anymore?"
Tears were overflowing from her eyes. Looking at Tsunade's fragile state, 'I never expected this side of Tsunade'. I ran to her and gave her a big hug.
"I am sorry, Tsuna. I didn't avoid you on purpose. It is just you are strong, to begin with, and if I didn't work hard enough, I wouldn't be able to catch up to you and couldn't protect you."
I wiped her tears, "Since I made the princess cry I will tell you a secret. In the dream I had, you are very strong Tsuna, so strong that no one will dare to challenge you. So dear princess please calm yourself"
I continued to hug her as I stroked her back. That's when I heard a light coughing; I and Tsunade were separated and turned around to look. My mother covered her mouth with her fingers, but her lips curved at the ends, and her eyes were playful; I can infer she listened to everything.
"Mom what are you doing here?"
"Huhuhu... I heard you are heading out on a mission with Mito-sama and won't be available for next month. So, I want to spend some family time with you. But never expected to see this?"
Tsunade turned away and her ears were red. I tried to appease the situation, "mom this isn't what you think?"
Mother smiled and moved next to Tsunade, "what am I thinking?" without waiting for my reply she looked at Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama, please look after this boy. I will leave him to you."
'Why are you handing over your son to her when I am only 9 years old?'
While I was pondering, Tsunade said confidently to my mother, "it's ok mother, I will take care of him, you don't have to worry."
I am awed and fluffed, "what are you even talking about?"
They looked at me and looked at each other and laughed. Then mother said, "During your mission, I am telling her to take care of your son."
I felt suspicious and my eyes were narrowed and sharpened, "are you sure?"
My mother's eyes winked, "isn't that right, Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade also winked at my mother and nodded at me, "it's true Hirata, aunty told me to take care of you during the mission."
When I see them winking at each other, I can only sigh and keep calm since this is the most effective way to break down the topic.
The next day, I am at grandma Mito's house and finally, our A-rank escort mission has begun. Two other jonin from clan Kiyoshi Senju and Fumika Senju were the main escort team of grandma Mito. We were tagged along with them as a part of training according to grandma Mito.
It is a four-day journey from Konohagakure to Uzushigakure. Three days in a horse carriage to the nearest land of fire port and half a day travel by ship from there to the land of whirlpools port. Another half a day walk from port city to Uzushigakure. I heard they were the Uzumaki clan preparing a carriage to escort grandma Mito to the village from port.
After three days of traveling, we boarded a ship and sailed to the land of whirlpools without incident. At the land of fire port, we boarded a ship to the land of whirlpool. It was after a two-hour safe journey that we encountered our first struggle.
It was sailing safely along when it hit something substantial that shouldn't have been possible on the course. The impact is not large enough to cause people to fall into the sea. However, the impact caused everyone to fall on their butts except grandma Mito and Jonin.
As everyone rushed to the spot where the ship struck, neither small nor large burrows allowed seawater to enter the ship, causing the ship to sink. Upon careful observation, red seawater is blood mixed with seawater. As a trail of blood began to ooze from near the seawater and mix with the surrounding seawater, a shadow around 20 meters long appeared. Soon the shadow surfaced and it appeared to be a Megalodon. Megalodon is injured, and we have seen its blood so far.
Kiyoshi-san looked at the 20-meter-long Megalodon and said, "This is a teen Megalodon that comes away like this because it's hurt during the fighting. These creatures do not normally live within this geographical range. Despite its state, it's something you can handle easily since you were a prodigy of Senju. So, hurry up and take care of that thing while we take care of this sinking ship."
Kiyoshi-san had disappeared next to us after he had given us instructions, leaving a raging Megalodon, 20 meters long, with an open mouth that could fit a six-foot human with ease, coming to attack.
I and Tsunade looked at each other and nodded to each other. Tsunade leaped onto Megalodon and threw a massive punch using her hand on top of its head which shut its wide-open jaws. Its head sinks into the sea and the tail reaches nearly ninety degrees into the sky.
"Shadow clone jutsu"
Two more Tsunade clones appeared with a puff of smoke on either side of Tsunade. Then three of Tsunade's punches are fired at it, throwing the entire Megalodon, which probably weighs fifty tons, a few feet away. The clones disappeared again in a puff of smoke.
I am surprised looking at the one-way fight and more shocked looking at Tsunade's performance. For a while, I was dazed by Tsunade's actions and results. Several minutes passed slowly, but Megalodon still did not move.
At this time Kiyoshi-san came to us and tapped my shoulder to wake me up from my daze. I woke up from a daze and looked at Kiyoshi-san. Looking at my expression Kiyoshi-san laughed loudly and patted my back a few more times, which hurt my back.
"Why are you looking like that, Hirata? You didn't expect it either, did you?"
As I shook my head, "I already knew Tsunade was strong. But I didn't expect that she would be this strong?"
Kiyoshi-san, "That is indeed true. You are the major contributor to her growth."
I am surprised, "me?"
"Yes, you are. When she felt left behind by you, she also trained more intensively. That almost caused everyone to fear she may go into frenzy, including Mito-sama. If it were to happen you would have to die but luckily, Mito-sama was able to guide her. Did you see that last punch?"
Of course, I saw it, if not, I wouldn't be dazed. It is the same as using my way of battling.
"Yes!"
"Normally, Tsunade-sama preferred to fight single-mindedly. Now, do you still think she is weak?"
Listening to him, "Kiyoshi-san, if you look through my eyes, then you know that Tsuna is always one step ahead now that steps can become two steps. It's not that I view her as weak, but rather very strong. Tsunade's true strength no one knows more than me, even not herself."
After tidying up the Megalodon body, we resumed our journey. The previously blue sea water has now become red sea water mixed with Megalodon body parts. Tsunade's punch scattered one-third of its body, which explains how destructive her punch is.
After another two hours of journey, we finally reached the land of whirlpools. Unlike other nations, the land of whirlpools is much like a small island ruled by the Uzumaki clan. That's why, with the destruction of the Uzumaki clan, this country no longer exists, with very few survivors scattered across the world.
Two redhead ninjas from the Uzumaki clan were waiting for us. Shortly after beginning our journey, we enter a dense forest near Uzushigakure. Our pleasant journey was abruptly interrupted by a child's cry and suspicious movements around 40 meters away. Two Uzumaki and Fumika-san surrounded grandma Mito for protection, while Kiyoshi-san positioned himself in front of us in a battle stance to face any incoming attack. We were also ready to face any incoming attack.
At that point, grandma Mito said, "Hirata, Tsunade, think of this as a mission. You two head out and investigate the circumstances. If within your capabilities, immediately take appropriate measures and if not, report back immediately."
We accepted the mission and ran towards the identified location to investigate. As we were on a mission, the Uzumaki Jonin seemed surprised by the fact that two nine-year-old kids were being handled by an unknown threat and expressed their concern.
"Mito-sama, is it ok to send these kids?"
Grandma Mito looked at them and said seriously, "do you think I will send my grandchildren to death? I wouldn't underestimate them if I were you."
Tsunade runs ahead, and I follow behind her. Just about ten meters away, three jonin were assaulting a redhead girl by tying her like baggage. Tsunade saw the redhead girl struggle and went berserk. She triggered a trap and ten kunai were fired at her.
By grabbing ten shurikens with both my hands, I was able to deflect ten kunai from hitting Tsunade. Looking at our arrival, two jonin took their kunai and faced us. Looking at them I can tell they were Kiri ninjas and they underestimated us.
As Tsunade throws a punch at the lower abdomen of a Kiri ninja, he prepares to receive it. That's when another Kiri ninja launches a sneak attack on Tsunade from behind. I performed a roundhouse kick and hit his right ear with my right leg from his behind.
Mine and Tsunade attacks happened at the same time. After being punched by Tsunade, the Kiri ninja shot back like cannon, striking a third Kiri ninja who is holding hostage an Uzumaki girl. My kick sent the second Kiri Ninja flying and he hit a large tree before falling to the ground. After that, there was no movement.
I walked to Uzumaki and removed all her ties, "easy… easy… we are Senju from Konoha. You are safe now." Then she relaxed and fell asleep.
After clearing all three Kiri ninjas and rescuing the hostage our mission is completed successfully. After returning to grandma Mito, we explained all the details and handed the Uzumaki child over to Uzumaki Jonin, and discussed her health condition.
Except for a few bruises on her wrist, legs, and slapping marks on her cheeks, there is no major injury. But other than physical injuries, her psychological injuries would be far worse.
After two and half hours of travel, we reached Uzushigakure, and here I will spend the next two weeks from this day on. In addition to learning more about fuinjutsu, grandma Mito prepared a test for me.