Chapter 11
"Captain! The Sunflower village is burning!" That was more than enough to make everyone ready.
"I am good at water release. Hayama-san, if it is okay, we can accompany you." Naruto kept shut as he heard them talk. He decided he could help as well.
"I can make a lot of shadow clones. I can help in rescuing." Naruto raised his hand and said to them. His eyes were filled with determination. He was not a saint, scratch that, he was pretty selfish. But at a time like this, he wanted to help.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura all three of you will follow me. Make a defensive formation, and keep an eye on each other in case someone needs help." Yamato said as Naruto made hundreds of shadow clones.
"That many!" Naruto ignored the shout of shock, his shadow clones had the job to go before them.
"Which way is the village? My Shadow clones can go first to see any enemies." To which the Chunin was still looking at all the shadow clones with a shocked expression.
Shaking his daze a little Hayama pointed in a direction. To that, Naruto ordered his shadow clones to go in different formations. And when the shadow clones were some distance away from them some of them used transformation jutsu to turn into birds. They were now his eyes and ears.
"You stay here and stay alert. If any enemy appears give a signal." Hayama said as Team 7 also joined him. The three genins all had different thoughts on their mind but all of them were serious.
Naruto wanted to go there as fast as possible and rescue as many people as possible. And it goes without saying, he wanted to take the enemies down fast. He knew the shinobi world was cruel to the normal people and the village getting burned down or destroyed, was probably common. And he wanted to change that.
'And I will change it. I swear to myself.' It was another difference between Naruto and canon Naruto. He was not interested in becoming just another cog in the machine like canon Naruto. No, he wanted to make a world that canon Naruto promised Nagato.
It was not long before they reached the village. Naruto's shadow clones were creating a safe place to help the survivors. Luckily his shadow clones could use the chakra skin technique, and far better than him at that. It was also the reason for them to take out their belongings to safety, as well.
"Naruto what is the situation." Naruto closed his eyes for a few seconds. None of his shadow clones gave any information on enemy shinobi.
"My Shadow clones are still searching. But they can't find any enemy." Naruto said as he watched Yamato start making seals.
"Water style: Heavy rain jutsu." Naruto wondered if there was a light rain jutsu as well. But he also created Another 20 shadow clones to go out in search of enemies.
"We have a problem. How are we going to treat their burns." Sakura suddenly said as she was also with the survivors. Naruto was not sure what to say. Learning medical jutsu was on his bucket list. But like all of his actions, he had to think multiple times.
'And my shadow clones probably will be able to use the basic medical jutsu.' he wondered as he looked at Yamato for instructions.
"I am not a medical shinobi. Use the emergency supplies and wait here." Sakura had already started to use her emergency supplies. Sasuke gave his emergency supplies to one of Naruto's clones.
As the survivors were getting treated Naruto decided to ask them a few questions.
"Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?" Naruto went to a man who looked pretty unharmed.
"I will answer. I will answer." Naruto could see the fear in his eyes. But knowing about the entire thing was far more important.
"Do you know how the fire started?" He asked as he got some information from his shadow clone.
"No, something like this never happened before." The man said a little hesitantly.
"Do you remember anyone new, any shinobi or someone acting suspicious?"
"Probably... Sometimes travelers come to the village. I don't know if they were shinobi or something." And he got nothing from it. His shadow clones also found nothing.
The only reason he was not saying it was just an accident was the fact how fast the fire spread, Even when the wind was blowing so slowly.
'I have to change how I am thinking.' Naruto thought to himself as he looked around. 'Sakura is busy helping. Sasuke is looking around. And Yamato Sensei and the Jonin is nowhere to be seen...' He tensed his muscles as he got ready for battle. He was in a shonin setting and even if he wanted to believe that he was just too paranoid. He decided to trust his instinct, which told him something was about to happen.
.... Annoying.
Just as Naruto got ready Sasuke jumped out of his place. And two hands came out from where he was standing. Soon head and whole body started to come out.
"What a pain... These genins are more trouble than I thought." The shinobi said to himself. He was wearing rags to cover himself, he looked more like a beggar than anything.
"What kind of monster are you, kid... To make so many solid clones. Damn, I wonder if I can get a bounty." It looked like he couldn't care less about Team 7 Genins. "I have to clean up some brats." He then looked at the remaining villagers, who were trying to make themselves as less noticeable as possible. "I also have to finish the mission before the Jonins come back from the fake trails."
"Why did you attack the village?" Naruto asked walking beside Sasuke and handing him a few kunai. Sasuke immediately understood. While the enemy shinobi just looked at them
"Nothing personal, kid. It's just a mission. Ask them if they offended someone. There is a hefty bounty on destroying this village." The enemy shinobi said as he moved...fast! In a split second, he was in front of them.
Naruto used substitution jutsu to get away from the attack, his shadow clone taking his place, while Sasuke threw kunai at the enemy shinobi.
All of them stood at their place, their attention razer sharp. Suddenly one of the survivors of the fire jumped at Sakura, his weapon ready to kill. But this new enemy was far weaker compared to the one they were facing.
It was like everyone was waiting for that moment, the beggar Shinobi moved fast and was in front of Sasuke, his speed even faster than before. "You will be dying first." His grin got bigger as Sasuke stood there. His hand moved and went for the neck.
It was instantaneous, Sakura by instinct honed sparing against Yamato enhanced herself and slammed her chakra-enhanced fist on the new enemy's collarbone. Her hand sank into the enemy's body with snapping sounds.
*BOOOOM*
There was a massive explosion as the beggar went flying from the trap. Not only Sasuke but the kunai Sasuke had were all Naruto's shadow clones and they had explosive tags with them. The trap was successful, as the flying beggar Shinobi fell to the ground and went still.
Naruto's shadow clones went to bind the enemy even though it stopped breathing.
"Sakura! You are okay?" Both of them went to Sakura to see her opponent knocked out, from both the attack and pain. Soon both were bound and guarded by his shadow clones.
Naruto had to admit it was hectic. He moved the rags that hid the beggar's face to see his face. But much to his disappointment he was not someone he knew, same with the other one.
"My Shadow clones found Yamato sensei and they are coming here soon," Naruto said as he looked at Sasuke who was frowning his brows. But Naruto was not in the mood to explain 'why they should never play with their enemy' the results were in front of them.
The beggar taunting them, and looking down on them was dead... probably. The so-called ambush was little more than a joke now.
*
I said nothing for a few moments as memories of shadow clones started to come. A glance from my eyes told me the situation. Now the villagers were even more afraid of us.
I decided to not waste any more time and walk at them. I ignored the fearful looks, they were giving.
"So, who was that?" I pointed at the bound form of our new captive.
They just looked at each other. As I waited for them to talk both Yamato Sensei and Hayama Jonin came out of the forest. I raised my hand, I was no longer in charge of these people, who were hiding something. Even at the risk of their lives.
"Sensei, you can ask them about the shinobis. They are not telling anything." I said as I walked away from them, kindness showed no result. Now they were no longer my problem.
"Are you three, okay? No injuries?" I saw his concern through his questions. But at the same time, I was pretty sure, this kind of thing where the mission rank was low turned high would happen, even if I wanted it or not.
"No, we worked together and you know the usual traps, those you banned me from using in a spar." It was easy and not easy at the same time. But only a few shinobis had strong defenses and those were monsters. Besides that, a defensive jutsu was the best option.
'Well, I am going to ask the old man to give me a lot of jutsu. This mission clearly shows the reasons.' I glanced at Hayama Jonin as he walked toward the villagers. A sudden pressure descended as the villagers collapsed on their butts, next they told us everything. I did not feel like caring, the villagers wanted more protection and to move to a safer place. And they got tricked. I was not even sure why the beggars and weaklings went through all that problem. Then again I also knew how most experienced shinobis were crazy in their own different ways.
'He acted like the last boss and defeated like a side character.' I also felt like if I had not taken care of that beggar fast, things might've gone out of control.
"Sasuke, you are in charge of taking care of Sakura. Naruto slowly started to release your shadow clone jutsu, and make sure all the supplies were okay." I had to admit I was not into it. I was still thinking about the fates of ordinary civilians and people who were living in villages like these.
Yamato Sensei was on point as we all went back to the border post.
"We will be leaving back to Konoha." I was wondering about the mission, was it going to be a failure." And don't worry other posts will get the supplies tomorrow. We are going back to the village. There are things I have to report to Hokage sama."
'So, there is more to the attack than what I am seeing. Or is this attack not the first one?' In a way, I had my conclusions but did not voice out any displeasure at our new course of action.
"We will maintain higher speeds than before. We have to reach the village fast." Yamato Sensei was just too serious. I decided not to raise a flag. The attack was enough for the day.
We left the border post soon after. We almost ran twice as fast as possible and with no breaks to take a breather. Though I had no problem keeping up, the same was not for Sakura who was dead tired when we reached the village.
When we reached the village gates, I saw the same two village guards.
"You three can go back and take a rest. Tomorrow is your holiday." He was in a hurry as he left us and vanished.
"Really, now! What is the emergency anyway?" I muttered to myself. To that, Sasuke left. I saw Sakura looking at Sasuke's back. I had thought of sending her to her house, but she was clearly hoping it to be someone else. I also vanished from my spot, the bed was calling me and no more drama for the day.
*
Next day morning.
Naruto woke up at the same time as every day, it was like a habit by that point. After freshening up he went for his morning workout. He had a lot of things to do for the whole day.
After finishing all of his morning training and having his breakfast he was ready. He was ready to go to the Hokage office.
Not being a fan of getting stared he was in front of the building by roof hopping.
Opening the office door Naruto was In front of Hiruzen, but he was not the only one inside. And Naruto felt smashing his face on the table, because of the other person. It was none other than Konohamaru. 'Is fate playing with me...'
...Yeah, he was not interested in becoming the role model of Konohamaru. But still, he had a job to do.
"Old man, who's the kid?" Naruto asked pointing at Konohamaru, who now started to glare at him. Naruto thought of aborting his plan about asking for jutsu, he knew Konohamaru would make it far more problematic.
Hiruzen chuckled as Konohamaru glared at him," That's my grandson, Konohamaru. He is here because he missed his grandfather."
"No, I did not! Besides who are you to call Grandpa an old man?" Konohamaru pointed at Naruto as asked.
"So, he is a problematic brat. Any way old man I want to learn medical jutsu and water-style ninjutsu." Naruto watched as the old man had a thoughtful look. "HEY! Don't ignore me!" Until annoyingmaru decided he was getting ignored.
"Is your chakra control good enough for learning medical jutsu?" A valid question.
"Yeah, my shadow clones can learn it without much of a problem." Naruto was ready to leave as Konohamaru looked like he was going to jump on him like a wild dog.
"Come here tomorrow, I will have to find a new teacher for you. As for water jutsu or any nature-release jutsu, you will have to wait. I will inform Yamato." Naruto wondered what he was going to do. "Take care, old man." Naruto left leaving an angry Konohamaru and amused Hiruzen.
*
'Who does he think he is!' Konohamaru shouted in his mind as his anger peaked. He wanted to pounce at the bastard and teach him a lesson. He was Konohamaru, the grandson of the Hokage.
So, when the old man was busy with his boring paperwork he decided to follow that bastard. And with great stealth that even ANBU's would envy he was out of the House office through the window. As for the people who were looking at him... He moved very fast... As fast as a second-year academy student, so, no one was able to see him.
And he did not know where the annoying blonde went.
So, after running around trying to find the blonde he was tired. To take some rest he walked to the park bench and sat on it to take some breather. And that's when he saw the blonde!
"I found you!" He ran in front of him. He ignored the blushing white-eyed girl, there was one in his class too.
"I challenge you to a dual." He declared. And watched as the blonde quirked one of his eyebrows.
"Who is it, Naruto-kun?" The white-eyed female's soft voice made him pause.
"Just a kid who is hungry." This time Konohamaru wanted to jump and kick him at his face. Only to stop that as a smell entered his nose. She was giving him food.
"You can have some cinnamon buns." He felt his stomach growl as his face blushed. He decided to show his mercy and eat in peace.
He would teach the bastard a lesson another day.
*
Hiruzen found himself in another situation. The attacks on the border villages were not a new thing.
And that was the problem. It was like that before every war and major problems. From the reports he could see war was on the horizon.
The reports from Yamato also gave some clues. And it was all pointing at the newly created Sound Village. He even had to increase the shinobi at that border. And now that village was hiring bounty hunters to make trouble in other parts.
He paused as he looked at another report.
An escort mission to wave.
He would have given the mission an approval. But he decided against it. He read it more thoroughly and thought of something.
"Call Dog. I have a mission for his team." Konoha needed more allies and from what he was seeing they could very likely get one.
Soon Kakashi wearing a dog mask entered the room.
"How's your temporary ANBU life's been?" He asked as he handed the scroll. The only reason Kakashi was able to act as an ANBU captain was because Guy was still not aware of it.
"Not that hard, the team is like a well-oiled machine. So, my job will be to make sure of his safety and?"
"Your team will also have to try and get us an alliance with the Wave. Make sure no problem arises from our action." He had a lot of thoughts on his mind.
"We will do our best." Kakashi left after a bow. Leaving Hiruzen with his thoughts.
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