[A/N- This chapter might feel rushed. I kinda wrote half of this yesterday and continue the rest today but on a different devices, so instead of combining them I kept it short]
Outside the mission assignment desk, Team Fourteen stood waiting as their senior instructor, Nana, was inside taking a mission. Recent events had filled the atmosphere with tension. Ando's animosity towards Daniel was palpable, and Yuki's fear was evident after what their team had gone through. One of their teammates had decided to become a medical nin instead, as Yuki had mentioned the last time she spoke to him.
"Come on, don't be nervous," Nana said, approaching her team. "We'll only be escorting our esteemed client to the Land of Waterfall." Their client, Takashi, appeared behind her.
"This is Takashi, our client," Nana introduced. They greeted each other briefly before proceeding to escort him.
"So, why'd you hire an escort?" Ando broke the silence after they had walked for a while. "You seem rather young to have enemies," he added.
"Shh, it's rude to ask like that," Yuki whispered to Ando, rushing to his ear.
"I'm pretty sure that's irrelevant at this point," Daniel muttered.
Takashi, with a slight scowl, responded, "Didn't your parents tell you not to pry into people's business, boy? I've already paid for your services. Now if you'd just shut up and do it silently."
This ticked Yuki off. "I know his tone might've sounded rude, but that's no way to talk to your protectors," she said.
Takashi was ready to respond when Daniel suddenly muttered, "Five." He turned and sent a slew of energy shuriken he made on the spot. Two hidden ninjas fell from the trees from Daniel's assault. Nana took on the one that came from the front as the remaining two attacked from both sides. Daniel engaged the one on the left, blocking his attack as the ninja jumped back a few steps.
"Ahhh!" Ando screamed as he was hit in the stomach. The ninja chuckled. Yuki, hesitant, rushed forward, thrusting her kunai. The ninja blocked it easily. She tried launching a kick to create some distance, but the ninja was unfazed, grabbing her leg. Through his mask, a perverted smile was visible.
"That's disgusting," Daniel commented, looking at the fight.
"Not focusing on your opponent. Bad mistake, kid," the ninja Daniel was facing said. Daniel had turned his back to his foe, not caring for the confrontation. The ninja thrusted his kunai, but he didn't expect what happened next. A spike protruded from Daniel's neck, stabbing the ninja through his throat—a hefty ability from Buu's elasticity and chakra control to harden his body. The ninja didn't even utter a word as he collapsed.
"It appears Nana is also observing to see if they can handle it," Daniel thought, taking a slight glance at Nana. Ando powered through his fear, throwing his shuriken at the last remaining ninja who had pinned Yuki.
"Chh," the ninja scoffed, backing down and using Yuki to block the shuriken. Her back was grazed, and slight tears were made on her shirt. The ninja threw Yuki at Ando and charged at Takashi. With a quick maneuver, Daniel created three earth walls, blocking the ninja's charge. Yuki followed up by making an earth wall, fully enclosing the ninja. Nana covered the top as she stood on the construct, trapping the ninja—the only surviving member of the assaulters.
"Well done, team. I think you all deserve a little break while I speak with our little friend," she said, jumping in and leaving the three to clean up. Takashi's face was filled with great worry. He urged Team Fourteen to hurry, but Yuki told him to wait. Meanwhile, Daniel dragged the four fallen ninjas to the side of the road and absorbed one to get a grasp of the situation.
"Okay, let's get going," Nana said, popping out. Daniel joined the team, and they continued on their way. Takashi walked at a faster pace after the attack. "Grandfather..." a thought ran through his mind.
Carrying on with the mission, Team Fourteen and Takashi journeyed to his home village. The atmosphere was tense, with Ando's animosity towards Daniel and Yuki's lingering fear from their recent ordeal.
"So, are you willing to spill the beans now?" Ando pestered.
"Haa. Very well," Takashi sighed. "The leader of our village is currently ill. I was tasked with finding a cure for this illness, which I now have, but it seems someone doesn't want me to get back alive," Takashi explained.
"Must be hard to have to carry such weight," Ando responded. Takashi kept silent, but his expression couldn't help but agree with Ando.
"Let's camp here for tonight," Nana stopped the team.
"Please, can't we just continue? We're running out of time here," Takashi pleaded, but Nana wouldn't budge.
"You'll need us to be at full capacity once we arrive at your village," Nana wanted to respond but kept her silence.
"Yeah, if the situation is as Takashi said, then we'll need to hurry up and get there soon," Ando added.
Daniel simply observed as he assisted Yuki in preparing the camp. The two acted silently, with barely any communication. "If we leave early tomorrow, we'll make it with time to spare," he thought. "I wonder how my experiments are going along," he mused to himself as Ando pestered Nana on Takashi's behalf.
"I said no, and that's final!" Nana shouted, having had enough.