The C-Rank Part 1 (The Runner Arc):
[]The Runner Arc: So Kids, we're about to go run all the way to the Land of Iron to deliver confidential scrolls so that the Daimyo there can… well… Do something with it. We get paid that's all we need to know."Wait a Second, we're being hunted by every nation from here to Iron? What is in this package?!
Trying to talk to the Hokage before the mission was rather… difficult. He just didn't seem to get that you were worried because this was the first C-Rank of the Team. And that meant there was always a catch.
"Hiruzen." You said the Hokage's name, getting his attention as the lack of respect gave him pause. "Don't just walk away. I want to know why you gave me the choice."
The Hokage for his part, puffed his pipe and gave a grandfatherly smile. "Because I knew you would be wise enough-" He then stopped as you threatened to use your face. "Don't you dare use your face on me?"
"Then why these missions in particular? These don't look like simple C-Ranks?" You replied.
The Hokage then laughed. "Kakashi has always been a fan of two things. Looking underneath the underneath, and mourning for those he lost. Seems that one of those things has rubbed off on you."
"And you aren't worried about what can go wrong if this mission is beyond their abilities?" You asked.
"We're ninja Yamato. We don't worry about those simple things like what is beyond our capabilities. Only that we can get through them." The Hokage seemed jovial at that statement, though your blood went cold.
"Are you trying to blood them?" You asked, the simple thought they were going to kill when they weren't mentally ready, gave you pause.
Then again, you weren't, and those faces stayed with you for a very very long time. At least you could sleep without a night light now.
The Hokage nodded. "They need to be ready for the life they live. And that means walking with death. And delivering it."
You took a moment to breathe, wanting to tell them you would refuse the mission because they weren't ready.
Or maybe it was you who wasn't ready, to risk their lives. Because you cared for their wellbeing. "I-"
"You have your orders." The Hokage said, turning away. Gone was the happy voice that made everyone in the village feel safe. There was only the man who lived through many wars, with almost no peace in between them "Get the mission done Yamato."
It didn't make you feel better.
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The kids were packed and ready to move. "I can't believe we're stuck delivering a package to some stuffy samurai!" Naruto complained as he looked at the last seal on Sasuke's belt. "There everything should be there."
"Thanks, Naruto." The hostility in Sasuke's voice, the anger that he felt towards his two teammates, seemed long gone compared to when you all started a few weeks ago. He was still cagey and annoyed by their presence, but he seemed to finally tolerate them.
Yakumo looked at Naruto. "Hey Naruto, do you have an extra scroll of tools? I uh… had to leave mine at home because Hanzo slept in."
"It was your idea to let me out inside the bunker, your body just couldn't handle my awesomeness. I got to play a sick guitar solo with Bi-Han." Hanzo shot back.
Naruto then threw over a scroll. "Had a backup ready because we always need backups." He smiled. "You know, I'll never get over the fact that you are actually two people sharing a body. Doesn't it get weird? Like don't you have different likes and dislikes?"
Yakumo smiled. "Yeah, but we get used to it. It's not like it can get any worse. He hasn't tried to kill us all yet."
Naruto paled. "Right."
You appeared in a rush of leaves, to try and confuse them, and to make it look like you did not eavesdrop on them. "Well, kids, who's ready for a very long run?"
"How are we even going to keep up?" Sasuke asked. "You can use your chakra longer than we can, and we're not exactly good at using chakra to enhance our speed?"
"Wait we can do that?" Naruto asked.
Yakumo giggled. "Yes Naruto, we can use our chakra to make ourselves go faster. That's why having good control is so awesome, you can do it forever if you have good control."
You really needed to make sure Naruto paid attention. "Alright kids, do we have all our equipment?"
Sasuke stood at attention. "Medical kit here, along with weapons, explosive tags, ninja wire."
Naruto held out scrolls. "Scrolls of food, water, weapons, explosives, pranking supplies-"
"Pranking supplies?" You asked. "That is not part of the essential ninja load-out I gave you for a long-range mission."
"But it isn't part of the supplies for a long-range mission?!" Naruto smiled.
Beaten by the logic of a child. "Noted." You turned to Yakumo. "Yakumo."
"Scrolls of tools, weapons, Naruto's backup supplies…and whatever Hanzo can summon up on short notice." Yakumo replied.
"I can summon quite a lot bitch!" Hanzo seemed to be excited.
Ah, they were ready. "Team 3, I need to say this before we leave." That made them all pause and look at you. "We may encounter people who will want to kill us, and in that moment where we can't get away. We may have to fight them and kill them. If you think you can't handle that… hand over the headbands and go to The Hokage. No one will think less of you if you do."
All three of them were stunned by your seriousness. But instead, they stepped forward and held out a hand together, waiting for you to join them. "We're in this together sensei." Naruto said.
"We're your team." Sasuke replied.
"And we won't let you down." Yakumo stated.
"And we're not going to let a little thing like our fear of death stop us from seeing this through." Hanzo replied.
You smiled and placed your hand onto their own. "Then let's move out." Before the kids raised their hands in cheer, and you began to walk towards the gate
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Whatever happens next, you will be going through Earth Country…unless you decide to go charter a ship. But there are three other nations that you can go through.
How do you Plan to get to Iron?:
[]The Rain Earth Route: The Most Direct Route, and one with the fewest obstacles diplomatically. Rain doesn't care as long as you stick to the roads and stop at checkpoints. But that place always gives you the dammed creeps whenever you go there. It's like someone is always watching you. And Earth is Earth, but that border is the least guarded, so you could be sneaking into hostile territory with a head start.
[]The Grass Earth Route: Grass has always been an opportunistic bunch, but they have always been lax on border security, as well as several dozen other stupid shit if the stories you heard from Ayako were true. But in the last war, they were opportunistic against Earth Nin, and they have a heavily guarded border, with a lot of trade and merchant traffic. Maybe you could sneak in.
[]Charter a Ship: It's expensive, and will get into your mission funds… but it also carries the least risks when it comes to running into hostile ninjas. It's a nice two-week vacation on the sea, where you can get a lot of training done. If it isn't a merchant ship. And the only ship to charter is a merchant ship… Shit.
AN: Enjoy.
