"Team 8 reporting as ordered," said Yuhi Kurenai.
"This is a request," said the Third Hokage. "Team 7 has run into difficulties. What appeared to be a C-class escort mission has become an A-rank. One of his team has been gravely injured and cannot be moved."
"Kakashi's team?" asked the genjutsu jonin. "Which one is injured?"
"Naruto Uzumaki," said the Third Hokage.
Hinata gasped and staggered, pale eyes wide. "Na-naruto-kun?"
"Apparently the bandits turned out to have C-class and A-class missing-nin among them," said Hiruzen Sarutobi as he continued, though he did spare a glance at the Hyuga girl. Someone else cared for Minato's child? Good.
The door burst open. "Hokage-sama! Another message from Kakashi Hatake!"
The Third Hokage looked over the message, blinked, then grew more puzzled. "I don't understand this."
"What does it say?" asked Kurenai.
"You'll still have to go, if nothing else just to find out what Kakashi means," said the Third. "According to this, Naruto died but is now doing a little better."
"How can you die but then get better?" summed up Kiba.
"We'll have to find out when we get there," said Kurenai. "Prepare for a long journey to Wave Country. We'll leave within the hour."
CRACK! POP! went something in Naruto's torso
"That is SO concerning," said Sakura as she watched the boy on the blanket twitch.
Sasuke merely made a noncommital noise, but he was actually kind of disgusted himself.
The stupid dobe had leapt between that blade and him. Then the wound had begun to hiss and the skin dissolve nearby.
An acidic jutsu that enhanced the power of a sword cut by eating away the flesh around a wound.
gurgle krunk went something in Naruto's midsection.
There had been an awful lot of blood, but it had been the panicked look in Naruto's eyes as his body had flopped to the ground that had struck Sasuke the most.
"He's glowing," noted Sasuke. "Blue chakra. Red chakra. Yellow chakra. Green chakra."
"What turns chakra colors like that?" asked Sakura.
SNAP! CRIK! went something in one shoulder. Followed a moment later by the same noise in the other shoulder.
"That's painful just hearing it," noted Sakura, literally feeling as if she was going to throw up at the very next sound.
"You two," said Kakashi at the doorway. "Come along. I have some training for you to practice while I recover from my Sharingan use."
"We can leave him like this?" asked Sasuke, nodding his head towards the twitching mess that had once been a team-mate.
SNAP! gurkle. CRUNK! went something around the region of Naruto's hips.
"Whatever is going on with him is beyond what we can do, except to try and keep him safe," said Kakashi. "In the meantime, whoever hired Zabuza is still out there."
Sakura spared a glance back, feeling the urge again to just plunge a kunai into her fallen team member rather than have him continue to suffer. Then she followed the others away from Naruto before she lost her lunch or nerve.
"We'll have to move fast," said Yuhi Kurenai. "Now, remember - if a Missing Nin shows up -"
"You'll leave me to deal with them," said a familiar voice.
"Maito Gai?" asked Yuhi, frowning.
"I heard my rival was injured and in over his head," said Gai. "My team has to finish their current mission, but it's a D-Rank."
"I see," said Yuhi, nodding. "Good to have you along if there are powerful missing nin there, I was a little concerned for my team."
Gai-sensei gave a thumb's up. "This also gives my team the chance to work without my supervision, giving them more confidence in their own abilities and a further chance for teamwork training."
"It's a pity we don't have anyone with medical training," said Yuhi, walking towards the gate with her genin trailing behind her.
Hinata cocked her head at hearing that. Of the people on her own team, she thought she was the most suited for the role. Maybe she should look into that.
"Yes," said Maito Gai. "The fires of youth must be tended carefully till they can be a roaring bonfire of strength."
"Please knock off the 'fires of youth' speeches while we work together," asked Yuhi. "I don't want my team to pick up any such habits."
Naruto groaned and his clothes started ripping.
He was taller, broader, more massive. His clothes remained the same size. Something had to give.
If anyone had still been looking, they would have seen bursts of foxfire along his skin.
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(Posted Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:36)
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