Chapter 22
"Well brat, you take care and do your job well. We'll talk when you get back." Anko said.
"Okay Anko-oneesan." Naruto said. He and his team left through the gates and into the world.
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The team was walking for a few hours and could no longer see the gates. They moved in diamond formation. Sasuke was up front, Sakura and Naruto were at the flanks and Kakashi was taking up the rear. As they walked, Sakura noticed a book in Naruto's hands. She was curious and decided to ask him about it.
"Hey Naruto, what's that?" she asked.
"It's a geography book that I brought. I figure I should read up on the area that we're going to." Naruto explained.
"Why would you do that?" Sakura asked.
"So I can be prepared. Anko-oneesan taught me to always know where you're going as it can be an advantage to you and your team. It makes the mission that much easier." Naruto answered.
"Okay. Say, why do you call her your oneesan? I thought that you were an orphan." She said.
"Thanks for saying that so casually Sakura." Naruto said with annoyance. Sakura realized what she said and wanted to apologize for it. Naruto cut her off before she could do so. "She's one of the few that gave a damn about me. She taught me how to be a shinobi and treated me with respect. She's like a sister to me."
"That was an un-usual person to choose Naruto." Kakashi said.
"Well, no one else made any type of move except the few I respect. Besides, she's not un-usual. She's bat-shit crazy is what she is." Naruto explained. Back in Konoha, Anko stabbed the stand at the dango shop with a kunai. As people backed away from her, she could help but feel like killing something small. Sakura turned her attention to Tazuna after her questions were answered and asked about his home. As they continued to talk and walk, a puddle was in the middle of the road. Kakashi saw it and ignored it. They walked pass it and continued on. That's when two men appeared out of the puddle.
Naruto's danger sense kicked in and a kunai appeared in his hand. He spun to see his sensei wrapped in a shuriken chain, which was held by two men. The pulled the chain and the genin watched as Kakashi was torn in pieces. The two then made their move toward the team. Sasuke was the first to move, throwing a shuriken and pinning the chain to a tree. He threw a kunai to make the chain stick. Naruto made his move and appeared in front of one of the two attackers. He used his kunai, slashing at the left ninja's legs. He cried out as he dropped to the ground after his legs gave out on him from the wounds. Sasuke appeared and kicked the other guy who was cried out at seeing his partner hit the ground.
He disengaged himself from the chain and moved to take out Naruto. Naruto meet the charge and slipped another kunai out. That's when the man's momentum was stopped by a clothesline from Kakashi. He let out a gasp before going limp in the crock of his arm. He looked at the other man and saw that he was still alive. He looked at Naruto who was putting his weapons away.
"That was kind of vicious Naruto." Kakashi said.
"What are you talking about? I only took his legs out from under him. He won't die from those cuts. He'll just be in a lot of pain." Naruto said.
"How are you still alive sensei? We watched you get killed!" Sakura exclaimed. Naruto pointed to the pieces of wood that lay on the ground.
"A Kawarimi no Jutsu? (Body Replacement Technique)" Sakura said with confusion. Naruto ignored her and checked the headband of the two shinobi.
"These guys are Kiri shinobi. I didn't know Kiri operated out here. I thought they were still in the grips of a civil war." Naruto said.
"They are and these two are no longer Kiri shinobi. They must be nukenin (missing-nin)." Kakashi said.
"Why would Kiri nukenin what with us?" asked Sasuke.
"That's a good question. Perhaps you can tell us Tazuna." Kakashi said. Everyone turned to the old man who suddenly looked very nervous.
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