Naruto Kitsune

"Finally, a real mission," Tsurugi said.

The team was still very inexperienced, so they were not supposed to be receiving a C-rank mission just yet.

But the third Hokage handed the mission to them.

The mission was the best possible opportunity to investigate a powerful weapon without alerting other villages and wasting many resources that would be hard to come by.

This mission is going to make or break these rookies if the rumours are right. Hayama thought in his mind as he looked at the three Genins.

"Still why do we have to walk? Can't we just ride on the carriage?" Tate said.

They have to escort a carriage that is carrying grains and rations to the Takumi village.

"Do you want to get on the carriage?" The coachman asked.

"No. It's not needed." Hayama immediately rejected the idea.

"Still. For an escort mission, I don't feel like anyone is targeting us."

"Of course. This is only a C-rank mission after all. And there is only a sole carriage. Only those who are extremely desperate or bandits who underestimate us would cause trouble in this kind of mission."

Hayama explained.

"True. Even coachmen like me would feel ripped off by the salary if the infamous criminals showed up to rob the loot."

"There are some people near us," Hayama said as he made a hand gesture to stop the carriage.

Shiro and Tsurugi also reached out for their sword handles while Tate took his battle stance.

"Shinobis. From Konoha?"

They heard a voice as a small boy with blue hair who was wearing a headband appeared.

"You must be here for the escort mission. I will take it from here so go back."

He said to the group.

"I am afraid that we can't do that. Our mission clearly states that the mission is not over until the client and the goods reach the village."

The Blue-haired boy smiled when he heard Hayama's words.

He then throws a few kunai that he has hidden under his sleeves at the group.

Hayama used his swords to block the incoming projectiles.

"Hey. What do you think you are doing?"

Tate was angry.

"Why are you angry? It's not personal. It's just business."

The blue-haired boy replied.

His manners are kind of flamboyant and his way of talking was emotionless so it looks like he was provoking the group.

"You are also from the Takumi village. Why are you attacking us?"

The coachman said in an angry tone after seeing the symbol that he was wearing on his forehead.

"He is right. Why are you doing this?" Tsurugi also supported the Coachman's words.

"Why else? He said It's for his own business." Shiro said as he started to use hand signs.

"Fire style. Great Fireball jutsu."

"Such amateur skills are not going to work on me."

The Blue-hair boy pulled out a weird-looking sword.

The tip of the sword morphed into a water dragon and clashed with the fireball jutsu that Shiro used.

A large smoke screen was created.

"Everyone. Be alert. Don't let your guard down." Hayama yelled out.

He tried to locate the carriage to protect it, as to him the mission was more important than the lives of his students.

Even for a Jonin, Hayama is part of the weaker ones that are not very famous outside of their village.

If a Shinobi is powerful and important his name will be recognized by almost everyone even outside of his village.

But Hayama is only known by a few people outside of his village compared to the jonins who lead teams 7 and team 10.

He shared some responsibility for looking after them but even if all three genins died on this mission he was not going to be blamed.

After all the three Genins are not from famous clans and do not have any notable backgrounds.

Making them disposable compared to a Jonin if required.

"What? The fireball didn't destroy the water snake?"

Shiro said as the water dragon appeared in front of him and bit his arm.

"Ahh."

Shiro's voice which was full of pain could be heard for a short moment.

Shiro quickly cut off the head of the water dragon with the arm that was still free by using his sword.

"Wind style. Gale palm."

Hayama was charging up a wind-release technique that compresses wind energy into his hands when he clasps them together for around twenty seconds even before Shiro's voice is heard.

When he heard Shiro's voice he realized that he couldn't continue to charge it anymore and had to release it immediately.

He then released powerful wind energy from his palm clearing the smoke screen.

He saw that the blue-haired boy was already gone when the smoke cleared.

"Shiro. Are you alright?" The group go and check on Shiro who has a bloody left arm.

"Tsk." Shiro was pissed off.

*****

"This should do it," Tsurgi said after she wrapped Bandages around Shiro's arms where the wound appeared.

"Thanks."

"It's not a big deal."

He caught me off guard. I could not see his attack through the smoke. Shiro was fuming inside his head.

He believed that if he was a little more careful he would not have suffered this injury.

"Why does he even attack us? He does not seem to be a bandit." Tate asked.

"I know why."

"Why?"

"His mission was not to take the loot and kill the coachman. He wanted to show the person who hired us that we were incompetent." Shiro replied to Tate's question.

"Huh?" Tsurugi and Tate were confused.

"But why does he want that?" Tate asked.

"Just think for a second instead of having someone speak everything out bluntly," Shiro said to Tate.

The conversation between the three Genins was being eavesdropped by Hayama and the coachman.

"You have a fine student. Don't you?" The coachman complimented Hayama.

A fireball technique. Shadow Clone technique. And great sword skills. He is already a Chunin-level Shinobi. But the blue-haired Shinobi might still be an opponent that he might not be able to handle currently. He still needs more experience. Hayama was conflicted.

He was unable to decide if he should take care of the hair ninja if he appeared again or let Shiro take care of him for growth.

"Yeah. I have a promising student." He replied.