The morning air was crisp as Team 11 gathered at Konoha's east gate, the sun barely cresting the horizon.
Indra arrived precisely on time, as was his habit, to find Yua-sensei already waiting, her back against the gatepost and eyes closed in apparent meditation.
Hayate jogged up moments later, slightly out of breath. "Sorry if I'm late," he panted, adjusting the straps of his backpack.
"You're not," Yua replied without opening her eyes. "Sayaka hasn't arrived yet."
This was unusual.
In the weeks since their team had formed, Sayaka had never been anything but punctual - often arriving before everyone else, standing with perfect posture and impassive expression as if she'd been carved from stone rather than flesh.
"Should we be concerned?" Indra asked, scanning the street leading to the gate.
Before Yua could answer, Sayaka appeared, moving with her characteristic grace.
As always, her long black hair was immaculately tied with a simple ribbon, her equipment neatly arranged, not a single item out of place.
Yet something seemed different about her today - a subtle tension in her shoulders perhaps, or a certain tightness around her eyes.
"Apologies for my tardiness," she said with a slight bow, her voice as soft and measured as ever.
"You're still early by most standards," Yua noted, finally opening her eyes. "Our client hasn't arrived yet."
As if summoned by her words, a thin man in robes came hurrying toward them, a leather portfolio clutched to his chest and a harried expression on his face.
"Administrator Tenma, I presume?" Yua straightened as the man approached.
"Yes, yes," he confirmed, attempting to smooth his rumpled robes. "I apologize for the delay. Last-minute paperwork from the council."
Indra studied the man with mild interest.
Administrator Aokiji Tenma was exactly what one would expect of a career bureaucrat - middle-aged, with ink-stained fingers and the slightly stooped posture of someone who spent most of his time hunched over documents.
His eyes, however, were sharp and assessing, darting between the three genin and Yua.
"These are... children," he observed, his tone hovering between surprise and disapproval.
"These are genin of Konoha," Yua corrected smoothly. "And I am Jōnin Kamizuki Yua. We've been assigned to escort you to Tsuma-no-Sato and provide security during your negotiations."
Tenma looked unconvinced but nodded. "Very well. I was told this was a routine assignment."
"It is," Yua confirmed. "Which is why a genin team is appropriate. Shall we proceed? I'd like to cover at least half the distance before nightfall."
With formalities complete, they set out through the gate and onto the road leading southwest from Konoha.
Yua took point, with Administrator Tenma just behind her.
Indra and his teammates formed a loose triangle around their client - Hayate to the right, Sayaka to the left, and Indra bringing up the rear.
The first hour passed in relative silence, broken only by the administrator occasionally muttering to himself as he reviewed documents from his portfolio while walking.
Once they were well away from the village, however, Hayate's natural inability to remain quiet for extended periods showed itself.
"So," he began, falling back slightly to walk beside Indra. "First C-rank. Excited?"
"Thrilled," Indra replied dryly. "I can hardly contain myself at the prospect of watching a bureaucrat stamp papers in a village dispute."
Hayate snorted. "Yeah, not exactly the glamorous mission I was hoping for either. But hey, at least we're out of the village. No more chasing lost pets or pulling weeds."
"Don't jinx it," Indra warned. "The mission brief mentioned potential bandit activity. With our luck, they'll turn out to be former ANBU with a grudge."
"Is that supposed to be funny?" Hayate asked, though a grin tugged at his lips.
"I find gallows humor helps pass the time," Indra shrugged. "Though I suppose we could discuss the weather instead if you prefer. Lovely clouds today."
Sayaka, who had been silent until now, glanced back at them. "The formation is becoming irregular," she observed quietly.
Hayate rolled his eyes but adjusted his position. "Always by the book, aren't you?"
"Protocol exists for a reason," she replied, her voice betraying no emotion.
Indra studied her as they walked. There was something about Sayaka that had always struck him as unusual, even beyond her perpetual composure.
The way she moved, the way she spoke - there was an inherent elegance to everything she did, as if she had been trained from birth in proper etiquette and deportment.
It reminded him of what he knew of nobility more than shinobi training.
Yet according to what little information he'd gathered, she came from no significant clan or family. She was simply Hoshikawa Sayaka, an orphan like himself, albeit one with unusual poise.
Today, though, something was definitely off.
Her usual grace remained, but there was a subtle vigilance to her movements, her eyes scanning their surroundings with more frequency than the mission parameters would seem to warrant.
"You seem tense," he observed quietly when they paused at a stream to refill water containers.
Sayaka's hands stilled momentarily before resuming their task. "Do I?"
"Yes," Indra confirmed simply, not elaborating.
She met his eyes briefly, then looked away. "I dislike the southern forests. They're... unpredictable."
It was a strange response, especially since to Indra's knowledge, they had never been assigned missions in this region before.
He filed the information away, adding it to his growing collection of inconsistencies regarding his teammate.
"Alright, five more minutes then we continue," Yua announced, checking her map. "We'll reach the main trading route by midday, then branch off toward Tsuma-no-Sato."
Administrator Tenma approached the jōnin, his portfolio still clutched protectively to his chest. "I've been meaning to ask - these reports of bandits. How credible are they?"
"Reliable enough to mention in the mission brief," Yua replied evenly. "But not concerning enough to warrant a higher-ranked team. Most likely opportunists targeting isolated travelers."
"I see," Tenma nodded, though he didn't appear entirely reassured. "And your... students? Are they prepared if we encounter trouble?"
Yua's expression remained neutral. "My team is more capable than their appearance suggests, Administrator. Rest assured, your safety is guaranteed."
As they resumed their journey, Indra found himself walking alongside Sayaka, with Hayate now taking the rear position.
"You know," Indra said conversationally, "for someone who dislikes these forests, you seem to know them well. You've been avoiding the poison oak patches without even looking."
Sayaka's step faltered almost imperceptibly - something most would have missed, but Indra's keen eyes caught it.
"Basic botany was covered in Academy survival training," she replied after a moment. "Poison oak grows in similar patterns throughout Fire Country."
It was a reasonable explanation, yet Indra couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it. Before he could press further, Hayate jogged up beside them.
"Hey, did either of you notice that bird?" he asked, jerking his thumb back toward the trees they had passed. "Circled three times then flew south."
"Probably hunting," Indra suggested, though he made a mental note of the observation. Hayate might play the fool at times, but his instincts were often surprisingly sharp.
"Maybe," Hayate conceded, not sounding convinced. "Just seemed weird, is all."
By midday, they had reached the main trading route - a well-maintained road that connected Konoha to several outlying settlements.
They paused for a brief lunch, during which Administrator Tenma insisted on reviewing his documents yet again, muttering about "precedents" and "jurisdiction clauses."
"Is he always going to be this much fun?" Hayate whispered, biting into an apple.
"He's dedicated to his work," Indra replied with a hint of amusement. "Not everyone can be as naturally entertaining as you, Chinen."
Hayate grinned. "Was that an actual compliment from the great Uchiha? I'm touched."
"Don't let it go to your head."
The two have tried - well, Indra has tried to get closer to Chinen, be more of a friend, since he knows if things go well, for the foreseeable future, till the Chunin exams they will most definitely be teammates.
It is best to have no bad blood between them for when that time came.
Sayaka ate in silence. Occasionally, her gaze would drift to the southern treeline, lingering for just a moment too long before returning to her meal.
When they resumed their journey, they left the main road, taking a narrower path that wound through increasingly dense forest.
The terrain became more challenging, with occasional steep inclines and rocky patches that slowed their pace.
"Administrator," Yua said as they navigated a particularly rough stretch, "tell me more about this land dispute you're resolving."
Tenma seemed pleased to be asked about his work. "It's quite fascinating, actually.
The Tsuma clan has held ancestral rights to the land for generations, but after their economic decline, much of the area was abandoned.
New settlers arrived, established farms, and now claim ownership through improvement and occupation."
"And you're there to decide who's right?" Hayate asked.
"In a manner of speaking," Tenma nodded. "Though it's more complex than simply declaring winners and losers.
I need to establish proper boundaries, negotiate usage rights, determine tax obligations... The bureaucratic intricacies are quite delicate."
"Sounds thrilling," Hayate muttered under his breath.
"Actually," Indra interjected, genuinely curious, "how does Fire Country law handle cases where ancestral claims conflict with improvement rights? Is there precedent?"
Tenma's eyes lit up at the question. "Oh, indeed!
The Hashirama Accords of founding-year 12 established the principle of 'productive occupation,' which was later modified by the Land Reformation Act under the Second Hokage.
There's also the case of Tanaka versus the Shimizu Estate, which set an interesting precedent regarding-"
"Movement in the trees," Sayaka interrupted quietly, her hand drifting toward her kunai pouch.
Everyone tensed, conversation forgotten as they scanned their surroundings. Yua signaled for them to tighten formation around the administrator.
After a tense moment, a small deer bounded across the path ahead of them, disappearing into the underbrush on the other side.
"False alarm," Yua said, though her posture remained alert. "But good awareness, Sayaka."
The girl nodded, though Indra noticed she didn't entirely relax her guard.
There was something in her eyes - not fear exactly, but a kind of resigned vigilance that, again, seemed out of proportion to their current situation.
He wondered what the hell was up with her? Was she just that talented of a shinobi that she took everything as serious as a life or death mission, or was something else up?
Still, he decided to be more alert, maybe she had something about her that gave her better instincts than him (how unlikely that may be.)
As the afternoon wore on, the forest grew denser, the canopy overhead blocking much of the sunlight.
Shadows lengthened across their path, and the sounds of wildlife gradually diminished - a subtle shift that put Indra on edge.
"We should reach the outskirts of Tsuma-no-Sato within two hours," Yua informed them. "We'll make camp at Hill Point tonight and escort the administrator into the village proper tomorrow morning."
"Why not continue to the village tonight?" Tenma asked, clearly eager to reach their destination.
"Hill Point provides better visibility," Yua explained. "It's standard procedure to establish a secure position before entering potentially contentious territory."
The administrator seemed about to argue but apparently thought better of it. "Very well. You're the security expert."
As they continued, Indra found himself increasingly aware of Sayaka's behavior.
She had always been the quietest member of their team, but today her silence felt weighted, almost expectant.
Her eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, lingering on certain areas as if she recognized them or was searching for something specific.
"You've been here before," he said quietly when they were briefly side by side, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
It wasn't a question, and Sayaka didn't treat it as one. Her eyes met his for a fleeting moment - long enough for him to see something there, a flash of what might have been surprise or resignation.
"Not exactly here," she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But close enough."
Before he could ask what she meant, Yua signaled for them to halt. The jōnin's posture had subtly shifted, her casual demeanor replaced by focused alertness.
"Something's wrong," she said softly. "The birds have gone silent."
It was true, Indra realized. The forest had become unnaturally quiet, the only sound the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.
"Formation three," Yua ordered. "Administrator, stay between us."
They quickly rearranged themselves into a diamond pattern around Tenma, weapons at the ready.
Indra activated his Sharingan, the single tomoe spinning as he scanned the surrounding trees for any sign of movement or chakra disturbance.
For several long moments, nothing happened. Then, a low chuckle echoed through the trees, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Well, well," a rough voice called out. "Konoha sends children to do their work these days? How the mighty have fallen."
A figure materialized on a branch overhead - a tall man with long black hair braided down his back.
He wore standard shinobi attire, but what caught Indra's attention was the cracked Hunter-nin mask hanging around his neck like a necklace.
"Missing-nin," Yua identified immediately, her voice hard. "Kurosu Amagi, formerly of Kirigakure. A-rank in the Bingo Book."
"I'm flattered you know me," the man - Kurosu - replied with a mock bow. "Though I can't say I've had the pleasure of your acquaintance, Konoha-san."
"What do you want?" Yua demanded, subtly shifting her stance to one Indra recognized as preparation for fast movement.
"Nothing complicated," Kurosu replied, his gaze sweeping over their group before settling on Indra. "Just the boy with the special eyes. Hand him over, and the rest of you can continue your little bureaucratic mission unharmed."
Indra felt a chill run down his spine - but not from Kurosu's words.
His Sharingan was still active, and with it, he could see the subtle inconsistencies in Kurosu's body language - the way his eyes, despite his words, kept not flicking toward him -
But toward Sayaka.
"You're after the Sharingan," Yua stated flatly. "You're not the first, and you'll fail like all the others."
Kurosu's smile widened. "Bold words from someone outnumbered."
As if on cue, three more figures appeared from the surrounding forest.
To their right, a woman with crimson tattoos across her cheeks crouched on a low branch, yellow eyes gleaming with hunger.
To their left, a sickly-looking man with sealing tags adorning his arms stood perfectly still, his expression detached.
Behind them, blocking the path they had traveled, a towering figure in mismatched armor crossed massive arms over his bare chest.
"Meet my associates," Kurosu continued pleasantly. "Inuzame, Mokuren, and Raiken. All professionals, all very good at what they do."
"Run," Yua ordered her team quietly. "Take the administrator and head for the village. I'll hold them off."
"Against four A-rank missing-nin?" Indra hissed back. "That's suicide."
"That's an order," Yua replied, her tone brooking no argument. "On my signal-"
"No need for heroics," Kurosu interrupted, clearly having overheard. "As I said, we only want the Uchiha boy. The rest of you are free to go."
"Konoha doesn't abandon its own," Yua stated firmly.
"How touching," the woman - Inuzame - purred, her voice carrying a cruel edge. "But ultimately futile. We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the fun way." Her smile suggested which she preferred.
Indra's mind raced, analyzing the situation.
Four A-rank missing-nin against one jōnin and three genin - the odds were overwhelmingly against them.
Yet, again, his Sharingan had caught something odd: despite Kurosu's words, his eyes still kept returning to Sayaka, not Indra himself.
"Why the Sharingan?" Indra called out, buying time as he assessed their options. "There are easier targets than a Konoha shinobi."
"Because yours is fresh," Kurosu replied smoothly. "Newly awakened, still adaptable. Perfect for... research purposes."
It was a reasonable explanation, yet Indra's Sharingan detected the subtle tension in the man's jaw as he spoke - the telltale sign of a lie.
"Now, where was I, yes, the Uchiha boy comes with us," Kurosu continued, addressing Yua directly. "The others can deliver their administrator and complete their little mission. No one else needs to die today."
Die. Not get hurt, but die. The casual certainty in his voice sent a chill through Indra.
Beside him, Sayaka had gone completely still, her face a mask of perfect calm. Yet Indra could see the slight tremor in her hands, the way her breathing had become carefully controlled.
She knows something, he realized. This isn't random.
"Last chance," Kurosu called down. "Hand over the Uchiha, or we take him by force - and I can't promise the rest of you will survive if it comes to that."
When no immediate movement followed, Yua's composure cracked, her voice rising to an angry roar. "MOVE! Take the administrator and RUN! NOW!"
The command jolted them into action.
Hayate hesitated for only a moment before darting toward Administrator Tenma, scooping the startled bureaucrat into his arms.
The man yelped in surprise, clutching his portfolio to his chest with white-knuckled determination.
Indra turned to retreat as well, but froze when he saw Sayaka.
Unlike the others, she hadn't moved at all. Her body was rigid, her eyes fixed on Kurosu with an expression Indra had never seen on her face before - pure, resigned acceptance.
The look of someone who had always expected death and was simply greeting it as an old acquaintance.
Anger flashed through him. In two swift movements, he appeared behind her, scooping her up in a princess carry before she could react.
"How pathetic," he hissed, glaring down at her shocked face. "You're already accepting death? That's both stupid and cowardly."
Without waiting for a response, he bolted after Hayate, who had already disappeared into the dense underbrush with the administrator.
Sayaka remained stiff in his arms, seemingly too stunned by his actions to protest.
"They're getting away," the woman with the crimson tattoos - Inuzame - called out with obvious displeasure. "I'll follow them."
"No, I'll go," the towering Raiken growled, already moving to pursue.
Yua immediately launched herself forward to intercept, kunai drawn. "You're not going anywhere near my team!"
Her path was suddenly blocked as Kurosu materialized before her, his movement so swift it was nearly invisible.
"Your fight is with me, Konoha-san," he said softly, drawing a blade that gleamed with an unnatural blue sheen. "Let's see if you're as good as your Village's reputation suggests."
As Indra disappeared into the forest with Sayaka in his arms, the sounds of metal striking metal echoed behind them - the beginning of a battle their sensei could not possibly win alone.
Indra cursed his luck, why did his first mission have to turn from a C into a fucking A rank?!
He wasn't bloody Naruto!
-----------------------
(Author note: So, yeah, the Main Character bad luck - first mission always is false when it comes to rank.
So, do tell me what you think will happen? Will they live? Will they die? Will Indra make it back to the Village?
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.
See you all later,
Bye!)