Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Finally Found ❯ Their First Mission ( Chapter 6 )

[ A - All Readers ]

By: frib

Chapter 6 - Their First Mission

Naruto had trouble falling asleep that night and when he finally did he dreamed of Hinata. In his dream Hinata was badly injured and Naruto was standing over her body, crying. He had promised that he would not let anything harm her, but he had failed. He woke with a start. “NO HINATA!” He was breathing hard and sweating. Still really early in the morning, Naruto could not go back to sleep.

He packed his backpack with extra kunai and shuriken, his sleeping clothes, and plenty of instant ramen. He left his apartment and was already halfway to the Hyuuga complex before he realized that he was extremely early. None of Konoha's residents were in the streets yet so Naruto decided to walk through the streets and organize his thoughts. He tried to figure out what his dream had meant. Did it mean she was gonna get hurt on their mission? No, he wouldn't let that happen. Maybe it was nothing; he made his way through almost every street trying, but failing, to forget the dream before heading to the Hyuuga complex.

Hinata had already woken up and finished her morning chores. She placed the morning tea in the courtyard, got her bag from her room, and went to wait for Naruto outside the gates. She waited outside because she had not told her father about her new team or mission. She feared that if he found out he would refuse to let her go.

As Hinata waited she tried to convince herself to relax around Naruto. She knew she was going to be spending all her time with him and did not want to be nervous or start stuttering uncontrollably. She didn't have much time because in a matter of minutes Naruto had already arrived.

“Hey, Hinata.” The moment Naruto saw her, the dream was forgotten. The worry in his mind had been replaced with a warm feeling.

“Hello, Naruto-kun…” she fought the stuttering feeling rising in her throat. “Are you ready to go meet Jiraya-sama?”

“Yeah let's go.” They began walking to the Konoha gates. Naruto was telling Hinata how much he would miss Ichiraku and how he had packed enough instant ramen for the whole mission. Hinata couldn't help but laugh, she doubted anyone liked ramen as much as Naruto.

Naruto thought it might be inappropriate to ask, but he had been very curious as to how Hiashi had reacted to Hinata joining Jiraya and him on the mission. He decided he would try to ask her. “Hinata, can I ask you something?” They had reached the gates and were waiting for Jiraya, who, as usual, was late.

“What is it Naruto-kun?” Hinata had begun to relax just a little bit, but she could feel herself become a little nervous.

“Well,” he didn't want to upset her, “umm… how did your father take the news?” He looked at her hoping she would not be angry at him.

“Oh?” Hinata's nervousness returned to full. “Um… well… Na-Naruto-kun. I didn't… I didn't tell him.” She looked down at her feet ashamed at the disrespect she had shown her father. She knew he would be upset when she returned, but she had no choice. She had to go with Naruto.

“You didn't tell him?” This surprised Naruto. He knew the Hyuuga clan's reputation of honor and respect and could not see Hinata acting against those principles. His heart sank; maybe she shouldn't be here. “Hinata,” Naruto turned away from her, “are you sure you really want to go?”

“Naruto-kun…” her eyes raised up and faced his back. She knew she would be in trouble, but she had chosen her heart over her mind. She had chosen Naruto over her father. “…yes, I want to go… with you.”

Naruto quickly turned around. She had said `with him.' He didn't even think about what he said next. “I want you to come with me too, Hinata.” As Naruto looked at Hinata he realized that his feelings for her were something he couldn't hide from himself anymore. He wanted to protect her, to be with her, but how could he tell her?

The two stood in silence until Jiraya arrived.

Jiraya was not alone when he reached the village gates. Accompanying him was a short, squat man in his late 30's. He had balding hair but covered it up with a straw hat.

“Naruto, Hinata, this is Matsu Iwajo. We are to escort him to a village a day and a half away and help find his son Marashin.” Matsu made no attempt to acknowledge either Naruto or Hinata, and when he spoke he spoke only to Jiraya.

After entering the forests outside of Konoha, Jiraya walked in front with Matsu while Naruto and Hinata walked behind them. All four stayed relatively quiet until the reached the end of the forest when Naruto, trying to sneak a glance at Hinata, tripped over a root of a tree.

Jiraya laughed at Naruto, “Hey make sure you watch out for all the traps that the trees have laid out.”

Matsu did not think it was so funny, muttering something that sounded like “stupid kid.”

When Naruto got up and dusted himself off he spotted Hinata giggling at him. He walked up next to her and said in a low voice, “That's not funny Hinata, these traps are really dangerous.” They both laughed at his joke and he felt relieved that the silence was broken.

After that, Naruto told Hinata about the two years he spent training with Jiraya. She gladly listened to his story, happy that they were finally talking. She would occasionally respond with a nod or a quiet “yes,” but mostly she just listened intently. She was more then happy to find out about Naruto's life.

During the first day Naruto also told her the story of how he and Jiraya had to find Tsunade, convince her to return to the village, and how they all worked together to defeat Orochimaru and Kabuto. Hinata grew excited as Naruto told her about learning the Rasengan and using it on Kabuto. When they stopped to eat, a shy Hinata asked Naruto if she could show it to him.

Naruto walked to a nearby tree and summoned a shadow clone. As he gathered chakra in his hand the clone molded it into a sphere and disappeared. “RASENGAN!” Naruto smashed the sphere of chakra into the tree, demolishing it.

“That was amazing, Naruto-kun…” Hinata could not hide how impressed she was. She did not know he was capable of such a powerful jutsu. Naruto stood there looking proud of himself.

“Naruto,” Jiraya called from where he was eating. “Stop trying to impress Hinata and come and eat. We don't have much time.” Hinata started to giggle as she walked back to where they were sitting.

Naruto's previously proud face had turned a slight shade of pink. He stood there scratching the back of his head and looking slightly embarrassed. “Ero-sennin, I wasn't…” Naruto just stopped. He walked back and started to eat his ramen.

Before they knew it, night had fallen. They had been walking for hours with Naruto and Hinata talking the whole time. They traded stories about the missions they had been on and Hinata, for the first time, had managed more the complete sentence around Naruto. Both were interested in hearing about the other.

They reached a random spot in the road when Jiraya held his arms out. “This way,” as he spoke he turned right and walked into the surrounding trees, followed by the rest. After several minutes they reached a very dense area. “Let's get some rest.”

They set up their sleeping bags around a large tree. Matsu laid down first and immediately started to snore. At this, Naruto and Hinata looked at each other and laughed. “Hey old man, stop snoring.” Naruto picked up a small rock and tossed it at Matsu hitting him in the head and waking him up. Matsu muttered something inaudible and laid back down. Jiraya shot a furative look at Naruto that said “STOP!” and laid down himself.

“Naruto-kun, that was mean.” Hinata was giggling quietly. She did think that waking Matsu was mean, but there was no way she could get mad at Naruto.

“Ha ha ha!” Naruto laughed quietly, as he didn't want Jiraya to get upset. “Hey Hinata,” he said in a low voice, “you wanna come in here with me?” He held his sleeping bag open. Hinata's eyes grew wide.

“Wha…” was he serious? Hinata's body started to shake.

Naruto laughed and closed his sleeping bag. “I'm just kidding Hinata. Good night…” Naruto laid his head down and a weird feeling hit him making his laugh subside in an instant. He had only been trying to make Hinata laugh, but what if she had gotten up and gotten in with him? What would he have done?

Hinata hadn't moved since Naruto had asked her the question. She could see his face and was confused that his eyes were open. He was obviously thinking something, she thought, but what? He was only kidding right? “Um…” Hinata regained her voice, “good night… Naruto-kun…”

Both Naruto and Hinata were overcome with the urge to go to the other, but neither could act on it. Naruto's eyes shifted towards Hinata's, who had not yet changed her position and was still looking at him. The two kept their eyes locked until the other's eyes were all that each could see. Jiraya was already asleep and Matsu had started snoring again before their gazes unlocked. Hinata laid down in her sleeping bag and fell asleep instantly, her dreams filled with images of lying with Naruto in his sleeping bag. Naruto did not fall asleep as quick, but when he did his dreams had been similar to Hinata's.

When Naruto woke up, Hinata was already packing her stuff. When Hinata heard Naruto stir she involuntarily turned to face him. She was surprised to see that his eyes were focused on her and he was smiling. “Good morning Hinata…” Naruto said in a voice that was not his normal voice.

“Um…” Once again, their eyes were locked together. “Good morning, Naruto-kun.”

“Hey you two hurry up. We're off in ten minutes.” Jiraya and Matsu were back on the road ready to go. Under his sleeping bag Naruto started removing his sleeping clothes to change, unaware that Hinata was still looking at him. She was stunned when his pants came flying out from under the sleeping bag. She knew that she should look away, but she couldn't.

Naruto, in only his boxers, reached for his clothes a few feet away. As he did so, the sleeping bag slid off his stomach revealing his upper body to Hinata. Hinata had never seen Naruto without his clothes. She noticed that after years of intense training Naruto's body had been finely toned. His arms were very muscular and his chest was rock hard. Hinata started to blush as her eyes moved down from his chest to his well defined abs, but her eyes grew wide as she noticed a very large tattoo in the middle of his stomach. It was at this moment that Naruto turned his head and saw Hinata's eyes on him. He grabbed the sleeping bag and pulled it up over his body as his face turned pink. “Um Hinata…” Hinata quickly turned around, he had caught her looking at him.

“Umm… umm…” Relax, relax she told herself, “I'm sorry Naruto-kun.”

Naruto could tell that she was really embarrassed. “Oh, it's ok Hinata. I was just surprised because, after all, you did turn me down yesterday.” Hinata looked at Naruto with a shocked look on her face only to see him smiling back at her.

Oh, she thought, he was just joking with her again. A huge smile came over her face, all her embarrassment disappearing in her laughter. She turned away again, if he wanted to joke around she could joke too. “Well, maybe next time Naruto-kun.” She smiled at her own joke and finished packing her stuff. She took off towards where Jiraya was waiting.

Naruto was stunned. Was she kidding with him? “Of course she was,” he thought, “but…” His thoughts drifted back to his dream. Once again, Hinata was lying in his sleeping bag with him. Her back was pressed against his chest and his arms were wrapped around her as he kissed her shoulders and the back of her neck.

“NARUTO!” Jiraya was growing impatient.

Naruto was quickly snapped to back to reality, dressed and packed as fast he could. He ran to meet the rest of his team and they were off again…

The morning's journey went relatively smoother than the previous morning's. Hinata seemed more relaxed around Naruto and they had no trouble keeping their conversation going for most of the day. A little after the sun reached the top of the sky a large village came into view. An hour later they had finally entered the village.

As they entered the middle of the village there were shops everywhere, and not the same shops they were used to in Konoha. There were expensive restaurants and women's clothing shops that had dresses none of them could ever hope to afford hanging in the window. There were giant toy stores with lifesize stuffed bears and banks with rich looking men entering and leaving. Jiraya would enter these places and ask for any information for Matsu's son, while the others waited in the street. Most of the time Jiraya would just leave the shop and shake his head, other times, however, he would be thrown out and some angry looking woman would be yelling at him from inside the shop.

Night had arrived and Jiraya decided they would call it a night. The three ninja entered a cheap looking motel while Matsu remained outside asking passerbys for information. An aged man with long, tied back white hair was sitting at the front desk. “Can I help you?” he asked the ninjas.

“Yes,” Jiraya answered. “We need three rooms for the night please. Hinata,” he turned to face her, “can you get Matsu from outside please?” Hinata walked outside of the motel.

“Yes sir,” the man behind the desk answered. “

“Marashin, will you show them to their rooms.” A twenty-something year old man with green eyes and blond untidy blond hair wearing a long red jacket walked up to the three ninjas.

“Right this way please,” the man bowed low.

Jiraya and Naruto looked at each other. Was this Matus's son? Jiraya looked back to Marashin; he did not look like Matsu at all.

Marashin turned around to lead them to their rooms in back just as Jiraya spoke, “Excuse me, are you Marashin Iwajo?” The man in the red jacket froze where he stood.

He slowly turned his head to Jiraya and his face had a look of complete terror. “Um… no sir.” The man started to sweat profusely.

Just as Jiraya was going to speak, Matsu entered the room. Marashin's face turned white, “Matsu Hesoto…” he turned on the spot and ran to the back where the rooms were.

Naruto and Jiraya both froze. Jiraya turned and looked at Matsu, “I thought your name was Matsu Iwajo?” Matsu rushed past his ninja protectors and after Marashin. All three ninja started running to the back of the motel.

The back of the motel was nothing but one long hallway with 8 rooms on each side. When they reached the hallway Marashin had already reached the end. He touched several places on the wall and a small hole opened in the corner that led outside. Marashin climbed through the hole and before Matsu could reach it the hole had closed.

Matsu stood in front of the wall and, to everyone's shock, started forming hand signs. A large flame spread over the wall and it fell into a pile of ash. Everyone froze. “Matsu what is the meaning of this?” Jiraya shouted at him.

Matsu turned to them and smiled a nasty smile. “Stupid leaf ninja…” He turned back around and vanished into the night.

All three tried to run after him but they couldn't move. In a flash, the walls had disappeared and they were sinking into a pit of quicksand. Naruto and Hinata both started to panic. “Genjutsu,” Jiraya spoke calmly. “I don't know what's going on, but it looks like we've been deceived. RELEASE!” The walls returned and once again they were standing on solid ground. “Hinata, you need to find them.”

“Right! BYAKUGON!” The three ran into the street and Hinata began to search for them. She saw Marashin running with Matsu at his heels about 200 meters from where they stood. “This way!” She turned away from the main street and turned right onto a dark, rocky path. After a very short time running, Hinata spoke out. “They've stopped.”

Marashin had run right into the side of a steep mountain and was cornered by Matsu. Matsu slowly walked towards the cornered man who was shaking. He enjoyed Marashin's fear. “Don't worry, soon you will join the rest of your family.” He gathered chakra in his hand ready to strike. He pulled his fist back and swung at Marashin with all his might. POOF!

A cloud of smoke engulfed both men. When the smoke settled Marashin had disappeared. Instead, Jiraya was standing in his spot with his hand in front of him, palm out. Matsu's knuckles were pushed up against a small, transparent blue field that seemed to come from Jiraya's palm; the chakra Matsu had gathered had disappeared. He jumped back and smiled at Jiraya. “So, you escaped my genjutsu so quickly.”

Marashin was laying on the floor behind Naruto and Hinata. “Please help me…” he said quietly.

“Matsu,” the field from Jiraya's palm faded and his face remained calm. “Our mission was not to help you kill your son. What is the meaning of this?” Jiraya looked down at Marashin.

“My father!?” Marashin was not quiet as he got to his feet and pointed at Matsu. “He killed both my parents!”

“Ha ha ha!” Matsu was laughing. Jiraya turned back to him, but Matsu he had his eyes on Marashin. “And now it's your turn you little shit!” His laugh died. “I've waited ten years for this!” He lunged at Naruto and Hinata. They quickly grabbed Marashin and leaped towards Jiraya.

“Matsu Ijowa!” Jiraya had spoke with a voice that Naruto knew meant he was very serious. Matsu noticed the change and looked at him. “You have lied to us. This mission is over, but I cannot let you harm an innocent boy.”

Matsu lunged at Jiraya, “Fine then! I will kill you before I kill him!”

Jiraya easily blocked his attack and countered with a spin kick that caught Matsu right in the stomach sending him flying back 20 meters. “Naruto, Hinata,” he was still focused on Matsu, “I need you two to protect Marashin.”

Naruto wanted nothing more at the moment then to rush in and attack Matsu. “But Ero-sen…”

“No Naruto!” Jiraya interrupted Naruto's plea to help. “This is my fight… he will pay for disrespecting the leaf.” Matsu had finally gotten to his feet when Jiraya disappeared, reappearing right in front of Matsu. Jiraya punched him in the gut and he keeled over on the spot.

“You are weak…” Jiraya stood over him. “You could never kill me.”

Matsu had gotten onto his hands and knees. “Oh yeah…” Jiraya couldn't see his face but Matsu's nasty smile had returned. “ Earth element: Rock Golem Jutsu!”

A rock pillar sprung up from under Matsu sending him 30 feet into the air and slowly started to shape itself into a giant golem. From the top of the golem Matsu stood looked down at Jiraya, “Weak huh?” The golem raised his foot over Jiraya's body. “Now you die!” The golem's foot dropped to the ground as Naruto and Hinata looked on in shock.

Both their eyes grew even wider as shock turned to complete disbelief.

The rock golem's foot had not crushed Jiraya. He stood there with his palm held up over his head; the transparent blue field again illuminating from it. Just as the field had shielded him from Matsu's punch, it was shielding him from the golem's foot. “WATER ELEMENT: EXPLOSIVE WATER SHOCK WAVE!”

A flood of water shot out of Jiraya's mouth turning the rocky terrain into an ocean. The water rose to the golem's neck leaving only his head visable. Naruto and Hinata, who were both able to stand on the water, were supporting Marashin.

Jiraya stood in front of the Matsu and the golem. He was not going to give Matsu a chance to attack. “WATER ELEMENT: TRIPLE WATER DRAGON JUTSU!” Three water dragons emerged from the water and surrounded Matsu. They spiraled into the air and simultaneously came crashing down on the top of the golem's head. It was over.

The force of the jutsu had destroyed the golem's head and killed Matsu instantly. His dead body floated on the water for only a second before it sank to the rocky terrain below. Jiraya remained planted in the same spot. His eyes watched Matsu's body sink until it was too far below to see. The other three just stood there with their eyes on Jiraya. Slowly, the water level became lower and lower until it disappeared completely.

The three ninja buried Matsu near the mountain face. Afterwards, Jiraya was insistent that Marashin tell them the complete story. After seeing the Sannin in action, Marashin didn't think twice about his answer. As they walked back to the motel, he told them how he had met Matsu Hekote.

Marashin was 13 when he lived with his parents in a small village in the Rock Country. It was a rainy night when Matsu Hekote appeared at his door seeking a place to sleep. He had told Marashin's parents that he was a poor laborer looking for work in all the nearby villages. His parents were sympathetic and allowed him to stay the night, but Marashin was skeptical.

During the middle of the night, Marashin heard his mother scream and ran to his parents' room. When he entered the room his mother was lying slain in the bed and his father was backed against the wall with Matsu holding a knife to his throat. “I will enjoy killing your son after I kill you.” He stuck the knife into the father's chest.

Matsu backed up leaving the knife jammed in the man's chest. Marashin's father fell onto his knees in front of his killer. Marashin let out a gasp and Matsu turned his head to the child standing in the doorway. He started walking towards the child with an evil smile.

Marashin's father used his last ounce of strength to remove the knife and throw it at Matsu's back. The knife went into Matsu's right shoulder and he leaned onto a nearby wall. “Marashin… run…”

Marashin ran to the village's tiny police force, which consisted of the only 4 Rock-nin of the village. The ninja on duty ran back to Marashin's house just as Matsu was trying to escape and easily subdued the wounded killer.

“They locked him away,” Marashin said to the listening ninja. “… and for the past 10 years I've been living here. I changed my name to Marashin Jinosha in case Matsu escaped and came looking for me, but a lot of good that did.” Marashin's eyes had been on the floor the entire time he spoke about his family. Tears were coming down his cheek.

They walked Marashin back to the motel and bid him farewell. Marashin had insisted that they stay the night, but Jiraya was adamant about getting back on the road. He thanked all three ninja and bowed very low to Jiraya. “Thank you, Jiraya-san. My parents may rest now…”