BSNW CH 025 Introduction to Team 2

[Quest Alert]

[Protect against attack of the masked person on Fire Daimyo's caravan. Make an impression on Itachi Uchiha]

[Reward: +1000 xp, reputation with Itachi Uchiha rises to friendly.]

It seems Itachi and I are fated to meet. Jun packed up the training meet and said farewell to all five. He then went to Nazuna's shop/home. Hinoki had asked him to come there after training. Jun entered the shop and saw Nazuna packing up various necessities into scroll. Although he too was proficient in it and could make scrolls with big amount of storage space, his inventory system made it redundant since it could already store it all. But he helped her with rechecking her packing list. While doing that he mentally checked his own inventory for supplies. Food, Chakra Paper, His Whip Sword, Outfit, all checks out. While they were about to finish, Hinoki came to inform them that they were ready to leave and that they will leave morning of the next day and Jun went home for the day.

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Next morning, Jun, Nazuna and Hinoki visited Hokage's office.

The Sun blazed bright gold through the open windows of the Hokage's office. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage momentarily forgot about his paper works for the Daimyo's departure and enjoyed the warmth that seeped into the old bones of his. He breathed in the scent of heated earth and leaves and a faint tinge of smoke, left behind from when he himself was smoking earlier during his paperwork. Usually ninjas would have left early for the missions, but Daimyo had insisted leaving at afternoon therefore they had to wait for him. He had called the two groups that were going to accompany the Daimyo to meet him before leaving. They must be about to arrive soon. He busied himself thinking about them as his attention wavered occasionally to the faint sounds from his village on a gentle breeze, a laugh here and there, and clatter of market chatter of children. Soon a knock sounded on his door and his secretary poked her head in to inform that both the group had arrived and The Third motioned to send them in.

"Ah here you are." Third Hokage said to both groups. He then addressed Hinoki's group about the Team 2 that was going to be guard for the Daimyo and vice versa "Minazuki is the head of Team 2, assigned to protect the Daimyo. You will be joining as additional backup and Hinoki knows the Daimyo so it won't be a problem anyway. Minazuki, these are a few people that are tagging along with you on a different mission. This is Hinoki, leader of this group and those two are Nazuna and Jun. They won't interfere in your mission as long as it doesn't involve them. So good luck on your mission, make the village proud Team 2!"

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After they assembled outside the gates of village they were approached by Yuki Minazuki, the leader of team 2.

"Hello there, I am Yuki Minazuki, leader of Team 2. This is my team Tenma Izumo, Shinka Inari and Itachi Uchiha" He said pointing to each kid in turn. Inari waved at them while, Tenma scowled and looked away. Itachi observed them thoroughly, his eyes widening a bit when he realized who Jun was.

"We are just travelling part ways together. I am Hinoki and these two are Jun and Nazuna" Hinoki introduced himself and the two kids "I am a bit proficient at sealing arts and these two can also take care of themselves so we won't be a burden to you or your mission."

Minazuki's eyes constricted a bit and his expression showed that he didn't believe them. But he let it slide, it wasn't his problem if they lived or died. He would just take care of the three kids assigned to him and accomplish his mission.

Past noon, the Daimyo's carriage and his soldiers arrived. Everyone introduced themselves to the Daimyo. As third Hokage predicted, Daimyo was happy to see Hinoki. It seemed Hinoki had done Daimyo and his father some favour when he was small. He invited Hinoki into his carriage and he accepted. Both of them were having fun, chatting about old times in the carriage while the others walked outside. They camped in groups during the nights, Jun easily creating a large comfortable tent with grasses woven together in heaps to form a comfortable place to sleep. They had no problem so far apart from the occasional bandit group that decided to test their luck, but were easily decimated by Team 2 and the Daimyo's soldier's efforts. Since they had free time, Jun and Nazuna would often spend it practicing their sealing arts and chakra control training. Jun would meditate when everyone slept instead and often kept watch at nights since he didn't sleep. Over time, Itachi, Tenma, and Inari grew familiar with them seeing their friendly nature. Jun gifted the three of them Storage scrolls with capacity big enough as much as a large academy hall. As Inari and Tenma thanked them, overwhelmed by their gift, Minazuki watched from the side with a cramped expression. He hated over-talented children who surpassed him easily. Jun's prowess often irked him as he could see that the boy was as talented as Itachi if not more. Although it put him in a bad mood, he couldn't show it openly a he knew Hokage considered this group of three very important, else he won't have sent them as a backup for such a high profile entity as the Daimyo of Fire kingdom. He suppressed his irritation at the fact that his team was getting expensive sealing scrolls and various seal tags like candies and decided to ignore everything that happened. 'I will find a way later to somehow confiscate a few from them later.' He thought in a huff as he stalked off.

The time passed like this until it was already over one week. They had reached pretty close to one of the outpost of the Fire Capital. It was barely a day's journey to the capital now.

Just as they relaxed a bit, having come so near their goal, the disaster finally struck them.