Naruto Whines Until We Get a Different Job
“Target acquired!” Naruto shouted, pouncing on the cat.
Almost immediately afterwards he was grabbed by Naruto, the cat Tora began to scratch at him while yowling. Amaya sighed heavily, lifting the cat as she held it in a similar fashion as you would a child. She smiles as she looks down at Naruto's pouting.
“You gotta hold ‘em like this, otherwise they feel trapped.”
“Hmph. Stupid cat.”
“Oh come on, not more stupid missions. Give us something more exciting!” Naruto shouted, interrupting The Hokage.
HIs yelling had snapped Amaya from where she was staring sadly at the woman holding Tora. The poor cat looked absolutely miserable. She also couldn’t help but agree with Naruto.
The tasks could at least be framed differently in order to instill a sense of urgency or strategy. She mused, before watching Kakshi hit Naruto upside the head.
Laughing slightly her focus was on him as his stomach growled.
“Naruto, have you eaten yet today?”
“Oh no. But since yesterday's ramen was pork bone broth, todays is Miso broth-”
“Listen when I speak!” The Hokage shouted, the group of us turning to him.
“Listen old man, you don’t need to lecture me. I’m not that stupid kid who used to pull pranks, I’m a full blown Genin now.” He huffed, before turning and pouting.
There was a brief moment of silence before The Hokage spoke again, “Okay, fine. If you insist, I’ll have to give you a C-Rank mission. You’ll be escorting someone.”
“Oh who! A princess, a feudal lord?” Naruto cheered.
“Please, come in.”
The door slid open, an old man being revealed, carrying a large thing of booze.
“Really? This group of squirts is supposed to be guarding me?” He downed quite a bit of the bottle, “Seriously, are you even ninja? Particularly the short one with the stupid face.”
“Hahaha! Amaya-chan, he said you had a stupid face!”
She leaned from where she stood by Kakashi, brows furrowed into a worried look as she did so.
“O-oh, I’m sorry sir…”
“There’s another one!?” HE recoiled in slight surprise.
“Wait… Hold on- who did you mean then?”
A moment passed as he looked at Sakura and Sasuke, realizing that he was the shortest between the three of them. He turned back to the man raging.
“I’m gonna clobber you!”
He was held back by Kakashi, who shook his head at Naruto’s typical antics.
“I’m Tazuna. A master bridge builder, and I need to be escorted back to my homeland and protected from thieves.”
There was a nod and they were dismissed to get ready before heading out.
“Wow!” Naruto was looking around, excitement gleaming in his eyes.
“Geez, you’re a little excited for this.” Sakura mutters.
“I’ve never been out of the village before!” He bounces on his heels.
“Neither has Amaya-chan and she’s perfectly calm.” Sasuke huffed, as Amaya turned to him.
“Let him be excited Sasuke-san.” She huffed, walking forward to join him.
“Are you sure I’m safe with that pipsqueak?”
“Don’t worry. I'm a Jonin and you're safe with me.” Kakashi smiles softly.
They continued on, having to keep Naruto from attempting to attack the man they were supposed to protect. Amaya had purposely placed herself between him and Tazuna, keeping in stride with him as the two of them lead the group in relative silence.
They had been walking for a while, Kakashi occasionally giving short lessons about the history of other nations. Amaya had most of it memorized, tuning it out as she walked.
She was knocked out of her thoughts when she noticed how quiet the forest got, panic surging through her as she turned around just in time to watch as sharpened chains wrapped around Kakashi sensei, slicing him to pieces. Frozen in fear she looked on, the two moving on quickly to attack Naruto, where she leapt into action.
She shoved him from the brunt of the attack, Sasuke using his kunai to pin the chains to a tree before landing on their gloves, easily kicking them in the face as the momentum sent them flying.
Once they recovered they released the chains, redirecting towards Tazuna.
“Oji-san get behind me!” Sakura shouts, standing in front of him, kunai facing out.
Sasuke moved in front of her as well, the two bearing down on them when there was sudden movement, both being put into a chokehold by Kakashi.
“Yo.” He turned to Naruto, “Sorry for not helping you earlier, I didn’t know you’d freeze up.” He began to carry the two away.
Amaya had begun walking towards him when Sasuke spoke.
“Hey, you aren’t hurt… Scaredy-cat.” He huffed, Naruto looking back in rage.
Just as Naruto was about to lunge at him Kakashi’s voice freezes him in his tracks.
“Naruto! Stay still. They have poison in their claws. Moving around will only make the poison circulate more.”
Naruto froze, slowly walking over to where Kakashi tied them to the tree.
“Chunin from Kirigakure… Known for attacking until they or their target is dead.” He’s mostly thinking aloud.
“You knew we were there.” One of them hissed.
“A puddle on the ground after days without rain, is very unlikely.”
“If you knew… Then why’d you leave it to the kids to fight?” Tazuna asked, clearly on edge.
“I needed to know who they were after… Ninja attacking Ninja or,” Kakashi turns to Tazuna, “Another target.”
They continued talking, Amaya slowly moving to where they were tied up. She knelt in front of one of them, taking a piece off the base of the claw and pulling out a dark colored vial.
“Amaya-chan hey! What are you doing?” Naruto chirped, the group turning to face her.
“Kirigakure nin that use poison often carry vials of antivenom with them. Typically hidden in their weapons.” She hummed, standing as she turned to the group.
“A-Amaya?”
The voice behind her croaked, turning to see one of the ninja looking up to her. He had wild hair, his headband had horns fashioned on either side, the bags under his eyes becoming more prominent in the light.
She took a step back, clutching the vial to her chest, her eyes widened.
“Why are you saying my name like it’s important- like you know me?”
“O-oh come on, Amaya, you don’t remember me? I-it’s Meizu, y-you’re… You…”
Tears formed in his eyes as he looked at her, but he blinked and the look in his eyes was replaced with rage as he whipped his head to face Kakashi.
“What the hell did you do to her!? You Konoha Bastard- I’ll kill you for whatever you did to her dammit!” He snapped, getting no reaction from Kakashi.
Kakashi slowly turned to her “Amaya… Do you know him?” he spoke softly.
“I- I don’t know…” She continues to step back, bumping into Naruto.
She’s panicked, standing behind Naruto as she shakes.
“Amaya-chan, hey- are you oka-”
Naruto is cut off as she falls, just barely being able to catch her as she passes out.