Although she missed her chance to get Akagi, Asuka landed safely on the ground, standing up. Then she could see that Akagi was coming for Takeda. He made the Samurai miss his chance of getting to her. Suddenly, Kaneda clashed his blade to Akagi's armor. The young girl smiled.

She then walked around, waiting for a good opportunity to strike Akagi. "Remember: Concentrate on the opponent's weakest point," Asuka thought to herself, trying to find Akagi's exact weak point.

Takeda watched as Akagi charged him and was ready to roll out of the way when Kaneda hit the samurai's armor with his blade. Takeda then looked over to see Asuka getting ready for another attack. Takeda ran at the samurai and dove at the ground. At the last second he stretched his leg out and swiped at Akagi's legs. In Takeda's mind the samurai had two choices; take the leg swipe, or jump over it and take whatever Asuka had planned.

Akagi saw Takeda's legs swing out in front of him. The three opponents had done quite well in devising their plan to stop him. He only had two choices: Take the kick and become vulnerable, or hop over it, and take Asuka's attack.

He decided that fighting Asuka would be preferrable to falling down.

He flipped over Takeda's legs and swung his blade horizontally at Asuka, completely controlled and moving fast.

She nods and walks out the door looking at Karela and saying "I'll be back tomorrow. Thank you for your help..."

Sayomi begins to incinerate her clothing burning up as her body does the same thing. She disappears without a trace leaving only a fine black powder residue in her wake.

Back in the cavern where she was staying Sayomi rest her head on a make-shift pillow thinking about the new information that had come to light. She smiled as she said aloud "I know he survived... I just know it! Deidara... I will find you..."

((I'm skipping ahead. No sense in letting this battle last forever. Just wanna get to the main plot asap, thats all))

Half an Hour later...

Kaneda sat down near the tree, huffing and puffing. A little sparring match could be quite exhausting. He received a few cuts from the blade of Akagi.

After catching his breath, Kaneda stood up. He sheathed back his blade onto his back. "Well, that was very tiring. I think we need a rest to regain our strength for tommorow... oh, yeh that reminds me."

He stared at Akagi and Asuka. "The hokage has recruited me to gather some volunteers for a mission tomorow. Interested?"

Akagi nodded at Kaneda. This was indeed an honor to be asked to join a mission, at least to Akagi's people.

"I accept your proposition. I am ready whenever your group is assembled."

Akagi then took out his blades so that he could clean them to the bright sheen they were before the sparring match.

Takeda looked over to Asuka after the practice duel was over.

"You did very well in the duel, if you ever need extra help do not hesitate to ask me."

Takeda then looked over to Akagi as he cleaned his blades. Takeda walked over to him and bowed.

"I do hope I was a worthy enough opponent for you during that duel."

Akagi looked up at Takeda and stood. He returned the bow, but did the bow very low, a sign of great respect.

He came back up,"You did not disappoint, Takeda, you fought very well indeed. You are a great fighter, and I hope that you continue in this fashion. Your people will need you."

He then looked at Asuka,"Also, Asuka, you did greater than expected. I see much promise in you. As Takeda said, do not hesitate to ask, for both he and I are willing to offer our experience to you. Good work to the both of you."

Akagi sat down again and resumed cleaning his blades.

"The hokage has recruited me to gather some volunteers for a mission tomorow. Interested?"

As Asuka breathed from the practice she had, the young girl's eyes shot open and glanced at Kaneda with a surprised look. The Hokage was recruiting warriors for a mission? That was totally awesome!

Asuka stood straight, and smiled brightly. "You can count me in!"

"You did very well in the duel, if you ever need extra help do not hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you. You did well too, Takeda. And don't worry. Whenever I'm in deep trouble... I'll call for ya." She gave him a smile. Then she looked up at Akagi. "Also, Asuka, you did greater than expected. I see much promise in you. As Takeda said, do not hesitate to ask, for both he and I are willing to offer our experience to you. Good work to the both of you."

Asuka grinned, and replied, "Thank you so much, Akagi. You all did well too." She bowed, and sat on the grass, sighing. Boy, what a day...

"You did not disappoint, Takeda, you fought very well indeed. You are a great fighter, and I hope that you continue in this fashion. Your people will need you."

"It was how I was brought up and it is how I will teach."

Takeda looked at the group and thought about staying there and just relaxing on the grass but he had work to do.

"If you'll excuse me I've got some training to do, You are all welcome to join me if you wish."

I need to get some sleep

I second that, I'm tired

You're a tailed beast, you don't get tired

That shows what you know, I need to sleep once in a while or my basic instincts take over.

What do you mean "basic Instincts?"

I'll lose control and most likely go on a rampage

I really hope your joking about that

I might be...but it's much more fun to make you wonder

Kaneda smiled. Two more people have joined the squad for the mission, but he had to fill them in so they know whats happening.

He approached Akagi and Asuka. "Alright, here's the deal: Some environmental activist group called the Arashi have asked for volunteers to clense a group of ninja who call themselves the Ogawa. They've invaded some sacred underground tomb surrounded by these rare exotic vegetation, which the Ogawa is harvesting illegally. We're needed to deal with them. Questions?"

Akagi looked up from cleaning his blade.

"Well, no questions as of now...do we want these Asari ninjas dead? Or are we just reasoning with them?"

This was a very important question to Akagi, sometimes, he had trouble figuring out if he should take prisoners or not.

Often, he didn't.

"Well, no questions as of now...do we want these Asari ninjas dead? Or are we just reasoning with them?"

Kaneda sighed. "Its more the other way 'round. Do we want these "Ogawa" ninjas dead. Well, I assume we have to drive them away from the site. Otherwise, if they resist, we may have to fight them."

Kaneda turned his back to them and walked away. "We're meeting in the center of town tommorow at 9 o'clock. Dont be late..." he walked out of site.

Akagi mentally smacked himself, he'd got these ninja groups confused....again.

"Forgive me, I get a bit confused sometimes....."

Akagi went back to polishing his blade, trying to push the thought of messing up the group's names. It could almost be slightly dishonorable, or even insulting to his hosts. He'd do well to remember everything.

((lol we should be both forgiven. Its Arashi, sorry about that. I kinda forgot... meh, they sound the same anyway... :p ))

Naruto was waiting for the two ANBU members when he heard a sound outside his window.

Why does that girl always try and sleep outside in that tree?! If I didn't know better, I'd swear that she does that to annoy me.

"Hinata, could you please go and get Karela out of that tree? I've told her not to sleep there but she just won't listen to me."

Hinata nodded and left the room just as the two ANBU members were walking in.

Alright, straight to business

"I'm glad you two could make it, alright, here's the deal. Tomorrow morning, you are to escort a girl to the 44th training zone. Stay as long as the girl wants you to stay."

The two ANBU members nodded and silently left the room

Man those guys freak me out, they never say anything. Ah well, time to watch the fun.

Naruto turned his eye's to window and watched as the tree Karela was sleeping in shake violently and smiled as he watched Karela get launched out of the tree.

I've got to learn how Hinata does that.

The Next Day...

Kaneda yawned and leaned against the stone wall of a flower shop. He waited in the center of town, and watched as the fellow residents walked by. He looked down at his watch. 9:30 am. And he thought he was the one being late, as he only just arrived. He hoped nobody left without him...

Then suddenly, he saw a tall figure approach him. He was very muscular and wore the traditional Jonin uniform. He had white hair and had a very cheerful look in his face. He stood infront of Kaneda and winked. "Ah, good. Right on time..."

Kaneda loked at his watch. "Its 9:30. We're half an hour late."

"But nobody has left without us. I assume you know who I am?"

Kaneda gave him a very bored expression. "Can't say I have. There are too many faces in Konoha to remember. Its very tiring... I assume you were hand picked by Sam?"

"No, I was hand picked by the great Hokage himself." The tall Jonin grinned.

"Wait, then that must mean... you're..."

"Daisuke Tategami" he pointed at himself, flexing his muscle on purpose as he does so. "At your service."

Kaneda gave a rather strange look to Tategami as he proudly introduced himself in such a ridiculously physical way. He sighed. "When will the others arrive so I wont have to be left alone with this guy?" he thought to himself.

Waking up from lying by the tree she sometimes laid by, Asuka let out a big yawn. After scratching her back, the young girl got up, and stretched, looking around. "Wow. The residents must be up and about already," she thought to herself.

Asuka walked down the path of the village, wondering where the Samurai Akagi, Kaneda, and the others were at. Suddenly, she saw one of them.

"Hey, Kaneda! I was wondering where one of my good friends were at!" Asuka greeted, smiling. She then looked up at a big, muscular guy standing in front of Kaneda. "Um... hi there. I'm Asuka Kyo. Who might you be, sir?"

Kaneda was glad to see Asuke arrive at the moment he wished to not wait with the bug guy alone. "Hey, Kaneda! I was wondering where one of my good friends were at!"

"Morning..." he yawned and stretched. Asuka gazed at the big man.

"Um... hi there. I'm Asuka Kyo. Who might you be, sir?"

The big jonin grinned and wink, once again making an overacting introduction with the help his flexing muscles. "The name is Daisuke, of the proud Tategami clan! I am here to assist and opperate this mission as requested by Naruto Uzamaki."

Kaneda smacked his forehead. "He is such an embarrasment..." he said under his breath.

Sayomi began to walk up the past to Kohona's front gate as she yawn and stretched her arms, her ghostly white skin glistened in the sun as she walked in past the guards.

Noticing how this may look she quickly began to incinerate leaving the front gate instantaneously and reappearing just outside of the Hokage's building. She walked up the front steps and into the hallway and just before she opened the door she though to herself "God... I REALLY hope they're not doing anything in there... I just had breakfast.". She walks in cooly with her eyes closed and her arms raised and crossed behind her head as she says "Hello... Sorry I'm late." as she smiled fearing opening her eyes remembering the last time.

Naruto frowned as Sayomi walked in

Great, now the ANBU are going to be ticked at me

"Well...this is bad. I sent two ANBU agents to meet you outside your cave this morning. They were supposed to meet you there. and escort you to the 44th training zone, that's where we heard the explosions from that night."

Naruto smiled sheepishly

"I'm sorry about this, I thought the ANBU agents would be there before you woke up."

Sayomi opens her eyes revealing her ultima demon mangekyu sharingan fully activated.

She looked up at him and began saying "I'll take my leave then, I can catch them still at my cave, I'm quicker then Leaf ANBU."

She begins to incinerate burning away into the abyss as she appears near her cave. She sees the Kohona ANBU agents and yells after them "Hey!" She begins to run up to their position as she says "Sorry I'm late, I had no idea you would meet me out here, I went to see Naruto... the Hokage, earlier and he had told me about your departure." as she stops near them she begins saying again "Shall we get going?"

"The name is Daisuke, of the proud Tategami clan! I am here to assist and opperate this mission as requested by Naruto Uzamaki."

Asuka raised her eyebrows, staring at the one named Daisuke. Then she began to smile sheepishly. "Um... nice to meet ya! Always an honor to meet someone from the Tategami clan." She glanced around. "So... I wonder if the others are coming as well. I believe this is where we are suppose meet?"

The young girl scratched her head, still a little tired.

Akagi stared hard at the man on the other side of the counter at the rebuilt Ramen shop.

"You mean you want that much?" Akagi said angrily.

The man across the counter nodded.

Akagi nodded and stuck a hand in his pack searching for some pay of some sort. He found nothing.

"Sir, you don't buy thirteen bowls of noodles and not pay for it."

Akagi nodded and took from his bag a small golden sculpture of a dragon.

"Here, is this enough?"

The man's eyes widened as he took the sculpture.

"This is an ancient artifact, I have studied for a long time. This is too much, I cannot accept."

Akagi shrugged,"No, it is all I have to offer, keep it."

Akagi bowed slowly, the other man completely amazed at the great artifact that he had.

"It is alright, your debt is paid. I thank you, outsider."

Akagi came up from the bow,"No, thank you, I shall not forget this."

The Samurai then turned around and walked quickly out of the shop, looking around for his friends that promised to support in their mission.

Samurai never break a promise.

"So... I wonder if the others are coming as well. I believe this is where we are suppose meet?"

"Yep. If everyone followed the instructions correctly, they were all 'sposed to meet here by now..."

He leaned against the wall, looking up at the sky. He remembered all the names as best he could at the top of his head on who is accompanying on the mission. "There oughta be a few others coming. Sam, Akagi, Takeda and maybe Karela if she got the word."

(Phantom, Are you under the tree I'm sleeping in? Cause I have a great Idea that could add a bit of humor to the story)

Karela had been napping gently in the tree when It had shaken itself violently and she had found herself on the ground.

Who keeps doing that?!

Now Karela was up in the tree again, and this time she was watching through mostly closed eyes, just waiting for the person who kept shaking the tree to show up.

This time, I'll be ready

((No, but I'm on my way now...))

Kaneda squinted through the near-by alley and looked across to where the tree stood. He thought he saw Karela suddenly fall from the tree. "Wel'p, at least we've found another one of them..."

He wondered why she didnt come across to accompany the team, as she climbed back up into the tree. Kaneda walked through the Alley straight to where the tree was. He stood right in front of it and saw where Karela was napping on the big branch. "<sigh> she has no time for this..."

He jumped onto the thick branch.

Karela watched through slitted eyes as Kaneda jumped up onto her branch.

So he's the one who keeps on knocking me out of the tree! Well...time for him to know what it's like!

Karela waited until he was close and then she jumped at him

"I'll teach you to knock me out of the tree!"

"I'll teach you to knock me out of the tree!"

Kaneda gave Karela a confused look. "Huh?"

He didnt expect it, Karela jumped at him crazily. Next thing he knew, his head hit the tree trunk and gave him a sore lump on the head. He fell down onto the grass. "Ugh..." he groaned. He pulled himself up. "WHATS YOUR PROBLEM?!?!" he yelled angrily with openly scary eyes.

"WHATS YOUR PROBLEM?!?!"

The voice sounded like it belonged to Kaneda. Asuka looked up at Daisuke. "Um... heh heh. I think that was Kaneda. He sounded pretty angry at something... or someone. Better go check it out. You can come too, if ya like." And with that, she ran to find where Kaneda's voice had been heard.

At last, she came through an alley, and found Kaneda on the grass. He looked hurt. "Oh man! Are you all right?!" Asuka knelt by his side, and looked at the sore on his head.

"Oh dear. We gotta find you something to heal that wound." She then looked up at the tree, and saw Karela on a tree branch. "Did you do this?"

Akagi walked slowly into the scene that had occured.

Apparently, Karela had been greatly....irritated, to say the least.

The Samurai moved slowly, seeing Asuka rush over to Kaneda, and Karela smirking in the tree. Akagi smiled and casually walked over.

"So, when you guys are not trying to defend the village, you are more likely to destroy it, eh? Young people.....heh."

Akagi put his hands on his hips and watched, at the same time reminding himself that he too, was quite young.

"Woops."

Karela smiled sheepishly at Kaneda and grinned feebly

"Uh...you see, I keep trying to sleep up here...and someone keeps shaking the tree and I keep getting launched out of the tree...and I thought you were going to knock me out of the tree..."

Karela smiled sheepishly

"Uhhhh...Sorry?"

Sam ran towards the group, he had gone to his place and had slept in. Busy night in the forest, training against trees and shadows.
( Sorry, I fogot to check this in a while and am checking now, I hope this doesn't ruin the element of the story, I was in a hurry to post my characters whereabouts.)

((I'll send u an email telling you wats happened so far :) ))

Oh dear. We gotta find you something to heal that wound."

"Eh, its fine... I'll live. Thanks." he smiled at Asuka. He stood up, and stared down at Karela. "Someone keeps knocking you out of the tree?"

He looked up at the tree branches. It didnt look like anybody was up there. He looked down at Karela. "Maybe whoever shook you is trying to tell you your late to gather with us at this hour. Most of us have finally arrived for the mission."

He paused thinking. "Urm, did you get Takeda's message?"

"Eh, its fine... I'll live. Thanks."

"Oh. Okay then!" she replied, shrugging with a grin.

Asuka smacked her head, remembering the mission. "Right! The mission! Well'p... we better get to it, huh?" Then she bit her lower lip, thinking. Today was going to be busy, really. "Man. I'm guessing we're gonna face danger and whatnot. Ah well! Better than to sit around all day and do nothing!"

She smiled. Then she looked over at Karela. "And it's okay, Karela. You didn't mean to hurt him. I'm pretty sure Kaneda feels the same way." Asuka turned to him. "Right, Kaneda?"

Akagi's ears perked up.

"Ahh, so we are preparing to leave for the mission? Excellent. I shall prepare some tea to highten our senses, have some if you'd wish."

The Samurai comically sat right where he was and withdrew a small kit for creating an amazing green tea. Akagi also put a tiny bit of Sake in the tea to add a small extra perk.

Well, maybe a bit more then that...

The tea was quickly made, and Akagi took a quick sip, finding it to his expectations. He suddenly realized how random the situation was, and chuckled ot himself.

Karela jumped out of the tree and brushed herself off.

"...So can anyone tell me about this mission we're supposed to go on?"

Karela looked up into the Hokage's office window and noticed that Naruto was grinning at her.

So He's the one who kep knocking me out of the tree! I'll get him when I get back...

"...So can anyone tell me about this mission we're supposed to go on?"

"I think I'll handle this!" Tategami announced. "My presentation skills may come in handy in a situation like this."

"Yeah, as long as it doesn't involve the use of you biceps, you overgrown muscled freak!" Kaneda thought to himself.

"I'll ignore that little remark you made to yourself, Kaneda!" Tategami added, watching Kaneda with stern eyes.

"How did-- But-- I didn't say that outloud--- But..."

"A lesson for later... Now! Hold onto this for me, Kaneda-kun!" he handed him a very large scroll, when opened revealed an entire map of the Shinobi World.

"Right!" Tategami cleared his throat, and pointed at the country marked Konohagakure. "A representative of the Environmental Activist group known as the Arashi has assigned a team (thats us) to be dispatched to the Land of the Waterfalls."

Pointing at the designated country. "There lies the hidden tomb of the Warlord Magato. A clan of rogue ninja who call themselves the Ogawa have invaded the sacred site and are harvesting the rare vegetation within that cave for their own uses."

"Can I drop this now?" Kaneda complained. Tategami nodded, and Kaneda rolled the map up and placed it on the grass.

"Our job is to drive the Ogawa away from the site. As this classified as a B-rank mission, we will not be killing any opposition on site, unless it is for our own defence. Questions before we depart?

((I know this is off-topic, but... man, I'm really lovin' this Naruto RP! Ahem... continue. :D ))

Asuka looked up at Tategami, listening to the mission carefully.

"There lies the hidden tomb of the Warlord Magato. A clan of rogue ninja who call themselves the Ogawa have invaded the sacred site and are harvesting the rare vegetation within that cave for their own uses."

"The Ogawa! I've heard about those guys. No-gooders is what they are...", Asuka thought, having her hand to her chin.

"Our job is to drive the Ogawa away from the site. As this classified as a B-rank mission, we will not be killing any opposition on site, unless it is for our own defence. Questions before we depart?

The young girl raised her hand. "Yeah! Uh... do we have food on the trip? Sorry, just wanted to ask that."

Elsewhere

The two ANBU agents nodded and began to head off.

"Before we go anywhere...you should be aware that the 44th training zone can be quite dangerous. We've had reports of strange noises coming from there at night recently."

The second ANBU agent nodded in affermation

"If you do stay the night in the forest, keep on your guard at all times."


Back with the group

"This is gonna be so much fun! I'm finally going to have the opportunity to try out my new jutsu!"

That new Jutsu of yours is a laugh!

It seemed to impress you when you first saw it.

I wasn't impressed...I was suprised.

"Yeah! Uh... do we have food on the trip? Sorry, just wanted to ask that."

"I have made sure we've stocked up on provisincies." he pulled out from behind him a few marked scrolls. "Summoning happens to be part of my speciality, as well as other things..." he looked down sadly on the ground. His secret must be kept hidden from these kids.

"Anyway, the point I'm making: Though I normally use Lions as part of my summoning, I have also managed to develope these."

He passsed Asuka a scroll. "A scroll... that summons bowls of ramen. Quite a conveniant skill the Tategami clan have."

Kaneda sighed. "Can we please get going? I'm already itching to get out of this place"

The group headed towards the village gate, exiting the hidden leaf village Konoha.

"A scroll... that summons bowls of ramen. Quite a conveniant skill the Tategami clan have."

Asuka smiled. "Wow. Thanks, Tategami." She placed the scroll inside her bag. As she walked through the village gate, and away from the Hidden Leaf Village, she looked back and saw the gate finally close. She breathed. This was going to be her first mission ever.

On top of that, it was good to make new friends at the Hidden Leaf Village. If it hadn't been for these guys, her life would've been dull by now. Asuka smiled to herself brightly.

"You can summon ramen? Umm...how does the summoned ramen taste?"

Karela turned to Asuka

"I don't know about you...but I heard that summoned food tastes bad, that's why I never travel anywhere unless I'm all stocked up on instant ramen! Now that's the good stuff!"

Karela turned to talk to the big guy

"I'm sorry...but I haven't got your name yet. I only know that you seem to love ramen and you carry a huge sword. Could you tell me your name? I don't want to call you "big guy" for the rest of the mission."

I'm sorry...but I haven't got your name yet. I only know that you seem to love ramen and you carry a huge sword. Could you tell me your name? I don't want to call you "big guy" for the rest of the mission."

Kaneda turned to Karela with an intrigueing face. "NO! PLEASE, YOU DONT WANNA---"

"Jonin designated tat217. Daisuke Tategami..." he proudly announced. "Of the clan Tategami" performing the usual "flexing the muscle" routine within his introduction.

Kaneda rolled his eyes and sighed. "Why, oh why, did we have to get banded with this guy"

"I don't know about you...but I heard that summoned food tastes bad, that's why I never travel anywhere unless I'm all stocked up on instant ramen! Now that's the good stuff!"

Asuka smiled at Karela's comment. "I hear ya on that!" After Daisuke proudly did that "flexing the muscle" introduction, the young girl giggled. Then she looked over at Kaneda.

"Why, oh why, did we have to get banded with this guy"

"Beats me," Asuka answered, with a shrug and smile.

Akagi watched with a humorous expression. Ninja could be quite funny during regular conversation.

The Samurai finished his tea, finding his senses hightened and ready. He stood and looked at the map, already plotting a mental course.

"Hmmm, well, if introductions are over, how many will we be up against? How far off are these 'Ogawa?"

Akagi smiled and began to be quite thankful for the group he had landed in. They'd definately make good comrades.

((here's a map http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u154/Naruto792/map1-1.jpg))

"We dont know much about the Ogawa..." Tategami answered. "We have no idea when they've first been established, or how many there are in total, or even their primary goal. So we are uncertain at this moment how many there are at the sacred burial site."

"We've been told to meet at the edge of the border of the land, where we'll meet the representative Gatoa and his accompanying members. If we leave now, it oughta take us about a day to reach the Land of Waterfalls"

Tategami stretched his limbs and biceps, much to the Kaneda's disgust. "Alright! Without further adue, lets move!" He positioned his legs, like he was about to run a marathon. Then he darted forward into the forest. Kaneda followed, and jumped from tree branch to tree branch, soaring through the wind like he was flying.

Karela stared at the big Jonin

Karela then turned to look to stare at Kaneda.

"Does he always do that muscle flexy thing whenever he introduces himself? If so...someone is gonna have to do something about that."

Karela turned her eyes down to the ground

"I wish we could have been banded with TenTen sensai, at least she doesn't flex her muscles when she introduces herself, and she always brings along good food."

Karela sighed and sprang off after the jonin.

Kaneda felt the leaves scrape against his face gently as he soared through the forest following Tategami infront.

Behind him, the others followed. After a few hours, they took short breaks then continued on course. Eventually day turned into night, and Tategami insisted to call it a night. They took the next stop in a clearing.

"We'll rest here tonight. We need to keep up our strength for tommorow."

Tategami set up a camp fire, and pulled out his scrolls that summoned the warm bowls of ramen. Kaneda snapped the merged chopsticks in half and took one of the bowls.