Arashi hurriedly prepared for the day. He took his tanto and finished dressing. The chain remained wrapped around his arm. 'That crazy lady slowed me down, but I can't let that ruin my day.' He thought.
"Let's make today count," he said softly, securing the kunai and chain to his forearm.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
'Huh? What's he doing here?' Arashi wondered, surprised to find Kazuya waiting for him at his doorstep.
"We have a mission," Kazuya stated, his tone brooking no argument. With that, he flickered away, leaving Arashi to hurry after him.
"Hn. Can't be late for my first mission," Arashi thought, a surge of adrenaline quickening his pulse. "Time to go!" He vanished in a blur, utilizing his Body Flicker technique to catch up with his team.
They gathered at the entrance to the new Uchiha compound, Kazuya's gaze fixed on Arashi as he approached.
"You're late," Kazuya remarked, his tone laced with disapproval.
"Sorry," Arashi mumbled, a hint of annoyance flickering in his eyes.
"Sorry doesn't cut it," Kazuya growled. "But I'll allow it only because you still made it."
"Like you get to make those calls," Arashi muttered.
Itachi smiled, observing the interaction between his two newest students. "Hokage-sama is summoning us."
Arashi nodded, and Team 2 went to the Hokage's office for their mission briefing.
As they entered the building, they bumped into Team 7.
"Naruto!" Arashi exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face as he rushed towards his friend.
"Arashi!" Naruto greeted him with equal enthusiasm.
"You passed the bell test too?" Naruto asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Arashi nodded. "It was hard, but it was also fun. How was your bell test?"
"Well..." Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Wait, don't tell me you also got tied to a pole?" Arashi teased.
"No way! I mean-" Naruto paused, his eyes widening. "Wait, did you say also? Did you get tied to the pole?"
Arashi nodded, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I'm the only one who didn't get a bell."
"Wahaha!" Naruto burst into laughter, his hearty laughter echoing through the hallway.
"Jeez, you're so loud, Naruto," Sasuke chided, walking towards them with his usual expression. Sasuke grits his teeth. "Did you even hear what the Hokage said?"
Naruto blinked, a confused expression on his face. "He said something?"
Sasuke and Arashi exchanged exasperated glances. 'Classic Naruto,'
Nearby, Kazuya and Miyu observed the reunion with amusement and disdain.
"It's like he's a whole different person," Miyu commented, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Those are probably his idiot friends," Kazuya grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Hmph, you used to be like that," Miyu teased, nudging him playfully.
Kazuya scowled. "It's true," Miyu continued, her voice taking on a nostalgic tone. "You were always so excited to see Orinari-san. You two were inseparable."
"Just shut it, Miyu. We have a mission," Kazuya snapped, his cheeks flushing slightly. He turned and walked towards Arashi, Naruto, and Sasuke. "Did you forget why we're here, moron?" he barked at Arashi.
"Shut up, already," Arashi retorted, not bothering to look at him. "It's not like we're in a hurry, asshole." He turned back to Naruto and Sasuke. "Let's meet up after the mission, okay? I got something to show you."
"Sure, see you later!" Naruto grinned, waving as he departed with Sasuke and the rest of their team.
Arashi, Kazuya, and Miyu stood before the Hokage and Iruka-sensei. The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, filling the room with thick, acrid smoke that made Arashi wrinkle his nose in distaste.
"Let's see... Itachi's team two, huh?" the Hokage murmured, picking up a document. He scanned it briefly before addressing the team. "Your team comprises a previously existing duo and two new members: a Jonin and a Genin. Arashi Uchiha is talented and has achieved the highest score in the academy's history. He's also had some prior experience in the field."
Kazuya glared at Arashi. He still refused to acknowledge his talent despite witnessing his abilities firsthand.
"Even with this to consider," the Hokage continued, "Arashi is still inexperienced in official missions. So, I'll start by giving you all a D-rank mission."
'A D-rank???' Arashi thought, his frustration mounting. 'This stupid geezer…'
"I'll make it interesting," the Hokage said, a twinkle in his eye. "Your client is the leading blacksmith of Konohagakure named Takeshi. Your objective is to find a missing tool he uses to make weapons. This tool is essential to his work, and he refuses to continue without it. Come in, Takeshi!"
The door creaked open, and a man with short, spiky black hair shuffled into the room. Surprisingly, he was lean and wore a simple haori.
"H-hokage-s-s-s-sama?" he stammered.
"Calm yourself, Takeshi," the Hokage reassured him. "These are the shinobi you requested."
"O-oh, right..." Takeshi mumbled, his eyes darting nervously between the three young ninjas.
Takeshi calms down and scratches the back of his head. "Takeshi here makes weapons for the entire village, so do your best to help him."
They nodded in unison, acknowledging the instructions. After leaving the Hokage's office, they stepped behind Takeshi as he led them through the bustling streets toward his forge.
"A D-rank mission," Kazuya grumbled, "and I'm stuck with an idiot."
Takeshi, oblivious to the comment, announced their arrival as he pulled open the heavy wooden doors to his workshop. "Here we are."
The workshop was full of heavy machinery, each functioning automatically. The constant use of machinery explained his lack of muscle, as one would expect. But there was a second level, one filled with books and scrolls.
"Mr. Takeshi," Arashi inquired, stepping into the dimly lit space, "what exactly are we looking for?"
"Ah, yes," Takeshi began, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "It's an ancient, dark scroll known as the Scroll of Metals. It contains vital information about our village's history and the secrets of our weapon-making techniques. We cannot allow it to fall into the wrong hands."
He paused, his expression growing more serious. "Given its significance, I wouldn't be surprised if it was stolen. Perhaps by someone from a neighboring village..." His voice trailed off, but he quickly added with renewed confidence, "But if that's the case, I'm sure your Jonin Sensei will be able to retrieve it, wouldn't you agree?"
Itachi offered a reassuring nod. "We'll do our best."
"Excellent," Takeshi replied, relieved. "Well then, I'll leave you to it." He opened a side door to the storage area and gestured for them to enter. "Good luck."
Before they dispersed, Itachi distributed communication devices to each team member. "Whoever finds the scroll first, report it immediately," he instructed. "Arashi, Kazuya, you two search outside and inquire with the locals. See if anyone has seen anything suspicious. Miyu, Shiromaru, and I will search the interior."
"Woof! Woof!" Shiromaru barked excitedly, leaping from Miyu's arms and eagerly sniffing the floor for clues.
Arashi and Kazuya activated their body flicker technique with a swift, practiced motion and vanished from sight. They decided to start by questioning the shopkeepers closest to the forge. Arashi approached an older man tending to his tea shop while Kazuya moved to the neighboring establishment.
"Excuse me," Arashi began politely. "Have you seen anything resembling a dark-colored scroll recently?"
The older man shook his head. "A dark scroll? No, I can't say that I have."
"I see," Arashi persisted. "But if you happen to recall any missing items, anything out of the ordinary, please let me know."
The man stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Missing items, you say? Well, there is one thing... Lady Hanako, who runs the sweet shop down the street, has been distraught over her missing bo staff. It was her father's, you see, passed down to her after his passing. She's been driving away all my customers with her incessant complaining." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Though, come to think of it, I haven't seen her in nearly two weeks, which is quite unusual. She usually comes by every day for her tea."
"Lady Hanako's sweet shop..." Arashi repeated, committing the information to memory. "Thank you for your time, sir." With another flicker, he disappeared, heading towards the sweet shop.
It was a short distance, and he arrived at his destination within minutes. The shop looked somewhat neglected with its faded sign and peeling paint. Arashi knocked gently and then pushed open the door. A soft chime announced his entry.
The interior was dim and dusty, the air thick with a cloying sweetness. The floorboards groaned ominously beneath her feet as he moved cautiously through the shop. The curtains were drawn, casting long shadows across the empty counter. A sense of unease settled over her. 'For a sweet shop,' he thought, 'this place has a rather unsettling atmosphere.'
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a kunai. "Lady Hanako, are you here?" Arashi called out, his voice echoing in the unsettling silence. "I'm a shinobi from the village. I'm here to help you find your bo staff and investigate the other missing items."
A loud creak from behind a closed door in the back of the shop sent a shiver down his spine. 'This feels wrong,' he thought, instinctively reaching for the tanto strapped to his hip.
His Rinnegan activated, scanning the environment for any sign of life. 'There's someone inside,' he confirmed, his senses heightened.
Another creak, slower this time, and the door began to inch open. A young girl, her eyes wide with fear, peeked out from the shadows. Arashi quickly sheathed his weapon.
'A child? Is she related to Lady Hanako?' he wondered, concern replacing his suspicion. 'She looks terrified.'
"It's alright," he said softly, trying to reassure her. "You're safe. Please come out."
The girl shook her head, her body trembling. 'Is she being held hostage?'
"I'm Arashi," he introduced himself, hoping to gain her trust. "What's your name?"
"N-nothing..." she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Please... leave us alone!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Arashi insisted gently. "See this?" He pointed to his forehead protector. "This means I must protect you and everyone in the village. I can't just ignore what might be happening here."
Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes. "Just leave! Please!" she pleaded. "I'll scream if you don't!"
Arashi sighed. "Alright, alright, I'm leaving," he conceded, taking a step back. "But first..."
In a swift, subtle movement, he caught her gaze with his Rinnegan and cast a gentle genjutsu, catching her before she collapsed. 'I'm sorry,' he thought, 'but I need to understand what's happening.' He carefully laid her on the floor and turned towards the door, steeling himself for what he might find.
Pushing the door open, he saw a sight that made his blood cold. "Blood..." he whispered, his voice catching in his throat. "So much blood..."
The room was a gruesome scene of carnage. Blood stained the walls and pooled on the floor, painting a horrifying picture of violence.
'This is why she didn't want me to enter,' he realized, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
Arashi followed the crimson trail, his senses on high alert. It abruptly ended at the base of the wall, leaving no further clues. "Hmm... that's suspicious," he muttered, his eyes scanning the surface for hidden mechanisms or secret passages. He pressed and prodded, but the wall remained stubbornly solid.
"This is no longer a D-rank mission," he concluded grimly, realizing the situation was far more serious than they initially thought. "I could deal with this myself, though. But I can't let Itachi and the others know that."
With a sense of urgency, he swiftly formed the necessary hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!" he exclaimed, channeling his chakra.
In a puff of smoke, Itachi materialized beside him. "Arashi," he said, his voice laced with concern. "You're using the Rinnegan for a D-rank mission? Is something wrong?"
The smoke dissipated, revealing the gruesome scene to Itachi. His eyes widened in alarm as he took in the blood-soaked room. "What happened here?"
"I was following a lead on another missing item," Arashi explained, gesturing towards the unconscious girl, "trying to see if it was connected to the missing scroll. That's when I found her."
Itachi's gaze fell upon the young girl. "Is she under a genjutsu?"
"Yes," Arashi admitted. "She threatened to scream."
Itachi's mind raced. 'This complicates things,' he thought. 'The responsible action would be to report this to the Hokage immediately. We were assigned a simple retrieval mission, not a murder investigation. But...' He glanced at Arashi, assessing his student's demeanor. 'He's calm, too calm. I need to see how he handles this. The others already have experience with C-rank missions. This could be a valuable learning opportunity for him.'
He made a decision. "I'll inform the others," he said to Arashi. "Then you can summon them here."