After everything, now that we were officially counted as shinobis, meaning we were registered as genins, Jiraiya was about to take us on our very first mission. Well... he didn't call it a mission, and that alone should have warned us. Instead, he told us we were going away for weeks, maybe even a month, so we should prepare and pack accordingly. Then, he showed up at the training grounds where we were to meet, just after dawn, with a travel pack slung over one shoulder, sandals scuffed, hair unbrushed, yawning like he was sleepwalking.
"I hate waking up so soon," he said, moaning and waving a hand at us, "But we must be on our trip before the others start complaining."
"Complaining?" Kushina echoed him, blinking her eyes, then turning towards us, but we had no idea even after we exchanged a look... Huh. Fishy...
What I got hung up on was that... Trips weren't issued through mission scrolls. And I don't think a Sannin would misspeak, so if this was a trip, then it didn't come with deployment papers, supply authorizations, or an ANBU escort pretending not to shadow us, here to protect the village's greatest asset, meaning: Kushina. Of course, I hadn't said any of that out loud, but I guess Sensei was taking things into his own hands.
True enough, after we left the village, he began telling us a bit more about what was actually happening.
"We're leaving the Land of Fire," Jiraiya explained casually, as if mentioning the weather while we began ascending a hill, following a footpath towards the east.
Of course, that casual mention of the fact that we were going abroad had its effect, as Minato's back straightened immediately, his posture snapping from relaxed strolling into being on full alert.
"…Sensei," he said carefully, "that doesn't sound like a D-rank mission... at all. We aren't supposed to leave the village at our level."
"I know that!" Jiraiya snorted, rolling his eyes, "Of course it's not a D-rank mission. That is why it's a trip!"
"Wait..." Kushina's head snapped between us, finally realizing the facts, "Wait... What? Leaving the Land of Fire? Like… actually leaving?"
"Yes."
"Is that allowed?" we all asked at the same time.
"Yes," Jiraiya answered again, getting a bit annoyed.
"YES!" Kushina suddenly yelled out, "I love traveling!"
"Even if we are going to a place you have been to?" Jiraiya asked, chuckling as he watched her hop around. Wait... are we...? Yet before I could ask, Kushina's mind immediately realized where we were going.
"We're going home?!" she yelled. "We're actually going home?! DATTEBANE!"
"Home...?" Minato muttered, glancing at me for confirmation, and I just sighed, smiling at him with a nod.
So... That was it, huh? We are heading to the Land of Whirlpools, apparently, to visit Uzushiogakure. I knew only a little about that place, honestly, mostly from some footnotes that I read when I looked up information about Kushina's character in my old life. What I knew was what every Naruto fan knew: that it was a nation that was erased from existence because of the fear everyone had towards their prowess in sealing jutsus. I also knew that Minato had learned from them. In theory. Or did he learn it all from Kushina? Was Kushina a formation expert?
No, she wasn't. At least, not in this life. Even then, she got to Konoha young, so it had to be another way that Minato had learned the seals, including the Death Reaper variant... Which also meant that he may have gone there to study? Haaah... But originally, weren't they destroyed before that could happen? Maybe he went on a trip like this, but then again, the destruction of the village was also murky at best. Ugghhh... I just hope it won't happen while we are still there, that would be... dangerous. No matter! I should not stress about this too much, because I think, whatever happens now, will be a good thing, if for nothing else, it would maybe push Minato to pick up sealing jutsus for the future. Even if I aim to change that future, it is best if he knows them...
"Figured this was the best to bring you up to speed." Jiraiya nodded, finally somehow calming the suddenly very much so hyperactive Kushina, "She's falling behind you two," He pointed at us, "Of course, not in spirit, but simply by the tools that are available for her. That won't do, so we are going to pick up some Uzumaki techniques, and that can only be done there."
"Hey!" Kushina puffed up her chest immediately, "I'm not falling behind, dattebane! They are just too far ahead, so I am catching up!"
"You absolutely are," Jiraiya said cheerfully, but who knew what he meant by that. "We will accelerate that."
"Sensei," Minato spoke up after a pause, thinking it all through, "traveling outside Fire Country exposes us to foreign patrols, missing-nin activity, and unresolved post-war tensions that could mark us as perfect targets for... attacks. Escort protocols alone—"
"Minato," Jiraiya stopped, waving him off with a hand, "All those things are unnecessary."
"..." Minato couldn't help but frown, raising an eyebrow. Apparently, he wasn't exactly sold on the idea of going on this trip, because he also felt like Jiraiya was overstepping a handful of rules... well, I bet he was. "With respect—"
"You three aren't normal genins," Jiraiya said flatly, smiling at us, making Kushina nod with approval, liking the praise, "And before you ask," He glanced back at Minato, "I am not going to waste my or your time just to have you chase cats and babysit grannies in the village. You want to grow?" His eyes looked directly into our eyes, going one by one, making sure we were listening to him, "You must leave the safety of Konoha and travel the world."
"So... It is not... official?" Minato asked again, making Jiraiya shrug.
"The Hokage allowed it. As for the others, I don't care what they think."
"Scared?" Kushina asked, giggling, elbowing Minato, who just shrugged, shaking his head.
"I just don't want to do something, use a jutsu, or injure anyone without proper permissions and lose my headband for a mistake. I for sure don't want to get marked as a rogue ninja! That's all..."
"Relax!" She laughed, slapping his back, "It's fine!"
"Yeah," I joined in, patting his shoulder, "We are just genins, if something goes awry, we will say it was our Sensei's fault."
"Hoy!" Jiraiya snorted, slapping the back of my head, "You opportunistic little bastard, where is your loyalty to your Sensei?"
"I'm just hiding in your big shade, Sensei, OW?!" I yelped, receiving another slap, rubbing the back of my head.
"Anyway," Jiraiya went on, as we continued our trek, "You'll learn what you can. Kushina! Your main focus should be on stabilization methods and chakra regulation. That is your current greatest weakness."
"Yes, Sensei." Kushina nodded slowly, surprisingly obedient.
"And you two," Jiraiya added, pointing at Minato and me while looking back over his shoulder, "You are going to watch, learn quietly, and shut up unless asked. I have a few good friends within the village, so we will find something for you two, but don't try to ask for anything! Let me smooth it first before you ask for something outrageous."
"I know how to hold back," I said proudly, expecting another slap, but it didn't come.
"Exercise it," Jiraiya said, shrugging, which was surprising, "In the warring state periods, the Uzumakis fought more than once along with the Senjus, trusting their backs to each other."
"Really?" I asked, since I'd never really heard of it before.
"That's why our alliance is still going strong," He nodded, lecturing us, "And an Uzumaki's life is longer than anyone else's. Which also means, they remember more things and hold... longer grudges."
"Oh..." I said, as it clicked for me. When I glanced at Minato, I saw he also got it at the same time, prompting Kushina to realize something had been revealed that she didn't understand.
"What is it, dattebane?"
"Who do you think the Senju had fought the most?" Minato asked, and finally, Kushina's eyes turned towards me.
"Yeah..." I smiled at her, "Well, they can't be that angry with me, I wasn't even alive back then..."
...
....
...
After a long day of traveling, we stopped in the wilderness to camp after night had fallen, and the darkness swallowed everything. Not that long later, a warm fire crackled softly, sending sparks up as we gathered around it, far enough from the main road that no random traveler would stumble upon us by accident. Jiraiya had chosen the spot, of course, being on high ground with good sightlines, the forest at our backs, nothing immediately suspicious.
Which, in hindsight, should have made it very suspicious what would happen next.
Kushina was sprawled near the fire, poking at the meat skewered on a stick and humming under her breath, waiting for it to finish cooking. Minato was checking the perimeter while we waited, and as for me, I sat with my back against a treetrunk, my eyes half-lidded, senses extended just enough, taking a quick rest. As for Jiraiya, he said he would get water and, before saying anything else, was already gone.
"Come on... cook, dattebane..."
"It won't finish quicker, no matter how much you hypnotize it," I chuckled, and I was about to say something else when I noticed it at the exact moment Minato did.
Both of us straightened, eyes alert as we glanced toward the far side of the camp.
"Renji," he said quietly.
"Already noticed," I replied, not moving, whispering, not wanting to give it away. How...? They... they just appeared from nowhere?!
"What... is it...?" Kushina asked, trying to act normal while still watching the meat, knowing that something was going on if we acted so weirdly. "Where?"
By then, I had activated my Sharingan, slowly opening my eyes, just a little, not wanting to give away its red shine, scanning the surroundings.
"Company," I muttered, "We are surrounded..." I added, almost clicking my tongue. Damn it! When?! We should have seen then, but... this doesn't make any sense!
"Stay in a triangle formation..." Minato said as he slowly walked to his position, so we were already in place, ready to rotate and protect each other's backs. "We only have to keep them back until Sensei returns..."
And just then, the first kunai came out of the darkness without warning. Jumping to my feet, I knocked it aside midair, the metal clanking loudly as it deflected into the tree trunk, causing the rest of the figures to emerge from the treeline. There were six of them at first, then more lingered at the back... just by looking at their clothes, they were simple bandits and ruffians. Well, at least they looked like one with mismatched armor, crude-looking weapons, their faces half-hidden under cloth and filth. The one closest to me carried a heavy axe, while the one closer to Minato had a hooked chain. There were another two with short blades, and one with a bow already drawn... But if so... where did the kunai come from? That was a shinobi's weapon... No matter! This won't be easy anyway...
"Kids," one of them sneered, stepping into the firelight. "You picked the wrong place to sleep. Don't worry... You may bring us a little bit of money so you won't die."
"Surrender, and you may live," Minato answered back at once, his voice full of confidence, and I could tell he was serious about it... But the bandits didn't think so, and they charged at us, laughing.
I tracked three at once from my position, watching their muscles, the tension in them, and how their weight shifted, all in slow motion. The technique Fugaku had imparted to me, I wasn't at all confident in using yet, but... just by training my eyes with it, I had already begun to show some promise, giving me ample time to assess the situation. They were aggressive, coordinated… and that was the issue, they were too coordinated for random highway trash. Did they have ninja training?
"Kushina! Left!" I yelled, already reading one who was originally aiming at me, only to quickly shift his attention to attack Kushina from her blind spot.
She didn't hesitate, using her strongest weapon as an adamantine chain exploded from her chakra, slamming into the ground and whipping sideways, catching the attacker by the leg and yanking him off his feet hard enough to crack his skull. She followed through immediately, driving a knee into his ribs as he hit the ground.
By then, Minato looked like he had vanished as one bandit swung at empty air and screamed a moment later when Minato reappeared behind him, his hand striking the base of his skull with a kunai and dropping him dead in one clean motion, showing no mercy at all. Damn... he wasn't joking, and even I was surprised at his decisiveness.
I couldn't allow myself to fall behind, so I moved to intercept the axe-wielder. His weapon came down in a heavy arc that I ducked under, while I felt the wind shear past my head. Ignoring it, I drove my elbow into his wrist at once. I heard his bones crack, causing him to roar, switch hands with his weapon, and swing at me again to try to decapitate me. I let my Sharingan pull me half a second ahead of his attack, sending a genjutsu towards his brain, causing his footing to slip where it shouldn't have, feeling as if he was on ice. His swing overextended immediately, so I stepped inside his guard and pierced my own kunai into his chest, right where his heart should be.
I thought I would hesitate more taking in a life... but honestly? I don't know... In that moment, I had felt no hesitation at all.
While ending him, I heard an arrow whistling toward Kushina. Still, I also knew that Minato intercepted it mid-flight, deflecting it with a kunai and spinning into motion from there. He was already on the archer before the man could nock another. By then, more figures emerged; everyone who was waiting in the back was coming in to get us... How? Why was it like they just appeared from nowhere?
"They're circling us, dattebane!" Kushina shouted, "They're trying to box us in!"
"Don't let them split us," Minato yelled, "Renji!"
"Already on it!"
My genjutsu rolled outward as my eyes met theirs, causing them to see what I wanted them to see: that they were circling us. However, in reality, they stopped where they were, unmoving, lost in a simple illusion. Of course, that was just part one, because next, the tiger seal was raised to my mouth as I breathed out a massive fireball, engulfing all four of them in it, setting them ablaze without a second thought.
"Kill them!" someone shouted, and as I snapped my head towards the voice, I could see him forming the seals.
"Get back—!" I started yelling at Kushina, but Minato was already moving to intercept, finishing his own seals and meeting the incoming enemy fireball with his wind blades.
Where wind should be weaker than fire, Minato's attack was precise, not trying to overwhelm and opposing affinity. Instead, it went to feed it, which overexcited the bandit's jutsu, causing it to explode before it could reach us. Of course, I was already moving, appearing where the bandit was, intercepting the retreating body of his, landing a flying kick in his neck, breaking it then and there.
And just as I landed, the fiery explosion dispersing, I heard multiple puffs as smoke erupted everywhere we looked.
"Huh?" I stopped, stood straight, and watched... as all the bandits disappeared, popping out of existence, and the clearing suddenly felt very much empty...
Except for one man standing at the edge of the firelight, arms crossed, grinning like he'd just watched a good play.
"Sensei?" We all asked in unison.
"Well," he said cheerfully, "that went better than expected."
"You..." Kushina said, pointing at him with both hands shaking, "YOU—!"
"Yes, me," Jiraiya said proudly. "It was pretty realistic, right?"
Angered and annoyed, Kushina screamed at him and lunged at Jiraiya, but he caught her effortlessly, holding her at arm's length while she kicked and flailed, cursing him in at least three dialects.
"You could've warned us, dattebane!" she yelled one final time.
"And ruin the lesson?" Jiraiya scoffed, "Never."
"A test..." Minato stepped forward, bowing slightly despite the adrenaline still making his chest heave, "I should have known when there was no blood."
"Correct." Jiraiya nodded as he kept smiling at us.
"Kage bunshins..." I chuckled, shaking my head. "That's why they just appeared from nowhere."
"Exactly." Jiraiya hummed as he finally released Kushina, who immediately crossed her arms and kept sulking. "You passed! You didn't panic," he continued, eyes scanning us, "and you intercepted the enemy as a team, executing everything to the best of your abilities. I am impressed!"
"Well, that for sure wasn't a genin-level exercise..." I murmured, making Minato nod and look around, already replaying the encounter in his mind, finding all the clues, including the starting kunai that belonged to Sensei.
"No, it wasn't," Jiraiya agreed, "But I told you, you are not normal genins. Now!" He clapped, pointing towards the fire where the meat was finally getting ready, "Let's eat! Then you can rest, I will keep a lookout for the night."