Neji / Ino’s POV (Near Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Neji had expected a difficult journey, considering the notoriously temperamental personalities of Naruto and Ino. They both looked like they were suffering from terrible hangovers with constant grimaces on their faces. Neji and Kakashi had agreed to remain silent in the hopes of avoiding any arguments during the journey. However, to their surprise, both Naruto and Ino remained eerily quiet. Naruto seemed to suffer in silence, wincing at every loud noise. Neji couldn't help but find it amusing when he accidentally stomped on a branch too hard. Ino, on the other hand, usually explodes in anger multiple times before giving up on whatever has annoyed her. But on this journey, she was oddly subdued. Neji planned to ask one of them what had happened the previous night when they felt more relaxed. Despite their condition, they made good time and were close to their destination. Kakashi suggested they camp for the night and attack in the morning.
"Wouldn't it be better to strike in the dark?" Naruto chimed in.
"It does seem like the shinobi thing to do." Ino added.
"In this case, we should be significantly more powerful than our adversaries. And with our lovable knucklehead, we can easily outnumber them. So striking during the night merely gives them the option of hiding. But make no mistake we aren't gonna just charge in. We'll scout them out, formulate a plan and crush them before they even realize what is happening." Kakashi lectured.
"Seems efficient enough." Neji stated simply. "Besides, Naruto and Ino could very well use the rest." The blondes both nodded, seemingly in agreement now that it was pointed out to them.
"Great job, team. Neji, please gather some firewood and start a fire. Ino, can you set up the tents? Naruto, please use your shadow clones to establish a perimeter. Let's have eight clones, one in each cardinal direction and one in between. After that, Naruto, can you please try to catch some game for us?" Kakashi gave clear instructions with a serious tone.
"Yes, sensei!" The Genin chorused as they dispersed to begin their assigned tasks. Kakashi hummed contently, waiting until he was sure no one was watching him. Then, he swiftly created a shadow clone and sent it out to scout the surrounding area. Although he planned on having his team survey the area before they attacked, he wanted to have his own eyes on the situation. After all, Minato had always taught Kakashi to ensure the odds were in his favor. He refused to put any of his Genin in danger, especially not Minato's son. However, he had grown fond of his team, despite their rough exterior. They were a talented and motivated group, even Ino had recently shown improvement and seemed uncomfortable with feeling weaker than the men. As he quietly moved around the clearing, he set subtle traps and signaled his team to alert them to any potential danger. Although Kakashi wasn't truly worried, he played it safe. They were close to the village and his team was strong. Neji and Naruto were advanced for Genin, and Ino was clever and a valuable team player. Kakashi himself was an elite Jounin. They should be fine, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Within the hour the three young adults had done as he asked just before it became dark. The fire was well-built and contained by several wet logs courtesy of Neji. Two tents were erected, one for the men, the other for Ino. And Naruto had somehow captured a hog. When asked, Naruto merely said clones, and Kakashi decided not to ask. To the surprise of the Jounin who had prepared himself to wield his mediocre cooking skills. Neji quickly volunteered. Even more surprising was how talented he was at it. Ino assisted having some culinary knowledge but for the most part, the Hyuga quickly served them roasted hog. Kakashi was pleasantly surprised again when it was much nicer than what he could produce. Perhaps camping it out on missions with some green Genin wasn't as bad as he feared?
"Neji! I expected you to suck at cooking!" Naruto called in between bites laughing at his own words.
"You always seem like a brute to me." Ino added a small teasing smirk on her face.
"Unlike you blondes, I am expected to be talented in a multitude of fields." Neji countered with a scowl. While he understood it was merely banter he couldn’t help but snipe back at the obnoxious blonde he considered a friend.
"He got you good there Naruto!" Ino chuckled.
"YOUR BLONDE TOO!"
"But unlike you Blondie," Ino wagged her finger "I'm drop-dead gorgeous."
"I wouldn't say g-" Neji stopped as a kunai flew by his head. "But I suppose beautiful wouldn't be out of order?" Ino nodded at this serene smile in place. Naruto busted out laughing which seemed to make Ino panic and blush for some odd reason. And by the look on his face, Neji smelled blood in the water. It wasn't unusual for Neji to get snipes in, but rarely did he ever drive the two silent as he did now. Naruto is simply confused about Neji bringing up Ino's reaction and blushing. And Ino mortified Neji finally had something solid on her.
Kakashi interrupted their banter, ordering them to pick out guard shifts and begin resting, all the while he would be resting well, Neji doubted such. Kakashi acted a fool, but no fool became a Jounin, nor would any sensei leave his Genin defenseless. Regardless Neji decided to take initiative and get first watch. It was only fair…
Ino’s POV
When Kakashi had first brought up them taking shifts at night to ensure nothing snuck up on them she had felt dread. Quickly she had declaredshe would not be first to watch. Figuring that must be the worst one. She had rethought that as she first awoke for her watch. But even quicker still she had discovered she did not mind it. With her recent interactions with Naruto, she could use the time for herself.
At first, having Naruto on their team didn't seem like a big deal. He had a negative reputation with older generations for unknown reasons, and although he was one of the few successful shinobi to make it without a clan in their year, his performance was mediocre compared to the rest. Ino assumed she was stronger than him, but her perception changed the first time she saw him fight. Even at his lowest, Ino doubted she could have done anything against him. Despite his standing, she assumed he was a simple, obnoxious man who was egotistic. However, since forming the team, she discovered depth to him she never noticed before. Naruto gave everything his all during training, spars, practice, and fights. Witnessing it made her realize just how much Naruto gave. Ino wasn't sure she could ever match his endless energy. He also showed more humor and shocked her to see they had similarities. Naruto was surprisingly clever in his way, making wisecracks here, using unorthodox strategies there, or even seeming to know what others were feeling at times. He decided wordlessly that he needed to break through to Neji, a known genius, just to prove a point. Ino felt it was ridiculous and that Naruto was merely risking injury for nothing. Even if he somehow defeated Neji, that wouldn't make him suddenly change, she thought. However, Naruto often proved her wrong, making him very interesting. The kindness and relaxed nature were nice, but the unpredictability and emotional wisdom of the blonde had intrigued her.
The problem was everyone knew Ino was a flirt. She often became interested in a boy for a bit before growing bored of them. Even Sasuke in a way was just eye candy for her. Handsome for sure but unlikely with how cold he was. But Naruto for her was an odd choice. She did find his untamed look oddly cute. It helped that he was inspiring as well. But she had to wonder if this was a passing fancy? Or was she interested? Ino checked her pocket watch. Well, it was time for Naruto's shift. Perhaps she could test the waters a bit. See how deep her interest went. Besides it wouldn't do to not know if the blonde was interested. But without being arrogant she doubted this was an issue. She quietly walked over to the boy's tent. Quietly lifting the entrance flap she tapped the Uzumaki. The two silently creeping back out of the tent settling at the fire. Ino observed as Naruto yawned loudly before summoning four clones who spread out in the edging of the clearing they were camped in.
"Arent y-" Naruto yawned again. "Aren't you going to go to sleep?"
"I was hoping to ask you some questions." Ino replied.
"We have plenty of time," the blonde man said, chuckling silently as he sharpened a stick by the fire. Ino felt grateful for the distraction; there was something about his gaze that was throwing her off her game.
Ino considered what to ask him. She wanted information and to gauge how well they fit. That would help her decide how she felt and if something should be pursued. But what exactly that information was, was alluding to her now. She decided to ask something relatively innocuous for now.
"You said before you would help Neji's clan. He's our friend now no doubt. But it seems like a big promise. Why make it?"
"He was in pain and seemed so hopeless," Naruto explained. "I can relate to that on a personal level. There's something I struggle to change and Kami knows how many times I wanted to give up. I felt like nobody would ever accept me, especially when I was young. Kids were kept away from me until I joined the academy. Even as comrades, they kept their distance. No doubt their parents suggested it. Fortunately, Shikamaru reached out and became my first true friend. It was only one friend, but it was more than enough, along with my mom's support. That's when I decided to become Hokage, to earn the admiration of the home I love and to find the answers I've been searching for. If I let someone else struggle alone, I wouldn't be worthy of my goal. As a Hokage, I can never leave a friend in pain. I'll help everyone I can and become the greatest Hokage ever. This is my ultimate goal, and I won't accept anything less." Ino silently pondered Naruto's words. As always, Naruto had a unique way with words and could be both a knucklehead and mature and caring at the same time.
"So you'd do that for me, or Kakashi or whoever?" Ino asked. After that speech, she was keen on hearing his thoughts on her.
"Of course believe it!"
Ino furrowed her brows, feeling unsure about the vague response she received. She realized that she needed to be more direct in her approach. "Naruto, I'm curious. What are your thoughts about me?" Inwardly, she panicked a little, regretting her straightforward phrasing.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. Confusion was plain on his face. "Um, I mean your my friend. I think you're pretty hilarious at times, you're pretty smart too, and you can be kind." The blonde male replied.
Ino's heart rate rose as she listened to the blonde. He wasn't particularly smooth or charming, but his honesty surprised her. In her life, she had received many compliments, such as being called beautiful, intelligent, talented, and personable, but she had also been insulted, being called temperamental, vain, and wrathful. However, being called kind was new to her, and she didn't even consider herself as such. Nonetheless, Naruto had said it with such conviction.
"You may not always say nice things. And you can be a bit scary. But when Neji was harsh to us both. I noticed you were putting in effort to get along with me. Even though you considered me a goofball you never put me down. You always took me seriously, in a way not a lot of people did. That meant the world to me. So thank you for that, ya know?" Naruto smiled brightly as he finished. "Oh yeah, and you're really pretty and all that!"
Ino's face turned red as she listened to Naruto's words. Though they were a bit simple, she couldn't help but feel touched by how sincere he sounded. However, this unexpected turn of events had not gone as planned. Despite everything, she realized that Naruto might be her first true crush. Wanting some alone time to process her thoughts, she hastily made her way back to her tent, leaving Naruto in confusion. but the way he said things was so earnest it took her breath away. This certainly had backfired. But she knew when thing for sure. Naruto may very well be her first honest crush. She decided she needed space and quickly retreated to her tent. Naruto merely sat confused.
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"Was it something I said?" Naruto called quietly. He waited for a response that did not come. "I'll never understand women."
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Kakashi’s POV (Nearby Naruto)
“He’s nearly as dense with woman as his father…” Kakashi mused. “Ironic if not a bit sad…”
Kakashi was perched on a branch, observing one of Naruto's undetected clones below. It wasn't Naruto's fault that he couldn't detect Kakashi's presence, even if he had known he was there. Kakashi had planned to stay up all night to ensure the safety of his Genin, but he hadn't anticipated witnessing a moment between the two blondes. "Minato's luck with women and Kushina's lack of understanding of romance. It seems like your path will be similar to your father's," Kakashi thought to himself. He found it enjoyable to be a sensei and to witness the growth of the next generation of protectors.
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Orochimaru’s POV (Sound Base - ???)
Orochimaru sat contentedly in his underground lab, Zetsu had gone to meet with an Ikam follower. The Sannin was eager to ally with them as the Uzumaki subjects were both pleasant and powerful allies to have. With both the Leaf and another force hot on his trail, he could certainly use the added strength. Moreover, his first encounter with the Leaf was imminent. His forces were strategically positioned around a bandit camp, awaiting the arrival of a team of shinobi whom they could ambush. It was bound to be an intriguing few days for the Sannin.
As if on cue the ground in his lab shifted. As the conjoined Zetsu swam out of the ground. "Hello, master! Orochimaru." The two greeted.
"Hello there, how did the meeting with Ikam's man go?" Orochimaru asked getting straight to business.
"It was so much more interesting than we had thought! Obito and Itachi Uchiha are alive and in service of the Leaf." Zetsu replied evenly.
Orochimaru was taken aback for a moment, but quickly began to formulate plans in his mind. Itachi and Obito Uchiha were highly skilled shinobi with powerful Sharingan abilities, and obtaining their eyes would make him unstoppable in achieving his ultimate goal. Ikam was aware of this and was seeking Orochimaru's help in dealing with them. "What does he want from us? Kukukuku."
"He asked for our assistance in killing them! We get the bodies! He asked for either manpower, weaponry effective towards the Uchiha, or a more powerful compound to ensure they can crush the two. Providing we do this he preserves the eyes for us and offers a seal to counteract their effect on a non-Uchiha."
"Perfect. Inform them this is fine. They will have all three. And what of the other news?"
"You were right as always, master! They sent a team! The team is Team Seven. They are a Genin squad part of the new program the shinobi world enacted. Neji Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, Naruto Uzumaki, and Kakashi Hattake."
"Interesting, the Side House has little value. An heir of the Yamanaka family could prove to be a useful asset. As for Naruto Uzumaki, I believe my subordinate Ikam would relish a new target. However, Kakashi may pose a problem. I will send another squad of Sound Jounin, along with the Genin from Team Tremble and Bass. This should suffice for such an unremarkable group. It is time to demonstrate the strength of my shinobi to the world!"
"Understood. Whatever."
Orochimaru wondered if Hiruzen even realized the Leaf would soon be in peril.
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Ino’s POV (South Side of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
They had moved out at the crack of dawn. Kakashi would get them close and then allow them to formulate their strategy of attack. And all of them felt at least a touch of nerves but with their leading them it was all too soon they arrived close to base.
"It's important for each of you to gain experience in decision-making. You won't always have a commanding officer present, and you may even encounter an incompetent one. It's crucial to know how to think independently," Kakashi emphasized, before stepping back and indicating he wouldn't be offering assistance. There was a brief pause before Naruto spoke up.
"Well, we should probably check 'em out first. Make sure we know what we're dealing with." Naruto started.
"Makes sense to me. Would also make sure there's nothing like prisoners or some kinda destructive weapon." Ino added.
"Sound logic." Neji complimented. "I believe Kakashi and I would be best for scouting them." Ino nodded at this. Her brow creased as she thought hard.
"Maybe Naruto should surround the camp? Would give us a safety net if any managed to sneak by." Ino offered.
"Great Idea! Plus if for some reason someone else comes along who's hostile they could either take them out, hold them off, and get info to me no matter where I am." Naruto added happily. "But how do we do the attack itself?"
"Well while Kakashi and Neji scout from the outside why don't Naruto grab a guard? With my Mind Body Switch Jutsu, I can get on as an actual member. I could sabotage them and set traps so when we launch the actual assault they are even more vulnerable."
"Hmmm, what if I had some of my clones transform into kunai?" Naruto asked quizzically. "You could plant them throughout the camp and they could release whenever they pleased. But if you get in trouble you'll have backup."
"Excellent idea Blondie." Neji replied. Both ignore Naruto crying out about not Neji too with the Blondie thing.
"Ok so assuming this camp has one to two exits we need to split our forces. Plus I need someone to guard my body." Ino continued.
"Maybe Neji? He could keep an eye on all of us with a shadow clone. One of us get in trouble or something he does dispel it and every clone out will know it." suggested the blonde male.
"I believe that's a good plan," Neji concurred. "Kakashi, being our strongest fighter, should be positioned at the primary entrance as our main defense. He could also be backed up by additional clones, just in case he requires assistance. Naruto can be positioned at the secondary entrance or exit. After that, we'll just have to wait until Ino signals that she's ready. A simple flare will suffice. By that point, it won't matter if they become aware that something is amiss."
"Whaddya you think Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Eh, it sounds like it could work." Kakashi responded noncommittally. "Alrighty are you all ready to start?"
"Hai!"
"Just remember to have fun. We'll meet up again to discuss scouting and our future prisoner." Kakashi ordered, all of them then leaping off.
Naruto and Ino were hiding in the woods, carefully observing the camp. The camp consisted of a large group of tents and hastily assembled buildings. A fence and planks of wood had been used to create a rudimentary wall, which would not stop most people but was high enough to require either climbing or destruction. They were watching one of the outer guards who was lazily patrolling the perimeter around the camp. Being bandits, each member was observed as they passed by. Naruto and Ino picked an older man who seemed to be under the influence of some substance. He was bald and fairly overweight and carried a club. He was an easy target for the shinobi duo.
They waited patiently for the man to walk close by. Ino had chosen him as their target, while Naruto and his clone were the shooters. Ino gave the signal when the man's back was turned. Without a sound, Naruto hurled his clone like a sack at the man, who never saw it coming. He was hit square in the back of the head with a flying kick, and Ino doubted he felt a thing. The clone then picked up the man, and the three of them hurried back to the meeting place, hoping that the scouting party had good news.
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Neji’s POV (Perimeter of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Silently, Neji jumped through the forest surrounding the camp, taking note of the number of men and any significant events. He counted around fifty confirmed enemies, with ten individuals in cells that he couldn't confirm as enemies due to his limited sight. As he looked up, he spotted Kakashi teleporting above him, seemingly finished with his part.
Kakashi informed Neji that he had discovered weapon caches that were heavily armed with swords, bows, cannons, and explosives. He marked them on a map that he had drawn and suggested that Ino should trap them before they go for the prisoners.
"Only makes sense. I think we have what we need." Neji decided.
The members of Team Seven reconvened, with a new prisoner in tow. They updated each other on the current situation. Ino's mission was to secure the weapon rooms and free any captives. Naruto and Kakashi were responsible for launching an aggressive attack from both sides. Neji would protect Ino and oversee the operation, ensuring everyone was informed. Each member would have Naruto clones to assist with information sharing and backup.
"Alright, I'm going in. Make sure to watch my body Neji!" Ino added as she relaxed into her stance for her family's famous jutsu.
"Of course."
With that, Ino nodded and called out. "Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
She suddenly dropped limp, caught by a ready Naruto. The portly bald man rose slowly. His movements were awkward and unsure for a moment. Before he seemed to relax slightly. "This guy is one sick bastard." She said in the man's voice. "Glad we're taking them out." Naruto nodded at this summoning ten clones who all became kunai. Ino grabbed these and stashed them in the pockets of the man. They all nodded as the Ino-possessed man walked off towards the entrance. Naruto and Kakashi both disappeared as they went off to their positions.
Neji stashed Ino in a space in a bush. He sat close by, not close enough to where if he was engaged they would hurt or discover Ino. Team Seven was prepared.
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Ino’s POV (Inside Bandit Body) (Inside Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Ino walked towards the main entrance. A building built of various chunks of wood stuck together. There were rough benches and bars indicative of a meeting place of sorts. The men inside were drinking, smoking, or gambling with reckless abandon. It was odd to think they somehow beat a squad. But perhaps they simply underestimated them. As she approached, two large men at the front of the gate welcomed her. She was some kind of elder in her current body. She quickly marched through claiming her shift was over. If the men truly cared they did not show it. She walked through the bar into the main space of the camp. For the most part, it was more of the same. But she knew two large tents to the northeast of the camp contained weapon caches. She would set up an explosive line in both entrances. If they entered they would likely perish along with their weapons. So she drifted towards them. Simply nodding at any who acknowledged her.
She arrived at the tents and saw two men guarding them. She briefly considered how to handle things but decided they would need to go. The man she was possessing wasn't very fit. But even with his dilapidated body, she could muster good kunai throws. These being the real deal they both pierced their throats accurately. The first one immediately dropped. Likely the blade had managed to sever his spine killing him instantly. The second was a more gruesome death. The man's throat was slit by the blade. Not allowing the man to call for help. He could only breathlessly gurgle as he bled out. Ino could feel something inside her grow cold at the merciless killing but they had prepared for this for years. She didn't flinch as she drugged the corpses inside the two tents. Laying her lethal explosive trap at both entrances. Her training was working well, time to free the prisoners. Hopefully, no more blood will be spilled today…
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???’s POV (Nearby Kakashi)
"Men," A voice whispered to six others. "Our target is directly in front of us. We will wait for him to engage the bandits. No need to complicate our ambush. Now our target is powerful, absurdly so. So don't play around. Kills this bastard before he kills us. Understood?" They all nodded. The captain's face grimaced at the lack of self-concern. He had no doubt seven Jounin may be able to kill even an elite Jounin. But there was no doubt several of them would die. His sound shinobi training suggested one or two would live and that was acceptable. But he loved his men. He feared they were being led by him to their deaths. Disobeying would merely lead to his men killing him and proceeding anyway. No, the only solution was to lead these men into killing a legend.
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Sound Team’s POV (Nearby Naruto)
"Are they sending all three of us for him?" a young woman with long black hair that reached to her thighs and was tied at the end. She wore the sound fatigues which were a snakeskin pattern for her pants and scarf. As well as a tan sleeveless vest. Kin Tsuchi was the speaker.
"Seems harsh to me personally. But it'll be fun killing him either way!" A young man answered her. He had long spiky unruly hair that stuck straight up. He wore a forehead protector mask. As well as the sound fatigue over it he wore a tan one-piece with the kanji for death on it three times. Zaku Abumi was here as well.
"It is what it is. Don't play games, we have something to prove here. So this short clone runt has to die." Dosu Kinuta answered. He was shorter than the other two and was hard to describe. His head was almost completely wrapped in bandages. He wore the same fatigues as the others. The only difference is the gray long-sleeved kimono as well as a straw rain cape.
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Neji’s POV (Outside of Bandit Camp - Land of Fire)
Neji's eyes widened significantly as he saw four people creeping in at the edge of his vision. As he expanded his gaze he saw they were all about to be ambushed. "AMBUSH!" He called to the clone before destroying it. Ino awoke and jumped up.
"It's an ambush. As I was walking through the camp I searched his mind. Shinobi are coming to kill us! The people inside are mostly innocents with bandits sprinkled in!" Ino called desperately to the Hyuga.
"Some of that is news. Unfortunately, it gets worse. We are being approached by four shinobi. One of them seems to be high Chunin to low Jounin level." Neji says. Luckily around twenty clones gather around them. New orders are seemingly being dispensed among them. "Ino stick with me and the clones. We just have to stall until Kakashi gets here."
"R-right," Ino said she was undeniably nervous. Neji wanted to reassure her. But to be honest he knew they were in trouble.