Chapter Text
As she was packing, Mirai Sarutobi could not believe her luck. She also cursed it.
“Why must it always be me…” the young chuunin whispered to herself as she angrily stuffed her belongings into her bag.
*The day prior*
Wandering through the crowded streets of the Leaf Village’s busy shopping district, Mirai pauses in her steps and looks around at all the new generation of genin enjoying family time with their parents. With the father she never met in her mind, Mirai just sighs and continues walking. Her wandering eyes spot Boruto having a conversation with Shino who seems to be hiding a toy behind his back. The smile that appeared on her face quickly faded when she thought back to the last time she encountered the son of the seventh Hokage. Still reeling from being humiliated by two genin, she uttered multiple curses under her breath as she walked head first into another pedestrian.
“Watch where you’re going Mirai!!” the other person said as Mirai started to collect her bearings.
“Wait who are…. Oh, hey Konohamaru.” She replied as her cousin helped her up and they began to walk the streets together.
“What are you doing out here by yourself? I thought your mom would’ve been with you today.” He asked while enjoying a pastry he purchased from a local stall.
“To be honest, she wanted to spend the day with me… but ever since you left me hanging on a bridge I’ve only spent my free time training. I’m sorry, but.. I just feel -inadequate- knowing I just may be passed up by this new class of genin. All of the great heroes of the Leaf were jonin by the time they were my age..” Mirai really didn’t intend on spilling her thoughts to her cousin, but she is usually terrible at hiding things from him, a trait he always adored.
Konohamaru just smiled and handed her a piece of paper and said “Here, it’s a mission from the Hokage. You are to report to him first thing tomorrow morning.”, then took off, leaving a befuddled Mirai behind while looking at the letter which stated:
Mirai Sarutobi,
After your admirable performance in the Land of Hot Water, I’ve decided to assign you a new mission going to Getsukagure, located in the Crescent Moon Kingdom within the Southern Seas. I will give more details during your mission briefing.
Signed,
Nanadaime Hokage
Naruto Uzumaki.
“Finally, I’m being recognized for my skills!” Mirai hollered as she started to flagrantly skip through the streets on the way back home, eager to tell her mother the good news.
The next morning, she reported to the Hokage’s office as she was told, Naruto greeted her with a warm smile as he began her mission briefing.
“To keep it brief, I’m assigning you and two of my best jonin to an S-rank level mission in Getsukagure. The Moon Kingdom’s regent, Michiru Tsuki, has fallen under ill health and it’s feared another coup may take place, similar to the one that happened two decades ago. His son, Hikaru Tsuki, has requested our aid and I happily obliged. You three are to assess the situation and immediately report your findings via coded message back to me. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Mirai replied before asking “Who are the other two…”
“They are waiting at your house.” Was all Lord Hokage said before dismissing her.
After leaving the Hokage’s office, Mirai could barely contain her excitement as she sprinted home. She has been training for this day, fiercely devoting herself to everything assigned to her to the point where she was forced to take a vacation and relax. Not now however, ‘playtime is over’ she thought before turning the handle to her front door.
And her excitement disappeared within an instant.
Sitting in the living room having tea with her mother were none other than Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, the two war heroes whom she ‘guarded’ during her so-called mission to the Land of Hot Water.
“Hiiii” Kakashi said as he greeted her, Mirai could tell he was grinning from ear to ear under his mask.
Positive that all the color on her face disappeared, Mirai finally recovered from the shock and asked, “Just what is going on?”
“You’ve been training harder than ever, so knowing the rapport you set up with Kakashi and Guy on your previous mission away from the Village I asked the Hokage if it was suitable to add you to their journey to the Crescent Moon Kingdom which he happily obliged.” Kurenai answered before taking a sip of tea and continuing. “You’re not going under false pretenses this time, this is a real mission and a real opportunity to train with two of the most decorated war heroes, so I want you to take full advantage of this.”
Detecting the authoritarian tone in the last part of her mother’s answer, Mirai decided not to say anything and started her march toward her bedroom to pack when Guy cut in “Just like old times!!”
“It wasn’t that long ago Guy-sensei…” Mirai deadpanned before going to pack.
While she was packing, Mirai found a map leading to the Crescent Moon Kingdom and tried to hold in her excitement. Yes, she was playing bodyguard for Kakashi and Guy again but the trek to their mission destination was a very long one and surely the two veteran jonin would make many stops along the way and she would use those opportunities to train under the best. Plus, she gets to finally update her old map, which happened to be given to her as a present by Guy-sensei’s student, Rock Lee, for her 11th birthday. It was an heirloom from his journey to Getsukagure many years ago with Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura.
“Maybe it won’t be so bad” she said to herself as she packed the last of her items into her bag and headed back out to the family room. Upon spotting her, Kakashi noticed the full uniform she was wearing and merely noted “It is extremely hot down there, and since this mission is a tad last minute, we hadn’t had a chance to be issued proper summer uniforms. Don’t worry, Guy and I will take care of buying casual summer wear on our first stop so don’t worry about changing just yet.”
“Kakashi-sensei, I can buy my own..” Mirai was cut off when she heard a banging on her front door. The veteran jonin noticed Mirai’s confused face after she peered through the peephole and cautiously opened the door.
Waiting on the other side was the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade and her long-time companion Shizune.
“Lady Tsunade…. Can we help you?” Mirai asked wondering why the retired Hokage was at her doorstep so early in the morning.
Putting on an expression eerily similar to Guy’s ‘Nice Guy Pose’, Tsunade answered, “A little bird told me…”
At those words, multiple sets of eyes peered directly at Shizune.
“That you three were heading to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. So, I just left the Hokage’s office requesting that I accompany you on your journey. It’s a dangerous trip, so who better than two former Hokages, a legendary war hero, and their ‘jonin-in-training’ to investigate just what is going on down there. I felt that it was a right thing to do!”
An endearing explanation surely, until one remembers just what exactly powers Getsukagure’s economy.
“You just want to gamble.” Guy, Kakashi and Kurenai said in unison.
“You brats think so low of me!” Tsunade retorted with an obviously manufactured look of shock on her face. “You honestly believe I would dishonor the legacy of Lord Third and use this mission intended to nurture his dearest granddaughter’s growth into a fine kunoichi as a mere ploy to gamble away what little money I have?!?!” The retired Hokage took Mirai into a crushing hug in a feeble attempt to prove her point.
The three veteran ninja looked at each other, then back at Tsunade who has poor Mirai in a vice grip-like hug and simply said “Yes.”
“Whatever, Shizune and I are coming anyway.” Tsunade said with finality.
“Lady Tsunade, I….I can’t breathe” Mirai croaked out before Tsunade realized the predicament she put the young chuunin in and released her hold.
Sighing, and not wanting to continue this anymore, Kakashi said “Well, our little group is a bit too high profile to travel to Getsukagure without attracting significant attention. We must leave as soon as possible, so we’ll shop for casual clothes at the nearest village along the way. Sound good Mirai?”
“It’s your call Kakashi-sensei.” Mirai replied, her face obviously questioning why the veteran ninja would ask her.
“Like your mother said, this is a training mission for you. When you become a jonin you’re going to have to make these decisions, especially when your lead a team of genin. So…” Kakashi grabs Shizune and Tsunade by the shoulders and leads them in front of Mirai, motioning them to get on both knees as if they were child size. He beckons Guy to roll behind them in which he started making bunny ears behind their heads. The four veteran ninja put on hilariously cheesy smiles and shouted “Lead us Mirai-sensei!!” in harmony.
Mirai’s face flushed a deep crimson in embarrassment and hilarity. Never would she thought growing up that she would ‘lead’ a team consisting of Kakashi Hatake, Lady Tsunade, Might Guy, and Shizune. “Alright?” was all she can muster before succumbing into a laughing fit.
A teary Guy threw his arms over Kakashi and Shizune and cried out “Reliving our days of being genin fresh out of the academy!!! How youthful!!” His excitement, however, was subdued after a death stare from Tsunade, who was approaching the age of thirty by the time her younger counterparts graduated from the Academy. Clearing his throat, the green spandex-clad ninja put out his right hand out and shouted “Team Mirai on three!”. After a minute of white noise and clear hesitance from his teammates, Kakashi, recalling a similar situation with Neji Hyūga many moons ago said “He’s not going to put his hand up until we participate so just get it over with.”. One after another: Kakashi, Mirai, Shizune, then Tsunade put their hands on top of Guy’s and with all the enthusiasm they can muster (a/n – none), they chanted “1..2…3… go team”.
After saying their goodbyes to Kurenai, the mission team left her home and proceeded towards the village gate. Guy, who is being pushed by Kakashi told the rest of the group to go and meet them right outside the village while he and Kakashi relay a quick message to Naruto. With the rest of the team out of sight, Guy looks up at Kakashi and softly asked “Why didn’t you have my back in there? You know I love to rally my team right before a mission.”
Kakashi shrugged, “I thought you liked when I play the ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ role.”
Guy started to stand up on his good foot, in the years since the war Kakashi quickly learned what the other wants when he does that, so he wrapped his arms around Guy’s neck and gently pressed their foreheads together.
Guy, not quite meeting Kakashi’s gaze yet whispered “Not at my expense….”
He never liked when Kakashi made him look like a fool, but in order to keep up the appearance that they are merely ‘eternal rivals’ rather than ‘old men who got engaged the minute Kakashi retired’, some sacrifice is required, including occasionally embarrassing Guy. It was Guy’s idea to hide their relationship from the public, fearing the massive backlash Kakashi would face as Hokage. After retirement, the couple continued keep their relationship under wraps. Only this time, they aren’t very subtle about it and are positive most of the village figured them out by now. Still, the hidden kisses and swift tender touches are highly intoxicating, so they aren’t in a rush to go public just yet.
Moving his hand up to slowly stroke the back of Guy’s neck, Kakashi whispered “I had hoped it would’ve been just you and I on this trip. I had a surprise set up for us right after we finished this mission. Mirai’s addition is always welcome, but now we have to make sure my predecessor doesn’t spend all of our money once we arrive in the Crescent Moon Kingdom.”
A chuckle escaped Guy’s mouth and he finally looked at his lover’s eyes “That’s what Mirai is for, Rival”, and quickly removed Kakashi’s mask to press a kiss to his mouth. After replacing his mask, Guy sat back down in his chair and said “Let’s meet the rest of the group, our young chuunin is probably growing impatient!”, then the couple made their way to the village gates.