Chapter Text
Team Eight huddled close together near the great iron gates of Konoha Village. The cold autumn air seeped into their bodies, but their chakra kept them warm. They were deep in conversation with their commander about their C-rank mission: guarding the outer gates of their village. Several reports of bandits roamed near the town, and the Hokage thought it best to send Team Eight on their first serious mission.
The team’s commander, Kurenai Yuuhi, was a highly decorated Jonin assigned by the Hokage to train the next generation of soldiers. Her fair-skinned, slender figure was a testament to her physical prowess, but it was her astute skills in tracking and diversionary attacks that truly set her apart. She was determined to transform these genin into a renowned tracking unit, a goal she pursued with unwavering commitment.
Kurenai surveyed the young shinobi in front of her. To her right was Kiba Inuzuka, with the distinctive red fang markings of the Inuzuka clan on his cheeks and a small puppy perched on his messy brown hair. As an Inuzuka, Kiba had enhanced canine senses. His most formidable trait was his sense of smell, which was even better than that of a ninja hound. He could keep track of targets and identify traps that others would miss.
Standing next to Kiba was Shino Aburame, a boy who exuded an air of mystery. His dark round sunglasses concealed his eyes, and his sea-green jacket with a high, upturned collar added to his enigmatic appearance. As the heir to the Aburame clan, Shino was known for his control over Kikaichu insects that could drain an enemy’s chakra system. His symbiotic relationship with the insects allowed him to scout an area and return with valuable information, adding to his mystique.
Standing next to Shino was a girl whose head was shorter than his. She was petite and cute, with pale skin, large brown eyes, a reddish tint underneath the lids, and stark blonde hair. Akane Itsuki was a civilian girl with the required amount of chakra to become a ninja. She did not come from a well-known clan. Akane had once lived in the outlands in one of the unnamed villages until rogue ninjas invaded her home. When she wound up in Konoha, her new family consisted of three children: two girls and one boy living in the village’s poorer parts. Akane’s greatest asset was her unnatural resistance to Genjutsu.
Finally, to her left stood Hinata Hyuuga, the heir to the renowned Hyuuga clan. Despite her unusual dark blue hairstyle, her noble features were unmistakable. The Hyuuga clan was known for its proud noses and oval faces, but Hinata’s soft, owlish eyes and gentle nature set her apart. Her clan’s unique pupil-less eyes gave her a 360° vision, and her fighting style, which allowed her to constrict or cut off an individual’s chakra flow with minimal contact, was a testament to her impressive abilities.
Kurenai considered the much-needed work to be done if she wanted to see them improve. A recent mission came to mind. Just a week before, the team was assigned a simple D-rank mission: tracking and eliminating pests that were destroying a client’s garden. However, it became a revelation of their inexperience and lack of coordination.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” exclaimed Old Lady Mitsu, beckoning Team Eight to follow her behind the house. "These relentless pests have laid waste to my beloved garden. Typically hardy in cold weather, cabbages have succumbed to the devastation, while turnips, usually more resilient, struggle in this damp climate.”
As they reached the front of the garden, the sight was disheartening. The once thriving vegetable beds lay in ruin, with only the green tomatoes left unscathed.
Old Lady Mitsu, a subsistence farmer, faced a devastating setback as unknown pests mercilessly destroyed her crops. The garden looked like a scene of distress and devastation. The once thriving vegetable beds were now a chaotic mess of crushed plants and barren soil. The leafy greens lay wilted and trampled, their vibrant colours muted and lifeless. The cabbage patch was a sight of destruction, with significant gaps where the heads once grew, now only remnants of shredded leaves and hollow cores. The whole scene was a testament to the relentless and devastating impact of the pests ravaging the garden. Watching her walk among the rows of ruined vegetable beds with her head shaking in disappointment, pointing out the worst damage was a poignant experience for Team Eight.
“I attempted various traps, from food poisons to snares, but these cunning pests evaded them all," she explained. Kurenai's gaze fell upon a cabbage with its core eaten out, and she inquired, "Any specific instructions before we begin the cleanup?” Noticing Shino's contemplative demeanour near the tomato plants, she added, "And Shino, make sure to pay extra attention to the tomato patch.”
“Indeed,” replied Old Lady Mitsu, "try to protect my tomatoes from further harm. Once you've finished, call me, and I'll guide you through transplanting new plants."
“Absolutely, Lady Mitsu! It won't take us long, right guys?” Kiba responded with enthusiasm. "Yes, you can rely on us!" chimed in Akane, her voice full of conviction, while Hinata, though equally eager, murmured her agreement. Old Lady Mitsu rewarded them with a toothless smile before shuffling back into her small, quaint house. As soon as her body disappeared into her home, Kurenai took charge of her team with a sense of purpose and determination.
"Alright, let's begin by hearing your assessments of the situation," she said.
“Wait, what?" Akane exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening. Kurenai observed Akane's initial surprise, a sign of her occasional struggle to think on her feet. However, she quickly regained her composure as Kurenai's intense gaze prompted her to elaborate on her thoughts.
Meanwhile, Kiba's faithful companion, Akamaru, leapt from his head, landing near a partially eaten radish leaf. His nose twitched as he caught the culprit's scent, and he started sniffing around the stem, thoroughly inspecting the munched leaves.
Kurenai casually patted Akane on the head and calmly and reassuringly responded to her unspoken question, “When leading missions, you must swiftly assess the situation to avoid making grave errors. Since you're eager to participate, why don't you kick us off?" She punctuated her last words with a warm and encouraging smile. Akane felt a knot twist in her stomach at the suggestion, as she hadn't observed anything significant, and blurted out the first thing that came to mind, “I noticed most of the cabbages destroyed are in the back.”
Kurenai inwardly sighed, recognising Akane's tendency to jump to conclusions without deeper analysis. She turned her attention to Kiba and prompted, "Your turn, Kiba." He began to speak but paused as Akamaru yelped at him. He continued, "Akamaru and I think that the bugs wrecking the old woman's cabbages and radishes are the same." Kurenai nodded amiably, her eyes twinkling with pride, but also noting Kiba's reliance on Akamaru’s senses rather than his own observations. She then turned to Hinata, silently prompting her to speak.
As soon as the focus shifted to her, the dark-haired girl instinctively averted her eyes to the ground and began shuffling her feet, absentmindedly playing with the dirt. Kurenai witnessed Hinata's visible self-doubt, a constant struggle for the young Hyuga but she patiently waited for her to make her decision. In quick procession, she moves her hands to wake her eyes, and the veins pop up on her face. With little head movement, she states in a confused tone, “The pest has already been dispersed.”
Kureani turns to Shino, who rises to his feet, “I have already sent out the parasitic wasp to deal with the cabbage worm. They are natural enemies, so the wasp has destroyed all of them. Thus, there won’t be any need for Lady Mitsu to worry, and there won’t be used for us to expend more energy on solving this case.” Well, I’ll give him points for being thorough although he just did his own thing without letting us know. Kurenai sighed. It was going to take a lot of work to get them ready.
“For this mission, I will merely observe you; I want to gauge your instincts. If I sense something bad is about to happen, I will not hesitate to step in.” She announced, and Kiba’s face lit up like a torch.
“No need to worry, Commander Kurenai! With me as the leader, we’ll catch those bad guys in two seconds!” He loudly declared with a sizeable feral smile, showcasing his long canine teeth. Akamaru perched atop his head, whined and nudged him with his wet nose as if to say, “Don’t get too cocky.” The other three teammates kept quiet, knowing too well that they would start a never-ending argument if they interfered with his ramblings.
“Kiba, I’m glad that you want to take the initiative, but for this mission, I believe Shino will be best suited for this role. For the next D-rank mission, you’ll be in charge.” Though he visibly deflated, Kurenai knew Kiba would be fine. He never pondered on situations for too long. Kurenai trained her unique red eyes on Shino and said, “Tell me how you will lead your team?”
Shino’s glasses reflected in the fast-fading light of the day, and he took a moment to think.
“One: since we guard the western side of Konoha, which has the most trees, it would be best to camp among them. The leafy trees will render us less visible to the naked eye at night, thereby providing us with camouflage. In addition, if we are overpowered by the bandits, we can hide in the trees (Kiba growled to register his dissent, but Akane lightly flicked his ear to silence him).
“Two: It would be best if we split rotations into two groups—Kiba and I, and then Hinata and Akane. I believe that Kiba will compensate for my weaknesses, and I will do the same for him. Where Hinata lacks physical strength, Akane will cover for her (Hinata and Akane visibly winced), and since Akane is unable to track at night, the Byakugan will serve as her eyes. We will take three-hour shifts, and if one of us notices the enemy, we will quickly reconvene and fight them together.” Shino finished his assessment, and Kurenai nodded in agreement. Kurenai reflected that he made quick judgements and delivered a feasible plan, but his communication skills were rather blunt.
“Are there any objections?” She asked, and there were no frowns nor audible disgruntlement. “Good, then I expect all of you back at Konoha gates at 1800 hours. Pack your bags and get ready for your mission.”
All four of them, including the dog, verbally agreed and then ran off to their homes. Kurenai sighed and directed her gaze to the tallest building in Konoha, the Hokage tower, and wondered if Master Hiruzen had made the best decision. They still had much to learn about themselves, and she felt the young Genin needed more time to prepare for this mission. However, her personal feelings were inconsequential. With the grace of a swan, she channelled a small amount of chakra to her feet and jumped over the roofs to her apartment. Kurenai’s graceful movements belied the turmoil within her.