"You wanted to see me, Lady Hokage?" Kakashi entered the Hokage's office with a quick knock and a heavy amount of respect in his tone.

He always seemed to need medical treatment after entering her office. Hopefully this time would be more peaceful.

"Do you realize how much of the forest you and your team damaged!?" Tsunade yelled as soon as his foot stepped through the threshhold.

It wasn't the nicest welcome but the Jounin still had hope that he would leave unscathed.

"They're stronger than I gave them credit for" Kakashi smiled innocently.

In truth, he knew exactly how strong his team was but if he revealed that, he would surely leave in a body bag.

Tsunade unexpectedly sat down with a tired sigh.

"Is everything alright, Lady Tsunade?" Kakashi didn't hesitate to question with a tilt of his head, hoping to steer the attention away from him and his team.

Tsunade said nothing as she retrieved a file from her desk before facing it toward Kakashi.

"Since your team is so strong and there seems to be endless tales of your reputation, I'm sending team 7 on an S-Rank mission" She revealed with a professional expression though her eyes held pain unknown to the rest of the world.

Sending a group of Jounin shinobi on an S rank mission wasn't unheard of though it was unusuall for a group so young and newly branded.

"Very well, Lady Hokage" Kakashi accepted without hesitancy.

He stepped forward and looked over the mission details before glancing up at the woman before him with a raised brow.

"He's already?-"

"He left from the sand village...where your team left him" She glared.

Kakashi sheepishly chuckled before going back to the file.

"I see. We don't have much time to catch up then" Kakashi commented as he dropped the file with a sigh.

___

Hinata always thought she'd be stronger in the future than what she was as a child but as she trained with Neji every day, she felt little progress in her stamina and strength.

"Focus, Hinata" Neji snapped as she hit her shoulder, successfully blocking a chakra point.

Hinata grunted as she was pushed back by the force but otherwise stayed on her feet with a frown etched on her expression. 

Neji lowered his attack stance and threw a scolding glare to the woman before him. It seemed a lifetime ago that Neji truly tried to kill his cousin.

The Hyuga watched her regain her normal breathing pattern before sighing "You're distracted again."

This comment alone caused the white-eyed female to glare back at him with frustration clear in her eyes.

Neji knew what thoughts raced through her mind. He had experienced those same thoughts of frustration and hate toward himself when he was younger. It was the realization that she wasn't as good as she wanted, needed, to be but that was why he was there. To help her.

"Why don't we take a break? you've almost perfected the twin lion fists and we have been training since dusk" Neji explained carefully, trying to subtly praise her without her knowledge. He knew how hard she could be on herself at times.

Hinata straightened "What is the time?" 

Neji looked to the sky "Around noon. Training will continue at dawn" He ordered before making his leave to find some food.

Hinata sighed as she stared at the ground in the Hyuga training compound. A gentle breeze almost lulled her to a deeper trance of silence and peace before her stomach voiced its opinion on staying still for much longer.

The blue-haired woman snapped out of her trance and quickly left the compound in search of food as her cousin had done.

Upon reaching the few stalls near Ichiraku's Ramen, Hinata suddenly realized just who might be present as she sauntered past. It had been so long since she'd seen him at his favorite restaurant and she had become accustomed to walking past without bothering to look as she knew he would not be there.

But he was back now which meant he could and most likely would be there. As she drifted past in sudden panic, her worst thoughts were confirmed as she heard the familiar husky voice coming from behind the flap of the restaurant.

The woman hesitated at the sound of his voice, she had missed it.

It drew her in like a bee discovering honey for the first time. It was intoxicating and she desperately wanted to be by his side but as the blue-haired woman begun to grow some confidence to greet him, a young girl pushed past her, knocking her back a little.

Hinata, wide-eyed with surprise, stepped back as the girl turned and offered her an apologetic smile before entering the restaurant that Naruto resided in and leaped over his back with a tight embrace.

"Yuki!" She heard Naruto chuckled as he clasped on her arms and pulled her away only to properly hug her from the front.

Hinata gulped as her chest hurt from the seemingly innocent action of Naruto. Without hesitancy, she quickly turned and went on her way but what she hadn't accounted for was Naruto seeing her as he had turned to hug Yuki.

Quickly letting go of the girl, he smiled at her "I have to go but I'll see you later, Yuki" The blonde waved and left the restaurant in search of the woman he had yet to catch up with.

Yuki smirked as he had left half a bowl of ramen for her to devour before she ordered more on his tab.

___

"Hinata-Chan?" Naruto softly called, knowing how quickly she was startled around him. 

As he predicted, the woman jumped at the sound of his voice before her cheeks grew a soft red from seeing the blonde behind her.

"N-Naruto-Kun" She greeted with a calm smile.

Naruto grinned down at her with happiness in his eyes that even his teammates couldn't give him "How are you?" He asked.

Hinata turned to fully face him before nodding "I'm well, my training has improved a lot" She explained, a bubbling emotion growing in her chest as she noticed the proud expression Naruto gave her.

"I'm glad to hear though I had no doubt you'd grow stronger. Where are you going? May I join you?" He questioned with a confidence in him that even he did not know he had.

Hinata's cheeks grew a brighter red as he offered to join her in getting food.

Didn't people usually do that when on a date? Hinata thought as her cheeks simply kept growing brighter In its color.

"O-Oh, I was just on my way to get some food...Y-You're welcome to j-join" She stuttered with a nervous chuckle.

Naruto smiled genuinely at her before nodding. As they were about to head off to continue their conversation, Sakura appeared before them with an urgent expression.

"To. Mission. Now." Sakura stated before turning to Hinata with an apologetic smile and disappearing again. Probably to collect their things.

Naruto sighed and glanced down at Hinata with a sad smile "Sorry Hinata-Chan. Let's catch up when I'm back?" He asked, hoping she would say yes.

Hinata returned the sad smile before nodding "Good luck, Naruto-Kun" She smiled, giving him what little reassurance she could but to him, it was reason enough to return in one piece. 

With that, the blonde disappeared, leaving the blue-haired woman standing alone in the middle of the street. She sighed before continuing her original journey to find something to eat.

___

"Alright, now that you're all here." Kakashi spoke up, his voice carrying across the team of five effectively gaining their utmost attention "This is an S-Rank Mission. Our objective is to aid Jiraiya-Sama in gaining intel on what he suspects may be the Akatsuki's leader" He explained as they stood by the North entrance to Konoha.

Naruto grit his teeth in anxiousness, not liking the idea of his mentor going up against the leader of the Akatsuki by himself but that would only happen if he was caught. Naruto remembered back to the times Jiraiya had been caught sneaking on the springs. Sneaking wasn't his strong suit.

"You three took on most of the members of the Akatsuki but I'm sorry to say most survived." Kakashi continued with a grim expression. The trio glared down at the ground in disbelief, they had given it their all when they fought them. Sakura at least knew Sasori was dead as she delivered the blow to his heart personally.

"Naruto. The Akatsuki are still gathering the Tailed Beasts so you'll need to be increasingly cautious. The fact that you're on this mission shows you're capable but don't get cocky. You're more at risk than anyone else here" Kakashi explained with a stern expression, knowing the blonde's habit of going into a fight with his fists first before his head.

Naruto nodded his head, there would and could not be any mistakes on this mission. He wouldn't allow himself to be the source of distress with something so crucial. This could be their chance to capture the Akatsuki's leader or better yet, leave the Akatsuki without a leader.

The group set off without another word. Kakashi and Yamato at the front, Sasuke and Naruto to the sides with Sakura in the middle and Sai in the back. Strategically placed in case an enemy tries to ambush them.

It didn't take as long as Naruto had thought it would. They'd been to the Land of Rain before but nowhere near as close as they would be getting now.

As night fell and the moon rose up, the forest became eerily quiet. The kind of quiet that became uncomfortable to be in but not long after, the sound of rain falling filled that silence and so they knew they had now entered the Land of Rain.

"Naruto" Kakashi spoke quietly as he glanced back at the blonde with a nod.

Naruto understood the motion before he branched out his senses to find Jiraiya. "Found him" The blonde muttered before he switched places with Kakashi and led them to the perverted Sannin. 

"His chakra levels..." Naruto mumbled with a frown as he sped up, the group following his lead.

Naruto burst through the thickness of the forest with a grunt before his eyes snapped to his mentor who had just finished burning a hidden message on the elder toad, Fukasaku. He was on death's door and Naruto feared they were too late.

Multiple men stood across the dam Jiraiya had dragged himself from. All with the same orange hair color and piercings on various places throughout their bodies.

Without a moment's hesitation, the team sprung into action with Naruto and Sasuke facing four of the men while Yamato and Kakashi faced the other two. Sai and Sakura immediately went to Jiraiya's side and carefully removed the rods from his back.

Sakura felt for a pulse on the older male and luckily found a weak one before she rolled him over and begun healing the bigger wounds. Sai stood in front of the two and provided long-distance support wherever needed.

"Will you be able to save him?" Fukasaku questioned with concern, his own body beaten and tired.

Sakura glanced at the toad but said nothing as she continued to work on the Sannin.

"You bastard!" Naruto spat as tried to land a hit but was unsuccessful each time. Either they were much faster than he was or they knew exactly when to dodge but that was impossible, right?

Sasuke grunted as his opponent kicked him back though he caught himself on the water. Activating his Sharingan eyes, the Uchiha studied the men as Naruto attacked and noticed all their eyes glancing back and forth between each other. The raven-haired male's eyes widened as he realized what they were doing.

"To! They all have the Rinnegan! They're the same p-" Sasuke yelled so the others could hear as well but was cut off as his opponent attacked him again.

Naruto's own eyes widened "They're the same person which means he can see through them all" The blonde quietly finished the explanation Sasuke would have given.

Jumping back and signaling his two Sensei's to retreat as well, the blonde looked back to see Sakura working furiously to keep Jiraiya alive. They couldn't stay like this. They needed to get Jiraiya somewhere safe.

Naruto glared at the men before him, they were watching as well. Analyzing. 

Sasuke appeared next to Naruto, breathing heavily "Well?" He questioned with a glare pointed at the men.

"We fall back for now. Sakura can only keep him alive for so long without the proper equipment and support" Naruto explained as Kakashi and Yamato joined their sides.

"Agreed" Kakashi stated "There are too many unknowns" He continued as he eyed a purple-haired woman standing to the side, her face seemingly paper-thin.

"To and I will distract them." Sasuke spoke up with determination which meant the Uchiha had a plan and his plans were always the best solution to follow.

Kakashi nodded whilst Yamato seemed more hesitant "Alright, I'll leave you to it" Kakashi said before appearing next to Sakura and explaining the plan. The pinkette looked back with concern but otherwise helped Kakashi with Jiraiya. 

Sai followed closely with a keen eye staying on the patiently waiting men. it was unusual for an opponent to wait whilst their enemy gained their bearings but Sai narrowed it down to the men thinking they were stronger either way.

"Captain Yamato" Naruto muttered to gain his attention. He had not moved since the plan was made and the blonde hardly had time to reassure him. Luckily, the Captain understood with sad eyes before leaving the grounds with Kakashi and the others.

Naruto looked to Sasuke with a determined expression whilst Sasuke simply activated his Sharingan.

'Kurama, time to wake up' Naruto called upon the tailed beast within him.

'Finally...' Kurama growled back before the blonde felt his chakra rise up within him.

This battle would be a long one but both Sasuke and Naruto smirked as they faced the leader of the Akatsuki.