We had been walking for several hours, with Naruto and the twins walking ahead of the group.  Tazuna, Kakashi-sensei, Sakura, and Sasuke walked behind them.  Finally, Yugi-sensei and I took up the rear.

I could hear Sakura ask Tazuna about the Land of Waves.  I ignored the lecture on what the different nations were.  Naruto was confused, but he should have paid attention in class.  Iruka taught us this already.  Suddenly, Yugi-sensei nudged me.

I looked at him questioning the purpose of the nudge.  He seemed to be distracted, staring at a puddle on the ground quizzically.  It was almost as if he was challenging it to a duel with how intensely he was glaring at the puddle.  We walked past the puddle.  Suddenly, Yugi-sensei disappeared from my side.  I whirled around in time to see him wrapped up in spiked chains.  Soon, Kakashi-sensei was also wrapped in chains, restrained by another ninja.  They each tossed one of their chains to the other, and pulled them taught.

In no time at all, we had been ambushed and our sensei had been captured...damn it.

I watched wide-eyed as they yanked on the chains, shredding our sensei into little bits.  Anger flooded my system.

"Two little piggies..."

One of the ninja appeared behind Naruto.

"Three little piggies..."

Sasuke jumped in to save Naruto.  I glanced over at my team.  They stood frozen, staring at the spot were Yugi-sensei had been standing.  I let out a shrill whistle, breaking the trance-like state they were in.  I gave them a signal once I had their attention.  They nodded in understanding.  As Sasuke defended Naruto from one ninja, Ayana leapt over to Sakura to help defend and protect Tazuna.

Yusuke and I made eye contact, and quickly worked together, using kunai to defend ourselves from the chains being thrown at us by the attacking duo.

Sasuke threw one of his kunai, pinning the chain that connected the two ninja together to a nearby tree.  They tugged on Sasuke's handiwork.  The horror at not being able to free themselves was evident.  Sasuke jumped on their arms, then proceeded to perform a handstand kick to both of the ninjas' heads.  However, the force only broke the part where the chain connected to their hands.  They darted towards Tazuna.

Ayana prepared to perform a genjutsu, but the attackers were too fast for her to finish her preparation.

They were almost at Tazuna, when two new figure appeared in front of each of them, successfully getting in a shot at their throats and knocking them out.  The figures straightened, revealing themselves to be Yugi-sensei and Kakashi-sensei.

Confusion coursed through me.  Glancing back, I saw broken logs.  Of course they would use Substitution Jutsu...

After tying the two ninja to a tree, our sensei approached us.  Kakashi-sensei spoke.

"I'm sorry, Naruto.  I should have moved to help you sooner before you were injured."

My head jerked up towards Naruto.  I hadn't even realized that Naruto had gotten hurt!  How could I have paid so little attention to my teammates on this mission?!

"It never occurred to me that you would freeze up."  Kakashi-sensei turned to Sasuke.  "Good job, Sasuke."

Yugi-sensei placed his hand on my shoulder.  "I'm proud of you guys.  Especially you, Toshihiko.  When you saw your team freeze up from shock, you broke them from that shock, promoting them to take action.  That shows the qualities of a good leader.  I'm proud."  He offered me a grin.

I nodded distractedly.  I stared at Naruto's hand, glaring at it, even.  Yugi-sensei sighed knowingly as I made my way over to Naruto.  I heard Sasuke taunting Naruto, calling him a chicken, but I could care less about that.  I was still focused on the wound on Naruto's hand.

As I drew closer, I recognized the scent of poison.

"Naruto."  My voice spoke, taking on a tone of authority.  "We need to open that wound up more.  The claws on those ninja are laced with poison."

He looked at me in shock, as well as the rest of the group.

"That needs medical attention.  We may have to abandon the mission to make sure Naruto doesn't die," Kakashi-sensei stated simply.

He gritted his teeth as he pulled out a kunai.  He plunged it into his hand.  His actions made us all freeze.

"Naruto!  What are you--?!  No!!  Stop that!!"  Sakura's shrill voice filled the air.

Naruto's face takes on a determined expression, but it also seemed slightly demonic.  I could tell that he was serious with he was about to say.

"With this kunai knife, I promise you, I will protect the old man.  Reporting fit for duty, sensei."

I shook my head at his statement.  Placing my bag on the ground, I removed some of the bandages I had brought with me.

"Naruto, you opened it a bit too much.  I think we have the poison out of your system, now."

I grabbed his hand, and went to wrap it.  He complained about how it hurt while I was binding it.  I noticed, however, that his wound was already almost healed...that's strange...but cool too.  I finished wrapping his hand, and packed my bag up again.  I glanced over at Kakashi-sensei, who was with Yugi-sensei interrogating the attackers. 

Eventually, Yugi-sensei strode over to me with a troubled expression.  Kakashi-sensei went and spoke to the rest of the group.

"What happened."  My words were more of a statement than a question.

He hesitated before telling me. 

"Those ninja are from the Hidden Mist Village."

Those eight words had me frozen.

"We need to stay on guard.  Those Mist ninja were targeting Tazuna, which makes this C-ranked mission at least a B-rank, or even an A-rank, mission.  This has us concerned.  Especially me.  If more Mist ninja get involved, this could end up being bad for you.  How well known was your great-grandfather?"

"Very.  He was one of the very few ninja to go rogue from the Mist Village, and actually make a living outside of being a ninja.  He also had a fairly high bounty in the bingo books.  If any Mist ninja were to learn that I am his great-grandson, I don't know what would happen."  My response was robotic.

Yugi-sensei nodded.  "Do you want to continue this mission?"  I looked at my sensei.

"Yes.  I would never just abandon my teammates just because there is a possibility of there being a bounty on my head.  I will be staying on this mission.  I refuse to leave my teammates unprotected from the back."

Yugi-sensei smiled.  "Spoken like a true leader.  Like I said earlier, I'm proud of you."

We walked over to join the group.