107Chapter 4: The Scrolls of Higher Heaven: Mission for Ino-Shika-Neji-Ten!
The four chunin made there way to Tsunade's. Shizune, Tsunade's assistant, ushered them in. Tsunade greeted them warmly, but that didn't settle everyone's nerves. "I have called the four of you for a special mission-" Tsunade began, but she was interrupted by Ino.
"Uh, Lord Hokage? Aren't most of our missions carried out with three chunin? And where is Asuma-sensei?"
Tsunade was irritated at being interrupted, but answered as sweetly as she could manage. "Yes, Ino, most are carried out by three chunin, but as I said, this is an exception. Also, Asuma is currently on an assignment, and Gai is recuperating from his last one. So you will be accompanied by Anko." Anko stepped into the office on cue, and the four chuunin frowned after recognizing her as the head of the second part of the Chuunin Exam. Tsunade cleared her throat and continued. "You will be going to the Land of Earth. There is a mine on the outskirts of the Village Hidden in the Rocks. Stored there are two scrolls placed there by the Hidden Cloud Ninja after the revolution. You are to obtain them, and prevent any circumstances which may result in war. Understood?" The four chuunin nodded and left. Anko waited for them to leave, and then turned to Tsunade.
"Are you sure about this team? They seem a little...unprepared for this sort of mission."
Tsunade silently shook her head and then said, 'You underestimate them. They are an extremely versatile team. I trust you to lead them well." Anko nodded and excused herself. Tsunade looked at the scroll from the Hidden Cloud Nation. "Well, Princess, at least you're still alive, and as resourceful as ever."
Ino and Shikamaru went back to Ino's house after Shikamaru had unsuccessfully resisted Ino's coaxing. Ino went straight upstairs, dragging a reluctant Shikamaru. "Why isn't Choji out of the hospital yet? He just had a stomach virus," Shikamaru managed to say. "He keeps getting a relapse because he shoveling all the hospital food down his oversized gullet!" Ino replied furiously. When they got upstairs, Ino immediately started packing her things. Shikamaru had the famous anime "sweat drop" as he watched Ino cramming things like her brush, hairdryer, mirror, and other assorted items. She tried on several outfits to see which one she should wear for the mission, and ultimately settled for what she was originally wearing.
"Ino, we are going on a mission, not a glammer shoot," Shikamaru grumbled.
"Well, unlike you, I like to look good. You wouldn't know fashion if it was tatooed on your eyelids!"
"And you wouldn't know logic if it beat the heck out of you."
Ino glared at him before tossing every object near her. "SHIKAMARU!"
Ten-Ten and Neji went to the hospital to see Gai and Lee. When they came in, Gai and Lee's eyes came alive with fire. Ten-Ten placed some flowers in a vase in between their beds.
Lee took one look and said. "OH! HOW MY HEART OVERFLOWS WITH ABUNDANT PRAISE FOR THESE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS THAT HAVE STRIVEN TO MAKE THIS GIRL HERE BE IMMERSED IN SUCH DELIGHT! SHE CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF HER EXPRESS THE HONOUR, THE PURE HAPPINESS WITHIN WHICH SHE IS STEEPED, HER OWN WORDS FAIL HER! INDEED, EVEN I CANNOT BEGIN TO TRULY EXPRESS, ON HER BEHALF, THE EXPLOSION OF JOY, THE THOUSAND FLUTTERING WINGS WITHIN HER WHEN WE RECEIVED THIS WONDERFUL TREASURE, THIS SYMBOL OF SWEET DEDICATED ADMIRATION FOR HER HUMBLE TEAMMATES! IS IT NOT SO GAI-SENSEI?"
"Three...two...one..." Neji counted in his head.
Suddenly Gai erupted in a shout. "LEE! A THOUSAND TIMES ONCE AGAIN YOU PLACE MY OWN ELOQUENT SPEECHES TO SHAME WITH THE TRULY NOBLE EXTENT OF THE VALOUR AND CHIVALRY WITH WHICH YOU POUR PRAISES ON OUR BEAUTIFUL TEN-TEN! THE BEAUTIFUL SYMBOLISM YOU YOURSELF HAVE USED TO DESCRIBE THESE MAGANIFICENT, BEAUTIFUL, BLOSSOMING FLOWERS – OH!"
Just then everyone turned to see the large and truly frightening nurse rush in with a roar. She leaped at the two unfortunate figures in the beds. Neji quietly slipped from the room during the frightening uproar. Ten-Ten stood bewildered at the frightening scene before her.
"YOU AGAIN!" the nurse screamed, "CAN'T YOU KEEP IT DOWN! THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS WEEK!"
Everyone in Konoha stopped what they were doing and looked towards the hospital, where an uproar of shouts and screams could be heard for miles.
The four ninja met up the next morning at the gates. Anko was already there and waiting. She was reading a newspaper, with a front page that really caught your eye. General Tenchi Ozimu, Boulder of the Hidden Rock Village, has been assigned to a high-level mission at the Oranshill Mines...
Hmm….things are now in motion and the stage is set. What could be going on?