Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 44: Messages and Meetings!

The sun shined brightly over Konoha's administrative district as Team 15 made their way through the bustling streets, their mission scroll secured in Tatsuma's weapon pouch. Despite the initial disappointment of receiving a D-rank assignment, the practical reality of the situation was beginning to settle in.

"You know what?" Kōzaru said, his voice carrying a note of pragmatic acceptance as he adjusted his pace to match his teammates, "500 EXP for what's basically a walking tour of the village isn't terrible."

"Easy money," Aotaka agreed, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt as they navigated the morning crowd. "After yesterday's intensity, maybe something straightforward is exactly what we need."

"Plus," Tatsuma added, unrolling the mission scroll to review their assignments, "we get to see parts of the village we've never been to. The Intelligence Division, the Logistics Corps, the Medical Corps... most genin never get inside those buildings."

The list of destinations was extensive, seven different departments scattered across Konoha, each requiring specific documents and messages. The mission brief had mentioned that the normal communication lines were experiencing "technical difficulties," which in wartime likely meant enemy interference or sabotage attempts.

"First stop," Tatsuma announced, consulting the scroll, "Intelligence Division. We need to deliver a priority message about patrol schedules to someone named Inoichi Yamanaka."

"Yamanaka?" Kōzaru said, picking up the familiar scent patterns that came with clan identification. "That's Ino's dad right? The mind-reading specialists?"

"Exactly," Aotaka confirmed, his knowledge of the Naruto world proving useful. "They're part of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation with the Nara and Akimichi clans remember. Very important in intelligence gathering."

As they approached the Intelligence Division building—a surprisingly modest structure that seemed designed to blend into the surrounding architecture—they encountered their first checkpoint. Two chunin guards stood at attention, their eyes scanning everyone who approached with the practiced wariness of people responsible for protecting sensitive information.

"Team 15 reporting for courier duty," Tatsuma announced, presenting their mission scroll with professional efficiency.

The guard examined the documents carefully before stepping aside. "Third floor, room 304. They are expecting you."

The interior of the Intelligence Division was bustling with activity. Shinobi moved through the corridors with purposeful urgency, their conversations conducted in hushed tones that spoke to the sensitive nature of their work. Maps covered most wall surfaces, marked with coloured pins that likely represented troop movements and strategic positions.

Room 304 was easy to find, its door marked with the number itself and a name, "Yamanaka - Senior Analyst." Tatsuma knocked twice, waiting for permission before entering.

The man who greeted them was younger than they had expected, probably not even 20, with the distinctive platinum blonde hair of the Yamanaka clan. His eyes were sharp and intelligent, carrying the kind of focused intensity that came from dealing with critical information on a daily basis.

"Team 15?" Inoichi Yamanaka asked, his voice carrying the professional courtesy of someone accustomed to working with various personnel. "I was told to expect a courier delivery."

"Yes, sir," Tatsuma replied, retrieving the sealed envelope from his pouch. "Priority message regarding patrol schedules."

Inoichi accepted the envelope with careful hands, his fingers moving to break the seal with practiced precision. As he read the contents, his expression grew more serious, and he reached for a pen to make notes on a separate document.

"Excellent timing," he said, his voice carrying genuine appreciation. "These schedule changes need to be implemented immediately. The enemy has been showing increased activity in sectors seven and nine. My father will want to hear about this."

"Is there a reply message, sir?" Aotaka asked, not being able to help hear the last part of his sentence.

"Not at this time," Inoichi replied, already turning his attention to the maps that covered his desk. "But thank you for the efficient delivery. In times like these, reliable communication can mean the difference between life and death."

As they prepared to leave, Inoichi looked up one final time. "You're working under Minato, aren't you?" He asked.

"Make sure to work hard and do your best. This war requires all of our efforts, even from the lowest of our ranks."

"Yes sir," all three replied in unison, their pride evident in their voices.

The second stop on their route took them to the Logistics Corps, housed in a massive warehouse complex on the eastern edge of the village. Here, the atmosphere was different—less secretive but more frantically busy, with supply clerks rushing between towering stacks of equipment and provisions.

"Get that lot moved over here!"

"We don't have time, that goes there!" 

The voices yelled out through the commotion of the busy district.

Their contact was a chunin named Chōza Akimichi, a massive man whose size was impressive even by his clan's standards. He was supervising the loading of supply wagons when they arrived, his booming voice carrying clearly across the warehouse floor.

"Again, Akimichi... This is Choji's dad right?" Kōzaru said, getting a nod from Tatsuma.

"Team 15?" Chōza called out when they approached, his friendly demeanour immediately putting them at ease. "You're here about the requisition forms, right?"

"Yes, sir," Kōzaru replied, handing over the appropriate documents. "Emergency requisition approvals for medical supplies and kunai."

Chōza's massive hands handled the papers with surprising delicacy as he reviewed their contents. "Perfect timing," he said, his voice carrying relief. "We've been waiting for these approvals all morning. The medical corps is running low on bandages and soldier pills."

"Soldier pills?" Tatsuma asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Military rations that restore chakra quickly," Chōza explained, his tone carrying the patience of someone who enjoyed sharing knowledge. "Essential for extended missions. Your sensei probably carries them—most jōnin do." He said, causing the three of them to raise an eyebrow at the information.

As they watched him process the requisition forms, stamping them with official seals and passing them to waiting clerks, the three teammates gained a new appreciation for the complexity of village operations. Every mission, every technique, every piece of equipment required coordination between multiple departments.

"Here," Chōza said, handing them a small package. "Sample soldier pills for your sensei. Tell him they're the new formula—more efficient chakra restoration with less bitter taste."

"Thank you, sir," Aotaka said, accepting the package with both hands in a gesture of respect.

As the three of them headed off, Aotaka and the others couldn't help but wonder about the solider pills that Chōza had given to them.

"Do you think those things really work?" Tatsuma asked.

"I mean why wouldn't they, he did say they help restore your chakra." Aotaka said, looking at the small bag of pills as he examined them.

"If that's the case, I wonder what other kinds of ninja pills and weapons exist in this world."

"We should test one, just to see how useful it could be right?" Tatsuma asked, looking at the others.

"I agree, taking one won't hurt." Aotaka said.

"Alright, but just one. We can test it later after the mission." Kōzaru said, getting a nod from the others as Tatsuma took one of the pills and placed it in his weapons pouch.

The third stop brought them to the Medical Corps, where they encountered a scene of controlled chaos. Medic-nin moved between treatment rooms with practiced efficiency, their hands glowing with healing chakra as they treated injured shinobi who had returned from various missions.

Their contact here was a young woman with black hair who introduced herself as Tsunade's student. Her movements carried the confident precision of someone who had been trained by the best.

"You're the couriers?" she asked, her voice carrying the brisk efficiency of someone with too much work and not enough time. "I need these medical reports delivered to the Hokage immediately."

"Yes, ma'am," Tatsuma replied, accepting the sealed envelope with appropriate gravity.

"And this goes to the Intelligence Division," she continued, handing over a second package. "Analysis of poison samples we've encountered. They need to know what they're dealing with out there."

As they prepared to leave, she paused in her work to look at them more carefully. "You're awfully young to be running classified messages. How old are you?"

"Eight, ma'am," Kōzaru replied honestly.

"Eight," she repeated, her voice carrying a note of something that might have been sadness. "At eight, I was learning basic medical techniques. You're already handling wartime communications. Times have certainly changed." She said, not taking a moment longer to stop as she was suddenly called for, proving that her work was more important that chatting.

"Wasn't that... What's her name again?" Kōzaru said, not being able to remember.

"Shizune I think." Aotaka said, noting that her hair was different and she was much younger.

"Come on, lets get a move on we need to get this mission finished before the end of the day." Tatsuma said, snapping the others out of it, before the three of them made a move.

The fourth stop was their most intimidating yet—the ANBU headquarters, a building that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. The guards here were masked figures whose presence radiated dangerous competence, their eyes tracking every movement with predatory focus.

"State your business," one of them said, his voice carrying the mechanical flatness of someone accustomed to absolute authority before they even got close.

"Team 15, courier mission," Tatsuma replied, his voice remaining steady despite the intimidating environment. "We have a message for the duty commander."

The ANBU operative examined their credentials with meticulous attention before gesturing for them to follow. The interior of the building was spartan and functional, with none of the organizational bustle they had seen elsewhere. Here, everything was quiet, efficient, and slightly terrifying.

The duty commander was another masked figure, his ANBU tattoo visible on his bare arm as he accepted their delivery. He read the message in complete silence, his body language revealing nothing about its contents.

"Acknowledged," he said finally, his voice carrying the same mechanical precision as his subordinate. "No reply required." He said, bidding them goodbye with a simple nod.

As they left the ANBU headquarters, all three teammates released breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding, having felt the seriousness and strong chakra coming from each of the Anbu members.

"That was intense," Aotaka said, his voice carrying the relief of someone who had just survived a particularly challenging social interaction.

"They're so... Strong," Kōzaru observed, his enhanced senses still detecting the lingering chakra signatures of the ANBU operatives. "There chakra levels were the real deal." He said, looking down at Riku and Yuki who had also sensed it, shaking a little from the powerful chakra.

"I guess that's why they are classed as elite shinobi," Tatsuma replied, his mind processing what they had just experienced. "But I'm glad we don't have to work with them." He said, getting a nod from the others.

"Not for a while yet I can imagine." Aotaka said, knowing they were no way near strong enough to be working with the likes of them.

The fifth stop brought them to the Academy, a familiar sight where they encountered a familiar face that made all three teammates straighten with recognition. Instructor Hayashi stood at the front of a classroom filled with eager young faces, his chunin vest bearing the scars of someone who had seen real combat. Several prominent scars crossed his weathered face, and his eyes held the weary look of someone who had transitioned from the battlefield to the classroom.

"Well, well," Hayashi said, his voice carrying a mixture of surprise and genuine warmth as he recognized them. "If it isn't three of my former students. Team 15, if I'm not mistaken." He said, wearing a small smile of pride across his face.

"Hayashi-sensei!" all three replied in unison, their voices carrying the respect and fondness that came from shared memories of Academy training.

"Educational materials update," Tatsuma explained, handing over a package that felt like it contained books or scrolls.

Hayashi's expression grew more serious as he accepted the package, but his eyes never left his former students. "Wartime training modifications," he said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who understood the implications. "They're accelerating the curriculum even more."

He set the package aside and stepped closer, his scarred face breaking into a rare smile. "But look at you three. I remember when you could barely hit a target with kunai, and now you're running classified courier missions. Tell me, how are you finding life as real shinobi?"

"It's... intense, sensei," Kōzaru replied honestly, his enhanced senses picking up the familiar scent that brought back memories of Academy training. "Much more challenging than we expected."

"And much more rewarding," Aotaka added, his hand unconsciously moving to his sword hilt. The reflex not going unnoticed by the academy instructor.

"Especially the teamwork exercises," Tatsuma said, his voice carrying gratitude. "You were right about coordination being more important than individual skill."

Hayashi's smile widened, and for a moment, the weariness in his eyes was replaced by genuine pride. "I heard through the grapevine that you've been assigned to Minato Namikaze at the moment. That's quite an honour, he is an exceptional shinobi, trained by one of the very best himself." 

"He's incredible," Kōzaru said, his voice carrying the awe of someone who had witnessed true mastery. "Yesterday we had our first real training session with him, and it was... eye-opening."

"The bell test?" Hayashi asked, his eyebrows rising with interest.

"You know about it?" Aotaka asked, surprised.

"Every instructor knows about the bell test," Hayashi replied, his tone carrying the wisdom of experience. "It's become legendary among the jōnin, passed down by the 3rd Hokage himself. Very few teams ever succeed on their first attempt. How did you fare?"

"We didn't get the bells," Tatsuma admitted, but his voice carried pride rather than disappointment. "But we lasted the full three hours and earned his respect."

"Against Minato Namikaze?" Hayashi's voice carried genuine amazement. "For three hours? That's... that's remarkable. Most teams are eliminated within the first thirty minutes."

The pride in his voice was unmistakable, and all three former students felt their chests swell with accomplishment. Their Academy instructor—the man who had drilled them in basic techniques, who had pushed them through endless training exercises, who had prepared them for the realities of shinobi life—was genuinely proud of their progress.

"The foundation you gave us made all the difference," Kōzaru said, his voice carrying sincere gratitude. "The coordination drills, the emphasis on teamwork, the way you taught us to support each other's strengths." He said, the memories of this body before he had come to this world playing in his mind.

"And the way you never let us give up," Aotaka added, his memories of countless training sessions flooding back.

"That's what I'm here for," Hayashi said, his voice carrying the satisfaction of a teacher whose students had exceeded expectations. "To prepare you for exactly what you're doing now. Seeing you three working together, handling real missions, earning the respect of other shinobi in the village... it makes all those long training days worthwhile."

He glanced back at his current class of Academy students, who were watching the interaction with obvious curiosity. "I'm going to tell them about you three," he said, his voice carrying a note of inspiration. "Show them what's possible when you dedicate yourself to training and never give up on your teammates."

"Thank you, sensei," all three replied in unison, their voices carrying the deep respect of students who had found their calling.

Kōzaru also noticed that this was a younger class of student's not seeing any familiar faces in the small crowd.

"Now get going," Hayashi said, his tone returning to its familiar instructional authority. "You have missions to complete and a village to serve. But remember—no matter how far you go, how strong you become, you'll always be my students. Make me proud."

"We will, sensei," Tatsuma promised, speaking for all of them.

As they prepared to leave, Hayashi called out one final time. "And tell Minato that his new team has excellent fundamentals. Their Academy instructor made sure of that."

The pride in his voice followed them out of the classroom, and all three teammates felt their spirits soar.

The sixth stop was the Communications Division, where they encountered a hive of activity centred around various pieces of equipment that hummed with electrical energy. Their contact was a chunin technician whose hands were stained with grease and electrical burns from working on the delicate equipment.

"Team 15," the technician said, looking up from a complex array of communication devices. "You're here about the equipment requisition forms."

"Yes, sir," Tatsuma replied, handing over the appropriate documents. "Priority requests for communication equipment."

The technician examined the forms with tired eyes, his movements showing the strain of someone who had been working long hours. "The communication lines have been experiencing significant interference," he explained, his tone carrying frustration. "Enemy sabotage is suspected, and we're running out of replacement parts."

"That's why we're running messages manually," Kōzaru observed, his understanding of the situation growing clearer.

"Exactly," the technician confirmed, returning to his work. "Manual courier runs are the only reliable method when the enemy has infiltration specialists targeting our infrastructure."

The final stop brought them full circle, back to the Intelligence Division to deliver the medical analysis they had received from the Medical Corps. Inoichi Yamanaka was still at his desk, but now he was surrounded by other analysts, their conversation focused on maps and reports.

"Ah, Team 15," Inoichi said, looking up from his work. "Perfect timing. Is that the poison analysis from the Medical Corps?"

"Yes, sir," Aotaka replied, handing over the package. "They said it was urgent."

Inoichi's expression grew grim as he examined the contents. "It is," he said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who had just received disturbing news. "The enemy is using new toxins, ones we haven't encountered before. This analysis could save lives."

As they prepared to leave, having completed their final delivery, Inoichi looked up one last time. "Excellent work today," he said, his voice carrying genuine appreciation. "Efficient, professional, and timely. Your sensei should be proud."

"Thank you, sir," all three replied in unison.

The broader understanding they had gained. They had seen the village's nervous system in action, had witnessed the complex coordination required to keep Konoha functioning during wartime.

"You know what?" Kōzaru said as they made their way back toward the mission office, "That was actually pretty educational." Getting a bark from his ninja hounds as they followed him with grace, one on each of his sides.

"Definitely," Aotaka agreed, his appreciation for the village's complexity growing. "I had no idea how many departments were involved in supporting field operations."

"And the people we met," Tatsuma added, processing the various personalities they had encountered. "Each of them playing a crucial role in keeping the village running."

"Plus," Kōzaru said, his voice carrying renewed enthusiasm, "500 EXP for a few hours of walking around. Not bad for a day's work." He said with a smile, getting a nod from the others.

"Easy money too," Aotaka confirmed, his earlier disappointment completely forgotten.

As they approached the mission office to report their successful completion, their conversation turned to speculation about what tomorrow might bring. Would Minato return safely from his B-rank mission? Would they receive another courier assignment, or would they be given something more challenging?

The war continued around them, but for one day, Team 15 had played their part in keeping the village's communication flowing. It might not have been the adventure they had initially hoped for, but it had been important work, and they had performed it with the dedication that Minato had taught them.

Sometimes, being a shinobi meant delivering messages rather than fighting enemies. And sometimes, that was exactly what the village needed most.