*3RD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW*

In the Hidden Leaf Village, the Third Hokage sat at his desk, smoking deeply through his pipe as he patiently waited for the arrival of one of his finest shinobi: The Yellow Flash.

"You asked to see me, Lord Third?" Minato said as he appeared, kneeling before his former Sensei. "Yes. With the Third Great Ninja War waging on, our Jonin and other high-ranked Shinobi are spread thinly across the Fire country and even beyond our borders. However, you and Kakashi are both Jonin on the same squad and even have a kunoichi capable of basic Medical Ninjutsu." Lord Hiruzen began. Minato raised his head to look up at the Hokage, "With all due respect, Lord Hokage. What are you implying?" Lord Hiruzen took another drape from his pipe before exhaling the smoke, "Your team is ideal for lengthy travel missions that require both infiltration and sabotage. However, their teamwork needs some serious refining before Kakashi takes over as team Captain."

As he continued, Minato gave a sharp nod in agreement and listened on, "I have an A-Rank mission for you and your team." Hiruzen said as he lifted a file. Minato's expression grew more serious as he raised from his knelt position to take the file. He placed it under his arm and wait for the Hokage to further explain.

"I've received intel from a reliable source that suggests the Hidden Cloud have teamed up with the Hidden Mist Village and acquired classified information on the opposing Shinobi Villages of this war. Including our own." Hiruzen said in all seriousness. "The Hidden Cloud, and Bloody Mist Village..." Minato wondered aloud. "This alliance could mean the end of the war, against our favour. Your team's objective will be to infiltrate the Land of Waves and prevent this said intel from falling into the wrong hands, more specifically, the Fourth Mizukage's hands." He explained. "We do not have enough intel to figure out how they are passing it, or when and to who. Which is why I will also dispatch more infiltration squads in the Hidden Cloud territory." Hiruzen continued. "I understand your reasonings for not utilising too many of our Shinobi forces for such a vague mission, but why dispatch only our team to the Hidden Mist territory while placing several near the Hidden Cloud? We know very little about both villages, and the Bloody Mist Village is notorious for their ruthlessness. Also, they have the ability to remain hidden until they reach their destination or attack their intended target." Minato said in slight concern.

"Indeed, but unlike the Hidden Cloud, the Hidden Mist Village has something known as the Neutral Grounds." Hiruzen replied. "Neutral Grounds?" Minato asked in slight confusion and curiosity. "Yes, the Neutral Grounds are what the Fourth Mizukage calls an act of mercy and kindness towards his civilians. When the village started going by the name of the Bloody Mist, and civil wars erupted from within it, many attempted to flee. The Mizukage noticed this, and he decreed that anyone attempting to escape the Village would be executed by ANBU Hunters." Hiruzen explained. "That's so cruel." Minato said.

Hiruzen nodded, "However, when more and more people were executed at the slightest foot in the door out the gates, the Hidden Mist population plummeted to a new all-time low. This is when the Neutral Grounds were created. It is a large area of open space and forestry in front of the main gates of the Village, where no guards or official Hidden Mist Shinobi are on duty. Anyone can step into it without the fear of being attacked under the Mizukage's orders. In his view, it gives his civilians a chance to rethink leaving the village before execution. In reality, it's a torture to the mind, knowing you are either walking to your death, or running back to your living hell." The Hokage grimly said. Minato grew tense just picturing it.

"Now it will become an opportunity to be utilised by the Hidden Leaf. You are to infiltrate the area, eliminate any threats in the way of your objective and survey the Neutral Grounds in its safety. Suspect any characters who enter or exit the village. The intel might be packaged in some sort of disguise. I want regular updates on the situation. This window of opportunity is the first step to ending this pointless war." Hiruzen finished. Minato gave a firm nod, "I won't let you down, Lord Hokage." He assured him. Hiruzen nodded in return and with that, their mission would soon begin.

Later that day, at the gates of the Hidden Leaf, Kushina Uzumaki stood waving to her husband and his team. They walked off, heading for the Land of Waves in the snowy weather, "Good luck you four! And remember the three Shinobi prohibitions! Come back safe and... Minato, you're not even listening to me, you know!?" she called out, slightly irritated that no one had turned back to wave as she rambled on. Minato turned back with a small wave and nervous eyes-closed smile, "Yes! We'll be careful, dear!" he called back to her. She nodded approvingly before cupping her hand over her mouth and waving on, "You better be! Bye-bye now!" She called out and watched them as they disappeared over the hill into the early sinking sun. She finally relaxed her tired arms and let out a gentle sigh, "Be safe... All of you."

Days had passed since then, and Team 7 had finally neared the rendezvous point. Obito could barely contain his excitement, "Finally! A mission worthy of my Sharingan!" he declared. "You don't have a Sharingan." Kakashi bluntly stated as they continued to walk through the deep mist. Obito's excitement immediately turned into anger. He growled and glared at Kakashi, "Just you wait, Kakashi! When I unlock my Sharingan, you'll be bowing at my feet, begging for surrender!" he pointed in accusation at him, from across Rin. "That will never happen." Kakashi said as he shrugged and shook his head nonchalantly. Obito's glare heated, and Kakashi glanced at him to reciprocate the annoyance he felt with Obito. Obito marched up to him, passing Rin and connecting foreheads with Kakashi, "How dare you insult an Uchiha! And I'm going to become Hokage!" He asserted in his angry tone. "You can't even take me without a Sharingan. How do you expect to become Hokage?" Kakashi frowned. "Please. Stop fighting you guys." Rin said worriedly as she stood beside them, but it had no effect. They continued walking while glaring with burning fury at each other, forehead on forehead, until they heard Minato's footsteps halt in front of them.

The three looked up at their Jonin leader, "Hmm?" they all wondered curiously. "What is it, Minato-Sensei?" Rin asked as he looked over the area. "We're here, the Neutral Grounds of the Village of the Bloody Mist. Stay sharp. We don't know how long we'll have to surveillance the area until we figure out who will be bringing the intel to the Mizukage." Minato explained as he continued to look around cautiously. "Wah!? It's a lame stake out mission?" Obito exclaimed in complaint. "Did you fall asleep during the mission briefing again? We're not here to fight anybody." Kakashi asked, easily taunting Obito's rage. "Kakashi's right, Obito. Besides, haven't we struggled enough just to make it this far?" Rin added, only deepening Obito's growls as she sided with his enemy. "Alright, enough. There's Hidden Mist ANBU Hunters and traps not too far from here. We need to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible. Luckily, most of the Hidden Mist Shinobi are out on the frontlines of the war. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be quiet and careful. Remember this is an A-rank mission. Alright, Obito?" Minato asked, staring down at the trouble maker in all seriousness. Obito huffed and folded his arms, "Fine." He reluctantly mumbled. "Good. Then let's begin setting up camp and placing our own traps for the night." Minato said in a more perked up tone, putting on his usual, gentle smile. "Hai!" his three students nodded in unison, and with that, they all got to work.

"Some A-Rank mission." Obito pouted as they ate food pills on the snowy earth. Minato sweat dropped knowingly. They had been camping in the forest section of the Neutral Grounds for two days now, with no sign of anyone. They had encountered several enemies on their way, but none since surveying the Neutral Grounds. Their worn clothes were evidence enough. "We're low on supplies, Minato-Sensei." Rin said in slight concern. Kakashi remained silent, eating alone in a tree above them. Minato sighed in relief knowing they had grown too tired to argue, "I've sent our report to the Hokage. We just have to stick it out a little longer in the meantime." He smiled. "You've been saying that since we got here! I'm cold, and tir-" Suddenly Obito's words were muffled by Kakashi. He had jumped down to their campsite to cover Obito's mouth.

As Obito continued to protest through Kakashi's hand, "Shush!" Kakashi demanded. Minato turned serious while Rin tilted her head, "What is it Kakashi?" Kakashi pointed passed them, at the last line of trees ahead. Obito muffled more as his face turned blue from suffocation, Kakashi rolled his eyes and took away his hand. While he gasped for air, Rin comforted him. Minato then jumped into the tree to get a clearer view of where Kakashi pointed, and he followed.

Minato stood on a snow-covered branch and looked to the clearing of the Neutral Grounds. Kakashi crouched down beside him and pointed to what he saw, "The intel could be in that wagon." He said. "Hey, wait up!" Obito said as he and Rin quickly jumped up the branches to join them. Minato hit his head, "Obito. Be quiet. This is a stealth mission." He whined as he held his head while Kakashi gave him a smug look of satisfaction. "But it's just a merchant, Minato-Sensei." Rin pointed out as she spotted the man with a straw hat riding a bull that pulled the wagon along. "A Shinobi is skilled in the art of deception." Kakashi countered, remembering the Shinobi Rule book. "Kakashi may be right. After all, he is the only person we've seen these past 48 hours, attempting to enter the Village." Minato added. "Well then, let's just go attack the guy and find out what he knows." Obito grinned as he took out his kunai. "Not so fast." Kakashi interrupted his excitement. "Wah? What now, Jerkhead?" Obito asked in irritation. Kakashi shot him a glare, before drawing their attention to what the merchant was heading towards, "Why would eight armed Shinobi be heading towards a lone merchant?" Kakashi wondered aloud. They turned to see the silhouettes emerge from the fog. Meanwhile, back in the Hidden Mist Village...

It had been over a year since Team Haurutsuki had met and saved old man Lee. When Miyuki discovered her water absorption ability, she began researching human anatomy and water-based Medical Ninjutsu. It turned out her mother knew Medical Ninjutsu as well and helped her where she could. She also discovered she had keen eyes for accuracy over far distances and combined with her new knowledge of human chakra points and chakra control, she picked up the senbon needles and lightning stream rather quickly. Ryuu improved as well. Since discovering he could wield a sword not only in his right hand like his father, but also in his left hand like his mother, he became a Dual Wielder. Now, by applying wind style to his movements, he became more acrobatic and extremely fast. Katsu wasn't slacking off either. Although his focus was more on his ninjutsu orbs and booksmarts, he begun learning how to shape his chakra into tool forms. He preferred fighting with daggers. Instead of applying it though, Katsu only used it as a last resort, and picked up some disguise and camouflage techniques to aid him in battle. He was now able to link his orbs to communicate with small groups of people, not only with him, but with each other. The three were growing into a force to be reckoned with in a very short time. However, their status remained Genin, as they had never completed a mission on the Mizukage's orders.

Crime rate for the small island of the 3rd caste had taken a huge plunge since Miyuki threatened the leader of the bandits at Lee's Place. That was a few months ago. Winter was now drawing to a close. "Maybe we should branch out to the other islands of the 3rd caste." Ryuu wondered aloud. The three were strolling through a quiet street in their Shinobi attire. With their hoods off, they scouted for bandits. Katsu never wore a hood as he was always operating in the shadows. None of their enemies were even aware they had a third team member.

"And wind up killed by someone like Zabuza or spotted by a guard? Hn. No thanks." Katsu huffed with folded arms. "But so many more people could use our help in the Village." Ryuu pleaded. "Ryuu we discussed this. We won't go near the Academy district. Or to the upper castes." Miyuki said. "But it's gotten so quiet around here la-" She put an arm over Ryuu's chest to halt their walking. "What is it?" Ryuu curiously inquired. She lifted her chin and gestured forward, "Over there. Two bandits." She whispered. "Let's hide." Katsu added and the three immediately hurried in-between two buildings. They stood with their backs against the wall while peering over the corner.

"Suspicious." Katsu stated as he noticed them cackling and tossing their weapons in the air. "Look three more!" Ryuu whisper shouted as three appeared from the mist, joining the two others. Miyuki pulled them both back, "Alright, hoods up. Katsu, Communication and Scouting Orbs. We'll pursue with caution." Miyuki instructed as she raised her hood. "Right." The non-identical twins nodded, and with that, Katsu placed two green orbs in their heads and threw two up into the sky to track their chakra. "Alright, let's do this!" Ryuu excitedly declared. "Shush!" both Katsu and Miyuki said in panic, covering his mouth. "Katsu?" She asked worriedly. He closed his eyes, "All clear. They're on the move, and fast." He replied. They then heard Ryuu muffle something and the two eye-rolled before releasing him, 'Communicate internally, Ryuu.' Miyuki reminded him, poking at his head.

"Ow. Ow! Okay! I remember..." He replied shooing her hand. 'Good. Now let's get moving. And please, put on your hood.' She said telepathically. 'Okay, okay.' Ryuu frowned before doing it and with that the three began jumping from corner to corner in pursuit of the five fading silhouettes.

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