Blind Sight (COTK Book 1)

Chapter 17: Silent Killing

"So... what are we doing?"

The look Baki gave Sasori was clearly full of annoyance, though Sasori didn't pay it any mind.

"Did you not read the mission scroll before we left?"

Sasori smiled, "Nope."

Sighing, Baki shook his head before checking that Gaara and Naruto were still following them. They had left Suna a few hours ago and had been running across the desert since then.

"Our mission is from a civilian-owned company in Wani City. They were contracted by the mayor to build a new well in the center of the city, due to the old ones beginning to run dry."

"So, we were hired to help them dig a hole?" Sasori asked, not at all looking forward to the prospect. I could just make Naruto do all the work, Sasori mused.

"No. They've already begun digging the hole for the new well." Baki explained, "We were hired because they hit a rock that won't break no matter what they hit it with."

"Interesting," Sasori replied, clearly not interested.

"A simple Jutsu will most likely suffice," Baki finished.

Pausing for a moment as they dropped off the edge of a vast sand dune, Sasori landed on the ground like he hadn't just fallen several dozens of feet and continued running.

"So, this is truly a getting the prince's feet wet mission then?" Sasori inquired, but Baki ignored him. Turning to look over his shoulder, Sasori tried to see if he had gotten any reaction out of the pale-skinned blindfolded boy, but Naruto's expression was blank.

Since they'd all met up at Suna's front gate, Naruto hadn't said a word, and Sasori was determined to get him to say something.

However, Sasori had to acknowledge that the scene he was seeing was hard to believe. If even a couple of months ago, someone had come up to him and told him he'd be going on a D-rank mission with Gaara, and the Prince of the Land of Wind, of all people. He would have laughed them out of the room.

Yet, here he was, doing little more than babysitting the Prince. He didn't think Gaara was going to try to kill Naruto again. Still, he did understand why Rasa wasn't willing to take any more risk than he already was.

It isn't the real reason I'm on this mission anyway, Sasori mused. It's likely the group that attacked Torio knows Naruto is here by now. If they attack, it will be up to Baki and me to protect Naruto. There is no guarantee that Gaara will defend Naruto of his own volition.

Sasori couldn't complain though, they were at least traveling at a Shinobi-level speed. However, it was barely above Genin level. If they'd been forced to walk across the desert to Wani City, Sasori would have been forced to carry Naruto on his shoulder the whole way.

"I see you've been improving Naruto's speed, Baki-san," Sasori commented, and his friend nodded. "I was surprised, I must admit. When I heard that Rasa had selected you to be Naruto's Sensei, I didn't believe it."

As Sasori had known he would, Baki frowned and turned away.

He laughed.

It was an old jibe, dating back to Baki's early Jounin days. The poor man hadn't known what he wanted to do with his Shinobi career and had tried to become a Jounin Sensei. However, the Academy had ended up kicking him out after a month. He was too harsh on the students, and many had quit under his teaching.

Deciding he'd harassed Baki enough, Sasori turned his focus towards Naruto.

"So, Naruto-san, is Baki-san teaching you well?"