"Stop, Kurenai-sensei, Tsunade-sama. Jino is right." Misoka stepped forward, his teeth bared, almost seeming to snarl. An odd side-effect of the Red Moon state was that the user's actions usually became slightly more feral for a short time after using it. Shaking his head in order to clear it, the Leaf shinobi continued speaking. "We're no longer simply Academy students. As of now we are all shinobi, even if we're still of low rank and learning as we go. Right now, Konoha is short-handed due to most of its talented shinobi being needed to track down and battle Akatsuki, right? Well, we're all low-rankers, but right now Konoha needs every ninja on hand. This is our home, and we want to help it as much as we can. We can't just back down if we know that there's a problem. Eh?" he finished, glancing at his partners.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Kurenai, take care of him too. I can't stand whining children."
As Kurenai's hand moved closer to him, Misoka made his decision. With one sweeping move, he removed a kunai from his pouch and sliced it across his cheek. "Ah, I know what I'm getting into you-you- old hag!" he shouted. "You can't protect us forever. Sooner or later we'd have to do something like this, and prolonging the inevitable isn't a wise decision most of the time! We won't just let you-" his voice trailed off as he fell over, completely asleep.
Kurenai raised her eyebrow. "I didn't think I'd have to force him to sleep to get him to stop. I apologize for my pupil's disrespect, Tsunade-sama. We will go now." she said, as she began dragging Misoka out the door.
"No, wait. Stay here, ooutside, until I come to a decision. I need to think about this." Tusnade commanded, looking with interest at the sleeping Misoka.
Kurenai was taken aback. "Tsunade-sama, surely you can't be considering sending them on this dangerous mission? They're much too young, regardless of what Misoka says!"
"I know, I know," Tsunade replied calmly, "But he is right when he says that they are shinobi now, not children. If they are really willing to sacrifice their lives for the village, who are we to stand in their way? Wait outside until I come to a decision."
Having no other choice, Kurenai nodded, pulling her still-sleeping student out the door.
Meanwhile, a strange dream was making its way through Misoka's head. In it, he was surrounded by Sunagakure shinobi, who were driving kunai into his hands and feet, then twisting them, causing him to cry out in pain. Well, the leader whispered, You're the one bold enough to give his life for Konoha, eh? Are you willing to give up your sanity as well?
Misoka thought for a moment. Seeing as I've got no other options, I'd rather give up my sanity for Konoha then run away like a little coward. he replied, spitting in the dream shinobi's face. Besides, this is a genjutsu-influenced dream Kurenai-sensei is sending me to get me to chicken out. I'm Ok.
Ah, whatever. How about an umeboshi?
Huh?
Misoka stared as the scene changed from him sitting in the middle of a circle of sand shinobi to a green field where red plums ran about on two legs. Either I have a twisted mind, or Kurenai-sensei does. he decided, before grabbing a plum and gulping it down.