AN: Note, I don't really like Sasuke or Sakura that much, but I'll try to keep the bashing down to a minimum. Summary should explain it all. The name is temporary, so please don't flame. I have no idea who'll be paired up with who, so please don't bug me. Stong! Naruto

"Kakashi-sensei, do you sense another ninja's chakra?" Naruto asked as Team 7 passed two puddles.

"Yeah, I do. Sasuke, Sakura, defensive formation on Tazuna. Naruto, guard the rear of the group, I've got front," Kakashi ordered as his team moved into position, though the banshee (Sakura) held her guard rather sloppily.

"Well, if it isn't the famous Copy Nin, Kakashi of the Sharingan," a voice stated from behind the group. Everybody turned to see two Nuke-nin standing where the puddles used to be.

"Good call, Naruto; I thought those puddles smelled like scum," Kakashi said, purposely angering the Demon Brothers.

"Hey, that was a bit uncalled for," Meizu stated, his brother nodding in agreement.

"Pinky, Brooder, tighten that formation. Kakashi-sensei, I'll get the one on the right," Naruto said as Kakashi nodded his approval. Both spiky haired ninja sped off at a well timed coordinated charge, mirroring each other's moves as the attacked the two Ex-Mist Nin. The two missing-nin barely kept up with the Konoha nin, who were increasing their speed to drive the ninja away. The two mist-nin smiled as they jumped about 20 meters away. They attached a chain of Shuriken to their gauntlets and charged straight on as they accelerated to their max speed. Both student and sensei looked at each other in silent agreement as to what to do. Naruto formed a spiral of chakra in his hand while Kakashi did a few quick hand signs and created a very volatile lightning attack in his right hand, and they charged their attackers. With four ninja charging at near invisible speeds to the other two gennin and their client, all they could do was hope that Kakashi and Naruto came out unscathed. In the blink of an eye, it was over; Meizu was stabbed though the chest with Kakashi's Lightning Blade, and Gozu's torso was blown to pieces by Naruto's Rasengan.

"Damn, there goes the bounty on Gozu's head. Sasuke, Sakura, keep that guard tight, Naruto, you get rid of the bodies, but keep Meizu's head. Last time I had checked, he alone had a pretty decent bounty on his head," Kakashi said as he walked towards their client. "Now, before I continue on this mission, I want the truth: All of it," Kakashi said, listening intently as Tazuna explained everything. Naruto, meanwhile, dug two shallow graves and put the brothers in them, and he then went on to make grave stones for the two ninja.

"Naruto, you're to stay at the back of the group and guard the rear, Sakura, Sasuke, keep that guard up, let nothing go unnoticed. There will most likely be more missing ninja on the road ahead, trying to kill Tazuna-san," Kakashi explained, receiving a grunt from the brooding boy and a nervous nod from the fan girl.

"Kakashi-sensei, I don't know if this is important, but I have a feeling that these two were flies compared to what's coming next," Naruto said, moving into position.

"I agree 100%, Naruto. Though, I have a feeling that it will be a hard fight, this next one," Kakashi said, signaling for the team to move along. They encountered no problems, though the group was eerily silent the rest of the trip as they reached Tazuna's house.

"Kakashi-sensei, Jonin level, about 200 meters ahead. Kenjutsu user by the looks of it, though he carries a rather large sword," Naruto said as he returned from scouting.

"Alright, Sasuke, Sakura, protect Tazuna with your lives. Naruto, create about a dozen clones to help guard, and come with me. If what you're describing to me is true, then it's the self proclaimed demon of the mist," Kakashi said, running off with Naruto in pursuit, leaving the rest of the team to guard.

"Kakashi-sensei, flank to the left. I'll provide a distraction while you go in for the death blow, but beware, there's another nin in the area, seems as though its his apprentice," Naruto said as Kakashi split to the left, and Naruto charged head on, preparing a kunai to distract the swordsman.

"Ahh, so the scout from earlier returns to fight. This could be interesting, though you're no match for the Demon of the Mist!" Zabuza yelled as he saw Naruto approach, and created a band of fog so thick you could choke on it. Naruto stopped his frontal assault. He knew I was there and he let me report back to my team, so that means, Naruto didn't need to finish that thought as one of his clones dispersed. Naruto shook out of it. He had to continue, Sasuke could prolong the death of Tazuna while Sakura, she would most likely be maimed in the first attack. He started his run towards the chakra source, though this time it seemed to have moved closer.

"Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Hidden Mist Village, I offer you an alternative to killing us and the bridge builder. You can come back with us along with that fake hunter-nin of yours and become a ninja of Konoha," Kakashi yelled, he too sensing that Naruto's clones were being destroyed. Naruto stopped dead in his tracks again, shocked by his sensei's offer.

"Interesting, though I may have to think about it. HAKU! We're leaving, Kakashi, we'll meet again on the bridge in a week, and you'll know our decision by then," Zabuza said, reattaching his giant sword to his back as Haku appeared beside him and they disappeared in the mist.

"Kakashi-sensei, were you serious? About the offer, I mean," Naruto asked as his sensei appeared behind him.

"Kind of, I mean, we're going to prepare in case he and his apprentice turn down the offer, but I'm kind of hoping he'll take it. We could always use an extra 2 ninja in the village," Kakashi said, walking leisurely back to the client. What they came upon was not a pretty sight; Sakura lay on her back, bloodied with Senbon, while Sasuke hovered above her, plucking out the Senbon needles while he wait to pull out his own.

"Geez, that Haku guy must've done some damage, though the client is still ok," Naruto said, inwardly praying that the pink banshee learned her lesson about being a fan girl.

"Hn, I'd like to see you do better, Dobe," Sasuke said as he finished pulling Sakura's Senbon out, and beginning on his own.

"He had to be at least Chunnin level to take out two gennin, wither that or he was well prepared," Kakashi said, trying to end the fight between the brooder and his most prominent student.

"Come on guys, my house isn't that far away," Tazuna said, trying to encourage the shinobi to follow. Reluctantly, Sasuke picked up Sakura and carried her for the rest of the trip, while Naruto took up guard around the client. They met no resistance, reaching the shack in a mere 27 minutes.