Chapter One: Clash! The Legendary Sannin Vs The Demon of the Hidden Mist!

Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, felt a bit out of his element as he and his subordinate Haku made their way through the village. It was a cheerful, rural sort of area. It was full of comings and goings. A farmer wheeled his goods along to market. Pigs were being sold.

In such a place a six foot tall tan skinned professional murderer with a sword as large as he was could not help but feel out of place. Haku faired moderately better with her colorful attire. But it was nothing like home.

The door they came to met the address. But it was not the sort of place one would expect to find a man who was hiring a ninja. It was a house built into a mossy green hill. It had a perfectly round door, like a portal, painted bright blue and a golden knocker. No guards or anything.

'This is the place.' confirmed Haku.

Zabuza made his way forward, and, after a moment of contemplation, knocked.

'No thank you!' roared a voice from inside. 'I don't want anymore sycophants, gamblers, or mom and pop doors demanding a loan they can't pay back!'

'And what about Zabuza Momochi.' said Zabuza, annoyed.

There was silence. Then the door opened to reveal a short little man with white hair. He wore a bright red waistcoat, and brown pants and clogs were on his feet. 'Zabuza?!'

'You called for me, Banker Gortel.' asked Zabuza.

'Ah, yes, I apologize. I've been run off my feet lately.' said Gortel 'Some of my relatives make themselves a nusaince. They've never forgiven me for living as long as I have. One day you might get a contract from them, hah! Come in.'

Zabuza and Haku entered while Gortel bustled around, talking as if welcoming in a house guest. This was not the sort of reaction Zabuza was used to. Most of his employers either were stone cold terrified of him, or regarded him as a living weapon.

'I wasn't expecting you so soon.' said Gortel as he entered the kitchen. 'Would you care for some tea? Or perhaps something a bit stronger? I have a number of very good brands of sake I came into some years ago. Laid down by my uncle see.'

'I'll have tea.' said Zabuza, who did not mix alcohol with business.

'It was a very good year you know?' said Gortel. 'Are you sure?'

'Tea.' said Zabuza.

'Very well, very well,' said Gortel 'and young young lady?'

'I'm a boy.' said Haku.

'My apologies.' said Gortel 'It's just with the long hair and dress I thought-'

'It is not a problem.' said Haku 'I am often mistaken as such. I'll have some tea if you don't mind.

'Excellent.' said Gortel, setting the kettle on the stove. 'Now please, both of you sit down and make yourselves at home. We have some business to discuss.'

And that was how Zabuza and Haku found themselves sitting in a cozy living room, drinking tea while Gortel got settled across from them. Zabuza wondered what the man's angle was. He decided to cut to the chase. 'Why did you call for me, Gortel?'

'That, is a very complicated question.' said Gortel 'Most unfortunate business. Would you care for the details? Or shall I just give you the names and what I want done to them?'

'I'll take the details.' said Zabuza 'I like to know the nature of my targets when I go after them. It helps with the kill.'

'Very well, say no more, say no more.' said Gortel 'You may want to get comfortable it's a long story and quite involved. But first let me ask you something. How much do you know about the Legendary Sannin?'

'Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.' said Zabuza 'All three of them were high priority targets in the bingo book. However no one who has ever gone after them has managed to take them down. They were originally the most famous team of ninjas in the Leaf Village during the war. However they broke off from the village one by one. Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, went wandering and spends most of his time peeping at woman and writing pornography. Orochimaru disappeared after being caught performing inhuman experiments and founded the Sound Village. Tsunade was highly influential in creating the best medical staff in history, but eventually left to go gambling.

She is known for taking out vast loans and then disappearing. Only to take them out again in another form. She's a master of changing her appearance but she always appears as a very well endowed young blonde.

Since Jiraiya is well supplied with income and Orochimaru is nowhere to be found, I can only assume you want me to kill Tsunade.'

Gortel blinked, then clapped is hands and smiled. 'Excellent! Most excellent! Your reputation is well earned I see. Tsunade is the target. However I want you to capture her and her assistant. Not kill her. You can use whatever means you see fit of course. I'm not one to micromanage, just so long as both of them are unharmed.'

'That's a very risky mission you're asking me to take.' said Zabuza, surprised again.

'Money is no object.' said Gortel 'I represent the combined resources of hundreds of different banks from many different nations. She has ripped off almost all of us. As a result of her withdrawals many banks have failed or had to call in their loans. When that happens small businesses also fail.

Orochimaru might have murdered a few people. But Tsunade's are a serious problem for the economy. We've all decided we want her removed from the picture.'

'So why are you coming to me?' asked Zabuza 'This seems a perfectly legitimate target. Surely one of the Kage's could deal with her for you.'

'Ordinarily we would.' said Gortel 'Unfortunately Tsunade is under the protection of the Hokage of the Leaf Village. He refuses to consider killing her. I think he is hoping she will rejoin the flock, or perhaps succeed him. Meanwhile none of the other villages want to risk alienating the Leaf Village by killing her.

A few were willing to work with us initially. But they all ended up humiliated. What I need is a rogue ninja unconcerned with politics, and who is at least high tier jonin level.'

'That makes sense.' mused Zabuza 'But why captured? You don't really think you'll be able to hold her?'

'That is my affair, not yours.' said Gortel 'Let's let each man mind his own concerns.'

Gortel had a point. It really wasn't Zabuza's problem once he got paid. 'Fair enough. Let's talk price.'

The negotiations took a while. Gortel proved a shrewd negotiator, and Zabuza found himself liking the man too much to extort him. Perhaps that had been the point. Eventually they came to an agreement, signed a contract and shook on it.

'Then we have a deal.' said Gortel 'Is there anything you need from me?'

'Well first of all I need to know where Tsunade is.' said Zabuza 'Do you know? Or will I have to track her down myself.'

'I've been keeping careful track of all the withdrawals she is likely to have made.' said Gortel 'Of course it is nothing certain, but since she always appears as a beautiful buxom blonde from her teens to her thirties I need only take out all the records of people fitting that description who make huge withdrawals and use them for gambling.' He offered Zabuza some papers.

Zabuza scanned through them and was surprised at how obvious it was.

'…This trail is pathetically obvious.' he mused 'I can't believe this is one of the Legendary Sannin.'

'It isn't as though there are very many people in the world who could stop her.' mused Gortel 'I suspect she feels no need to conceal herself. Will you head out after her right away?'

'No. No yet.' said Zabuza 'If her course is any indication she'll be heading into a marsh on the way to the next town. The water there will give me an advantage.'

'Very well. A pleasure doing business with you.' said Gortel 'I'll provide you the agreed upon sum as soon as you bring her back.'

'Right.' said Zabuza.

They finished their tea and departed. As they did Haku looked troubled. 'Master Zabuza, do you believe we can defeat Tsunade?'

'You can kill anyone Haku.' said Zabuza 'It's all a matter of finding the right method.'


Isshin was minding his place at the bank. It was soul destroying work but it paid decently. Then, quite abruptly, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen appeared. She had absolutely gigantic and perky… eyes, and looked at him with an easy confidence.

'Excuse me. I was hoping I could take out a loan.' she said 'If you don't mind, that is?'

'A… a loan?' said Isshin 'How much?'

'Oh nothing much really.' said the woman, handing him a slip. 'Just a bit.'

'What the… I uh…?' His eyes widened at the number of zeroes on the page. 'Ma'am, I can't just hand out this kind of money without first… I mean do you have an account?'

'Not yet. What say we make one?' said the woman 'Just you and me?'

Part of Isshin felt as if he should say no to this stunningly beautiful vision of perfection. Hadn' there been warnings about someone like this? However he wasn't thinking with that part of his anatomy at the moment. 'I uh, I've got the paperwork here.'

'Oh that's sweet of you.' said the woman.


Shizune was waiting outside the bank with her pet pig, Tonton. Tsunade was later than usual. Usually she was in an out in a few minutes. But today was different.

Then she saw her. Tsunade was holding a case filled with money. Shizune tried to fight off her horror at the size. 'What took you?'

'Nothing much.' said Tsunade 'They've got posters in there with my description on them. Good thing it was my description three weeks ago so I was able to convince them to pay up.

Shizune, we're going to be rich!'

She opened the case. Shizune's jaw dropped. 'Lady Tsunade, that… we can't gamble away all that money!'

'Don't worry.' said Tsunade 'I'm feeling lucky.'

Shizune had a bad feeling about this. And this was far from the first time.

A few minutes later Tsunade strolled into the gambling den and sat down. Dozens of men looked up at her in suspicion. She returned their gaze with an easy confidence. Shizune tried not to have a heart attack.

'Hello there gentlemen.' said Tsunade 'I'd let to get into the game.'

'Look at them.' scoffed Tsunade inwardly. 'I'm going to enjoy wiping those smirks off their faces. Today is the day.'

A few hundred gambles later and they were penniless. Shizune slumped her shoulder as they walked through the swamps, defeated. They had skipped town as soon as they ran out. As usual. 'Lady Tsunade, did you really have to spend all of it in one day? I was hoping to not go through moving again so soon.'

'Stop complaining Shizune.' said Tsunade 'This town was getting dull anyway.'

'That was what you said last week.' said Shizune.

'It wasn't that bad.' said Tsunade.

'We were chased out of town by the guards and had to spend the night in a ditch.' said Shizune.

'How was I supposed to know the bank was going to call it's loans?' asked Tsunade. 'I figured we had a few days at least.'

'Well we gambled and lost.' said Shizune 'Again.'

Then she ducked. It was pure reflex and not a moment too soon. A huge blade spun overhead and planted itself in the tree ahead of them. A man then appeared, tall and muscular, with tan skin and black hair. His back was to them.

'Who the…' began Shizune.

'Legendary Sannin Tsunade.' sais the man 'Your reputation proceeds you.'

'I have no idea who you are.' said Tsunade.

'That's your failing as a ninja.' said Zabuza 'Not mine.'

'Good point.' conceded Tsunade 'Who are you exactly?'

'My name is Zabuza Momochi.' said the man 'I am here on behalf of the banks you've swindled to take you into custody. If you resist it will be a waste of your life.'

Tsunade laughed. 'You really think I'm afraid of a rogue ninja?' She raised her pointer finger. 'I'll only one finger to crush you.'

'By all means.' growled the man. 'Underestimate me.'

Suddenly the blade was in his hand and he was surging toward Tsunade. Shizune leaped between them and fired a barrage of poisoned needles. Yet as they hit him he fell into water. Shizune glanced back and saw Zabuza coming at them from behind.

'Lady Tsunade look out!' cried Shizune.

Tsunade ducked under the blade just in time, which passed within inches of Shizune's face. Bringing down one finger, Tsunade struck the ground with her giner. The ground shook as a huge pit was delved in the ground, soon filling with water. Zabuza stumbled but fell apart into water. 'A water clone?' said Tsunade. 'But then-'

She leaped into the air just in time to avoid having her legs cut off as Zabuza emerged from the water, blade striking. Tsunade backflipped away, avoiding his strikes before bringing around a fist. Zabuza narrowly dodged it and descended into the water.

Mist began to rise around them as Tsunade landed.

'He's fast.' said Shizune.

'It seems I underestimated this Zabuza.' said Tsunade 'He's much better than most of his kind. This mist is causing problems as well. I'm not going to be able to see him.' She tuned her other four senses for any sign of him.

Shizune appeared out of the mist and took a place at her side. 'Lady Tsunade!'

'Shizune, watch my back.' said Tsunade. 'He's somewhere in all this mist.'

'You've left yourself wide open.' said Zabuza 'Legendary Sannin.'

How had he gotten between them?!

His blade was swung in an arc. Tsunade and Shizune scattered and narrowly avoided being bisected. Tsunade rushed back and brought around a roundhouse kick It nearly struck him, but he turned at the last moment to avoid it. As he did Shizune hurled a kunai at him which he rolled away to avoid. Zabuza landed some feet away upon the surface of the water.

'I'd advise you to quit while you're ahead. I'm on a level far above any jonin.' said Tsunade. She spoke with a confidence she did not feel. She was out of shape. In her prime defeating someone on his level would have been easy.

But she wasn't in her prime. Years of gambling with little enough practice had made her lose a lot of the skill which she'd built up. This Zabuza was a serious threat.

'I see your reputation wasn't unearned.' said Zabuza 'Still, this is far from over.' The mist swirled around him as he began to channel massive amounts of chakra.

'That power…' said Shizune 'Tonton come on!'

She grabbed the pig and leaped away moments before Zabuza finished his incantatation. 'Water dragon jutsu!'

The swamp water formed together into a massive dragon which roared and surged towards them. And with it came a tidal wave of power. Tsunade leaped out of the way just in time. The dragon laid waste to entire stretches of trees before turning around and heading for Tsunade again.

It was all she could do to avoid it.

Then she saw Shizune, landing on an out of the way branch. At least she was safe. Then she saw Zabuza appearing behind her.

'Shizune look out!' cried Tsunade.

It was too late. The assassin struck Shizune across the back of the neck, sending her reeling. Tsunade rushed at him in fury as he raised his sword.

'One down.' said Zabuza 'One more to go.'

Tsunade reached him and swung her fist. It plunged into Zabuza's chest, straight into his heart. Yet he only bled water. Tsunade's eyes widened. 'A water clone?'

Zabuza was behind her. 'I have you!'

Tsunade turned around to see the blade descending toward her. She reached out and caught the massive blade between the palms of her hands. 'Not exactly.'

'With her bare hands…' said Zabuza, struggling to free his blade.' Impossible!'

'For you, maybe.' said Tsunade, before lashing out with one foot. Zabuza was sent reeling across the swamp to hit the ground hard. Tsunade was after him quickly, landing above him. She drew a kunai. 'You'll regret coming after me, rogue ninja.'

Zabuza rolled away and took an unsteady stance. He was at his limit.

'Lady Tsunade don't!' cried Shizune.

Tsunade hesitated. And as she hesitated two senbon shot out of the trees and struck Zabuza in the neck. He gasped and fell to the ground, apparently dead.

'What the…' began Tsunade.

A young girl, dressed in the garb of a tracker ninja of the Village Hidden in the Mist appeared on the branches above. She landed and bowed. 'My thanks.'

'Who are you?' asked Tsunade.

'I am a tracker ninja for the Village Hidden in the Mist.' said the girl 'I have been attempting to kill Zabuza for some time now. You have given me the opportunity to do so.'

'You're a bit young for the task aren't you?' asked Shizune, coming up behind them, carrying Tonton.

'I am quite talented.' said the girl 'You had best tend to your friend. I will dispose of the remains.'

'Strange,' said Tsunade 'I was under the impression that tracker ninja of the ANBU were instructed to destroy the body of any rogue ninja on the spot.'

'This area is not appropriate for the procedure.' said the girl.

'Especially since he isn't dead.' said Tsunade 'I taught ANBU tracker ninja. More specifically I taught them how to make someone go into a death like state. I might be a bit out of practice, but I'm not stupid.'

The girl stiffened and readied for a spring. But Tsunade rolled her eyes. 'Just go. Take your friend and leave. Don't come after me again.'

Haku departed along with Zabuza. They did not look back.


A few hours later Zabuza woke up. He hissed in pain as Haku watched enjoying the spectacle. He dragged out one of the senbon.

'If you draw out my senbon like that it might make the wounds worse.' said Haku.

'Haku, you are brutal!' said Zabuza, ignoring him.

'Striking at the neck was the best way to incapacitate you while making it appear lethal.' said Haku 'If I hadn't been there you'd be dead.

You shouldn't try to move around too much. You've broken a few ribs.'

'That Tsuname witch is powerful.' hissed Zabuza. 'No matter. Next time her strength won't save her.'

'She knew I wasn't ANBU.' said Haku 'We should be careful.'

'I know that.' said Zabuza, trying to stand. 'We'll watch and wait for the- arg!'

'What did I tell you about moving about?' asked Haku.


Tsunade was in a good mood. The sun was shining the breeze was swift and cool and a new town lay on the horizon. With all the potential and new experiences that entailed.

Like gambling.

'Ah, finally a new town!' said Tsunade 'Now we just need to find a money lender and we'll be back in business!'

'Oink.' said Tonton sadly.

'Lady Tsunade I need to talk to you.' said Shizune.

She'd been out of sorts ever since that scrape with the rogue ninja. Tsunade looked up in concern. 'What is it?'

'We…' Shizune gulped 'need to stop gambling.'

'What? Why?' asked Tsunade.

'We have an entire wallet of I-owe-yous.' said Shizune 'Any one of them could easily buy this whole village. And now they are sending rogue ninja after us. That Zabuza nearly killed us!' 'Relax Shizune.' said Tsunade 'I can count on one hand the number of ninja who can match me.'

'What if they come after us in groups?' asked Shizune 'Several jonin like Zabuza all attacking us at once?'

'There aren't that many jonin rogue ninja.' said Tsunade.

'What if a village targets us?' asked Shizune.

'They won't.' said Tsunade.

'Why not?' asked Shizune. 'We're criminals. I mean, you were once the Legendary Sannin Tsunade but…' She trailed off.

'But what?' asked Tsunade.

'Nothing.' said Shizune 'I just think we should be more careful in how we take out loans.'

Tsunade reluctantly admitted that Shizune may have had a point. She'd always been there and she seemed very serious. 'Alright Shizune if it will calm you down I won't take out as much as usual. Now I'm going to hit the bar.'

'Oink.' said the pig.

'What is it Tonton?' asked Shizune. The pig walked over to a power pole and pointed to a sheet of lamenated paper on it. Shizune looked at it and froze. 'Eeep!'

'What is it?' asked Tsunade.

'Look!' said Shizune.

Tsunade looked at the poster and saw her face. Several dozen of her faces actually. They were pictures of the various henges she had used over the past few years. Someone had done their research. 'A wanted poster. Ugh, the quality on these pictures is terrible!' 'Lady Tsunade, this is serious!' said Shizune 'Look, they know you've been using a henge. We've got to get out of here.'

'You're right.' agreed Tsunade 'We'll have to do something about this.'

'You mean…' began Shizune 'we're going to skip town?'

'No, I'll just create a different henge.' said Tsunade 'Right after I get a drink. Fighting rogue ninja is thirsty work.'


Authors Note:

Okay this was just an idea which occured to me while watching the search for Tsunade Arc. After all with all those banks and moneylenders getting ripped off by Tsunade it would make sense for them to want her taken care of. And Zabuza would be an ideal choice to taking care of her.

I hope I didn't make Zabuza seem too overpowered. I figured that since Kabuto held his own against Tsunade Zabuza would be able to as well.

When creating the character of Gortel I basically imagined the exact opposite of Gato. Though I also took a bit of inspiration from Bilbo Baggins.