Chapter 2: The Land of Waves, Part 1
A/N Hey guys! Here is the next chapter of "The Fourth's Legacy"! I am very pleased with the positive response that the last chapter had, and I hope it continues as this story progresses. I like the ideas some of you have suggested, and I am putting them in serious consideration. One of which was suggested by HjLostDreams, who suggested I make Naruto stronger. I plan on making Naruto stronger, but not for a while. Actually, I plan on him being about the same as Haruna. For those of you who are unfamiliar with who Haruna is, I have another fanfiction titled "Introducing the Cast", which explains who Haruna is and gives her background with Sasuke. So if you are confused, please read that fanfiction. Also, for more information on Haru Hyuga, please read my friend nightbyday223's fanfiction, "The Falen Hyuga".
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I only own my OC's, minus Haru Hyuga.
Haruna's POV
The four of us were out in the village, doing our latest mission. It was the infamous "capture Tora the cat" mission, a mission I did when I first became a Genin. Even though the cat was feisty, the poor thing had reason to be, as the others found out.
Naruto immediately tackled Tora, who retaliated by scratching him all over. After watching Tora attack Naruto, I pried the cat off of him and gave him to Haru, who immediately calmed him down but scratching him behind the ears. The mission was a success, and we gave to cat to the Fire Daimyo's wife, who immediately began squeezing the poor thing to death. With that sort of affection, I don't blame the cat for wanting to get away from her. Sandaime-sama then listed other available D-Rank missions, which included babysitting and community service. Naruto expressed interest in wanting a "real" challenge, so Sandaime-sama decided to give us a simple C-Rank escort mission to the Land of Waves. Our client, an intoxicated middle-aged man, walked in.
"These kids are my bodyguards? You gotta be kidding me." The client, Tazuna, said.
Naruto was about ready to pound the guy when Kakashi stopped him.
"Naruto, we can't harm the client." Kakashi said simply.
We took off on the mission early the next morning. Before we left, we were greeted by Hanabi and Akari, who came to see us off.
"Please be careful, nii-san." Akari said.
Sasuke poked her in the forehead.
"I will be careful. You know me. I'll be back before you know it." Sasuke said.
The girls then went over to Hiashi, who had also come to see us off. Haru seemed uneasy with him there, and I had no idea why. Sure, Hiashi is strict, but I didn't think he was a bad person. After losing his wife seven years ago, he distanced himself from everyone he knew. I simply ignored Haru's slight hostility toward her father, knowing we had to leave for our mission.
Well, it didn't take too long for the mission to quickly go south. We were soon attacked by two ninjas from the Mist, known as the Demon Brothers. I knew then that something was amiss. We wouldn't be attacked by anyone their level on a C-Rank mission. It was supposed to be a simple escort mission. After tying the Demon Brothers to a tree and hopping on a boat, Kakashi confronted Tazuna on the exact mission details.
"There is a man who wants me dead. His name is Gato." Tazuna said.
"You mean Gato, of Gato Shipping and Transport?" Kakashi asked, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Yes. While he is a businessman, he is also a ruthless criminal who hires mercenaries to do his dirty work. A year ago, Gato set his sights on the Land of Waves, wanting to take us over. He pretended to do it in a business settlement, but it didn't take long for the situation to turn violent. The only thing standing in his way of total control over the Land of Waves is the bridge." Tazuna explained.
"I see…so since you are the bridge builder, you pose a threat to Gato." I said.
"The ninja who attacked us were working for Gato." Tazuna said.
"If you were a target of a ruthless thug with ninja at his disposal, why didn't you tell us when you asked for our help?" Kakashi asked.
"The Land of Waves is a poor land, and I have no money to pay for higher-ranked bodyguards. But if you turn away from me now, I'm as good as dead." Tazuna said sadly.
"Very well. We will continue to protect you, at least until you return to your country." Kakashi said.
We soon arrived at the Land of Waves, and were attacked once more by another Mist ninja. This one, however, was Zabuza Momochi, a ninja who had deflected from the Mist many years ago after a failed Coup d'état. Kakashi was forced to unveil his concealed Sharingan eye, and took on Zabuza head-on. After a fierce battle, Kakashi had Zabuza in his clutches, until Zabuza turned the tides on Kakashi, forcing us to step in. I began attacking him with earth-style ninjutsu, while Naruto attacked with his Shadow Clones. Just when it looked like we would beat Zabuza, a hunter-nin swooped in, throwing senbon needles directly at Zabuza. They seemingly killed him immediately.
"I must now go and dispose of the body." The hunter-nin said, taking the body and leaving.
We soon arrived at Tazuna's house, where we met his daughter Tsunami and eight-year-old grandson Inari. Tsunami was nice, but Inari seemed so sad. I could tell right away that he had suffered a loss, probably his father. Even while sitting comfortably in Tazuna's home, I felt uneasy about what had just happened. I knew full well that hunter-nins typically dispose of the bodies of dangerous missing-nins immediately after killing them, so the fact that that hunter-nin did not do so bothered me. I could tell Kakashi was troubled as well, while Sasuke, Naruto, and Haru believed Zabuza was really dead. Perhaps that hunter-nin was an ally of Zabuza?
A few days later, Kakashi told the others exactly what I had been thinking of, shocking all three of them. Since we knew right then that Zabuza would be returning for "Round 2", Kakashi wanted us to be prepared. He taught the others the tree-walking exercise while I simply watched, having learned it the year before. Haru, unsurprisingly, was the first of the three to get up to the top of the tree, already having fine-tuned chakra control. Sasuke and Naruto, on the other hand, were struggling to get to the top of the tree. I decided to have some fun with them by walking up the tree and hanging upside down from one of the strongest branches. The two boys continued trying the rest of that night, until Sasuke finally asked me what the secret was to walking up the tree. I gave him the secret, and he was soon walking up the tree like a pro. Naruto learned the secret as well, ending the exercise.
Naruto went out by himself the next day to train, and he came back smiling for some strange reason. I then saw a rather peculiar sight: a weasel with a pair of Sharingan. I knew it was a signal from Itachi, and so I took the weasel and went out to find him, eager to see him after four years. I finally spotted him, henged, up in a very tall tree.
"You called?" I asked, looking up to where he was.
"Is it a crime to call family?" Itachi asked in return, jumping down from the tree.
"No. Just curious is all. It's been a while." I said, smiling.
"Indeed it has. How are they?" He asked, wondering about Sasuke and Akari.
"Sasuke is…okay I guess. He is so distant now, though. Not like how he used to be. Akari is a little ball of energy who reminds me so much of how Sasuke used to be. She is also starting to look a lot like your mother. "I said.
"I see. So he is following the path I laid out for him." Itachi said.
"I guess. Also, you promised last time we saw one another that you would explain the real reason you killed you clan." I said. "Of course." He said, explaining.
I widened my eyes in disbelief. How could Fugaku order a coup d'état? And the elders, how could they order Itachi to kill his own family? I was unable to say anything at that moment. I was simply frozen in place. I know that Itachi must have hid the truth from Sasuke because he was so young at the time, but Sasuke not knowing has torn the once-close brothers apart. Now, all Sasuke wants is to avenge his clan by killing Itachi.
"Sorry Haruna, but I have to go now." Itachi said, turning to leave.
"Alright. See you again." I said.
I was still upset by the whole thing hours later, and I didn't even notice that I became irritable as well. Sasuke confronted me about it. Knowing that Itachi wouldn't want me to spill the beans, I lied to Sasuke, saying I just got upset at something random and stupid, and that it was nothing to worry about. He left me alone, accepting that reason, but not before catching me off-guard by nonchalantly asking me on a date. I accepted, and we agreed to a date after we returned from this mission.
It wasn't long after that that Kakashi called us over to the bridge. Zabuza and the hunter-nin were back.
A/N Cliffhanger! Sorry this chapter was shorter than my other ones, but I plan on a bit more action next chapter, which will conclude the Land of Waves Arc.
Also, I leave you guys with a question regarding Zabuza and Haku. Of the two, which one would you like to live? I already have a plan, but sadly, I will not spare both of them. I just want to hear your opinions on the two of them.
Next chapter should be uploaded within the next few days, maybe even later today, if I feel like writing more ;) Big surprises in store!
Also, who liked seeing Itachi make an appearance? This isn't the last time that he and Haruna will be talking like this.
For those interested in what Haruna looks like, I have a DeviantArt account. The link to it is in my bio.