"HEY!" An annoying male voice said. "WAKE UP ALREADY!" Zabuza woke up, snarling deeply as he barked, looked around like a wild animal, trying to recognize where he even was. He snarled when he examined the area, wooden gates that separated him and the man, shacklees that were holding him down from completely getting up and a sheet that was sprawled out against the harden floor. Zabuza growled, finally recognizing where he was.

"You're in prison." The male from the other side said. "You're under arrest for the assault of other children in the hidden mist." He spat. Zabuza snarled softly, getting flashes of memory of what occurred that night. He looked down at his bandaged arms and a patch that covered his right eye. He was covered in burises that were already forming a yellowish-green color. His body was sore and the scars and scabs didn't help with his already sickly apperance. If the bruises are alrady this color, he must have been out for days. He looked to see what day it was, hoping it was not to late.

"Hey, old man! What's today?" He question. It was against the rules to talk to anyone while your in prison. It resulted into a beating. The man didnt answer, he simply just grumbled to himself about know it all little brats who should keep there mouths shut. Zabuza growled at the lack of information.

"ANSWER ME!" Zabuza growled, slamming his hands against the wooden cell doors. The old man growled.

"It's xx." The old man growled, hitting his cane against the floor. Zabuza smirked.

"So, it's that event today, huh?" Zabuza questioned, mostly to hinself. But it also wasn't really a question at all. More of a stated fact. The old man would turn around the tell Zabuza to shut up, but was too afraid on turning around and seeing the demon boy smile.

"Why does it matter if it was that day? Only speical forces from the academy is even allow to join." The old man scuffled, adjusting himself in his seat hearing jingles coming down the darken hall, it was only lit by a candle so it was hard to make out who it was.

"So? I can just sneak in anyways." Zabuza growled, grabbing some dirty water they gave to him and chugged it all down. He swished the browned water in the cup around. "Taste better then usual." He murmured.

"And if you go in, you'll just end up dying anyways. Like I said demon, special forces from the academy. Not just resh kids you fought today--"

"Oh shut the fuck up, I heard you the first goddamn time!" Zabuza growled as the jingling stopped.

"Still have your excitement I see Zabuza~" The familiar voice ranged, coming out of the shadows. The first thing that was noticeable about the man was his ungodly smile that stretch from ear to ear. It always stuck on his face, even when bad situations sprung up he always kept that smile against his face.

"Tachibana Senji." The old man huffed. "What brings you here?" The man questioned.

"Oh, well isn't this a surpise sensei?" Senji snickered, his creepy laughed bounced off the walls, making it seem like it was coming from all over. "I never thought you would become so washed up you had to work in this ratty old place? Oh, but it does fit who you are." Senji laughed harder as his sensei growled. Senji held his stomach as he left but quickly stop, cracking his neck to left a bit before putting it normally as he jingled the keys.

"I'm here to take my animal out of his change." He snickered.

"And who might have gave you permission for that?" His sensei snarled at him. Senji swung the set of keys around his finger.

"The next in line mizukage, sir Yagura." Senji snickered. The old man looked shocked. "I placed a bet on Zabuza to enter the challenge on one of the seven swords that wasn't taken yet." Senji snickered as he pulled on Zabuza's cheek. "My little animal here will he just fine in that. That's how he'll atone for sins." Zabuza snapped at him, trying to get him to stop pulling his cheek as if he was a baby.

"If he loses, he dies, if he wins, he'll work for the village and not he a free loading animal. He'll be a free loading Anbu." Senji snickered. "It's a win, win situation." He said. The old man wanted to object, but how could he? It really was a win win for everyone. Zabuza growled.

"And why would I want to be an Anbu? To be as corrupted as you?" Zabuza growled at him. Senji smirked at him.

"It's not like you have a choice. Plus, once you join the rankings no one could ever put you down again, calling you an animal or a demon. And if they do, not only would this village be fearful of you, but so might the world be trembling at your feet." Senji crackled, he couldn't help but burst out laughing at everything. Zabuza smirked a croocked one.

"Oh, well. That sounds better." Zabuza smirked. "Now let me out of this damn cage now!" He commanded. Senji nodded and unlocked the cell doors and the shackles that kept his restricted. Rubbing his wrist, Zabuza stepped out and began to follow Senji out of the place. The old sensei stayed silent, watching the two disappear down the dark hall.

"Disaster will hit this village when that kid grows up... Espically with a man like Senji leading him through." He mumbles to himself, hearing the jingle of the keys fade away.

Ninjas and officers stared at both Zabuza and Senji as they walked out of the prison together. Zabuza refusing to be behind Senji and decided to be in equal footing as him.

"The rounds start later today." Senji said, handing Zabuza money. "Make sure you eat well and rest up before the big fight." Senji said. Zabuza snatched the money out of his uand and counted it.

"Yeah, yeah." Zabuza scuffled, walking through the heavy layer of snow. Senji smirked.

"I'll see you there then." Senji cooed towards him as he jumped off, heading else where. Zabuza watched him leave and began to leave himself. He trotted through the snow, looming for the closest area to buy food at. Luckily, he found one. Tanaki's bakery. Zabuza smirked, hoping mister Tanaki remembered who he was. He headed into the store, right before he reached the door it swung open. The girl from before stood there, holding three bags of baked goods.

"Move." Zabuza growled. Becoming inpatient when it was only a second. The girl wasn't scared and instead just stood at the door way for a bit longer before finally moving away. Zabuza grumbled and saw the timid girl from before coming out of the bakery as well. Her eyes were closed as she seemed to be in a happy daze.

"I hope all this food cheers up Reo!" The timid girl said, as she headed face first into Zabuza's chest. She felt around, tilting her head. "Hey, Aoi, when did you become so built--!" The timid girl looked up, screaming seeing Zabuza standing there. Zabuza growled and grabbed the girl.

"Watch where you're going!" He growled.

"I-Im sorry!" The timid girl whimpered, trying to break free from his grip. Zabuza sighed, setting the girl down when he felt a sharp object against the back of his throat.

"Sara, behind me." 'Aoi', demanded. 'Sara', quickly did as she was told and hid behind her. Zabuza turned out and saw that the girl, Aoi, held a kunai against his throat. She was ready to slash at him at any moment. Zabuza smirked as he took a step forward, allowing the kunai press against his throat.

"Oh? Not scared, girl?" Zabuza watched her as she shook her head. There was no fear that consumed her, nothing but fight screamed in her eyes. Zabuza snickered and pushed the kunai away from his throat. "State your name." He demanded. Aoi cleaned her throat and placed her kunai away.

"Ito Aoi." She stated, giving a little bow. Zabuza watched her and nodded.

"You are a strong one Aoi. Don't get killed before I kill you first." Zabuza growled as he started to head into the store.

"You too, Demon of Kirigakure." Aoi said, watching him as he entered the store.

Zabuza proceeded to look around the store, searching for foods that were warm and filling to eat. His wet food steps slammed against the floor, causing Tanaki to smile.

"Welcome customer--!" Tanaki turned around and noticed Zabuza. Zabuza smirked, seeing the color drain from his face and the bandages that wrapped around his arm, covering his bite wound. "GET OUTTA HERE!" Tanaki howled, hissing at Zabuza who places different bantos and placing them on the counter.

"Stop screaming. I'm not here to rob you or cause trouble." He smacked the money Senji had given him against the counter. Tanaki looked nervous as he looked at the money, making sure it was real.

"Hurry and ring these up and set a table up for me. I want two Tonkatsu, an order of Wagyu and order of Gyoza and two orders of takoyaki to go." Zabuza snapped his fingers as he sat at the dining table in the back. Tanaki sighed, he wanted to refused the big order, but Zabuza had more then enough money and he couldn't just turn away a costumer like Zabuza away. Because the Anbu animal would be on him, so he began to cook.

Else where:

Senji snickered, watching as his old sensei crawled in the snow, trying to crawl away from him. One of his arm missing, a foot and a leg. Senji watched as he tried to crawl towards the village gates, trying to escape the wrath of his student.

"Oh sensei, you'll never make it there like that~!" Senji taunted, waving his arm in front of him. "Would you like this back? Maybe it'll help you?" Senji laughed, watching as his sensei puke up blood on to the snow. He rolled himself over, feeling his old, tired body giving up on him.

"Y-You're nothing but a demon-!" The old man gagged and coughed on his blood, choking on it. Senji smiled. As he stood over him.

"Yeah, I know." Senji smirked as he waved the old man's arm back.and forth to him. "Bye now." He lifted the arm up and slammed it down into his sensei's mouth, causing him to devour his own arm and end up choking on it and dying. Senji whistled as a back of wolves came and devoured the body Senji had nicely left for them. "Fucking old geezer." Senji mumbled, his smiling finallt dropping as he pulled down his Anbu mask, going back to where Zabuza was.

Zabuza was satisfied. He never ate like that in his life. His belly was full and he had food for a later time. The tourament wasn't going to start anytime soon, still a couple of hours before it started. He left the bakery and began to head 'home'. He looked around, seeing less kids around, for the fact it was one of the colder days of the winter, the streets were quiet, until he heard a pack of wolves howl.

He raised an eyebrow, the wolves never traveling this close to the village before so maybe something trigered them here, but it didn't matter. They were towards the gate, not anywhere near him. So he continued to walked towards the dumpster he called home. He looked around the area where he was badly beaten, smirking as still felt the blood against his teeth. He nodded his head. Maybe now the local kids would know not to bother him. He looked into his cardboard box, seeing it was the same as he left it.

He nodded his head, glad that it was still left the way he placed it. He took kept his heavy jacket and scraf on, since it was the only thing that kept him warm and lied down against the dog bed he owned. He rolled around till he got comfortable and ended up passing out.

Hours passed as he was shaken away. Zabuza sprung up, tackling the person who shook him awake, placing a kunai against their throat. But stopped seeing an ugly familiar man.

"Senji." He growled as he got off. Senji chuckled.

"Awe, dont be like that. Think abkut whose money you spent on piggy out." Senji snickered pointing to the bentos he had. Zabuza grumbled as he placed the kunai in his pocket.

"What do you want?" Zabuza growled.

"It's time~" Senji whistled. Zabuza smirked, dusting the snow off of himself as he began to follow Senji towards the academy. People from the town flooded around the academy, parents wishing their kids luck on winning, others there to watch the matches or be judges for them. Zabuza smirked, seeing everyone whisper his name as he walked by them, hearing the fear that spilled out of their mouths.

Senji patted Zabuza's head. "I'll register you in." He said as he headed towards a booth that had a long line with it. Zabuza looked around at the people he would be fighting. All of them a lot bigger then him, since they were older. But thet were too cocky for their own good, thinking that they could take down Zabuza without a struggle. Soon, Senji came back smacking Zabuza's chest with a sticker on it. 6798. He stared at the sticker as Senji smirked.

"Go a head then. Show them what you got." And with that Zabuza headed into the academy with others, starting the competition.