Hello readers of the world. I come bearing the third chapter of Naruho Uzumaki. Before we start the chapter, I'd like to give a few shout outs to a few people.
Ninja99: I'm real glad you like the story. Thanks for being the first person to review this story.
Scurryfunger: Thanks for telling me what the daggers were called. I'm grateful.
InARealPickle: I'm glad you find Naruho's name funny. Believe me, I had no other choice. All the other names I found felt so unoriginal.
Mitzzi: Thanks' for telling me about a new way to write. It'll help me a lot.
WARRIOR of Fanfic99: If you don't like this fic, then don't read it. Just because you don't like it, it doesn't mean I'll delete this story. Because unlike you, a lot of other people seem to like this story. So good day to you, sir. Humph!
Oh yes. I decided I'll skip the fight that Team 7 will get with Zabuza. I'm going to put their fight at when they fight at the bridge. So they meet for the first time there. Ok, now that I got all that out of my system, lets get this chapter rolling!
Chapter three: Traveling to the Land of Waves
Sasuke: Sasuke, I'm at point B *buzz*
Sakura: Sakura, I'm at point C * buzz*
There was a long pause…
Naruho: Naruho, I'm at point A. Believe it! *buzz*
Kakashi: Your slow, Naru. Ok, squad 7, hm?… Target has moved! Fallow it!
A shadow figure ran across tree branches and it stopped at one spot rest, oblivious to the three Genin fallowing it." There it is." whispered Naruho, who was hiding behind a tree. " What's your distance from the target?" asked Kakashi, speaking from a headset. Naruho's eyes narrowed as she spotted the figure." Five meters. I'm ready. Just give the signal." she whispered." I'm ready, too." whispered Sasuke." So am I." whispered Sakura. Kakashi nodded." Ok… now!" he exclaimed. The three students charged at the figure and Naruho caught it. The fighting feline scratched and hissed as he tried to escape and/or claw out Naruho's eyes." Can you verify the ribbon on it's right ear?" Kakashi asked through Sasuke's headset." Affirmative, we've got an ID." said Sasuke. " Right. Lost pet, Tora, captured. Mission accomplished." Kakashi said. There was another long pause.
" CAN'T WE GET A BETTER MISSION THAN THIS! I HATE CATS!"
Kakashi pulled off his headset quickly before his ears started to bleed. Man, for a girl, Naruho sure had a strong pair of lungs.
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" Ohhhh! My poor wittle, Tora. Mommy was so worried about you, my wuvly, wittle fuzzy-kins." cooed Tora's owner as she snuggled and chocked the poor cat. Team 7 had just reunited the two at the Leaf Academy. Naruho cringed as she watched the scene.' Wow. Suddenly, I feel bad for the cat.' she thought." No wonder he ran away." whispered Sakura. The Hokage sat at the main desk, reading a paper." Now, for squad 7's next mission, we have several available tasks. Among them, babysitting the chief counselor's three-year old, helping his wife with the shopping, pulling potatoes-" " No! No way!" interrupted Naruho, waving her hands around." I want to go on a real mission! I want something amazing and exciting! Not regular chores! Come on, old man!" the blonde yelled. ' I hate to admit it, but she has a point.' thought Sasuke.' These missions are kind of pointless.' thought Sakura.' I knew this was gonna happen.' thought Kakashi with a mental sigh.
Iruka, who was sitting next to the Hokage, stood up." How dare you, Naru! Your still a beginner Genin! Everyone starts out with simple missions! It builds up you skills!" he shouted angrily." Are you kidding me! Babysitting is not a- OWWW!" the fox demon girl shouted as Sakura and Kakashi pulled her back by her pigtails." Put a lid on it, Naru." said Kakashi." Naruho, you still don't understand the tasks you have been given." said the Hokage. Naruho tilted her head in confusion. The Hokage placed a pipe in his mouth. " Listen. Many different missions come into our village everyday. From babysitting to assassinations." the Hokage said as he gestured to the many scrolls that were scattered in front of him." These request are recorded, analyzed, then ranked A,B,C or D. Depending on their difficulty. We ninja are also ranked. Hokage at the top. Jonin, and Genin at the bottom. At the highest level, we select the ninja who have the appropriate skill and experience. And if the mission is successful, we receive a fee that supports our village. And our work." he said.
The Hokage pulled out his pipe." Since you are untrained Genin, you're starting down the Shinobi path. You are given D-level assignments, of course-" The Hokage stopped himself when he realized that Naruho wasn't paying attention." So anyway, I remember this one time I tried this super hot ramen that-" " Silence!" The Hokage snapped. Kakashi scratched the back of his head." Oh, sorry." he said. Naruho crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks." Quit talking to me as if you're my gramps! 'Cause I'm not that little brat who use to pull pranks anymore! I'm a ninja now and I want a ninja mission!" she shouted as she raised her nose in the air. The members of her team sweat dropped.
Iruka smiled softly/sadly at his once student while the Hokage chuckled." Naruho wants us to know she's not a brat. She a former brat. She wants a mission, so be it." said the Hokage. Naruho's eyes widen. The other's as well." Since you are so determined, I'm going to give you a C-level mission. You'll be bodyguards on a journey." said the Hokage, smoking his pipe. Naruho's face gave an excided grin." Alright! So who is it! A prince! A member of the council!" the girl yelled, her adrenalin pulsing through her veins. The Hokage smirked." Don't be so impatient. I will bring him in now. Send in our visitor." he said. The door then opened and old man with a bottle of Sake came walking, well, more like stumbling, into the room. He had light gray hair and his eyes were blood-shot from his drink." What the- a bunch of little snot-nosed kids?" asked the old man, taking a swing of his drink. He wiped his mouth." And you, the little one with the idiotic look on her face. You want me to believe that you're a ninja?' he asked in a slur. Naruho started to giggle." Hey, who's the little one with the-" Naruho stopped herself when she saw that Sasuke was at least two inches taller than her while Sakura was at least one inch taller than her. The blonde puffed out her cheeks angrily.
Kakashi grabbed Naruho by the back of her jacket as she tried to get close enough to strangle the old man." I kill you!" she yelled as she struggled." You can't kill the client, Naru. It doesn't work that way." said Kakashi. The old man sipped his Sake again." I am Tazuna. I'm a master bridge builder and I must return to my country. I'm building a bridge there that will change our world and I need you to get me there easily. Even if it means giving up your own lives."
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The five walked out of the town gates and Naruho ran ahead with her fist in the air. " Alright!" she cheered." What's with you getting excited, Naru?" asked Sakura. Naruho turned to her with a big grin." This is the first time I ever left the village! I'm a traveler now! Believe it!" she shouted as she spun around like a top." I'm suppose to trust my life to this kid? She's a joke." asked Tazuna. Naruho stopped spinning and her eye began to twitch angrily." Don't worry. I'm a Jonin so you'll be safe. Even if Naru goes nuts." said Kakashi. Tazuna rolled his eyes." She's a joke! She's a joke!" Tazuna's words echoed in Naruho's mind.' Why did we have to guard this old geezer?' she wondered angrily. She turned to Tazuna." Hey, never insult a ninja! That's the biggest mistake you'll ever make in your life! I'm one of the greatest ninja ever! Someday, I'm gonna be a Hokage and your gonna look up to me! My name is Naruho Uzumaki! Remember it!" she shouted.
Tazuna took another sip of his Sake." You, a wise and strong Hokage? Please, your puny and weak. The day you become Hokage is the day I grow wings and fly." he said sarcastically. A mad vein appeared on Naruho's head." Shut up! I'm willing to do anything to a Hokage, no matter what it takes! And when I do, everyone will have to admit that I'm the top ninja! Including you!" she shouted. Tazuna gave her a doubtful look." Ha, you can be Hokage ten times over and yet you'd still be the stupid girl I see now." he said." Why you!" shouted Naruho as she once again tried to strangle the old man only to be held back by Kakashi." We're suppose to protect the client, Naru. Not kill him." said the Jonin, unknown to all of them the two snake-like eyes watching them.
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" Say, Mr. Tazuna?" asked Sakura as the group was traveling down a forest road." What?" asked Tazuna." Your country is the Land of Waves, right?" asked the pink-haired girl." What's it to you?" asked Tazuna. Sakura turned to Kakashi." Kakashi-sensei, there are ninja in that country too, aren't there?" she asked. Kakashi shook his head." No. There are none. But in some countries, there are hidden villages, each with their own traditions and customs where ninja reside. To the people of this continent, the existence of Shinobi mean strength. Military strength. In other words, that how they protect themselves. That's how they maintain the balance of peace with other countries. The ninja villages are not controlled by any government. They're independent and they have their own equal status. A small island, such as the Land of Waves, are protected by giant bodies of water. There's no need for a ninja village. There are five lands that poses Shinobi villages. Fire, water, lighting, wind, and earth. Together, they are known as the five Shinobi nations. Only the leaders of these nations have the right to be called Kage, which means shadow. Hokage, Kazekage, Mizukage, Raikage, Tsuchikage. These are the five shadows that reign over thousands of millions of ninjas. " he said.
The group continued their trek when they heard a small drip of water. There was no time at all when two men cloaked in camouflage sprang up from a small puddle and they shot large chains with spikes on them at Kakashi." NOW!" shouted one of the ninja as they both pulled on the chains and Kakashi yelled in pain as he was slashed into smithereens. " Kakashi-sensei!" yelled Naruho. She felt a chill go up her back as the two ninja appeared behind her. They chuckled coldly." Now it's your turn, little girl." said one of the ninja as they shot their chains again. Naruho froze with fear. She felt fear in her every nerve. Sasuke suddenly jumped in the air and he shot his shuriken and kunai at the chains and they struck at a tree trunk. The two assassins were now stuck. They soon broke lose and they split up. One of them went for Naruho while the other went for Sakura and Tezuna. Sasuke ran to stop the one that was going after Naruho. At the very last second, Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of the youngest Genin and he caught the two ninja without a hitch." Hi." he said casually.
' Sensei's alive!' thought Sakura. Sasuke was pouting madly.' Showoff.' he thought. Naruho looked at the whole scene in awe and she then realized that the gray-haired Jonin had used the Replacement Jutsu." Whoa… that was unreal, sensei." whispered Naruho. Kakashi shrugged." Sorry that I'd nearly didn't get there in time, Naru. I'm sure Sasuke would have gotten there. But still. With you frozen like that, you would have been dead in a second." he said. Naruho looked at her teacher in disbelief." Hey, you alright?" asked Sasuke. Naruho looked at him with wide eyes.' Does he care?' she wondered. The raven-haired Jonin then smirked." You want me to take you back home to your mommy, you big baby?" he asked tauntingly. Naruho gasped. The baby comment wasn't what hurt her. It was the mentioning of her mother. She closed her eyes quickly and she ran a few yards ahead. Sasuke raised his eyebrow." What's with her? She didn't get that hurt, did she?" he asked. Sakura looked at him with sad eyes." Sasuke… I think she got hurt because… you know… she doesn't have a mom." she said sadly. Sasuke's smirk faded. He had forgotten that. He remembered that he sometimes saw Naruho walking home alone during their days of training. He looked at the now sad blonde who was leaning against a tree with her bangs shadowing her eyes. He suddenly felt a heavy weight on his heart.
When a few minute passed, Kakashi had gotten the two assassin ninja tied up and the group had gathered around the two." They are Chunin from the village hidden beneath the mist. Their specialty is relentless attack. They keep fighting, no matter what the sacrifice." said Kakashi." How did you know about our ambush?" asked one of the Chunin." A puddle. On a clear day? When it hasn't rain in weeks?" asked the Jonin. Tazuna raised his eyebrow." Then why'd you allowed the Genin to take care of the problem?" he asked." I could have taken them out quickly. But then these three wouldn't have learned a thing. Besides, I hade to know why they were attack. Or better yet, who their target was." said Kakashi in a low voice." What are you getting at?" asked the old man." This. I wanted to know if they were after us. Ninja attacking ninja. Or, if they were after you. The master bridge builder. You asked for standard protection when you field your request. From common petty thieves. You said nothing about ninja. This mission would have been a B-level mission. Our task was just to get you to your destination and to protect you while you build. If we knew there would be any attackers, we would have added stronger reinforcement and we would have charged for A B-level mission. Lying to us is unacceptable." said Kakashi.
Sakura patted Naruho on the back." Besides, we should get Naruho to a doctor. The poison from her cut could get her really sick. She looks bad enough as it is." the green-eyed girl said. If they were quiet enough, they could hear Naruho's breath go shallow slightly. The said girl looked at her sensei with slightly half-closed eyes. Kakashi placed a finger on his chin." Naruho could slow us down. I supposes we should head back." he said. Naruho's breath went more shallow, but it wasn't from her wound. She backed away from Sakura and she pulled out one of her kunai and she stabbed her wound with a fierce growl. Her blood oozed and dripped onto the floor. Every one stared at her with wide eyes." Are you mad, Naru! Do you want to die faster!" exclaimed Sakura. Naruho breathed heavily." I… Why am I so different? I try so hard, and yet… someone always has to come and save me. But no more. I trained for missions like this. I'm not going to be a burden. I won't lose to anyone. Not Sasuke or anyone else." she whispered. She then raised her still stabbed hand." Upon this wound, I make a pledge. Believe it. I'll get the bridge builder to his village with this Kunai." she turned to Tazuna with a mischievous grin, almost fox-like." I'll be fine." she muttered.
" Naru. That was rather cool on how you took out the poison and all. But, with your blood pouring out like that, you will die faster." said Kakashi. Naruho paused for a second before screaming at the top of her lungs and jumping around madly. Kakashi sighed and he took he wounded hand. He was about to treat it when he saw that the slashed skin was already sealing by itself.' The wound… it's already healing. ' he thought with slight bewilderment. He stared at Naruho's wound for a long time." Um… that look you have is really starting to scare me. Will I be ok?" asked Naruho, shacking like a leaf. Kakashi blinked before pulling out a roll of bandages and wrapping them around Naruho's hand." Uh… yeah. You'll be fine." he said.' Could this healing power be from the Nine-Tailed Fox?' Kakashi thought as he finished tying up Naruho's wound.
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The five were now standing at the cliff of the Land of Waves. Though they were close, they decided to campout after all the hard walking they went through. Sakura had sat down next to Naruho to check on her wound." Lets see if its- what the heck? It's already healed." said Sakura as she checked Naruho's hand. Naruho was shocked too." That's weird. How did it do that?" she asked. The two were silent for a while." Hey, Naru. What did you mean back there?" asked Sakura." What do you mean?" asked Naruho." That speech you made. What did you mean when you said that you weren't going to lose to Sasuke or anyone?" asked Sakura. Naruho turned her head and looked at Sasuke, whowas staring into the inferno of their campfire." He tried to protect me when that Chunin went for me. I'm sort of grateful, but…" she suddenly clenched her fist." I don't want to be saved by anyone. My whole life, I did things on my own. No one was around to help me. And now I'm a ninja and now, people are trying to help me. I don't want help. I'm gonna be someone who people are going to look up to one day. And I need to do things on my own once and a while." she soon found herself staring into the dancing embers. " I made a vow when I stabbed myself, Saki. I will ascend and surpass the greats. And then, I will be no longer an outcast. I will be a hero. Believe it."
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Whew, I'm tired. And this chapter is only six pages long. Anyway, I hope you all liked this chapter. I'll try to get the next chapter soon. I'm lucky since I have Winter break from school. Well anyway, please make sure to review and I will get the next chapter soon.
This is me saying, peace!
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