An eruption of flames and lightning engulf the Namikaze training ground, as Naruto and Sakura appear. They make their way towards the armory, and begin sealing shuriken, kunai, senbon, and paper tags, along with an assortment of other various ninja equipment. Sakura looks at Naruto. "Do you think that we'll need our katana's as well, or should we leave them here?" She asks.
Naruto shakes his head. "Remember what Kakashi-sensei said? Anything can happen on a mission. I think we should bring them, just to be safe." Naruto replies and Sakura agrees, and within seconds the katana's are sealed within their wrists.
"Well, we have a half an hour until we have to meet them. What would you like to do?" Sakura asks. Naruto thinks about what they could be doing for the next 30 minutes. After a couple minutes, he comes up with a suggestion.
"I have an idea. Follow me." Naruto says to Sakura. They then leave the compound, take to the roofs, and make their way towards the Memorial Stone.
"Naruto, why are we going to the Memorial Stone?" Sakura questions.
"I have a thought, but I don't know if it's true. This is the only way we can find out...we're here. Keep quiet." He responds. They look out from behind a tree and see Kakashi standing in-front of it with his hand on a name. "Let's go." Naruto whispers and Sakura nods in agreement. They move out from behind the tree, slowly approaching Kakashi.
"You do realize that you'll have to try better in order to sneak up on a Jonin, right?" Kakashi says out loud, without breaking eye contact with the Memorial Stone. Naruto and Sakura freeze in their tracks. "How did you two know that I'd be here?"
Naruto is the first to regain his composure. "I didn't know for sure. I just had a hunch. I was going over my fathers notes, and came across a report from a mission you were involved in. It described that you lost one of your friends and comrades, Obito Uchiha."
"Is that how you got your Sharingan, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura interjects and Kakashi slowly nods, his eye watery from the memory.
"Yeah, it is. That mission went so wrong from the beginning. Your father ordered us to destroy an important bridge that Rock was using to resupply their own shinobi. Minato-sensei gave me one of his special kunai, in case we ran into trouble and we did. Rin, our other teammate, was kidnapped and me with my pride, insisted on continuing the mission. Obito stopped me, and told me that those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash. He then took off to go rescue her. I followed shortly after-wards and we did rescue her, but as we were exiting the location that she was being held captive, we were attacked by Rock shinobi. I didn't use the kunai your father gave me, and that decision cost Obito his life. So I come here and apologize for everything I did to him while he was still alive." Kakashi says solemnly. "Well, it's nearly time to meet Tazuna at the Main Gates. Do you have everything prepared?" Kakashi asks turning around and Naruto and Sakura pull out a couple of scrolls. Kakashi shakes his head. "I should have known. You are your father's son after-all, Naruto."
Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi all leave for the Main Gate. When they get there, they see Tazuna and Sasuke both waiting for them. Sasuke speaks up. "Wow, look at that. Kakashi is actually on time for once."
"Now that we're all here, shall we get going?" Kakashi says ignoring Sasuke's remark. The trio nods, and the group makes way towards the Land of Waves.
The group travels in silence for awhile, and eventually Sakura breaks the silence. "Tazuna, you're from the Land of Waves, correct?"
"Yeah, what of it?" He retorts with a tone which screams irritation.
Sakura looks at Kakashi. "There are no ninjas in the Land of Waves, are there Kakashi-sensei?" She asks.
"That is correct. Some countries, like wave, don't want, need, or simply can't afford a ninja village. The major villages are known as the Five Great Hidden Villages: Leaf, Sand, Rock, Cloud, and Mist. These are the only villages with Kage: the Hokage, Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Mizukage. The Kage are the strongest ninja in their respective villages, and thus are appointed as the new Kage. Each village has a different way of selecting their Kage. For example, in the Hidden Rock village, whoever beats the current Tsuchikage, gains the title of Kage. There are smaller ninja villages among the Five Great Nations as well, such as The Hidden Waterfall Village and The Hidden Grass Village." Kakashi responds.
"So, we aren't going to run into any foreign ninja then?" Sakura asks.
"No. Just bandits and thugs at the most." Kakashi answers. Tazuna gets a worried look on his face at the mention of this. This doesn't go unnoticed by Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi, but they disregard it and continue walking.
Time-skip:
After walking for several hours, the group comes across a puddle of water. Naruto and Sakura look at Kakashi, who just nods his head without looking up from his book. When they are about twenty feet away, two figures rise up out of the water and hurl a chain towards Kakashi, wrapping it around him. "One down, one too go." They comment and Kakashi is ripped into pieces. Naruto and Sakura swiftly reach the two assassins, and quickly dispose of them before they could manage to do anything else.
"Congratulations you two, but I wish you would have left one alive for interrogation." Kakashi says as he makes his way out of the tree-line. Naruto and Sakura have sheepish looks on their faces. "As this was your first kill, we will talk later if needed." They both nod their heads in understanding.
"We wanted their bounties, Kakashi-sensei. The Demon Brothers have huge ones on their heads." Naruto says, while Sakura nods her head. Kakashi sweat-drops at Naruto's remark.
"Wait, how do you know who those two were?" Kakashi asks with a serious tone.
"The Old Man gave me a bingo book." Naruto says and that's how Sasuke heard it. Kakashi and Sakura hear it as 'It's my Old Man's. Kakashi just nods his head.
"Kakashi-sensei?! I thought you died! How are you still alive?!" Sasuke asks, with disbelief in his voice. Kakashi says something that sounds like doubting his skills as a Jonin. He points to the spot where he 'died' and Sasuke now notices a shredded log.
"Naruto, Sakura, and I noticed the puddle, and when it hasn't rained for months, found it a little odd. So, I used a substitution when they attacked." He then rounds on Tazuna. "I think it's time that you told us the truth, Tazuna. Why are there ninja after you? If they were after me, they wouldn't have said 'One down, one too go'. They would have just left after killing me. Also, they couldn't have known that I would be on this mission, because we just got it today. The three Genin couldn't have been the targets either, since their names haven't been made known yet. So there's some explaining you need to do." Kakashi said sternly.
Tazuna nods his head and explains the situation in the Land of Waves. He explains how Gato took over and made a monopoly of the shipping industry. He also explains how he is the only thing standing in Gato's way. As he was explaining, Naruto and Sakura had looks of horror on their faces while Sasuke had one of indifference. When Tazuna finishes, Kakashi looks at the three Genin. "Well, what do you three think? Do we continue, or shall we head back?" He asks.
Naruto and Sakura look at each other, and nod their heads. "We will continue on, no matter what. Believe it!" Naruto says.
"You do realize we could be up against Jonin from here on out, right?" Kakashi questions. They just nod their heads. "What about you, Sasuke?"
"We continue. I want to test my power." Sasuke says, glaring as Naruto and Sakura.
Kakashi sighs. "Ok then, I guess you're in luck Tazuna. We'll continue on with the mission. But when you get your village back up on it's feet, you'll pay for the A rank mission, understand?" Kakashi asks sternly. Tazuna just nods his head, and thanks them endlessly.
The group continues on their way. "Ah, Tazuna. I was beginning to worry." A man says when they reach a small paddle-boat
"Yeah, I was fortunate to hire strong shinobi to protect me while I finish the bridge." When Tazuna says this, the Leaf ninja all sweat-drop except for Sasuke, who was smiling at that. The rest know that his ego has just been fed.
Kakashi clears his throat. "Tazuna, shall we move on from here and continue to your home?" Kakashi asks and Tazuna nods his head in agreement.
"Well, that is why I'm here. To escort Tazuna to the other side, but we have to be quiet or we will attract Gato's thugs, and other unwanted attention." The boat owner says and The Leaf ninja all nod their heads.
They make their way across the water in a slow fashion. When the bridge came into view, Naruto almost yells, but Sakura stops him just before he could by slamming her hand over his mouth and shakes her head. When Sakura removes her hand, all Naruto does is smile sheepishly.
When the boat reaches shore, they thank the man for the ride and proceed on their way. As they were walking, Naruto creates a crystal kunai faster than anyone can see and throws it into the trees. When Naruto goes to check it out, all he sees is a scared rabbit. However, what was peculiar about this rabbit was the color of its fur. "Kakashi-sensei, are you seeing this?" Naruto asks.
Kakashi nods head and responds. "Yes, this rabbit's fur is white instead of brown. It must have been kept inside for substitution." They make their way back to the others when all of a sudden Kakashi yells. "Get down!" Naruto grabs Sasuke and Sakura pulls down Tazuna, just as a giant sword flies over their heads. It imbeds itself into a tree and a huge man appears on the handle of it.
"Zabuza 'No Brows' Momochi, 'Kitten' of the Hidden Mist." Naruto insults. Sakura starts laughing hysterically and Kakashi's using all of his expert training to hold back his laughter.
"Oh my god, nice one kit! That's hilarious!" Kurama says, while wiping a tear away with one of his tails.
"Thanks Kurama, it really didn't take a lot of thought." Naruto replies, through his mental link between them. Sasuke has a bewildered look on his face at the thought that Naruto had just insulted an enemy. A Jonin, no less.
"Naruto, what the hell are you thinking, insulting a Jonin!?" Sasuke yells in surprise.
"Yeah Blondie, why don't you listen to your teammate with the duck-butt haircut?" Zabuza says, while hopping off of the handle of his sword and pulling it out of the tree. Naruto starts laughing again, this time holding his stomach, along with Sakura.
"Thanks No Brows, I have been trying to think of insults to say to the now-proclaimed 'duck-butt'." Naruto says, regaining his composure.
"Naruto stop it and get serious. This man is responsible for the Hidden Mist's Coup de'tat." Kakashi says with a serious tone.
"I know exactly who he is, Kakashi-sensei, but it's so easy to piss him off. I thought shinobi were supposed to have control over their emotions while on a mission." Naruto says, which infuriates Zabuza even more.
"That's it kid, you're dead." Zabuza says as he disappears. Naruto smirks, and dodges the strike that should've surely taken his head clean off his shoulders, much to Sasuke's surprise.
"Everyone, protect Tazuna. Manji formation." Kakashi instructs and the Genin appear around Tazuna with their kunai out in a reverse grip. "If you're my opponent, I guess I'll have to pull out all the stops." He lifts up his headband, revealing his spinning Sharingan.
"What? How does he have the Sharingan? He isn't an Uchiha!" Sasuke thinks.
"Well, isn't this a treat? Copy-Cat Kakashi's infamous Sharingan, right off the bat! I'm honored that you think I'm so dangerous, unlike that blond brat over there. He really irks me. Let's cut the chit chat, and have some fun." Zabuza says, with a demonic twinkle in his eye.
"I couldn't agree more." Kakashi replies, and they both disappear in a blur.
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