A/N: Sorry I'm late. I've been so busy with so many problems.
This chapter wasn't betaed, for my beta is currently busy. So I apologize for spellings&grammars. :)
I was really happy for your reviews and faves&alerts. Thank you! You guys rock! XD
Hope this chapter will be enjoyable for you!
"Sasuke, I'm at point B."
"Sakura, I'm at point C."
"Naruto, I'm at point A."
"Okay, Squad 7."
A black beast leapt from a tree into the bushes below.
"The target has moved! Follow it."
"Over there." The blonde whispered through her earpiece.
"What's your distance from the target?" Came the silver haired jōunin's voice.
"5 Meters." Naruto replied, "I'm ready, just give the signal."
"I'm ready too." voiced the confident Sasuke.
"So am I." Sakura spoke up.
"Okay…now!" Kakashi ordered.
The three genin sprang from their hiding places at the beast.
"I got him, I got him!" Naruto exclaimed vividly as she hugged the.. cat.
The cat squirmed for few moments but soon stayed quietly in the blonde's arm.
"Can you verify ribbon on right ear?" Kakashi's voice came from the headphones.
"Affirmative, we got a positive I.D." Sasuke replied, watching the cat in the blonde's arms.
"Right. Lost pet Tora: Captured. Mission accomplished."
"Cant we get a better mission than this? I hate cats!" Sakura yelled down the frequency, giving everyone a headache.
"Awwwwwwww my poor little Tora. Mama was so worried about your naughty little fuzzy face." Team 7's captive was in the process of becoming a pancake against its owner's face.
"No wonder he ran away." Sasuke murmured shaking his head.
"Now then, for Squad 7's next mission we have several available tasks." The Third Hokage called to Squad 7 over the screams of the poor cat. "Among them: Babysitting the chief-counsellor's 3 year old.."
'I hate babes.' Thought Sasuke in dismay.
"Helping his wife to do the shopping, digging up potatoes at…"
"Can't we do more real mission?" Sakura interrupted, not wanting to do such thing as digging potatoes in front of Sasuke.
Kakashi put on a belligerent face as Iruka jumped out of his seat and started yelling at the pinkette. "You're still a beginner ninja! All beginners have to start with easy missions first."
"But_"
Watching the scene Naruto smirked inwardly. Then crossing her legs in her chair, she looked up at the adults with an innocent damsel's look. "But.. I thought we could do a mission with some more.. action..?"
Sandaime blinked, holding his pipe. "Naruto? You're still a recently-become genin. All beginners have to start with easy missions."
"Yeah, but.." Slurring the end of her words Naruto glanced at Sasuke.
Sasuke cleared his throat, not knowing why he was clearing his throat.
"We want a mission at least something like.. escort, maybe." Naruto continued, rolling her large blue eyes and pouting rather cutely.
Kakashi turned to stare at his students and upon seeing Naruto's expression, he began to chuckle.
Iruka gulped before he threw a glance at the scrolls on the third's desk.
"Well I guess we have a C-ranked mission here.."
The third blinked again. "Iruka?"
"Really?" Naruto's eyes widened happily. "Arigato, Iruka-sensei!"
"Ah.. Well.. Yeah.. I mean.." Iruka began to sweat-drop, his hand scratching the back of his head.
Sasuke's eyes twitched at the Academy teacher but did not speak otherwise.
"Well I'd never thought of giving C-ranked mission to my students." Kakashi was the one who interrupted, his voice unusually serious.
Everyone turned to stare at the silver-haired jounin.
Naruto stilled and looked up. She knew that tone. She looked at her teacher and suppressed a wince. She knew that look too.
"Ah..?" She winced, wondering what she'd done to warrant her teacher's ire. Kakashi was looking seriously pissed.
"Sensei?" Sakura muttered anxiously.
"What's the matter, Kakashi-san?" Iruka asked, also looking pissed.
"Iruka-san," Kakashi said his voice hardening, "They aren't your students anymore. Do not interfere."
Iruka glared at him. "I will interfere if I think that is what's best for my students Kakashi-san and think that you are entering them into this too soon!"
"Mind say that again?" The jounin raised his silver eyebrow, a growl escang from his throat.
A tensed silence stretched out in the Hokage's office, freezing the three genin. What the hell?
Then Sandaime broke the awkward silence away. "Kakashi, Iruka. What are you doing?"
Both teachers nearly flinched, as if the some kind of strange spell that had been looming into them has broken. They both cleared their throats embarrassingly.
'What the hell was wrong with me?' Sighing inwardly Kakashi ruffled his own hair.
"Very well, team 7." The third picked up another scroll.
Naruto allowed herself to breathe a small sigh of relief. She'd gotten the C-rank mission to Wave. Good.
Once back in her apartment, Naruto brought out big ninja bag and began to pack for tomorrow's mission.
'You are doing it on purpose, aren't you?'
Naruto nearly dropped the shuriken onto her feet. 'Stop suddenly speaking up! You're frightening me!'
'Hoh?' The fox chuckled darkly. 'You frightened? So you're really becoming a girl_'
'Shut up, fur ball! It's not my fault, it's..'
'Alright, then answer this one. Was that on purpose?'
Growling Naruto turned to stare at herself into the looking-glass. 'What are you talking about?'
Kyuubi sounded like as if he's yawning. 'The little incident in the old fool's office today, gaki.'
'What do you mea_'
'Even days ago. You were acting quite provocative to the old man's son.'
Naruto blinked. 'Asuma?'
'Yeah, brat. I can see it clearly that you're trying to turn any men into pedophiles_'
Blushing furiously and growling, Naruto blocked the fox entirely out of her mind and headed to the kitchen to get an instant ramen.
After finishing her ramen and origini, she threw the empty cup and box to the trash can and headed to her closet, then opened it and scrutinized the clothes.
Whistling she brought out clothes for tomorrow. Black sweater, dark shorts, arm protectors and black long kunoichi boots.
Zabuza and Haku.
It'll be really long time no see.
"..Urrgh."
Bowing down she clutched her head. The incident in Hokage's office today was not quite her plan. In fact, she did not actually intended to piss Kakashi off.
"..But why did he look pissed?" Grumbling she went back to her bag. However, deep inside of her vain part told her that she knew it was coming.
"..."
Sighing softly she looked into the mirror again.
She was the most pretty little thing she'd ever seen.
She began to wonder what Asuma is thinking about her right now. The bearded jounin looked quite irritated as he dragged poor Konohamaru and took left few days ago.
He seemed angry.
Was it really an anger? Or was he..
'I sensed jealousy, hah!'
Smirking the pretty blondie lay sprawled onto the floor.
The morning dawned misty and cold.
Kakashi advanced toward the stone monument. His steps were muffled as he walked through the dew covered grass. Lovingly he reached out a hand and traced his fingers over the stone.
"Obito, Rin. I'm sorry." He took a deep shuddering breath before continuing. "I haven't been coming around as often." He laughed a bit as he spoke the words. "I have my own team now. You know, something crazy happened to one of my student. Do you believe in gender-change?"
He stood silently lost in memories of a long ago time.
"..I won't be coming back here, not for a while. I'm Sorry. Tell sensei that I'll take care of Naruto. I love you guys."
Kneeling down he placed two small flowers on the memorial stone. As he stood up the mist washed over the stone.
"Yo~!" Kakashi called as he entered the Hokage's office.
"Oh Kakashi you're... early" Sarutobi smiled in surprise.
"Is this our client?" Kakashi asked ignoring the not-so- subtle jab from the Hokage.
"Yeah, I'm Tazuna." the old man in work worn clothes said as he took a swig from a jug. "So you're Kakashi? I thought you'd be.. taller!"
Shrugging nonchalantly Kakashi pulled out his book and began to read.
"Don't let him fool you Tazuna. Kakashi is one of my best."
"Alright then. Lets get going. We have a long ways to go." Without another word the old man turned around and walked out the door. After Nodding at Sarutobi Kakashi followed him outside the door.
Together the two walked through the streets of Konoha. As they approached the gate Kakashi was pleased to see the gate still empty. He'd have time to read his book.
For five minutes Kakashi resumed his happy reading, perched on the flat stone beside the gate. And Tazuna waited patiently. The elder man thought of talking with the jounin, but upon glancing over the book the youth was reading Tazuna quickly brushed the thoughts away.
'So the so-famous copy-ninja is a pervert.' Sighing the client put out two glass bottles and handed one to the jounin. "Here you go."
"Ah, thank you."
Then the silence resumed again.
Kakashi was too absorbed by his hentai that he didn't notice a certain blonde approaching near.
"Hey, is that one of your students?" Tazuna asked, happy to break the silence.
Kakashi immediately closed his book as Naruto carelessly sat beside him and took a juice bottle from his hand. "Heh, it's tomato juice."
"..Yeah." Rolling his eyes Kakashi replied. "I like tomato juice."
Naruto took sips of juice as she rested her head against the jounin's arm comfortably. "Really? But I'm gonna drink this all, heh."
"Cute kid." Tazuna commented.
"Are you our client?" Naruto asked for the first time to the old man.
"That's right."
"Sensei have you eaten your breakfast?" Cocking her head upward the kunoichi questioned.
Kakashi gulped. "Emme.. I guess no."
"Why do you put 'I guess' there?" Tazuna snorted rather comically.
Making a big eye-smile Kakashi looked down at the golden head. "What about you?"
"Ramen." Making her voice almost like a sigh Naruto giggled. "Oh, there's Sasuke coming."
Indeed the raven haired boy was walking directly toward them. Well Naruto's sunkissed hair was like a neon-sign in everywhere.
"Sasuke!" Springing up from the stone Naruto waved her hand.
Sasuke lifted his eyebrow as he noticed the girl's pose while ago but quickly brushed it away and let a smirk rise upon his face. "Hey."
"This is our client." Naruto's fragile hand pointed at the old man who was watching the boy with a strange amusement.
Sasuke nodded at Tazuna. "Hello."
Kakashi reminded himself that he'd promised himself not to be surprised at the Uchiha's changes.
"So are we all ready?"
"Not yet. There's still one more.."
"SASUKE-KUN!" A happy voice of a certain pinkette made the Uchiha to flinch.
"So you're the last one. Huh don't look like a ninja much." Tazuna commented as he eyed the pink-haired girl up and down.
"Hey who are you!" Sakura shouted. "You can't talk to me like that."
"Sakura, he's our client." Naruto interjected.
Sakura turned to glare at the other girl. "I didn't ask you_"
"Troublesome girl." Tazuna shook his head.
"All right Sakura stop it. Let's go." Kakashi came up to the group. "Well this is our client Tazuna, a famous bridge builder. Our mission is to take him to the land of wave, after that we'll guard him until he finishes a bridge there. So it's a bodyguard mission. Any questions?"
"None."
"No."
So team7 plus Tazuna exited the gate, entering into the forest.
"Sasuke-kun.." Calling earnestly Sakura approached beside Sasuke.
Ignoring the pinkette Sasuke glanced over the blonde, who's walking in front of the group. Tazuna was behind Sasuke and Sakura, and Kakashi was taking a part of tail.
...
For Naruto, it was in her own little world of self recriminations.
There existed a strange irony to.. Walk with these members together again, on the same day, on the same path.
Naruto clenched her fists. When she'd woken up to find herself three years into the past she hadn't expected assimilating to be so one of her biggest problems. Why would it be when she knew everyone so well?
Heh. Only problem was, they didn't know her back.
It was ironic in some ways..
Sasuke's hand gently brushed her arm and she started slightly, before relaxing.
The Uchiha paused for a couple of moments, knowing for sure now that something was wrong- Naruto was not usually so jumpy-but not knowing what to do about it.
"Is there someting.. Wrong?" He asked tentatively, navigating through uncharted territory. Sasuke hadn't felt the need to...worry...about someone like this in a very long time and it felt overwhelmingly odd to do so now. The Uchiha resisted the urge to squirm.
Naruto almost stumbled when she heard Sasuke of all people try to comfort her. She turned to her friend, eyes wide. Then she smiled and punched the boy's shoulder lightly, both acknowledging and thanking the Uchiha with the simple gesture.
"Neh, it's nothing. It's just.. That it's my first time to be out of Konoha."
Naruto took a deep breath, forcing her heart rate to calm down, and focused on Sasuke's light footsteps, the soft brushing of the cloth of his shorts, and his hand running across tree bark at random intervals; they were walking on the edge of the trail, She realized.
"But what about the Academy exercises where we left the village to practise?" Sakura interrupted sharply. Naruto sighed, and Sasuke twitched slightly as well.
"Sakura, those need permission forms. I was never allowed to go on them, and even the small-scale ones that stayed inside the village were hard to get permission for." Naruto shifted agilely around a pothole that Sasuke indicated with a foot tap, focusing intently on her footsteps.
'Hell God knows that I want to crush her immediately, but I have to keep a decent act in front of others.' Smirking coldly Naruto thought.
"But why couldn't you just get your parents to sign them?" Sakura actually sounded.. Provocative. Ah, the joys of living a charmed life.
It was Sasuke who answered her. "Naruto doesn't have any parents, Sakura. They died a long time ago. She's an orphan like me."
"Oh…" Sakura seemed to have realized she'd hit on a sore spot, and for about ten minutes, the trio were able to walk in silence.
Soon Sakura's voice started up again. "Excuse me, Tazuna-san? You said you came from the Land of Waves?"
"That is correct. What of it?"
"Well… doesn't the Land of Waves have its own ninja village? Why do they need us?"
"Actually, Sakura, the Land of Waves is a small island," Kakashi explained. "Ninja are military strength, and with the natural protection of the ocean, they generally have no need for them. When they and other small countries like them need ninja, they usually hire from the nearest Great Shinobi Nation."
"Huh… so, Konoha is one of those, right?"
"Correct," Kakashi said agreeably. "Konoha, of the Land of Fire; Suna, of the Land of Wind; Kumo, of the Land of Lightning; Kiri, of the Land of Water; and Iwa, of the Land of Earth, are the Five Great Shinobi Nations. There are other Hidden Villages as well, but those are the five best known."
"What are some of the others?" Sakura continued to pursue the subject.
"There's Kusa, to the north-west of us. And Taki, straight north. There's Bird Country to the west, although I don't know if their village is still in action or not. Ame is to the west as well, but not as far as Bird, and there's supposed to be a Yukigakure in the far, far north in the Land of Snow, but my map might be out of date – that place has been kinda in a civil war for the last few years. Dunno what's happening there.."
Naruto suddenly paused when she passed a nondescript, medium sized puddle of water. The puddle was radiating chakra.
Sasuke looked to Naruto and raised an eyebrow. What the hell?
Naruto turned back, springing up.
When the razor sharp claw attached to a chain slithered out of the water, Naruto was ready. She watched and made no attempt at aid as the claw cut up 'Kakashi' to pieces, waiting instead for the opportune moment.
A sharp scream from Sakura gave everyone a headache.
Both Demon Brothers appeared, racing towards Tazuna. Naruto glanced at the Uchiha and muttered. "Watch me, then you'll be assured that I'm worthy of being your trainer."
"What?"
Naruto ducked under the first brother's swing and gave the man a swift, harsh uppercut to the chin. The shinobi grunted and flew back several meters, landing hard on the forest floor, unmoving.
Meizu watched his brother fly and snarled. He swung his claw up in a deadly arc, intending to cleave the Konoha-nin girl into two very bloody pieces.
Naruto saw the claw, dodged it, then caught the chain right under the appendage and slammed her kunai through the links and into the ground, pinning the weapon down and rendering it unusable.
Meizu tugged futilely at the claw for a second then dropped his armband and started the signs for a water cannonball.
Naruto intercepted him before he could finish it, went down onto her hands, and powered her right foot into Meizu's abdomen, knocking the air out of the man's lungs and slamming him into a tree. The demon slid down and did not move again.
The entire battle had taken less than three minutes.
The silence in the clearing was absolute until Kakashi stepped out of the foliage and back onto the main road. Sakura squealed.
"Sensei! You're okay?"
Tazuna on the other hand, did not share her sentiments. "Hey, how come you ran away and left you super young girl to fight super tough enemies?" he yelled angrily, pointing an accusing finger at the jounin.
"She managed." Kakashi answered mildly looking at the unconscious forms of the two demon brothers on the ground. He glanced over at Naruto who met his gaze head on and winked.
Kakashi soon looked away, his head starting to ache with hundreds thoughts.
"Ne, Tazuna-san, how much farther is it to your house?" He said instead.
"Not much farther. We just have to cross a river and then we'll be in my village."
Kakashi nodded. "We should get going then." He said. He fixed Tazuna with a hard stare. "And while we're at it, you can tell us why you seem to have assassins trying to kill you. "
Working his jaw nervously Tazuna began to speak but Kakashi continued.
"Your request was to protect you from bandits and robbers. What happened earlier was above a B rank mission. Our mission was to guard and support you until you finished building the bridge. This was not part of our mission."
"The answer to that.. begins and ends with the bridge?" Tazuna began.
"The bridge?" Sasuke asked.
"The land of waves is an island nation. The only way to get goods in and out of the country is by ship. But a year ago a man arrived in the land of waves. A short man who casts a very a long and very deadly shadow. Gato."
"Gato? The Shipping Magnate Gato." Kakashi asked his eye wide. The genin exchanged confused looks.
"The same. He used his enormous wealth to take over the land of waves. Anyone who opposes him disappears. The land of waves has become a haven for his thugs and gangsters. Without that bridge there is no way to break his stranglehold on our people."
"But why did you lie?" Sakura asked.
"We have no money, we can't afford the fee for a B or an A rank mission. So we had to lie. I understand that you will have to leave me here and return to your village." He sighed dramatically. "Of course I will keep going on my own. Naturally I'll be killed the second I set foot in the land of waves. And my grandson will cry for his Grandfather." He continued sadly crocodile tears welling up in his eyes. "and my daughter-"
Kakashi sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Normally he would have said no straight out, what with him having a Genin team to take care of and all, but... Kakashi surreptitiously glanced at Naruto once again out of the corner of his eye.
Naruto had shown more than a jounin level mastery over her taijutsu and most likely had an even better grasp on other jutsu.
"..Tazuna-san, I can't make any promises but I'll think about it."
Meanwhile, Naruto was walking thoughtlessly, ignoring all of Sasuke's constant.. Scolding.
"..You gave me a heartattack when you jumped to the villains alone." Sasuke growled, finally ending the continuous chide.
Bowing her head Naruto sighed. "Come on, mother. I managed it. And didn't it prove that I'm worthy of being your.."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Mother?" He asked mildly. There was a blur and suddenly Naruto found herself knocked down by fireball jutju.
Naruto looked down at herself and scowled. "You. Suck." She said.
Sasuke smirked and offered her a hand.
0O0
An enormous spinning shape came flashing over their heads, whistling as it cut through the air. In an instant it had flown past them and smashed into the ground throwing up a spray of sand.
It revealed itself as a giant gunmetal gray cleaver with a long handle wrapped in white cloth. Hanging from the pommel on a twisted piece of cord was a single red pearl.
Its glossy surface crawled with black designs that writhed and twisted with a life of their own.
The air around them suddenly shifted and Sauske's eyes widened, instinctively tackling Naruto to the ground and covering both their heads. He didn't even bother trying to get to Tazuna or Sakura, letting Kakashi to take care of the two.
A giant zanbatou cut the air directly above them and then embedded itself into a tree, handle sticking out so that the man who'd just landed atop it could stand without fear of falling.
Naruto glared up to check the man.
'Long time no see.'
"Zabuza no Momochi the Demon hidden in the Mist." Kakashi stated, utterly serious for once, as he got up from his crouched position. Reaching up he took hold of and pushed his hiate up, uncovering his left eye. Revealing a red iris and three tomoe's, the legendary dojutsu the Sharingan.
'How? How does he have the Sharingan?' Sasuke stared in shock.
"Sensei?" Sakura asked.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, stay here and protect Tazuna. It's your mission now." Kakashi commanded tersely.
"Sensei!" Naruto called running up to him.
Kakashi turned his body a little in the blonde's direction to indicate that he was listening but kept his eyes on his opponent. "Yes, Naruto?"
"Don't worry about here." the blonde kunoichi said quietly. "And watch out for his water prisons."
Kakashi blinked and then nodded. "Thank you."
A fine mist started to blanket the clearing. Kakashi charged.
0O0
Sasuke watched from his guard position as his teacher and Zabuza fought. When the first mizu-bunshin blew up and Zabuza held Kakashi at knife point, he tensed.
Naruto caught his eye and minutely shook her head. "No, wait. There's another ninja."
"Another nin..?" Whispering back Sasuke frowned.
"Just wait. Trust me."
Naruto started gathering chakra, bidding her time, all senses on high alert, for Haku to let down the genjutsu covering her so that he could get a concrete lock on her position. It would only be for a split second so her probe would have to be quick. Very quick.
Naruto tensed.
Kakashi got stabbed.
Sakura let out a shriek.
The veil shimmered for half an instant as Haku moved from one branch to another.
The blonde hissed, eyes alight, a foxy grin stretching her lips wide.
"Sasuke." She whispered. And then she leaped, creating a kage bunshin to take her place and completely masking her chakra in the same split second. Sasuke followed her at a slower, jerkier pace.
0O0
Kakashi settled a couple meters away from his kids and risked a backwards glance to reassure himself that they were all okay. Sakura looked terrified but unharmed. Sasuke was gone. Naruto was... kage bunshin?
The Jounin narrowed his eyes but didn't have much time to dwell on the matter as a horde of needles made of ice came raining down upon him.
"Give it up Kakashi and I might make your death and the deaths of your students quick and painless." Zabuza said his voice echoing across the clearing.
Kakashi shook his head. "Never."
Zabuza appeared in front of him and slashed him across the belly. Kakashi dissolved into a gallon of water and reappeared behind the mist-nin.
Haku's eyes narrowed and he moved to a different branch for a closer look. When had Kakashi copied the bunshin jutsu?
Zabuza chuckled all-knowingly and rolled his eyes to look at the man behind him.
Haku leaned over, completely intent on the fight unfolding in front of him-which was why he was caught entirely by surprise at the roundhouse kick that came flying from out of nowhere and powered into his face.
The ex mist-nin let out a soft cry and fell backwards, out of the tree and onto the grassy ground below where he was immediately met by two pin wheeling sharingan eyes and a ball of fire. Haku's eyes widened and he threw himself backwards, away from the jutsu.
He wasn't fast enough.
Haku narrowed his eyes as he blocked yet another front snap kick only to be suckered by the reverse twist punch thrown a millisecond after.
He back flipped several meters away, waited until the raven haired boy started to charge, and then called upon his bloodline to freeze the all the water on the ground all at once.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he slid for a couple of seconds, before falling heavily onto his left side, audible snapping of bone causing a tight grin to blossom on his face.
Naruto hissed as she saw Sasuke fall, face going white with pain as his leg cracked underneath him, bone protruding from the wound.
She ran towards her friend, her hands already glowing the steady light green to indicate a medic-jutsu, when she caught the metallic glare of Haku's katana slicing towards her friend. Naruto growled and her eyes flashed.
"Rasengan!"
0O0
Zabuza finished his water dragon jutsu and watched as an exact copy materialized right next to it. What the hell? The sharingan was supposed to be able to copy jutsu-not do them at the same time.
"What's this? Can you read the future?" he started to say when all of a sudden Haku came hurtling through the foliage, through their dragons and into a tree.
"Haku!" he yelled, abandoning his water jutsu and running towards his fallen partner. He looked the boy over, noting all the injuries and then glared at Kakashi in pure hatred.
"This isn't over yet Hatake. I'll see you again and when I do, I will crush you." and then he disappeared in a swirling of leaves.
Kakashi watched them go, blinking in utter surprise, before sighing.
"Hey brats?"
"Damn..." There was a pained grunt from Sasuke and the sound of a bone being put back into place.
Sakura paled dramatically at the sound. "Sasuke-kun?" she called out, her voice coming out in a squeak, thready with fear. "Are you okay?"
The Uchiha came limping out of the clearing, leaning heavily on Naruto's shoulder.
Kakashi added medic-jutsu to the boy, his head aching by ever growing list of unanswered questions about Naruto. He clearly had heard Naruto shouting 'Rasengan'.
How the hell does she know the jutsu?
Well later. He'll aske her about it later..
"All right now let's continue...Urrrgh." Slurring the end of his sentence Kakashi grabbed his head.
"Sensei?" Naruto asked approaching him. "Are you ok?"
Kakashi nearly flinched when the girl's cool palm was placed upon his forehead. Sasuke slightly furrowed his eyebrows at the scene.
"I'm ok. I'd just overused my sharingan... Let's go." Ruffling the blonde's hair the jounin stood up.
I'm open to any suggestionS/criticisms. However, flaming won't be appreciated.
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