XX= time skip

-X-= point of view change

Chapter 4

"Is everybody here?" Kakashi said, team 7, Jirubi and Tazuna nodded their head. "Okay then let's go."

They began to walk with Tazuna in the middle, Kakashi in the front, Sasuke in the left, Sakura in the right and Naruto and Jirubi in the back. They had been walking for a few hours when they came across a puddle. Only Kakashi, Naruto and Jirubi noticed it and they all knew that a fight was coming soon.

How right were they when just as they passed the puddle, two ninjas jumped out of it. They ran towards Kakashi with their gauntlet raised. They wrapped the chain that was attached to their gauntlet around Kakashi and pulled, causing Kakashi to be shredded in pieces.

Team 7 and Tazuna were brought out of their shocked daze by Sakura's scream. Sasuke ran and threw a kunai at the two ninjas. The kunai hit the middle of the chain, impaling it on the tree behind them. They tried to pull it out but it didn't budge so they clicked a button on their gauntlet and the chain was released from the gauntlet. They then ran towards Tazuna but one of them was stopped by Sasuke and the other was stopped by Naruto. Sasuke kicked the ninja and sent him flying while Naruto punched his and knocked him unconscious but not without getting a scratch on the back of his hand first. The ninja that Sasuke had sent flying appeared unconscious with an 'alive' Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei, but how?!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Sakura, you do know the 'substitution jutsu', right?" Sasuke said while pointing at a pile of logs that was in place where Kakashi had 'died'.

"Good job, Naruto, Sasuke!" Kakashi said while dumping the ninja he was carrying on top of the ninja that Naruto had knocked out. He then turned towards a relieved looking Tazuna, "and you, is there something that you are not telling us?"

Tazuna's relieved expression changed into a panicked one and he began to sweat. "No…no th…there's not…nothing." He denied but all of the staring quickly broke him and he confessed all about a man called Gato taking over wave country.

"I have heard about Gato. He is a merchant that takes over businesses by employing missing-nins and bandits to do the dirty jobs." Kakashi said. "I am sorry but this mission is a bit dangerous for just genins. This mission is at least a B-rank or an A-rank."

"It's alright. I don't mind if I die. My daughter will just hate Konoha for not protecting me and my grandson will live a life filled with misery and hatefulness. The villagers will curse Konoha to the pits of hell. But it's okay, I understand." Tazuna said.

Jirubi stifled a laugh.

"Even if we wanted to, we can't." Kakashi said, "They don't have enough experience for this kind of mission." He pointed at the genins.

"Give them a chance, Kakashi. I am sure they will surprise you and if they need any help that's what you and I for, right." Jirubi said.

Kakashi looked at the three genins and received three nods. He then sighed and told Tazuna that they would continue the mission. Tazuna thanked them every ten minutes as they continued to walk. They then reached a river where Tazuna's friend was waiting for them in a boat. They sailed quietly until they came upon the bridge that Tazuna was building. It was beautiful and huge. Three gasps were heard from the boat.

"It's so big, Tazuna-san." Sakura said with an awed expression. Sasuke and Naruto also nodded.

"I know, right." Tazuna answered smugly.

They then continued to sail quietly until they reached land. They said goodbye to Tazuna's friend and walked through the mist that had appeared throughout half of their boat ride. Just as they reached the end of the mist, Naruto threw a kunai at a bush. Everyone turned to look at the bush and therefore missed the smile that Jirubi gave to Naruto. They stepped forward to check the bush just as a pure white rabbit jumped out. Just as Sakura was about to hit Naruto for scaring the poor bunny, Kakashi shouted for all of them to lay down. They all ducked just in time a huge sword came flying through the air heading towards Jirubi, who had not ducked.

Jirubi stared at the sword as it came near him and then stepped aside at the last minute and caught the sword by the hilt. The sound of clapping could be heard and they all turned to look at a tall shirtless figure with cow-print leg warmers above a grey trouser. He also wore cow-print arm warmers. His hitai-ate was tilted sideways on his head and he had bandages covering his mouth.

"Great as always, Jirubi." The man said looking at Jirubi and ignoring everybody else.

"Momochi Zabuza." Jirubi nodded then walked towards Zabuza and handed his sword back. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hired by Gato to kill the bridge builder but since you are with them… I value my life more than money." Zabuza said while chuckling.

Jirubi nodded then towards Naruto and others. "Kakashi, I can tell you already know who it is and he also knows who you are so I don't need to introduce you two but others, this is Momochi Zabuza, a missing-nin from mist, if the hitai-ate didn't already say that and Zabuza, this is Tazuna, the bridge builder, and this three are Kakashi's genins. Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and Shiroko Naruto, also my love."

Jaws dropped at the last words but Zabuza just stared at Naruto until he was shifting uncomfortably then snorted, "This is the brat for whom you declined my offer for?"

"Zabuza…" Jirubi sighed, "You know who or what I am and that I cannot be with anybody else but my mates unless they say otherwise so you need to give upon me unless Naruto says otherwise of course."

Zabuza looked at Naruto again but this time with a pleading expression. Naruto scratched the back of his head and said uncertainly, "I will think about it." He was rewarded by a blinding smile that was outlined by the bandages on his mouth.

XX

Zabuza helped them along with their mission and after a week, the half way done bridge was complete with the help of many clones from Naruto and Jirubi. Just as they were all getting ready to go back to their respective house, Team 7, Jirubi and Zabuza to Tazuna's house, Gato arrived with a hundred or more bandits.

"Ah, you are also here. Now I can kill you and not pay you anything, just like I had first planned." Gato said to Zabuza.

Zabuza growled at Gato but calmed down when Jirubi placed a hand on his shoulder. Jirubi looked at Kakashi and said, "Prepare Sasuke and Sakura for their first kill."

Kakashi nodded his head then looked at Naruto, "I have already killed." Naruto answered to the unasked question. Kakashi nodded his head again then turned towards Sasuke and Sakura. "Harden your mind and don't let it loosen until you have killed the number of men you want." (A/N= Didn't know anyother way to prepare them. Hehe ;D)

Sasuke and Sakura nodded their head determined but Sakura looked a bit green. Just as Gato signaled his bandits to attack, Kakashi also signaled his genins to attack. Naruto made about 20 clones and they all rushed to attack.

The fight didn't last for long with Naruto having the most kills. As soon as the fight finished, Sakura ran to the side of the bridge and barfed but Sasuke remained where he was, a little green in face but otherwise okay. And that was saying something, since he had killed twenty men to her five. Naruto on the other hand, who had killed the rest of the bandits, remained unchanged. He just walked towards Jirubi and stood at his side.

Jirubi then let go of Zabuza and pointed towards Gato. Zabuza grinned then ran at full speed and cut Gato's head with a sweep of his sword. Jirubi then stretched his hands towards the pile of bodies and black fire consumed them, leaving nothing but a pile of ashes in their wake. And a random wind cleaned them away.

They then headed back to the village as if nothing had happened.