Dance of the Kitsune
Chapter 06: Tree Walking
Hayate slowly woke up to find Naruto passed out across the floor to his left, Shino leaning against the wall – asleep? – to his right, and Hinata quickly hovering over him for a moment.
"Hinata?" Hayate said in confusion.
"Yes Hayate-sensei? W-we thought, we t-thought…" She sniffed, alerting her teammates, as they swiftly woke up, to have Naruto land beside him and Shino stand on his other side, before kneeling down as well.
Hayate winced, and assured them he was alright. Rather contradicted by his body a moment later by coughing up a bit of blood again. "Really, I'm alright. The main question now is; do you still wish to complete this mission? It is now clear it is above our level, but I trust in your decisions. In the life of a shinobi, this is a rather normal situation. I just wish it wasn't your first C-rank mission that turned out more dangerous."
Here he paused for another round of coughing, no blood this time at least, before continuing. "You deserve to know who Zabuza is before making your decision. Zabuza was once known as the Demon Zabuza, for his bloodthirsty ways. As a genin, the Mist village had a different graduation test than Konoha has ever wanted to think of. A melee free-for-all of the genin hopefuls – to the death. He hadn't even qualified for the genin exam, but he butchered over one-hundred members of that years graduating test. It's bad enough when they set friend against friend in a fight to the death for graduation, but his year… That's the reason you sometimes hear the Mist village called as the 'Bloody Mist' village."
Here he again paused to let it all sink in, watching Naruto shake slightly, Shino flinched during parts of the explanation, and Hinata was pale as a ghost. "He is also known as one of the 'Seven Swordsmen of the Mist'. At one point, all seven were from that village, but for one reason or another, all left or were killed. No-one now knows who the seven swordsmen are anymore, but they could be from any country, or missing-nin, despite the name having stuck. I know before Zabuza left the village he was ANBU classed. I know only of one other of the original seven, named Kisame, but that's all anyone knows."
There were long moments of silence while everyone absorbed the new information, before Naruto looked from Hinata to Shino and got nods from each. "I'd be lying if I said the thought of leaving never crossed my mind, but we have to help."
"B-by the time w-we leave and c-call for a-aid, e-everyone in town could be k-k-killed. Tazuna would be k-killed, and its likely Zabuza would get a-away." Hinata bravely added.
"While I admit the most logical plan would be to retreat, I need to agree more with my teammates. As ninja, we must not run." Shino calmly added in.
Hayate sighed loudly for a moment before granting them a smile. "Alright. I'm proud of you. It will take Zabuza some time to recover if he really was rescued like I thought by that hunter-nin. It will also take me another day or two at least."
"You mean he's still alive?!" Naruto yelped.
"Yes Naruto, I'm certain he is. No hunter-nin would have bothered to remove the body, they'd have disposed of it right there. A hunter-nin's job is a gruesome thing. Their job is to literally find and dispose of dead ninja from their own village, and to hunt down and kill missing-nin from their village as well. The reason? Ninja bodies tell too many tales to those experienced enough to look for them. Bloodlines could be exposed and copied, ninjutsu stolen from a corpse… That's why such a job is needed. It's also how ninja leave the world, especially if they die outside the village." Hayate softly explained.
It would have been hard to miss all three of his students swallowing thickly, but they stood strong, and Hayate was proud of them. "Now, as for your training. You've all mastered the spinning leaf, correct?" Hayate waited for the nods before continuing. They could all spin at least ten leaves together on one hand by that point. "I wish I could demonstrate this technique, but you may start it on your own. Once you master it, come back for the second portion of the exercise. What you need to do is gather you chakra into your feet. Not too much, or you'll blow off, and not too little or you won't stick. Then you walk up a tree. You'll know you've mastered the ability when you can practice your kenjutsu, taijustu or ninjutsu without worry."
The hunter-nin kneeled down beside Zabuza, his sword pinned into the ground on his other side. Laying down a roll of cloth beside him, the hunter-nin unrolled it to reveal an odd assortment of tools. Picking out what seemed to be oversized, sharp tweezers, he slowly began to lean towards the corpse. "First, I'll remove the wrappings around the mouth so the blood can drain out, and then…" He was heard mumbling to himself.
The morbid tranquility of the scene was broken when the 'corpse' caught the hunter's arm in one of his hands, and pulled down the bandages with the other. "Enough. I can do it myself." Zabuza rasped.
"Awake already? I'm sorry Zabusa-san, but you have to allow me to help you, otherwise, you may actually kill yourself." The hunter softly requested.
Zabuza grunted, but let him get to work. As gently as possible, he removed the two senbon needles, and swiftly heeled the injuries as best he could.
"How long are you going to keep that ghoulish mask on?" Zabuza questioned coldly, as he slowly sat up.
The hunter just laughed. "Old habits die hard, I suppose. That and it was necessary to your retrieval." The hunter reached up to calmly pull his mask off, revealing a very feminine face. "They'd have killed you, had I not intervened…" Now that you could clearly see the young hunter's face, you could see the quick flash of worry as he said this.
"You needn't target the vulnerable areas in the neck just to put me into a deathlike trance… Any number of other areas on my body would have done just as well!" Zabuza complained, "But you are such a sadistic little brat…"
The hunter actually smiled, as if this were a great compliment and laughed, "Exactly!"
An unreadable look crossed Zabuza's face as he looked at the hunter. "I didn't want to mar your perfect body, Zabuza-san. And besides, the neck is so much less muscular than the rest of the body… I can more precisely target the points… that will leave an ordinary target paralyzed and apparently dead for a full week. But of course, you will recover much more quickly than the average person, correct?" the hunter smiled serenely.
"…you are still so innocent… No doubt, it's why I like you." Zabuza chucked, turning to look at the hunter.
"Well, I like you too, Zabuza-san." The hunter giggled, looking around at the clearing they were in. "The mist has lifted without us even noticing. Will you be all right, next time you meet them?"
"Yes. Though the swordsman was good. I may have been the weakest of the original seven swordsmen, but he almost held his own against me."
"Remember when you're training. You were able to save me from a dangerous situation. You are ready for the life of a ninja. After you eat something, head outside for training. If you can, practice your katas while your walking on trees once you get good enough, I want you two to practice your taijutsu at that stage. When you've got it, come back in here, alright?" Hayate finished.
"Sounds like fun!" Naruto laughed.
"It won't be fun for you." A little kid sneered. He wore a striped hat, overalls and big, clunky sandals.
"Inari! Greet our guests properly! They're the ninja who escorted your grandfather home and have accepted the mission to protect him from Gato!" Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami , demanded her son.
"Why? They're all gonna die anyway. No one can beat Gato and his men." Inari said coldly.
Inari's family looked more than vaguely upset over Inari's attitude, Hayate and Shino were giving him considering looks, Hinata gaped at him and Naruto growled. "Listen here, you little brat! I'm gonna be the Hokage someday, meaning at the very least, I'm a hero-in-training! We're not gonna loose to this rich bastard and his hired goons!"
Inari just snorted. "Hero? You're dumb. One can't be a hero unless you die. Otherwise, there's no such thing!"
Naruto just growled even deeper. He was getting really pissed off at this kid's high-and-mighty act.
"If you don't wanna die, go home now…" Inari sneered again, as he turned and headed upstairs. "I'm going to my room grandpa."
Naruto sprung to his feet. "Naruto, wait a moment." Hayate tried.
"Not now Hayate-sensei. The little brat and I need to have a little talk!" Naruto snarled, storming upstairs.
He paused before opening Inari's door, however, hearing crying inside. Naruto paused for a moment, before knocking lightly and stepping in.
"What're you in here for?!" Inari snarled.
"Listen kid… I dunno what's got you so upset, but maybe talking about it will help. The way you're treating your family… you're hurting them. Bad." Naruto sighed.
"What would you know?" Inari continued. However, Naruto did seem to have gotten his attention.
"I know what it's like to be hated by an entire village. I know crushing sadness the likes of which you will never know. I never knew a family, but I think I've got a few friends now who might suffice. I've been kicked in the dirt too many times to count, and I know the best revenge you can have is to just get back up again." Naruto quietly countered, growing misty-eyed by the end.
Inari hesitated for a moment, before nodding. "I'll think about it." He nearly whispered.
"Good enough." Naruto promised, blinking his eyes clear as he turned and left the room.
A woman with short purple hair, a mesh shirt, black short skirt and a tan trench coat wandered into the bar most jonin frequent. Finding herself a seat, she made her way over to drop in beside Kotetsu.
"Hiyas Anko! What brings you out here?" Kotetsu laughed. She didn't usually bring herself to socialize for anything less than an emergency, or some really good piece of news.
"Somthin' I thought you guys'd really like to know!" Anko laughed, catching Izumo, Kotetsu, and Kurenai's attention.
"And that would be?" Kurenai questioned curiously.
"Guess who's team was sent on a C-class mission of the rookie teams!" Anko laughed.
"Let me guess. Kakashi's, because of the damn Uchiha brat?" Kotetsu sneered.
"Nope! Though that was my guess too!" Anko sang.
"It couldn't have been Asuma's, I just saw him at lunch, unless his team hasn't left yet…" Kurenai mused.
"Lunch, huh? That wouldn't have been a date, now would it?" Anko smirked.
As Kurenai choked on her drink and spluttered incoherently, the other three members of the table burst up laughing. Once she could breathe again, Kurenai scowled at Anko. "You know perfectly well he and I are just friends!"
Anko smirked wildly and teased, "Of course my love! I knew you'd never cheat on me!" As Kurenai gaped at her, Anko surged in and snagged a kiss from her old friend. Quickly pulling back, she ducked the slaps that Kurenai was sending at her with practiced ease.
Kotetsu and Izumo were watching the familiar spectacle with supreme amusement. Such a sight wasn't exactly rare, but it was amusing nevertheless. "If you two are done with your little lover's quarrel," Kotetsu laughed, dodging the slap aimed for him, "What team was it Anko?"
Anko, still giggling madly, laughed, "Hayate's team! They've been flying through D-class missions! They've already completed more than some of last year's teams!"
The whole table burst into laughs. "Score Hayate! For once he gets something to wave in people's faces!" Izumo laughed.
"He already has Yugao as a girlfriend; I'd say that's worth waving proudly!" Kotetsu chuckled.
"She's ANBU, not too many people are allowed to know about her personal life." Anko reminded them.
All four at that table discussed Hayate and his team, and started making bets against each other, as to whether he'd nominate his team for the chuunin exam when it came up.
After eating, Hayate asked if they were ready to go train without him. Getting affirmative answers, he nodded, and turned as Inari walked down the stairs. The young boy turned to look over all the ninjas, without glaring this time, and continued to the table. Hayate smiled, proud of his student, and looked to the other two. They all have their strengths… He just had to find out how to help the other two to the best of his ability.
Heading out into the woods near Tazuna's,the three genin each picked a tree. "Hinata, your chakra control is the best of the three of us. If you get it first, as I'm sure you will, will you aid us?" Shino questioned.
Hinata squeaked, but nodded.
As they got to work, their reactions greatly differed. Naruto nearly blew a hole in the tree, Shino couldn't stick to it, and Hinata actually got a few feet up before she squeaked and started to fall. Naruto instantly leapt beneath her to catch her before she hit the ground.
"How about we help Hinata from the ground, and then she helps myself, and then the two of us aid you Naruto?" Shino questioned.
Naruto grinned. "I'll catch you if you fall, ok Hinata!" Naruto looked at Hinata curiously as she turned bright red and nodded.
Naruto stepped back to watch and make sure that if she was unable to land correctly that he could catch her. Shino too, stood to the other side. Both paid rapt attention to what the blushing Hyuuga did with her chakra as best they could.
When she was able to walk up and down the tree a few times, they moved so that Hinata and Naruto were flanking Shino as Hinata shyly explained as best she could. She soon activated her byakugan like she did when watching herself walk to try and see what Shino was doing wrong. Once they got the amount of chakra worked out, Shino tried to walk up the tree.
For about an hour, Shino practiced, as Hinata turned to explain to Naruto near the end. Once Shino came down, she tried to help Naruto to regulate how much chakra he was using. Once he got the hang of it and practiced for an hour, he came back down to the ground for a small break. They then decided to see who could get the highest on their respective trees before practicing their fighting styles.
Trudging back to Tazuna's as the sun set, the three collapsed before the startled Hayate. "What happened to you three?"
"Naruto." Two of the three chorused, the third laughing weakly.
"What happened?" Hayate questioned worriedly.
"W-well, N-Naruto-kun's chakra is m-more potent than n-normal, a-and he t-tended to blow holes in the t-tree than climb at f-first." Hinata stammered, blushing.
"When I got the hang of the basics, we put all our energy to getting Naruto onto the tree." Shino calmly continued.
"And once I got it, we all tried to beat each other by trying to see how high we could go before trying to fight in our own trees." Naruto finished with a sheepish laugh. "Hinata won by getting as high as the tree could support her."
Hayate chuckled softly. "Not bad. Tomorrow continue to fight upon the tree. Try and stay up there as long as you can without getting out of the tree. Then get higher again, and of course, practice coming back down. Then work on staying on through training and such, after which I'll teach you the second stage. I don't think we'll have time for the third."
"Aside from the obvious, why this? Why not teach us some cool jutus!" Naruto whined.
Hayate laughed. "These exercises are to increase chakra control and the amount of chakra available. It could eventually mean the difference between a spark and a fireball. Alright?"
"Alright! Thanks for explaining, sensei!" Naruto grinned.
"No problem Naruto. Now, I want you all to stay alert, alright? It's likely we have a week before Zabuza returns, but that doesn't mean someone else won't come after us. I can be out to supervise you all tomorrow. For tonight, get some sleep. Stage two is the part I really want you to learn while we're out here." Hayate yawned, sliding back under the covers on his makeshift futon.
The others had been given pillows and blankets and told to pick a spot by the laughing Tazuna. Hinata chose to sleep down on the area nearer the door so she was out of sight, Shino took near the stairs leading up, and Naruto looked around for a moment uncertainly. He finally chose to set up camp below the window that was behind where Hayate slept. Partly in a vain hope to protect someone who's become nearly as precious to him as Iruka, partly because he was worried about him. He was clearly unwell, and hiding just how unwell he was.
A young, rather effeminate boy, in the same clothes as the hunter-nin, minus the mask, sat in a chair by Zabuza's bedside and loyally watched the slight rise and fall of his chest to assure he kept breathing. A pointless fear, as the only thing truly wrong with Zabuza at the moment was exhaustion. Nevertheless, he continued his silent vigil, watching over Zabuza and keeping his senses alert for any danger.
Hearing the door creak open and footsteps following in, the boy looked up to witness a man painted up slightly similar to a clown and a man with many scars and tattoos, both clearly samurai, walk in to flank a short man with scruffy yellow-grey hair, small round black sunglasses, and a suit, a few feet in from the door.
"I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face around here after taking a beating like that. Ninja from the Land of the Mist would appear to be vastly overrated. You can't even clean up for your miserable subordinates. 'Demon' my ass! Don't make me laugh!" The suited man snorted, walking a few steps closer to the duo near the bed.
As Zabuza's eyes opened, the two samurai swiftly stood between the businessman and the exhausted Zabuza. Just as they began to ready their swords, the businessman stepped forwards with a comment of, "Wait a minute, you two…" and walked forwards to stand beside the boy, right near Zabuza's head. "So… nothing to say for yourself? No last words?" He sneered, reaching for the bandages over the lower half of Zabuza's face and neck.
Only a few inches before reaching his goal, his wrist was grabbed in an iron-like grip, held onto by the young boy, hard enough to hear the bones grinding. "Don't defile Lord Zabuza with your touch." The boy snarled, a vicious glare upon his face as he eyed the businessman.
"How dare you?" The man shrieked, as the samurai started to draw their swords to remove the boy. As the samurai stepped forewords, they were stunned to realize each others swords were held to their own throats, by the young boy with his arms crossed and a sword in each hand.
As the businessman and the samurai started to sweat, easily realizing they were outclassed, the man started to back away rapidly. "Th-there had better not be any more mistakes. I-if you fail again, don't think you can come back here!"
The boy languidly threw the swords to the side, near the door as the three quickly left. As he retook his seat by Zabuza's bedside, Zabuza relaxed the grip he had on his kunai beneath the blankets. "Haku… there was no need for you to…"
Haku dipped his head in a light bow. "I know… But it's still too soon to finish Gato off. If we cause a commotion where we are, we might find ourselves on the run from them again. For now, let's be patient." Haku smiled.
Hayate looked around the construction occurring on the bridge in slight interest as he kept himself alert for any signs of danger.
"Tazuna, can I talk to you?" One of the workers questioned. Hayate turned his attention to listening in.
"Huh? What's wrong Gi'ichi?" Tazuna asked.
"I've been thinking it over… this bridge we're working on… I want off the job!" Gi'ichi cried.
"Wh-why?!" Tazuna yelped, looking at him shocked. "Out of nowhere like this… you, of all people!!"
"Tazuna, we go back a long way. I want to help you, but we can't take this risk. Gato will take out a contract on us if we don't stop! And if you die, it won't be just this one project. We could all lose everything! Please, just give it up…" Gi'ichi pleaded. "The bridge isn't worth it."
"I can't do that…" Tazuna sighed. "This bridge belongs to us all. It's everything we've been working toward, for our entire city. When it's finished, it will bring trade and commerce and affluence to us, and put our poor, little land of the waves on the map!"
"But we're talking about lives here. Your life!" Gi'ichi nearly yelled.
"It's afternoon now already, isn't it? Let's call it a day." Tazuna sighed, turning and walking away. He paused to look over his shoulder to proclaim, "Gi'ichi… You don't have to come back."
Hayate turned and calmly followed after Tazuna, though he spared a worried look back for Gi'ichi. Turning forwards once more, he idly wondered how his students were doing after half demanding he let them train in peace so he could guard Tazuna. He got the feeling they were bound and determined to destroy whatever expectations he had for them. He had a feeling they'd manage too.
Hayate walked into the woods and followed the sounds of impacts, cries, yelps and weapons impacting the trees. He walked into the clearing and looked around in confusion for a second, before looking up in shock. 'They've already mastered this stage…'
He continued to watch the three-way spar upon the trees in mute shock. Watching as Hinata lost her footing and twisted to spring from one tree to another before leaping up to rejoin the spar, Hayate couldn't help but grin.
He waited for a small lull in the fight to call out, "Alright you three, come on down!"
Waiting until they were all on the ground, sweating, panting, and smiling, Hayate grinned. "I'm very proud of all three of you. That usually takes far longer than two days to master the technique enough to spar with." He gave them a moment to soak up the praise and to recover, before turning and calling, "Now I'll show you the second part of the exercise, and where you're to practice it. After that, you're done for the day."
He led the exhausted genin to another nearby area in the forest with a small, calm area of water that connected out to the ocean further away. Once the genin were sitting or standing comfortably, Hayate started to explain. "Water-walking is the second stage of the trio of skills to channel and control chakra…"
As Hayate explained, and the genin picked up as much of it as they could, he felt even more proud of them. 'By the time these kids get older, they may be the best shinobi in the village.'
Once the explanation was complete, and all questions were answered, Hayate headed over to the water to demonstrate what Zabuza had done earlier – walk on water.
Once he was sure they understood, and could thus learn in their own time if it came to that, they headed back to Tazuna's. "Remember, if you decide to walk away from this mission, all you need do is tell me. I will think no less of you." As his genin all gave him their own variations of the 'who, me?' look, Hayate sighed. 'This could get pretty bad, but… I think it'll turn out alright.'