Ch. 6
Hano decided that she will still be a shinobi and perhaps someone that Zenji needs. The whole house surprised she arose with such spirits. She soon left to the Mizukage to receive a mission and make up for her previous loses.
Zenji sat at the field looking out to sea. Little did he know two genins were spying on him. Hoping to test their new skills on some one. It daunted him to think that he could not hear the mist ninja's footsteps. He needed a new jutsu to detect people. Not just mist but all ninjas. He needed something common that everyone or allot haves that creates a sound but what. Zenji thought back when Hano cried on him. He was trying to think of a way to but her incessant crying lead his thoughts astray. Until when she stopped and he could their heartbeats almost completely rhythmnatic to one another. That was it he found it. Everyone has heartbeats and cannot hide it but it would take hard focusing to try and listen in on a person's heart in the midst of battle. It was the only answer. Beyond Zenji's knowledge a cloud of mist had gathered and surrounded him and a small area around him. The genins had started their attacks. One had made the mist for his comrade while he sneak in with a water clone to attack. They got into place. Both of them on one side of Zenji the un expecting outsider. Zenji thought it was a good time to try his new justsu. He listened in. He only could hear the wind blow the grass and the sea hitting the shore. He concentrated harder like his second mother taught him to do. By focusing a steady amount of chakra in the ear it will amplify his hearing. He hear two beats close. One was his own the other was the attacker's racing just before the attack. The grass sways as he jumps for Zenji. Zenji catches him on time but finds that he was just a clone and the other jumped as Zenji dropped his guard. The other watched intently hoping his friend would succeed. Inside the mist the genin had struck Zenji in his back. His Kunai in Zenji's spine. Zenji grunted then turned into water shocking the attacker. The mist cleared and he saw that the outsider made a water clone himself but how did he know how to make one. Zenji watched from a far at his confused attacker. When he touched the clone an almost surge of knowledge entered him as usual when he experience a jutsu. He had understand it and luckily was able to use it. It was not a skill but something that came natural to him he could not explain it nor did he let it bother him. The attacker was confused until his partner called out to him.
"Hey Kone-san what happen." he said jumping from his hiding spot in the tree.
"I don't know Zay but" before he could finish a second voice came out from behind him.
"get away from him Kone-san he is a fake" An exact duplicate of his friend. Kone suddenly was spooked and did not know which to trust. He began to back away from them. The he began to feel strange his body felt numb. His legs gave out and he fell to his knees. Hey say his legs began to melt and screamed. Outside of the mist the real Zay waited until he heard the screams. He let the mist fade away and saw his partner and the ground in a fetal position. Zenji continued to hide from the two. Though they were weak he did not want a fight plus the new jutsu had helped but they were only genins. Not experts like Brone and perhaps Hano.
Hano was welcomed by the Mizukage and Brone. They sat behind a small table with different color scrolls near them. Their expression weren't so welcoming.
"Hano you have failed the last missions and lost many of our comrades. One more failure and that would be it for you." said the old Kage. Brone hesitantly nodded in agreement.
"I know sir but I will not fail this time." She said passionately. The Kage smiled then nodded.
"Early this morning two genins were assaulted by a outsider and we need you to bring him in for questioning hurry. The reports say he still is near the ports of Kunai now go." he said. Hano nodded then left. She rushed to the ports with great haste. One man pointed her to the fields near by. he claimed to have seen everything and gave Hano a description but did not listen to what else he had to say. Eager to complete such an easy mission to gain the Kage's trust back she did not want to waste time. The description did bother her. It sounded familiar but before she can think anymore she was here and he was too. The wind blew hard as his dark cloak rustled in the wind. Hano got closer and realized it was him Zenji.
Hano did not want to attack Zenji because it seems rude to her. He had just helped her and now she had to bring him in. She could not let him go for it would be the end for her. It was troubling. She decided to ask if he really did it but an unexpected guest arrived. Zay had come back to see the end of their attackers.
"Hano-chan please avenge him. They say he might not awake because of trauma." he pleaded with Hano to kill him But Hano had planned to let him go this was not good. She could get rid of Zay but that would turn her into a traitor and she would have to leave but if she attacks Zenji he would not let her be precious to him. She then remembered her rededicating to be a shinobi first and decided to finish the mission. Plus she those not have to attack if he goes willingly. First she covers the field in a thicker mist then before. Zenji was not surprised they had sent a person this quickly. He had wished he could try his knew jutsu. He listened in closely. First the waves then the grass but then a weak rhythm thirty yards away. it seems whoever it was is not ready. Zenji thought he was safe until a voice spooked him.
"Zenji" Hano said with a tone. The voice had spooked him so that he threw a punch. His left fist swung to hit Hano's face but she caught it. Hano sadden as she tightly gripped his fist. This was not good his back was turned to a well trained enemy. The mist faded and the two saw each other's face. Hano clench Ice Fang then hesitantly attacked. Zenji caught the slow moving sword with his free hand. Zay was surprised that Hano herself failed to kill him. Blood trickle from Zenji's hand as the blade barely grazed his hand. Hano thought it was strange that he caught it instead of avoiding it as most medical ninjas do. She hesitated Zenji thought to himself. She is not trying then why?
"You are not trying. Is this not your mission to take me?" he said. Hano was surprised but he was right. But how could she hurt him. She wondered if it was the same for him. Why does it feel this bad she thought. Zenji then kicked her in the abdomen taking her air and causing her to hunch down. Her grip on Ice Fag loosen and Zenji threw it away then planned on lifting his heel over his head and dropping it full force onto her body. Hano was surprised that he did it but wasn't sure as he got into position if he would do it. She was wrong. as it came down she blacked out and felt her body move on it's own. When her eyes open she saw a crater under Zenji's heel where she would have been if she did not move.
"Where you going to go through with it?" she asked.
"I am a shinobi ready to defend himself to continue living tell me what are you?" he answered his eyes intensely staring at her.
"I am a shinobi a ninja from the village hidden in the mist!" she said with a stronger resolve. Then she quickly picked up her sword and got into stance.
"Your tone is annoying" Zenji teased. She charge with great passion and swung her blade left right up down. Zenji dodged most with ease but saw her swing were getting serious and retreated a way from her reach. There were many cuts on his cloak. Hano smiled. She though he did as well. Zenji ripped the cloak off and readied himself for her attack. She saw both of his hands bandaged from fist to elbow but his right hand had a strange buckled glove that look to keep his hand from bending. Hano erected her sword in the ground then quickly made hand signs. Zenji braced himself for what ever was coming. When she finished a large body of water launched from the sea at Zenji. As it came at him it formed into a dragon that intimidated him. Zenji could only cover his face with his arms as the great pressure launches him into a tree. The bark shatters from Zenji hitting the tree but surprisingly he stood. Hano guessed he was strong but to with stand that jutsu is something else. Hano then charged with her blade. Zenji quickly made his own water clones, four of them. They bombarded her with kicks and combinations but one by one she fought and took some out. One sacrificed himself to her attack to leave an opening. Zenji speed increased as he launched a final assault. Hano fell to the ground with not much strength left. She had lost to a medical ninja but she was content. The one she had fallen for would survive and is strong. Zenji reached into his pouch on his back and began to hand her a small piece of paper.
"What now Zenji" she asked looking at his hand questionably. Before he could say anything kunai's attack him. His body fell to the floor and the note flew out of his hand. Hano saw his body liquefy it was another clone. Zay jumped from hiding and went to see if Hano was okay.
"Hano-chan" he said worried. Hano picked up the paper then got up slowly. Did he already leave as they were fighting? How could his clone be so strong then? Many questions bubbled in her mind also what this note said. It was rolled up and tied with a small red wire. As she read it she smiled. She had to show this note to the Mizukage and Brone.
"Come you and me need to see the Mizukage." she said angry at the small genin. They showed the note to the Mizukage. He read it then laughed.
"This boy is something else and you said you know him?" said the Kage enjoying the story.
"yes" she nodded "he is just a medical ninja and did not...would not start a fight. He is Zenji medical ninja for hire."
"It was him then..." said Brone finally realizing it was Zenji. "Yes Kage he is just a medical ninja and would not start anything. I was the one that brought him for Hano"
"Ahh yes well then with this I would have to drop the mission" Hano smiled relieved at the satisfied expression on his face. The kage looked at the note again then his expression changed and Hano felt uneasy.