Hello! Here is the new chapter of Echoes. Be wary, the mist swordsmen in it are armed and dangerous!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Special thanks to Alpha142, for correcting my work, and to all the people that follow, review, and like this story.


Since I've got complains about confusion between characters, I'm now using their aliases to design them.

Traveler/Original Naruto: Kazama Arashi.

Female Naruto: Naruko Arashi.

Puppeteer Naruto: Chibaku Arashi.

Werefox Naruto: Kitsune Arashi.

Deceiver/Original Madara: Tsukiyomi.

Destroyer/Rinnegan Madara: Susanoo.

Warrior/Collector Madara: Amaterasu.


Chapter Seven: Brutal Reunions

Kakashi Hatake wasn't a happy jounin.

First of all, he had gotten the worst team ever.

The last Uchiha, his sensei's son, and the Kyuubi's vessel. The first was acting like Kakashi himself at the same age: by being a total, self-centered asshole, that needed to be handled with care. The second was a carbon copy of the Yondaime, in body and mind. He couldn't stop himself from seeing the boy as his old teacher, nor stop remembering the day of his death.

Finally, there was Sakura Haruno… her class' dead last, clown, and most unsettling student ever. While Kakashi was aware that the Kyuubi wasn't controlling her, no matter what the Village was saying, he still knew she was dangerous… but mainly, her constant creepy smile was beginning to annoy him.

Secondly, Kakashi was in a very bad situation.

Years of working as ninja had immediately made the jounin notice Tazuna's lies. Despite his official story, the bridge-builder was obviously fearing an attack. And the awaited ambush finally came… in the form of two chuunin, the Demon Brothers, a duo of small fries he had quickly defeated.

After requiring an explanation from Tazuna, who had explained them the situation in the Land of Waves, Kakashi had thought about coming back to Konoha, to protect his students. However, the rest of Team 7 had decided to continue the mission: Sasuke, to prove his worth, Naruto, to help the citizens of Waves, and Sakura, because she didn't want to hinder her teammates. They had convinced him to finish the mission… and now he was regretting his decision.

While the Demon brothers were small fries, Zabuza Momochi and Kisame Hoshigake were two of the deadliest ninjas Kiri had ever produced. And, they were Suiton specialist, and near a lake. And Kakashi's backup was a team of three genin.

Yeah, the situation was bad.

"Hello, copycat Kakashi," the demon of the Mist declared. "Honored to meet you. Give us the bridge builder, and we will leave you and your brats alive… we have orders, you see."

Kakashi scowled. "Two famous ninjas like you, working for someone like Gato? I would have never expected that from you. Let me guess, you're trying to gather funds for another coup?"

"Of course," Kisame smirked. "That, and it gives us the opportunity to fight powerful opponents like yourself. But we are open to diplomacy…"

"Like we're going to let you touch Tazuna-san!" Naruto snarled.

Kisame chuckled. "You know little boy, it's impolite to interrupt a conversation between adults. They could take it badly." His hold on Samehada tightened.

Zabuza snorted. "Especially when you haven't killed anyone, unlike us. Yeah, I know from your stance that you're just a bunch of fresh meat, clean and ready to be eaten."

Kakashi frowned. "As soon as I create an opening, take Tazuna with you and flee," he ordered his genin. "They are way out of your league."

"And you, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, eying him, like Sasuke and Sakura.

He smiled. "Don't worry, everything will be fine," he lied, taking a battle stance, ready to reveal his Sharingan. "I can defeat them, but I will need some space. Kisame is known for his destructive way of fighting, and I don't want you nearby."

Zabuza laughed. "What, are they too weak to fight? They shouldn't be ninjas if they aren't ready to risk their life and go for the kill."

The trio stiffened, and especially Sasuke.

"Oh, I hit a sensitive point?" the swordsman asked. "You are just fresh meat, aren't you? Clean, untainted by blood… and weak. At your age, we already had blood on our hands."

"You talk too much, Zabuza," Kisame said. "We should attack them now, instead of talking about the past."

Zabuza seemed to smirk. "Well, you're right. Hidden Mist Jut-"

Kakashi blinked. Kisame blinked. Everyone blinked, as a long sword almost impaled the swordsman, in the middle of his jutsu. He barely avoided the fatal blow, which pierced the tree he was standing on, grazing the man's skin below his shoulder in the process, before retracting behind the fences.

At the same time, someone threw a kunai at Kisame's head. While the man avoided it easily, the weapon exploded in a puff of smoke… and the treacherous ninja ended up getting clawed in the face by an orange creature.

What the fuck is that? Kakashi wondered as he saw Zabuza leaping to the ground, Kisame flying onto the lake, and a blonde teenager wearing an orange cape coming out from the fences and attacking the demon of the Mist with… the Rasengan?

"Yes! Blood, sweet, red nectar… we want to taste it! More screams! More pain!" the… orange creature roared, before staring at Team 7. It looked like a monstrous mix between a fox and a man. "New preys, awaiting death. And we want them to die…"

"No!" a bandaged blonde girl shouted as she emerged from the fences and put herself between the fox and Kakashi's group, who was watching the situation without really understanding what was happening. "They are the client's bodyguards! They are the team that Konoha has sent to protect the bridge-builder! They are our allies! The enemies are the swordsmen!"

"Yes… they have the same blades as that Amaterasu bastard…" the creature muttered. "We will take out our nerves on them, and wear their heads as trophies..."

"Good," the blonde girl replied, before staring at Kakashi's team, especially at the bridge builder. "Tazuna-san, I presume?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Your daughter, Tsunami, has enlisted us to protect you," she declared, smiling. "We are the Arashi family, at your service! Pleased to meet you all!"

The Arashi family? Never heard of them, Kakashi though. However, they do seem to have huge reserves of chakra… on par with Sakura, which is disturbing. Kids of their age shouldn't have as much chakra as the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. "Who are you exactly?"

"Mercenaries," the blonde girl said. "We are here to protect Tazuna-san. I'm Akane, he's Kazama-nii-chan," she said as she pointed to the teenager fighting Zabuza with her finger, "and the big fox is my brother Kitsune. Forgive his attitude, he's rather excited when a battle begins. We're to help you."

"How can you prove it?" Naruto asked. "It's strange, you come at the perfect time, at the perfect place…"

She scowled. "If you aren't happy, we can leave you to die against two dangerous missing-nin each as strong as your sensei."

"Well, it would be a shame," Kakashi said, as the introduced Kazama parried Zabuza's blade with his own. The jounin vaguely found it familiar, but he quickly looked sideways at the lake when he sensed a huge pulse of chakra nearby. "Since you seem wounded, can you take my genin away? I have the feeling Kisame hasn't loved your entry."

And effectively, dozens of blue sharks of chakra emerged from the water, flying into the air, and began to fall toward the ground. Revealing his Sharingan, much to his team's surprise, Kakashi made a few hand-seals, before breathing a stream of fireballs, which collided with the shark-missiles. The resulting explosions illuminated the sky.

"I ordered you to leave," the jounin said. "I need space, and you're occupying it."

He didn't have to repeat himself. Naruto nodded, and touched Tazuna's shoulder. "Let's go, mister."

The bridge builder nodded, before eying Akane. "Why not run toward my house?"

"Excellent idea," she said, as she took him through the forest nearby, the rest of team 7 after her. Sakura briefly looked at her sensei before leaving. "Good luck, sensei."

"Yeah, please don't die!" Naruto shouted as he fled too.

The man smirked. "I don't intend too!" Then, he locked eyes with the… man-fox. "Why not gang-up on Kisame? Of the two, he's the strongest."

"Yes," the creature whispered. "This battle will make us happy…"

Damn, he's more creepy than Gai! Kakashi thought, as the lake's water transformed into a tsunami, advancing toward them, Kisame surfing atop it. But if he's as strong as my 'esteemed rival', then I won't bother telling him that out loud.


Kazama (the original)

Kazama, acting quickly, jumped on the top of a nearest tree, avoiding the wave created by Kisame. Zabuza followed him and tried to behead him with his sword. Bowing slightly, the vessel saved his life, and then tried to ram a Rasengan into the man's chest, who backed down and landed gracefully on the lake's water, which was now covering a large part of the area.

"Who the fuck are you?" the swordsman snarled as he finished a hand-seal sequence. "Water Dragon."

A snake of liquid formed from the lake and attacked Kazama. Forming ten clones, the teenager switched places with one of them, leaving him to be crushed while the rest attacked Zabuza hand-to-hand. The man destroyed six of them with a blindingly fast swing of his massive blade. However, he didn't regain his equilibrium before the survivors' feet and fists connected with his body, sending him flying backward.

"Kazama Arashi," they all said. "Nice to meet you."

"Never heard of you. You aren't in my Bingo Book," Zabuza stated, as he landed on his legs, glaring furiously at the four teens before him. "If you want to play with doubles…" he muttered as he created ten water clones. "I can play as well."

"That's good," Kazama smirked as he formed two dozen new Kage Bunshin, much to the swordsman's amazement. "But I'm better at this game than you."

The man scowled. "We shall see," he said as he charged alongside his copies, beginning a clone battle, which soon devolved into a chaotic melee. But while the ten Zabuza were outnumbered, their superior skill made them an even match to their enemies. And then…

"Hidden Mist Technique."

The water clones suddenly transformed into a thick fog, obscuring Kazama's sight. Zabuza's voice resonated in the air. "Now, let me show you the power of the Silent Killing art of Kirigakure."

One after the other, the teenager's clones were beheaded, and their memories rushed through Kazama's mind. Closing his eyes, taking a kunai in his right hand, the young vessel concentrated. Noticing the slight sound of rippling water behind him, he avoided Zabuza's surprise attack, and tried to stab the man, but failed. An instant later, a chuckle reached his ears.

"If your superior address and survival instincts are of any indication, I assume you are the original, am I wrong? I will keep you for the end."

Inwardly cursing, Kazama began to work up a plan as his last clones were murdered by the man's blade. Forming ten new clones around him and ignoring the fatigue he felt, Kazama made them disperse. Now, everything is going as planned.

When Zabuza's blade came for his neck, the vessel switched places with the nearest clone, who popped into smoke. As the memories rushed through all the clones, they received the location where he had been killed, and in which direction Zabuza was advancing. Converging toward it, the clones circled the man and attacked him with their kunai.

The swordsman continued his charge, leaped back to avoid four stabs… and got two in the back. Growling, the demon of the Mist swung his blade, dissipating the clones, before fleeing. Opening his eyes, Kazama followed the slight trace left by the man's dropping blood, emerging from the fog in the process. The vessel, upon noticing a fleeing Zabuza, threw a kunai at his legs, to prevent him from escaping.

The water clone exploded.

Recognizing the trick, Kazama moved to the side, avoiding the swordsman's water prison jutsu, much to its user's displeasure. "What the hell?" he asked. "Do you have eyes in the back of your skull?" He attacked with his sword again, but Kazama jumped, avoiding the attack, and kicked him in the face, making the swordsman loose his balance.

"Maybe I do," the vessel smirked.

"What have you done to me?" Zabuza asked. "I'm not as fast as normal, I feel sick and weak, and I've missed your neck too many times. That's the blade isn't it? You poisoned it!"

"Yes," the world-traveler answered. The poison on the Kusanagi was an invention of Sasori. The poison wasn't lethal (at least if the victim wasn't physically sick), but the toxin slowly paralyzed the muscles and slowed down the organs' functioning, progressively weakening the opponent. The puppeteer had tried to convince Naruto to make it more potent, but he had refused. The use of his blade was too hazardous in battle for now. What if he cut himself, or a friend, accidentally?

It's easier than I thought. Of course, the fact that I took him by surprise certainly help, Kazama wondered as he continued to attack a dizzy Zabuza with kicks and punches, even if his opponent parried most of his blows. And I have recuperated from my injuries, thanks to my puppeteer-self's help. AND, I know ALL his tricks.

But then…

The water's level rose suddenly, and the lake swallowed Kazama and Zabuza both, like a hungry ogre. As Kazama struggled to keep his breath, his enemy disappeared within abyssal darkness. Swimming toward the surface, the vessel emerged, standing up upon the water.

And saw the forest… from the sky.

The lake had been transformed into a large sphere of turbulent water, of the size of a mountain. The vessel couldn't see anything within it, only a deep blackness.

And two pair of hands reaching his ankles.

An instant later, Kazama was pulled inside the sphere.

Zabuza's uncovered face smirked at him, grinning.


Kitsune (the werefox)

The world was black, and Kitsune couldn't see. The swordsman had used some kind of technique to transform his surroundings into the realm of the abysses.

Well, it wasn't exact. While his eyes were blind, he wasn't helpless. He could sense the chakra, movement, and the sounds coming from the swimmers. The voices were whispering to him, helping him, guiding him.

The dark will always show us the way.

We weren't born in the darkness.

We are the darkness.

A hybrid creature, looking like a fusion between a shark and a man, swam toward him at an incredible speed, its mouth opened. Reacting quickly, the werefox twisted his body, avoiding the monster's jaws. Instead, he used the opportunity to claw through its skin. Blood mixed with the water, tainting it with red.

The shark-man disappeared, but his crimson trail didn't. Following it, Kitsune felt alive. His hunger had been awakened by the prospect of taking a life, of fighting for his very survival. It was his whole purpose: to hunt, or be hunted.

His mind, shrouded by an insane bloodlust, noticed the creature returning, charging once again. Kitsune did the same, and collided with his opponent, ready for a brawl. The shark-man- Kisame, he suddenly remembered- was stronger, and bit the demonic boy. The madness, stronger than pain, pushed him to try to eviscerate the monster.

The deadly embrace lasted for a time, and then they separated, as Kisame ceased his biting in favor of a punch in the ribs, pushing the werefox deeper in the abyssal darkness.

From the side, the jounin Naruto's counterpart wanted him to spare created a tornado inside of the water. The whirlpool captured Kisame and sent him away. The silver-haired man used another wind technique to propel himself through the liquid, reaching the werefox, grabbing him, and moved alongside him toward the surface.

A dozen sharks circled them, preventing them from escaping the sphere. Kitsune wasn't bothered. He could breathe in the water, the voices assured him. However, he was slower, and Kisame was faster…

As the duo began to kill the fishes with kunai and claws, the pressure suddenly increased, crushing everyone in the vicinity. As he sensed his bones cracking, the werefox tried to scream, but found that, well he couldn't. The sharks died, and Kakashi vanished into nothing. The creature recognized him as a shadow clone.

Flashes of light illuminated the darkness for a brief period, showing Kitsune a ninja creating sparks into the water, slightly burning the skin of the shark-man. The pressure returned to normal, and the werefox struggled to return to the surface.

Breathing air, standing over the sphere, the werefox sensed waves of pleasure racing through his body as a red chakra came to heal his wounds, covering his body with a crimson cloak.

We will not be defeated a second time.

No restraints anymore.

We are unstoppable.

Feeling something moving under him, Kitsune began to run on the water. Projectiles of chakra erupted from it, and the werefox tried his best to avoid them. After short seconds of such a course, one took him by surprise. He didn't avoid it, because, well, it wasn't a normal projectile. It was the jounin fighting alongside him.

They were both propelled into the air, and the shark-man emerged, jumping out of the sphere, ready to devour them. Kitsune's chakra tail acted on its own and smashed him, sending him fly to the side. Hitting the water, the shark-man regained his equilibrium and stood still, while the werefox adopted a bestial stance and Kakashi sank, unable to grab the surface to walk on it.

Roaring, Kitsune charged at his enemy at an insane speed. A second tail of chakra formed behind his back as he became faster and stronger. Grinning, the shark-man adopted a defensive posture, ready for the attack, not even trying to avoid it.

The collision's shock shook the whole sphere, making it ripple slightly. The shark-man, however, flinched a bit, but resisted the charge, grabbing the werefox with his arms and gripping him with an irresistible strength.

Kitsune didn't know how, but Kisame's skin began to absorb the red chakra like a sponge, healing its bruises and wounds in the process. In less than a few seconds, the cloak had vanished and the shark-man smirked, increasing his grasp on the werefox and breaking his bones.

"I can absorb chakra, little beast. You cannot defeat me," he opened his mouth. "Still, it was a good fight. Good jo-ARGH!"

Kisame screamed, as a ball of lightning went through his lungs, barely missing Kitsune himself. Kakashi was behind the shark-man, standing with his arm trans-piercing the man's body. The monster flailed brutally, sending the werefox and Kakashi flying away. The sphere began to twist and crumble into wild waves, as the three men fell from it.

As the sphere imploded, Kitsune crashed onto a tree, and lost consciousness.


Kazama

Using two rasengan to propel himself through the water, Kazama tried desperately to distance himself from Zabuza. The mist-nin, despite being weakened by poison, was still faster than him in the water. And he didn't know how, but he could swim with his blade in hand. Perhaps a jutsu?

Escaping from the water, on some part of the sphere's surface, Kazama stood still, observing his surroundings, awaiting the inevitable attack. He jumped to the side, avoiding a blade's swing meant to cut him in half.

Thinking of a solution, Kazama began to run on the water, as a submerged Zabuza pursued him with his blade out of the water, like a shark's aileron. Despite the vessel's best efforts, the missing-nin was closing the distance.

With the poison in his body, he most likely isn't able to change his course easily… Turning around, Kazama formed a rasengan in his right hand. As the sword approached, the vessel avoided it by moving to its left, before ramming the ball into the sword. The resulting explosion sent it flying away, and expulsed Zabuza from the water violently. The man successfully landed on his limbs, and countered with a jutsu. "Water Release: Shark Missile."

The sphere's surface transformed into many projectiles, taking the form of carnivorous fishes. They missed, however, as Kazama ran on the side, circling Zabuza and attacking on his side.

The missing-nin frowned, and engaged him in a taijutsu battle. This time, however, he parried all the blows, and returned with punches and kicks of his own. Kazama cursed as he saw each of his attacks getting countered.

"Not so easy anymore, no, mister poison?" Zabuza chuckled as he stopped Kazama's punch, before giving him a head butt in the face. "Now, I know your attack pattern," he declared as he punched him in the jaw.

The dizzied teenager regained his equilibrium, and quickly parried Zabuza's fist. However, the man then opted for a kick to the limbs, which Kazama couldn't avoid. Falling on the water, he felt Zabuza immediately kick him again with full force. "Your style is full of flaws! You're like a toad trying to stand on his legs! It's surprising at first, but once you take the time to observe it…"

He grabbed Kazama, and lifted him above his head, before facing the landscape below the sphere. "You know the eight sensible points?" he asked rhetorically. "The liver, the lungs, the spine, the clavicle vein, the jugular artery, the brain, the kidney and the heart? Well, I think they're all going to get hit once you will crash on the earth from this hei-"

Suddenly, the sphere shifted uncontrollably. The missing-nin lost his balance, and fell, releasing his grasp on Kazama at the same time. Exploiting this unexpected turn of events, Kazama created a few shadow clones. Reaching one, he used it at a platform to propel himself toward Zabuza. After repeating the same maneuver twice, he finally reached the swordsman, formed a rasengan and rammed it into the man's chest, who roared out of pain. The two landed on a remnant of the sphere, which was beginning to implode.

In less than a second later, they were propelled toward the forest, and crashed violently onto the trees.


Kakashi

Kakashi finished his jutsu. "Fire Release: the Great Fireball!"

The fire touched Kisame, burning his skin away. The monstrous shark-man roared, before returning to his original form, Samehada in hand. So he can fuse with his sword… Kakashi thought, as he copied the man's new water projectile with his Sharingan, before using it himself to counter the shark missiles, damaging the trees nearby.

They were in the forest, now looking like a bayou, flooded by water and full of mud. Kakashi had difficulty moving quickly, but his enemy was in the same situation. That, and his wounded lungs were crippling his abilities.

Kakashi didn't know how someone could survive the Chidori, but Kisame had. His fusion with Samehada was the probable cause of this, but the damage had been done, and he was breathing heavily. The jounin only had to continue to attack, until the missing-nin's wounds got the better of him. That was, if he could survive the monster's attacks.

Suddenly, two things hit a tree nearby, pulverizing it. Kisame exploited Kakashi's surprise to try to dismember him with a swing of his sword. A quick kawarimi with a nearby branch saved his life, and allowed the man to observe the two newcomers, an unconscious Zabuza and a badly wounded Kazama.

"You beat my partner?" Kisame asked. "I can't believe it!"

"I did," the blonde teenager said, as Kakashi helped him stand.

He grit his teeth. "Then I guess I will have to go all out!" He put his hands together. "Water Release: Thousand Shar-"

A breath of flames burned Kisame's back, along with a rain of kunai and shuriken, interrupting the man's attack and making him scream. A redhead teenager he had never seen and a boy in green were standing behind the missing-nin. "Sorry for the wait, mister Kakashi," he said, "but the Arashi family has come to help."

"It's over, Kisame," Kakashi said, as he prepared a new jutsu, rather happy to have more back-up.

"No… no, it's not…" the wounded man muttered… right before two needles connected with his neck. Kakashi watched the man fall, mesmerized, and two people wearing hunter-nin masks with black kimonos appeared out of nowhere. The Samehada disappeared within the water.

"Sorry to have stolen your kill," the one with white hair said. "We were tracking this one for a while."

"Thanks for having weakened him and his partner," the hunter-nin with dark hair said as he put two needles in Zabuza's neck and lifted him. "You have Kiri's gratitude."

Kakashi frowned. Taking Kisame's pulse, he found it inexistent. "He's dead."

The redhead scowled, and imitated him, before giving the corpse to the second hunter-nin. "Thank you for your help, Hunter-san."

The man with white hair bowed politely. "Goodbye." He disappeared with his partner.

Sighing, Kakashi looked at the Arashi… and fainted out of chakra depletion.


Chibaku (the puppeteer)

"So, what are you planning?" Chibaku asked his older counterpart and Sasori.

"I don't know what you're talking about," the teenager answered. He was carrying the grey-haired jounin on his back, and the puppeteer beside him was doing the same with Naruto's insane-self.

"Oh, come on!" he yelled. "You can't have been blind to that act! True hunter-nins would have destroyed Kisame and Zabuza's bodies on the spot, instead of taking them away! They're probably still alive!"

"Of course they are," Sasori stated. "I can recognize a false death when I see one."

"So you did organize this masquerade!" the blonde puppeteer shouted accusingly. His teacher had ordered him to do nothing unless he ordered to, and didn't look really surprised when Naruko had come to Tsunami's house with their hostess' father, Sasuke, Sakura and another counterpart. In fact, he seemed to expect her words about Zabuza's attack.

Of course he wasn't! His face is made of wood and he transforms people into puppets! Do you really think a surprise attack is going to faze him?

"Not really," his master replied. "We didn't expect Kisame's presence, nor the coming of a second hunter-nin, but I… improvised."

Chibaku frowned. "What do we have to gain in keeping these two alive?"

"Allies," Sasori stated. "We have good reasons to think that Gato is going to betray them, and we have a lot of funds. We can hire them, and they will be useful once our pursuers inevitably track us down."

Chibaku thought about it. It was perhaps worth a shot… "Do you really think they are a match for those three monsters?"

"If they work with us, yes," his older-self stated. "And maybe we can recruit Kakashi and his team too."

"How?" the blonde puppeteer asked. "They might be different from those we had known. Heck, if Sakura really is the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki in this reality then she certainly isn't like the one you've known!"

His counterpart smiled. "Don't worry, I will take charge of convincing them to follow us. Even if they're only slightly like my homeworld's counterparts, then I know what to say. If not… well, maybe they will hear us out anyway." He eyed Chibaku. "But as I asked Naruko, we won't reveal our true identities for a while. We are simply a clan with huge chakra reserves, and our whiskers are simply tattoos. Our werefox-self's abilities are the result of our bloodline."

"And about the Rasengan and the Kage Bunshin? Or the Kusanagi?" he asked. "If Kakashi had seen you using them…"

"I have a believable explanation," Sasori said. "The toad Sannin, Jiraiya, is our boss. He taught us a few tricks, and sent us here once he had learnt about Zabuza and Kisame's involvement. We stole Orochimaru's sword in a precedent mission, which convinced our commander we were fit for this mission."

Well… it was a good cover-up. But for how long? "And if the missing-nins aren't convinced by our propositions, and attack anyway?"

Sasori smirked. "I have taken some… precautions, when I examined Kisame."

Chibaku's eyes widened. He knew what the puppeteer had done. "You magnificent bastard!" he shouted. "You've put a seal on him!"

Sneaky and underhanded... I like that.

"Yes," he confirmed. "Naruto, remember this lesson: always be prepared for everything. Everything."


Kazama (the traveler)

"Thank you for protecting my father," Tsunami said, bowing slightly. "You have my eternal gratitude."

Kazama smiled. "It's nothing," he assured her. "We were simply doing our job."

"Even then, you risked your life for me," Tazuna declared. "Really, thank you."

Kazama was slightly uncomfortable with their thanks. While he took them as a sign of a job well done, he didn't think it was so extraordinary to risk his life for others. It was simply his way of doing things.

They had returned to Tsunami's household after their destructive battle with Zabuza and Kisame. They had badly damaged the landscape, and he doubted their presence would be kept a secret for long, but at least Tazuna was safe, like Kakashi. The jounin was currently talking with his genin team, inside of the house, and Kazama intended to speak with him. In private.

After explaining to Naruko the 'plan', Kazama had, with Sasori's help, discreetly infiltrated Kakashi's bedroom. A potent genjutsu cast by the puppeteer, followed by a Henge, allowed the vessel to hide in the room, taking the form of the wall.

Kakashi was still in bed, his Sharingan covered, which decreased his chances of discovering Kazama. His new counterpart was wearing a green outfit, composed of a shirt and pants. He looked like a younger Yondaime. Sasuke was the exact replica of the one Kazama had known, but Sakura…

Her robes were orange, and she had cut her hair to medium-length. She was skinny, pale, and had the creepiest smile imaginable. Kazama recognized that expression, this mask, which he had worn all his life: fake-happiness.

And she was the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Even if the seal was keeping the Bijuu in check, Kazama recognized its dark power in her veins. Which was strange, since he couldn't sense it in his counterparts until they used it. Was her seal weaker? Was her body too weak to hold off the demonic chakra completely? Kazama didn't know, but he hoped Kakashi would answer his question.

"What do you mean, sensei?" Naruto's normal-self asked his teacher. "You said Hunter-nins killed them?"

"I thought so," the jounin replied. "But after a careful reexamination of Kisame's death, I find it impossible to believe. Senbon aren't generally used for killing, and the hunter-nins should have destroyed the body on sight and kept the head, instead of transporting it elsewhere. And they didn't try to capture the Samehada, one of the most precious swords of all time. No, there's something wrong with them, and we must be careful. And who know if Gato hasn't contracted stronger killers, beside these two?"

The trio remained silent, frowning and scowling. Only Sakura's expression didn't change. Kazama was now sure that something was very wrong with her. Kakashi closed his eyes. "I'm not in good shape, and honestly, I don't trust our helpers, so-"

The vessel's eyes flickered, as his counterpart interrupted the jounin by asking the question Kazama wanted to pose. "Why don't you trust them, sensei? They saved our lives and helped us fight the missing-nins."

"Yes," Sakura said, her smile breaking a bit. "They're obviously our allies, why distrust them?"

"Because, firstly," Kakashi explained, "one is crazy and almost attacked us. Secondly, they are able to fight S-Rank and A-Rank missing-nins, while I've never heard of them. Once you reach A-Rank, you are considered a big fish in the ninja world, and it's almost impossible to be an unknown, even more so within the mercenary underworld. Thirdly, no mercenary group ever helps for free. If they protect Tazuna from Gato, then it's obvious they're planning something big, and that their boss is a lot more influential than Waves' local tyrant. Such a high-class band of warriors generally work for Ninja Villages that don't want to have their fingerprints all over the place. And, unfortunately, I have a theory about their employer… one which isn't pleasant."

"Who?" Naruto's counterpart asked.

"A powerful rogue ninja known as Orochimaru," Kakashi stated. The trio paled, and the hidden vessel inwardly cursed. He should have talked to the jounin as soon as he had awoken from his slumber. "You see, I think that the weapon this Kazama used was the Kusanagi, Orochimaru's most prized blade. Even if it's probably only a copy, that man would never give it to someone he doesn't completely trust. You must all be wary when he's nearby. The snake Sannin always had a disturbing interest in talented youngsters."

"But what can we do?" the green genin muttered. "We aren't a match for them now."

"We'll do as if this conversation had never happened," the jounin answered. "It's merely a hypothesis. It might have been another weapon, since I only saw it briefly. However, stay on your guard. And that's not the strangest thing about them. During the battle, I noticed certain bizarre events."

"Like?" Sakura asked.

"Kazama Arashi knows of techniques exclusive to the Leaf. The first is an A-Rank ninjutsu known as the Rasengan, and its users can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The second is the Kage Bunshin." Sakura's eyes widened at that. "Yes, he can create shadow clones, and only the ninjas of Konoha know it. Which meant he obtained the secret of these techniques somehow… through spying, or by betraying the Village. In all cases, he is implicated in treachery."

Kazama cursed the man's analytic mind. He had forgotten the jounin hadn't been in the ANBU for nothing. "Also," Kakashi continued, "their incredible chakra reserves are completely abnormal. It might be a bloodline, whichI was not aware even existed. And finally, while I was preparing myself to attack Kisame, I noticed that the… fox-boy… was covered by a cloak of sinister, almost demonical chakra. I only saw a glimpse of it, but I'm sure that at least that one is extremely dangerous."

"But what can we do then?" Naruto's normal-self asked. "They're stronger than us, and probably our only chance at fighting Gato."

"We train," Kakashi stated. "I hope the Hokage will understand that something is wrong with this mission, once his men discover the two missing-nins we defeated along the road, but in the worst case scenario, we are alone. I intended to teach you tree-walking-"

Kazama frowned at that. He had almost forgotten this passage of his life. One of the things he would have to question Kakashi about. It was completely abnormal that Team 7 didn't know this exercise after weeks of activity. Apparently, this Kakashi was as lazy as the one in his homeworld. And if the new Naruto's formal demeanor around him was of any indication, he hadn't adopted him either…

"-but with so many powerful opponents in the field, we will ignore that exercise. You will learn a few useful techniques before Kisame and his team attack again. Being put in a near-death state is dangerous for the body, and he and his partner will need some time to recover their full strength. We've some time before us."

Obvious relief and excitement spread over the genin's faces. They politely asked their teacher to rest a bit, before leaving, closing the door behind them.

If Sasori had done his job (and Kazama didn't doubt he had), the room was now soundproofed. Dissipating the Henge, the vessel appeared beside the jounin. "Hello, Kakashi-san," he smirked, "pleased to meet you."

The man's face jerked to face him, and his body tensed. Kazama knew he was ready to attack at the slightest provocation. The vessel wavered his hand in a peaceful gesture. "I'm only here to talk, not to kill you."

"You have a strange way of beginning a conversation," Kakashi deadpanned, still on his guard. "You've heard our conversation, I suppose, Kazama-san."

Ignoring the blatant sarcasm in the man's tone, Kazama simply smiled and sat on the floor. This conversation would take some time, but he hoped to get important answers out of it. "Yes. I must say that it's hurt me to hear you think we're working for Orochimaru, or that we're traitors. We are Konoha's most loyal servants, as Jiraiya-sama knows…"

Kakashi's eyes widened. "You work for him?"

"We all do," he lied shamelessly. "The boss ordered us to help your team, after he had learnt of Gato's involvement. How do you think I learned the rasengan and the Kage Bunshin, except from him?"

"And your sword?" the jounin asked, narrowing his eyes.

Kazama smiled, showing it to the man. "It's the real one. We stole it from the snake."

"You stole Orochimaru's sword?"

"Yes," he confirmed, even if he hadn't 'stolen' it, but earned. "That's what convinced Jiraiya to send us for this mission." The vessel decided to deviate the conversation on the truly important matters. "He didn't want his godson to be in danger."

Hook, line, and sinker. And it worked. Kakashi glared. "How do you know that?"

"Is it really important to know that this Naruto Uzumaki is in reality Naruto Namikaze, son of the Yondaime Hokage and of Kushina Uzumaki?" he asked rhetorically.

"It's an S-Rank secret!" he declared. "You can't talk about that casually."

"Your civilians talk casually about the Kyuubi being contained within your female student," the vessel pointed out. "Your secrets aren't the safest of the Ninja World."

"Perhaps," the man agreed. "It's a situation I'm uncomfortable with. If anybody knows about our Jinchuuriki, and about my sensei's son…"

"Not everybody is aware of his parentage," Kazama stated, "but I must admit I'm interested on who adopted him."

"Nobody did," Kakashi replied. "You already know Jiraiya didn't, so he stayed an orphan."

"The son of our village's greatest hero, an orphan?" he narrowed his eyes. "Except Jiraiya, you were the most fit to adopt him. Why didn't you?"

Kakashi chuckled sadly. "I was a dysfunctional adolescent that killed people all the time for the village, and that collected porn during his spare time. You really think I would have been a good role model?"

It would have been better to have a bad role model than none at all! Kazama yelled inwardly. The rage accumulated over a lifetime of loneliness filled his mind, but he managed to hide it. "It would have been better than facing the ordeals of being an orphan alone."

Kakashi closed his only eye. "Yes," he admitted. "I couldn't support the idea to adopt a carbon copy of my dear sensei, not when his disappearance had left a huge hole in my heart."

Kazama's face twisted into a terrifying display of anger and hatred. "That's your excuse? You left him to suffer all his childhood because he looked like the Yondaime?" he yelled. Fortunately, the soundproof jutsu prevented anyone from hearing him shout. That's the reason I suffered all my life? Because you couldn't stop thinking about my father? He narrowed his eyes.

"You disgust me," he said. "You sicken me. You shouldn't be their teacher."

The man didn't react. "You're right," he agreed, with an emotionless voice. Kazama was completely taken aback by this statement. He had expected him to deny that, or to find an excuse, but…

"Each time I see him, I beat myself over this situation. Now, when I see him, I realize that I have failed Minato, and ignored my duty. I'm fully aware I don't deserve to even teach him, and it's agonizing."

Kazama eyed him, the rage vanishing. Well… not totally. Yes, he was still angry at him, but… he didn't know how to react at that display of regret.

"I've made mistakes all my life, and I know I will have to pay for them one day, in this world or the next," he stated. "I know I'm beyond forgiveness, and seriously, I don't know how to atone for my failures."

The rage returned. "Then begin by teaching them correctly!" he snarled. "They don't even know tree-walking after weeks! They're a bunch of untrained rookies! With their potential, they could reach true greatness if you had taken the time to-"

Insane amount of killing intent interrupted his rant. Kakashi glared at Kazama. "You think it's my choice?" he replied with a harsh tone. "You really think I want them to be so outmatched? To be killed by a monster like Kisame?"

Kazama faced the glare, even if he flinched slightly. "Then who is responsible?"

"Konoha's high-command," he answered. "You really think my superiors want the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki to be strong on her own?"

The sentence silenced Kazama, who widened his eyes. The conspiracy, again? "Sakura perhaps, but why not the two others?"

Kakashi frowned. "Because Team 7 won't exist beyond the Chuunin Exams. It isn't meant to."

Kazama frowned. What was he talking about? "Explain."

"Team 7 mustn't pass the new Chuunin Exams," he declared. "They must fail. That's why I'm not authorized to teach them anything beyond the basics."

Kazama's jaw dropped. "But that doesn't have any advantage!"

"I'm afraid, but there is a few. The next Exam will be within Konoha, where Team 7 will be completely protected and out of danger. If they fail during the parts that aren't shown to the public, Konoha's high command will use that as an excuse to remove Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura from the normal Shinobi program. You know what happened to Sasuke's family?"

Kazama nodded.

"He's obsessed after killing Itachi, which is a lost cause for the higher-ups. Sasuke possesses the last Sharingan, and is the last hope the village has to resurrect the Uchiha Clan. They won't risk him for the sake of his revenge, especially since Sasuke doesn't hold a candle to Itachi, who was an ANBU captain at the same age. After his defeat, Konoha will 'convince' him, I don't want to know how, to stay in the village, where he would be used to breed a new generation of Uchiha."

"He would never let his revenge go," Kazama pointed out. "No words will ever convince him to let Itachi escape his grasp."

"You think he will have a choice?" Kakashi asked. "And I doubt our leaders are above brainwashing people. We have already seen that with Root."

The mere idea of seeing Sasuke acting like Sai was sickening. He was a human, not an emotionless machine, who could never disobey. "That's insane."

"I know, but I can't do a damn thing about it," the jounin said. "I have briefly thought about deserting, but Konoha would never leave us alone. And the other villages would probably be even more ruthless in dealing with us."

"And if, by some miracle, he succeeded in participating in the public ordeals?" Kazama asked, remembering the Exams of his homeworld.

"Then I will probably be ordered to train him," Kakashi declared. "The Sharingan can allow anyone to make huge progresses in a very short amount of time. In this case, Sasuke will probably become a Chuunin… and the only missions he will receive will be in Konoha itself. I think that Konoha will have Itachi killed, even if I seriously doubt it's possible, and announce it to him. Without his revenge, he will have no other goal but to restore his clan. It's a win-win situation, unless he were to die, but the proctors will probably protect him from anything."

Except Orochimaru, he wanted to add. The snake had been the wrench in Konoha's plan, the only variable they hadn't thought of… with disastrous results. "And about Sakura?" he asked.

"I don't know," Kakashi said. "If the team doesn't pass, then either she'll be removed from the Shinobi program, if the Hokage has his way, or else she will be trained as Konoha's weapon. If she overcomes the public ordeals, then I will probably be forbidden from teaching her. She will either loose handily, or pass with the Kyuubi's help. My superiors want to witness the power of the Bijuu in its full glory."

That explain many things, Kazama realized. Why I haven't been trained very much, among other things. "And if she does become a Chuunin?"

"It's the best scenario," Kakashi said. "She will continue her career, unless the most extremists of Konoha's rulers convince the Hokage to make her a weapon, which I doubt they will. Once a ninja becomes a Chuunin, only the Hokage can decide their fate, and he always had a soft spot for her. In all cases, Naruto will leave Team 7 for an apprenticeship, either as a genin or a chuunin, probably under me or another person." He sighed. "That is, if we survive our next battle with Kisame's team. Your help will be critical."

Kazama thought about the whole situation. While he now knew that Orochimaru was telling the truth, a fact he hated to the very bone, he was presented with the possibility of preventing future tragedies. He could reveal the truth to Kakashi, and offer Team 7 the opportunity of leaving this world for another, thus saving their existence. But then Sasuke wouldn't be able to kill Itachi… but if he was innocent, like in Kazama's homeworld, then it was for the best.

It would also protect Konoha from Akatsuki. They were after the Bijuu, and with the Kyuubi missing, whatever plan they had would crumble…

"Kakashi-san," he said, after reaching a decision. "I have something to confess."

"What?" the man asked, eying the teenager, who smiled.

"You see, I have lied about my identity. In reality, I'm…"

Shock spread across Kakashi's face.


"Do you really need to use your senbon that way?" Zabuza growled to his two disciples, as he was lying on a bed. Kisame was in the same position next to him, and the two fake hunter-nins were standing in front of them.

"I had to, Zabuza-sama," Haku said as she caressed a sleepy Samehada, who barked happily. "We were outmatched and outnumbered. I had no choice but to fake your death, just in case."

"It was the only thing to do," Kimimaro declared. "The bridge-builder had escaped and Kakashi's reinforcements had arrived. Fighting them would have been hazardous, while staying low for a while will give us the time to regain our strength and attack again. And this time we'll fight at your side, Zabuza-sama."

The swordsman frowned, but stayed silent. He could see the wisdom in his apprentice's words, as always. Kimimaro had been the voice of reason of the group, ever since Zabuza had adopted him after his clan's destruction.

He and Haku were the children he had never given birth to. They were his greatest achievements, his most loyal followers. They were strong… strong enough to kill the Konoha-nins and their helpers.

Speaking of them… "Does anybody know anything about our surprise opponents?" he asked.

"No," Kimimaro said. "And it bothers me. I have searched in the data we've collected, but this Arashi family is totally unknown, which shouldn't be the case since they're powerful and organized enough to attack you and Kisame-senpai."

The swordsman squinted. "ANBU?"

"Perhaps," Kisame muttered. He was still weak and suffering from his lungs' injuries. "It might explain something about that fox creature."

"What do you mean, Kisame-sama?" Haku questioned him.

"During our battle, the creature had been briefly covered with a cloak of chakra… an inhuman chakra, like Yagura's. He might be a Jinchuuriki."

Zabuza's face twisted into a stupor. "You're implying the others were his handlers?"

"Yes," the missing-nin confirmed. "He's crazy, so they must be with him to keep him on a leash."

Kimimaro frowned. "Then a Ninja Village is probably implicated. Since Kakashi didn't expect their arrival, they mustn't be working for Konoha."

"But which Hidden Village would have an interest in protecting the bridge-builder?" Haku wondered. "I mean, to the point of sending a Jinchuuriki, a weapon of mass destruction, to accomplish this task?"

Zabuza frowned. "I don't know. Maybe they were aware of our involvement. Kisame is on the level of a Bijuu, so they must have sent this beast to kill him."

"Perhaps," Kisame conceded. "But it doesn't change the fact we'll have to fight them again, if we want to kill the bridge-builder. I don't know if fighting a Jinchuuriki is worth what Gato is currently paying us."

"But if we break the contract, it'll be hard to find another job," Kimimaro stated. "However, we can sell this Jinchuuriki to another Village…"

"That's a good idea, boy," Kisame smirked. "Right after Zabuza and I have recuperated, we will attack them. And this time, we'll crush them all."


The Normal

"Okay," Naruto began. "Who wants to play ninja-poker?"

Everyone looked at him, and he smiled. He was sitting near a table, with cards in his hand. He stared at the kids present. "You know, I'm pretty bored right now, and Kakashi-sensei won't teach us anything for awhile. Why not amuse ourselves?"

They stayed silent, before the boy in green, Chibaku, sat too. "You've got a player." He locked eyes with the girl, Akane. "Want to play?"

"Of course!" she said, as she imitated him. The duo looked at their brother, Kitsune, who sighed. "Why not? It might be amusing."

Naruto looked at Sakura and Sasuke. "And you?"

"Sure!" the girl shouted.

The Uchiha only shrugged. "I've no time for games."

"Ninja-poker is a special game," Chibaku said. "It's also an exercise to gather information."

The prodigy raised his eyebrows, and Naruto sighed. "The rules are simple: it's like normal poker, except that cheating is allowed and encouraged."

"The goal is to know what the others have in their hands, and protect what you have," Chibaku explained. "Everything short of outright violence or physical extortion is allowed, even theft. It increase your awareness and your ability to notice traps."

Sasuke was many things, but an idiot he wasn't. He could recognize the value in such a game, and a thoughtful look formed on his face. "Why not?" he decided, as he sat.

Naruto smirked, and he began to distribute the cards… and noticed Chibaku replacing his own with those he had hidden within his sleeves. So there is at least one professional amongst my enemies. But so am I, Naruto thought as did the same trick.

I've the feeling this stay is going to be fun.


Somewhere in the ocean, air twisted. A tempest formed from nowhere, amongst flashes of lights.

Three men were standing on the water.

We are coming for you, world wanderers, Madara thought. Just wait for us.


Author's notes:

Yeah, I tried to explain some of the things in canon that really ticked me off, and to fill some plot holes in canon. How much I have succeeded is to my readers' guess.

The next chapter, Bonds, is under construction.