Kakashi and Zabuza gave each other a serious stare as they were getting ready to commence their battle. The air felt like it was tensing up with the killer intent they were emitting. Zabuza then grabbed his cleaver from the tree and jumped out onto the water. He then formed a hand sign and began channeling chakra.
Kakashi looked at him. 'He's releasing a large amount of chakra! I need to be ready.'
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu." Zabuza said as a thick mist began to form.
"He's gone!" Sakura said.
"He'll come after me first. Zabuza Momochi was a ninja of the Hidden Mist. He was known to be an expert in the art of silent assassination. You won't notice him until you're already dead. So everyone be on guard." Kakashi said.
"It seems that I've gotten quite a reputation now. I'm honored that the famous Kakashi would know me," Zabuza said through the mist.
"You're pretty high up in the bingo book, too. There's a reason why you're famous in silent killing," Kakashi replied.
Sakura and Sasuke both dropped some sweat. Naruto, on the other hand, decided to stand perfectly still and calm. His body was motionless and he didn't make a sound. His body was gathering all of the natural energy around him. In a few seconds, his eyes became that of a toads and he could sense his surroundings. He knew where Zabuza was hiding.
Then, in a low, intimidating voice, Zabuza said, "8 choices. Lungs, liver, spine, clevical vein, neck vein, brain, kidneys, and the heart. Which one should I go for?" Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna shuddered at Zabuza's words.
Kakashi scanned his surroundings and couldn't pinpoint Zabuza's location. He then formed a quick hand sign and summoned an immense amount of chakra. Suddenly, a lot of the fog around him receded.
Sasuke, though, was getting a chill from the chakra. 'Wh-what an incredible amount of chakra. It feels like I'll be killed if I make a single move. The air feels so heavy. Experiencing this for a while would make any person go mad. This intensity between two Jonin... It feels like my very life is being squeezed out of me! I-I-I can't take it... It's overwhelming! I'd almost rather die now and get it over with...'
"Sasuke!" Kakashi said, noticing the uneasiness of his student. "Don't worry. I'll protect you all. I won't let my comrades die." he said with a happy reassuring face. Sasuke and Sakura both released a lot of tension from Kakashi's words.
"We'll see about that!" Suddenly, Zabuza appeared in between Team 7 and the bridge builder. Zabuza looked ready to strike.
Luckily, though, Naruto knew that Zabuza was there so he quickly jammed his kunai into the Jonin. Everyone turned to see Naruto stabbing Zabuza, but something wasn't right. Zabuza was bleeding water. Another Zabuza quickly appeared behind Naruto but Naruto also felt his presence and jumped backwards, right over Zabuza. He held his kunai at Zabuza's throat.
"Impressive brat. You were able to predict that I'd made a water clone. I must congratulate you Konoha shinobi. But it takes more than a few nice moves to beat me." As he finished his sentence, that Zabuza turned into water and a Zabuza behind him was ready to strike.
"Naruto! Look out!" Kakashi yelled.
Naruto gave a little chuckle as Zabuza slashed his cleaver through Naruto. Sakura gave a little scream as Naruto was cut in half. But, as Naruto fell, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Wh-wha?" Zabuza said surprised.
All of a sudden, Zabuza felt his arms and legs get struck by kunai. "Ninja must always be able to see through deception." Naruto said with a big grin on his face. His eyes were no longer that of a toad's.
Kakashi quickly rushed over to Zabuza and pulled the kunai out. Zabuza gave a little cry of pain but Kakashi knocked him out with a blow to the neck. He then tied up Zabuza and laid him next to a tree. He also pulled his headband over his Sharingan. "Nice work Naruto. You really pulled through when you needed to." Kakashi said with a smile.
Sasuke just stood there stunned. 'Huh?! Since when was I the scared ninja and Naruto was the star?! How did he get so powerful that he could defeat a Jonin all by himself?! Am I really this weak?!'
All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew. Everyone covered their eyes as a young boy wearing an Anbu mask appeared on top of a tree branch. He looked to be about 12 years old.
'Ah. It's nice to see Haku again.' Naruto thought with a smile.
"Thank you very much everyone. I have been searching for Zabuza for a long time." Haku said.
"That mask... You must be a Hunter-nin..." Kakashi said.
"Impressive. You're correct. I'm a member of the Mist's Hunter-nin team." Haku said. "Your battle is over now. I must dispose of Zabuza, since his body has many secrets." he said as he began to pick up Zabuza's body.
Naruto appeared behind Haku with a kunai to his back. "Don't move."
"Naruto! What are you doing?!" Sakura said with a scream. "He's one of us! He's a good guy!"
"You conveniently show up when Zabuza is defeated, huh. If your job really is to dispose of the body, why not do it here instead of take the body away?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi quickly caught on. "Naruto's right. You are supposed to deal with him right there. There'd be no need for you to move his entire body while he's still alive. If you need proof, you can just cut of his head and present it."
A sweat dropped from Haku's mask. "I'm impressed with Konoha. You really are great ninja." Haku said while immediately moving back.
Naruto reacted by throwing his special kunai at him, which Haku deflected with a senbon. Naruto teleported to the kunai and quickly knocked Haku out with a blow to the neck.
"Great job, Naruto." Kakashi said while tying up Haku. "That was impressive that you caught on to his plan so soon. If you hadn't, we'd be in big trouble later on."
"It was nothing." Naruto said with a big grin. "But Kakashi-sensei, can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure." Kakashi said.
Naruto then went close to his ear and whispered, "Can we take them with us to Tazuna's place? I don't want them to die. I can sense that they aren't that evil."
"And how can you do that?" Kakashi asked as he was interested by the blonde's abilities.
"Oh. Well, when I activate my Kurama mode, I can sense feelings." Naruto replied.
"K-K-Kurama mode?" Kakashi asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah! That's when I use Kurama's chakra. It's sooo strong! Don't worry. I'll show you it later."
"Yeah, just casually tell Kakashi that you can access my chakra and obtain power stronger than that of the Kages. It's not like that'll make him suspicious or scared, you idiot," Kurama said to his idiot host.
"Okay... Well I don't entirely agree with you letting these two live, but I'll take your word for it." Kakashi said with his eye in a U shape. "Anyways, let's get back to the others."
As they walked back, Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna were wondering what Naruto and Kakashi talked about. But, they figured they knew what it was about since they were bringing Zabuza and Haku with them.
"So remind me one more time. Why are we bringing the people who tried to kill me with us?" Tazuna asked.
"Well you're the one that lied about this being a simple C-rank mission. So I don't think it's in your place to be telling us how to run things here." Kakashi said with a smile under his mask.
"Fair enough." Tazuna replied with a sweat drop.
Sasuke and Sakura didn't bother asking because they knew they wouldn't get a straight answer.
They finally all reached Tazuna's house. Tazuna went and opened the door for everyone. "Tsunami! I'm back!"
A young woman walked into the room. She looked to be 29 and she wore a pink shirt with a blue skirt. She had a really pretty face and a slender body.
"Father. You've returned. And is this your protection?" the young woman asked.
"Yeah. Everyone. I'd like to introduce you all to my daughter, Tsunami." Tazuna said.
Team 7 gave their greetings while putting Haku and Zabuza down on the ground.
"Uh. Father? Why are those two tied up?" Tsunami asked.
"Oh. Uh... Well, they are my assassins and I don't know why we still have them."
"What?!" Tsunami screamed. "Nononono! Not in my house! Take them outside!" she ordered.
Naruto didn't even respond. He just summoned a few clones and got them outside as fast as he could.
"I don't know how you Konoha ninja run things around, but we won't be having any guests that are trying to kill my father in this house! Understood?!" she said.
Everyone just nodded.
"Good." she said happily. Everyone still sweated a little. Tsunami then went into the kitchen to cook up some food.
"Yeah... Sorry about Tsunami. She's just been a bit protective since I've been risking my life to complete the bridge."
"No problem. I'll just go check up with Naruto." Kakashi said.
With Naruto
Haku and Zabuza were beginning to wake up. They had been stripped of their weapons and Zabuza's injuries had been treated.
"W-What is this? Where am I?" Zabuza asked as he awoke.
"Hi there." Naruto said with a smile.
"You! Untie me now you brat! I'll unleash my full fury on you!" Zabuza threatened.
"Hmmm. Bad choice of words considering how you're the one tied up." Naruto replied.
"What is it that you want with us?" Haku asked.
"I just thought that it'd be nice to talk." Naruto said.
"Heh. You're an interesting kid. Fine, I'll play your game. Let's chat." Zabuza said.
Kakashi then appeared out from behind the trees.
"I see you boys are having a nice time." Kakashi said with his eye in the U shape.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei. We were just getting to the good part." Naruto said. "Soooooo. Zabuza. Why work for Gato?"
"Heh. Isn't it obvious, brat. He's rich. No other reason I need." Zabuza said with a smirk.
"Yeah. But why would you sell yourself to this man just for money?" Naruto asked.
"I think I can answer that Naruto. You see, Zabuza planned a coup d-etat a while back to overthrow the Mizukage. Unfortunately for him, the plan failed and hunter-nin were sent after him. Now, he's got the gall to try and do it again. But in order to do that, he needs money. Lots of money. And Gato is the key to getting it." Kakashi finished.
"Ah. I see you've done your homework, eh Kakashi?" Zabuza said.
Naruto then sat down and closed his eyes. He meditated for a little bit before a golden chakra cloak surrounded him. He pulled out Kurama-mode. "I think it will be better to continue the conversation like this." Naruto said with his red eyes.
Kakashi felt overwhelmed. He never knew that Naruto would have this much chakra at his disposal. It feels as though he had become stronger than him. It was a bit to take in. Zabuza and Haku had a different reaction. They couldn't believe that this brat had this much chakra. They both dropped some sweat.
"Oh. Don't worry. I'm not using this to threaten you. I just need to use this to know what you're feeling. Now let's continue this conversation. Zabuza, why do you want to overthrow the Mizukage?" Naruto asked.
Zabuza calmed down a bit. His situation hadn't changed from a few moments ago so there was nothing more to be scared of. "You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you."
"The point of me going into this state was so I can tell if you're lying or not. Now please continue your explanation." Naruto said happily.
"Heh. I like your style, kid. Well here's my story. I don't have an evil motive trying to get rid of the Mizukage. The 4th Mizukage, Yagura, hadn't been acting like himself. He was levying the taxes and not making any policies to help the poor, whatsoever. He used to be a fair Mizukage, but a few years back, he changed. That's why I decided to try and overthrow him. It's obvious that the Mizukage shouldn't be granted that kind of power and cause this kind of turmoil among everyone."
"You say that, but by working for Gato, you're doing practically the same thing to these people in the Wave Country. You're no better than Mizukage." Kakashi said.
"Don't compare me to him!" Zabuza yelled.
"Well why don't you put yourself in our shoes? Aren't we basically doing the same thing?" Naruto asked him.
There was a long moment of silence. Zabuza was at a loss for words.
"You were so intent on getting the money you needed that you lost sight of what you were doing. Are you really proud of yourself?" Naruto continued.
"I'm just a shinobi. I'm just a tool for others to use." Zabuza replied.
"Tools don't think! You are more than a tool. You're human! It was your idea to get rid of the Mizukage, so don't tell me you're a tool!" Naruto yelled.
"Heh." Zabuza didn't know what else to say. This little kid just opened his eyes to what he was doing. "Kid, you talk too much." Zabuza said with a smile.
"But you're not denying that I'm right." Naruto said with a smile.
"Heh." Zabuza just said.
"Well now you have the chance to change. Why don't you help us?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi then pulled Naruto back behind the trees. "Naruto. What do you think you're doing? Don't forget. These guys are our enemies."
"Kakashi-sensei. I have the power to sense feelings. I know if he's planning on betraying us. He's genuinely changed. Also, I don't think that he was that wrong about the Mizukage. You-know-who might be behind it."
"What makes you think that?!" Kakashi asked.
"I know that Yagura isn't the Mizukage anymore. But I don't think Yagura was that bad on his own. He was the Jinchuriki of Isobu." Naruto said.
"Isobu? Who's that?" Kakashi asked curiously.
"Oh. That's the name of the 3-tails." Kakashi still looked a little confused. "Oh. Kurama knows his name." said Naruto with a smile.
"Ah. I see." Kakashi replied. He then thought of Rin when Naruto mentioned the 3 tails.
"As I was saying, since Yagura was the 3-tails Jinchuriki, then it is very likely that he was being controlled. Remember... Uchiha and Senju powers can control the tailed beasts." Naruto said.
"That was a good deduction, Naruto. I'm really surprised with you." Kakashi said with a smile.
"Wh-what do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked uneasily.
"Well. It's just that ever since I became your sensei, you've been smart, collected, and helpful. That's completely opposite from the reports I received from the Academy." Kakashi replied.
"Hehehe. I guess Kurama's had an effect on me." Naruto said.
The fox began talking to Naruto in his mind. "Hey Naruto. When do you think we should tell someone that you're from the future?"
'I don't think that would be such a good idea. People will think that I'm crazy.' the blond thought.
"I guess. But it's going to get hard to explain why you're so mature. Imagine what we'll have to say when you use your Rasengan for the first time."
'Eh. I'll worry about that when the time comes.'
"Anyways. I think we've kept Zabuza waiting long enough. Let's head back to them." Kakashi said.
"Yeah." Naruto replied.
Naruto and Kakashi walked back to the tied up Zabuza and Haku. They were sitting cross-legged and made themselves comfortable (despite being tied up).
"So... What are we going to do with the two of you?" Naruto asked.