Chapter 7: The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend
Kiba rolled to a stop as he looked at Naruto from a safe corner of Haku's Ice Mirror trap, his eyes widening as he saw a physical manifestation of chakra forming around him, 'Whoa...' he thought before his eyes dashed over to his team-mate, seeing the Sasuke was directly in the cross-hairs, 'Gotta move!' Kiba thought as he dashed forward to get him out of the way.
Naruto glared at Haku as she trembled in fear at the chakra, though she tried her hardest to get to her feet as Naruto walked towards her menacingly, "S-stay back!" Haku shouted as she pulled out more senbon.
Naruto either didn't notice the senbon or ignored them as he continued marching at Haku, though as he got to her, he stepped on her leg as he continued past, his immense weight breaking the thigh above the ice and causing Haku to scream.
Naruto walked a few more steps before falling to his knees, a hand reaching out to rest on Hinata's shoulder, "Hinata?" Naruto asked, his voice seeming doubling over itself in two different tones.
Haku pulled her self away from them before looking up, seeing Kiba was registering Naruto a threat since he was standing protectively over Sasuke and Akamaru rather then attack her, 'What is this power?' Haku thought as she looked back to Naruto and frantically formed hand seals.
Naruto turned and glared over his shoulder as the top mirror of the formation shattered and shot towards him and Hinata, he roared, causing the shards to fly away and force Haku to cover her eyes. When she lowered her arm, Naruto's claws ripped through her mask and across her face.
Haku gasped in pain, her arm and face clawed open, her entire left leg useless. She was nothing now, a broken tool, a failed apprentice.
Naruto's mouth twisted into a grin as Haku rolled onto her back, the blood dripping down her face and arm, "DIE!" Naruto shouted as he stabbed his claws into Haku from under her ribcage, picking her up in the air with his weapons.
Kiba's eyes widened as he saw the mirrors shatter around them, Haku gagging on her own blood before Naruto ripped his claws apart, shredding Haku with his claws as he panted in exhaustion, 'Holy shit...' Kiba thought, too stunned with fear and amazed with awe to say or do anything else.
Naruto turned and glared at Kiba, making the gennin fall to his knees in fear before Naruto blinked and the threat was gone, "Kiba?" he mumbled as his blue eyes came back and the red chakra drifted away, causing Naruto to fall down onto his knees weakly as he panted heavily.
Kiba felt the threat was gone as he shakily walked over to Naruto, "H-hey, what was that?" Kiba asked defensively.
Naruto shrugged, "It's just... a thing I've got." Naruto said before falling onto his hands and knees.
"HAKUUU!"
Naruto and Kiba looked up as Zabuza charged towards them through the mist, his eyes bloodshot and his arms useless thanks to Asuma's signature weapons buried into his shoulders. Kiba stepped forward, ready to attack or defend his friends when suddenly the ground around Zabuza cracked.
"EARTH STYLE: FANGED PURSUIT JUTSU!"
Zabuza shouted in shock and pain as Kakashi's pack of ninja hounds burst out of the ground, digging their teeth into his legs and torso to hold him still as another shadow appeared from the mist.
Asuma leapt out of the mist while slashing his new sword through the air, cutting the bandages from Zabuza's face before holding the blade at his neck, "Stop now or die." Asuma ordered.
Zabuza panted angrily as he stared at Haku's body, "You... killed my Haku..." Zabuza growled.
Asuma shook his head, "No, you two came to attack us here. You and your boss killed Haku." Asuma said sternly.
Zabuza glared at Asuma for an intense moment, obviously about to try and counter though not yet knowing how.
Clap Clap Clap
Everyone left conscious on the bridge turned towards the approaching sound of clapping, Zabuza's mist clearing to show not only a large ship at the end of the bridge, but a group of about sixty people with weapons at the ready standing behind one short clapping man, "Well well, and here I thought the great Demon of the Mist was unstoppable," the short man said proudly, "If you can't take these little ninjas and the town for me... well then I guess I'll have to look somewhere else for help." Gato said as he raised an arm.
Asuma frowned as he looked Zabuza in the eyes, "Looks like you've been betrayed." Asuma mumbled.
Zabuza nodded slowly as he looked down, though he raised his head as Kakashi appeared with a kunai to his throat, "That leaves you two options, leave and potentially die from blood loss, or..." Kakashi said as he turned the kunai around.
Zabuza spat the small pieces of bandage from his mouth before taking the offered kunai in his mouth, "Or I can kill the one who planned to get rid of me and Haku." Zabuza said with a slight chuckle.
Kakashi's dogs let go of Zabuza as Kiba and Naruto moved their unconscious allies behind the Jonin, Ino jogging towards them to help as she lifted the unconscious Akamaru into her arms.
Asuma frowned as he held his sword to Zabuza's throat, "Why do you think we can trust him?" Asuma asked Kakashi.
The copy ninja shrugged, "Because he has nothing left," Kakashi said with a glance at Haku's corpse, "She was all you had, right?" Kakashi guessed.
Zabuza looked down and scoffed, talking around the kunai in his mouth like it was no trouble at all, "Haku was nothing but a tool..." he began as his voice began to tremble, though other then his eyes watering, there was no sign of his emotions on his face, "My... most useful tool, the most... important thing I had left..." Zabuza confessed quietly, "She was the only one left in this world who really needed me." Zabuza mumbled.
Asuma immediately lowered his sword, "Kakashi, take out my blades from his back, they're only causing him pain." Asuma said.
Kakashi did as Asuma suggested slowly, the three only looking up as the large crowd of thugs cheered battle cries, making their eyes widen as they saw just why they were shouting.
Gato stood over what remained of Haku's corpse and stomped on her arm, breaking it much like she had his only a few days prior, "Serves you right bitch!" Gato said before turning to his men, "Let's run this town into the ground!" Gato ordered, prompting the group of thugs to charge forward past him.
Asuma and Kakashi stepped back behind Zabuza, "We still have a client to protect." Kakashi reminded the group.
"Then we'll clear the way!"
The trio of Jonin turned with wide eyes as they saw Kiba charge past them on all fours, "Kiba wait!" Kakashi shouted.
"DUCK GUYS!"
The Jonin turned as they saw Naruto spinning, Zabuza's massive sword in his grasp as he leaned back to counter-balance it and gain the most momentum, "Incoming!" Naruto shouted as he let go of the blade.
Zabuza fell to a knee as he watched Naruto throw his sword with more ease then he could at that age, the sword flying over Kiba's head as he ran on all fours and taking out the first row of thugs near Kiba. Giving the gennin the chance to clap his hands before spinning forward, "TUNNELLING FANG!"
Zabuza dashed forward and into the opening Kiba and Naruto gave him, letting him avoid the entire first half of the group of thugs before he spotted Gato at the back of the group, "You're coming with me!" Zabuza shouted as he charged forward.
Kiba came to a stop in his spin and looked around, seeing he was surrounded by thugs before looking back at Zabuza, 'Oh yeah, he can function without sight too.' Kiba thought with a smirk before sending chakra to his feet and leaping up high, throwing down a smoke bomb as Zabuza came close.
Zabuza got stabbed by one spear before the smoke bomb exploded, giving Zabuza a smirk as he closed his eyes and let his Silent Killing skills take over, the thugs dropping one by one around him as he cut and stabbed with the kunai.
Gato looked around in the smoke cloud, "Kill him now!" Gato ordered to the one thug next to him.
"GATO!" Zabuza shouted as he appeared from the smoke, kicking the thug's sword out of his grip before plunging the kunai from his mouth into the thug's sternum.
Gato fell back in fear as Zabuza jumped up and caught the airborne short sword with his teeth, spinning to plunge it into Gato's neck, "You deserve this." Zabuza grunted as he pushed forward and plunged the blade into his target.
Zabuza fell to his knees at the edge of the bridge while Gato fell off, blood spurting from his neck as he fell dead into the river below. The bridge was quiet as the smoke cloud dispersed, only for one more thug to charge forward towards the town, "I'm getting my money one way or the other!" he shouted as he aimed a crossbow and fired it with surprising accuracy.
Kakashi ducked the arrow, though Naruto took it to his forearm to make sure it didn't hit anyone else. "Sensei!" Naruto shouted as he looked at the oncoming thugs.
Asuma stepped back as he formed hand seals, "Some clones would be good about now Naruto!" he shouted.
Naruto nodded and formed a cross seal, pumping as much of his heavily diminished chakra as he could, "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" he shouted.
Kakashi's eye widened as he watched Naruto make twenty clones, 'Incredible...' he thought as the clones charged forward.
The original Naruto ripped the arrow out of his arm and looked down at Sasuke and Hinata, 'I won't let anyone else on our side die today!' Naruto thought before running forward.
Kiba finally made it back as Asuma finished his hand seals, "FIRE STYLE: BURNING ASH!" Asuma shouted as he spewed forth the ash cloud.
BOOOM
Naruto's many clones charged into the resulting smoke from the attack that killed a third of the thugs, beginning to take them out one by one with Asuma taking out any that got through with his gravity sword.
The last group of ten thugs managed to run past Asuma, the 'leader' of them seeing Tazuna and raising his sword.
Shikamaru sighed before looking up, 'Glad that Zabuza's mist is gone.' he thought as he formed a hand seal.
The group ran right past Shikamaru as the boy crouched as if in defeat, though the moment they stabbed their swords through Tazuna, he burst out as shadows.
Shikamaru span around holding a hand seal, "SHADOW POSSESSION JUTSU!" He shouted as he took control of the burst out shadows already connected to his own shadow.
The thugs were all frozen for a moment before the storm drain nearby flipped open to reveal Ino, holding two bouquets with explosive tags tied to the end of them, "Take this! FLOWER BOMB!" She shouted as she threw them.
The thugs screamed as they were killed, making Shikamaru smirk, "True Shadow Clone Trap success." he said before turning to look back at the bridge.
The last of the mist finally finished fading away as Kakashi began talking loudly, "Alright everyone listen up! Those who fought against Haku come to me so I can remove those senbon, everyone else escort Tazuna back to the town so that they...know..." Kakashi trailed off as he looked to the end of the bridge.
Everyone turned to see that the workers who had previously quit were watching them in awe, armed to the teeth with worker's tools, kitchenware and in one case a spear, "You... won?" a man at the front asked.
Tazuna grinned as he threw his arms up in the air from his place half-way out of the storm drain with help from Ino, "Yeah we did! We're free!" Tazuna cheered.
The whole crowd began to cheer as Kakashi turned back to the group, seeing Kiba holding up an unconscious Sasuke, "Here Sensei, can you help?" Kiba asked.
Kakashi nodded as he lifted his headband, making sure to be very careful as he pulled out the senbon furthest away from his heart first before moving higher.
Naruto arrived carrying Hinata bridal style, looking up only staring at her sadly for a few minutes and his eyes widening, "Sasuke?" Naruto asked in amazement.
Sasuke groaned as he sat up, glancing at Naruto and scowling, "What do you want idiot?" he asked.
Naruto looked up at Kakashi hopefully as the Jonin looked down at Hinata, his Sharingan focussing on the points which the senbon stuck out of, "Just rest Sasuke. Naruto, lay her down on her side for me." he said.
Naruto did so gently as Kakashi pulled the senbon from her body that would be the most painful, finally coming to the two at the back of her neck. He removed them carefully and stood as Hinata's eyes snapped open and she gasped, "Ah!" she shouted as she sat up.
Hinata blinked as she looked around, "Did... we win? What happened?" she asked.
Naruto looked between her and Kakashi questioningly, though the large grin never stopped growing as Kakashi explained why his friend was okay, "You were knocked into a temporary coma by Haku, Naruto and Kiba helped us finish this. We're all okay now." Kakashi said reassuringly as he patted her shoulder.
Hinata sighed in relief and nodded before Naruto tackled her to the ground in a surprising hug, "Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed as his weight accidentally began to crush her.
He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees as he grinned down at her, "You're okay Hinata-chan!" he exclaimed cheerily.
Kakashi eye smiled as he watched the two before turning to his team, sweat dropping as Kiba and Sasuke were already yelling at each other, 'Why can't I have nice kids like these two?' he thought before looking to Ino and seeing she was helping Shikamaru and Tazuna still, 'Well... at least I have one...' he thought just as Ino smacked Shikamaru for yawning while she was speaking, '… sort of.'
Unseen by those regrouping, Asuma sat next to Zabuza at the end of the bridge, the ex mist ninja just staring limply down into the water while letting his wounds bleed slowly, "Y'know, if you stay like this then you're going to bleed out eventually." he said as he put his sword down.
Zabuza breathed heavily as he glanced up at Asuma, "Yeah... well maybe that's for the best." Zabuza said as he sighed and closed his eyes.
Hearing a few clicks and some fumbling beside him, Zabuza sighed before turning to tell off Asuma, only to pause as the leaf Jonin held out a lit cigarette for him, "Here, it'll take the edge off." Asuma said.
Zabuza let Asuma put the smoke between his lips, taking a long drag before sighing and holding in a cough, "I haven't had one of these in years." Zabuza commented as he watched the smoke drift through the air.
Asuma chuckled and glanced at Zabuza's back, seeing the one spear and what looked like a small knife of some kind sticking out, "Did you block those with your bones on purpose? Or was that luck?" Asuma asked.
Zabuza sighed and rolled his weak shoulders, shuddering as he felt the spear, "Luck I guess..." he mumbled as he continued to smoke.
"So, are you coming back with us or what?" Asuma asked out of the blue.
Zabuza raised a non-existent brow at Asuma, "Go back to your village so that I can be sold to the Mizukage for a quick buck? No thanks." Zabuza said.
Asuma shrugged, "Well, I could get you sanctuary at the Fire Temple. That means they'll be testing you for about a year before they let you join the Land of Fire as a citizen. Maybe you can come to the Leaf after that." Asuma suggested as he smoked.
Zabuza glanced over his shoulder at the happy villagers and Leaf ninjas, good won, as it usually did... maybe it was time he settled down again. Zabuza nodded as he took a long drag of the cigarette, "Yeah... I don't see why not," he said with a smirk before looking towards the north, "Although if that's what we're doing we gotta go back to Gato's base first. I have some stuff there and I'm sure it'll lessen the argument if we get access to his bank accounts and stuff." Zabuza suggested.
Asuma nodded at that, "Then that means we'll stay for a bit until you can at least function properly. You and Kakashi can hammer out the details while my team gets what you need." Asuma suggested as he stood.
Zabuza grunted in pain as he was lifted to his feet, though he chuckled around the cigarette as he began to be helped back across the bridge by Asuma, "Sure... I guess I'll make a list." Zabuza said as they moves past his sword, the man looking back at it with a sigh, "Starting with my sword."
Asuma nodded with a chuckle, "Hey Shika, Naruto, go grab our weapons, Hinata, I need your eyes for a moment." Asuma shouted to those on the bridge.
Team 10 looked up at his voice and nodded, Naruto and Shikamaru jogging past the two of them with a smile and a nod respectively, Hinata coming up to the two with her eyes active and a slight limp, "Those weapons are in pretty deep Sensei... the knife is actually in his pelvis bone." she said with a frown.
Zabuza raised a brow and glanced down to see the knife sticking out of his hip, "Huh, I didn't even notice that one." he mumbled.
"Hey Shika," Naruto said as he lifted up Zabuza's sword with a grunt, having to balance it over both shoulders to hold the weight easily, "Did you... feel any odd chakra throughout that fight?" Naruto asked.
Shikamaru nodded, lifting Asuma's sword with far less effort, "Yep... was it you?" he asked, earning a nod from Naruto, "That's such a drag, Ino's already asking me about it too, but you've got control so we're fine." Shikamaru said with a shrug.
Naruto forced a smile for Shikamaru, "Yeah... total control..." he mumbled as Shikamaru moved ahead, leading their way back to the group to make the journey back to Tazuna's home.
##########
Three days later
##########
"Alright Team," Asuma said to the group of four following behind him, "Today we're following Zabuza's map to Gato's compound where we'll break into the main tower and the safe. Now, the safe had a lot in it, but according to Zabuza it was sealed shut with a blood seal Gato bought, which is why we have Hinata and Ino with us." Asuma explained.
Ino and Hinata nodded with a smiles, already knowing their parts of the plan. While Naruto and Kiba looked back at the group with Akamaru leading the way, "Not too far now Sensei." Naruto said as he held up Zabuza's map.
Kiba nodded, "Yeah, we can smell the outpost already, and I think Zabuza was right, there's still people in there." Kiba said, earning a bark from Akamaru.
Asuma nodded, "Then you two take lead and go for the warehouse, remember to make it loud and proud to be a Leaf ninja." Asuma reminded them.
Kiba and Naruto shared a grin, "Oh yeah, we got this." Naruto said as he held up a ball covered in explosive tags.
Asuma and the girls watched and waited as Kiba, Naruto and Akamaru ran off into the distance, 'Now we just have to wait.' he thought as he turned to the girls.
Unseen by the three as they began talking, Sasuke dashed through the shrubbery, his Sharingan glowing as he smirked, 'He thinks he's so much better then me... I'll show him!' Sasuke thought as he imagined saving Naruto and Kiba from the thugs in a powerful and heroic way, finally showing Kiba he was alpha and putting the dead-last Naruto in his place.
##########
Naruto and Kiba crouched behind the one boulder, looking up to see that a large white sheet with the symbol for Gato Industries was hanging between two fences to act like a cheap gate, "It's like they want it to be easy." Kiba said with a grin.
Naruto nodded, "So you can do it then?" he asked as he lifted a ball of explosive tags.
Kiba nodded as he began forming hand seals, "I'll make the opening, you hit the payload. Let's just hope Zabuza's map was right." Kiba said with a smirk as his nails and fangs began to grow out.
Naruto took a sprinting position with the makeshift bomb in one hand, "Ready?"
Kiba nodded as he took the same position, "Set."
"Arf!" Akamaru shouted as he ran out into view.
The two guys standing guard looked over as Akamaru ran down the road, the white dog sniffing a few trees before seeming hesitant in approaching the sheet with two men in front of it, "Hey get rid of that thing." the one on the left said.
The other one crouched and offered his hand to Akamaru, "Hey relax, it's just a stray dog, might be from the village." he said.
Akamaru wagged his tail as he licked the man's hand, making him smile as he lifted Akamaru and was completely distracted for a moment.
"TUNNELLING FANG!"
The man who had been distracted turned around as the other guard was picked up and torn through the sheet thanks to Kiba, opening the way for Naruto to run in through the gap and pitch a ball to the distant right of their base.
BOOOOOOOOOOM
The guard sat down looking up at the large amount of smoke coming from their supply warehouse, "Well... looks like them ninjas finally came to finish this." he mumbled as he watched Akamaru run in after them, "I'm out." he said as he dropped his weapon and began to walk away.
##########
BOOOOOOOOOOM
"That's our cue," Asuma said before turning to the girls, "Go get her girls." Asuma said.
Ino and Hinata nodded before dashing up to a river and diving in, swimming under the wooden fencing to come out inside behind the main tower of Gato's main building, "They're in Gato's office." Hinata said, her Byakugan looking up through the many floors and walls of the building to see three people on the top floor.
Ino nodded, "Let's move then Hinata, if you get me the opening then we're in!" she exclaimed cheerily.
The two got out of the water and ran up to the building, using their tree-climbing skill to scale the tall walls easily. As they came above the treeline, they looked off to the side as Ino held up an arm to make sure they were seen by Asuma.
##########
Asuma nodded as he saw her signal. He put out his cigarette as he dashed after Kiba and Naruto, putting on his trench knives as he sprinted past a man who seemed to just wave him past, 'Looks like some of these guys aren't total idiots.' Asuma thought as he leapt through the sheet and surveyed the area.
Most of the thugs were still in action, but they all seemed to be on the defensive as Naruto and Kiba's near-continuous onslaught of kunai and claws. Sniffing out Asuma, Kiba and the transformed Akamaru leapt back as Naruto leapt up into the air and swung his hand, a kunai with an explosive tag wrapped around the handle shooting free down towards the back of the group of enemies, "KUNAI SHADOW CLONES!" Naruto shouted.
A rain of kunai surrounded the group, exploding them towards Asuma as the man finished his own hand seals, "FIRE STYLE: BURNING ASH!" he shouted as he spewed forth an ash cloud.
There was a moment of silence as Naruto and Kiba came to a stop next to Asuma, the man smirking before his weapons clashed together to create a spark.
BOOOOOOOM
The group watched and waited as the dust settled, all of their enemies taken care of either by death or knockout. They weren't getting up any time soon.
Kiba looked up towards the main tower as the front doors burst open and six cannons were rolled out, "Umm... Zabuza didn't say anything about those." Kiba said.
Asuma frowned as he saw them, though his eyes widened as he saw the one at the front of the formation about to fire, "Get behind me!" Asuma shouted as he leapt forward, his weapons glowing.
Naruto and Kiba dropped as a blade of wind extended from Asuma's trench knife, cutting the cannonball down the middle and making it miss them just in time. The gennin looked up in awe as Asuma sighed, "Quickly! Move!" Asuma ordered.
The three leapt away as the cannons began to fire at them, quickly spreading out as Naruto came to a stop atop a flag pole, glancing up at the top floor of the building, 'C'mon guys hurry up!' he thought before leaping towards the storage house they had wiped out with the first explosion.
##########
"Just two guards at the door," Hinata said before looking over at Ino, "One each? We have to be quick."
Ino shook her head, making Hinata pause as the blonde peered in the window, "I have an idea considering all the destruction going on outside if you can take out just one of them." Ino said.
Hinata pouted but nodded, not liking deviating form the plan but trusting her friend. Hinata leapt up from the wall, gripping the roof with her hands and flipping herself up into the roof itself. She ran across before leaping away from the building towards the flag pole Zabuza had originally planned using if he ever had to break in. she grabbed the flag and used her momentum to swing around, throwing her through a window and foot first into one of the two men's face.
He yelled in pain as she kicked him to the ground, her palm racing up in time to smack the second thug in the jaw as Ino ran into the room from the window behind them.
The first thug turned towards Hinata as her palms hit the other man's legs, making him fall to the ground as she crouched, allowing Ino to finish her hand seals and aim them at the first thug, "MIND TRANSFER JUTSU!" Ino exclaimed.
Hinata's Byakugan let her see the chakra move through the air and into the man's head. Making him stop his attack as Hinata slammed her palm into her downed captive's chest, causing him to gasp and never breath again.
Hinata began to drag the body away as 'Ino' opened the door the two thugs had been guarding, "Ma'am we have to move you now! One of the ninja got here already so it won't be long until the others are too." 'Ino' said.
Three women, Gato's wife and two daughters, walked out of the office, the mother nodding, "So this is it then, to the vault?" she asked.
'Ino' nodded, "To the vault."
The three girls turned to see the other thug that had been guarding them pick up an unconscious blonde girl – Ino – and nodded to them as the were let through.
'Ino' winked to Hinata as the girl smiled from behind her Transformation Jutsu, Ino leading the three to the only other door on the top floor of the building. The woman pricked her thumb on the short nail sticking from the centre of a large seal on the wall. The woman placed her hand on it and a handle appeared, letting her grab it and turn it to open the door to the vault.
'Ino' turned to 'Hinata', "Hey, what's that in her left pocket?" 'Ino' asked as she stepped into the vault.
'Hinata' reached into Ino's body's pocket, pulling out a smoke bomb with five Z's written on it, causing Hinata to smirk as she took a deep breath alongside 'Ino'.
POOOOOF
In a plume of smoke, the three women were rendered unconscious as Ino and Hinata ran out in their real bodies, "Vault open." Ino said with a grin.
Hinata nodded, "Good plan."
##########
Asuma paused in looking through the group of bandits, 'Hold on...' he thought as he closed his eyes and focussed on his hearing.
Asuma turned to look at the one building Zabuza didn't have much detail on; the barracks for the many thugs and goons Gato had hired, 'Something's not right...' Asuma thought as he began to jog off.
Naruto and Kiba glanced after Asuma before sharing a look, "He's your Sensei, you follow." Kiba said, more then happy to keep watch of the non-moving pile of minimal effort, though he let out a single quick whistle.
Naruto smirked and nodded before dashing off, Akamaru following the order of his master's whistle and coming out of the bushes to follow Naruto.
Naruto arrived at the building just as the doors slammed open. Naruto raised his arms just in time to catch Sasuke, the gennin having a large wound on his forearm, "Sasuke?!" Naruto exclaimed.
Naruto looked up to see Asuma mid-lock with five men, using his forehead protector to hold back an axe while he used his weapons to make the other four weapons lock with each other. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he saw the obvious feet setting of Asuma's, showing that he had kicked Sasuke out of the way.
Asuma grunted as he felt one of the men on his left push harder with his weapon. The axe-wielder lifted his weapon and swung down at Asuma for a second time, only for Naruto to leapt into the situation over Asuma's head, his claws cutting the raised axe into pieces before his elbows slammed into his face.
The other four hesitated for a moment as they noticed Naruto, giving Asuma the opportunity to turn and parry two of the swords before his other weapon came around to cut the throat of one thug before his fist hit the face of the last, knocking him out cold.
The two thugs stood back-to-back as Naruto and Asuma took stances on either side of them, "Hey we got no beef with you guys, that kid's the one who attacked us!" the one facing Asuma said.
Naruto and Asuma both frowned, though Asuma held a hand up and pointed a finger up while rotating his fist, making Naruto smirk and leap forward.
Off to the side, Akamaru watched in interest as Naruto emulated the Tunnelling fang, his claws hacking through flesh, bone and steel as he drilled into the first man, knocking him back-first into the second man and pushing him off balance just as Asuma blurred past the trio, killing the man with a slash through the neck.
Naruto grinned as Akamaru began to bark in victory, "Yeah! Team 10 is the best!" Naruto exclaimed in excitement.
Naruto looked over to his Sensei, thinking the man would be in a similar state of happiness, only to see how angry he was as he stormed over to Sasuke, "Hey... Akamaru, follow me yeah?" Naruto said as he began to jog after them.
Sasuke had pulled himself against the door and begun wrapping his arm with some of the bandage previously wrapped around his ankles, though as he pulled up a kunai to cut off the end, Asuma kicked it from his hand and punched him in the face, "AH!" Sasuke exclaimed in pain before glaring up at Asuma, "You dare to hit me?! An Uchiha?!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Asuma shook his head incredulously, "Are you serious?! You disobeyed a direct order in coming here! And even worse is you've left Shikamaru by himself guarding Tazuna's family!" Asuma said as he slapped Sasuke hard, knocking him to the floor, "You're lucky I just dealt your punishment. Kakashi has serious abandonment issues and if you did this shit in front of him he'd knock you out and cart you off to the Hokage!" Asuma shouted down at the gennin.
Sasuke flinched back as if every word was one of Asuma's punches, making him stare at the ground in barely hidden anger at being treated like he was something less then a worthless Sarutobi.
Asuma stormed off, feeling Sasuke's glare against his back, 'Even for an Uchiha this little prick is arrogant. By running into those barracks and killing those inside he left himself to face twenty people by himself in an enclosed space, the worst place for a ninja to be fighting in.' Asuma thought with a heavy sigh as he tried to focus on the mission.
Sasuke paused in his glare as he felt someone grip his arm, he looked over and scowled as he saw Naruto helping him, "Get off Dead-last!" Sasuke shouted angrily as he tried to shove Naruto away.
Naruto's immense weight let him ignore the shove as he continued to wrap Sasuke's arm, "Get smart Rookie of the year, you could've died if Sensei hadn't heard the commotion. So shut up and let me help you." Naruto said sternly in the tone Anko used when she was moody.
Sasuke was quietly bristling with anger as he clenched his uninjured fist, "GET OFF!" he shouted as he swung a fist at Naruto's face.
Naruto closed his eyes, letting the fist hit his cheekbone and break Sasuke's knuckle, causing the Uchiha to shout in pain again as Naruto just continued wrapping the wound from earlier, "You should go help Kiba guard the entrance. If we've missed anyone that seems like a threat, we need you and him to take them out." Naruto said as he stood before leaving Sasuke on his own.
##########
Four hours later
##########
The sun had just finished setting as Kakashi and Tsunami set the gennin up for an early rest, leaving Tazuna and Inari fishing off the wharf as Asuma and Zabuza kept an eye on them from the porch.
"If it was really that bad then why didn't anyone else help with your coup d'etat against the Mizukage?" Asuma asked as he sharpened his trench knives.
Zabuza nodded as he sharpened his own massive blade, albeit much slower since his arms were still very weak, "There was people... the Demon brothers followed me without question at the time. There was also the third of their team, a young woman who died on that day as well, fighting for what she believed in," Zabuza began before sighing, "And my best friend; Mangetsu. He was the reason the rest of us managed to escape with our lives, he distracted the Mizukage and I haven't seen him since." he said from his place sitting at the step.
Asuma hummed in thought, "I don't suppose that was Mangetsu Hozuki of the Seven Swords right?" he asked.
Zabuza nodded again, "Yep." he mumbled.
Asuma paused to light up a cigarette, letting Zabuza work in silence for a few minutes before they heard the back door open.
Kakashi stepped out and slouched onto the seat next to Asuma, "Well, the kids are tucked in for an early night," Kakashi said before turning to Asuma, "I think we should make the trip back separately."
Asuma and Zabuza looked up curiously, "Why's that?" Asuma asked.
Kakashi sighed, "Well... considering Sasuke's actions I think it's best to keep him and Naruto apart for one thing since the blonde brat keeps antagonising him," Kakashi began, causing both Zabuza and Asuma to frown, "And another thing is that I think Sasuke has begun to measure himself to you Zabuza-san."
Zabuza raised a brow, "Me? What for?" he asked.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, "Funny thing actually, he thinks that you as an ex-missing ninja is someone who could potentially be on par with his brother; someone he wants to kill. I have a feeling that he'll be aggressive the whole way back if you're with us. Something I want to minimise." he explained.
Asuma nodded, "Alright then, we'll all get ready together but why don't you take your team with Tazuna to the bridge and do the final goodbyes while my team takes Zabuza ahead? That gives us about an hour to an hour and a half head start." Asuma suggested as his smoked.
Kakashi nodded, "Easily done, even more so since my chakra really can't take another push so it's pretty handy for us if you go ahead and clear the way of any bandits." Kakashi said.
Asuma was about to nod again before he paused, "Oh wait, we have someone we need to get from the border tower so we'll be taking the north road anyway." Asuma said.
Zabuza sighed, "More people? Who?" Zabuza asked.
Kakashi blinked at Asuma curiously as well as Asuma chuckled, "Her name is Koyuki, a potential member of the explosive corps of the Rock village come to our side." Asuma explained.
Zabuza shivered, "Ugh, so she's got that mutation with the hand-mouths?" he asked.
Kakashi chuckled, "I met a woman once who had that, but luckily she was trained in arts not of the ninja trade." he said as he continued to chuckle pervertedly.
Asuma frowned at Kakashi, "...Right... so you take the road back to the southern turn-off an hour after we take it to the north, deal?" Asuma asked.
Kakashi nodded, still off in his little dream land as he giggled to himself.
Zabuza chuckled, "Off the battlefield you two seem kind of weird." Zabuza said.
Asuma chuckled out some smoke, "Says the man who was whispering to his massive sword just a few minutes ago." Asuma said.
Zabuza held the blade close to him as he frowned at Asuma, "You just don't have a real connection with your blades like I do." he mumbled before petting the flat side of his blade.
Asuma chuckled as he lifted his own weapons again, twirling them for a moment before he sheathed them in his pockets, "Hmm..." he hummed as he looked down towards the wharf, noticing Inari and Tazuna coming back up towards the house, "Well, looks like it's almost time to turn in for the night ourselves." he mumbled as he stood and stretched.
##########
Naruto yawned as the team got into position, standing in a loose pentagon formation with Hinata in the lead and the Jonin at the back, "The sun's barely up Sensei, how long do we have til we're back home again?" Naruto asked, not sure considering the route they took to get there.
Shikamaru sighed but kept his eyes shut as his shadow was connected to Naruto's, letting the lazy genius walk with literally no physical effort on his part.
Hinata smiled softly, "We'll be back at the tower in a few hours." Hinata said in reply.
The group walked in silence as Zabuza glanced around them, curiously feeling everything throughout the mist with his senses.
After about an hour of travel, Zabuza's gaze shot to the right as he sensed something, though before he spoke up, he noticed Naruto tense and sniff the air, 'Interesting, his sensory abilities are more developed then I thought...' Zabuza thought as he decided to sit back and watch.
"Hey Hinata," Naruto said, "Can you see anyone off that way?" Naruto asked.
Hinata blinked on her dojutsu, instantly spotting the group of four setting up camp about five minutes down the road and slightly off track, "It's just a family. Nothing suspicious." Hinata reported.
The group nodded as they continued along, though Hinata kept her eyes activated just in case for a few minutes.
"...Hey kid," Zabuza said to Naruto, though the whole team listened in, "How'd you sense those guys?" he asked.
Naruto shrugged, "I heard something that way and then I thought I smelt them." he said as he pointed into the shrubbery.
Zabuza nodded as he hummed, glancing over at the smoking Jonin, "So... tell me about the village." he demanded.
Asuma raised a brow, "It's umm... nice I guess. You can make an honest living there and since I'm related to the Hokage I can help you settle in with minimal trouble probably." Asuma said.
Zabuza grunted, "Right... why do you trust me so easily?" he asked.
Asuma shrugged, "Don't you want this to be a second chance for you?" he asked.
Zabuza nodded, "Yeah, sounds like a good idea." he said.
Asuma grinned, "Then I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. Unless there's a reason for me not to, I will trust you." Asuma said happily.
Zabuza chuckled, "Well... thanks then I guess." Zabuza said.
The team continued on, letting the rising sun hit their backs as journeyed closer home.
##########
Knock knock
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his paperwork with a slight smile, "Come on in Kakashi." Hiruzen said as he leaned back to relax in his chair.
Team 7 walked in quietly as Kakashi saluted the Hokage, "Mission complete Hokage-sama. All complications were settled and the people of wave hope to pay you back some day." Kakashi said with an eye smile.
Hiruzen nodded, "Very good, I notice you've returned separately from Asuma's team? Is there any reason I should be worried?" he asked.
Kakashi shook his head, "No, we just thought that my team should go ahead to give you a heads up," Kakashi said with a slightly nervous chuckle, "We have an A-rank Missing Ninja turning himself in for sanctuary and Asuma has a young Rock Kunoichi that's technically now a missing ninja, though that fact may not be known." Kakashi said.
Hiruzen blinked a few times, obviously not expecting that, "Well... Thanks for the warning, I'll see what I can do I guess..." Hiruzen mumbled, "How long till they get here?" he asked.
Kakashi chuckled, "Tomorrow around midday." Kakashi said.
Hiruzen nodded, "Alright then, since this is your first high ranking mission, I want Kakashi to show the three of you how to do a full written report and hand it in to me before the day is out." Hiruzen ordered.
The group nodded in unison, "Hai Hokage-sama." Kakashi said for the team before they headed out together.
Hiruzen watched the trio of Sasuke, Kiba and Ino as they left, 'These kids are doing well, the heirs of the Yamanaka, Inuzuka and Uchiha seem to be a powerful bunch.' he thought with a proud smile.
##########
"What's that boy's story?" Zabuza asked Asuma.
The two of them sat outside as all the kids slept, Zabuza had just spent a week in bed and didn't want to rest any time soon while Asuma thought it best to keep watch.
Asuma raised a brow as he looked over to Shikamaru and Naruto's tent, "Which one?" he asked between puffs.
Zabuza looked up for a moment in thought, "Ugh... Naruto, the blonde kid." Zabuza said.
Asuma frowned, "This isn't because he was the one to land the killing blow on your Haku right? He was just doing his duty." Asuma said.
Zabuza shrugged, "That's over now. I was just wondering about that weird chakra I felt from him on the bridge and if he's picked a speciality as a ninja yet, he seems pretty inclined to be a combat assassin type like you or me." Zabuza said.
Asuma chuckled, reaching for his smokes before offering one to Zabuza, the man shrugging before taking it with a nod of thanks, "Well if you're looking for a student you may have to fight Anko and I for him." he said with a laugh.
Zabuza's back stiffened before he looked to Asuma, "It's not... Anko the Snake Mistress is it?" he asked.
Asuma raised a brow before nodding as he lit his cigarette, passing the lighter to Zabuza as he spoke, "Yeah, that woman and Naruto see each other as a sort of... adopted sibling kinda relationship..." he said before looking to Zabuza, "I'm guessing you know her?" Asuma asked.
Zabuza chuckled, "I guess you could say that. We were both sent to assassinate each other one time..." he said with a self-satisfied smirk, "Well... we managed to get each other on our backs but... it ended a bit differently then either of us thought." he mumbled pervertedly.
Asuma coughed on his smoke before looking at Zabuza while pointing accusingly as he suddenly realised something from a past discussion with Anko, "Holy hell you're mr twelve foot twelve hours ?!" Asuma exclaimed in realisation.
This time it was Zabuza's turn to cough on his smoke, "Wait, what?" he asked, totally confused.
Asuma laughed, "Oh I should've known! The massive sword and the 'demon' references!" he exclaimed before laughing even louder.
Zabuza couldn't help but smirk as he looked up at the sky in reminiscent thought, 'That's interesting... she stills remembers me.' he thought, hoping to run into her again.
###########
"ACHOO!" Anko sneezed, accidentally knocking her plate of dango sticks off the table and onto the floor, "My dango!" she screamed.
Kurenai laughed from her place across the table from her best friend, "Looks like someone's talking about you Anko-chan!" she said with a wink.
Anko looked tearfully at her food before fire sparked in her eyes, "But the only one..." she began before she scowled, "Naruto! I'm gonna kill him when he gets back!" she screamed as she ran out of the store.
Kurenai blinked as Anko left, "Anko...?" she sighed as she rolled her eyes, "It's just a superstition..." she mumbled as she turned back to her food.
"Umm, ma'am?" Kurenai turned to the waiter who had received to job of clean-up, "Will you be paying for that woman? Or..." he asked, trailing off as Kurenai frowned.
Kurenai looked at all of the empty bottles and plates of dango, "Oh damn." she mumbled as she pulled out her wallet.
##########
Chapter End.