Chapter 7.
(Follows chapter 9, 10, & 11 of the manga)

It wasn't long before team seven found themselves and their client, Tazuna, outside the huge gates of Konoha. Naruko was excited to outside the village and was ahead of the group, it was the first time she had really ever been outside of the village and was just looking around at everything, taking in all the unfamiliar sights around her.

"Am I really expected to place life in the hands of that foolish girl?" Tazuna said, which made Naruko frown unhappily.
"Listen up you old geezer, don't mess with me! I'm a really good ninja!" She shouted. "I'm the cream of the elite, in fact... one day I'm gonna be the next Hokage, so remember my name, Uzumaki Naruko."
Tazuna blinked a little, "A female Hokage huh?!" he said, sounding unimpressed, "The best there is? I don't think someone like you has it in her, and a 'female' Hokage? Unheard of."
"WELL YOU'RE OLD AND STUPID!" Naruko cried, "I am doing all the right things, and when I become Hokage you'll wish you had been more respectful!"
"Respect you? I don't think so." Tazuna scoffed, "Not even if you did become Hokage."
Naruko frowned at this not liking that he said that, her eye twitched, as she struggled to remain calm until... "YOU ARE DEAD!!!" she screamed as Kakashi held her back by her collar.

And so, eventually, they set off for the land of waves, along the way Kakashi explained to them about the ninja world, and five lands of Konoha, Suna, Kiro, Kumo and Iwa, and the five shadows that protected them. Even though the land of waves was not one of the major countries, Sakura did wonder if they had their own ninja. But while they didn't, most other countries had their own small hidden villages, with ninja clans.

"There's nothing to worry about . You rarely ever face duels from other ninja clans while handling C level duties." Kakashi assured her as he gently tapped her head. Of course, Naruko overheard this, and felt a little disappointed in this fact.
But Sasuke noticed something, Tazuna had gone a little tense at the mention of other shinobi.
But it was as they passed a lone puddle on the dry road, that Kakashi's attention was caught.
He slowed down slightly, hanging back, as something, no, someone, began to rise out of the water.

IN an instant two ninja jumped out of hiding, connected by a bladed chain and suddenly wrapped the chain around Kakashi, laughing at their captive as they pulled on it tight, shredding the jounin to pieces.
"M-MASTER KAKASHI!" Naruko cried out as Sakura screamed as they saw their sensei torn apart.
But before anyone could react, Naruko was shocked to find the ninja were now behind her, and just as they began to wrap the chain around her, Sasuke leapt in to action, pulling out shurikin and throwing them at the chain, pinning some of the links to a tree, and saving the blond kunoichi, and before they enemy could pull their chain free, Sasuke reinforced the shurikin by pinning them with kunai, firmly securing the chain that linked them in place.
The two enemy ninja were surprised, and before they knew it, Sasuke was on top of them, landing on their shoulders before kicking them away, snapping the chain from their arms and away from Naruko.
She was impressed at Sasuke's quick moves, but the ninjas quickly recovered, and charged at her, and Tazuna.
Sakura stood before Tazuna, kunai in hand to protect him. Sasuke noticed this and in an instant was in front of Sakura, but just before the strike could happen, the ninja was stopped.

Kakashi stood before them as the two ninja cried out, as held them back without it even looking hard.
Naruko looked surprised, and Sakura relieved. But Sasuke frowned, annoyed that he had to butt in on his fight. Tazuna also looked relieved, they had survived the ninja attack.
"I'm sorry Naruko, I should have acted sooner to help, before you were injured." Kakashi said, glancing to her. "It didn't occur to me that you would freeze up." He then turned to Sasuke and Sakura. "But you two... good job."
Naruko looked on as she stood by herself, he was right, she had froze up, she couldn't do a single thing, yet Sasuke, who had never been in a real battle acted like it was nothing, and saved her life. Even Sakura bravely defended their client.
She looked down, feeling a little ashamed.
"Hey..." Came Sasuke's voice. "Are you OK... you big chicken?" he smirked, and Naruko looked at him annoyed. She felt like she had become some damsel in distress that needed a knight to save her, and it was Sasuke.
As she got mad, and looked ready to fight, Kakashi, with his now unconscious prisoners stopped her.
"Naruko... this is no time for fighting, their claws are poisoned, we have to clean that wound as soon as possible." he said, making Naruko look down at the back of her hand, which had a deep cut on it, and dripping with blood, she hadn't even noticed it. "If we cut it open more deeply, the blood flow will wash the poison away. Just keep as still as possible for now."
Naruko looked nervous, and remained still, as Kakashi went to tie the ninja captives up.

After their prisoners were secure, Kakashi turned to Tazuna.
"Mr Tazuna... we need to talk." Kakashi said, looking serious.
"Wh-what is it?" He nervously replied.
"These are chuunin ninja from mist. Renowned for fighting to the death to achieve their goals." he explained. "They'd obviously been watching and waiting for us."
"You knew?! Then why did you let them attack you?" Tazuna asked, shocked.~
"True, I could have taken them out at any time, but I wanted to find out who their target was." He said as he stared at Tazuna.
"W-What do you mean?!" he asked, getting more nervous.
"Were you the one they were after? Or one of us? Your request was to have an escort against roving bands of thieves and brigands, there was no mention of ninja seeking to take your life."
Tazuna looked serious, but also beginning to look guilty.
"Either way..." Kakashi continued. " this is clearly a B rank or higher mission. "The mission you laid out, to protect you would have been a simple thing... but if you expected an assault from ninja, then it us beyond question that this would have been classified , and priced, to an elite ninja mission." Kakashi frowned a little as he continued to lecture, "You may have had your reasons, but this mission now falls beyond the boundaries of the job we were given."
Sakura stepped forward, now feeling nervous about all that Kakashi was saying,"We're not good enough yet to handle something like this... can we quit?" she said to her sensei, "We'll need an anaesthetic for Naruko's wound, so we can open it up and draw out the poison, so... so can't we return to the village and have a doctor look at it?"
Kakashi looked over at Naruko "This is complicated." he sighed."Should we go back so Naruko can receive medical attention?"

Naruko looked down, their first mission was already a failure?! SHE was the weak link that was going to make them return to the village?
A tear rolled down her cheek. 'Why am I always so different?' she thought as she grabbed a kunai from her leg holster, and raised her hand, 'I HATE not fitting in.'
Everyone gasped in shock as she stabbed her hand deeply, opening the wound, and letting the blood flow out more.
"NARUKO!?" Sakura cried out, "What are you...?! Stop that!!"
Memories of all her training filled Naruko's mind, how much effort she put in, how much time, 'By now I should be really strong!' she thought, angrily to herself. 'But I blew it... even though I've done tons of training everyday on my own, trying to build my skills!"

Naruko turned away from her team as a few more tears fell, and she held the kunai in the wound of her now blood red hand. 'I swear... no-ones ever gonna save my life... I'm not going to be the damsel in distress... I'm never gonna freeze again, or hang back... I'm not going to be out done by anyone, especially not Sasuke.' she then looked at her hand 'I swear it... by the pain in my left hand...'

Naruko the turned to face the others, a determined look in her eye. "I swear... by this kunai... I will protect the old man." she said, "Reporting fit for duty sensei."

They all looked at her, surprised, even Sasuke was shocked to see her do such a thing.
Kakashi smiled though after a few moments, feeling proud of her tenaciousness.
"Naruko... we needed a free flow of blood to clean out the poison..." He began as he walked up to his young female student, "...but you've exceeded the need, you could bleed to death." he chuckled a little. Which made Naruko panic.
"WHAAAA!!!" she cried out, "I don't wanna die."
"Show me your hand." Kakashi asked as he began to look.
"What are Naruko? A masochist? DO you get off on pain?" Sakura angrily said, even for her, it was a moronic thing to do.
Of course, a few moments later, Naruko grew a little more worried when she noticed Kakashi just staring at the wound as he knelt on the ground.
He had noticed it was already healing, in fact the bleeding had already stopped as he applied the bandage.
"It's... a-alright isn't it?" she asked, looking a little white..
"Hmm? Oh... it looks like it'll be fine." he said, as he continued to dress the wound with the bandage.
'I should have guessed.... it's the power of the nine-tailed fox.' he thought to himself.

Tazuna stood by watching as he did, and looked guilty. "Master... err... Mr sensei, sir..." he said, "I... I have something I need to say."
Kakashi stood up, having finished with Naruko, and turned to the client.
"As you guessed this job is more dangerous than you and your students were led to believe, there's... a really scary man who wants to see me dead."
"A 'real scary' man?" Kakashi said, "Who is he?"
"He's a billionaire in the field of marine transport... a man named Gato." Tazuna said.
"Gato?! Of Gato shipping?! The man some say is the richest man in the world?!" Kakashi said, surprised.
"That's the one on the surface." Tazuna nodded, "But underneath, he's a ruthless, murdering, criminal who employs gangs and teams of shinobi, and traffics in drugs and contraband. He lives by every low and vicious trade known to man." Tazuna sighed, "A year ago, he came to the land of waves under the guise of a business venture, before he began to take over, often with violent means, and created a stranglehold over our own transportation and shipping industry, the lifeblood of an island nation like ours, and the source of its wealth. The only thing he fears is the bridge that I am building."
"So... as the architect of the bridge, and it's overseer, you... Mr Tazuna... are very much in his way." Sakura said, working it all out.
"And that means those ninja were working for this Gato." Sasuke added.
"But then why... if you knew you were a target of a thug with ninja at his disposal... didn't you tell us when you asked for help?" Kakashi asked.
"Our... nation is not a prosperous land, even our local lords are poor." Tazuna said, looking down, "And I have n money at all. An elite bodyguard would be more than I can afford.."
Kakashi looked at him, he could understand his problem, but there was still danger.
"But if you all turn from me now, then I'm as good as dead." He said, before grinning, "But oh well, that's not your concern! You won't be there to see my daughter, and ten-year old grandson cry all day, their hearts broken, and you won't mind if my daughter vows and eternal hatred towards all the ninja of your village as she lives her life alone. HECK! Well it's not your fault."
Team seven all looked like they felt guilty, and knew that they were being quilted in to it.
So Kakashi sighed, "Well... I suppose it can't be helped. We'll continue to protect you, at least until you return to your country." he said.
Tazuna was happy, but disappointed that it wouldn't be the whole time, so nodded.

Some time later, the group found themselves on a boat as they traversed the think, fog covered waters that lay between them and the land of waves.
"We'll be able to see the bridge any moment." The boatman said.
And as they all quietly waited, they looked through the thick fog, and soon enough, coming out of the fog was the bridge, still in it's construction.
"WHOA!! IT'S HUUUUGE!!!" Naruko called out, impressed at the sight.
"Hey!! Keep it down!" The boatman said, "This mist may keep us hidden from sight, but we'll be in big trouble if Gato hears us."
Naruko quickly covered her mouth and didn't say another word for some time as they quietly continued on through the thick fog as they moved alongside the bridge.

Soon, they passed through the arch of a smaller bridge coming out at one of the port towns and followed the river to a jetty where they disembarked.
Tazuna turned to thank the boatman for his help, but blinked to see the boatman was already leaving, not wanting to stick around for long.
Kakashi though, was weary, he knew there would be another attack, and this time it wouldn't be chuunin, they would probably be a more elite team.

As they walked, the three genin were walking in the front of the group, everything seemed calm, but Naruko was still being plagued by her previous mistake, and was dwelling on her freeze up.
She glanced to Sasuke a few times as they did, still not liking the fact he had saved her.
Sakura noticed this a few times, and was growing a little annoyed with her, so pulled her to closer so she could whisper to her.
"Listen up Naruko, I don't know what you're thinking... but don't you even try anything with Sasuke, he's mine." she muttered to her.
"What?!" Naruko blinked, "As if.... as if I would be interested in that emo."
"Wh-what did you..." Sakura growled smacking her over the back of the head.
"HEY!!!" Naruko frowned as they glared at each other, with daggers in their eyes.
"Knock it off you two." Kakashi said, "...and pay attention to the mission." Kakashi said, sighing.
Naruko and Sakura both looked away from each other and continued to walk onwards, and Naruko did as Kakashi said, and paid attention to the road ahead, looking out for danger, and sensing something, quickly threw a kunai in that direction, "OVER THERE!!!" She cried, making everyone jump.
Kakashi's expression turned serious as he went to look, and uncovered a stunned white rabbit, Naruko's kunai embedded above its head, and in a tree.
"YOU STUPID BRAT!! DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT!!" Tazuna cried out.
"LOOK WHAT YOU DID YOU MORON!" Sakura said.
Naruko gasped when she saw the rabbit, and moved over quickly to pick it up. "It... it was an accident." she said, "I... I swear... I thought someone was there. Oh... I'm sorry Mr rabbit."

Kakashi though... was still on guard, and suddenly shouted... "EVERYONE GET DOWN!!"

Everyone dropped, just as a huge sword came at them, spinning as it mowed down tree's and flew over their head before sticking deeply in to a trunk.
Kakashi looked up and stared as a man landed on the embedded blade.
The group slowly stood up, not taking their eyes off of the new arrival.
Naruko smiled, this was her chance, but before she could move, Kakashi stopped her.
"Don't interfere Naruko." He said, "This is Momochi Zabuza, he's in a different league from our previous opponents. So give me room."

The three genin all gasped, was he serious?
"And If I have to face him... it had better be like this." he said as he dropped his back and reached up to his hitai-ate ready to move it. "his may get rough..."