A/n: I do not own anything except my OC Nelrim.
I'd like to say, thank you all who are watching this story.
Sorry that I've been gone for a long time, I've been trying to come up with something unique for Naruto. Needless to say, I think I've got something. You'll just have to wait and see.
Now on with the show:
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Chapter 6: A Fight
The group were surrounded by a mist.
The killer intent was raised even more, making all but one genin and Tazuna hold their breath.
'I can't take it,' Sasuke thought, 'This atmosphere makes me want to kill myself. I have to get away. I have to stop it!' He brought out a kunai to stab his own throat.
"Sasuke!" Kakashi called out. "Don't worry, I'll protect you with my life, I wont let any of you die." With that the genin breathed easier.
Naruto, on the other hand, was trying to pinpoint the enemy's location.
An mocking laugh echoed in the air."There are eight places in which the you can hit to kill. The brain, kidneys, spine, liver, lungs, clavicle vein, jugular vein, and the heart. Which one will I go after?"
Naruto, as hard as he could, couldn't pinpoint the man's location. It was like the fog made an echo sound all around him. Sure he knew futon jutsu, but only minor ones. None of the ones he knew could displace enough air around them to lift the mist.
He suddenly felt a bigger presence behind him. "Now, the old man will DIE!" As Zabuza let his presence be known to be INSIDE of the formation.
Naruto froze.
'How did he get there?!' his mind screamed.
Just as Zabuza was about to deal the fatal blow, Kakashi stabbed the nuke-nin in the back with a kunai. The nuke-nin just chuckled. "Good job Copy Ninja."
Kakashi's eyes went wide. Why? There was water, not blood, leaking out of the Zabuza.
'Of course, he didn't get in the middle of our formation, he just made a clone pop up here.' Naruto thought.
Zabuza's sword came from behind and stabbed straight through Kakashi. "But not good enough.... What the.." Kakashi began to melt into water as well. A kunai was then being held to the nuke-nin's throat.
"What was that?" Kakashi asked rhetorically.
Zabuza chuckled. "To have been able to copy my water clone technique at just a glance. That was very good." Zabuza used one hand to swing his mighty sword backwards using the hilt for the hit. It hit Kakashi dead on, and sent the copy nin flying into the nearby lake.
When Kakashi popped his head out of the water, he felt something was off. 'The water doesn't feel right.' But before he could pursue the thought anymore, Zabuza appeared next to Kakashi and did 10 hand signs in less then a second, and held his hand next to Kakashi. "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu." (1)
A sphere of water enclosed itself around Kakashi. "This technique makes a prison out of water, as hard as steel. Don't think you can get out, Monkey." Zabuza raised his free hand, and made half a ram sign. A clone assimilated out of the water. "Now watch as I tear through your little play ninjas."
The clone moved toward the group. Kakashi decided to yell out, "Kurenai, get all the gennin and the old man out of here. NOW!"
Kurenai was about to comply when-
"KAI!"
-she felt wind pass right by her, and saw a blur of grey.
It was Naruto. He was moving a lot faster then she thought he could move. He destroyed the clone in three seconds. It melted into water, as Naurto stared down at the lake, or to be more precise, at Kakashi.
"If there's one thing I've learned by being with my team, it's that you shouldn't leave anyone behind." Naruto declared.
Zabuza chuckled.
'When did Naruto get so fast!' Hinata thought. She had seen the whole endenvor with her Byakugan. She couldn't keep up with his moves.
"You're fast for a pipsqueak." Zabuza said, with his head tilted to the side.
A tick mark appeared on his forehead. "WHY YOU BASTARD! YOU DARE CALL ME SMALLER THEN A BUG!?" (2)
Zabuza laughed loudly.
Kakashi just watched, and hoped and prayed to whatever god that was listening would keep no one from Konoha got killed.
Zabuza made the half ram sign again, and three more clones popped out.
Naruto calmed down. He lowered his voice so that only Sasuke could hear. "Sasuke, can you throw a windmill shuriken with precision?"
Kina, who was on Naruto's shoulder suddenly realised what Naruto was up to.
Sasuke just looked at Naruto, and slowly nodded.
"Good, I have a plan then." He put a scroll down on the ground. He waved his hand over it. Two windmill shuriken popped out. "Throw these at the real one."
When Sasuke caught it, he realized one was slightly heavier then a normal one. 'What are you up to?'
Naruto took the lighter one in his throwing hand first. Naruto smiled. "Shadow clone Jutsu!" He called out. Three Clones popped out, and ran at the clones of Zabuza. "NOW SASUKE!"
Sasuke jumped up, and flung the first one. At first it looked to be heading for the clones, but as it angled out, it went straight for Zabuza.
"Aiming for the real one, eh?" Zabuza reached forward. "It wont work." He caught it with ease. He heard the same sound that came from one again. "Oh shit!"
The shuirken drew closer, and closer.
"NOT!" As Zabuza jumped right over it. The nuke-nin smirked... that is, until he heard a pop from behind.
"GOT YOU!" Naruto yelled, as he threw a kunai from behind Zabuza.
"WHAT!?" Zabuza ran through his choices. He felt he only had one. Dodging. Zabuza quickly moved to one side, releasing the water prison.
A splash was heard as Naruto landed in the water. "It's your turn, Kakashi!"
"Thank you, Naruto." Kakashi said back. 'Smart minature Minato.' he smirked in his mind.
Zabuza just laughed. "So what if you got out." He threw the windmill he caught earlier, but it poofed out of exisence. "What?"
"Oh, sorry," Naruto called out, "That was only a shadow!"
"Grrrr," Zabuza was about to go kill the little brat, but he felt KI coming at him.
"Sorry, Zabuza. But your fight is with me."
"Hmph, Doesn't make any difference." Zabuza was making hand signs for a water jutsu.
When he reached the final sign, he looked up, only to see Kakashi was holding the same sign.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Both of them called out.
'How!? How did he know which-'
"-Jutsu too use?" Kakashi finished his thoughts. The two dragons smashed into each other, creating a spray to hit everyone.
Zabuza was starting another set of handseals, only to stop, as Kakashi finished before him.
"Water Style: Tsunami Jutsu." Kakashi called out.
"C-Can you see the future?" Zabuza asked, intimidated.
"Yes," The water around Kakashi lifted up, "And I foresee your death."
The jutsu hit Zabuza head on.
As the water cleared away, a pummeled Zabuza laid back on a tree. He looked half out of it. "I'm not done ye-" Three senbon needles appeared in the nuke-nin's neck. He blacked out.
'What the heck?' Kiba thought.
A young man with a white mask came down from the trees. "Thank you for wearing Zabuza Momochi out." He went over to the dead body. "I was afraid I would have to take him on my own."
"No problem." Kakashi responded. He started walking towards land. Once he reached land though, he collapsed.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura yelled out. She ran over to him, Kiba following shortly after.
"He's alright." Kurenai said, looked over him. "He's just used over used his chakra."
Both gennin sigh with relief.
Kurenai looked up to the hunter-nin, "You can dispose of the body now."
"I thank you." She went over, and picked up the body.
Kurenai's went wide. "WAIT!" she called out, but it was too late, the hunter-nin was gone. "Dammit." She picked Kakashi up. "Tazuna, I hope your house is nearby."
Tazuna numbly nodded, still shaken from the KI that lingered in the air. He looked towards the direction of his house, and pointed, "That way."
Kurenai nodded. "Sasuke, Naruto. You two up front. Sakura, you're on the left with Kiba, and Hinata and Shino on the right. I'll trail behind, carrying Kakashi." She huffed a little.
"Um, Kurenai," Naruto said. Two clones popped up. "I'll get my clones to carry him. We need you to free to move about."
Kurenai nodded. "Okay, but your clones walk next to Tazuna."
Naruto nodded. He looked to his clones, and they moved to pick Kakashi up. One by the shoulders, the other by the legs.
–
Kakashi slowly came to consciousness. The first of him to come back was his sense of feeling. He tested his body subconsciously. 'Good, I'm still all here.' He moved his right ankle. 'Shit. I must have sprained falling down.'
Next to come back was smell. It smelt like an old house.
After that, hearing.
"...-ou think that Kakashi-sensei is okay?" It was Sakura's voice.
"Yea, Kurenai said it was only chakra depletion. He should be up soon." Said a voice he recognized as Kiba.
"Hn," … Sasuke.
Kakashi slowly opened his eyes.
Kiba spoke up, "Well, speak of the devil." He grinned. "Welcome back, Kakashi. Had a nice nap?"
Kakshi slowly got up. He winced once. 'Great, chakra depletion, plus soreness. Just great.' he though sarcastically.
He looked around the room. "Where's Team 8?" He asked.
Kiba jumped for a second, "Whoops, almost forgot, I'll go get Kurenai, she wanted to talk to you as soon as you got up."
Kiba left the front door.
"How long was I out?"
"A couple of hours." Sakura said. "In all honesty, you shouldn't even be able to move, Kakashi. You suffered from severe chakra depletion."
"I'm a jounin. It's what we do."
Kiba came back in with Kurenai behind him. Kurenai was holding a crutch made of wood.
"What is it, Kurenai? Your eyes are telling me something is wrong." Kakashi said in a light tone.
"Well... I think Zabuza is still alive."
"WHAT!?" The sound came from the hallway, as the rest of team 8 came into the room. "What do you mean, he's not dead!? We saw him get nailed in the neck." Naruto declared. "How in the world is he alive, Kurenai-sensei?"
Kuenrai just shook her head. "Tell me. What did the hunter-nin use for a weapon?"
"Um, wasn't it senbon?" Hinata asked.
Kurenai nodded. "Correct." She looked over to Shino, "And what are hunter-nins supposed to do to the dead body?"
Shino figured it out some time ago. "They are supposed to dispose of the body on sight, to make sure no secrets ever get out."
"So, what does that mean?" Kiba asked.
Kakashi, even though he passed out, figured it out. "The hunter-nin picked up the body. He didn't dispose of it, and the senbon can be used to put someone in a near death state."
Kurenai nodded.
Tazuna came in. "Whatever's going on, I don't care. I'm just up here to tell you that I'm going to the bridge tomorrow to start working on it, so that I can finish my super bridge."
Kakashi looked at his client. "We fear that something came up. That nuke-nin from earlier might still be alive."
Tazuna went wide-eyed, but nodded. "Fine, but I have no doubt you can protect me. Well, enough to keep me alive." He chocked up how they figured it out to 'Some ninja thing.'
Tazuna left the room.
Kakashi looked back at the gennin, then at Kurenai. "Kurenai-san. How far are they into their chakra exercises?"
"I started them on water walking some time ago, but it seems that Naruto has already finished that."
The team 7 gennin looked at Naruto. "What do you mean 'chakra exercises?'" Kiba looked at Kakashi. "I thought we already learned how to use chakra."
Kurenai looked at Kakashi with surprise. "Just what have you been teaching them, Kakashi? They don't even know tree climbing?"
Kakashi sighed. "Team 7, come with me." He got up, and winced.
"Oh, here." Kurenai gave Kakashi a crutch she had with her.
"Thanks." Kakashi got up, moved slowly. "Oh, by the way. Naruto."
Naruto looks up. "How far are you into your chakra exercises?"
"Um, I think I've almost got point balancing done."
Kurenai and Kakashi both looked surprised. Kakashi thought for a second. "Clones?"
"Yeap." Naruto nodded.
"Fox?"
Naruto looked at Kakashi for a second. "How do you..."
"I'm friends with Sarutobi-sama." He took out a scroll. "This was to never be opened, unless we are to work with you. Seeing as how you are on our mission, I deemed it necessary."
Naruto nodded. "I understand the reason, and precautions."
Kakashi looked over to the fox behind Naruto. She was looking at him with wary discretion. "Don't worry, I know she's good." The fox relaxed a little.
All the rest of the gennin from team 7 looked at Naruto with confusion. "Wha-"
Kakashi interrupted. "S-class secret." And with that, he walked off, making the team 7 gennin rush to catch up.
Shino wasn't surprised by this because.... well, let's be honest, he's an Aburame.
Hinata, she was curious, but was used to Naruto being full of surprises.
Naruto turned to Kurenai. "Does that mean you know as well?"
"Yes, Naruto." Kurenai said.
"How many people know?" he asked.
"You, that fox, Hokage-sama, Kakashi, now, Gai, the toad Sannin, and me."
"Wait, why Gai?"
"Second to the Hokage, he's the strongest Shinobi in the entire village."
Naruto nodded, 'They're just making sure Kina and me don't go off.'
'Silly,' Kina thoughts were projected into Naruto, 'They still fear me. Not that I blame them.'
Naruto shook his head. 'Maybe they're just keeping their political asses out of trouble?'
'Could be,' she thought back.
Team 8 then looked up at Kurenai.
She stood for a minute, then said, "Seeing as how Kakashi is going to train them, we're going to take turns training and keeping guard."
The three gennin nodded.
Naruto was about to ask something, when they all felt a presence near the door. It was a kid.
The kid looked at the ninjas hard, then ran off.
"Who the hell was that?" Naruto asked out loud. Shaking his head. "So Kurenai, how are you going to train us?"
"Well, Seeing as how Naruto is already halfway through point balancing, I'll let him train on whatever he wants. You two," she pointed at Shino and Hinata, "are going to finish up water walking."
Naruto sat for a moment. "Hmm, the only thing I can do out here is leaf balancing and chakra hops."
"Leaf balancing?" Hinata asked. "But I thought that was an academy level training for chakra."
"I thought so, too. But the version I'm doing is a little above water walking in difficulty."
Shino spoke up. "Chakra hops?"
"Um, the guy I learned it from said this exact line. 'The guy who made this up either has to be an incredible thinker or a completely crazy moron. Knowing this guy, he's probably the latter of the two.'"
–
Somewhere in an alternate universe, a guy with dark glasses sneezes. "Some pretty girl must be talking about me."
"Yea right." Said a person who looked strangely like Naruto, but a little more buffed, and no fox extensions.
"What was that, minion number Q? Did you say something?"
'Minion number Q' was seething. "For the last time, I'm not your 'minion number q'!"
"HA! You do know that Q is not a number!"
"But.." Q responded... "Oh, nevermind." (Seriously, Third Fang is awesome)(3)
–
Back in our universe.
"Ooookay." Kurenai said. "Well, I wish you luck on your exercises."
"Kurenai," Shino spoke up. "You also said that we are going to take guard duty."
She nodded. "Yes, that's correct. The first day, I'll do guard duty, then Naruto, then Hinata, and last is Shino. The cycle will repeat until the bridge is completed."
"How will we contact one another, should a problem arise?" Shino asked.
Kurenai smiled. "Use these."
She handed a communicator to each of them, followed by a rocket flare.
"If you find that it's an emergency, and out of range of our communicators, use the flare to signal us."
The gennin took them, and stored the flares away, while putting the communicators in a safe spot.
–
I'm stopping here for the time being.
Again, sorry for such a long break. I was searching for a new thing for Naruto, and I'm even more firm on using it for uniqueness. So far, I'm not very unique.
One: Bite me if I got this one wrong, and I decided I'm doing all the techniques in English... too much translating...
Two: FMA reference XD (I DO NOT OWN FULL METAL ALCHEMIST!)
Three: I'm dead serious, look up his story if you haven't yet. He needs reviews more then I do.
'yet again, with a little extra help' is his story.
That's all for now. See ya next time.
