Chapter 8

A small row boat slipped silently through the waters. Engine's cut they used a bamboo stick to trend the water. Encased with in a blanket of fog they were unseen by enemy eyes that watched in waiting for them. Silently that sat listen to Tazuna story.

Tazuna explained about the bridge he was building and it's importance to his village. The bridge would connect the islands of the Wave Country to the main land which posed a threat to Gato's shipping company. This company was also no more than a front for his illegal drug smuggling operations. He hired Missing-Nin to assassinate him before the bridge could be completed with the bridge the village would no longer be in need of Goto's ships and could prosper .Goto losing his hold over them.

Deep in thought while the conversation was going Naruto spoke to the fox asking."What's going on fur ball? My memories their fuzzy. I'm starting to forget."

" Foolish brat I warned you. The future is changing and with it your memories are disappearing. The future has yet to be written."

" But it can't!" The boy exclaimed " If I can't remember then how will I save Sasuke and everyone else."

" Their nothing you can do,but accept it brat." The fox snorted adding" Here on out you will see changes. Have you already notice the future is taking a different path .Your meeting with Kakashi Your training with the wired Gia and your stronger bond of friendship with that Uchiha brat. Have you even notice you do not act like the sixteen year old you were. You and everything around you is changing.

"What am I going to do ? I don't want everything to happen the same way again."

" I already told you the future is changing get use to it their's nothing you can do." The fox grunted adding."Go away leave me be I have tired of this conversation." Naruto knew a dismissing when he heard one sigh he leaned back against the side of the boat to think.

The entire conversation left Naruto feeling empty. He thought of ways to insure he never forgot ,but writing what he could remember down was a big gamble. One if someone should get a hold of the information it could lead to serious trouble and two even if he did would he believe it or just laugh it off. Just thinking of it gave him a headache as he reached up and rubbed his temple something catching his eye in the water he frowned saying."Kakashi Sensei I think something in the water."

Realizing his mistake to late of leaning over the boat Naruto was pulled over. A thick shimmering green blue tail wrapped around him jerking him under the dark murky blue waters.

"Naruto."Sakura screamed leaning over to look for her friend. Under the water Naruto struggled to get loose his eyes widen at the very large snake like creature opening it's mouth to eat him.

Struggling he broke his arms free reaching up to grab the side of the boat. The hands of his Sensei grabbing his to pull him back in. Naruto was jerked back under Kakashi following with him into the water.

A thirty foot tail wrapped snuggle around him he was jerked by the beast and slammed into it's mouth choking on water. A fierce pain stung his bottom. On the verge of given up to the darkness that pulled on his consciousnesses Naruto was saved by Kakashi .

Caught in a water Jutsu path Naruto was thrown from the water just as the Sea snake exploded . The impact of the explosion sent him sailing upward toward the sky gripping a side of a bridge above him to stop his decent.

Swimming up Kakashi glanced around pulling his self back into the boat he searched desperately for his student. Through the thick mist several hundred feet above him he spotted his student struggling to hang on a wood beam his grip failing.

Knowing at that height the boy neck could be broken from hitting the water he braced his chakra on his feet and jumped over the side racing to catch him. The impact of Naruto body collided with his own sent them under the water..

Breaking the surface Naruto choke out water his Sensei wrapped his arms around him dragging him back toward the boat Sasuke and Tazuna helping him aboard. Kakashi followed behind asking.

" Naruto are you injured."

" What the hell was that?" Naruto exclaimed sitting down he shot back up screaming "AH! " Reaching behind him he jerked something from his bottom glaring at the offending object he growled." He bloody bit me in my bottom."

Sakura let out a scoff that sound vaguely like a giggle Sasuke made something similar Tazuna of course didn't even hide his amusement as he broke out in full out laughter his Sensei saying.'" Well seems your alright."

" Dobe your really are to troublesome. "Sasuke actual laughed realizing what he did he quickly tried to hide it Naruto eyes widen as he exclaimed."You just laughed."

" No I didn't."Sasuke argued

" Yes you did." Naruto argued

" Shut up Dobe your hearing things."Sasuke sulked knowing he had been caught Naruto just laughed and teased him . Shaking his head Kakashi smiled in amusement taking notice of the changes in each one of them.

Arriving soon after to the small island of the wave country the group continued onward .Still wet from his under water adventure Naruto was up front walking the other following when he notice something in the bushes. Frowning he tried to recall a memory,but it was to vague and fuzzy . Nothing seemed to be helping when suddenly something flew at them. Naruto hit the ground when he heard his Sensei shouting. " Get down." Glancing up his jaw dropped catching a sight of a man standing on a sword blade stuck deep in a side of a tree trunk ,he gasped something tugging at his memory" Zubuza Momochi demon of the mist."

Apparently he spoke out loud as he earned everyone attention the man saying."Well I must admit I am surprised a little squirt like you knows me."

Taking to his feet Naruto scratched his head nervously as Zubuza questioned." They teach pathetic ninjas like you about S-class missing ninjas"

" Actually I think I might of saw it in the Hokage scroll or something." Naruto answered adding" Can't really remember I'm not even sure what you done."

"Naruto."he head his name growled out by his Sensei taking offense he exclaimed."What! I was always running around the tower."

" It would seem you and I need to have another chat." Kakashi sighed wonder what other information the brat had privileged to.

"Kakashi Hatake " Zubuza greeted saying."Have you in my own bingo book copy ninja man with a thousand jutsu."

Everyone was impressed even Sasuke not aware of there Sensei reputation Naruto speaking up."Hey you! Are you really a demon?"

Zubuza laughed amused he replied" You amusing brat. Are all ninjas in your village stupid "

" No I'm just unique." Naruto grinned brightly .

Noticing the distraction for what It was Kakashi silently thought once again how sly the boy was motioning for the other two to fall back to protect the bridge builder he used his time to set his attack.

" It took a moment for Zubuza to realize he was being distract swinging around with his sword he growled."Perhaps your not the fool I first believe brat."

" I said I was unique not stupid."Naruto grinned saying."He's all your Sensei." Moving to fall back with the others they watched on as the battle started.

Kakashi glanced at his opponent thinking about the large amount of chakra he was building."What is he up to?" Suddenly he realized calling to his student's in warning."Surround Zubuza he's going to attack him."

Using a formation to surround there client they had no warning the demon of the mist appearing between them striking out he knocked the others away grabbing Naruto he growled."You first then the old man brat."

Kicking out against him Naruto manage to get his freedom. Catching his shoulder on Zubuza sword slicing a deep cut from the top to the front of him. Kakashi moved in Kicking the man away Across the water he sailed. Kakashi moving forward to attack. A blanket of mist covering them.

Sakura moved to question" Naruto are you alright?"

"Just my shoulder nothing to worry about." The blond answered adding" Quickly get back into form."

Both nodded moving in to surround the bridge builder listen to the sound of a battle of water jutsu.

Growling Zabuza sneered" As much as I want to fight you copy ninja I want to kill that brat first. No one tricks me and gets away with it."

" I'll not let you harm any of my comrades and the boy he is no where near your league why fight him when there no challenge."

"Challenge or not I will kill him."The demon of the mist promised charging at Kakashi the battle beginning once more.

Through the mist Naruto and the others tried to see what was happening ,but the fog was to thick and all they could hear was the sounds of water slamming against the ground or against the ocean

" Do you think he's alright?"Sakura questioned Naruto replied."He has a reputation that's got to count for something."

" Idiot."Sasuke grumbled good heartily as he stated."Kakashi isn't going to be easy to kill and even if something happens just so long as we work together our mission won't fail."

"Naruto grinned saying."Sasuke if I didn't know any better I think you have faith in us."

" Oh Shut up Dobe."Sasuke grunted little by little the isolated boy who vowed vengeance against his brother was slipping away becoming a more social able and talkative boy with a better reason to live for his friends.

The mist begun to clear and everyone waited with baited breath Naruto eyes narrowed with the others seeing there Sensei trapped in some sort of water prison held together by the demon.

" You fail Kakashi and now the boy and the old mans life is mine." Zubuza laughed.

" Get out of here! " Their Sensei shouted adding." As long as you stay out of range his water clones won't be able to touch you he can't move away or he will release me."

In Naruto case he wasn't far enough the clone reaching out grabbing his headband pulling him forward Naruto jerked his head back moving away out of danger Zubuza clone tossing his head band to the ground.

"No we won't leave you Sensei ." Naruto growled.

" Your out of your league brat your mission is to get Tazuna home safely that is my orders." Kakashi ordered.

"Naruto's right."Sasuke spoke up Sakura agreeing as she added" You told us a ninja is no more then trash if he forgets his mission,but worse then trash if he leaves his comrades behind."

" We won't leave our comrade behind." Naruto vowed.

Flying forward Naruto grabbed his head band from the ground kicked back by a clone he slid across the dirt. Picking his self up he wiped the blood from his mouth tying his head band back around him Sasuke scolding ."Don't be an idiot Dobe."

" Shut up Sasuke I know what I am doing."

Forming his clone Naruto summoned twenty as he spoke."Sakura stay with Tazuna. Sasuke are you ready to go wild." he added

The boy just nodded Naruto motioning his clones forward all of them overcoming a water clone but was soon shoved back by the demon growling."Your clones mean nothing to me brat give up and die."

flying back Naruto shouted I never give up and I'm not through yet." before shouting " Sasuke." Naruto pulled a Windmill Shuriken from his back pack tossing it through the air toward Sasuke who knew the moment he touch it what Naruto plan was as he swung around sliding his own Windmill Shuriken shouting

"Windmill Shuriken shadow dance."

" You fool you can not touch me with that."Zubuza laughed moving out of the way of the wind mill he clasped it with his hands his eyes widening when he realized there was another he growled. "Good,but not good enough I already said you can not defeat me with such a pathetic attempt."

" That wasn't our plan."Naruto voice growled out a Kunai flicked from his hands shooting out toward the man who had no choice,but to release his jutsu to dodge the weapon that struck his clone dispersing it .

Falling into the water Naruto grinned . His Sensei stood up now freed from his prison."You wrenched brat you tricked me." The demon sneered.

" We all tricked you." Naruto clarified giving credit to the others he retorted." Guess your not as good as you think."

" How did you do it." Zubuza demanded." I didn't even see you henge."He spat.

" I used grabbing my head band as a distraction to get your eyes away from the fact I summoned a clone. Then when I summoned the others I used it as another distraction to place the clone in my place and henge into a Windmill Shuriken placing it in my back pack. I knew as soon as Sasuke touch it he would understand. From there I realized you would let me slip past." Shrugging Naruto gloated." You struck me as an arrogant man and when the time was right I struck out I wasn't fool enough to know I could defeat you. I knew if we were going to survive we needed our Sensei."

"You train your brats well Kakashi I am impressed, but they will die starting with that one." Zabuza growled moving to strike Naruto with his sword he was stopped by Kakashi who swung his hand out catching the sword against his metal panel gloves growling ."Your fight is with me."Before saying."You all make me proud. Each one of you have grown." Ordering." Now move back and let me finish this.

Sasuke and Sakura gathered around Tazuna Naruto trapped on the other side swam out away knowing if he tried for the shore he would most likely get cut down by the sword of the demon his Sensei stated." Your tricks worked once,but it will not work again prepare to fight your last battle."

The three watched their Sensei form hand seal for a jutsu their eyes widen at how fast he moved the same with the demon of the mist as two identical water dragon jutsu clashed the impact crashing back into Naruto pulling him under the water, he pushed his self back up. The battle continued Kakashi freaking the demon out forced the man him to lose his thought . Kakashi beat the man sending him crashing back into a tree before coming at him with a Kunai ready to give the final strike when suddenly from the tree line needles sliced through the air striking the demon .A boy maybe two years older then Naruto spoke from a tree branch.

"You are right Kakashi Hatake this was Zabuza last battle. Forgive me for finishing your fight,but Zabuza is mine to deal with."

The boy jumped from the tree Naruto making shore shouted."Who are you?"

" Careful Naruto that is a hunter Ninja ." Kakashi warned explaining."They are trained to hunt missing ninjas and destroy them to protect there village secrets."

" You are wise Kakashi." The boy bowed speaking." Excuse me I must finish what I have came for."

Naruto thought it was strange that the boy disappeared with the body,but he kept the thought to his self . Kakashi motion for there journey to continue Naruto suddenly didn't feel so good and his body seemed to be paralyzed as he fell forward flat on his face.

" Naruto."Sakura was the first to reach him. Turning him over she cried." Sensei what wrong with him?"

Moving to check his student Kakashi noticed the boys lack of movement. His breathing was shallow and the only injury he could see was the cut in his shoulder that had already begun to heal . Kakashi could even sense a large abundance of chakra so it wasn't chakra exhaustion and the only thing left was poison. Had Zabuza sword been laced with poison." Kakashi wondered thinking " It was possible, but he could not be certain and he debated what to do quickly apologizing to Naruto he lifted his head band uncovering his Sharingan he glazed into the boys open eyes.

Realizing where he was Naruto made quick work of moving toward the fox demanding." What the hell is going on? what am I doing here?"

" Foolish brat you allowed yourself to be poisoned." The fox snapped.

" Poisoned what do you mean poisoned?"Naruto snapped back in question. Kakashi entering the room behind stated. " I was afraid of that."

Turning at the voice Naruto groaned."Ah come on you in my head again."

" Sorry brat I need to find out what was going on?" The silver hair Jounin answered saying." I had a feeling it was poison,but I need to know for sure was it the sword." Kakashi questioned the fox.

" No the wound would have healed the poison is unknown to me and I have not been able to do no more then slow it down . It entered through the boys lower bottom."

"What! ah come on. Naruto groaned exclaiming." Don't tell me that stupid snake fish biting me poisoned me." Groaning again not a bit amused Kakashi stated. It's a start, keep the brat alive while we try to find an cure."

" Move fast he is paralyzed now,but the poison will soon move to his heart." The fox growled in warning.

" This really sucks." Naruto whinnied saying sarcastically." I can see it now ninja dies from fish bite."

" Kakashi shook his head in amusement flicking Naruto's headband he said."Enough with you. Try to stay out of trouble I need to go now."

" I better not end up bed ridden again." He warned

" Better bed ridden the dead." Kakashi stated seriously Naruto just snorted and replied." Not when you have to listen to him all the time. "Naruto complained being smacked by the fox with his tail Naruto rubbed his head and growled."Will you stop that ever time you do that I always wake up with a headache."

" I'll give you a head ache brat." Kakashi heard the fox growl back as he called to his own body.

The return wasn't as painful this time,but still a bit exhausting as he hunched forward his other two student questioned."Sensei are you alright? What's wrong with Naruto?" Sakura questioned

" I'm fine Naruto won't be." Turning to Tazuna he questioned." I need to know about the sea dragon is there a cure for it's poison."

" Naruto was poison by the sea dragon. "Sakura gasped and asked." Kakashi Sensei how do you know that?"

" I took a visit inside the brats head ."

" My daughter will know more then I she works in the field of medicine my house is not to far." Tazuna answered

" Then lets go! Time is of the essence .The poison paralyzed him already it will kill him if we don't move quickly." Kakashi explained with his own concern.

Picking up Naruto Kakashi rushed the group forward Swearing he would not lose another Comrade.