Chapter 8: The Land Where a Hero Once Lived

A fresh breeze carried the briny scent of the ocean across the bridge, accompanied by an orchestra of tools and machinery, as the crew continued their work on extending the bridge.

"COME ON, PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT!" Tazuna yelled, waving his arms to direct the crew. "THAT FOUNDATION WAS SUPPOSED BE READY YESTERDAY! GET TO IT!"

Standing on the sideline, Team Kakashi observed the spectacle. The moment the silver-haired ninja was capable of walking about without his crutches, Tazuna had insisted that work was to continue. Kakashi only seemed too happy to get a reason to get up and about.

"IWAKI, GET A PROPER GRIP ON THAT THING, YOU DUNCE!" the engineer loudly ordered. "IT WON'T BITE, BUT IT WILL CRUSH YOUR DAMN FOOT IF YOU DROP IT!" He wiped the sweat off his brow and marched over to the group to riffle through his tools. "I swear," he started. "Sometimes I wonder what will kill me first. Zabuza or keeping this lot from accidentally collapsing the bridge."

"I'm surprised," Kakashi stated.

"Huh? Of what?"

"The materials. Can't help but notice a lot of it is being shipped in." The jonin glanced at a nearby pile of steel beams. "You'd think Gato would just kill the project by denying you resources, not hand you everything you need to build the bridge."

"See, it's all part of the way he runs things. Trying to come off as an honest and legit businessman," Tazuna replied. "Of course, what doesn't help that I've helped sell this whole bridge idea to other investors, so now they're kinda expecting the thing to be finished. If Gato refuses to ship resources in, well, that'll look mighty suspicious. Mind you, shipments are still plagued by unexpected delays, forms going missing and payments mysteriously not arriving." It was clear from the way he said it that he didn't believe for one moment that these things were accidental. "But he can't do that too often either. Makes him and his business look bad. So that's why he's aiming at getting me killed and have it look like he had nothing to do with it. If he breaks our spirits and makes us quit, well, that's not really his fault. And he'll have earned another fat pay check off our failed labour to boot." He shook his head, his hands tightening into fists. "But I won't let him win. If I have to build this damn bridge myself, I will. I'll get it done, even if it'll cost me my life. And if Zabuza gets me, I'll haunt this damn bridge until it's finished if that's what it takes." He pulled a wrench and a screwdriver out from his toolbox. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some bridge-building to do." He turned around and left.

"Man, I don't think anything can stop that guy," Naruto commented, sitting on the railing while kicking the air.

"It is admirable," Sasuke agreed. "If the Sage of Six Paths himself stood in his way, he'd build his bridge right on top of him."

"Still, it's horrible that it has gotten to this," Sakura said, her tone melancholic. "Tazuna deserves better. His entire family does."

"Agreed. But perhaps we can help change things around," Kakashi said. "For now, we can do so by making sure he will not have to finish the bridge as the world's first bridge-building ghost."

A whistle cut through the air and the clamour of work died down, as the builders headed back towards the coast for their lunch break.

As Team Kakashi joined up with Tazuna again, the jonin noted: "Seems like the bridge is still far from reaching the coast."

"Well... I mean, as I said, Gato is doing everything to delay the supplies," Tazuna responded. "Plus, nothing got done while I went to get investors interested. And then we needed you to get back up on your feet. Not to mention..."

They paused, as one of the workers paused in front of them, helmet in his hands. He had an apologetic expression on his weather-bitten face, as he began: "Tazuna... I... Need to speak with you..."

Tazuna raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Giichi?"

"This project... I'm sorry... I been thinking about it," he said, seeming to shrink with every word. "And I have to quit."

The engineer's eyes sparked with suppressed fury, as he took a deep breath. "You too," he stated, in a tone of voice indicating only common decency and some measure of respect for the man stopped him from hurling him into the ocean.

Giichi winced and took a step back at being subjected to the man's hardened glare. "Look, I have my wife to think of. They've started stopping her when she goes shopping, saying that we'd better be careful. You know something will happen soon. Maybe... Maybe we shouldn't keep provoking Gato like this. We'll just..." The words died in his throat at the intensified look he got from Tazuna. The engineer just quietly began walking and stepped around Giichi, before walking off.

"Ta-Tazuna," the man tried. "Look, I'm sorry, but..."

"Just get off my damn bridge, you coward," the bridge-builder said, never once looking at him. "Go home and sit there and rot while Gato squeezes the life out of us all. See what that gets you." Then he walked off.

Giichi raised a hand, as if to say something, then let it hang, seemingly deflating.

Team Kakashi paused only for a brief second, before hurrying after Tazuna.

"Man, if looks could kill," Naruto said. "I thought he was about to deck the guy."

"It would have been well deserved," Sasuke stated. "Cowardice is tantamount to aiding the enemy."

Sakura looked down for a moment. "Still..." she said. "I can't blame him for wanting to keep his family safe."

"Well, yeah," Naruto said. "But I don't think any of them will ever be safe with Gato running things."

"The eternal conundrum of the oppressed," Kakashi noted. "What is the greater risk? To live under an oppressor or to actively defy an oppressor? Gato is playing a dangerous game with these people. Sadly, it seems to be one he's winning."

...

Sasuke felt his energy slip again. He gritted his teeth and tried to refocus. As the chakra bond that glued him to the tree loosened, he realised it wasn't going to work. He lashed out with his kunai, marking the new spot, then kicked off from the tree. He bounced off another and then another, continuing this way down, somewhat lessening his fall. He took a couple of deep breaths, droplets of sweat raining from his brow. He heard a thump and looked up to see Naruto back on the ground. The Uchiha teen scowled and looked up at their respective markers. "This is ridiculous," he hissed unsteadily.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Naruto inquired.

"Are you blind? I'm only barely doing better than you," the raven-haired teen replied frustratedly, gesturing to the trees.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked annoyed. "What, because you're an Uchiha you should be doing much better than me? Is that it?"

"Yes!" Sasuke exclaimed. "And you're the worst student in our class. The absolute worst. But I'm only inches above you. What does that say? That I'm only barely managing to outperform the class clown?"

Naruto raised a finger, then paused. "Ehm... I'm not sure which one of us you're insulting the most right now," he stated uncertainly, scratching the back of his head.

"Whatever. Let's just get back to training," Sasuke sighed, before running towards his tree again.

Not far from the two, Kakashi and Sakura stood by a nearby pond.

"So, I think there's nothing left to gain by having you walk up and down trees," the jonin began. "You have mastered that exercise. So let's step it up. Now, we'll try to have you walk on water."

"Like you and Zabuza did," Sakura stated.

"Yes. It's more difficult than a tree," Kakashi began. "You're working less against gravity, but the thing is, gravity is pretty constant and a tree is pretty solid. No, to walk on water, you will have to constantly adjust your chakra flow. Water is, in a word, brittle and constantly changing. You must adapt your chakra to the water on the fly."

"Alright," the pink-haired teen said and stepped closer to the edge. She took deep breath and focused. Then, she stepped out on the water. She felt the liquid hold underneath her first step, then dared to step out fully. "Wow," she said unsteadily, stretching her arms out to keep balance. "This... This is... Surprisingly difficult... Woah... AIGH!" With a splash, she fell through, soaking her pants to the knees.

"Good first attempt," Kakashi said. "Nothing to do but keep at it and try again and again until you get better. You can't mark progress as easily with this exercise, but I trust that you know you're steadily advancing."

"Of course, Sensei," Sakura said, as she stepped out of the pond. "Okay, again."

...

The next day, as the midday sun shone upon the coastal village Tazuna and his family lived in, Sakura and Tsunami walked down the street.

"Thanks again for coming along," the mother said. "It's so nice with a pair of helping hands. Dad's busy with the bridge and I'd rather not have Inari wander too far from home."

"Oh, no problem. I wanted to get some fresh air anyway," the pink-haired ninja replied. "And I kinda need to rest. Spent so much chakra yesterday training."

"Making progress?" the older woman inquired.

"I think so. I've tried timing myself, but it's a challenge when I also have to concentrate so much," she continued. "Sasuke and Naruto are also making good progress. So we're all getting somewhere."

"Well, that's nice to hear," Tsunami said and directed them into a store. "Let's see what we can have for dinner."

Sakura paused as she looked around. The shelves were almost empty, with only small piles of produce and canned goods on display. "Wow," she said quietly. "I mean, you said it was bad, but..."

"It's another thing seeing it I imagine," the mother said. "I know. We're not starving... Well, not usually. But only just. Oh, potatoes. That's been a while."

The pink-haired ninja bit her lip as she glanced around. Gato was waging psychological warfare. It was obvious to everyone that if he cut off the trade, they'd starve. There was nothing to build a proper supply of if things dragged out.

She was ripped out of her thoughts by the feeling of fingers grasping against her behind.

In one smooth move, she turned around, grabbed the offender by the wrist and had twirled him around, slamming him against the floor and holding his arm up against his back. "What do you think you're trying to pull there, buster?"

The man winced and stared at her in a mixture of shock and fear. The entire shop had gone quiet as everyone stared.

"Please... Don't hurt me..." the man squeaked. "You... You just looked like... You had plenty of money... But... But I'll... Leave you be... Just don't hurt me."

Sakura blinked. "Oh," she said quietly, letting him go. "I thought... You were trying to... Well... Cop a feel."

"What?!" the man exclaimed, as he weakly got up. "I'd never... I..." He looked crestfallen. "I'm just a lousy pickpocket."

"Not used to it?" Sakura said softly.

"No. I used to work down at the docks, cutting fish. But... Well..." He looked down at his feet. "Sorry for bothering you, Miss."

"Huh? No, it's okay," Sakura quickly said, reaching into her pockets. "Here. Take these."

The man stared at the ryo bills she offered. "Are you... Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll get paid when this is all over anyway," she said, pressing them into his hands. "You need these more than I do."

The man's eyes began tearing up. "Thank you," he said shakily. "Thank you so much. I won't forget this."

"Hey, don't worry. Just take care, okay," she finished.

The man nodded, smiling warmly, and began picking out food from the shelves.

Sakura rejoined Tsunami by the desk. "Sorry about causing a scene."

"It's okay. I can understand why he gave you a scare," the mother said.

The old lady behind the desk nodded. "That was mighty generous of you, young lady. I'd offer to let you have these wares on the house, but I simply can't afford such generosity."

"I understand," Sakura said, smiling. "But I appreciate the thought."

Moments later, the two left the shop.

"It's sad," the pink-haired ninja muttered, looking around. "People can't even afford to be decent to each other. I don't think that man ever wanted to steal from people."

"These are trying times," Tsunami agreed.

Sitting on the sides of the street were rows of beggars of all ages, bowls out ready for alms. A young boy ran full sprint down the street with a loaf of bread under his arm. A clerk ran after him, half-heartedly yelling about thievery, as if he was only pursuing out of sheer necessity.

Sakura sighed. "So many people. I could empty my wallet and it still wouldn't be enough to help them all."

"Even if you could give to them all, what would they spend in on? There's only so much food to go around," Tsunami said. "We're just barely scrapping by. I've been helping out as much as I can around town and the farms. Trying to see if we can't just produce a little bit more. I know Dad would like to help, but he has enough trouble keeping people in line on the bridge."

Sakura nodded. "Maybe we can also help out?"

"Just focus on your training and keeping Dad safe for now," the mother insisted. "I know you're ninjas, but you can't be everywhere at once."

"Well... Naruto probably could with his clones," Sakura said.

"Really? He can clone himself?"

"Yeah. It's kinda his speciality. Of course, it's really draining and even he has his limits."

"Well, that's fascinating," Tsunami commented. "Dad's been rather frustrated trying to figure out what a ninja can and can't do."

"It varies from ninja to ninja," Sakura explained.

"Well, that doesn't make it any easier."

"It doesn't for us either. Trust me. That's what makes fighting unknown ninjas so dangerous. You don't know what they're capable off."

"Goes for most people, I would think."

"That is also true," Sakura agreed. She stopped, as she felt someone pat her back. She sighed and turned around. "Yes?" She paused and looked down.

A boy in threadbare clothes looked up at her. "Ehm..." he said nervously, kicking the ground. "Do you... Do you have any... Ehm... Food?"

Sakura blinked. "Food?" she echoed. "Oh, ehm... Let me see..." She took off her backpack and began shuffling through its content. "Well... Hehm... Ah... Here..." She took some things out and handed them to the boy. "I've got some candies," she said. "And these are soldier pills. Do you know what those are?"

"Ehm... No," the boy replied.

"They contain everything you need for a meal," Sakura said. "They don't taste of much though. But you'll feel full. And then you can have a candy for dessert."

The boy's face lit up. "Thanks, Miss," he said, as he ran off.

Sakura and Tsunami watched him disappear into the crowd.

The pink-haired ninja sighed. "Feels like I should be doing more."

"You've helped somebody today," Tsunami said reassuringly. "That's better than nobody."

"Still..."

"That was very kind of you," came a gentle voice.

The two women turned to face it.

The speaker was another woman, swathed in a pink kimono, her face framed by smooth black hair. "I couldn't help but notice what you did for that boy."

"Oh. Well, just trying to be nice," Sakura said shyly, twirling a lock of her hair.

"Not many have enough to allow themselves to be nice," the woman said. "It's become an unaffordable luxury around here."

"That is true," Tsunami agreed. "Ehm, excuse me though, but who are you? I don't think I've ever seen you around here before."

"I arrived only recently alongside some of Gato's hired workers," she explained. "Now I'm beginning to think that accepting work from that man was a mistake. But that is sadly not something I can do much about right now."

"Well, that doesn't surprise me," Sakura commented. "Didn't imagine that everybody Gato hires is a scumbag."

"No. But he does bring in a lot of foreigners," Tsunami said. "I imagine it's so that they won't have any attachment to the land. Natives would probably be more inclined to go out of their way to help their own."

"That does seem to be the goal, yes," the woman agreed. "So, are you both from around these parts?"

"No. I'm from the mainland too," Sakura replied. "I'm one of Tazuna's bodyguards."

"Truly? That's very impressive," the woman commented. "I did hear that he was giving Gato no end of headaches. Must be quite the difficult task."

"Yes. But we'll manage," the pink-haired ninja said, before quietly adding: "I hope."

"Well, it's been lovely meeting you, but I have my own business to take care off," the woman said and gave them a small wave. "Hopefully, I'll see you around." Then she disappeared into the crowd.

...

The sound of scrambling dishes and clinking cutlery filled the living room, as Team Kakashi and Tazuna's family ate their dinner. Boiled rice, potatoes and a bit of fish for everyone.

In the corner of the room, the family's black and white dog Pochi lay sleeping.

"This is really good," Naruto said, after finishing his plate.

"Thank you," Tsunami said happily.

"You've added some spices to the rice," Sakura noted. "It's a good mix."

"Yes, I grow some of my own favourite herbs in the garden. Rice can be a little bland on its own."

"Very true."

Naruto briefly pondered if he should ask for seconds, or if that would be considered rude during the current circumstances. He concluded he should at least wait and see if anyone else wanted more. As he leaned back in his chair, he noticed Inari staring at him. The blond paused, before trying to focus on something else. He hated being stared at that way. Too many bad memories. He tried to subtly look back. Inari had changed his attention to Sakura. Naruto figured the kid was probably just sizing them up because he was concerned, but it still raised his hackles.

"So, how's the bridge coming along, Dad?" Tsunami asked.

"Ah, that damn idiot Giichi quit on me," Tazuna replied.

"Another one," Inari muttered.

The engineer paused. "Bah, it's not like we need him. Guy barely knew what was up and down on a hammer," he said, trying to sound casual. "Honestly, Gato might have done us a favor by scaring him off the project."

"Still, you'll need at least some people to assist you," Sasuke commented. "Your crew already looks strained. I imagine that Giichi wasn't the first."

Tazuna glared at him. "Well, no worries. I'll just get you to help me build it if need be."

Sasuke stared back with a mildly insulted expression.

"It would be good exercise," Kakashi noted.

"Why don't you go back to somehow shoving your food through your mask, Sensei," the raven-haired ninja muttered dissatisfied.

Meanwhile, Naruto started to get fidgety, as Inari's gaze returned to him. Deciding that he'd develop a rash if he tried to ignore it any longer, he finally turned to the kid and asked: "Look, is there something between my teeth or what?"

Inari paused for a moment. "How good a ninja are you exactly?"

"How good a ninja?" Naruto echoed. He smirked. "I'm actually pretty good. Passed the test. Been in a couple of scrapes. Got this awesome technique that lets me turn myself into a small army."

Sasuke grunted a sound of disgust.

"Oh, what's your problem now?" Naruto asked annoyed.

"You failed the exam thrice, before you made it through lucky coincidences," he replied. "And even then, you have the lowest grades of anyone passing this year When we had the bell test, your idea of taking on Kakashi involved running at him while screaming like a madman. Those scrapes were against respectively that idiot Mizuki and some common thugs. Not to mention that ostrich managed to run off with you like you were made of paper."

"Ostrich?" Tsunami asked.

"Yes. It's a large flightless bird," Kakashi explained. "Common around..."

"Oh, I know what an ostrich is," Tsunami clarified, while Sakura began intensely massaging her temples.

"Hey, I managed to wound Zabuza," Naruto fired back at his teammate.

"You did?" Inari asked sceptically.

"Yeah," Naruto replied. "I mean, it was only a light cut on his cheek, but still..."

The kid got out of his chair and walked off towards the door.

"Inari, where are you going?" his mother asked concerned.

"I'm going outside," he replied as he opened the door. "See if we have anywhere to bury these clowns once Gato is done with them." Then he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

"Excuse me a moment," Tsunami said, as she hurried after her kid.

"Now what did you have to go and do that for!?" Naruto erupted at Sasuke.

"Because if I had to sit here for one more second listening to you brag about how awesome you are, I'd have gotten sick," the Uchiha teen shot back.

"I was just trying to cheer Inari up. Sorry if that's just too much for you to handle."

"Then maybe instead of lying, you could have said something actually useful. Like how we have Kakashi along, who actually beat Zabuza, you idiot."

Sakura bit her lip as she tried to ignore the part of her screaming at her to smash them both into the table. Mostly because breaking the furniture would be unfair to Tazuna and his family.

"Well, if it's that obvious, why didn't you just do that then?" Naruto continued.

"Because I didn't see any reason why we suddenly had to play cheering squad," Sasuke returned. "Why are you always like this?"

"Well, maybe I was just tired of seeing two... Two..." Naruto paused and blinked, suddenly staring at Sasuke, as if a light had just turned on in his head.

The Uchiha teen stared in confusion. "Two what? What are you on about you...? Wait..." He paused with an expression of dawning comprehension.

Sakura's eyes shifted back and forth between the two. "Okay, seriously. What is up with..." She stopped with an expression of deep thought, looking to Sasuke.

"Ah. You all finally figured it out," Kakashi stated. "Took long enough."

"I feel like this is all going way over my head," Tazuna commented slightly confused.

"What exactly happened to Inari?" Sasuke asked, turning to stare at the man.

The engineer looked taken aback. "What... What do you mean?"

"Look, Tsunami said this was hard for everyone. And she's right," Naruto continued. "But that's not all. Something happened to Inari, right?"

"And it's also why you got so angry at Giichi, right?" Sakura asked. "Something he said really triggered you."

"Alright, alright," Tazuna said, before sighing. "Give me a moment." He took a deep breath. "It's not a story I care much to talk about. But... You're not wrong. It all started three years ago. Now, we were better off without Gato, but I never said it was paradise. And it just so happens that Inari was targeted by some local bullies." He paused. "Both me and Tsunami had tried to take care of that, going to their parents and such, but... Well, it didn't take. And one day, this one kid and his friends cornered Inari down at the walkways, down by the water. Decided it would be funny to push Inari in the sea." Tazuna stopped, idly pushing a piece of potato around on his dish. "But Inari couldn't swim back then."

"That's terrible," Sakura said. "They could have killed him."

"Yep. And as soon as they figured out he was sinking, they panicked and ran for it. Like bullies always do." The engineer shook his head. "That could have been the end of it. But by sheer coincidence, a man named Kaiza had just arrived on our island and was out for a walk. He was a soldier from somewhere up north, but after finishing his tour in the army, he wanted to settle down somewhere quiet. Anyway, the moment he saw Inari was in trouble, he jumped into the sea without hesitation and fished him out."
"That's awesome," Naruto said. "He sounds like a great guy."

Tazuna paused. "Yep," he said solemnly. "Anyway, he caught up with the bullies and had a serious talk with them. I think almost killing somebody scared them. Or maybe... I don't know. Either way, they left Inari alone from then on. And my grandson... He really started to look up to Kaiza. Sought him out when he was working on the docks, invited him over for dinner and so on. Soon, my daughter and him fell in love and they were married."

"So he wasn't Inari's father," Sasuke stated.

"The only way he wasn't was through blood," Tazuna insisted. "In every other way, he truly was my grandson's father. And Kaiza, well, he soon became admired by just about everyone in the village. I remember this one time, there was this storm. Hit us quite suddenly. The waves smashed the storm gate wide open, threatening to flood an entire district. We didn't even know if we had time to evacuate. But Kaiza, crazy bastard that he was, just wrapped some rope around himself and jumped into the rushing waters, swimming to the other side, then wrapped the rope around the storm gate, allowing us to pull it shut again. Damn bastard could have gotten killed out there, but... He saved the entire district. So many people lived because of his courage." Tazuna's eyes started to mist over and he paused to rub them. "Sorry. Anyway, then Gato arrived. I told you how some people resisted. Well, Kaiza was foremost among them. Organising new businesses, helping out people in need and so on. He wasn't afraid of Gato or his goons. But then... One day... He just didn't come home." Tazuna's voice went hollow. "Gato's men usually try to make it look like an accident. But not this time. This time, he wanted to send a message. Kaiza was found strung up in an alley. Could barely recognise his face. Wasn't even a clean death. Those bastards must have tortured him for hours before finishing the job." Tazuna clenched his fists. "At least I noticed some of Gato's own goons stopped showing. Seems like he went down fighting. But... Ever since that day... My grandson..." He dried a tear rolling down his cheek. "He stopped hoping. Stopped believing anything could ever be right again." The look on his face changed into one of fury and he hammered his fist into the table. "That's why I have to finish the bridge! And that's why quitters like Giichi pisses me right off! Everyone is suffering, but he's only worried for himself. And Kaiza... I will not let his sacrifice be in vain. I will take down Gato, one way or the other."

The others sat silently.

Sasuke stared at his plate, pushing a piece of rice with his finger. "If you need us to help... With the actual building..." he said. "I guess... It wouldn't be a problem."

"Yeah. I agree," Sakura said, her voice hard as steel. "'l'll do whatever it takes to see this through."

"And if Gato tries anything," Naruto growled. "We'll crush him."

...

Haku opened the door and stepped into Zabuza's bedroom. The swordsman sat in his bed, surrounded by books and files he was reading in the flickering candlelight. "You have returned," he stated, eyes glued to the text. "Anything to report?"

"Gato has shipped more goons in. I think he's stepping up security," the androgynous ninja said, as he sat down on the chair beside the bed. "He's also deliberately slowing down supplies to the bridge, as we suspected. As for the ninjas protecting Tazuna, I think they're in way over their heads."

Zabuza absent-mindedly placed a finger on his cheek, where only the barest discolouration hinted at the wound he had received. "Still, they have talent."

"And heart. It is a shame," Haku continued. "But that is the way of the ninja."

The hulking swordsman eyed his protégé for a moment, before returning his attention to the books. "These reports are on the sharingan of the Uchiha clan. Two capabilities are known. Enhanced vision and hypnotic techniques." He paused, looking towards the ceiling. "That slippery eel. He couldn't see the future. He tricked me. Made me uncertain. He's as good as they say. But he has a weakness."

"Oh?" the androgynous ninja inquired.

"You remember Ao?"

"Yes. He was a member of ANBU's hunter corps before he was promoted to advisor to the Mizukage," Haku replied.

"Indeed. And are you familiar with the byakugan?"

"Another famous kekkei genkai from Konohagakure. Belongs to the Hyuga clan."

Zabuza nodded. "During the Third World War, Ao lost an eye. During a skirmish with the Konoha ninjas, he managed to take down one of the Hyugas. He carved one of the guy's eyes out and had a medical team implant it."

"Fascinating. And you suspect that Kakashi's story is similar, since he isn't one of the Uchihas," Haku surmised.

"Yes. The thing is that even though Ao can access the eyes' power, his body can't shut it off. Genetic incompatibility. For the same reason, using it drains large amounts of chakra. So that's why he covers it up most of the time, only revealing it when necessary." Zabuza put the book down and folded his hands. "Kakashi must be in a similar situation. That's why he covers it. It's too draining. And I can use that against him."

"You have a plan then, I presume."

"The fog will be the key. Engaging him in a duel was the mistake. It allowed him to lock eyes with me. But as long as he can't clearly see me, he will not dare even try using his powers. It would drain him too quickly." He paused. "Still... A ninja like him does not survive that long being a one trick pike. So next time, we go in together."

"A most wise decision, Sensei."

...

Naruto yawned as he stepped into the dining room, the morning sun shining through the windows. "Morning, Sensei. Training or guard duty?"

"Training," Kakashi said, not looking up from the book he was reading. "Feel like you're making progress?"

"Yes. I think I might even manage to get to the top today," the blond said excitedly.

"Good to hear," his teacher noted. "Sasuke said the same thing."

"He did? Where is he anyway?" Naruto asked, looking around.

"He finished his breakfast half an hour ago and headed out."

"What? Oh, he's just trying to get ahead so he won't have to admit how good I am," the blond teen pouted as he sat down. "The other day, he was all like 'Oh, it's so shameful that I, a great Uchiha, is doing so little better than you'. He's so pompous."

"Is that so? Perhaps he just has very high standards," Kakashi suggested.

"Well, he doesn't need to be so rude about it. Bushybrows has high standards, but he's also really humble," the blond insisted, before grumpily biting into a piece of toast. He soon finished and headed out with a: "See ya, Sensei."

"Was that Naruto?" Sakura asked, as she stepped into the room.

"Yes. Him and Sasuke have already headed out to train," the silver-haired jonin explained. "Speaking of which, how are you doing?"

"Better. I can stand on water pretty much indefinitely," she said. "I'm currently trying to see for how long I can walk. I keep falling through, but I can walk longer and longer each time."

"Good to hear." As the pink-haired teen sat down to enjoy her breakfast, Kakashi packed the book away. "Now that we've got a moment, I'd like to discuss tactics with you. You seem to be quite well informed in that regard."

"Sure, Sensei. Where would you like to start?" Sakura asked.

"Let us start with a simple question. What is the manji formation and how many people should use it?"

"The manji formation is a simple protective formation. We even used it to protect Tazuna when we first encountered Zabuza," the pink-haired ninja explained. "The idea is to cover as many angles as possible to prevent incoming attacks, with the one you protect in the middle. Four is the maximum number of participants. Any more and your risk the protectors getting in each other's way when the attack does happen."

"Correct," Kakashi agreed and nodded. "Now then, have you ever heard of the thirty-six stratagems?"

"Yes. Legend attribute them to Indra, the son of the Sage of Six Paths, but since most of the stratagems have names that refer to much later events, that's probably just a myth."

"Really? Okay then. Number five."

"Loot a burning house. Attack when the enemy is already in trouble, although one should take care to not be caught up in those very same troubles."

"Number twenty-nine."

"Deck the tree with false blossoms. Basic principle of ninja tactics really. Make something worthless look valuable or something harmless look threatening."

"Number twelve."

"Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat. Keep an eye out for extra advantages. Don't let your focus on the goal become tunnel vision."

"Hmm, that was all very correct." Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "You're well-read aren't you? Most of your classmates won't even seriously study these things until they've already become ninjas."

"Well, I have supplemented my reading," Sakura admitted. "I finished the books we needed and figured I might as well find something else."

"Interesting. I might actually have some extra exercises for you then, when we get home," Kakashi said, rubbing his chin. "I'd like to see just how far you've come."

...

Naruto briskly stepped through the forest, determined to go all the way. He noticed something colorful in the corner of his vision and paused. A beautiful woman in a pink kimono was picking herbs from the forest floor. She looked up, her face framed by her hair. "Oh. Hello there."

"Hey there," Naruto said as he approached. "So... Uhm... What are you doing out here all alone? Is everything okay?"

"I'm just gathering medicinal herbs. Some of my associates are rather accident prone," she replied. "And who would you be?"

"I'm Naruto. A ninja," he replied with a slightly goofy smile. "Ehm... Do you want a hand?"

"That would be delightful," she replied.

Naruto immediately crouched, inspected the basket for a moment to see what she was gathering, then began picking. "So... You from around these parts?"

"No. I came in with some of Gato's hired men," she replied. "I must say, things around here are rather dreary."

"Yeah? Well, you can thank Gato for that."

"So I gather. It has made me reconsider my decision to come here." She sighed. "But not much I can do about that now. I just hope things around here improve."

"Don't worry," Naruto insisted, pointing at himself with his thumb. "Me and my friends will take care of that."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. We'll break Gato's monopoly. Then he'll lose his power. Believe it."

"Well, that is reassuring to hear. I hope I'm not preventing you from working by taking your time," she said.

"Nah. I was on my way to train, but I guess this is kinda training too," he replied nonchalant. "How many herbs do you need?"

"Well, I think I have just about enough," she said, getting back up and dusting her kimono off. "So, beyond liberating island nations, what does a ninja like you do?"

"Me? Well, right now, I'm going to get stronger. And then, I'll become Hokage. Believe it," he insisted, as the two of them began walking through the forest.

"Hokage? That's your village's leader, isn't it?" she inquired.

"Yeah. Everyone looks up to the Hokage. When I become Hokage, everyone will have to respect me," the blond explained.

"Is there... Someone special you want to respect you?" she inquired.

"Som-someone special?" Naruto asked. "What exactly are you getting at?"

She smiled. "I just wondered. Having someone special ennobles the soul. But perhaps you're not there yet."

Naruto went silent, fidgeting with his fingers. "I mean, maybe there is," he muttered. "Not like it's that important."

The woman giggled.

"Hey, what's so funny?"

"You're adorable."

Naruto blushed heavily. "Am not," he muttered.

"Someone special doesn't just have to be... Well..." She giggled again at Naruto's reaction. "It can be a close friend or family for example. Who matters to you?"

"My family does. I think Iruka kinda counts as that by now." The blond looked uncertain.

"If you think of him as family, then he surely must be," the woman insisted. "Family is much more than just blood."

"You got anyone like that?"

She paused, looking lost in memories for a moment. "Yes. They are my family, even if we aren't related." She paused and smirked. "So, do you think this Iruka counts?"

"Well... He's always kinda been like a big brother to me." He leaned his head back against his arms. "When he's not being my teacher, of course. So yeah."

"I see."

"And then there's my friends of course. And teammates," Naruto continued. "I guess even Sasuke counts."

"Counts for what?" the Uchiha teen asked, as he slid down a tree.

"None of your business," the blond immediately replied.

"Whatever. So, you finally decided to show up."

"Yeah. Thought it was only fair. You know, to give you a head start." Sasuke glared, causing Naruto to smirk in satisfaction.

The raven-haired ninja huffed and asked: "So who's this?"

"Oh, I ran into her. Helped her pick some herbs. You know, being a nice guy and all," he responded proudly.

"Oh, sorry, I'm afraid my appearance has misled you. I'm actually a man," the androgynous person clarified.

"SAY WHAT?!" Naruto exclaimed in surprise. "But you're even prettier than Sakura!" He paused, his face slowly reddening at the realisation of what he just blurted out.

"Uhm... I mean... That's... I meant that..."

"Why thank you," the feminine man giggled, as Sasuke face palmed.

"Ehm... I... Training... Yes... Bye," the embarrassed ninja quickly fired off, before charging full speed at his tree.

"Six Paths, what a doof," Sasuke groaned.

"Perhaps. But he's a real nice one," the man said. "So, you're Sasuke I take it."

"That would be me, yes. You should be careful wandering about," he said neutrally. "With Gato's goons prowling around, it isn't safe."

"Oh, I can take care of myself. But thanks for your concern," the pink-clad man said and turned around. "Anyway, I better be on my way. Have fun training."

"Sure. Whatever," Sasuke said and turned around. "Stay safe."

...

Haku walked down the street, hair still down and the pink kimono still on. He noticed the glares he occasionally got. He felt kinda bad. Most of them could probably only dream of affording themselves some nice clothes. He wanted to help, but there was only so much he could do at the moment. He grasped his now empty purse. So much was becoming so much less. He hoped that he would be able to convince the Mizukage to invest in the island, once their mission was done. It would be unorthodox, but he felt that they would owe the citizens that much at least. He paused, as he heard a commotion up ahead at the entrance to the city's bathhouse.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" a large, muscular man said, leaning over a kimono-clad woman.

"I said, Nishitouin doesn't want you as a customer," she said, trying not to let fear creep into her voice. "You'll have to choose someone else."

"Aw, that's adorable. Playing hard to get, is she?" The man laughed. "Was I a little too rough last time? Well, I'll be real gentle this time, I promise."

"I'm sorry, but the answer is no. You'll..."

The man grabbed her kimono and pulled her closer, scowling. "Listen here, cunt, I get to pick whatever girl I want, understood?"

Haku frowned and began walking.

"But..." the woman tried.

"No buts. I work for Gato. You know who that is, don't you, you dumb whore?" the man asked, flecks of spit hitting her face. "I can just go back to base, round up a bunch of guys and then we'll just come back here and have some real fun with you all. How does that sound?"

"You..." she tried.

"Yeah, so you better tell Nishitouin that she better get her tight ass to the massage room for some private time with me, or I will..." He felt someone push against him as they passed. He looked up from the woman he was holding and watched the pink-clad person walk away. "HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU STUPID BITCH! OR YOU'LL GET FIVE ACROSS YOUR UGLY FACE!" He snorted and returned his attention to the bathhouse representative. "Now, as I was... I was..." He paused, a strange expression on his face. He let her go and stumbled back, clutching his chest with shaky hands, a look of mortification manifesting. Then he tumbled over.

The woman stared. A senbon had been jabbed into his back.

"Nagao, are you okay?" another woman asked, as she rushed out. "We heard him yelling. Did he hurt you?"

The attendant looked up, briefly spotting the pink kimono in the crowd before it vanished. "I think... Someone was looking out for me."

The other woman stared at the downed man. "Should we get help for him?"

Nagao stared at him in disgust. She smirked cruelly. "Give it a couple of minutes. Just so we know he really needs help. After all, doubt a guy like him wants some dumb whores getting their hands all over him for nothing."

...

The one-eyed bodyguard sat at a bench by the docks, watching the various workers milling about. Not a single one was a native, all of them having been ferried in by Gato. He scoffed. The magnate sure was putting a lot of effort into making the natives feel unwelcome in their own home.

"Yo, Waraji. Catch."

The bodyguard looked up and caught the can of beer being thrown at him. He opened it and took a big gulp of its cool content. He dried his mouth with the back of his hand, burped and said: "Thanks, Zori. That hit the spot."

"I imagined as much," the bodyguard with the beanie said and sat down with his own can. "So, what do you think of this gig?"

Waraji took another gulp. "It fucking sucks."

"Really? I thought you'd love to visit a foreign land, get to oppress foreign people, all the while being yelled at by an angry midget," Zori commented sarcastically.

"I knew the moment I laid my eye on that shrunken motherfucker that we made a mistake signing up," the one-eyed mercenary continued. "And when he started talking, that just confirmed it. It's like nails on chalkboards decided to knock up a duck. And not in a happy way. That was angry hate-sex all the way through. Then they poured the misshapen result of their disgusting union down the throat of an egotistical circus clown, gave him way too much money, and fucking presto, Gato was born."

"That is scarily accurate," the other mercenary admitted after a brief moment of consideration. "So, what are we going to do about it?"

"What can we do? He's got us by the fucking balls," Waraji said. "I don't have the pocket change to go back. Have you seen those prices?"

"Absolutely overblown. I mean, free for employees, but I think we'll lose that privilege if we want out," Zori said. "Doesn't help he docked our pay."

"Assclown. What he'd think would happen, provoking a burly beef like that Zabuza guy?" Waraji said exasperated, throwing his hands in the air. "Shitstain's lucky the big guy didn't just press him together like a harmonica."

"Man, could you imagine the sound?" the bodyguard with the beanie asked and shuddered. "No thank you." He paused. "You know, a lot of those toughs seem to think this is a cushy job."

"That's because he's hiring a bunch of assholes who didn't get to be the playground bully back in school and now are looking to compensate." Waraji spat at a nearby shrubbery. "Dumb bastards barely know how to hold a club without mashing their own noses to pulp. But it's enough to keep the people in line."

"Yeah. And for everything else, he's got mercenaries like us and Zabuza," his companion stated.

"Not for long with that attitude. He docks my pay again, I'll deck those dumb glasses right off his stupid face. Does he seriously think he looks fucking intimidating in those? I've seen puppies more threatening than that suit-clad dick waffle."

"Indeed. Some of the others expressed similar sentiments. And I suspect Gato has noticed." Zori took another sip of his beer. "Only reason I can think off why he's suddenly getting so many new guys in. I hear he bought the surplus population of several prisons looking to get rid of some of their inmates."

"Of course he would. Well, you know what they say. Money makes the whole damn world spin." He shook his head. "Fucking cheers I guess."

"I would, but..." Zori pointed.

"To fucking Hell with it, what now?" his tattooed companion groaned.

Gato was marching towards them. His right arm was still wrapped in a cast after Haku damaged it. "You two," he snapped. "I've been looking for you."

"We're on break, Boss," Waraji said. "We checked the times and everything."

"Whatever. I have a special assignment for you two."

"Oh. That's different," Zori noted.

"Zabuza and his team will soon be ready. But I don't trust that oaf to do anything but bungle this for the third time. So I've brought in some guys to mop up when he fucks up again."

"And, what, you want us to join in?" the tattooed mercenary asked.

"No, you idiot. I need leverage in case it doesn't work out. So once Zabuza heads for the bridge, you'll head for Tazuna's house and pick up his daughter and grandchild." Gato turned around. "If Tazuna and his bodyguards prove too much trouble, I'll exchange their lives for his."

"I see," Waraji muttered.

"It does seem a bit outside of our contract," Zori noted.

Gato turned and glared at him. He scoffed, before continuing with: "Pull this off and I'll overlook your earlier mistake. And give you a nice bonus on top. That should aptly cover going outside the contract." Then he marched off.

"Everything's about money with that gimp," the one-eyed mercenary said and finished his beer. "Now we have to go kidnap a child and their mother. Bah."

...

Zabuza slowly moved his sword, his actions framed by the orange light of the setting sun. As he carefully repeated his moves, he focused on the strain in his muscles, trying to feel if he had truly recovered. Slowly he turned, mimicking a powerful swing. If there was any damage left, it could interfere if not discovered ahead of time.

"Sensei, if that's how you plan on taking on Kakashi, we have bad news for you," Gozu commented, him and his twin playing cards at a nearby table.

"Yeah, he'll have enough time to go back to Konohagakure, file a report and come back before he even has to worry about dodging," Meizu added.

"If you two chuckleheads are so bored, there are plenty of floors to wash," the hulking ninja responded.

The door to the room opened and Haku stepped in.

"Oh, excuse me, miss," Meizu began. "That's a mighty rowdy neighbourhood you've wandered into."

"Hello to you too," the androgynous ninja replied, as he began setting up his hair.

"Anything new?" Zabuza asked, still going through the motions.

"I can confirm that Gato has hired many new men and that they are exactly the sort of scummy types we suspected," Haku explained. "I saw one of them threaten the workers at the bathhouse."

Gozu tsk'ed. "Those nice people at the bathhouse are so friendly. Who'd ever want to hurt them?"

"I'll tell you who," Meizu said with a grin. "Somebody with a death wish. So, Haku, did you leave anything for us?"

"You can always attend his funeral if you so desire," he responded.

"Damn, Haku. Learn to share."

The kimono-clad ninja ignored him. "I also managed to contact some of the other members of Kakashi's team. They seem to be optimistic about their prospects. But they are still learning to walk up trees with the help of chakra."

"You're kidding!" Gozu exclaimed. "Sensei, how did they manage to get the better of you?"

"Don't underestimate them," Zabuza insisted. "What the brats lack in experience, they make up for in determination." He paused, eyeing Haku.

The androgynous ninja noticed the glance he got. "I can do my job, Sensei," he insisted. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Doesn't that sum up this whole stupid mission?" Meizu asked.

"Yeah. Maybe we can get screamed at by Gato some more before we leave," Gozu grumbled. "That guy sure does think he owns the world."

"That he does," Haku mumbled and moved over to the window. He stared at the horizon, a contemplative look on his face. "But I will say one thing," he continued, turning around. "It is my sincere belief based on my observations that the only people who even come close to approaching our levels are still unaffiliated mercenaries. I am starting to suspect that Gato engages with ninjas as little as possible and that most likely, the villages would want nothing to do with him."

Gozu smirked. "I like the way you're thinking, Haku."

Meizu continued with: "Yeah. We're the only ninjas he's got. And we want him dead too. Especially once that land is legally ours."

"So, you have a recommendation?" Zabuza inquired.

"Yes," Haku affirmed. "Taking out Gato would be no more than a C-Rank mission."

A predatory smirk manifested under the hulking ninja's bandages. "Accepted."

...

Kakashi closed his book and eyed the window. "It's getting kinda dark. If they don't get back soon, I should probably go pick them up."

"That sounds like a good idea," Tsunami, who was cooking, said. "I'd hate for them to have to eat cold dinner."

"Eh, they're ninjas. I'm sure they can handle cold food," Tazuna said.

"I doubt it," Inari muttered, scratching Pochi behind the ear.

That's when the door opened, allowing Sasuke and Sakura to help a thoroughly exhausted Naruto inside.

"You look like you've been chewed on by an angry shark," Tazuna commented. "What happened out there?"

"I managed to get to the top of the tree, so of course, this idiot had to burn almost all his chakra just to prove he could do it too," Sasuke complained, as he and his pink-haired teammate helped the blond down into a chair.

"And did he make it?" Kakashi asked.

"Oh, yeah," Sakura said. "He actually did. Then he fell down from the tree from pure exhaustion and Sasuke had to catch him to prevent him from cracking his skull open on the ground below, but he did it."

"Next time, I'll let him fall. See if that will finally knock some sense into him," Sasuke said, as he found a chair to sit in. "As if I'm not exhausted enough already without having to babysit that moron."

"Whatever. We did it," Naruto managed, a broad grin on his face. "Let Gato and his men come. We can take them."

"Because you can climb a tree?" Inari asked in disbelief. "You think that's all you'll need to take on Gato? He has an army of thugs who'd kill you just for the fun of it. Have you even been paying attention?"

"What? Of course I have," Naruto insisted. "It's not just climbing a tree. It's also chakra management. Really important basic skill."

Inari stared. "You want to go up against Gato and you're still learning the basics?"

"Uhmm... Well..." the blond tried.

"What about the rest of you? Is there any one of you who's actually competent?" the boy asked the others, sounding almost like he was pleading for them to confirm it.

"Now, now, Inari," Tazuna tried. "These ninjas are highly skilled and got me safely all the way here."

Inari scoffed. "I heard you talk with Mom. You said they got lucky and it was only because Zabuza gave them a chance that he didn't end up killing you all."

Sasuke glanced at the engineer. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Tazuna just sighed and shrugged while glancing at the ceiling, as if hoping for a sign from the heavens.

"Well, I guess me and Sasuke have some areas we're better than Naruto at," Sakura said speculatively. "It's hard to say if we're better though. But we do have Kakashi though. He's real famous."

Inari lowered his head, his eyes hidden behind the brim of his hat. "But he's just one man."

"Hey, one man can do a lot," Naruto tried.

The kid looked up at the blond and the ninja froze. There were tears in Inari's eyes as he just glared at him. "You're wrong," he quietly said, before jumping out of his chair and storming out of the room.

"Inari!" his mother called.

"I'll handle it. Just take care of the food," Tazuna said, as he jumped out of his chair and ran after his grandson.

Silence reigned for a few seconds.

"Sorry," Naruto muttered. "That was probably my fault."

"No, it's okay," Tsunami said, as she returned her attention to the food. "Inari really wants to believe you can help. It's just... Well..." She looked speculative.

"That my students come off as a trio of untrained monkeys?" Kakashi asked.

"I tried to put it in a more polite way, but yes."

"You always have our back, Sensei," Naruto muttered annoyed.

"There's not much we can do," Sakura sighed. "Inari is right. We're not very impressive. This mission is way too big for us."

Sasuke folded his hands. "Then we adapt. That's what ninjas do."

"Let's just hope we can do that before Zabuza shows up again to kill us," the pink-haired teen pointed out.

...

Zori and Waraji stepped out on the street.

"Today's the day," the beanie-wearing mercenary said, as they began walking. "Zabuza's heading for the bridge, Gato is rounding up his goons and we're going to kidnap a child."

"Just so we're clear, we're not adding child abduction to our list of fucking services," the one-eyed mercenary grumbled. "I'd up and quit if I had enough money to get off this stinking island."

"Yes. Unfortunately, Gato is the one with the money," his companion added.

They continued in silence, heading out of the town. As they walked along the coast, they suddenly heard a man's voice up ahead, pleading: "Please. We don't have any more." This was followed by the sound of someone getting punched.

"What the fuck's going on?" Waraji asked and spat in the bushes.

"Sounds like someone's getting roughed up," Zori commented.

"No shit. Let's check it out."

They rounded a corner and paused to observe the scene. Four toughs had surrounded a family. The mother lay on the ground, several fresh bruises marring her skin, her daughter clinging to her and crying loudly. The man was being held by two of the brutes, blood flowing from his broken nose.

"This isn't enough to pay the toll," the goon who had just punched him said.

"I didn't know there was a toll. Please, I can go back for more money. I'll pay whatever you want. Just please don't hurt my family."

"Too bad. There's a penalty for not paying the toll." He punched the guy in the stomach, forcing him to gasp for air.

"Hey, maybe those two can help make up for it," one of the others said with an unpleasant grin, eyeing the downed mother and daughter. "What do you say? You'd save some money."

"No. Please."

"Shut up," the goon said and punched him again. "You don't make the rules. You don't have the money, so you don't get to decide."

"Okay, what the fuck is this?" Waraji asked, as he and his companion approached. "What are you shitheads talking about? There ain't no toll."

"What's it to you?" the punching goon asked. "Just mind your own business."

"You mean like you're not doing?" the beanie-wearing mercenary asked.

"Oh, I see how it is," the leering thug said. "Look, go find your own. We've called dibs on these ones."

"Yeah, no, I think I've heard enough from you assholes," Waraji snarled. "You let them go now and I might just be too much in a hurry to rip your fucking guts out and feed them to you."

"Hey, what's your problem?" one of the brutes asked. "We work for Gato too, you know."

"Our problem is a quartet of bullies who apparently can only compensate for their shriveled genitals by beating up helpless civilians," Zori replied.

"You're just real eager to get murdered today," the punching goon snarled, as he companions threw the man to the ground. "Hope Gato won't miss your sorry faces around here."

Waraji and Zori said nothing, placing their hands on the hilt of their blades.

The thugs drew their weapons, a mixture of clubs and short-swords, and charged.

Zori focused on the first one to come at him, their eyes meeting. The goon froze as the mercenary's glare intensified. He felt nailed to the spot, the gaze seemingly freezing his blood.

The mercenary drew his blade and swung it in a single fluid motion. The paralysed goon stumbled, his head hanging down his back, only connected with a bit of skin and sinew, as blood poured from his opened arteries.

Waraji drew his blade, blocking another thug's club. He grinned, as he pressed the weapon back. "You shouldn't have done that," he said to her with a wicked grin. "Now you've got my blood boiling." He exhaled a small cloud of steam, as his skin seemed to redden. With a roar, he forced his blade down. It went straight through the club and the woman behind it, bisecting her from shoulder to thigh.

A third goon came at Zori, swinging an iron club at him. The beanie-wearing mercenary stepped aside, easily evading, as Waraji approached from the flank. With practiced ease, the two simultaneously ran their swords through the guy from both sides. He coughed as blood filled his perforated lungs. The two withdrew their blades, letting him dump to the ground. The last goon paused, eyeing the corpses.

"Well?" Waraji asked with a smile. "Don't you want your turn?"

The goon turned and ran.

"A little bit of brain in that one," Zori said, as he drew a napkin from his pocket and began cleaning his blade. He eyed the shocked family. "Sorry about exposing you to that. Would have preferred to scare them off."

"Tha-thank you," the woman said. "But... You work for Gato..."

"And if you think that makes us a pair of fucking douchebags, I can comfort you with the fact that serving that dumbass is its own punishment," the one-eyed mercenary stated. "Take care." Then they walked off. "Seriously," the tattooed swordsman started. "Where does Gato find so many pricks?"

"I imagine like he found us," Zori responded. "Putting up an announcement."

"Yeah, but what kinda fucked up announcement does it have to be to get these fuckheads?" the man inquired. "'Looking to hire absolute assholes for general acts of wanton fuckery. If you cannot imagine yourself feeding a baby to a rabid dog, don't apply.'"

"Something like that, yes."

...

A masked Haku, the Devil Twins and Zabuza sat in their boat, the hulking ninja steering it across the waves with his chakra.

"So, today's the day," Gozu said.

"Wouldn't it be hilarious if it turns out Tazuna has taken the day off?" Meizu asked. "All this work and he's home snoozing."

"I'd be laughing."

Zabuza's headpiece began beeping. The swordsman grunted and picked it up, receiving the call with the press of a button.

"WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN RESPONDING TO MY CALLS!?" came the furious voice of Gato, causing Zabuza to lean away from the receiver with an annoyed look. "YOU BETTER GET TAZUNA THIS TIME! THIS IS YOUR THIRD AND LAST CHANCE! FUCK THIS UP AND THE DEAL IS OFF! YOU HEAR ME?!" The swordsman just glared at the headpiece like it was a particularly annoying bug. "ANSWER ME, ZABUZA! STOP IGNORING ME THIS INSTANT! I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY MORE OF YOUR ATTITUDE, YOU COLOS..." The rest of the tirade was ended with a crackling of static and shattered plastic, as the hulking ninja casually crushed the item in his hand.

"Seems like there was a disturbance on the line," Meizu said.

"Everything involving that gnome is disturbing," Gozu added.

"That is indeed true," Haku noted. "Now that he has brought in a veritable army of henchmen, I really do fear for the villagers' safety."

The Devil Twins exchanged glances, each sprouting a malicious smile.

"Well, it'll kinda be like cleaning up, right brother?" Gozu asked.

"Getting rid of all the goons? Yeah, we'll sweep the streets clean," Meizu added.

"We'll practically be taking out the garbage."

"And getting rid of Gato will be a relief."

"What are you two on about now?" Zabuza asked.

"Simple, Sensei. Killing Gato should be a D-rank mission," Gozu explained.

"And we'll throw in kicking his mooks out as a nice bonus," Meizu added giddily. "Since we're moving in, it'll only be right with a show of neighborly goodwill."

"A D-Rank mission for taking down the leader of a continent spanning business empire," Haku summed up. "That is unorthodox to say the least."

Zabuza mulled it over. "I'll allow it," he finally said and looked up, as they steadily approached the bridge.

...

Naruto groggily opened his eyes, blinked and sat up. The four had borrowed the living room to use as a bedroom for the last several days. But he found himself alone amid mattresses, pillows and duvets. He got up, his nightcap dangling between his eyes, and found his way to the kitchen, where Tsunami was washing the dishes. "Morning."

"Oh, good morning, Naruto," she replied. "Slept well?"

"Like a rock," he replied. "Where are the others?"

"Oh, they left."

"What?"

"Yeah, Kakashi said you'd probably be too tired for guard duty anyway, what with how you pushed yourself yesterday," Tsunami explained.

"Seriously!? They left me behind!?" Naruto exclaimed as he hurried back into the living room, where he quickly exchanged his pyjamas for his regular uniform. "Can't believe it. I'm absolutely fine and they just ran off."

"Do you want breakfast?" Tsunami asked, as Naruto came barreling out again.

"I'll buy something down there. See ya," he quickly said, before slipping out the front door. He rounded the house and sprinted through the woods, aiming to take a shortcut through the wilderness. He kept running for several minutes, his chakra helping him sustain a steady speed. Finally, he burst back out onto the road in an explosion of leaves, almost charging into an older couple.

"Oh, hey, sorry," he quickly said.

"I'd say," the older woman replied, grasping her chest. "You almost gave me a heart attack, Sonny boy. I thought it was some of Gato's men."

"Yeah. Like those two other fellas with the swords," her husband added.

"I'm really, really sorry," Naruto said. "I'm just late. Have a nice day." Then he jogged off.

The couple was about to move on when he jogged backwards back to them. "I'm sorry," he said. "Could you repeat that?"

"Repeat what?" the man asked.

"Did you say something about someone with swords?"

"Yeah. Both armed. One was this tough looking guy, covered in tattoos and the other had this really creepy stare," the woman said. "Asked us where Tazuna lives. I'm just glad they didn't shake us down or anything."

"Oh no," Naruto said, looking back from where he came. "I bet they're after Tazuna. But he's on the bridge. But there's still Tsunami and Inari. Thanks, I gotta go." Then he ran back into the woods.

...

Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna walked towards the end of the bridge.

"Where the Hell is everyone?" Tazuna asked, looking around. "HASHIMOTO!? MIBU!? TAKANASHI!? HELLO!" He paused. "Can't all be late."

"Maybe Gato's men finally scared them off," Sakura said, drawing her kunai just in case.

"Or something else happened," Sasuke added. "No signs of fighting though. So I doubt they were killed." He paused. "Look."

The others followed his gaze. Slowly, mist crept up over the edge of the bridge, gliding across the concrete in a fine layer. The air started to chill and visibility slowly started to fade.

"So, it is as I feared," Kakashi noted. "Everyone, defensive formation." He and the two others surrounded Tazuna, eyeing the construction site around them.

"I was really hoping you were wrong on this one," the engineer sighed.

A throaty chuckle echoed through the misty environs. "Sorry about cancelling your workday. They all just ran for it when they saw me." Steps echoed in the air as several shapes moved through the mist.

The hulking form of Zabuza emerged, his students flanking him. "Missed me?"

"Like a bad rash," Tazuna commented.

"Look, it's the masked ninja," Sakura said. "Kakashi was right. They are allies. And they've brought those two along."

"Great. Now we've got to deal with all of them at once," Sasuke commented, his grip around his kunai tensing.

Haku observed them. "You do not have to die today," he stated. "Surrender the bridge-builder and you may live to fight another day."

"Hah. You wish," Sakura replied. "We're not letting Gato win."

"Seems like they wish to fight," Meizu noted.

"That's good. I've wanted a rematch," Gozu added.

"I see. Then I will respect your decision to stand in our way," Haku added.

"And this time, there'll be no holding back," Zabuza added with rising excitement in his voice, all while slowly drawing his blade. "There's blood in the water today, boys. Let's hunt."