Charter 8
Mission to Wave- part 5- The Bridge to the future- part 1
Sasuke was getting irritated. How could that idiot disappear just like that? His been searching for his teammate for about two hours now and still, he couldn't find him. But what happened? What's this ruckus about?
Flashback.
It was three days since that fight with the pirates. Tazuna and Team 7, except for Naruto of course, told everything about their adventure on the sea after their return. Although the jonin-sensei hid from them the details about Kaimu the Devil Eye, not wanting them to know about this man just yet. Naruto was mad hearing they had such a cool adventure and that Sasuke had fought and defeated a group of pirates. Now he felt as if Kakashi-sensei didn't want him to prove himself at all. Even Sakura claimed that he would be of no help at all. That comment was a little too much for the blonde to stand. So he left, steaming in anger.
"You know, Sakura, you went too far with that comment." Kakashi told her, in the way suggesting he was about to lecture her.
"But, sensei, all Naruto ever does is show off. There's no way he'd be useful back then." Sakura tried to excuse her actions.
"You ninjas always show off." Inari accused them. "So what does it matter what he does." Sakura was about to tell the difference between Naruto's ninja skills, or rather lack of them, and Sasuke's skills. But Kakashi was faster to respond.
"That's because Naruto's alone." With that simple start, the jonin caught everyone's attention. "Naruto never grew to know his parents. And no one even wanted to adopt him. He's being treated like a plague. Ignored. Refused acknowledgement of existence. The matron of the orphanage even through him out after she tried to kill him (However, no evidence could be found against her). Even in the academy, no one took interest to help him in his training. There are of course those in the village who try to help him, but sometimes even a clan is not enough. So Naruto wants simply to prove his worth something. Worthy of acknowledging." Inari's ever angry face incredibly softened after hearing Naruto's story. He that he had it rough, but the blonde idiot… Tsunami quickly grabbed him and, in her tears, hugged him with all her might, as if to ensure him, he doesn't have to go through the same.
Sakura didn't seem touched that much. She knew the blonde was an orphan, but in her opinion that was only his excuse for everything. She was sorry for his misfortune, of course, but didn't have that much empathy for him since, unlike Sasuke, he was annoying.
Sasuke however was different. On the outside he seemed untouched, but, truth be told, he had a conflict of emotions on the inside. To be blunt, he NEVER knew that Naruto had it that rough. He was a witness to his mistreat several times, everyone from his class was, but he always assumed it was because of some prank the blond did beforehand. Now that he heard about Naruto's past, Sasuke felt like the dirt. He was no better than the rest of the village, who kept belittling the blonde. That made the Uchiha boy so mad, he decided to run and find him.
And so, he did.
Sakura and Kakashi weren't going to stay behind. Soon, they too ran out to find their comrade.
Flashback end.
The young brunette jumped off the tree and took a look around again. There was no sign of Naruto anywhere. Definitely the blonde didn't want to be found. However, considering the prankster was still a dead-last in the academy, it was only a matter of time before they find him. Wasn't it?
"Oh, Sasuke!" The boy turned around to the person who called to him. It was his pink-haired teammate. "What are you doing out here all by yourself? It would be better for us both to look together." She advised, taking him by his hand and pulling. But to her surprise, he pulled his hand out of hers and glared at her.
"You have no shame, do you? Our teammate is gone. He may be in trouble. And all you think about is this?" Sasuke growled through his teeth. Sakura was confused.
"Sasuke? Why are you mad?"
"DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME!" he roared. "I can't believe you. First you humiliate your own teammate and now, instead of looking for him, you're trying to flirt with me. I can't believe you're this COLD!" he pushed her aside and continued forward. The kunoichi couldn't believe her ears. Was she really that bad as a person?
Naruto was sitting on a rock, all sad. He could hear his teammates further away looking for him. But he didn't want to be found. No, not yet. He was still mad.
How could Sakura say something like that? Him… useless? He wasn't even given a chance. So on what basis she deemed him of no help? The thought made him so mad, he didn't even notice when he punched his fist print in a tree. When he realized it, he was troubled. What if his team heard the punch? No, there is no way that punch could be loud enough. But why take the risk? Maybe they did hear. The blond decided to make a run for it. He WANTED to be alone.
After a few minutes of running, Naruto decided to rest. He needed it. He was looking around. He needed a place where he would be safe from wild animals and his teammates. A few seconds later, he found something. A strange tree. What was so strange about it? Well, it had something familiar to a cave at about half its height. The blonde decided to check it. It was a good thing he could walk on tree, for that tree was ridiculously high. After climbing about 7 meters, Naruto finally reached it. Now he analyzed it. After deeming his hideout good, he entered and relaxed. He wanted to be alone so badly. Naruto masked his hide out with a camouflage blanket and within a few minutes fell asleep.
He looked around. He couldn't believe it. He was back in Konoha, but something was off. The Hokage monument seemed to have more heads crafted into it than usually. However he couldn't tell whose head was it, since it was behind the smoke. That was the second thing. The whole village was burning. Buildings running down and several buildings collapsed. People, mostly the shinobi, were badly injured, but instead of running away, they were standing in place, looking up in the sky. The blond could understand why they weren't running away.
"Now this world shall know pain!" came the words, which sounded to Naruto godly. When he looked up, he saw a figure levitating high above the village. The person before the sun was rising his arms, as if trying to grab the sun it self. Suddenly he dropped his arms. "Divine Repulsion!"
Naruto couldn't believe it. He felt an enormous pressure pressing him to the ground. He shut his eyes in pain. When he opened them, the blond found himself in the sky, free from the pain and gravity itself. Naruto turned around and saw the village below, blown away or crushed. It was impossible to describe. There was now just a big crater, covered by the cloud of dust, which was now swirling and blowing towards the center. The kid blinked a few times, believing he was seeing things, but there, right there, in the center of the crater, the dust created some form of a ring, as the surrounded spot turned pitch black. If that wasn't scary enough, the next thing certainly gave him the goose bumps. There he saw the sharingan. But somehow different. Much darker, in both the color and appearance. As Naruto looked deeper into it, the more evil he saw within it. It was making him sick. The eye seemed to be closing, when the boy found himself back on solid ground, as from the spot, where the eye was, a figure flew out. Naruto recognized it as the one from his previous dream. The same silhouette with wings and "sharingan". The blond looked around and noticed to be in the familiar place.
"This is the end for you." The words were all too well known to the kid. Only this time, Naruto could see clearer the other figure. It was a tall and muscular man with long, straight hair, apparently wearing a horned helmet. The 'horned man' dodged the attack of the 'winged man' and delivered a powerful kick to his gut, sending away, into a tree. The young one could feel the power himself. Being in the presence of this warrior felt… divine. Naruto believed himself to be a little ant compared this man.
When the horned man turned to face the blond, his eyes were blood red with slit irises. Naruto could see pure hate in them. When he blinked, he saw the warrior turned into the blonde's look-a-like, with the exception of the eyes, which remained the same. The fox- container shivered seeing the psychopathic grin on the double's face. His fear grew double the size, when the double's clawed hands wrapped around the blonde's neck, choking him with ease.
"You couldn't stop him from leaving!" the Naruto Double yelled at him with much venom and hatred in his voice, that the prankster genin forgot how to breathe in terror. "You couldn't save her! Every single worm in that village HATES YOU! WHY DON'T YOU JUST…?"
Naruto woke up, screaming in agony, while holding his side, as if someone stabbed him there with a sword. He even coughed some blood. All sweaty and aching, the boy suddenly realized his senses going haywire. He was not alone. As fast as he could, he pulled out a kunai and stood up. He looked around, but couldn't find anyone. But the boy knew someone was around. Unless it was just his imagination. No, it couldn't be. Sensing someone in the area was definitely something he could do right. And yet there was no one to be seen.
The boy stopped wondering about it as he looked outside and found he was out for about three hours. Now it was time for him to go back. He finally felt better. But as he disappeared between the trees, another figure came out from behind that tree, where the blonde slept. The figure scolded the mental self for failure.
Naruto was running like mad. He was certain Kakashi would be mad for his childish act. Well, let's face it. It wouldn't be the first time. The blond remembered all too well all the times his sensei complained about his loud mouth. There was this particular time, namely catching the daimyo's wife's cat the second time, when the mission lasted until evening, because Naruto kept yelling. The mission would've been prolonged, if Kakashi hadn't gagged him. Oh, the kid hoped the jonin wouldn't do something similar right now.
The blond stopped. Something caught his attention. Some strange smell. He followed it and found something that sickened him.
Later, at Tazuna's house.
Everything seemed to be alright, though the fog limited the sight. Still, there was no sign of fighting. No blood, no cloth shreds, no shurikens, no sign of jutsu. But when the blond came closer, the doors were barged. No way. Who would have…? Naruto entered the house and saw some drops of blood on the floor. Somebody was hurt. Quickly he realized somebody was still in the house. Someone was crying. The prankster went inside and took a look around. The source of sobbing was in the kitchen. There Naruto found Inari. The kid was alright… aside from some bruises and a small nose bleed.
"Inari? Are ya alright? Wha' happened 'ere?" the blond asked. Inari sobbed for a few more seconds, before he actually registered Naruto's present. The nine-year-old lifted his head to face the genin, revealing his face covered with a few bruises, tears and snots. Naruto was disgusted by the kid's appearance, but the sight of bruises got the bigger attention. Finally, Inari spoke.
"The… *sob* they came… here *sob* and… *sniff*… took mommy away." Naruto grew furious. He had a pretty good idea who planned all this. How could Gato do something like this? Naruto ran out of the house, taking Inari with him. Luckily, the boy heard the thugs say where they were taking Tsunami to.
With Team 7 and Tazuna, a few minutes earlier.
Being tired of searching for their blond teammate, Team 7 decided to continue their mission. To be blunt, Sasuke, surprisingly, didn't like the idea of leaving Naruto. He wanted to find him first. But Kakashi assured him that the hyperactive genin was quite capable of handling himself. Besides, they couldn't afford to just abandon their responsibilities just because of one, angry boy. Of course, Sakura kept saying that Naruto was to blame for acting so childish, though deep down inside, she was concerned about him. For now at least. And Tazuna was more concerned about the bridge. Everyday the bridge builder would be worried about it. He feared that Gato's men would come and destroy it. That was their only hope for freedom. For better life. Luckily, the bridge would always be still their, with people already continuing their job in order to have it completed as soon as possible. However, ever since the Leaf-nins arrived, the workers' spirits seemed to rise. The jonin sensei figured, that they must have felt save with them to protect. The works were at the better progress than normally. Tazuna calculated that at this rate, the bridge would be ready within a week.
"Well, I'm happy to hear that, mate. Of course it could of have been better if you were to finish it in half the time." Kakashi said, causing the old builder to chuckle.
"Not to worry, Kakashi. We might get lucky and finish the bridge in six days."
The works went on, until something disturbing was sensed by the one-eyed ninja. Soon enough, everyone on the bridge felt it. The cold feeling in the air, and it wasn't a breeze. And before anyone knew what to make of it, a mist began to appear.
Meanwhile, the warehouse somewhere in the forest.
The place was a mess, literally. Holes in the walls, half the roof missing, and rats everywhere, clear signs of salvaging, fire and flooding. The place smelled with dead bodies of animals. Maybe that's what made Tsunami wake up. The foul smell of decaying flesh. The woman looked around once again in hope to find some way to escape. There were many of them, but unfortunately she was tied in ropes and hanging from the catwalk. Her watchers, two of Gato's thugs, were playing cards just to kill some time. She felt disgusted with the fact the was the policy to make Tazuna surrender himself to the local kingpin.
The thugs meanwhile were killing time. They would look at Tsunami from time to time, though it wasn't like she would be able to escape. They were mostly thinking about entertaining themselves with her. Each would even show her a perverted grin to her. Soon enough, one of them, the one with an eye-patch, stood up and walked over to her. He pulled out his katana and was ready to have his fun with her. Tsunami just kicked him in the face, which made the man mad, while his partner, who looked more like a teenager, was laughing. The one-eyed was about to stab the woman's feet to teach her a lesson.
He stabbed… a log?
The two men looked around, and they found the woman, still tied, in the hands of a blond kid with whisker-like birthmarks on his cheeks. Naruto was glaring at them. But the thugs didn't even flinch. Instead, they charged at him, ready to slice him into pieces. But before they could get close enough, the one with the eye-patch got hit with wagon. But to the surprise of the younger man, the rusty wagon was thrown, not pushed, into his partner, who was now unconscious. The teenage-looking man looked in the direction from which the attack came, only to get hit with the frying pan from behind. Before he could turn around, a whip of pure light wrapped around his torso and shocking him, ultimately paralyzing him. Naruto dispelled his clone and untied Tsunami, while Inari, dropping the pan, ran over and hug her.
"Mommy!" he cried, "You're alright!"
"Yes. Yes I am." Tsunami replied, returning the hug. After a few seconds, Inari turned to Naruto, Already tied the thugs with a chain.
"Thanks, Naruto! Thanks for saving my mom!"
"Now ya see, Inari" Naruto turned to face the kid, pointing the lump Inari made on the thug. "This is wha' courage is 'bout. Withstanding the obstacles no matta wha' the odds are." Inari was astonished. He did act brave. He DID what he called foolish. Seeing the blond smiling to him, the boy smiled back crying.
"I'm sorry. I was a cowardly jerk to say all these things to you. I…" he never got to finish, as Naruto ruffled his brown hair.
"Quit complainin' already, brat. I was no better then ya 'til not so longuyago." The blond kept smiling. Inari for some unknown reason felt warm inside. It wasn't the same as with a father. It was different, but still pleasant. As if he stood in the presence of an older brother. Could it be?
"Well anyways," Naruto took off to the exit. "I gotta get ta the bridge or the team kills me! Inari! Watch yer mom, alright?" Inari nodded, just before the blond disappeared.
The bridge construction side.
The mist kept getting thicker and thicker. The workers began to panic. What was going on? Where did the mist come from? Only four people actually knew, or at least suspected, what was going on. And it wasn't good. Before anyone could say anything, the workers fell unconscious, as if hypnotized. The Leaf-nins knew it had to be it- genjutsu. After a few more minutes of silence, broke only by the sound of the sea beneath the bridge and some seagulls, the mist slowly began to disappear, revealing a well know figure, who this time was wearing a black, sleeveless shirt.
"Hello, Monkey. Ready for round 2?" the figure chuckled darkly. Kakashi on the other hand seemed surprise, despite knowing the truth. He whispered, as if trying to comprehend the reality.
"Zabuza."
"The one and only." The master of silent killing said, radiating the killing intent on the group. Then he ran through the sequence of hand seals. "Water style: Water Dragon Missile!" he roared. And soon, a large dragon made of water appeared above him and shot towards the bridge builder and Team 7. Luckily, the jutsu missed. Sasuke however jumped at him and cut his head off. Zabuza turned into water.
"Water clone is hardly a challenge to me." the young Uchiha said with the smirk, causing the pink haired kunoichi to have heart-shaped eyes.
"Wow, Sasuke! You were so cool!" she said.
"That's interesting." A new voice spoke. From behind Zabuza came out the person the silver-haired jonin recognized as the hunter-nin who took Zabuza on that day. "So you managed to defeat a water clone. Not bad, considering its strength is merely 10% the original's power. But sadly, that's as far as you go." The masked one said, causing Sasuke to get annoyed.
"Hey! DON'T YOU DARE TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT SASUKE! HE CAN EASILY KICK YOUR ASS ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE!" Sakura yelled out, getting not response of any kind from the fake hunter-nin.
"Sakura. Shut up about how great Sasuke is." Kakashi said to Sakura with stern voice. "We don't even know how strong this new player is. From what we know, he might be Sasuke's equal, or even superior." Sasuke flinched at the sound of that. But surprisingly, this statement made Zabuza laugh. He was laughing as if told a good joke.
"His EQUAL?" the swordsman asked, "Ha! Good joke, Monkey. But Haku is far stronger than this little student of yours in every single way."
"Is that so, mate? Than you obviously know not of whom this kid is. His name is Uchiha Sasuke, the last of the Uchiha clan, the most elite shinobi clan in Konoha."
Zabuza's eyes were now wide open. He heard about the Uchiha clan being slaughtered five years ago. He didn't know the details, but he always believed that ALL the Uchihas were killed back then. Seeing the last one of his clan before him was like seeing a marvel jewel for the silent kill master.
However, his look of sheer surprise faded, as the look of interest showed up.
"Really now?" he asked. "Then it's a good change to test out the Uchiha blood." He turned to his partner. "Haku! The Uchiha brat is all yours. Have fun with him… and kill him!"
Everyone just flinched at this. Haku on the other hand jumped at Sasuke, pulling out his senbons. The Last Uchiha looked at his sensei, to which Kakashi commented.
"His all yours mate." Kakashi eye-smiled. Sasuke jumped at his opponent, drawing his kunai.
Clash.
The two boys were struggling for dominance. Sakura wanted to interfere, but she knew better than to leave Tazuna unprotected. The two were exchanging blows, making sparks fly with every hit. Kakashi and Zabuza were watching them cautiously, ready to move when needed. Finally, Sasuke saw an opening and attacked, only to be blocked.
"You are foolish to attack someone stronger than you. Give up before I kill you." Haku said in his emotionless manner, making Sasuke smirk.
"Oh and why would I?"
"Because I have two advantageous. First: we are surrounded by water. Two: you have one hand occupied and only one free. Thus, you can't make any seals, leaving you with no way to defend yourself." Haku raised his free hand and ran through the sequence of hand seals, surprising the Leaf-jonin.
'What? One-hand seals? I have never seen anything like that. Come to think of it, I never though it's possible.' Hatake thought, seeing as the water around the two boys began to act weird when Haku finished the sequence.
"Ice Style: Thousand Death Needles!"
To be continued…
Omake
The Third Hokage was finally finishing the paper work. After that, he was going to walk around Konoha and watch the new generation's everyday lives, eat some takoyaki, light a pipe and smoke and relax. Something he didn't had time for in hours.
Finally, there, before his, was the last document to sign. A deal about new goods that someone wanted to sale in the village, but needed the village head's permission. As the aged man was about to sign it, turning seconds into minute, he heard a loud crack. He looked up to see the jonin, who, unfortunately, never opens the doors the way they're made for.
Nekokage Kuromaru.
"Greetings, old chief." He greeted the village kage lazily.
"Kuromaru! How many times do I have to tell you to knock and OPEN the doors?" Sarutobi yelled his question out, making the bold guy raise an eyebrow.
"Why bother with something as impractical as opening a door?" he asked, making the hokage sweat drop.
"Any way, why are you here?"
"Something happened. Argent in fact." The bulky man replied, pulling out a paper sheet from his vest. "I need this signed."
"What is it?" Third asked, seeing some seriousness on Kuromaru's face.
"Something terrible. It concerns my students. So I need these forms signed quickly. IT'S A MATTER OF LIVE AND DEATH!" he yelled out the last sentence opening his mouth ridiculously wider then his jaw should.
Sarutobi wasted no time and signed the paper. Kuromaru quickly took the sheet, bowed and turned towards the doors. But…
"Kuromaru!" The man with feline features stopped just upon entering the hallway. "May I ask what exactly happened to your students? Did they get hurt? Or have they been accused of breaking something?"
Kuromaru turned his gaze to the kage, looking all serious. Quickly, he gave a sheepish smile and began scratching the back of his head, while chuckling nervously. "Actually, Anko and Ryu ate so much dango and sushi, on my treat that I would need to be on the S-ranked assignments everyday for a month to pay the bill. What you just signed is your agreement to pay the bill for me. Thank you!" And left.
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*WHAM*
Third Hokage hit his head against the desk in all frustration. He fell for something so stupid. Now he wanted to sign that last document to have a word with Team 12.
As he has just signed the document, and began to reach for his pipe, a new column of documents appeared before him. What the…? He looked behind the column to find his secretary.
"Oh lord Hokage, you're still hear? Good, because I have new documents for you that you need to sign immediately. All priority!" She said, as two other girls, most likely her assistants, carried in the next documents. Sarutobi sweat dropped at this. There goes his relaxation.
Omake end
A/N. Finally a new chapter. Sorry it took so long, but I lost some will to it for a moment. Plus, I wanted Naruto to sound more original, but have some trouble to learn about the accents. Anyway, hope you're still liking this.
