Chapter 9: The Journey to Wave

Naruto stood before the doors of the mission hall early enough that no one was inside. He had done just was the Hokage had instructed and went home to pack for a long trip, about three weeks worth of food was packed neatly in a storage scroll resting in Naruto's right pocket and all his gear in another scroll in his left pocket. With everything in a scroll it made for a lighter trip, and they would be able to move quickly wherever he was headed. Checking the time and finding that he had at least two more hours until the rest of team seven showed up he sat in the doorway and closed his eyes.

Maybe they'll show up early. Leaning back against the wood of the door, he got comfortable for a long wait. At least I know by tonight I'll be gone. That thought put a smile on the young man's face, and he started to drift to sleep, as he had been too excited at the possibility of escape to sleep properly the night before.


Kakashi stood in front of the sleeping kid and couldn't help but smile under his mask. Two days in a row? Next he'll be showing up for my training as well. "Hey Naruto. Sleeping we-" It didn't take much from Kakashi to get Naruto to his feet, but he hadn't expected a kunai to be in the boys hand when he came up. Quickly realizing what was going on, Naruto put away the kunai and gave a smile.

"Hey Kakashi-sensei. Where's Sakura and Sasuke? We've got a mission planned right?" Kakashi thought the last bit seemed kind of forced but ignored it. Maybe he's trying to get along better with everybody.

"Headed up now. Thought I'd mix things up and show up ahead of you three and give you all a surprise, but looks like you had the same idea."

"What surprise are you talking about Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura had just made it into earshot and caught their conversation, dragging a very sullen looking Sasuke along with her. "Not another Tora mission right? I thought we had just gotten that demon to calm down!"

Giving her a reassuring smile he calmly explained, "No, that's not the surprise. Now that you're all here anyways let's head inside. You'll figure out what it is once we've gone in." Before Sakura could ask for more he pushed open the doors and Naruto and Sasuke followed behind their team leader.

Walking in the three genin immediately noticed the difference in the mission hall as the Hokage was seated in the center of the table with a proud Iruka on one side of him and the regular chunin they were accustomed to seeing on the other as well as someone they had never seen before standing off to the right by himself.

"This is the best you could scrounge up? Two punks, a bubblegum kunoichi, and a cyclops? I paid for ninja not a sideshow!" Everyone's attention turned to focus on him but under the withering glare of the Hokage he quickly turned away and took a swig from his flask grumbling to himself.

"Good to see most of the team is already here, so we'll start with introductions. Team seven this is Tazuna, a talented bridge builder from The Land of Waves. He has asked for a team to escort him from our village back to his home. Tazuna this team is more than equipped to handle a C-ranked mission." The Hokage gave a genuine smile and then turned back to address the team.

"Finally, something more challenging than pulling weeds." Sasuke spoke first from the group and was shocked when instead of Sakura, Naruto agreed with him.

"And no more chasing after Tora either. We're ready for more."

"We can get this C-rank done no problem thanks to Sasuke-kun!" Sakura pumped her fist into the air and Kakashi just smiled, proud his team was agreeing on something. The Hokage passed the mission scroll to Kakashi and after a few private words released the team with the condition to meet Tazuna at the main gates in one hours time.

"Alright guys, back for about a two weeks of travel and any other necessities you think you'll need." Kakashi stressed the last part and took off himself to grab his equipment.

"Sasuke-kun do you need any help with packing or getting some gear?" Sakura dropped the not so subtle hint, and was promptly rejected by Sasuke turning to go without her. She gave a small sigh and looked at Naruto expecting him to ask her for ramen or see if she wanted help. Instead she flinched and just barely caught two scrolls that had been tossed at her.

"Storage scrolls. I made them and had a few extra." Without another word Naruto followed Sasuke's lead and simply turned to go. He had to go pick up Anko after all. She may not like it but she was stuck with the team. He just hoped she wasn't too pissed he hadn't gone back to the Forest of Death after his meeting with the Hokage.

Taking off for the red light district he passed by a few of Konoha's shadier people but oddly enough Naruto felt more comfortable around them then he had in the "better" part of town. All too quickly Naruto was standing in front of the bar and had just enough warning to dodge out of the way as a rather large gentlemen came sailing out the doors upside down, followed immediately by two right sided and walking lackeys. So she IS here... and drunk. This is going to go great for introductions. Please don't be super pissed drunk... Pushing open the door Naruto looked to Anko's usual spot and was surprised to see Kakashi and Anko laughing together.

"There's the gaki!" Anko waved him over with a bottle of sake and Kakashi seemed to just be having a water. "Didn't show up to training and then gets out of it by getting us all a mission. Pussed out of a little rough training?" She drank straight from the bottle and laughed happily.

"Uh... Anko... Don't you think it'd be best to meet the team sober?" Kakashi smiled but it was obvious he was a bit nervous with Anko.

"Sober, shmober. If they don't like you drunk, they don't like you sober. Besides they don't have to like me, I just have to keep gaki from fucking up too royally." Another swig and Naruto couldn't help but crack a smile at her antics. She was sober, but only Naruto was positive about that.

"Well how will you do that drunk Anko?" Anko paused for a moment, seemed to contemplate a response, and turned to Naruto.

"Don't fuck up." Anko grinned wide and so did Naruto, leaving an exasperated Kakashi to walk off and to his own devices. "Jeez, it's like he can't tell I'm not drunk."

"Well you do exist in a state of hungover or drunk Anko, it's natural to assume." Naruto smiled as she dropped the bottle on the table and whipped out two cups. "Celebrating my first mission huh? Little early ain't it?" Naruto reached for the offered cup but Anko swiftly downed both cups.

"Nope, getting ready for some babysitting bullshit. Think I can get a couple of these to go?" Anko leaned in a bit to ask, with a smile and Naruto figured out what it was she meant.

"Forgot to pay your tab again?" Her happy smile and refusal to deny it confirmed his suspicions and only made him shake his head in mock wonder. "How is it I end up paying off your drinking every time?"

"Cause you're buying drinks for a pretty lady." She winked and without hesitation raised her hand towards the bartender. "Hey, the cash showed up! Think I can get some inventory to go?" The bartender looked at Naruto, registered he was underaged, thought back to all the time's the black and red clad ninja had payed for her and simply just started setting up the payment. "This is why I love this bar!" Anko rushed over to double check she was getting primium sake and Naruto took his time. They still had twenty minutes to get to the gate after all.


Main Gates

Appointed meeting time

Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were all waiting at the main gates the latter two each holding a pack of gear, Sakura lightly drumming her fingers across the storage scrolls in her pocket. She had taken a chance using Naruto's scrolls but she figured if they were duds he wouldn't have bothered to throw them to her. Surprisingly the scrolls had had numerous seals inside, more than enough to hold all of her gear and more if she had wanted. She had ended up using the second scroll solely for the purpose of packing emergency rations and several extra sets of medical equipment. Better prepared than caught unawares.

"Where did that blond in black go? Or are we leaving without his useless ass?" Tazuna had finally managed to pinpoint the team and his manner hadn't improved in the slightest since their time in the mission hall. He seemed to be hungover and every once in a while took a drink from a flask he kept hidden in his shirt. "Damn it, that kid's going-"

"To show up when you start talking shit?" Naruto casually walked up to the group from behind Tazuna, sparing a glance back at the man. "Had to go get someone and a couple of things."

"Someone? Naruto this is an assignment for team seven." Sakura looked confused and Sasuke looked marginally intrigued. Probably the best that could be expected from him.

"I am part of team seven though." Without a sound or even a whisper of the air moving, Anko had set herself next to Sakura and quickly covered her mouth before she could let out a shriek of terror. "You must be the one with the lungs, since he's the silent and moody one."

"Huh... Thought these teams were usually four not five." Tazuna looked more surprised that another adult leaf-nin had joined the expedition but also considerably more relieved.

"Team seven is a bit... Complicated." Kakashi didn't elaborate more than that, and Sakura was hard to hear through Anko's hand.

"So she's your teacher Dobe?" Sasuke looked Anko over and she smiled sweetly.

"Ya, I taught the Gaki everything he knows." Anko finally let go of Sakura as she had been struggling to pull her hand away from her face. "Yes, pinky? What do you want?" Sakura stepped away from Anko and took a deep breath before speaking, slightly worried she might decide to cover her again with her grip of iron.

"How are you on team seven? I thought it was just Naruto-baka, Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-sensei, and I?" Sakura thought up a few more questions and quickly added, "And how do you know Naruto? He said you met when he was five..."

"I'm on team seven by the Hokage's order. And that's a standing order not just for the client over there." Anko chose to ignore the second question and instead turn to the guards at the gate. "We're ready to leave. Anko Mitarashi, Naruto Uzamaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves. C-rank mission." The guards checked off everyone and waved each of them out the doors.

Naruto took his first steps outside the wall and couldn't help but take a deep breath. It felt like he was free. It was a temporary illusion but for a little while he was free of them. "Feels good doesn't it Gaki? That first stretch outside the doors. Remember it well, it'll always feel that good getting to walk out." Anko gave Naruto a smile and then turned to Kakashi. "Alright so what's the pecking order here? You lead and I tail or do you want me to set the pace?"

Kakashi gave a quick and enthusiastic "No!" before composing himself a bit and said, "I think we would be best situated with me in the lead followed by Naruto then Tazuna, with Sakura and Sasuke on either side and you'll take the tail Anko."

Quickly moving to the assigned positions, the group headed out. They were walking for only about two hours before Kakashi slowed his walking pace enough to allow Naruto to catch up beside him. "Hey Kakashi-sensei, what's up?"

"Well Naruto, think it's time you gave me a straight answer. What are your abilities? I need to know your jutsu and combat abilities if we're going to be fighting together. I saw you perform almost every one of the basic styles in your fight against Sasuke. Care to explain how you managed that?" Naruto looked a little apprehensive to explain but decided he'd have to reveal what he could do sooner or later.

"I am proficient in several forms of air jutsu, and I have basic understanding of earth and water jutsu. My chakra affinity is air, water and earth."

Kakashi quickly cut him off to ask about Naruto's questionable affinity. "All three of those? You're sure?"

Naruto nodded and explained, "When Anko gave me a piece of chakra paper it split in half first, marking me for air. Then one half became damp and the other dissolved into dust. She said she had seen people with two, but she never saw someone with three. Said something about it being pretty rare."

"That explains how you were able to use all those different techniques but you shouldn't-"

"Be able to use that many? Ya I know. But you start young and only learn a few techniques it's a bit easier. We decided to focus on my prevalent air affinity and water style because she had more scrolls for water jutsu. All I know of earth is Enclosing Wall, Earth Dome, and Headhunter." Naruto shrugged as if the assortment of jutsu he knew was just a matter of luck but Kakashi looked at the boy in a new light. Some jonin had trouble mastering two but Naruto already had taken steps in Earth, Water, and Air.

"That still doesn't explain the lightning technique you used." Kakashi still was wondering how that factored in and Naruto simply waved his hand at the comment.

"I didn't use one. My... Tenant... He can change my chakra if I feed enough into a point on my body. Air works the best as it's my natural chakra affinity. Then water and earth. Lightning and fire I can barely hold onto for a few seconds without exhausting myself. I'm not too sure how it works to be honest but I found out when I was pretty hungover one morning and I wanted water. I wanted to use one of my water jutsu for a half second and fill my mouth with water. Simply pumped the chakra and I felt water forming in my mouth. Then I got lethargic from the chakra drain. After some tinkering with it, I found out I can go two minutes making air flow from my hands, one for making clay to cover them or water flow from them, and like I already said lightning and fire just drain me so quickly I don't usually bother. Just had to make sure Sasuke stayed down."

Kakashi thought over Naruto's explanation and found it pretty satisfactory. Odd as it was, nobody knew everything the tailed beasts could do so Kakashi had to simply take it at face value. "Alright, but why didn't you say this before while we were in Konoha? Or have a clone do so?"

"Oh, that? I just didn't want to since there was no reason. Pulling weeds does not exactly call for jutsu." Naruto gave a half grin and cocked his head while looking at his teacher.

"But during training I could have..." Kakashi stopped and smiled. "Guess you're right I didn't exactly make it mandatory to show me your talents. Still, you could have told me."

"Could have." Naruto gave a light shrug. "Didn't." Smiling broadly they stepped past two puddles and Kakashi wondered if the boy had spotted them. "So Kakashi-sensei, what's-" Naruto's comment was cut short as from the the two puddles came twin bladed chains that encased Naruto and Kakashi before quickly spinning in an attempt to eviscerate Naruto and Kakashi. Kakashi used a simple substitution jutsu to escape the chains but turned to see what looked like Naruto cut to ribbons gashes all over his body and even cut in half, but oddly there was no blood or any sort of gore.

Ignoring the oddness of what was probably an illusion he turned to see Sakura covering her mouth in complete and utter horror at Kakashi's and Naruto's demise. Sasuke on the other hand quickly took in the situation and charged the enemy. Leaving a teammate suffering from shock to guard the client... Poor choice if you can't handle them quickly. Kakashi watched as Sasuke locked down one of the chains by pinning it to a tree, but when two ninja seemed to emerge from the twin set of puddles Sasuke hesitated and reevaluated.

Sakura had regained her composure enough to step between Tazuna and the unknown nin, but her kunai was shaking badly and there was fear in her eyes. Fear and doubt. Naruto can't be dead right? It's a clone... It's a clone but it's not popping... Why isn't it turning into smoke?! Sakura was almost taken completely by surprise when the disarmed nin jumped for her with a kunai out. It looked like he had another chain coming from one of his gloves but it was connected to his partner instead of as another chain whip. I can block a kunai. I can... I did it in the academy... But he killed Naruto... How can I fight him if he KILLED Naruto?!

Sakura began to panic and the nin was only getting closer in her hesitation. She tried to raise her kunai but it was so slow. Why did everything slow down? Am I going to die too? She fought the thoughts and continued trying to pull up the kunai to block but she was sure the other nin would reach her first. Suddenly a black blur sped from the tree to her left and impacted with the nin in the gray coat, knocking him into a nearby tree. Standing against it, the nin used some mechanism in his glove to pull himself to his partners side.

Sasuke had managed to pin the other whip as well with a well placed kunai, but he wasn't prepared for the sudden pull of the chain attached to his opponent's other glove snapping taunt and the partners to come together. It distracted him for a moment and the twins threw a smoke pellet to cover their retreat. The pull of the two chain whips could be heard as the kunai were dislodged from the trunk. A sudden gust from his back pushed Sasuke forward a step but dispersed the smoke to reveal both ninja gone and with their weapons as well.

"We have to go after them!" Sasuke made to take off after them but suddenly Kakashi was in front of him with a hand out. "Sasuke, our mission is to protect Tazuna not go after ninja that shouldn't even be trying to attack us." Turning to Tazuna. "Why are rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist after us? This seems slightly beyond the scope of a C-rank mission. Wouldn't you say Anko?" Anko had dropped beside Tazuna and currently had a hand on his shoulder preventing him from going anywhere.

"Yes I think we are owed an explanation. Don't you think so too sir?" She accentuated her word by tightening her grip fractionally.

"I think you... Might be right..." He paused as Anko had dug her fingers further into his collar to assure a satisfactory explanation.


AN: Same stuff here as canon obviously. Explanation is in anime episode 9 if you really want to see it.


"So you thought you would be better off claiming a C-rank than to explain everything and get the proper help you required is it?" Naruto spoke to Tazuna in a measured tone, and the man looked miserably at the ground.

"Our village just can't afford those kinds of fees... Without that bridge... We are doomed." Tazuna seemed honest which surprised Sakura and Sasuke, as they had only thought of him as a sarcastic narcissist.

"Well team, what do we think we should do here? We're not too far from the village. We could send word or explain the situation, even go back if you guys don't feel up to doing this mission." Kakashi's words were kind, and Sakura looked at the ground. Sasuke however refused to give an answer.

"What are you talking about Kakashi? It's obvious what we should do." Everyone but Anko turned to Naruto in surprise, as she was out hunting having grown bored halfway through Tazuna's 'sob story' as she had opted to call it. "He's paid the advance on an A-rank, and upon completion of the assignment he's going to be paying the full amount to the village. Isn't that right Tazuna?" Naruto's gaze fell on the man and waited for some kind of response but he was speechless.

"You would... take that kind of risk for me?" Tazuna barely got the words out before Naruto rejected them.

"Not for you. I have reasons I need the cash from a ranked A. We're ninja, not charity. If you wanted someone to help you out of sympathy you wouldn't have gone to a ninja village."

"Baka! That's too harsh! This man is trying so hard to save his home, you could show a little compassion." Sakura's response was indignant as she had been hoping Naruto had found it in his heart to help the poor man. She knew certainly that she was prepared to help just out of sympathy.

"Naruto is right though Sakura. We can't be expected to do this all for free. I'm sure the village would be willing to wait until Wave's economy has stabilized before asking for compensation." Kakashi turned to the man. "So how will you respond? Are we going back to the village?"

"I can't wait for all the paperwork required to request an A-rank... I don't have the time to waste in the bureaucracy of the village system." Looking at each of the ninja around him he gave a resigned sigh and asked, "Are you sure your team is capable?"

"Hell, Kakashi and I could do it ourselves if we wanted!" Anko had returned sporting an assortment of rabbits strung together on a line. "The gaki, the emo and pinky are just some bonus for ya." Sealing the fresh kills inside of a few storage scrolls, Anko pointed at the road. "Let's go, we don't have time to waste."

Tazuna shifted off his seated position to his knees then bowed deeply to both Kakashi and Anko. "Thank you. To all of you, thank you."

"Wait to thank us old man. You still have a bridge to build." With Naruto's words the party resumed it's trek to Wave.

It was an uneventful walk and it finally came time to rest and make camp. Anko and Kakashi argued over whether they should continue through the night since the two nin had ran off but Tazuna looked ready to keel over from such a long walk. Begrudgingly Anko agreed to the break and the troop set up camp in a clearing a few minutes from the road.

With the camp set up and a small fire started to keep the group warm Kakashi thought it was about time to have Anko say a little more about herself. "So I think now that the full team is here we should go around and do some introductions. Like the first time the team was assembled." Kakashi's good demeanor made the campfire go from a somber environment to something akin to a ghost stories circle.

"Really Kakashi? Introductions?" Anko was lazily spinning a kunai in her fingers, barely casting a glance in his direction. "I already know you, and I don't care enough to get to know the midgets. They already know my name so why bother with the 'introductions' crap?"

"Well Anko-san, maybe we could get to know you and you'll start to care about us genin." Sakura had a smile and was trying to be pleasant, while Sasuke just stared into the fire.

"Just call me Anko. If you really want to know more about me here's the basics. I'm a kunoichi, I kill people when asked to and sometimes even when I'm not. I haven't been assigned a team in a long time because no one wants to work with me. I work for T&I and enjoy it. Anything else?" Anko turned to her right and looked up at Sakura.

"Um... you still haven't told us how you know Naruto..." Sakura couldn't meet Anko's gaze and quietly spoke while she stared at the fire. A blur passed in front of her eyes and a few of the hairs on her bangs fluttered before falling. Shocked Sakura turned and saw Anko now was without a kunai to play with.

"Look at someone when you talk. It's rude otherwise, besides if you really want to know how we met why not ask the gaki himself?" Anko turned to Naruto and gave his leg a kick. "How about it?"

Naruto silently contemplated what to say, tossing a few sticks into the fire. Lies or the truth? Anko will agree with anything I say... But do I actually want to? Sakura opened her mouth to speak and that's when Naruto decided on what he'd say. "Sakura, if you agree to divulge a secret of yours, I'll tell you." Naruto smiled at his pink haired teammate, sure that she wouldn't be able to muster up the courage to say anything embarrassing in front of her beloved 'Sasuke-kun.'

"Why should I reveal one! I'm just asking a simple question!" Sakura got a bit red and turned away from Naruto gritting her teeth. Kami, this idiot treats it like it's some big deal.

"Fair enough. I'll ask a question and if you answer, so will I." Naruto smiled his easygoing smile and knew that this back and forth would be done quickly.

"That's fine. Ask away."

"Who are you in love with?" Anko smiled knowing that Naruto had painted Sakura into a corner. Sakura practically bugged out and fell back on the log she was sitting on as if she had been hit, Sasuke simply shrugged off her reaction as typical, and Kakashi shook his head.

"L-l-l-love? I... I mean... I am... with... NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" Sakura got up and stormed over to the slightly smaller tent that had been set up for her and Anko.

"Wow gaki. I don't think I've seen someone that shade before. Impressive." Anko looked at the space that once been occupied by the pink haired kunoichi.

"That's nothing. I know a Hyuga that could put a tomato to shame." Naruto grinned at the memories of Hinata flaring up, before the last memory of her darkened his mood and dropped his smile.

"Alright well, I think we've spent enough time around the fire. Time to get to the tents." Kakashi stood and ushered Sasuke over to the tent all the males of the group would be sharing. He took off without bothering to see if Naruto and Anko were going to follow behind, and they were quickly left alone with silence and the occasional crack from the fire as it found a pocket of air in the wood.

"Haven't told anyone gaki?" Anko was quiet but Naruto could just make out her words.

"No. Something I don't like sharing." Naruto was equally as subdued.

"Ashamed of meeting me?"

"Not at all. Just can't let everyone know you're getting soft. Fucks up your agenda to look cold and distant doesn't it?" Naruto smiled before adding, "Then again, running around with a bunch of genin probably already put the nail in that coffin."

"Maybe." Anko leaned back and with a quick snap jumped to her feet and headed for the same tent as Sakura. "Rest up, gaki or not you need to be ready for anything on a mission." With that she ducked into the tent and was gone. Putting out the fire Naruto followed suit and headed over to the men's tent just as Kakashi stepped out.

"Going somewhere Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto figured Kakashi would have been already asleep as the man seemed incredibly lazy.

"I got the first watch Naruto. Wouldn't want those rogue ninja coming back in our sleep would we?" With a smile the jonin used a shushin and disappeared. Stepping into the tent Naruto saw Tazuna was already out cold on one side and Sasuke in the rear of the tent with his back to the entrance. Pulling out his sleeping stuff and throwing on some pajamas Naruto went to the other available side and laid down, the only sounds the light breathing of the other two and the night life of the forest.

Wonder why Sakura's so curious about that story. Pushing the thought away, Naruto reviewed the short battle between the genin and the opposing rogue ninja. Sakura froze after seeing my clone 'die', probably should have just have it pop instead of creating that distraction. Then again it caused the enemy to be caught unaware when I came at him. Sasuke seemed able to handle himself fairly well didn't even regard the clone's demise. So I can trust him to guard my back in a fight he won't freeze but he'll also abandon the client. Clones could cover that but anyone too far above my skill level would just burn through them.

Naruto continued to think of ways to work better within his squad until he grew drowsy and finally passed into the dark embrace of sleep.


Anko

Entering the tent, Anko saw that Sakura was still wide awake, and still bright red. She couldn't resist messing with the young kunoichi, "Naruto that cute to you huh?" It had the desired effect as Sakura turned to Anko and quickly shot her down.

"Naruto-baka? Ugh, NO!" Sakura shook her head hard enough that her hair whipped into her face. Anko gave a sinister smile and leaned closer.

"So it's that other one hmm? What's his name?" Anko had heard plenty about Sasuke as the child had grown, but just like with all her victims at T&I she liked watching Sakura squirm.

"He's Sasuke-kun..." Sakura played with her hair and wouldn't look in Anko's direction. Anko straightened back out and laughed softly at the young kunoichi's innocence. Tossing her trench coat into a heap in the corner of the tent Anko simply fell onto her sleeping bag.

"Why do you like the guy?" Anko figured she knew, but what the hell.

"Sasuke-kun is strong, smart, and just wonderful! Not like Naruto-baka... I wish I could have been on a team with just my Sasuke-kun!" Sakura spoke quickly and with emotion and Anko couldn't help but crack a smile. Stupid reasons kid, stupid reasons.

"You almost had your wish pinky." Sakura stopped her giddy imaginings of Sasuke and turned to Anko slightly confused.

"Almost? What do you mean Anko-san?" Shifting in her temporary bed Anko refused to answer. If the gaki wanted her to know he'd have told her earlier. "Anko... What do you mean by that exactly?"

"Nothing pinky. Now go to sleep. We have to get moving early." Anko feigned sleep, refusing to answer the girl after that, and soon enough Sakura had given up on getting an answer. She silently rolled over and was breathing evenly before Anko had counted away a minute. Girl takes to orders easily enough. Shifting to lay on her back, Anko gazed at the top of the tent.

It felt strange to be out on a mission with the genin and Kakashi. Anko was used to solo missions filled with danger where one fuck up could easily end your life. No team to slow her down... Or watch her back. She was used to doing everything alone and then coming home. Hell she hadn't been assigned an escort mission for as long as she could remember.

Shrugging it off she closed her eyes and went to sleep.


The next few days were uneventful, allowing the team a brief respite from any outside conflicts eventually leading to them sitting inside a small row boat as it made it's way into Wave country. The boat slowly drifted it's way towards the opposite shore in the midst of a thick fog, all the leaf-nin stayed on alert for any signs of more ninja or any disturbance that could capsize the tiny dingy that barely held everyone.

The fisherman spoke softly talking about various developments in wave with Tazuna and before the assembled group could get too comfortable they arrived on foreign soil. "Here you are. Tazuna, I hope these ninja can help the situation here and don't just drain us of what little we have left."

The group chose to ignore the man, but Tazuna gave him a small pat on the shoulder and spoke with a smile. "They will help us get the bridge completed and bring our salvation my friend." Seeing Tazuna's smile, gave the fisherman some hope and he smiled as he pushed off waving goodbye before the fog overtook him.

"Your faith is well placed." Kakashi gave the man one of his classic eye smiles as Tazuna's faded. Giving only a grunt, Tazuna urged the team forward. Wordlessly assembling back into formation, they set off eager to be out of the fog from where they had docked. After several hours the sun was once again beaming as they traveled allowing some light conversation to drift between the genin, or more specifically a line of questions from Sakura directed at Naruto.

"Come on Naruto, how did you meet Anko?"

"She was at the adoption agency asking if there were any spares she could feed to her snakes."

"That can't be true!"

"You're right, I was walking alone on a lone summer's night. The breeze fluttered my hair, caressed my form and whispered the secrets of the universe. Then as silent as the night, she appeared, hammered beyond compare and unable to walk. It was a fated moment, she was the one I had been sent to assassinate at the tender age of four."

"Is it really that hard to be honest?"

"Yes, because I am a deep cover agent from Suna, sent as breeding stock to Konoha in order to strengthen the future generations with the use of the whispered Whisker Jutsu."

"Naruto..." Glaring daggers at him Sakura was getting fed up with all the stories he had been coming up with.

"It was a dark night, I had just gotten settled into my favorite corner of the bar and I issued my usual challenge to all who had gathered to see who would challenge me to the game of drink. That's when she appeared and proceeded to drink me under the table, I've been her apprentice ever since."

"Baka! That has to be the stupidest-" Sakura was cut off as Naruto suddenly tensed, drew a kunai, and threw it into a bush followed by a sickening squelch and thud. Moving over to retrieve his kunai, Naruto found a rabbit on his kunai that was now stuck in the trunk of a tree. "Naruto you just killed this poor innocent little rabbit! And look at it's beautiful white fur getting stained by the blood..." Sakura averted her gaze at that sight, slightly sickened seeing the blood flowing over the rabbits fur.

"Get used to hunting. We'll have to on some of the longer missions, besides it's been following us for a little while... I wonder why?" Naruto pulled out his kunai, wiping the blood off on the same white fur Sakura had earlier complimented.

White fur? It's not winter season... That rabbit must have been bred indoors for a purpose... Realization struck Kakashi when he heard a slight whistling in the air, who turned to the group and quickly yelled, "Everyone, get down NOW!" Following his own warning and seeing Sasuke hit the floor with Sakura quick to do the same, Naruto pulled Tazuna to the ground as a huge blade flew through the air and deeply ingrained itself into a tree before a man flashed into existence standing on the handle. The lower half of his face was wrapped in a number of bandages, covering from his right ear, down to his jaw and completely covering the lower portion of his face, neck and upper portions of his shoulders.

"Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan, the Copy Ninja. So you're the one that's guarding the old man I need to kill?"

"Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist..." This is bad... Someone of his level is working for Gato? Lifting his protector, Kakashi revealed his Sharingan.

"Naruto Uzamaki, no nickname as of yet. That over there with the emotional imbalance is Sasuke Uchiha, nicknamed Princess. Bubblegum here is Sakura Haruno. Lastly there's Tazuna... Not really sure what the hell is his last name, but you already know that right? Now that introductions are out of the way, what's say we find a nice place to cook some rabbit and talk?" Everyone but one individual turned from Zabuza to the black clad kid known as Naruto, slack jawed that he had spoken. Sasuke was staring at the Sharingan Kakashi possessed.

How does he have a Sharingan?! Is he a part of my clan? But... he only has one eye active. What the HELL is going on!

"You've got some gall speaking like that to me... Naruto was it? I think I'll kill you first." As he started throwing together hand signs several snakes burst from the bushes directly under Zabuza aiming to bite into him. Naruto easily identified they were all poisonous and no snake was the same, several of which were special to the summons. Grabbing his blade Zabuza yanked it from the tree jumping out of the way of the onslaught of snakes and moving towards the water of a nearby lake.

"Gaki, you forgot to introduce ME, the fabulous and sexy Anko Mitarashi!" Anko appeared in a shimmer standing next to Kakashi, no obvious weapons in hand.

"Would ruin the surprise of an ambush wouldn't it? And you need to be visible to be found sexy. What was I supposed to do, point at a bush?" Naruto pulled out a kunai and moved back to guard Tazuna. When he had seen all those snakes he knew Anko and Kakashi weren't planning to play around in this fight, which meant Zabuza was dangerous. Moving to either side of Tazuna, Sasuke and Sakura each armed themselves as well, Sasuke still watching Kakashi.

"Fair enough. We'll argue semantics after we deal with this bastard!" Anko rushed forward closely followed by Kakashi, hoping to quickly eliminate Zabuza in a tag team effort.

Zabuza instead of looking worried began to grin the second the two rushed at him. Realizing something was wrong Kakashi managed to grab the back of Anko's coat and stop her seconds before two chained blades burst out of the ground in an attempt to skewer them. "Gozu, Meizu, you two are losing your edge. She ran into that trap and the both of you still miss? Pathetic." Rising from the edge of the lake the two glared at the back of Zabuza's head.

"We would have killed her if you hadn't have given away the trap with that stupid grin!" Feeling the oppressive weight of Zabuza's killer intent, the one that had responded fell silent.

"Then next time attack quicker. Keep the bitch busy, and I'll deal with Kakashi." Going through a few hand seals at lightning pace the area was rapidly filled with a thick chakra coated mist. Immediately Anko and Kakashi went back to back scanning the fog in their half of the circle. Whispering quietly they tried to share information.

"The silent killing technique. Zabuza is a master, be careful." Kakashi was shocked when he felt Anko start shaking behind him. Is she afraid? She's afraid of THIS? About to try and sooth her fears Kakashi turned and saw that Anko was trying, and failing, not to laugh.

"Just wait a second cyclops." No sooner had she finished her words than a huge gale blew away the entirety of the fog. Naruto simply grinned as he looked at the now revealed positions of Anko, Kakashi, and Zabuza.

"That the best you got? Damn, I knew that sword was compensating for SOMETHING but that's just sad." Anko gave a bright grin as Zabuza gave a rage filled snarl. "Kami, if that's all you're packing why bother starting what you can't finish?"

"Stupid words considering it just cost you the lives of those kids." Zabuza simply watched as a set of chains wrapped around Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura with Tazuna at the center. Before the slightest movement could be made by the jonin the four were sliced to ribbons. "Now that our business is done, I'll be leaving." Zabuza went to sheath his blade when he noticed a distinct lack of blood and four puffs of smoke from the recently 'dead' genin and their employer.

"Ya, not going to be happening. Kakashi, kill him while I play with the two little bitches." Anko hadn't known when Naruto had exchanged the team for clones, simply hoping he had been smart enough to get out of the blast range of three jonin and two chunin going all out. "Chains and whips are my kind of thing after all." Grinning madly, Anko lunged at the nearest of the two and kicked him hard enough for the chain connecting the two to snap.

"Meizu!" Seeing his brother rocket away from himself was a strange sensation for Gozu, but more terrifying was that a single kick from this woman had separated the duo. They needed to regroup and quickly. Anko helped with that when a spinning kick to his jaw sent him in the same general direction as the other brother, and with that Kakashi and Zabuza were left alone.

"Some team you've got." Kakashi spoke in a neutral tone, watching Zabuza's every move carefully.

"I could say the same." Tensing their muscles they rocketed at each other, sparks flying off the kunai Kakashi used to block Zabuza's massive sword. "Quit now and they'll live." Zabuza's sharpened teeth twisted into a smile as he swung, knocking Kakashi back from the sheer force of the strike.

"Wish I could offer the same deal, but my partner is a bit... Methodical." Kakashi launched into a simple fire jutsu, breathing a flamethrower into existence. Zabuza didn't even bother to move, instead turning into water and fading away.

"So am I." Kakashi had only a split moment before the cleaver cut him in half, splashing water against the ground. Water clone... He must have seen it at the end of the mist. Silencing his heart, Zabuza waited for any signal of an attack from Kakashi, but to his shock instead of Kakashi rushing at him from the forest hands burst out of the ground pulling him neck deep into the soil.

Immediately after Kakashi had moved away from the newly formed hole, Zabuza's clone burst into a shower of water and Kakashi gave a sad sigh. "A clone? You know they can't fight at your real level. Why bother?" Seemingly rising from the water Zabuza gave a mirth filled laugh.

"Distractions are made for a reason. After all, do you really think that woman has a chance against the Demon Brothers?" Zabuza's laugh came to a halt when Kakashi gave a knowing smile.

"Do you think they have a chance four versus two?" Kakashi knew Zabuza had declared his genin a non-issue for himself, but already Sasuke and Naruto had bested the brothers. Suddenly this battle of attrition was in Kakashi's favor.

"They'll last long enough for me to kill you, and they'll take the bitch with them if they need to. Then it's just clean up." Charging at Kakashi again, they resumed the battle.


"Come out, wherever you are! I don't want to have to kill you, come out now and I'll only maim you!" Anko grinned happily as she walked through the path she had literally carved through the trees using the two 'demon' brothers. "Actually, I'll maim you when I find you! Make me WORK for it!" Laughing manically she took off in a seemingly random direction before sending another kick to Gozu's face. "You can't be this easy, you're in the bingo book! You're supposed to at least be passable."

"Oh, we are." Chains erupted from the bushes ensnaring Anko in their razor chain, not even phasing her good mood. "Any last words?"

"Ramen sucks." The two brothers stopped before pulling the mechanism in their arms to rip her to shreds, confused as to what the fuck that meant.

"Ramen sucks?" In an instant a blonde blur rushed past Anko, slamming into the demon brother that had spoken.

"Take that back! Ramen is the food of the GODS!" Chuckling, Anko substituted with a log that was laying on it's side before giving a vicious uppercut to the remaining brother. In a matter of moments, she was finished beating Gozu to a pulp and turned to see Naruto had done the same to Meizu, who was now whispering about how wonderful ramen was with a fearful look in his eyes.

"Damn, this was easy gaki. Where's pinky and princess?" Tying up Gozu in his own chains proved simple once she had removed his gauntlet, and had joined Naruto to see he had done much the same with the defeated Meizu.

"Over that way with the client. Figured they couldn't get hurt if they were away from the fighting. Sasuke's sulking he's not the only one that's special, and Sakura is stroking his ego." Proceeding to drag Meizu and Gozu through the dirt, they made their way casually towards the clearing. "Shouldn't we hurry? Kakashi is fighting a missing nin after all." Naruto couldn't help but ask as they finally made it back into the clearing.

"I'll help him in a moment, but you'll be helping Sasuke and Sakura get rid of these two." Dropping her bundle she turned on her heel and was gone.

"Naruto-baka, what did she mean?" Sakura looked at the two beaten and bloodied bodies that had been deposited in front of her and Sasuke with a bit of fear. Not answering Naruto drew a kunai in each hand and threw them into the dirt by the heads.

"Kill them." Tazuna was asleep soundly, or at least unconscious, on the edge of the clearing, and both of the two genin paled noticeably.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN KILL THEM!?" Sakura was more vocal about her objection while Sasuke simply stood his ground.

"Pick up those kunai, and kill them. They are enemy ninjas." Sakura looked horrified at the suggestion while, Sasuke remained silent.

"Naruto, you can't talk about killing people so-" Suddenly the one known as Gozu was sporting a kunai where his eye had once been. Sakura fell silent.

"These are the enemy." Pausing to think it over for a moment, he shrugged. "Well, was would be the correct phrase for that one. Now, one of you is going to take the other one out of his misery." All eyes fell on the remaining demon brother as he struggled against a gag that Anko had been smart enough to add before leaving, silently screaming as he tried to move closer to his dead brother. The tears openly flowed down his face as he gazed into the empty eyes that had been his brother's.

"Naruto we can't-" Once again the pink haired kunoichi was cut off, but this time in a much less lethal manner. Sasuke stepped forward picking up the kunai and placed it against Meizu's neck. "Sasuke-kun..." She didn't know what to say at that point and simply fell silent once more.

This is only the first step to avenging my clan... I need to kill Itachi, I WILL kill him... But suddenly the kunai seemed to be held in place as he tried to press it into the crying shinobi's neck. I can't be weak... I can't afford to be. Again he made as if to move and his gaze strayed from the kunai at the man's neck into his face. What he saw there almost made him drop the kunai. In that moment, Sasuke saw the acceptance for his death. He knew he was going to die and didn't seem to care, his eyes still locked on the body of his brother.

The silence felt thick in the clearing as Sasuke's trembling hand finally succeeded, his will demanding he perform the act. Slitting Meizu's neck, Sasuke felt the blood rush over his fingers. What made the entire moment surreal for him was that when he saw the body falling, it wasn't hate he saw in those eyes. It was gratitude. Thus with a small thud as his head hit the ground, the Demon Brothers were no more. Sasuke immediately turned, running to the nearest bush and threw up what had been lunch. Sakura rushed to his side only to get pushed away when Sasuke felt her hands on him.

"Killing is always hard, it needs to stay difficult. We are killers, that is what all ninja are. Get used to it or go civilian. Sasuke, you've taken a life so will you become a monster or will you retain your humanity?" Sasuke's shoulders continued to shake, from either tears or his gag reflex, Naruto neither cared to know, nor would ask. "This feeling, remember it. It's what defines you, man or monster." Turning away Naruto walked over to Tazuna to double check if he was really asleep or just ignoring 'ninja business.'

Sakura glared at Naruto as he passed and tried to comfort Sasuke.

Sasuke was lost in trying to get over his first kill. The Academy taught young ninja a lot but the genin test refined them, and lastly, the kill made or broke them. Naruto knew it was up to Sasuke to move past it, either alone or with a kind word from Kakashi.

I wonder if Kakashi's fight is already over...


"It's over Zabuza." About to finish the Water Dragon he had been creating Kakashi suddenly stopped when two senbon buried themselves into Zabuza's neck. Falling back, Zabuza was caught quickly by a hunter nin. Without so much as an explanation the hunter rushed away carrying Zabuza. Shaking himself to begin to take off after the obviously fake nin, his vision began to blur. Shit, I may have used it for too long... Sinking into the water and falling forward Kakashi had to laugh to himself. The great Kakashi of the Sharingan, Copycat Ninja, user of a thousand jutsu... Defeated by drowning. As his eyes closed he felt an arm wrap around his chest to catch him.

"Damn, did you lose Cyclops? I wouldn't have toyed with those two idiots if I knew you sucked this badly." Anko! She needs to go after them, she can tail them, she... she- Finally surrendering to the chakra exhaustion Kakashi went limp in her arms. "Eh, what the hell did you do? Throw raw chakra at him?" Getting no kind of response Anko threw him over her shoulder and began to trudge back towards where she had left the genin. "Fucking didn't even let me get a real hit on the missing nin, fucking useless Cyclops."

Kakashi didn't reply.


Sitting under the shade of one of the many trees, Naruto silently observed Sakura and Sasuke. Sasuke had finally gotten control of himself and was trying to act stoic and emotional, but Sakura continued to hassle him. It was a good thing for him. Naruto needn't worry too much about Sasuke, but he had thought it might have taken longer for him to dispatch the Demon Brother. Witnessing someone die and actually causing it were two separate types of trauma. Sakura needed to see someone die to mature past the how naive she was about the life of a ninja.

They helped each other without knowing it, and Naruto watched from the sidelines as the teammates grew closer. Sadly Naruto knew this had likely vilified him to Sakura, and Sasuke was likely to demand the story of Naruto's first kill but, they were learning. The game of ninja was drawing to a close, much faster than Kakashi had probably wanted, but this was their job, their reality.

"What's got you so gloomy gaki?" Resisting the urge to jump when Anko appeared next to him, he takes a deep breath.

"Just realized, there isn't likely any ramen in wave. How am I going to survive?" Chuckling Anko tossed Kakashi down into the clearing with a thud. Raising an eyebrow Naruto watched the display then looked to Anko. "Isn't that a little excessive. He seems injured."

Waving off the comment, Anko looked over to the surprised Sasuke and Sakura who had just realized that she had arrived back. "Alright, we are headed to the Geezer's house, Princess and Bubblegum, carry Cyclops. Gaki, guard the geezer while I take point." About to take off into the trees, Sakura quickly stopped her.

"Why don't we make a sled? It would be easier on Kakashi-sensei and-" Anko quickly shut her up by stepping towards her.

"I'm in command now, we just fought three missing nin, and you arguing gives the strong one that got away every opportunity to come back and kill us. Shut your trap for one minute and just do what you're told." With that Anko took off leaving a stunned Sasuke and Sakura watching after her. Did she have to be such a bitch? Naruto sighed and created a couple clones to carry Kakashi, already knowing what was going to happen.

"SHE is in command?" Sasuke couldn't help but be intimidated, after all her first order had been for Naruto to assist them in killing two shinobi.

"Looks like it. Let's head out, it's not too far to wave and with any luck Kakashi might wake up before then and let us know Zabuza's condition. Waking the sleeping Tazuna, Naruto walked off with him after Anko, the two clones following suit a few moments later, and finally Sakura and Sasuke taking up the rear.


AN: Here it is, late as all hell and only 9k and change, but it's here. Sorry to all those of you that have been waiting so long. Hope at least it was partially satisfactory. I was planning to write all the way to the end of Wave but I've kept you all waiting long enough.