Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the character's. Hikaru however is mine along with any other OC's unless otherwise stated. Chiaki belongs to my friend.

Nakushita Kotoba
Chapter Ten

Disembark

"Naruto... It's good that you are releasing the poison but.." Kakashi started. "Anymore and.. you'll from lack of blood.. seriously."

"No! that's bad!" Naruto yelled. "I can't die from something like this!"

'N.. Naruto-kun...w... wouldn't.. be.. in this position.. if I had helped,' Hikaru thought as Kakashi took Naruto's hand.

"Let me see your hand."

"No! Save me sensei!"

"Naruto," Chi sighed. "Are you a masonchist? What are you thinking!"

'The cut, it's already healing...' Kakashi thought.

"Umm... h.. Hey.. Am I... going to be.. Ok?" Naruto asked, shaking slightly from the serious look on Kakashi's face.

"You should be fine," he replied as he wrapped his hand up in bandages. 'Must be the power of the Nine-Tails.'

"Sensei..." Tazuna said as Kakashi looked at him. "I... Have to talk to you."

----

"What thick mist, I can't see ahead," Naruto said as he stared out the front ot the boat team seven were in.

"We should see the bridge soon," the man rowing it said. "The Wave country is at the base of the bridge."

"WOW!" Naruto yelled upon seeing it. "It's huge!"

"Hey, be quiet!" the one rowing said. "Why do you think we are hiding in the mist and no using the engine? We'll be in deep trouble if Gatou finds us."

"Sensei," Tazuna said. "I... Want to talk to you. It's about this mission. You're right, this job is most likely outside of your duties. It turns out that a super dangerous man is after my life."

"Super dangerous man? Who?"

"You've probably at least heard his name before," Tazuna carried on. "The wealthy shipping magnate.. a man named Gatou."

"Huh!" Kakashi asked. "Gatou.. from that Gatou Company? He's said to be of the word's few extremly wealthy people."

"Yes..." Tazuna sighed. "Officially he run's a large shipping company.. But secretly he sells drugs and other illegal items, using ninjas and gang member's to take over buisnessess and countries. He's a very nasty man."

"It was about a year ago when he set his eye's on the Wave country. Through money and violence, he quickly took control of the country's shipping industry. Gatou now has a monopoly on all buisness traffic in the country. The only thing he has to fear now is the completion of the bridge."

"I see," Chi said; putting her hand under her chin. "Since you're building the bridge.. you're in the way."

"So, those ninjas were hired by Gatou?" Sasuke asked.

'Huh?' Naruto asked, obviously not understanding it. 'What's with Hikaru-chan.. she's normally quiet- but since- she didn't do anything either; was... she scared or..-' he paused and looked at her. 'I've never seen her smile or heard her laugh.. hmm.'

"But what I don't understand is.. If you knew ninjas could be after you.. why did you hide that fact when you hired us?" Kakashi asked.

"The Wave country is super poor. Even the Feudal Lord has no money. Of course we don't have much money either... not enough for the expensive B-rank mission," Tazuna explained. "Well... If you quit the mission now.. I will definitely be killed.."

"But?"

"Don't worry about it!" Tazuna laughed. "If I die, my cute ten year-old grandson will just cry for a few days! Oh yeah, and my daughter will live a sad life hating Leaf Village ninjas forever. But it won't be your fault. Not at all!"

"Well," Kakashi sighed. "I guess we have no choice. We will protect you at least until you get back to your country."

'I win,' Tazuna laughed.

"We'll be there soon," the boat diver said. "Tazuna.. It looks like we've avoided detection so far but... just in case we'll take the route that has vegetation. It will make it harder to spot us."

"Thanks."

"Hehe," Naruto laughed as they exited the tunnel. "Wow!"

"This is it for me. Good bye and good luck," the boat driver said as everyone walked off the boat.

"Yeah, super thanks."

"Ok! Get me home safely!" Tazuna said as everyone started walking again.

"Yes yes," Kakashi sighed. 'If we get attacked again it will surely not be a Chuunin, but a Jounin level.'

'Ok...' Naruto thought. 'I'm not going to let him hog the spotlight,' he thought looking at Sasuke as he pulle dout a Shuriken. "There!" he yelled and threw it into the bushes.

"Heh.. just a rat.."

"Stop trying to act cool!" Chi yelled. "There was nothing there!"

"Hey," Kakashi said. "Please stop using Shuriken.. It's seriously dangerous."

"Hey Midget!" Tazuna yelled. "Stop acting like a moron!"

'Hey... I think I see a shadow!' Naruto thought. "There!" Naruto yelled as he threw another one.

"I said stop!" Chi yelled as she hit Naruto.

"Itai! Somebody is after us, I swear!"

"Yeah right!" Chi yelled as Kakashi walked into the bushes where Naruto threw the Shuriken.

"Oh!" Chi said as she looked at the rabbit, which was lying on it's back by the tree. "Naruto! What have you done!"

"I didn't mean it.. I'm sorry lil' rabbit," Naruto said hugging it.

"Oh.. Just a rabbit," Tazuna sighed.

'N.. Naruto-kun...' Hikaru sighed.

'That's a snow rabbit,' Kakashi thought. 'Yet it's spring what's with it's colour? The snow rabbit changes colour based on the amount of sun light. White is it's Colour during the winter. This is a rabbit that's been kept in a cage for the purpose of body switching. So... They're here already..'

'I see...' Zabuza thought from the tree above them. 'No wonder the Demon brother's didn't stand a chance.. The Hidden Leaf's Copy Ninja.. Sharingan No Kakashi.'

"Everyone, get down!" Kakashi yelled as Zabuza threw his cleaver over everyone, and into a tree on the other side. Following it, Zabuza landed on his cleaver's hand with his back facing the others.

'This guy is..'

'Hehe,' Naruto laughed. 'Here's my chance. This time I won't lose to Sasuke.'

"Well well," Kakashi spoke. "If it isn't the Hidden Mist's Missing-nin, Momochi Zabuza-kun."

'Ready.. go!' Naruto thought and went to attack Zabuza; but Kakashi stopped him first.

"Everybody get back! This one's on a whole other level," Kakashi said as Zabuza turned his head slightly to look at them. "Against him.. It will be a little touch.. Unless I do this," he said as he pulled his hitai-ate up.