Chapter 10: Bloody Waves Pt. 2
(Konoha)
Sarutobi scowls as he reads a report given to him by Ibiki on his interrogation of the Demon Brothers. When Kakashi's summon dog came in with Kakashi's report, he had dispatched ANBu to retrieve the pair of missing nins where, under Ibiki and Anko's gentle ministrations had given them a name.
Gatou....
He wasn't worried about Gatou himself per se but knew that the devious little man had enough money to pretty much do anything he likes. The Sandaime wanted to do something about the corrupt little man's stranglehold on the Wave Country but had been unable to do anything about it without a formal request lest his village gets accused of invasion.
But now an opportunity presented itself to him. Even though he had nothing but the confessions (Most probably made under duress) of a pair of missing nins, Gatou's actions had interfered with an official mission of Konoha and had placed shinobis under his command in danger. It was reason enough for him to make plans of eliminating his threat once and for all and free the people of Wave Country.
The question now is how would he go about doing that legally?
A presence in his office makes him smile deviously.
"Hello Orochimaru. I trust that your mission in Rice Country went well?" The Hokage said to seemingly nobody in particular. Small snakes then starts to swarm from all over the room and converges before the Hokage, forming the familiar figure of the Snake Sanin.
"Not as smoothly as I'd had hoped for but satisfactory nonetheless." The pale, long haired man said then adds with a grimace. "Though please send my deepest regrets to the daimyo's daughter that I cannot accept her.... Proposal as I already have.... A commitment."
Sarutobi nods in understanding. Aside from being a legendary ninja, Orochimaru is also considered as one of the most eligable bachelors in the entire Elemental Countries and proposals like this from the opposite sex (indecent or otherwise) were nothing new to him. Consequently, there were also a lot of rejections and broken hearts as Orochimaru was no plans of having a relationship anytime in the near future.
Not to say that Orochimaru wasn't interested in the fairer sex. It's just that he was a little old fashioned when it come to things like this and he'd rather pursue it when he was good and ready for the responsibilities. Besides, a man like him has made a lot of enemies and having assassination attempts were not exactly condusive for an ideal family life.
"I'll relay your message. Congratulations on a job well done." Sarutobi said.
"Thank you sensei. But from that look in your face, I take it you've got a new mission for me?" Orochimaru stated.
"As perceptive as always, Orochimaru." Sarutobi said with a chuckle then proceeds to brief the Snake Sanin about Team Seven's mission and it's recent developments.
"Gatou you say?" Orochimaru mused. "I've heard of the man. Very rich.... Very influential.... And very unsavory. I take it you've finally decided to move against him?"
Sarutobi nods at this. "I'll have to wait for further reports from Kakashi to do anything permanent but I'd like you to get the ball rolling."
"What do you want me to do?" Orochimaru asks.
"Just a simple sneak and peek." Sarutobi answers. "Infiltrate his base and gather whatever evidences you can with regards to his criminal activities. And if you happen to find some time to disrupt his operations, that's good too."
"That sounds like fun. Can I play along too?" A voice interrupts the conversation. Both shinobis looks towards the wall and watches as a transparent figure step out and reveals itself as Orochimaru's fellow Sanin and white haired ex teammate.
"Jiraiya." Orochimaru drawled. "Still as rude as ever I see. You shouldn't interrupt a conversation between grownups you know?"
"Shut it Hebi Teme. That's exactly why I don't like stiffs like you." Jiraiya growls in response.
Despite the fact that the two had been longtime teammates and friends, they still had a running rivalry and everytime they see each other again, their usual game of oneupmanship usually degenerates into an exchange of veiled insults and loud swearing which would make a sailor blush and could only be resolved by Tsunade (usually by a fist upside Jiraiya's head). But when push comes to shove, there was no deadlier combination in battle.
"Stiff you say? Hmmm.... That would explain all the attention I get from the ladies....." Orochimaru said then adds smugly. "....Which is probably more then what you can get in a lifetime."
"Damned perverted snake." Jiraiya said with a snarl.
"So says the author of that dimestore smut he calls a novel." Orochimaru shot back.
"Ahem...." Sarutobi loudly clears his throat to get the attention of his former students. "As entertaining as this is to watch, can we please get back to the business here?" The Hokage then looks at Jiraiya and asks. "Before we discuss the current problem a little further, what do you have for me Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya straightens up at the Hokage's serious tone and gives his report. "As you've instructed sensei, I've had my network look into that organization based in Amegakure and they've confirmed that Uchiha Itachi has been recruited into their ranks."
Orochimaru's expression also becomes serious at the mention of the mysterious organization from Amegakure. "That would make him the fourth known S class missing nin they've recruited isn't it?" Orochimaru stated. "Hoshigaki Kisame of the Hidden Mist.... Akasuna No Sasori of the Hidden Sand.... Deidara of the Hidden Rock.... And now Uchiha Itachi of the Hidden Leaf.... What are they up to? And do you have any information on who the leader is?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "Unfortunately no. The only thing that we DO know is that the leader of that organization is a man who's reportedly quite close to the current Amekage, Salamander Hanzo."
Sarutobi raises an eyebrow at this piece of information. "Is that so? That is a surprising piece of information. You will have to ask your network to keep tabs on them. There's no telling what sort of problems we may experience especially since Hanzo is involved with them."
"I've already done that. And this brings me to the reason why I want to join Orochi Teme in that mission against Gatoh Wave Country." Jiraiya stated.
"I take it that Gatoh somehow involved with the organization?" Orochimaru asks.
"From what I heard, he is one of their sponsors." Jiraiya confirms. "I'm hoping that I might some more info in his private files." He then looks at Orochimaru with a smirk. "I guess this means we get to team up again after a long while."
Orochimaru gives an exxagerated sigh of resignation. "I guess it can't be helped. But I certainly hope that years of sitting on your rump while writing your smut hasn't dulled your skills."
"What was that Teme?" Jiraiya growls in anger.
"And we're off to a GRREEEAAAT start." Sarutobi mutters to himself as the two Sanin started arguing all over again.
(In Wave Country)
There was a moment of deadly silence as Kakashi and the recently identified Momochi Zabuza regarded each other before Zabuza chuckles darkly. "Well now.... This is certainly an honor, Hatake Kakashi."
"I can assure you that the honor is all yours Zabuza. I assume you're here for Tazuna?" Kakashi grated.
"You assume right." Zabuza confirms. "I don't suppose I can convince you to hand him over?"
"You know I can't do that Zabuza. That would defeat the whole purpose of this mission." Kakashi said with an eye smile though his body language was still rather tense.
"I see. That's unfortunate." Zabuza said then looks at the genins. "And who are these brats Kakashi? Since when did a warrior like you become a babysitter?"
"Kakashi Sensei.... Who is he?" Sakura asks fearfully.
"Momochi Zabuza. A former ninja of Kirigakure and member of the Seven Swordsmen Of The Mist who is wanted for the attempted murder of their Mizukage."
"Seven Swordsmen Of The Mist?" Sasuke repeated with wide eyes. "You mean that elite group of Kenjutsu specialists said to be stronger then ANBU?"
"Very good Sasuke. That's correct." Kakashi answers then adds grimly. "But Zabuza here has a nickname. He's known as the 'Demon Of The Bloody Mist'."
"Why's that?" Naruto asks, looking at the ex Mist ninja.
"Well he IS an extremely talented swordsman and a master of Suiton jutsus in the art of silent killing. But that's NOT how he got his nickname." Kakashi said. "During his time as a student in the Hidden Mist shinobi academy, their graduation exams was often a fight to the death between two students to see which one was stronger and was qualified to be a shinobi."
Kakashi then narrows his eyes at the dangerous missing nin. "Zabuza here not only killed his opponent during his exams, he killed the entire graduating class and leaving him the sole survivor of that batch of shinobis."
Naruto's eyes widens at this revelation. Sasuke looked rather intimidated and Sakura simply looked scared.
"Ahh.... Those were good times." Zabuza said with another dark chuckle before his tone becomes serious. "But enough remeniscing. I've still got work to do and since you're not handing over Tazuna quietly, I have no other choice but to eliminate you as well." He jumps down and removes his sword from the tree and forms a one handed seal. "The finest art from the Hidden Mist.... Kirigakure No Jutsu (Hidden Mist Technique). As Zabuza finishes saying this, an un-naturally thick mist rolls in and reduces visibility around them to practically zero.
"Everyone stay back and tighten the formation around Tazuna. Whatever you do, stay close and keep everyone in sight." Kakashi ordered. The genins comply even as the chilling voice of Zabuza echos from within the mist.
"There are eight vital targets in the body. The heart, lungs, clavicle, jugular, kidneys, spine, brain and liver.... Now which one should I hit?" Zabuza's sinister voice as well as a healthy dose of killing intent was enough to make the genins of Team start to shake in fear until Kakashi's equally cold voice cuts in.
"It doesn't matter where you attack. I won't let you lay a hand on anyone with me." The copy nin said as he steps forward then looks back at his genins with an eye smile. "Don't you guys worry. I won't let him hurt you so sit tight. I'll try to finish this quickly." Kakashi said then turns back in front while raising the lowered left part of his hiate to reveal his Sharingan eye.
"Hehe.... The Sharingan. Bringing out the big guns this early are you?" Zabuza taunted. "Then I suppose I can't afford to play around with you either." As Zabuza says this, his zanbatou darts in and out from the thick mist. But Kakashi was able to block the attacks and dodges the gigantic sword's strongest blow by jumping away. But then a shadow appears behind Kakashi which was hidden in the mist. Zabuza slashes at the seemingly unaware Kakashi only for 'Kakashi' to disappear with a poof.
"Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone) eh?" Zabuza stated as he senses the cyclopic shinobi appear behind him. Instead of answering, Kakashi draws his kunai across the throat of Zabuza only for 'Zabuza' to dissolve into water. "Two can play that game." Zabuza's disembodied voice stated from the mist.
Kakashi raises an eyebrow at this and mutters. "Mizu Bunshin (Water Clone). I should've known." Zabuza jumps out of the mist and brings his zanbatou down on Kakashi, fully intending to cleave the Konoha jounin in two. Much to the missing nin's annoyance, the Kakashi he slices in two also dissolves into water.
"So this is the great Hatake Kakashi's infamous Copy Ninjutsu." Zabuza said as the thick mist surrounding them disperses and reveals Kakashi standing in front of his team. "It may be a good imitation but NOTHING beats the original."
"You sure about that?" 'Kakashi' asks as he dissolves into liquid again while the real one rams a kunai into the spine of Zabuza who seems to gasp in pain before turning to Kakashi with a grin. "I'm positive." 'Zabuza' said as he dissolves into water which quickly flows around Kakashi and encases him in a bubble filled with water.
"Suirou No Jutsu.... (Water Prison Technique)" Zabuza mutters as he appears with one hand on the watery prison to maintain it as he watches Kakashi struggle to escape. "No matter how hard you struggle, you won't escape so long as I maintain in physical contact with the technique. You're practically dead already."
"Dammit. He got me. I got too careless" Kakashi thought to himself before looking at his team. "Get out of here now!!!"
(With Team Seven)
"Oh no! Kakashi Sensei's trapped!!" Sakura exclaimed as she hears Kakashi ordering them to retreat. "What do we do now?"
"Dammit! We can't leave Kakashi Sensei but there's no way we could take on that monster by ourselves." Sasuke grated, angry at his own weakness.
"But we can't just stand around here doing nothing while that freak drowns Kakashi Sensei." Naruto stated and starts to think. "Didn't he say that he needed to maintain in physical contact with that bubble to maintain it?"
"I see where you're going here Naruto." Sasuke said with a nod. "If we can get him away from that bubble, maybe make him lose his focus and concentration, We might be able to free Kakashi Sensei."
"Then we should do a three pronged attack then." Sakura said thoughtfully. "Naruto will attack from up close with his shadow clones, Sasuke could back him up with projectiles and Katon jutsus while I stay here to guard Tazuna and at the same time, try to distract Zabuza with genjustsu."
Sasuke grunted in approval. "Sounds like a plan."
"What are we waiting for then?" Naruto asks.
"Hold it!!" Tazuna spoke for the first time since they encountered Zabuza. "That guy is a monster. Don't tell me you're seriously considering fighting him? You'll all get killed!! Let's get away like your sensei told us to."
The three genins looks at him impassively for a moment before Sasuke spoke. "If we do that then Zabuza will just come after us. I believe it was you who said that we should risk our lives to protect you so that's exactly what we're doing."
"That aside, we stand a better chance against Zabuza if we free Kakashi Sensei." Sakura adds. "Besides we don't abandon our comrades. Our sensei told us that those who don't follow the rules are trash but those who abandon their comrades...."
"....Are worse then trash." Naruto finishes, his hands making the familiar cross shaped seal. "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!!" Five shadow clones appears in front of the original and takes out kunais. "Let's go Sasuke! Sakura back us up!!" Naruto said as he and his clones charged forward.
Sasuke nods and palms a number of shurikens in his hand then follows closely behind and using Naruto and his clones as a camouflage to mask his actions.
On her part, Sakura steps in front of Tazuna and starts making the seals for one of the minor genjutsus which she knew to assist her teammates.
All the while, Zabuza had been watching Kakashi's students. "Hmmm.... Kakashi's kids seems to know what they're doing. Not bad...." Zabuza thought to himself, watching the blonde form clones to attack him and the dark haired kid follow his teammate. He then casually counters a genjutsu attempt at him with a muttered 'kai' then forms a one handed seal and creates a Mizu Bunshin to take his place in containing Kakashi then charges at the Konoha nins. "....Futile nonetheless. But for their effort, I think I'll play with them for a while."
As Zabuza got closer to the genins, the dark haired kid running behind the blonde jumps up and unleashes two handfuls of shurikens at Zabuza which the missing nin bats away with his sword. With a loud battlecry, the blonde and his clones attack next and surprises the missing nin with their solidity and ferociousness. A few moments later, Sasuke joins the battle wielding a pair of kunais.
"Are these Kage Bunshins? How the hell did this brat make four of 'em and still be standing up and fighting like this?" Zabuza thought as he used his zanbatou to block the relentless attack by the genins and used a burst of chakra to dispell another genjutsu that somebody was trying to trap him under. "I guess I should stop fooling around and take these kids much more seriously." Then with a savage snarl, Zabuza swings his cleaver in a wide arc and destroys the Naruto clones while making the original and Sasuke jump back to avoid the deadly attack.
"I have to admit that you little brats are pretty good." Zabuza s as he faced the genins who were preparing to attack again. "I don't normally ask the names of my weaker victims but I'll make an exception with you guys since you've picqued my curiousity."
Naruto narrows his eyes at Zabuza. "You're dead wrong if you think that you'll be able to handle us so easily you browless freak." Naruto said angrily. "But since you're being polite and all, I'll oblige you. You're looking at the next Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto."
Uchiha Sasuke from the Uchiha Clan." Sasuke deadpanned.
"And I'm Haruno Sakura." Sakura said tensely, still keeping her guard up.
"Hmm.... I don't recognize your name girlie...." Zabuza said to Sakura then looks at Naruto. "Nor do I recognize yours brat...." Zabuza said but adds mentally. "Though that blonde hair and blue eyes, kinda reminds me of the Yondaime Hokage." He thought to himself before turning to Sasuke. "But I AM familiar with the Uchiha Clan. This must mean that you're the one whom Uchiha Itachi spared when he murdered his own clan."
Sasuke clenched his fist in anger at the mention of his traitorous brother but managed to keep his composure as Zabuza continues.
"It's a darned shame but since you don't seemed like the type who'll just walk away, I guess I'll have to be the one who'll make Itachi the sole surviving Uchiha." Zabuza taunted as he prepared himself. "Get ready."
"He's coming." Sasuke said as he quickly formed seals for one of his Katon jutsus while Naruto made five more shadow clones for the next assault, making Zabuza raise a hairless brow in surprise.
"Five more Kage Bunshins? Just how much chakra does this blonde have anyways?" Zabuza thought to himself as he watches Naruto and his clones attack again. He dispatches the first two quickly enough but the next three surprises the missing nin by latching on to him and supplemented by one of Sakura's genjutsus, holds him tightly in place for some reason.
"Sasuke!! Do it now!!" The original calls out. Sasuke nods and jumps up to get a better shot at the missing nin. "Katon: Goukyaku No Jutsu (Fire Release: Grand Fireball Technique)." The dark haired Konoha nin blows out a huge fireball at the trapped Zabuza and seemingly incinerates him along with Naruto's shadow clones.
"Did we get him?" Sasuke mutters, watching the blazing inferno as he caught his breath. That was the most powerful fire jutsu he knew and it took a lot of chakra to pull off so if he messed up, they would have problems.
"Nice try...." Zabuza's voice came from the inferno. A few moments later, the flames are extinguished by a torrent of water and in the middle stood a slightly singed, but still very much alive and kicking Zabuza. "....But still not good enough. If that's the best you've got, then you better start saying your prayers."
"Damn it.... What now?" Sasuke mutters then looks in shock as Naruto, sans his clones, charge at Zabuza with a drawn kunai. "Naruto!!! What the hell are you doing?"
But Naruto was not listening to Sasuke and continued to charge at Zabuza who sends him flying back with a kick to the gut. But as he flys past Sasuke, he twists in mid-air, retrieves an object from his pack and tosses it to Sasuke. "Sasuke!! Catch!!"
Sasuke sees that the object thrown by Naruto is a folded fuhma shuriken and instinctively catches the weapon then his face breaks into a knowing smirk before turning to Zabuza and unfurls the fuhma shuriken in front of him.
"Windmill Of Shadows: Fuhma Shuriken." Sasuke whispers as he palms a kunai with his free hand. Without warning, he throws the kunai at Zabuza who ducks to avoid it. Sasuke then follows up by throwing the fuhma shuriken which Zabuza also avoids by jumping over it.
"You missed again brat." Zabuza said with an evil smile then notices the smirk on Sasuke's face as he said. "Guess again old man." A poof behind him informs Zabuza that he's been had.
"Sonova.... Kage Bunshin/Henge combo...." He thought as he looks back just in time to see the transformed Naruto throw a brace of kunais at him. Fortunately, he was able to maneuver his zanbatou to a position where his vitals were protected and instead, was only wounded by a kunai to the shoulder and left arm though not damaging enough in affect his performance.
"I got careless." Zabuza said as landed and pulled out the kunais from his shoulder and arm. "I never thought that you brats were good enough to wound me." He admitted before narrowing his eyes dangerously. "Guess I really should get back to my primary objective before I finish you off so he won't get away."
Before anyone could react, Zabuza disappears then reappears behind Tazuna with his zanbatou raised above his head.
"Sakura!!!" Sasuke screamed as he started towards his female teammate but knew he wouldn't be able to get there on time.
"Too late to save 'em kid." Zabuza whispers as he starts to swing his sword down but all of a sudden, a rock hard fist to his jaw sends him tumbling back. Zabuza looks up and see a very wet and a very ticked off Kakashi standing in front of him.
"How the hell did you get out of the water prison?" Zabuza snarls, looking back at the spot where his clone had the jounin trapped and only sees a kunai on a wet patch of ground. "That kunai.... It can't be...." He mutters then looks at a grinning Naruto.
"I wasn't really gunning for you in the first place pal." Naruto confirms with a broad grin. "Those kunais I threw at you were just a distraction so that I could disperse your Mizu Bunshin with another kunai though I never really expected my distraction could actually hurt you."
"Very good work Team Seven." Kakashi said with an eye smile before turning towards Zabuza. "You did a fine job of protecting Tazuna and keeping Zabuza occupied long enough to free me even though I clearly ordered you to retreat."
"If we did that then we'd be going against everything we stand for, Kakashi Sensei." Sakura stated.
"Sakura's right...." Sasuke seconded. "Remember the first lesson you taught us as a team?"
"Those who don't follow the rules are trash but those who abandon their comrades are even bigger trash...." Kakashi mutters. "Thanks guys. I won't let your loyalty go to waste." His eyes grow cold as he regarded Zabuza. "Now step back. I've got a bone to pick with Zabuza and it won't be pretty." Team Seven gives their sensei a wide berth upon seeing his expression. There was no way they were gonna get caught in the middle of a fight like this.
"I'm surprised you can still stand after spending that much time inside my water prison Kakashi." Zabuza stated.
"I'm much tougher then I look Zabuza. You got me once but that won't work on me again." Kakashi stated coldly.
"Are you sure about that?" Zabuza asks with a smirk then start forming rapid fire seals only to look on in surprise as Kakashi forms similar rapid fire seals himself. The two finishes forming their seals at the same time and simultaneously calls out. "Suiton: Suikoudan No Jutsu (Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique)" The two shark-shaped projectiles destroys each other.
"I don't believe this...." Zabuza thought to himself. "How did this bastard...."
"....Know what you were gonna do?" Kakashi finishes for Zabuza aloud.
Instead of answering, Zabuza goes through another rapid fire set of seals which Kakashi also duplicates but at a slightly faster pace. It takes all of Zabuza's control and skill just to keep up with the one eyed Konoha nin and managed to finish simultaneously as both calls out. "Suiton: Suiryudan No Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)" Again the two attacks cancels each other out.
Zabuza growls in frustration and glares at Kakashi as he thought to himself. "He's doing it again!! Is he able to...."
"....Read your mind?" Kakashis finishes again in a bored tone of voice.
"Dammit! Stop copying me!! Is plaglarizing other people's jutsus all you're good at?" Zabuza said. Didn't I tell you before that it can never be as good as the original?"
"Suiton jutsus aren't really exclusive to Kirigakure you know. Besides, what's the criteria for it to be considered as the original anyways?" Kakashi asks almost casually. "Speed? Power? Execution? So far, I seem to be able to more then hold my own against you, a Kirigakure nin who specializes in Suiton jutsus."
"You think so? Well let's see you copy THIS!!!" Zabuza said as he goes through the handseals of his most powerful Suiton jutsu. But much to his shock and fear, Kakashi also goes through similar handseals but his was at such a highly accelerated pace that his hands were a blur.
"Dammit! This guys's handseal forming speed is terrifying. I can't keep up with him." Zabuza thought to himself. And before he knew it, Kakashi calls out the attack.
"Suiton: Daibafuku No Jutsu (Water Release: Great Waterfalls Technique)." A torrent of water surges past Kakashi and crashes into Zabuza, slamming him into a number of trees and boulders before depositing him on the ground in a bloody, battered heap. Lying helplessly on the ground, the missing nin struggles to maintain consciousness as he watches Kakashi walk towards him with a drawn kunai.
"Sorry Zabuza. But what I did was not simply copying what you did. I already knew what you were going to do. You had no chance against me from the very beginning." Kakashi said as he raises the kunai. "I can see your future Zabuza. And your future is.... Death!!"
But before Kakashi could kill Zabuza, the missing nin's eyes rolls back as he goes limp. Kakashi then notices the pair of long needles stabbed to his neck.
"You were right Konoha nin.... His future IS death." A voice stated. A slight figure wearing a mask with Kiri's symbol then appears in front of Kakashi.
"A Hunter Nin?" Kakashi thought to himself as he senses his students land besides him.
"Who are you?" Sasuke asks suspiciously.
"My name is of no importance." The hunter nin answered. "Just know that you have helped me a great deal in taking down my target." He said gesturing towards Zabuza's corpse.
"He's a hunter nin." Kakashi explained. "They're specialized shinobis who track down and capture or kill renegade shinobis from their respective villages. This one seems to be from Kirigakure and from the looks of it, might've hunting down Zabuza for a while now."
"So why the hell didn't you help us earlier?" Sakura asks crossly.
"Well you seemed to have things well under control so I saw no need for me to intervene." The hunter nin replied. He then picks up the body of Zabuza and looks at the Konoha nin. "Again I thank you for your assistance and allow me to dispose of the body. Till we meet again." He said before melting into a puddle.
"Sociable guy...." Naruto mutters as he looks at Kakashi. "You all right Kakashi Sensei? You took quite a beating there."
"I'll be fine. I just got ba...." Kakashi said as he took a step before falling flat on his face. "....D..Damn.... I g...guess I used to m...much cha...." Kakashi never finishes his sentence as he falls unconscious.
Author's Notes: One of my longest chapter if not THE longest chapter I've made. As always, R&R please