Book Two: Nozomi's Purpose- What Ever It Takes: Beyond The Limit!
Naruto, you baka... Why did you do that! Oh well at least he did get a better mission. But why so I have a bad feeling about this? I don't think this escort will go that smoothly. I have to agree with you. Something just doesn't feel right... At least he gets stuck with that crabby old man! I must agree. Baka. I snapped my compact shut.
"Oink." I looked down.
"Hey Tonton. What is it?"
"Oink, oink, oink."
Crap! I forgot about training today! "Thanks Tonton!" I raced out of my bedroom.
I was halfway across the large lawn when I noticed Tonton was still following me, I stopped."What you following me for?"
"Oink, oink."
So Grandma Tsunade wants to keep an eye on me and Shikamaya... Oh well. I shrugged and picked up Tonton. I jumped from roof top to roof top, still carrying Tonton.
"Oink, oink." Tonton complained.
"Hey would you rather walk?" I asked slightly annoyed. Tonton shook her head, her pearl necklace clacking. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Hey Nozomi!" Shikamaya.
I stopped and looked down. Shikamaya, Xia, and Inari Sensei stood in the street looking up at me. I jumped down and landed in front of them. "Hey guys. Why aren't you at the training ground?"
"We were on our way there actually." Xia said.
"What's with the pig?" Inari Sensei asked a hand on her hip.
"You mean Tonton?" I asked.
"She's Grandma Tsunade's." Shikamaya said. "My Mom, Aunts, Grandma Tsunade, Nozomi and I communicate through her. One time she showed up in the middle of class and started oinking away to Nozomi. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy talking to a pig." Shikamaya continued.
"Oh yeah, I think I remember that!" Xia said, "That was three years ago I think..."
"Two and a half." I said.
We reached our usual training ground five minutes later. The entire time Tonton studied Shikamaya's and my every move. Lunch time rolled around, I Blanked Out to check on Naruto and on how his first actual mission was going.
A puddle? But it hasn't rained in days... I knew I didn't like this! Some Mist Ninja sprang out from the puddle. This isn't a C-rank mission! Naruto!
"What about Naruto?" Shikamaya asked.
"Did I say that aloud?" I said snapping my compact shut.
"Yes, yes you did." Xia said matter-of-factly "And something about a mission not being a C-rank..." Xia's eyes widened.
"What are you girls talking about?" Inari Sensei asked.
"Team Seven's in trouble, isn't it?" Shikamaya asked.
I nodded. I thought I was scared when Naruto stole The Scroll of Sealing, but now...
"So they ran into a bit of trouble. So what? That happens on missions." Inari Sensei said dismissively.
"They were ambushed by Shinobi from the Hidden Mist!" I screeched.
Inari Sensei's face drained a bit. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I saw it!" I said through clenched teeth.
"We aren't exactly on the best terms with the Hidden Mist... We should tell Lord Hokage."
We raced to the Hokage Mansion. "Lord Hokage!" Inari Sensei said as we burst into his office.
"Oh, what is it, Inari?" He said his pipe in his mouth as usual.
"Nozomi, somehow, saw that Squad Seven is in trouble."
"And how did she see this?"
"I don't know, Lord Hokage." Inari Sensei confessed looking slightly embarrassed.
"Nozomi," Lord Hokage said.
"Yes, Lord Hokage?" I said. Come on! We don't have time for this! Squad Seven's in big trouble! He's just trying to get this straightened out, Nozomi. I know but...
"Nozomi, how did you see this?"
I sighed, "I saw it in a Blank Out."
"Blank Out?" Inari Sensei asked.
"Yeah, it's similar to Lord Hokage's crystal ball." I pulled out my compact. "I can use any reflective service. As long as I can see my reflection, I can Blank Out. I call it that because I have to let my mind go blank before I can do it."
"Sounds like the Telescope Technique." Lord Hokage said.
"Well... That's what I thought at first. But then I found I was able to do something else with it..."
"Something else?" Lord Hokage asked puzzled.
"I can look into someone else's mind with this technique. See their memories, their thoughts. It's kinda weird."
"I never heard of anything like that. How did you come across this?"
"Well I was just bored so I just stared at my mirror, let my mind go blank and- Oh that's not why we're here! Squad Seven was ambushed by Mist Shinobi! That is no C-rank mission!"
"Hmmmm..." Lord Hokage said, "If you are right-"
"I KNOW WHAT I SAW!"
"Then I will need to send a squad of Chunin to-"
"No." I said.
"Nozomi... You aren't thinking about going after Squad Seven are you?" Xia asked.
"I'm not thinking about it. I'm doing it." I dared Xia to challenge me.
"Nozomi-" Shikamaya started.
"You can't stop me, Shikamaya!"
"I don't want to stop you." Shikamaya stood next to me and linked her arm in mine, "I'm going with you. Naruto's a pain in the butt, but he's my cousin too."
"Well I guess I'm out voted." Xia said linking her arm in my other.
"I think they'd go whether you give them clearance to do it or not, Lord Hokage." Inari Sensei said.
"I can see that." Lord Hokage said holding his pipe, "Nozomi do you think one Squad of Genin will be able to make much of a difference?"
"Yes, and I don't care what you say..." I said looking at Shikamaya and Xia, who nodded, "We're going after them."
"So you and your teammates are prepared to give you lives, even if I say no, when I could send some Chunin or Jonin to deal with this?"
"Yeah." Xia said.
"Yep." Shikamaya said.
"Pretty much." I said smiling.
"You are like you cousin." Lord Hokage said. "Fine. You can go."
"Lo-Lord Hokage! I understand my students are exceptional but this- this is..." I never seen Inari Sensei like this.
"They'll go with or without you, Inari." Lord Hokage said. "So you might as well go with them."
"I'll take Tonton with us. So I can send word if I have to." Shikamaya said.
Lord Hokage nodded.
Aunt Kushina was a little worried, but she took this better than I thought. Aunt Shizune tried to talk me out of going, but then gave in muttering something about me being as stubborn as Grandma Tsunade. Grandma Tsunade said it was typical for a Senju girl to have to go save a boys butt. Which Grandpa Jiraiya protested. I left with Tonton on my head before it could get uglier.
Shikamaya, Xia, Inari Sensei and I left not half an hour after we went to Lord Hokage. I Blanked Out several times on the way to make sure we were going on the right path. Kakashi Sensei easily beat the two ninja, which left all of us relieved. We decided to keep going because when there's one attack there's bound to be more. Naruto had gotten poisoned but cut himself to get rid of the poison.
"So do you still think Squad Seven and Kakashi are incapable of completing this mission?"
"I don't doubt them but you never know..." Shikamaya said.
"Kakashi is more than capable of taking care of a few enemy Chunin. He's so good he could take on a few Jonin..." Inari said trailing off.
Xia, Shikamaya and I looked at each other and giggled. Tonton almost fell off my head.
"Wha-what are you giggling for?" Inari Sensei asked.
"Nothing." Xia said still giggling.
"Check this on your next Blank Out." Shikamaya whispered giggling as well.
"Will do." I said just loud enough for Inari Sensei to hear.
"Will do what?" Inari Sensei asked.
We all giggled while Inari Sensei blushed like mad.
"Come on let's keep moving." Shikamaya said through a few giggles.
We kept moving. Squad Seven made it to the Land of Waves without any further trouble. Inari Sensei said if we kept moving we should meet up with them by noon the next day. We were nearly caught up, when I stopped. Nozomi! Check on Naruto. Why? Just check! I have a bad feeling... Honestly... So do I...
"Nozomi?" I heard Xia say before I Blanked Out.
I flew through the trees so fast it was a blur. They're being watched by someone other than me. That guy... I snapped my compact shut.
"What did you see, Nozomi?" Inari Sensei asked as I stood up on the branch I was on.
"They're being watched by someone other than me."
"Another Mist Shinobi?" Shikamaya asked.
I nodded, "Let's hurry." I picked Tonton back up.
We took off quickly. I honestly didn't think I could run this fast. Faster! Faster! Tonton let out a few oinks of worry or complaint every now and then.
When we got there a huge sword was spinning toward the old man, Tazuna.
"Nozomi!" Inari Sensei said urgently.
But I was already on it. The sword got stuck in a pillar of wood. I smirked.
"Wha-?" Naruto said.
"Honestly, Naruto do I have to bail you out of trouble every time?" I said as Xia, Shikamaya, Inari Sensei, Tonton and I jumped down out of the trees. We all landed in front of Tazuna and Squad Seven.
"Well, well, well..." We all turned to the sound of the man's voice, "Who'd've thought Kakashi of the Sharingan would need four girls and a pig to save him. Although I am impressed that one of them is a Makuton user." He stood on a branch a hand on the tree trunk.
"What's wrong with Kunoichi?" Inari Sensei asked pulling out a kunai.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't The Rouge Ninja of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi." Kakashi Sensei said, his hands in his pocket.
"Okay are we all going to introduce everyone so we can all get acquainted and have tea? Or are we going to cut to the chase?" Xia exclaimed.
"Kids! Keep back!" Inari Sensei ordered.
"Why? We can take em'!" Naruto said.
"This guy's on a whole different level than the guys from the other day." Kakashi Sensei said.
"So pretty much, keep out of the way?" Shikamaya said.
Inari and Kakashi Sensei nodded.
"Yes." Sasuke spoke for the first time, "Naruto! Sakura! Grab Tazuna and let's go!"
Naruto didn't look happy about it but grabbed Tazuna, Shikamaya grabbed Tonton. The other Genin and I ran into the forest with Tazuna. "Oh no you don't!" I heard Zabuza yell.
"Nozomi!" Xia said stopping, causing everyone else to stop.
"Already on it!" I did several hand signs, "Wood Style, Camouflage!"
Wooden pillars pushed us together, but not so close that we were completely squished. The wood grew up around us forcing most of us upward. The next second we were enclosed in wood and darkness. A tree had grown up around us, each of us sitting on a branch inside the tree itself. It's a little hard to explain.
"Nozomi, since when have you been able to use Wood Release?"Sasuke asked from above me.
"Since Naruto stole the Scroll." I shrugged, "And don't even think about trying to copy it, Sasuke. It's a Kekkei Genkai."
"How long are we going to be in here?" Sakura asked.
"As long as we have to be." Shikamaya said.
"Which is how long?" Naruto complained
"Shut it, Naruto!" Sakura said. Several of us chimed in, including Tonton.
"Will you all shut it!" I hissed. "This hides us physically, yes. But it doesn't make us soundproof!"
"You can say that again." Zabuza's voice came from outside the tree. He split the tree wide-open, narrowly missing Sakura.
"Sakura! Take Tazuna and go! We'll hold him off!" I said urgently.
"Yes!" Sakura grabbed Tazuna and made a break for it.
Zabuza started for them, but Shikamaya buried him waist high in paper. Zabuza cut through the paper with his sword.
"Looks like Paper Style's out!" Shikamaya said.
"Where the heck is Kakashi Sensei anyway!" Naruto yelled.
"Keep him busy and I can check!"
"Make it quick!" Sasuke said.
I took off into the woods. I landed a safe distance away on a branch, I Blank Out. I flew through the trees, until I got to where we had been attacked. Kakashi and Inari Sensei were trapped inside a large sphere of water. They'll drown!I snapped the compact shut. I ran back to the others, who were still fighting. Sasuke, Naruto, Xia, and Shikamaya looked beat up. I landed in between Shikamaya and Sasuke.
"Well?" Shikamaya muttered.
"Our Senseis' are trapped inside a huge sphere of water." I informed them gravely, "Scatter!"
We scattered; Naruto, Tonton and Shikamaya, Xia and Sasuke, I was on my own.
Naturally Zabuza went for me, they always go for the loners. I turned in mid jump "Wood Style! Smashing Mallet!" Zabuza narrowly avoided it. Darn it! Gotta keep him away from the others!
"Wood Style! Smashing Mallet!" He wasn't able to avoid it this time, he went fell to the ground.
I jumped down to the ground, "If you think you're going to win this battle... You're wrong! Our Senseis My Squad had the top grades in the class." I hit him with another Smashing Mallet. "Sasuke is the last Uchiha! Wood Style, Impaling Roots!" He avoided being speared but still go hit and cut. "Naruto and I are the grandchildren of Tsunade and Jiraiya, two of the Sanin!" Another Smashing Mallet, but he avoided this one.
He came at me with his sword. A wood pillar that I didn't summon stopped him and sent him back.
"I am the only Makuton user in the world! It will protect me! And I will fight with it! Wood Style, Wood Pillar Slam!" He was sent flying.
Nozomi! You're using up too much chakra! You're pushing yourself to much!I don't care what happens to me! I have to keep Zabuza way from the others while they free our Senseis! I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! If that is the case than let me help you. How? Take some of my chakra, dear.
I felt a power surging through me. I never knew this kind of power. I looked at Zabuza, glared at him. He actually looked scared. I looked at my hands, my arms, my legs, there was golden chakra swirling around me. "I won't let you touch them! I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! WOOD STYLE, CRUCIFIXION!" Zabuza was attacked by two wood pillars, he was on a wooden cross. Another wood pillar wrapped itself around his sword.
I felt light headed. Nozomi, I can only help you so much at this point in time. Your body can only accept so much of my chakra at one time! I'm doing my best to keep it flowing into you but-
I fell to my knees and the wood that made up the cross Zabuza was on went back into the ground. Although his sword still remained encased in wood.
"It seems you've reached you limit." Zabuza said mercilessly as he broke his sword out of the wood. "And I have so much left in me."
I was too light headed and weak to speak.
"Where's all that brave talk that you had earlier? I expected more from a Senju."
"Hey-I just-Became a-Genin a few-Weeks ago." I panted.
"Even so... Die!" Zabuza lifted his sword to strike. I shut my eyes ready for the pain but... It never came. I opened my eyes he was gone.
"Where?"
"Nozomi!" Naruto...
I turned my head. Tazuna, Shikamaya, Xia, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Inari Sensei and Kakashi Sensei stood there. None of them looked to good; Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Xia, and Shikamaya were cut, and bruised, most likely from the fight with Zabuza they had earlier when I had to Blank Out. Inari and Kakashi Sensei were soaked and out of breath with minor cuts. Tazuna just looked scared and dirty.
"Hey guys. Where'd Zabuza go?" I collapsed. I scarcely heard some of them say my name, and a few oinks from Tonton. Their faces came in and out of focus. I saw their mouths move like they were saying something. Then black.