Okay all here's chapter ten. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and added me to their faves and alert lists. I really appreciate it. I also appreciate everyone's patience with my updating slowly. Thanks all of you.
To my anonymous reviewer, cmm2, thanks so much for reviewing. I'm glad you liked last chapter and I hope you enjoy this chapter too.
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Another Chance.
Chapter Ten – An Emissary To Mist Country.
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One day in early May, Naruto came home from the academy one day to find his father preparing a pack. Naruto was extremely confused. After all, his father was supposed to be the Hokage and they were supposed to stay in the village.
"What's going on Dad?" Naruto asked. Minato grinned cheerfully at his son. Tsuki was already crawling towards Naruto, at a fast speed. Her red hair bouncing around her face. She sat down in front of Naruto and waited patiently for her Aniki to pick her up, which he did. Naruto picked Tsuki up and tickled her belly, and the baby started giggling loudly and wildly, as she wriggled around. Soon Naruto just held Tsuki gently, and she laid her small head on Naruto's shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth.
"Well Naruto, I'm going to Mist country, as an emissary for peace between Kiri and Konoha." Minato stated cheerfully. Naruto frowned and almost as though she sensed her brother's emotions, Tsuki started pouting at their father. Minato blinked in confusion.
"Why the hell is Tsuki unhappy? She doesn't even know what's going on." Minato thought to himself.
"Why do you look so miserable? You're coming with me." Minato added. Naruto looked at Tsuki, who looked slightly betrayed.
"Tsuki's coming too. So are your Mom and Tenshiko. Tenshiko, Itachi and Hana are coming with Anko as their Sensei, as well as your Auntie Mikoto as an escort to make sure that we all get their safely. Because Itachi and Auntie Mikoto are going, Sasuke is coming too, with Hikaru." Minato stated. Naruto couldn't help grinning then.
"When are we going? And when are we coming back?" Naruto asked quickly. Tsuki was now happy again, now that she knew she wasn't being abandoned by her Aniki.
"We're leaving as soon as your Auntie Mikoto gets here with Sasuke and Hikaru. We're meeting Itachi, Tenshiko, Hana and Anko at the gates." Minato replied.
"We'll be gone for about a week, maybe more, and while we're gone, Sarutobi-San will be looking after the village." Minato added. Naruto couldn't help grinning as he went upstairs with Tsuki to prepare his own pack. He sat Tsuki in the middle of his bed and started looking for what he might need to pack. Tsuki sat in the middle of Naruto's bed giggling and playing with Gama-Chan, Naruto's all famous wallet. Naruto had had that wallet forever, and was shocked when he couldn't find it in this timeline. It turned out to be a present from Hinata on his birthday. He'd never known that Hinata had given him the little frog wallet the first time round. Like his beaver sleeping hat had come from Jiraiya when he was a small baby. Naruto hadn't known that either. Of course, Naruto couldn't remember meeting Jiraiya in this timeline. He must've seen his old Sensei when he was a baby. However Naruto was hoping to see him soon. He'd missed the old man.
"Naruto! Is Tsuki with you?" Naruto heard his Mom call. He grinned at the crawling eight month old and yelled back.
"Yeah Mom she's with me!" He called cheerfully. Tsuki fell down on her belly after crawling for a few moments and looked at Naruto cutely.
"Don't look at me Tsuki-Chan. If you don't learn to crawl on my bed, how are you going to walk? And if you don't learn to walk how are you gonna go to the Ninja academy with Hikaru-Chan and become a ninja like me?" Naruto asked the little baby. She blinked cutely for a few minutes before she attempted crawling on Naruto's soft bed again. This time she stayed up for much longer as Naruto watched her. Naruto couldn't help but grin at his baby sister.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Sasuke walked with his Mother towards Naruto's home. He was carrying Hikaru, who just stayed stoic and watched everything with calm appreciation. Although when Sasuke placed her in her playpen in the garden and she watched him practise his fire jutsus outside, she would laugh and gurgle, with big, bright, onyx eyes that sparkled with joy. Sasuke had felt a slight happiness at the idea that Naruto wouldn't be somewhere where he couldn't help him. As they approached the house, Sasuke saw Naruto sitting on the tree swing with Tsuki in his lap. Naruto saw them and waved. Tsuki clapped her hands together, almost applauding them as they came to the front porch. Sasuke walked over to Naruto with Hikaru, at a calm rate.
"Hey Teme!" Naruto exclaimed cheerfully. "Hn Dobe." Sasuke quipped. Naruto shrugged and Tsuki reached out to play with Hikaru. Hikaru looked down at Tsuki with a calm look of indifference on her face. Tsuki let out a keening whine and Hikaru looked down at Tsuki, who carried on with her whining until Hikaru gurgled. Then Tsuki stopped whining and gurgled back.
"That's so creepy." Sasuke quipped.
"What? That they're babies and best friends?" Naruto asked.
"No that Tsuki acts just like you and Hikaru acts just like me." Sasuke replied. Naruto shrugged, and Tsuki gave Sasuke a curious look.
"I always thought you were the attention whore. I remember that weird ass outfit you got from Orochimaru." Naruto stated. Sasuke glared.
"Shut up Dobe!" Sasuke exclaimed. Hikaru didn't bother acknowledging the conversation, almost as if it was beneath her, while Tsuki stared at both boys intently, almost as though she were trying to catch every word.
"Okay boys we're going in a few minutes." Mikoto quipped. It seemed while Naruto and Sasuke had been having their half conversation, Mikoto had already gone into the house and spoke to Minato and Kushina.
"Naruto, your Mother said to go to her so she can check that you have everything." Mikoto stated. Naruto nodded and placed Tsuki in Sasuke's arms. Sasuke glared at Naruto, who grinned and ran off, while Tsuki wriggled to get closer to Hikaru, who wriggled to get further away. Mikoto couldn't help laughing.
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Not even an hour later, the group had already left the village and were travelling along the road. Naruto and Sasuke walked together with Itachi in front of them. Hana was behind them, with Kushina and Minato behind her, both holding a baby. Mikoto was in between Minato and Kushina, while Tenshiko was at the back of the group. Anko would go from the back to the front periodically, not allowing her students to lag. Naruto couldn't help remembering the Anko he'd known. In the original timeline, Anko had stayed a loner, but she had also been someone that Naruto had respected.
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The journey to Mist Country hadn't gone badly. In fact it had been almost pleasant. Both Naruto and Sasuke were thinking the same thing. Had Zabuza Momochi defected from Kiri yet? Had he even met Haku? Naruto and Sasuke walked in to the Mizukage's office with the rest of the group, and both of them stopped. They knew that chakra. They knew it very well. It was Madara Uchiha. But of course they had figured this might be the case. After all, after the pair had compared notes of the things they knew in the original timeline, they had found out that Kisame called Madara 'Mizukage-Sama' on several occasions. They figured that he must have been the Mizukage at some point. So they pretended that they were very happy to meet him and that they were glad to be in Mist country. That was of course when a pair of familiar faces came in to the office.
Naruto recognised Zabuza straight away. He could tell that the thin little boy next to him was Haku. Zabuza looked around to see the group of foreign ninja in the Mizukage's office and glared slightly.
"You should knock before barging in Zabuza." The Mizukage hissed. Zabuza glared back.
"I apologise Mizukage-Sama. I didn't realise that you had visitors." Zabuza replied. Naruto and Sasuke could hear the edge in his voice. Zabuza hated Madara as much as they did.
Naruto walked over to Zabuza and Haku. He stuck out his hand to Zabuza.
"I'm Naruto! Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze!" Naruto introduced himself. Haku looked up at Zabuza, to gage his reaction, and then he took Naruto's offered hand.
"I'm Haku." The small boy said back. Naruto looked up at Zabuza.
"I like your sword." Naruto quipped. Zabuza smirked.
"Well Gaki when you become a true ninja you might be able to take it from me." Zabuza replied. Naruto looked at Zabuza curiously.
"I don't want to take your sword away. It looks better with you." Naruto quipped. Sasuke nodded from his position near Naruto. Zabuza shook his head in disbelief at the two children. Haku smiled at the two boys.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
That evening after the talks between him and the Mizukage, Minato sat next to Kushina.
"He wants to send one of his Ninja to our village as an offer of peace." Minato told Kushina.
"Do you know who?" Kushina asked. "One Kisame Hoshigaki. He's one of the seven swordsmen of the Hidden Mist." Minato said softly.
"You don't trust the Mizukage's plans do you?" Kushina said softly. Minato shook his head.
"There's something too familiar about his chakra. I don't like it. It reminds me of when Kyubi escaped you and attacked our village. Something is bothering me about all of this." Minato told Kushina. Neither of them knew that Sasuke and Naruto were listening in to the conversation.
The two boys looked at each other.
"He's trying to place an operative in Konoha so that he can abduct you when he gets the chance." Sasuke said angrily. Hikaru gurgled angrily in Sasuke's arms. Both boys were on baby duty before they went to bed.
"I know. Akatsuki's probably already been formed, and with Madara as the Mizukage, Kisame is probably already a member." Naruto replied. Tsuki pouted her expression was tearful.
"We need to figure out a way to manipulate this to our advantage." Sasuke quipped.
"I have a plan." Naruto stated. A bright grin spread across his face. Tsuki giggled and Hikaru stared calmly as the boys discussed their plan back in their own room.
xXxXxXx THE NEXT DAY xXxXxXx
Zabuza was furious. The Mizukage was sending Kisame to Konoha, and Zabuza knew it was for the express purpose of abducting the Hokage's son. That wasn't what bothered him. What bothered him was the idea of making a false treaty with Konoha just to abduct a child. Zabuza wasn't quite sure what it was that the Mizukage wanted with the Hokage's son, but he knew it couldn't be good. After all, the Mizukage had been making dark deals in dark corners for a while. Zabuza looked at Haku, who was sleeping peacefully. Sometimes he wondered if he was raising the orphan boy the right way. After all, the boy seemed far too innocent to be learning how to kill. Zabuza glared slightly when he saw the two boys from yesterday running along the street. The blond one, Naruto, was the Hokage's son. Zabuza couldn't help wondering what would happen to the child if the Mizukage got his way. How could you not wonder about a child that seemed so cheerfully happy?
Haku woke up then.
"Zabuza-San?" Haku asked curiously.
"I want you to go and make friends with those two Gakis from yesterday. I want you to learn as much about them as you can." Zabuza told Haku seriously. The boy nodded and got dressed quickly, and then he ran off to find Sasuke and Naruto. Zabuza sat by himself thinking of exactly what plan he needed to concoct to survive now.
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Naruto and Sasuke were just running laps around the village. After all, they needed to keep training, and their own particular brand of training session would be too suspicious in Kiri. They didn't want Madara taking an interest in them. That was when they noticed someone running towards them. Naruto smirked when he saw Haku. He gave Sasuke a hand signal and Sasuke looked to see Haku also. The two boys waited for Haku to catch up.
"Hi Haku!" Naruto exclaimed. He always felt happy to see Haku. It meant that his fate could still be changed.
"Hello Naruto. Sasuke." Haku said formerly. Both boys gave the other one a smile and soon they were all running together.
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Zabuza was doing his own spying at the moment. He was using his own silent jutsu to sneak to the outside of the Mizukage's office. He could hear the Mizukage and Kisame inside.
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Kisame and Madara were sat inside the office.
"When you gain the Hokage's trust you'll know exactly when to snatch the boy." Madara stated.
"Why not take the boy now? The Hokage didn't exactly bring enough guards to protect himself or his son." Kisame asked.
"Because everything you hear about the fourth Hokage is true. He can kill a single regiment in a matter of seconds. He's a dangerous foe to face, let alone if his child or his whole family are threatened." Madara replied. Kisame nodded.
"So you want this to be a sneaky operation that doesn't involve the village." Kisame commented. Madara nodded.
"That's exactly what I want. This is our own business and while I don't give a damn what happens to this rat hold of a village, the people here could become good pawns. You never throw away a good pawn before you use it." Madara quipped.
"What about the boy's family? He seems to be well guarded and loved, for a Jinchuriki, so what do I do about the rest of them?" Kisame asked.
"Well I'll leave it to your discretion Kisame. All I care about is that you get the boy. Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze is the jewel in the Jinchuriki crown that we're creating. There are others, but Kyubi is the most powerful of all the tailed demons and the boy carries Kyubi. If we carry on waiting others will come to protect him. That's the idea of you gaining the trust of the Hokage. He may even allow you to look after the child. However I want everything to be perfect. Make sure of everything before you make any moves." Madara quipped. Kisame nodded his understanding.
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Zabuza glared to himself. He knew the Mizukage was about to cause a war between Konoha and Kiri and he didn't like it. In the original timeline it took a long time for Zabuza to become disillusioned on travels after his own exile. But he hadn't lost all his beliefs yet as he hadn't been exiled yet. He decided to go back to his own home, to think about everything he'd heard. After all, it wasn't every day you found out that the Hokage's son was a Jinchuriki.
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Haku, Sasuke and Naruto were all sat at a Ramen stand.
"I didn't even know there was a Ramen stand here in Kiri." Haku quipped.
"Naruto could probably find a Ramen stand in the middle of a wasteland." Sasuke quipped. Naruto grinned and nodded vigorously, before he carried on eating his Miso Pork Ramen.
"So you both come from Konoha?" Haku asked. Naruto and Sasuke nodded.
"What is it like there?" Haku asked.
"It's beautiful there. We go to a Ninja Academy and when we all graduate we go in to three man squads." Naruto replied.
"We all train hard and we have to listen to our Senseis. But Iruka-Sensei is the best. Sasuke's top of the class though." Naruto added.
"You have a mother and father." Haku commented.
"Yeah. I have a baby sister too. Her name is Tsuki, and I have a cousin, Tenshiko." Naruto said.
"I have an older brother, Itachi, my mother, and my baby sister Hikaru." Sasuke added.
"Are they here with you?" Haku asked. Naruto nodded.
"Of course! Sasuke and I are best friends. Our Moms are best friends too! Itachi and Tenshiko are on the same Genin squad, and they're best friends too. Hana is their third member and Anko-San is their Sensei. They came as our escort." Naruto replied. He sounded more like a child when he was cheerful and telling others about things. Haku watched the two boys as they spoke to him. He could tell they were close. Sometimes Naruto would say something and Haku would have no idea what he was talking about, but Sasuke would understand perfectly. Then Sasuke would say something that Naruto would find funny, but Haku didn't understand the joke. He wondered if that was what it was like to have a best friend, or even a brother. He would have plenty of information to give Zabuza at the end of the day.
xXxXxXx THAT NIGHT xXxXxXx
Naruto and Sasuke were sat with their mothers. Tsuki and Hikaru were in a playpen that had been provided. Tsuki crawled all the way around the playpen, and then from one end of the play pen to the other. Hikaru did not seem impressed. Tsuki did her usual keening whine again, and Hikaru looked at Tsuki, who once again showed Hikaru her crawling skills. Hikaru gurgled and Tsuki gurgled back, before both girls started crawling around the playpen together. After a while both babies laid down on the soft cushion in the playpen and went to sleep. Both of them were curled up together. Tsuki seemed to have hold of Hikaru's hand.
Naruto and Sasuke blinked at the activities of their baby sisters. They could see their mother's squealing over the cuteness, and then the two women went back to conversing. This was when Naruto decided to put his plan in to action.
"Mom, can me and Sasuke go and play with our new friend?" Naruto asked. Kushina blinked at the two boys.
"Only if Itachi, Tenshiko and Hana go with you." Mikoto replied. Kushina nodded her ascent to this reply, and then both women were chattering away again.
Naruto and Sasuke went to find Itachi, Hana and Tenshiko, who were all sat outside the building they were staying in. Anko was lecturing them about basics and other things that Naruto and Sasuke didn't catch. As soon as the trio saw the two younger boys they looked relieved.
"This almost makes me want to disobey our Moms, just to watch the joy fade from their eyes." Naruto quipped. Sasuke grinned.
"You sure do have an evil mind sometimes Dobe." Sasuke quipped back. Both boys laughed as they walked over to the group.
"Anko-San! We need Itachi, Tenshiko and Hana please!" Naruto said. He knew exactly how to make himself look cute. Anko pouted.
"What exactly do you need them for?" Anko asked.
"Our Moms said that we need to take them with us if we wanna go and see our new friend." Naruto stated. Anko sighed. She happened to think that Naruto and Sasuke were very sweet.
"Okay take them. You three better look after them!" Anko yelled at her team. The trio all nodded, grabbed hold of Sasuke and Naruto and ran off. Hana's two dogs ran off behind them.
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After Haku had explained everything he had learned to Zabuza, Zabuza had a feeling of foreboding. That was when a knock came at the door. Zabuza got up from where he was sitting and went to answer it. He found a group of children outside. The two at the front were Naruto and Sasuke.
"What do you two gakis want?" Zabuza asked.
"Can we come and visit Haku please Zabuza-San?" Sasuke and Naruto asked together. Both of them made their eyes look big and watery, and Zabuza stared blankly.
"Fine. Haku, your gaki friends are here." Zabuza called. Naruto and Sasuke ran past Zabuza, while Itachi, Tenshiko and Hana waited sheepishly.
"You're their little bodyguards I take it?" Zabuza asked. The trio nodded. Zabuza stepped aside. He didn't really see any of these children as a threat. The only way they would attack was if they felt they (or their two charges) were threatened. The trio went inside after Sasuke and Naruto, and Zabuza closed the door.
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Later on that evening, Zabuza watched as the trio of boys played. Sometimes, Naruto would go up to the red haired girl, who Zabuza learned was called Tenshiko, and ask her something. Sometimes Sasuke would go up to the older boy, who he learned was called Itachi, and he would ask Itachi things and call him 'Aniki'. Zabuza could see how happy Haku was. It was like he had found kindred spirits and Zabuza couldn't help but feel a sort of joy in his heart when he saw Haku smile so happily.
Zabuza had intended Haku to be a tool when he took the boy in. It hadn't even been a year and already he found that he was rather attached to the child. The laws of Mist forbid him from adopting the boy however. But no one was concerned about Haku staying with him. After all, Haku was one of many orphans. Zabuza didn't show it, but he really cared about Haku. He didn't have a child of his own, and he wasn't sure that he ever would. However, Haku seemed to make up for that fact.
He felt someone tug on his pant leg and looked down at Naruto.
"You're really cool! Maybe you can come to Konoha with us!" Naruto exclaimed. Zabuza couldn't help but smirk at the young child's words.
xXxXxXx TWO DAYS LATER xXxXxXx
Minato and Kushina were sat talking about the idea of a ninja from Kiri coming to Konoha. That was when Naruto and Sasuke appeared from nowhere.
"Hey if you have to bring a Ninja from here back home, can't Zabuza-San come?" Naruto asked.
"Zabuza-San?" Kushina asked.
"Yeah, he's Haku's guardian." Sasuke quipped. Minato looked at the two boys.
"What can you tell me about Zabuza-San?" Minato asked the pair. They were only too glad to point out all of Zabuza's good points.
xXxXxXx THE NEXT DAY xXxXxXx
Anko Mitarashi was sat watching over Naruto and Sasuke, who were playing with Haku, when she met Zabuza.
"That your kid?" Anko asked.
"No but I look after him." Zabuza replied.
"Well I look after those two at the moment." Anko stated. Zabuza smirked.
"I look after Haku all the time." Zabuza stated. He wasn't sure why he was telling this woman anything. Of course things happen like that sometimes. Anko smirked.
"I'm Anko Mitarashi." Anko stated. She held out a hand.
"I'm Zabuza Momochi." Zabuza replied as his hand took Anko's own. From where they were playing, Haku, Naruto and Sasuke had all seen the exchange. All three boys smiled at each other.
xXxXxXx THE NEXT DAY xXxXxXx
Minato sat in the Mizukage's office.
"You're saying you don't want Kisame to come to your village?" The Mizukage asked.
"Yes." Minato replied. Kushina was there listening, although the Mizukage had not been happy about it.
"I believe that having one of our Ninja amongst your people would bring a long lasting tie between Kiri and Konoha." The Mizukage stated.
"How about we make a compromise, gentlemen?" Kushina quipped. Both men looked at her quizzically.
"What might that be Kushina-San?" The Mizukage asked.
"Well you believe sending a ninja to Konoha would be beneficial, well it just so happens that my Son and his best friend have become rather attached to a young boy here, and his guardian is a Shinobi. They also seem rather attached to him as well. I'm sure you know him. He's called Zabuza Momochi." Kushina quipped. The Mizukage gritted his teeth under the mask he wore across his mouth.
"That should be fine. I'll discuss it with Zabuza." The Mizukage stated.
"See all things can be compromised." Kushina said cheerfully.
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After Minato and Kushina left, Madara Uchiha was cursing. He had Kisame called to his office. Kisame sat there and awaited Madara's orders.
"It seems that the Hokage refuses to have you come to Konoha. His wife picked that disobedient rat Zabuza." Madara hissed.
"I can always follow and bide my time Mizukage-Sama." Kisame quipped. Madara nodded.
"Let no one know you are there. You will be classed as a missing nin once you take the boy. But as I said before, you must be extremely careful about when you snatch him. If you do it wrong then not only do we lose the Kyubi's Jinchuriki, you may also be killed, so Akatsuki will lose a member. I will give you a scroll with your Akatsuki partner and any other details that you might need on it. Go and prepare. Tell Zabuza that I wish to see him." Madara quipped. Kisame nodded his understanding and left the room as Madara quietly seethed about his plans having to be changed.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Zabuza was sat talking with Anko, when he took note of Kisame watching them. He looked at Kisame angrily.
"What do you want fish face?" Zabuza hissed.
"The Mizukage wants to see you Momochi." Kisame replied. Zabuza stood up and waited for Kisame to go before he turned to Anko.
"Maybe we'll talk again before you have to go back to Konoha." Zabuza stated gruffly. Anko smirked.
"Yeah maybe." Anko replied. Then Zabuza was gone. Anko went back to watching the three children, who were sat on the grass looking at something in the trees. It seemed that they played together on a daily basis.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Zabuza found himself speechless when the Mizukage told him of the new arrangements.
"You're telling me that you want me to transfer to Konoha as a sign of peace between Konoha and Kiri?" Zabuza asked. The Mizukage glared.
"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying. You can refuse, but I wouldn't suggest it." The Mizukage replied.
"And what about Haku and my apprentice?" Zabuza hissed.
"The brats can go with you. They're your problem, not mine." The Mizukage stated irritably. Zabuza made towards the door.
"Where are you going?" The Mizukage asked.
"To pack. If I'm going to be leaving with my charges then I'd better be prepared." Zabuza stated. Then he was gone and the Mizukage was left to glare at his desk angrily.
Madara could have argued the point with the Hokage. But it would have seemed far too suspicious if Madara had insisted too much. He'd bided his time for nearly a century. Waiting a little longer couldn't hurt.
xXxXxXxXxXxXx
Haku looked at Zabuza curiously.
"So we're going to go and live in Konoha?" Haku asked. Zabuza nodded.
"What about that boy you were training? Suigetsu-Kun?" Haku asked.
"I'll ask him if he wants to come. But it's up to him." Zabuza replied. Haku nodded.
"Pack your things. We're leaving in two days time." Zabuza stated. Haku nodded and started packing what little he had.
xXxXxXx THAT EVENING xXxXxXx
Zabuza found himself at an abandoned house. He waited for a few moments before a boy with pale blue hair came out.
"Suigetsu?" Zabuza called him. The boy ran over to Zabuza quickly.
"How are things?" Zabuza asked him. The boy pouted.
"They're fine." Suigetsu quipped.
"I've been transferred to Konoha." Zabuza stated bluntly. The boy looked disappointed by the news.
"I'm going to ask you once. Do you want to come along with me and Haku? It would mean that you would obviously stay with me and train with Haku. You would also have to attend the ninja academy as a student. But you are free to come along." Zabuza added. Suigetsu used his canine to bite his lip as he concentrated on what Zabuza had told him. Then he nodded.
"Since my brother died the landlord's got meaner. I think it's time for a new start. Besides there's a guy that keeps poking around, stalking me and creeping me out. I don't want to be here the next time he comes back." Suigetsu said. Zabuza smirked, and then clapped the boy on the shoulder.
"Pack your things and let's go. We're leaving in two days time." Zabuza stated. Suigetsu ran in to the house, and within two hours, Suigetsu returned with a pack and a large, locked box.
"What's in the box Gaki?" Zabuza asked.
"Things that belonged to my parents. You musta had parents once Zabuza-Senpai." Suigetsu quipped. Zabuza shrugged.
"That was a long time ago Gaki. Are you sure you have everything?" Zabuza asked.
"Everything that's worth taking with me." Suigetsu replied. Zabuza walked with the boy until he caught sight of Anko, sitting on a bench next to a lake.
"You know where my place is Gaki. Haku will let you in. I'll catch up." Zabuza stated. Suigetsu nodded and ran off. There were no questions asked or needed.
"Anko?" Zabuza called. The female turned her head and smirked when she saw Zabuza. For some reason Zabuza had a feeling that was her idea of a smile.
"I don't know if your Hokage told you but-" Zabuza was cut off by Anko.
"Of course he told me. So you're moving to Konoha then? With a kid?" Anko asked.
"Two kids." Zabuza replied.
"Where'd the other one come from?" Anko asked.
"I'm training him. I was training him before the death of his parents. His brother died a few months ago. He hasn't got anything left here. I might as well give him the chance to finish his training." Zabuza replied gruffly. That was when Anko smiled. Zabuza was surprised by how pretty Anko looked when she actually smiled rather than smirked. He decided that he'd try to make her smile more often. Even though he wasn't really sure what had made her smile about his comment at any rate.
xXxXxXx TWO DAYS LATER xXxXxXx
Naruto and Sasuke were surprised by the appearance of Suigetsu. But they soon dealt with it. After all, Sasuke had told Naruto that Zabuza, had been Suigetsu's Sensei before his exile. The two boys were also surprised by how close Anko seemed to be to Zabuza. Of course that was something they had started to suspect from the moment the pair met. Both Naruto and Sasuke had a feeling that the two loners might just get together. It would be interesting to see what kind of lifestyle the pair would live.
For some reason, Naruto and Sasuke couldn't wait to get back to Konoha. After all, they could resume their own training regime there, and even though neither one of them would admit it out loud, they missed the regular hubbub of ordinary life. So they started getting to know Suigetsu and Haku on their journey, hoping to make time go faster as they walked, and they watched over their little sisters, who they carried this time. Apart from that their journey back to Konoha was uneventful.
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As they walked back to Konoha, none of the group seemed to notice they were being followed. Kisame was methodical in his orders and knew how to avoid detection. But whether or not he would succeed in his mission or not was something yet to be seen.
At that moment, someone appeared behind him, but Kisame wasn't startled.
"Orochimaru?" Kisame greeted.
"Kisame?" Orochimaru greeted back. Orochimaru had been assigned as Kisame's partner, knowing Konoha well was an advantage. According to Kisame, his success rate just escalated twenty five percent.
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Okay all that's the end of this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please R&R and let me know what you think. I'd greatly appreciate it. I'll see you all next time I update people.