Chapter 10: Enter Zabuza Momochi
It was about one hour after the teams left the gates and were still feeling like beating Tazuna up after the comments he said about them. But they let it all go and remembered that they're on a mission. Kurenai was just watching the teens beside her and couldn't help notice that Naruto and Hinata weren't holding hands or staying real close to each other. She thought there might be something bad happening to them. So, she decided to call Hinata up.
"Hinata! You mind coming here for a minute?" Kurenai called out and get Hinata to turn her head to her sensei.
"O-Okay, sensei." Hinata said as she thought she might be in trouble. She backed up a bit and started to see what's up. "You called me? And am I in trouble?"
Kurenai just giggled. "No, you're not. I was wondering why you haven't been being closer to Naruto. Were you guys in a bad fight?"
"Oh! No, it's not that. It's just that this is our first C-ranked mission, Naruto and I were thinking about how this mission is serious. And we don't want our relationship being in the way of the mission." Hinata explained.
"Is that all?" Kurenai smiled. "Look, I don't mind that you guys are very confident and serious about how this mission turns out to be. But you must remember that you must protect the people you care for at the same time. Plus, I'm happy that you and Naruto are a couple now."
Hinata smiled and blush. "Thank you, Kurenai-sensei!"
"It's okay. Though I have one question." Kurenai questioned Hinata. "Is it true you are married to Naruto? Because that ring proves it!"
Hinata nodded. "It's true."
"Well, you do realize that something may happen between you two and you have to make sure that you are taken since you're married." stated Kurenai.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked as Kurenai whispered something into her ears. Her cheeks were bright red after that. "Oh! I-I see!"
Kurenai giggled. "Don't worry! Just wait until you feel like it, okay?" Hinata, still blushing, just nodded. "Good! Now go accompany your newlywed husband."
Hinata just giggled and quickly came up to Naruto. She then wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck and Naruto was stunned by this.
"Hinata? What's up?" he asked kindly.
"Oh, just feeling that you need a little company. That's all." Hinata giggled.
"Yeah, I do miss your hugs. So, what you think of the mission?" he asked again.
"Hmm, I say it's-" Hinata stopped and heard something. "Naruto! I hear something close!"
Naruto never knew how Hinata heard it, but he complied as he got his kunai out. Tech and Anko noticed this and followed along. "Hey! What now?" Tazuna asked impatiently.
"What is it, Naruto?" Kurenai asked to what's going on.
"Hinata, can you spot where you heard the noise from?" Naruto asked as Hinata nodded. She then activated her Byakugan and was searching for that sound. Hinata just looked around and noticed four figures hiding in the bushes. "There! Four intruders!"
Anko and Tech threw their kunais to the direction Hinata pointed at an out came four assassins. They all stood in front of them as Team 8 was in battle position and were ready. "Who are you? What do you want?" Tech angrily at the assassins.
The assassins chuckled as the first one spoke. "He he! We're here to just kill this old man, that's all!"
'Oh, crap...!' thought Tazuna.
"Not on our watch!" Naruto yelled as he put up a hand sign for a 'Kage Bushin no Jutsu' technique. He summons two clones and charged at the leader. They soon fought somewhere else as the other three got the teens' attention and separated.
"Team 8, spread out and take them out out one-by-one! I'll help Naruto!" Kurenai instructed as the group nodded and find their target.
-Tech & Anko-
Tech and Anko found the first two assassins and got away after the enemy threw about 30 shurikens at them. They maneuvered the attacks and picked their opponents. Tech's blinding speed caught up to one as the second assassin threw more shurikens at him. He successfully dodged them, but one cut to the shoulder. Tech winced at the pain and almost got hit with a huge punch. At the right timing, Tech gave him a spinning kick and pummeled the assassin into the tree. Tech smiled, but then ducked as the third assassin got thrown to the same tree and to his allied partner. Both knocked out, Tech turned to see only Anko smiling at her victory.
"Heh, too easy!" smiled Tech.
"I couldn't agree more!" Anko smirked as she cracked her knuckles.
-Hinata-
Hinata was still searching for the fourth assassin and hoped he would show himself to her. But suddenly, her unknown sharp hearing heard something rattling her way. She leaped away and saw what appear to be bladed chains that striked away at the tree branch. The fourth assassin was finding this amusing to him as he pulled the chain back and flung it back at Hinata.
'Oh, no..!' thought Hinata as quickly got away, but it was a twist that another chain came behind her and wrapped itself across Hinata's left ankle. She then fell on her back and the same chain wrapped itself on her other ankle. The fourth assassin finally caught her at his grasp and dragged her closer to him. "Ha ha ha! You're mine, little girl!" But what he didn't expect was he was given a smile by the Uzumaki girl. "What are you smiling about?"
"Because, my brother taught me something in case I be in this situation: Rotation Kick!" shouted Hinata as she placed her hands on the ground and began to do a spinning kick in a 360 spin. The chakra dome formed around her and it caused her opponent to be sucked in. He then received an ultimate impact from Hinata as she stopped her spinning. Her ankles were freed from the chains and returned to her old Hyuuga stance. She suddenly smiled as her opponent hit the ground hard. "Note to self: Thank Tech for that idea!"
-Naruto-
"Just die!" the leader was trying not to give in as Naruto and his clones were catching up to him. He did killed his first twelve clones, but it was not enough to go against more clones. He even tried fighting three clones, but he quickly avoided their blows and felt Kurenai's chakra coming closer. Suddenly, he launched an all-out atack of 100 shadow shurikens. Each clone was destroyed; leaving the real one got hit so severely. "Ha! Gotcha!" But soon, his victory fell down as it was another clone! "What? Where is-""Over here, dirtbag!"
He was too late to turn as Naruto punched him from behind and sending him straight to one of his clones he summoned. Then, the Naruto clone gave the leader a massive uppercut! "Now, sensei!" Kurenai came from behind him and Naruto gave her a lift up to the sky. As she reached the assassin leader, Kurenai gave him an ultimate side kick to the abdomen and slammed him hard to the ground. Kurenai landed safely on the ground and thought the same thing like Tech would say. 'Too easy!'
Soon, the team regrouped and Tazuna was very nervous to what the teens have done to those assassins. 'Maybe I should back off for a while. I'm not suffering the same fate like those four rogue ninjas!' he thought as he waited on the five. Anko was just finishing up healing Tech's shoulder from that thrown shuriken.
"There! All done!" Anko said as Tech feels 100% better.
"Thanks, Anko! And you were really something back there!" Tech complimented as she just blushed.
"It was nothing…" she replied as Tech got up from the unconscious assassin.
"No way! I can't believe you combined Rotation and a spinning kick into one knockout move!" Naruto exclaimed.
Hinata giggled. "I can't believe it myself!"
Kurenai, on the other hand, walked up to Tazuna with a devious smile. "Now then, this will happen to you if you watch your tone against my team. And especially me..." Her voice was calm and threatening to make sure the builder gets the message. "All right, team! Let's head out!"
A day went by as they were continuing to follow the bridge builder. Last night, Tazuna apologized to how his reaction was against the team. Soon, Team 8 accepted his apology. For now...
Right now, Tazuna and the others were almost close to the village. And to Tech's point of view, he mostly feels like he was heading back to the Waterfall Village from this ordeal. It all became distant to him until Anko enclosed her hand with his.
"Are you okay?" Anko asked caring (A/N: Wow! She really IS in love with him right now! And they only met for about almost three weeks!).
Tech just looked at her and shook his head. "I'm alright! It's just that... This mission kind of reminds me about my old village. I may not get much happiness there, but I'm still remembering some bad times from it."
Hearing this made Anko worried that it must've been tough to handle things in life as a kid. Trust her: she know how her life was when being used and feel abused by a former sensei. In her own world, Anko then gave Tech a sincere kiss on the cheek. His was surprised by this and he wanted to know why. Instead of talking, Anko spoke for him. "If you have any problems, I'll be there for you. We may not be a couple yet, but at least I have a caring friend who won't feel down and have a kind heart."
Tech was speechless! Anko truly felt sincere and meant every word from her heart. Maybe Tech might be happy if they were ever a couple someday. He soon smiled and said, "Thank you, Anko. And I'll make sure to do the same for you."
Anko smiled and hugged her arms around Tech's arm. Tech chuckled and let it be, while Naruto and Hinata felt happy for the two.
"I think they'll be a nice couple one day." Naruto whispered.
"Yeah. They deserve to be together." Hinata replied silently as they kept on walking.
Suddenly, Hinata heard something coming close to their direction. "EVERYONE! DUCK AND COVER!" Everyone followed what Hinata and suddenly a huge blade came out the mist and it soon got embedded on a tree. Everyone was curious to how Hinata KNEW what was coming and HOW she heard it. But mostly Naruto wanted to figure that out. "Hinata, how did-"
"I-I don't know! It's like I just felt something and there it was!" Hinata replied quickly. But as everyone stood up, the saw a man in a dark ninja suit (hard to describe his second attire), arm bandages, and a mask to hide his mouth and nose. He then stood on top of the giant sword.
"Well, well. That's a nice trick to notice my weapon heading to your team. Sadly, it would be much fun killing you all without a sweat." He said menacingly as he pulled the blade out.
"Team, defend Tazuna!" the team pulled out their kunais and surround Tazuna with their life. Through Tech's eyes, he then noticed how the swordsmen looked familiar. His past was coming to pieces as he noticed the man now. Tech's eyes were widened as his eyes were turning to his demon state. Kurenai felt some unusual chakra from Tech and asked. "Tech? What's wrong?"
"Hey! Are you Zabuza Momochi? One of the Seven Legendary Swordsmen?" Tech asked. Everyone was shocked to how their teammate knows about him.
"Wait! How do you know him?" Kurenai questioned Tech.
"I don't know, but something tells me I can somehow remember him. He was a former mist ninja; bountied for attempting to kill the Mizukage and rule my old village for money and power." This surprised everyone.
"So wait! You can remember him? That means…" Naruto paused.
"He may be the one who caused it all after what I've been through. But now, I can remember him!" Tech yelled.
"Hmm, I don't know how, but you kinda remind me of someone with those eyes." Zabuza mentioned that stopped Tech. "But it will be a shame to explain it once you're dead. So, who's first to face me first?"
"That would be me!" Kurenai charged straight at him as Zabuza began attacking directly at her. They soon start exchanging some blows until Kurenai finally got him, but realized that he was a water clone. The real Zabuza then got in front of her and said, "Not bad for a female Jonin." Kurenai just smirked. "Don't underestimate me.""True. But can you handle this? Water Style: Dark Lake." Zabuza disappeared into the dark liquid that surrounds the area as Kurenai got out of the way. "Hinata! Tech!"
"On it!" shouted both the teens were looking everywhere to find the unknown mist ninja. Suddenly, they spotted him; charging closer. "Sensei! Behind you!"
Kurenai quickly turned and started to attack. But suddenly...
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu." The water just shot out of nowhere and it encircled around Kurenai. She was soon trapped and unable to move.
"Oh no!" Hinata shouted. "Anko, can you try any Fire Style jutsus against him?"
"I can't! Any possibilities I missed, my jutsu would hit Kurenai!" Anko pointed out.
"Well, then! Looks like I have no choice!" Tech then made a hand sign and appeared was kunais with strings that tied around his fingers.
"Tech, are you sure?" Naruto asked. "Have no other choices. Anyway, remember the same plan you and me did to take out my water clone?" Naruto realized that and nodded.
Techs then got down on one of his knees and have Naruto leap up from his back. He then started to throw five kunais at once towards Zabuza. The mist ninja ducked out of the way as he almost got cut off when another five came out of nowhere. "What is this?" Zabuza was shocked. "This is called Kunai Shooters: my new attack with stringed kunais. I can control their movement with a single finger. And once they reach you, it's over with a big bang!" Tech explains as he move the directions of his kunais. Zabuza was then few inches closer of getting hit, but out came 20 Naruto clones. But it was no match against the giant blade that destroyed them. Now it was then the real Naruto launched a Demon Wind Shuriken.
"Here it comes!" cried Naruto as the giant shuriken headed straight at Zabuza. But he caught it and Zabuza was smirking through his mask. "Heh, pathetic.." But from a surprising twist, the giant shiriken transforms into a Naruto. "Haha! Surprise!" This was actually a clone as the kunais were heading straight at Zabuza. Suddenly, it hit them as the Naruto clone exploded. The jutsu was released and Kurenai was freed; having a blown-up Zabuza face down. Tech then began to go attack the enemy, but a few senton stopped him. It struck Zabuza and killed him instantly.
"Sorry, but I have important things to do with this body. We'll meet again soon." The masked figure appeared and took the body and sword of Zabuza. Tech then stood there and was too late to know the truth about his eyes. And who else has them.
'Is there another one like me? I must know...' thought Tech as Anko came up to him.
"Tech! Are you alright?" she worried.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I was just having something on my mind, that's all!" Tech smiled to not worry her more.
'I hope you're right. Because, I don't want you to be angry anymore.' thought Anko.
"Guys?" Everyone turned to face Tazuna. "I forgot to tell you this, but there's no possible way to tell you. Gato hired those ninjas to try and stop me from reaching that bridge. I just don't want to die because I needed some help to save me and everyone from the rogue ninjas. Please, I didn't mean to not tell you this, but I thought you guys were not worth it. But seeing you in action, I'm a total jackass for not believing it. Please, I'm sorry!" He got on his knees and hoped they forgive him. After what he's been through, Tazuna should learn to trust others. But then, he heard someone in a positive tone. "We forgive you."
He looked up and sees Team 8 smiling for a reason. "Hey, it's no problem! We have know that all this time." Naruto said.
"Seriously? Tazuna, sir, we will always help and forgive the people whose lives suffered enough. Once we finish that bridge, it's over for him and his third-rate thugs." Tech added. Tazuna was speechless to what the boys now said to him. They would still help no matter what comes in their way. "Thank you."
Kurenai nodded, but just thought of something. "Wait a minute! I just thought of something!"
"Like what, Kurenai?" asked Anko.
"During this mission, Hinata have done some things I couldn't believe: stronger hearing, quick agility, massive chakra usage, and combinations of some moves." Everybody thought about it and wondered the same thing. "Hinata, did you notice anything different about yourself?"
Hinata shook her head. "No! None I could think of. I don't know what is happening to me."
Naruto was just making sure as he hugged her a bit. "Okay, Hinata! But remember: we're always here for you. Remember that!"
Hinata nodded happily. "I won't, Naruto. I promise."
Kurenai thought it was cute for them, but she then noticed it was going sundown. "Well, we'll camp here for tonight until we cover more grounds."
Everybody nodded as they began to search for a better camping site. But unknown to the others, Hinata's teeth were growing some bit of canine.