(A/N: Here's a chapter ten. Here comes the first battle between Team Seven and Zabuza! Enjoy!
Ravegirl346: Thank you. I worked hard on Kira as a character. A whole year actually. I hope it pays off later.
MarkGib: Truthfully, Zabuza doesn't know anything about Kira's sword. But SOME other characters do know. Not going to say. This section of Naruto will be more questions than answers that will be revealed later.
PurpleRawan: Thanks. I hope I don't disappoint you. I'm...I'm not good with fight scenes. Hehe. But I'm getting better...hopefully. Oh, and the 'demon' thing...that will be revealed later. But question...is the 'demon' a figurative or a literal term? Hmm?)
The Genins' Fierce Determination
The group of ninjas and their client couldn't help but stare intently in apprehension at the man standing on the giant sword that was wedged deeply into the tree.
"That must be…" Kakashi inwardly thought.
"Here it is. My chance to shine," Naruto thought with a grin. "Believe it. I'm ready this time. I'm not going to lose to Sasuke."
"Well, well… If it isn't Zabuza Momochi, rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village," the mask jonin stated.
"Rogue ninja? Whatever. Nothing's going to stop me."
Naruto dashed forward, only to be stopped by Kakashi placing his gloved hand in his path.
"You're in the way. Get back," he ordered.
"But why?" Naruto argued.
"He's not like those other ninjas. He's on a whole different class. If Zabuza's our opponent…I'll need this." He lifted his hand towards his headband.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan eye," Zabuza said in a deep voice. "Did I get that right?"
Sasuke's eyes widen as he heard the word 'Sharingan'. He watched his sensei in anticipation.
"It's too bad, huh? But you'll have to hand over the old man."
"Sharingan? What is that?" Naruto thought, confused.
"What's he saying? Does Kakashi-sensei have some special power?" Sakura wondered.
Kira looked between Zabuza and her sensei, wondering who's going make the first move. The tension now was so thick it was suffocating.
"Now, quick! Mangi formation! Protect the bridge builder, and stay out of this fight!" Kakashi ordered. "I taught you teamwork, now is the time to use it." He lifted up his headband, revealing a scar across his right eye with a red-colored eye. There were three black commas over the red coloring.
"What is that?" the orange clad ninja thought.
"Well, looks like I get to see the Sharingan in action." Zabuza grinned behind his mask. "This is an honor."
"Everyone keeps saying Sharingan, Sharingan. Can someone please tell me what Sharingan is?"
"Sharingan is a rare power. It resides in the eyes," Sasuke replied to the blonde's question. "The user of this visual jutsu, or dojutsu, can easily see and anticipate any genjutsu, taijutsu, and ninjutsu. They also reflect the attack back on the attacker. The Sharingan is a special, and rare form of dojutsu. However, there's more to the Sharingan than that… Much more."
"You got it right, kid, but you only scratched the surface," the swordsman spoke. "The Sharingan can analyze an opponent's technique, and copy it down to the smallest detail."
A huge mist became to thicken around Team Seven.
"As for you, Kakashi… In the assassination unit in the Hidden Mist, we had a standing order to destroy you on sight. Your profile was in our bingo book. It called you 'the man who copied over a thousand jutsus… Kakashi the Copycat Ninja'."
"The copycat ninja?" Kira thought with a questionable expression her face.
"Is Kakashi really such a well-known ninja?" Sakura pondered.
"Wow! That's so cool!" Naruto shouted, staring at his sensei in admiration.
Sasuke looked like he was analyzing the mask jonin, trying to figure him out. "Wait a minute… The Sharingan is a rare trait that only occurs in a selective number of members of the Uchiha clan. My clan," he contemplated. "Could he be…?"
"Enough talk." Zabuza crouched down. "I need to exterminate the old man. Now!"
Tazuna's eyes widen in fear, and the genin surrounded him in protective formation.
"So? I have to slaughter you first, eh, Kakashi?" the swordsman said, amused. "So be it."
In a flash, he yanked his sword out of the trunk, and vanished. He stood on top of the lake.
"He's over there!" Naruto yelled.
"Standing on the water!" Sakura added.
Zabuza had one arm raised, and the other in a one handed hand sign.
"He's building up a huge amount of chakra," Kakashi observed.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza chanted. The white mist thickened at an uncomfortable rate.
"He vanished…," Naruto wondered.
"Sensei…," Sakura called, worriedly.
"He'll come after me first," Kakashi stated.
"But… Who is he?"
"Zabuza Momochi, the ex-leader of the Hidden Mist Assassination Unit. He's a master of the 'silent killing' technique.
"S-silent?" Naruto questioned.
"As the name suggests…it happens in an instant without sound or warning of any kind. It's so swift, that you pass from this life without understanding what happened. The Sharingan can't fully neutralize it, so don't drop your guard," he warned his genin team. "But if we fail, we only lose our lives," he then said, nonchalantly.
"How can you be so casual about it?" Sakura yelled.
"Wow, isn't that a confidence booster," Kira said with a roll of her eyes sarcastically.
"The mist is getting thicker and thicker," Naruto said in wonder.
"The Land of Waves is surrounded by the ocean, so the mist is always present," Tazuna answered.
"Sensei," the pinklette called, as the mist got so thick, Kakashi's form disappeared from their sights.
"Guys, I don't like the looks of this," Kira said, anxiously.
It was silent. Too silent. The eerie stillness was crushing their very being.
"Eight points," Zabuza's voice could be heard, but not distinguishable on where it was coming from.
"Huh?" the genin gasped.
"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, pulmonary artery, kidneys, heart…"
The genin froze in fear. Kira's adrenaline pumped with sweat creasing her brow.
"Now… Which will be my killing blow?"
Kakashi did a hand sign, and a massive amount of chakra began to swirl around him, startling the four genin.
Sasuke was shaking in terror. "What an intense thirst for blood," he thought, fearfully. "One shallow breath…one tiny movement of the eye…is enough to bring one instant death." His palms began to feel sweaty. "If it goes on like this, I'll go insane. The clash of two jonin with such killing intent. I've never felt anything so chilling…so nerve wrecking. It's as if my own life is being chopped off." His grip on his kunai tightened. "No, I can't bare it! I rather take my own life!" He shakingly gripped the kunai with both hands now.
"Sasuke…" He felt a small shove on his back. He glanced over at Kira "…This is no time to chicken out," Kira spoke fiercely, yet in a calm manner.
"Sasuke! Calm down!" Kakashi said in a serious manner. "I will protect you with my life…all of you." He sent a mask covered smile their way. "I will not allow my comrades to die. Trust me."
This got the genin team to calm down and relax a bit.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Zabuza emerged in the center of their formation.
Kira's gripped her katana tightly, ready to draw it out. However, her hold relaxed a bit as Kakashi swopped in and stabbed Zabuza in the gut with a kunai.
Instead of blood, however, there was the sound trickling of water.
Another Zabuza appeared behind the copycat ninja.
"Kakashi-sensei! Look out!" Naruto shouted in warning.
Kakashi turned his head in surprise as the Zabuza he just killed turned into a puddle of water.
"Die!" Zabuza yelled, and he swung his mighty sword, bisecting Kakashi through the middle. A gleeful look graced his features, only to be stopped cold as he realized it was water coming out instead of blood.
"The Water Clone Jutsu…" He's eyes widen. "It can't be… Even in the mist… He saw through my illusion and copied it in an instant."
A kunai knife was perched dangerously near the swordsman's neck.
"Now, it's over," the mask jonin said, holding the kunai in place. "You're finished."
Naruto regained his composure. "Awesome!"
The regroup of genin was relieved to see the fight was finally over.
Zabuza chuckled darkly, causing confusion for everyone. "You really don't get it, do you? You're technique is nothing more than monkey-like imitations. I'll never be defeated by a mere copycat ninja, like you."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"You are full of surprises though. You already copied my Water Clone Jutsu when you made your little speech. Very skillfully executed. You made your clone say those words to draw my attention, while you hid in the mist, waiting for me to make my move. Nice try…" Another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi. "…But I'm not that easy to fool!"
The Zabuza Kakashi held hostage turned into a puddle of water.
"Hey! That was a clone, too!" Naruto yelled, shocked.
Zabuza swung his huge sword, which missed Kakashi as he ducked his head. He then proceeded to twist his body around, and kick the copycat ninja, sending him flying.
Zabuza grabbed his sword, and dashed at high speed, only to skid to a stop. "A spike trap!" He turned. "Hmph, trying to slow me down? Foolish."
He did a backflip into the water.
"Sensei!" Naruto shouted.
"He kicked Kakashi-sensei into the air, like it was nothing? Unbelievable," Sakura thought, dumbfounded.
"He has great physically skill, too," Sasuke said.
"How are we going to beat this guy?" Kira asked, worriedly.
Kakashi emerged from the water, but for the some reason his body felt heavier. "This isn't ordinary water. It's dense…heavier."
Zabuza materialized behind the copycat ninja. He did a quick series of hand signs. "Water Prison Jutsu!"
"No!" Kakashi shouted in realization. He was then trapped in a dense ball of water. "Escaping into the water was a big mistake on my part."
"This prison is made of water," the swordsman said. "But it's stronger than steel. It's hard to fight when you can't move. So much for the great Kakashi. I'll deal with you later, but first…your little friends will have to be eliminated."
He did a one handed hand sign. "Water Clone Jutsu."
"He's even more skilled than I thought," the masked jonin thought scornfully.
A water clone of Zabuza emerged. The clone Zabuza chuckled darkly. "You think a headband makes you a ninja, eh? When you've hovered over life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then you may be called a true shinobi. When you've become so deadly…you're profile has entered my bingo book…then you may earn the title shinobi." He did a hand sign, and the mist began to become thicker. "But to call upstarts like you ninja…is a joke."
Naruto was shaking in fear. "He disappeared again!"
"Naruto!" Kira shouted. "Barrier Release: All Force Dome Jutsu!" A round clear shield surrounded Naruto.
Everyone stared at the barrier protecting Naruto in awe and wonder. They turned towards Kira in surprise.
The black haired kunoichi pulled Hanshahikari out and tried to slash Zabuza. However, he skillfully dodged the attempt.
"That's pretty impressive, little girl," Zabuza said, amused. "I didn't know a girl like you was capable of producing barriers."
"Naruto, are you okay?" Kira asked, concerned.
"Uh, yeah," Naruto replied as he was still shaking.
"Listen, get the bridge builder out of here and run!" Kakashi ordered. "You can't win this fight! He's using all his power to keep me in this prison. He can only fight you using his water clone, however, the clone can't go far from his real body. Now go! Run!"
"Run away?" Sasuke contemplated. "Not an option. That became unthinkable the moment you got caught. No matter how fast we run or how far we go…he'll track us down, and annihilate us. If we try a mangi defense formation, he can get around it in an instant. In the end, if we are on our own…we're finished. Then again…" He glanced at Kira. "…If Kira is able to back us up with her shield…we might stand some chance. But our real chance at survival is to rescue you."
"We've got to try!" The last Uchiha charged at the swordsman. He threw a few shurikens, only for the water clone to block it with his sword.
Sasuke leaped in to the air and was aiming an aerial attack on him.
"Too easy," clone Zabuza thought with a smug. He grabbed the black haired ninja's throat. He hurled him into the ground.
Sasuke grunted in pain.
"Sasuke, no!" Sakura shouted worriedly.
"He got Sasuke!" Naruto yelled. He stared fearfully at the clone of Zabuza in front of him. "So, this is what a jonin is...a true elite ninja. I-I got to get away because seriously… He'll annihilate me!"
"Naruto, calm down!" Kira's voice brought Naruto out of his thoughts. "Do you remember what you just said? Back then when you made your pledge?"
He gasped in shock.
(FLASHBACK)
The group jumped when Naruto pounded the ground with his balled up fist in frustration.
"Naruto, stop! What are you doing?" Kira yelled, concerned as she witnessed the blonde ninja bleed from the abuse.
"Why am I so different? Why am I always…?" He grunted his teeth exasperation.
"Naruto! What the hell is the matter with you?" Sakura shouted.
"I worked so hard to get here. Pushing myself past my limits. Training alone for hours. Anything to get stronger…to reach my dream. I will never back down again, and let someone else rescue me. I will never run away. And I refuse to lose to Sasuke. Upon this mark, I make this pledge. Believe it. Bridge builder, I'll complete this mission, and protect you," Naruto pledged.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
"Now… How are you going to do that, if you quiver in fear? C'mon!" She sent a smile his way. "The Naruto I know doesn't go back on his word now, does he?"
Naruto stared at her long and hard. His fearful expression twisted into a more confident one. "You're right, Kira. I promised to protect the bridge builder, and I don't go back on my word. That's my nindo."
"How very touching," clone Zabuza said amused.
"Hey, you…the freak with no eyebrows…" Zabuza dangerously narrowed his eyes at Naruto's insult. "Put this in your bingo book. The ninja who will be the future Hokage in Konoha is…Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Naruto...," Kakashi thought.
"I thought he was all talk, but this kid has guts," Tazuna thought.
"That's right, Naruto!" Kira yelled. "Let's show this bastard what 'small fried brats' can really do? Sasuke…"
"Yeah, what?" Sasuke turned his attention towards Kira in interest.
"We're going to need you as well. Wait for your cue, and then strike. You got that?"
"So, you and that loser have a plan, huh?" He smirked. "Alright I'm in."
"Big words for such small brats," the clone Zabuza chuckled. "You think you're little plan is going to keep you in the game."
"This isn't good," Kakashi thought.
"What are you doing? I told you to run! This fight was over the moment I got caught! Now take off! Your mission is not to prove how brave you are! It's to save the bridge builder! Stay on mission!"
"Bridge builder…," Naruto asked an unfinished question.
Tazuna was silent.
"Well, I…I guess, this all happened because of me," he finally spoke, distantly. "Because of my desire to live. But I won't let that stand in your way now. Forget about me, save your sensei!"
"Hn. You hear that?" Sasuke said.
"Yeah, believe it. You ready?" Naruto said.
"Let's go, guys!" Kira yelled.
Clone Zabuza crackled darkly. "You really haven't learned anything, have you?"
Kira's eyes darkened.
"Still playing your little game, pretending to be a shinobi. When I was your age, my hands were already soaked in blood."
This revelation shocked the genins to the core. All except for Kira, who seemed unfazed.
The word 'blood' caused Kira to recall her own tragic past. The things she had to do to survive.
"No, Kira," Kira chastise herself. "Don't think about the past. Don't think about it. I need to focus on defeating this punk and saving our sensei!"
"Zabuza…the demon," Kakashi spoke up.
"Huh? Demon?" The black haired kunoichi was calm and cool. She didn't seem the least bit intimidated.
"So, I was in your book, huh?" Zabuza mused.
"Long ago…in the Hidden Mist Village also known as Blood Mist Village… Before a ninja could become a ninja…there was one final test," Kakashi said, seriously.
"Oh, you know about the graduation exam?"
"What graduation exam?" Naruto questioned, confused.
Zabuza laughed, evilly.
"What's the big deal anyway? We had a graduation test, too."
The swordsman laughter intensified.
"Did you have to kill the other students to pass," he finally said maliciously.
The orange clad ninja was stupefied.
"Imagine… Young ninja, like you, eating together…training together, and then comes the final exam… Only they changed the rules… It's kill or be killed. You can't stop until your opponent is no longer breathing. He was your friend…you shared your dreams. Now, it's him or you."
"That's so cruel," Sakura said, horrified.
"Ten years ago in Kirigakure…," Kakashi said. "The graduation exam changed. A year prior to it…a dark evil had filled the school with terror."
"What's he saying?" the pinklette wondered. "What 'evil'? What changed? What caused the terror?"
"Without pause or hesitation, a young boy, who was not even a ninja, approached the class, and slaughtered over a hundred other students," the masked jonin finished.
The clone Zabuza ecstatic look in his eyes as gazed into the sky, reminiscing about the past. "It felt so…good!"
Naruto and Sasuke braced themselves.
"Wow, this guy is an ass," Kira said, unamused and slightly annoyed.
Zabuza growled and charged at them. He swung his elbow towards Sasuke.
"Barrier Release: Black Winged Shield Jutsu!" Kira produced a huge purple circular shield with black rims, and black feather-like wings in the middle.
The barrier protected the last Uchiha from Zabuza's attack. Kira pulled out her katana, and swung it at Zabuza.
He easily dodged the attempt. He swung his own sword, which the black haired kunoichi twisted her body to avoid a blow. Using her momentum, she swung her Hanshahikari in a downward arc.
Zabuza expertly ducked his head and side stepped back.
"You know, you got some pretty decent kenjutsu skills. But…" He dashed forward, and kicked her in the gut. "…That's not good enough!"
Kira groaned in a pain.
"Heh! A little girl, like you can't possibly defeat me."
Kira smirked. "I wasn't trying to defeat you."
The clone was puzzled.
"Sasuke, now!"
"Demon Wind Shuriken: Windmill of Shadows!" Sasuke shouted as he held a giant shuriken with four sharp blades.
"A shuriken?" the clone Zabuza mused. "You'll never touch me with that."
The Uchiha sprung up into the sky and hurled the huge shuriken at him. The shiruken went around the water clone.
"So, you past the clone and aimed for my real body, eh?" Zabuza thought, amused. "Smart."
He expertly caught the ninja tool. "But not smart enough."
A second shuriken emerged in the shadows of the first. "A second shuriken hidden by the first. The Shadow Shuriken Jutsu."
"The second shuriken is on target, and there's no way he can't catch this one," Sakura inwardly thought.
Zabuza bounced over it. "I told you a shuriken can't touch me!"
"He dodged it?!" The pink haired kunoichi was beyond shocked.
Sasuke and Kira smirked.
"Now, Naruto!" Kira yelled out.
The weapon transformed into Naruto.
"What?!" The swordsman was appalled.
"Eat this!" Naruto threw a kunai at him. The kunai was coming straight towards him. He had no choice, but pull out his hand from the water prison, and released the jutsu.
The kunai hit the water clone instead, and the clone evaporated.
A ticked off Zabuza twirled the wind shiruken in his hand. "I'll destroy you!"
Kakashi stopped the attempt with his gloved hand. Although, it was dripping with blood from the impact. He glared fiercely at Zabuza with his Sharingan eye.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura said relieved.
Naruto let out a sigh of relief, as he floated above the water.
"Kira, Naruto… That was an excellent plan you two came up with," Kakashi praised his students. "You've really grown."
"We knew we couldn't beat him by ourselves," Naruto stated, gleefully. "Kira fighting one on one with him was just a distraction while I transformed myself into a shuriken. Sasuke knew it was me right away and pulled out his own shuriken, making it two. One was real. One was me. I hid in the shadows of the real shuriken, and my target was the real Zabuza. Of course, I knew I couldn't take on Zabuza myself. That wasn't in the game plan. I just wanted to get in there and cancel out his water prison. I didn't know his clone would be wrecked, too. Ha! That was a bonus, believe it!"
"Don't brag. You just got lucky," Sasuke said, smirking a bit.
"Hey, luck or not, the plan worked, didn't it?" Kira said, glancing in Sasuke's direction.
"The whole plan was a fluke!" Tazuna shouted.
"You can call it a fluke all you want, but their teamwork and execution was flawless," Sakura thought, impressed. "All three of them even knew what to do without even discussing it. Especially, Naruto and Sasuke. They act like they despise each other most of the time, and yet they work together perfectly."
"Hmph, I got distracted and lost my grip on the water prison," Zabuza said.
"Don't flatter yourself. You weren't distracted. You HAD to let go," Kakashi retorted. "Your technique won't work on me again."
"Hmph!"
"So, what's it going to be?"
The tension in the air was getting thick with the silence. The genin all waited in anticipation on what would unfold next.
"Sakura, Kira, you know what to do," Sasuke spoke up.
Both of the kunoichi nodded in silent agreement and understanding, as the all three of them stood in front of Tazuna, protectively.
Zabuza's eye twitched. He folded up the blades of the shuriken, and down on Kakashi's hand, making the force greater.
Kakashi was struggling to keep it at bay and not become overpowered. He managed to knock the five pointed star away.
The copycat ninja and the rogue ninja jumped away from each other, creating some distance between them.
The swordsman did a series of hand signs. The masked jonin copied the movements almost simultaneously. Their movements began to become perfectly synced with each other.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" They both chanted at the same time.
Two raging dragons of water formed and circled each other. They clashed against each other, creating vicious sprays of water and a tidal wave.
Naruto was swept away by the wave. The water roared onto the land. The other genin and Tazuna yelped as they braced themselves from the rushing ripple.
The two water dragons neutralized each other.
"Wow, so many hand signs, and he mirrored them all perfectly. Instantly," the Uchiha inwardly thought with slight admiration.
"What are they doing?" the pink haired kunoichi thought, confused. "Is that a ninjutsu?"
Kira was helping Naruto on shore and brought him towards the others. "Phew, I hope this battle will finish already," Kira thought. She stared at her hands, her eyes looking distant. "Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura haven't seen nearly as many battles as I have."
Kakashi had his kunai pressed against Zabuza's huge sword. Both of them were evenly matched in terms of strength.
"Something isn't right," Zabuza thought, contemplating something. "The Sharingan can comprehend and replicate the enemy's jutsu. However, both jutsus were cast simultaneously." He narrowed his eyes. "Could he…? Could it be?"
They both sprung away from one another. They began circling each other, and stopped at the exact same time.
Both ninja raised one arm up and made a hand sign at the same moment. Every movement…every motion they made were simultaneous.
Zabuza's eyes widen in confusion.
"He's not just following, he moves the same way at the same time," Tazuna said, amazed.
"How's he doing that? How, Sasuke?" Sakura asked him.
Sasuke remained silent, observing the fight.
Kira bit her lip, keeping her eyes steady and focused.
Naruto watched the dueling ninjas in awe.
"My movements… It's as if… It's as if he knows what I'm…"
"Going to do next?" Kakashi finished Zabuza's thoughts for him.
The swordsman eyes widen in shock. "What?! Is he reading my mind as well?! He looks at me with that eye!
"It makes you furious, doesn't it?" the masked jonin said, almost mockingly.
"Ha! All you're doing is imitating me, like a monkey!"
"You can't defeat me with cheap tricks. I'll obliterate you!" both ninjas spoke at the same moment.
Zabuza was beginning to lose his composure.
"When I'm finished with you, you'll never open that monkey mouth of yours again," Zabuza said, seething, doing a series of hand signs.
"Huh? What is that?" The swordsman was baffled to see a reflection of him behind Kakashi. "It's… It's me! But how?! Is it a genjutsu?!"
"Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!" Kakashi said, the commas in his Sharingan eye swirling.
"What?!"
A huge swirling vortex of water formed.
"Impossible!"
The raging water swept Zabuza away. "I was just do the jutsu, but he did first! How?!"
The genin and Tazuna held their ground against the roaring waves.
Zabuza roared in pain as the vicious, unforgiving stream of water plowed him against a tree. Several kunais pierced his arms and chest, and he cried out.
"You're finished," Kakashi stated coldly, as he crouched down on the tree branch above the rogue ninja.
The water started to calm down.
"H-how?" Zabuza wheezed out. "C-can you…see into the future?"
"Yes. This is your last battle. Ever," the masked jonin said, solemnly.
Two thin needles struck Zabuza's neck, shocking everyone. He fell on the ground like a ragdoll.
They turned to the person who was responsible. He seemed to be a boy around their age. He had a mask and most of his dark hair was tied with a bun. The boy wore somewhat sandy green colored pants and indigo blue kimono with a same colored sash as his pants. He wore beige sandals on his feet.
"You were right," the boy spoke. "It was his last battle."
"Who the hell is this guy?" Kira thought suspiciously. "He just showed up out of nowhere. Coincidentally, at the moment of Zabuza's defeat."
Kakashi went down to check for Zabuza's pulse…to see if he was still alive. He found none. "No vital signs," he concluded.
The masked boy bowed. "Thank you. I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time, waiting for the chance to finally take him down."
"By your mask, I see that you're a tracker ninja from the Hidden Mist Village."
"Impressive. You're well informed."
"Uh, a tracker," Naruto said, as he got ready for a possible upcoming battle.
"Naruto, you don't even know what that is. You missed the lesson on it, as usual. Try coming to class sometime," Sakura scolded the blonde. "Tracker ninjas have a special role. When a rogue ninja breaks away from his village, he carries all kinds of secrets with him. The secrets of his people. Trackers are specially trained to hunt down these ninjas and eliminate them. That way, the mystery of their people remain unsolved.
"That's correct," the boy confirmed. "I'm a member of the elite tracker unit in Kiri. It was my duty to stop Zabuza."
"From his voice, he must be around the same age as Naruto," Kakashi analyzed. "Yet, he's an elite assassin. He's no ordinary kid, what is he?"
Naruto ran up to the tree the boy was perched on, gritting his teeth. He glanced between the boy and Zabuza's corpse.
"What is this? Who do you think you are?" he shouted furiously. "Did you hear me?"
"Easy, Naruto," Kakashi said calmly. "He's not our enemy."
"That's not the point! Did you see what he did just like that? Zabuza was huge and powerful, like some beast! And this kid, who is no different than me, brought down Zabuza with one move! Like it was nothing! I mean, what does that make us? We're just screwing around. We don't know anything. How can I accept that?!"
"Whether you accept it or not, it's reality." Kakashi patted the orange clad ninjas head. "In this world, there are kids who younger than you, yet stronger than me."
Sasuke flinched.
Kira placed a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder. "C'mon, Naruto. I know you're frustrated, but now isn't the time. Don't worry, you'll get stronger one day." She gave him a reassuring smile.
Naruto let out a small grin of appreciation in return.
The tracker ninja went to lift Zabuza's body. He was surprisingly strong for his age, if he can carry a body that heavy.
"You're struggle is over now. I must deal with the remains," he informed them. "There are many secrets in this body. They must not get into the wrong hands. Please, excuse me. Farewell."
He disappeared in a swirl of leaves along with the body.
"He disappeared!" Naruto cried out.
Kakashi covered his Sharingan with his headband.
The orange clad ninja searched for the boy.
"He's gone, Naruto," Kakashi said.
The blonde boy began pounding the ground in frustration. "What the hell are we doing? What have we been doing? We're nothing! I can't believe it!"
"Naruto," Kira and Sakura mumbled.
Kakashi stopped him. "As ninja, what we encounter are never easy. Save your anger for the next enemy." He turned towards the others. "We haven't completed our mission yet. We still have to get the bridge builder to his bridge."
Tazuna let out a hearty laugh. "Sorry that I caused all this trouble for you, but you can rest and relax at my house once we get to the village."
"Alright, let's move!" Kakashi took two steps before fatigue hit him. He collapsed on the ground in a heap, making everyone become bewildered.
"Wh-what happened?! Sakura yelled, shocked beyond belief.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said worriedly
Kira went to check on him. She felt his head. It was covered in sweat. The black haired kunoichi went to check his pulse next. It was slow, but steady.
"Don't worry, guys. He just fainted out of exhaustion. He must have used up to much chakra," she reassured them.
They let out of breath of relieve.
"However, with Kakashi-sensei incapacitated, we are sitting ducks now. We need to get to Mr. Tazuna's house and fast before we end up in another gruesome battle, like the one we had with Zabuza." She spoke with so much authority, the other three genins couldn't believe their eyes and ears.
The group just stared at her, incredulously.
"Why are you guys staring me like that?"
"Well, it's just that…well…"
"Well, what?" Kira egged Naruto on.
"When did you become so…? How are you so level-headed and calm about this?" Sakura rephrased her question.
Kira shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, I don't know. Don't worry too much about me. Naruto, summon shadow clones, so it will be easier to carry Kakashi-sensei's unconscious body."
Naruto nodded his and did as he was told, making three shadow clones lift up and carry Kakashi.
"Mr. Tazuna, lead us to your house."
"Y-yes, of course. Follow me." Tazuna lead the group.
Sasuke examined Kira, trying to figure her out. "How did she know exactly what to do? She's so calm about this. No trace of worry on her face."
The black haired kunoichi must have sensed the Uchiha's intense stare.
"What is it, Sasuke? Something wrong?" she asked, innocently.
"Hn." He scoffed and jerked his head the other way.
"Jerk," Kira pouted.
His unbearable and infuriating attitude was really get on her nerves. Nevertheless, there was no time to get angry about her black haired teammate. She had to get the others to safety and fast.
(A/N: Here's the end of chapter ten! I hope you enjoyed it! Man, the first problem was coming up with a proper name for the title. The next part was trying to see how Kira will contribute with the fight against Zabuza. As you now know, Kira specializes in defense tactics and skills. Explanation… Well, we all read the manga or watched the anime, so you know Naruto and Sasuke become…well super powerful. No, more like god-like by the end. So, I couldn't make Kira, you know, as powerful. Although, I don't think she's the type to head straight into battle. She's more of the one makes sure her comrades are safe first and supports them throughout the battle. Sakura is already the medic-nin of the group later on down the round, but Kira will learn some more basic medic stuff down the road. Plus, I didn't want her to take the spotlights of other characters while making quite a few spotlights of her own. Kira will learn some other techniques, especially finding out her chakra nature later on. I've already come up with all her defensive-type jutsus. The hard part is coming up with names. Names are never easy for me. The reason she is a defensive-type relies on her protective heart, and her calm and level-headed demeanor in almost any situation as you have seen in the end of this chapter. Please read and review! Constructive criticisms are welcomed!)