A/N: ...Um, hi? *Dodges various thrown objects* Okay, I get it, the chapter is months late. Totally not my fault, I had to basically save an entire lake full of fish from drowning and the constant flopping about didn't help. And while everyone here is distracted by that incredibly dumb excuse...oh look, an owl!

Anyway, here's the next chapter to the Vulpine Prophecy.

I don't own the Naruto franchise or anything I may reference in any following or previous chapters.

Chapter 10

"Okay, let me clarify something for you; we've successfully caught this hell-cat 19 times in a row without a single failure, 5 of them being done consecutively and it STILL gets out!" Daisuke yelled, his frustration growing. The ANBU surrounding the Third flinched a little; if Daisuke started yelling, sooner or later the Kagegan would be on the table. And those Genjutsu hurt.

"You don't have to take the mission. Another team will be by in a few moments." The Hokage assured.

Daisuke's response was to snap his fingers. A puff of smoke appeared and with it, the feline in question appeared in his hand. He then proceeded to hand over the cat to its owner, who proceeded to hug the life out of it. Team 7 all shared a similar thought:

'Serves you right'

"Look, Lord Hokage, it's not that we have perfect teamwork because we don't. The fact is that in the heat of battle, we as a team can make up for each other's faults. All we ask for is a more challenging mission." Daisuke stated calmly.

"Very well. A few moments ago, I received word from Team 8 and Sasuke, who I had sent on a C ranked mission to the Land of Waves. They are currently under attack by the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find Team 8 and make sure that the client completes the job he is working on. Do you accept?" The Hokage asked.

In team 7's place was a small note that read:

"We'll be ready to go by sunrise tomorrow.

*Naruto, Hinata and Daisuke,

PS: Use Shadow Clones to beat paperwork."

Multiple loud slams could be heard from the Hokage Tower that night followed by a chant of 'stupid, stupid, stupid.'

(The next day…)

Naruto and Hinata woke at roughly the same time. Being a gentleman, he allowed Hinata to have the first shower. After a few minutes of preparation, the two were out the door, extra weapons and medicine in tow.

Naruto had ensured to bring additional jutsu scrolls for training, while Hinata ensured they had additional rations.

Meanwhile, Daisuke awoke groggily. He had spent all night replicating the seals on his arms. After grabbing his survival kit and armour, he gave everything a quick once over, then headed out the door.

"Alright team 7, are we ready to move?" Anko asked

"HAI SENSEI!"

"Good! Now move out!" Anko shouted as team 7 set out.

(...)

The trip to the Land of Waves was shorter than expected, thanks to Hinata's knowledge of shortcuts and Naruto's collection of humorous anecdotes. He had just begun a new one, when a piercing shriek ripped through the environment.

"Well, we found Haruno." Team Seven said collectively. The team hightailed it in the direction of Sakura's voice. Upon arrival, Team Seven was surrounded by a dense haze.

"Dammit Sakura, you gave away our location!" Sasuke chastised

'Nii-san.'

'Yo'

'Can you clear out this mist for us?'

'On it'

Daisuke formed a single seal.

'Fire Style: Feuer Frei Jutsu!'

The dense fog surrounding the area dispersed, revealing a Kirigakure missing nin. His back held a massive blade, the infamous Kubikiri Houcho. Kurenai was bound by a Water Prison which the missing nin, Zabuza Momochi was holding. Off to the side, Kiba was battling with a masked hunter-nin, while Sakura and Sasuke protected the client.

Huh, funny, that hunter-nin reminded Daisuke of summer, the one time he could have fun with his limited amount of friends.

Strange, the hunter-nin almost looked like...like...

"My god." Daisuke gasped in awe.

"Dai-nii-san, what's wrong?" Naruto asked.

At the mention of Daisuke, the hunter-nin stopped fighting. Kiba took advantage of this and landed a solid punch on the hunter-nin. He delivered a hit laced with chakra, a virtual killing blow...

...only to find himself unable to move. Daisuke stood in front of him protecting the stranger with his chilling Kagegan gaze.

"Daisuke-baka, move out of the way so I can show Hinata-chan how much stronger I am than..." Kiba was met with a fist to the jaw sending him back to Sasuke and Sakura.

"Useless airhead..." Daisuke mumbled before helping the stranger to his feet.

"Do I know you, shinobi-san?" The stranger asked.

"You know, you do look familiar. But in case we haven't met, my name is Daisuke Kazama, former apprentice of the Red Mountain Mystic." Daisuke replied with a display of formality.

The stranger's eyes widened under the mask. If this man was who he claimed he was, then they had definitely met before.

"Alright, well to be sure of your claim, whose birthday did you celebrate 4 years ago and what did you give them?"

"Haku Momochi. I gave her a split magatama necklace with her initials engraved in it. Like this one, see?" Daisuke presented a small silver magatama necklace from his kunai pouch. On it, the initials 'DK' were inscribed, along with a small hemisphere of thorns. "I never go anywhere without it."

The hunter-nin removed the mask, revealing a wide-eyed girl barely younger than Daisuke. Her hair and eyes were brown as chocolate and just as sweet. Well, according to Daisuke. As jade met cocoa, Daisuke was frozen in shock, close enough to kill.

"Y-you r-r-remembered. After all these years..." The fake hunter-nin stuttered. The two shinobis' smiles grew exponentially fast.

"DAI-CHAN/HAKU-CHAN!" The two called out, meeting in an incredulous glomp in the middle of the path. Everyone in the immediate 50 yard vicinity gave a massive collaborative sweatdrop.

"Haku, you know this guy?" Zabuza asked, obviously confused.

"Tou-san, this is Daisuke Kazama. He and I used to work together in a small city called New Lauderdale." Haku elaborated.

"Oh, that one. Well, it's good to meet you kid, but I do have a job to do."

"As do I, Zabuza. While I wish I could have better co-workers...not you, Anko-sensei, Kurenai-san, Hinata-nee-chan, otouto; it is still a job to be done. Shall we settle this on the Swordsman's Honour Clause?"

Zabuza grinned like a madman.

"You're on!"

The two raised their fists...

"ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!" The shinobi chanted as Sakura and Sasuke facefaulted.

"Damn it!" Zabuza swore, his closed fist falling dejectedly.

"YES!" Haku cheered loudly, drawing all eyes to her. "Hehe, I haven't seen Dai-chan in such a long time! It'd be nice to work with him again." Haku elaborated, scratching the back of her head.

"Well then, let's be off!" Tazuna responded eagerly.

With that, the group of shinobi and missing nin alike headed off.

A/N: Not as much as I'd have liked to get done, but whatever. Well, that's about ten chapters, I'll try to update more frequently. If you have anything to ask about either me or the story, PM me. Also please rate and review this chapter.

Laters,

\M/-Zero-\M/