Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Thoughts are highlighted in bold and italics
Here's the next chapter. [Revised Version]
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Factfile
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Name: Sayuri Uchiha
Age: 18
Village: Konoha
Rank: ANBU
CE: 12
Notes: Became Chunin at 12, ANBU by 16.
Fully evolved Sharingan
A katon and suiton specialist
Lost both parents during Uchiha massacre
Sasuke's cousin
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End of Factfile
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(Konoha Outskirts)
After Tazuna's initial resistance to say the truth, he relented later after telling the Team 7 the real truth about the mission. As the team continued to absorb Tazuna's information, Naruto started to like the mission as the situation becomes grime as the person who wants Tazuna dead is a rich business magnate.
"That's all Tazuna-san? Aren't you hiding anything else?"
"There's nothing more! I assure you!"
"I will get so let's go before I change my mind again."
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(5 hrs later)
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The group reached the Land of Waves after 5 hrs of traveling and the team started to feel a bit tired due the long journey. However the moment the group touched land, Kakashi sensed something wrong and shouted:
"Get down everyone!"
As they ducked, a huge sword flew above their heads and immediately Kakashi knew who it was but started talking in a joking manner.
"With that large sword you must one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist… might you be the Kiri nuke-nin, Momochi Zabuza?"
A voice broke out on the branch of a tree and took back his sword, revealing himself as he removes his sword from the tree.
"I was surprised that the Demon Brothers lost and was wondering who was responsible. But after seeing who was leading the team, the showdown between me and a certain ANBU legend is inevitable, isn't it Copy Ninja Kakashi?"
Both sides release their killing intent that stricken both Sakura and Sasuke, only Naruto could withstand the killer intent by the two. At the same time Kakashi reveals his Sharingan, leaving the Genins to protect Tazuna.
As Kakashi-Zabuza fight drag on, Sasuke's eyes changed color momentarily before returning to normal but at the same time, Zabuza made a series of quick handseals.
"Suirou no Jutsu"
The jutsu caught Kakashi and enveloped him in a watery prison.
Naruto cursed as he re-evaluates his situation.
"Shit, it is between us and him."
Zabuza formed several water bushins and immediately headed for Tazuna
With that Sakura panicked but Naruto and Sasuke remained calm and within a few seconds, both looked at each other and nodded. In lightning pace, both of them disappeared from Sakura's sight, with several shurikens flung at one of the bushin. The bushin deflected it away from his sword but Naruto crept behind to kick the bushin, dispelling the bushin. Another bushin tried to attack Naruto's blindside but was dispelled with a thrown kunai with an exploding tag by Sasuke. Soon it was between Naru-Sasu combo and Zabuza.
"Let me praise you on your progress but you aren't getting past me that easily!"
Without warning, a water bushin that had hidden itself from the battle, attack Sakura.
However, another Naruto appeared in front of Sakura and dealt with the water bushin with a precise kick.
Naruto dispelled the bushin and replied to Zabuza's comment.
"That's was hardly a surprise given that for a team to fall, the enemy will target the weakest link. Therefore with both of us occupied with your bushins, it presented a chance for you to attack Sakura and kill Tazuna."
Sasuke continued while Naruto started making handseals.
"Furthermore we noticed that a bushin hid itself after you created the mizu-bushins and therefore implemented this tactic to draw out the ace. With that ace out, we can fight without holding back!"
"Kage Bushin No Jutsu!"
Fifty Naruto clones appeared and started throwing kunais at Zabuza.
Zabuza again deflected it but was cornered by Naruto bushins and suddenly Sasuke leaped into the air and shouted:
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!"
"Zabuza quickly dispels the water prison jutsu to evade the attack but Naruto bushins gets closer to Zabuza and explodes.
After smoke was cleared, Zabuza was still alive but suffered several injuries although not life-threatening.
Kakashi thanked the duo and then got down to business.
"Zabuza, let's contine our duel, shall we?"
Kakashi then defeated Zabuza and almost killed him before a person appeared from the shadows and threw a senbon at Zabuza's neck.
After confirming the person as a Kiri hunter nin and Zabuza being dead, Kakashi motioned his team to head to Tazuna's house before collapsing on the spot. Having Naruto to carry Kakashi, they headed for their destination but Naruto had a lingering doubt on that mysterious hunter-nin.
"That person's chakra seems familiar… can it be her?"
It was not long before they arrived at Tazuna's house and Naruto knocked on the door. Soon a plainly dressed but attractive woman answered the door. The woman's face showed relief as she looked upon the group.
"Tousan, you're home!"
"I'm Tsunami and welcome to our home."
After letting the team to come in, she guided them to their room. Suddenly a boy, revealing himself as Tsunami's son Inari, peer behind Tsunami but unwillingly to talk to the team for some reason.
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(Tazuna house, 1 day later)
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After Kakashi woken up, he started to have doubts on the hunter-nin and asked his team who were present at the scene.
"Sakura, did you remember what did the hunter-nin do after killing Zabuza?"
"Umm, he carried him back."
With that reply, Kakashi knew that his suspicion was true.
"Based on what Sakura said, I pretty much guessed that Zabuza is still alive."
Tazuna and Tsunami were shocked to hear it.
"Why do you say he is alive?"
"Hunter-nin usually needs the person's head to stake their claim of killing their target but bringing back Zabuza's whole body is very suspicious. Furthermore, the choice of weapon is non-lethal unless you hit the vital points; chances are the person is still alive."
"But Kakashi-san, you checked that he's dead right?"
"Being an ANBU himself, he must have taught the fake hunter-nin to induce near-death state using those senbon needles."
With that scared look on almost everyone's faces, Kakashi tried to downplay the problem.
"However, both of us will take about a week to recover and we will not see him until then. So to deal with this problem, you 3 will undergo special training in order to fight them."
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(Somewhere in the forest, 1 day later)
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Kakashi led his team to a clearing and explain his special training.
"Today, you all will learn how to use your chakra effectively and to do it you have to climb a tree."
"Climb a tree?"
"Yup but you are going to climb in a different way."
To illustrate his point, Kakashi gathered chakra on his feet and started walking on the tree surface.
(Naruto's mind)
Tree climbing exercise is so easy compared to water walking but those suppression seals could make it a little bit harder...
"The purpose of this training is to accumulate the right amount of molded chakra in the right direction and secondary, to maintain that molded chakra. In a battle, ninja mold chakra all the time and it become difficult to maintain that chakra."
After the 3 genins understood the basic understanding of the exercise, they started the exercise.
"First, gather chakra at your feet and start walking on the tree. When you are unable to continue, mark it with a kunai. The aim is to reach the top of the tree."
Naruto tried it but to his dismay he slipped after a few steps.
(Naruto's mind)
They are much harder than i thought...
Sakura spent little time to reach the top while Naruto and Sasuke still had trouble getting it right.
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(5 hours later, 7pm)
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Sakura left with Kakashi for lunch after reaching the top of the tree at her first try, leaving Naruto and Sasuke to train non-stop for 5 straight hours.
However with one last push, both managed to reach the top. Noticing that it's dinnertime, Sasuke's stomach growled loudly for food.
"Naruto, do you want to go for dinner? I'm pretty hungry."
"Sorry Sasuke, but I want to practice longer…I will catch up with you later, Alright?"
"Okay but don't be too late."
Naruto then stretched out and took a scroll from his pocket and started writing something. After writing for a while, he tied up the scroll and summon a pigeon.
Then he tied the scroll to the pigeon and let the pigeon fly away.
"That should satisfy my publisher... damn them for their insistence of meeting deadlines even though I'm not in town!
Naruto shook his head in annoyance but started yawning.
"But I guess that is a problem for being too successful. 'Yawn' I think I should take a nap before I go back..."
However Naruto's fatigue ensured that he stayed asleep until dawn came.
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(Next day)
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A lady wearing a pink kimono was walking around the forest to gather some herbs when she saw someone lying on the ground. Upon closer look she realized who it was, the Konoha ninja had fought Zabuza. As she moved to silence her "enemy", Naruto had awakened from his slumber.
"Are you okay? You're going to catch a cold if you sleep here?"
As Naruto looked at the person, he felt the same chakra he felt during the battle.
"Oh, I'm fine, nee-san. By the way, what are you doing so early in the morning?"
"Oh, I'm picking herbs to cure injuries and illness."
Looking at his forehead protector, Haku asked:
"Are you a ninja or something?"
"Hai, I'm from Konoha and my name is Uzumaki Naruto. What is your name?"
The very word Konoha stunned the lady momentarily before regaining her composure and replied:
"My name is Haku, nice to meet you."
It is her! Wonder how she doing all these years…looks likes she have grown into a fine lady afterall. I wonder she remembers me…
Having known each other names, Haku asked Naruto why he was here so early.
"But what are you doing here so early in the morning?"
"Training!"
"But why are you training?"
"I want to become stronger."
"For what reason?"
"I want everyone to recognize my powers and to prove something to someone."
"Do you have someone that is important to you?"
"Important? What are you trying to say?"
"A person is able to become truly strong when they wish to protect someone they cherish."
"Do you have one?"
Remembering those who had helped and recognize him, Naruto nodded before asking the same question to her.
"What about you, Haku?"
"I used to have a few of them. But I lost contact with them……"
With Haku in deep thought, Naruto wanted to say something but he notice something.
She still remembers me…damn Sasuke for interrupting!
With Sasuke is approaching, Naruto ended the conversation with a hint of his other identity.
"I think I need to go now, let's meet again some time, Icy-chan!"
With that Naruto shunshined to Sasuke's position, leaving a bewildered Haku wondering about Naruto's sentence.
How does Naruto know about Haku? Find out next chapter then!
Pls R+R!