The group of Leaf gennins stared apprehensively at the Mist Jounin standing on the pommel of his blade, hands already wielding their kunai. It was Kakashi who seemed to try and brazenly seem unperturbed by it, taking a moment to brush the dust off of his clothes.

"Look, everyone," he said in an off handed manner,"It's a rogue nin called the Demon of the Bloody Mist, Momochi Zabuza."

"Oh? Now that is an honor to know it was The Copy Cat Kakashi of the Sharigan that took out the Demon Brother's and who also knows who I am."

"Were those your chuunin you sent to kill the bridge builder? Well, that does make things uncomfortable, doesn't it? By the way, you dropped your sword at us. You really should be more careful, someone could think you've got bad intentions."

Zabuza took in all the gennin with him, shaking his head in disappointment.

"Oh, I assure you my intent is completely hostile, but not for the reasons you believe. Still, it must have been hard keeping your gennin alive while the Demon Brother's went after them. You really do stand up to your reputation."

"Actually," Kakashi flicked his fingers in a dismissive gesture, "They all but took care of them their selves. I more or less was trying to finish up my chapter on Icha Icha...you wouldn't happen to know when the next issue is coming out, do you?"

"Is that so? Now...which one of you would have taken out my chuunin...?" His eyes glazed over to each of the children that had formed a perimeter around the bridge builder.

Pink, blonde, indigo, and black hair...they were a walking kaleidoscope, Zabuza thought in amusement, taking each of their faces...wondering who was the one that actually brought such a casual demeanor to their sensei in their presence. Oh, this is going to be more fun then I anticipated.

Was it the pretty cherry blossom? No, her knees are shaking and she doesn't really seem like she wants to be here.

Maybe the other one...behind the bridge builder, next to that one in orange? I can't really see her face or eyes...I'll have to get back to her later.

There we go, he's got some nice eyes....Dark hair and black arrogant stare...he looks a lot like an Uchiha.

The blonde one...what kind of joke is this? Orange, blue and white? I see that Konoha has definitely churned out a unique caliber of children from their academy. His eyes show a strong will and defiance bordering on just simple unadulterated hostility. I really like him.

"Hey, you eyebrowless freak! You want to know who took out your Demon Brother's? I did, Uzumaki Naruto! Future Hokage!" he proclaimed without an ounce of sarcasm.

Zabuza rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Is this what they are teaching your gennin at the Academy, Kakashi? Then, I must say that I am extremely disappointed in my team mates."

Naruto growled ready to charge, when Hinata grabbed his sleeve and whispered loud enough for every to hear, including Kakashi. "He's not really there, it's a clone! He's got about three of them surrounding us: three o'clock, six o'clock, and nine o'clock. The real one is twenty yards away by the river bank, directly east of us. There is also a group of three about seventy yards away to the north east, with one on horse back. One is a hunter nin, from the Mist...he may be trying to abide his time to take out Zabuza, but I can't promise he's trying to help. There are two next to the hunter nin that....well...have weird auras."

"What do you mean?"

"They don't have developed chakra coils, but they do have some kind of power...it's like watching a sponge soak up water on a table. They are sucking up the energy from around them. I've never seen anything like it before...and the horse is...well...on fire...but not being hurt. It's really weird."

"Hmm...one thing at a time, right now. Zabuza is our main threat. Keep an eye on them, but also be ready for Zabuza's clones." Kakashi warned, loud enough for them all to hear and nod in agreement.

"What do you want us to do?" Sasuke asked, his hand gripping the kunai with a reverse grip.

"I have a plan," Naruto called, eyes alight with mischief that they all knew too well.

"This is no time for games, Naruto! We all could-" Sakura began, hand ready to thunk him.

"I want to hear what he has to say," Sasuke squinted at Sakura, making her drop her hand shyly.

"Alright, this is what we do..."

When they turned their attention back to Zabuza, he was facing them with his arms crossed over his bare chest.

"Have you had enough time to chatter amongst yourself, like monkeys? This is not the time to take your eyes away from a real ninja...a ninja who has had blood on his hands well before he was any of you gaki's age!"

"True, you have," Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his sharigan. "And what kind of monster would take pride in killing their own team mates?"

Zabuza's tone lightened, clearly pleased that Kakashi's gesture proved he was becoming serious.

"The kind that is a true ninja. The kind where things like power, strength, courage, and the relentless desire to do anything to get the job done are paramount...besides, those times were fun." He lifted his head a little, eyes closed as if reveling in the memory. "Just like now!"

Kneeling to grip his sword, he dashed off the side of the tree with his weapon in a flash.

Kakashi met him half way, steering him clear of the kids and bridge builder with barely missed strikes and sways. How he could withstand the pure force of the weapon with just his kunai was beyond reason.

"Kage Bushin No Jutsu!"

A few dozen Naruto's appeared in a mass puff of smoke and dashed off, interferring with Zabuza and Kakashi's melee. They threw themselves at him bodily, only to eventually get dispelled by Zabuza's annoyed swat with Headchopper.

"Useless. Pathetic! Terrible! There is no way this gaki took out the Demon Brother's!" he scoffed, gripping one of the Naruto's by the throat and crushing it in a puff of smoke.

"I'm not done yet! Kage Bushin No Jutsu!" he called out again, but this time there was about fifty of them.

"Oh, now isn't that impressive." Zabuza took in all the Narutos and the boy didn't even seem phased by the amount of chakra being used. "There are quite a few and you don't even look winded. Well, now, I guess there may be some merit to you yet, boy...But..."

Zabuza used that moment throw his hands out at Naruto, hurling Headchopper at him and the group of gennin and bridge builder. Mulitiple Naruto's disappeared in a trail of smoke as Headchopper got closer and closer to the group.

"Eeek!" Sakura shrieked, ducking under her hands.

They dropped down to the ground, hoping not get hit by the large weapon. Kakashi was there in an instant, eyes locked on the weapon's pommel...with both hands, he snatched it...but was thrown to the side by the sheer inertia...

"Whoa!" Kakashi tried to recover, but was not fast enough.

With his arms twisted awkwardly, still holding the weapon like an over swung bat, Zabuza gripped Kakashi's right arm over his left arm across his chest with the Mist Demon's left hand, kicked his knee to buckle him to the ground, and then gripped his neck in a choke hold.

The sword dropped to the ground in a loud clatter of metal.

"Kakashi-sensei!" The Naruto's called out, about to rush him.

"Get...back! You...won't..."

"I expected better from you, Kakashi." Zabuza murmured gently in his ear...giving Kakashi's neck a violent Snap!

Puff!

"What?!" he looked at his hands, disbelieving.

The cool steel of metal pressed against the side of his neck. "As you were saying, Zabuza?"

Kunai flew at Kakashi and Zabuza, taking them from their sides without regard who they hit.

Zabuza disappeared in a huge splash of water, revealing he was just a clone as well. Kakashi puffed into smoke, but was soon followed by the other gennin and bridge builder as well, showing that they were all clones.

"Very good, Kakashi...but, when did you...That brat henged some of his clones when he distracted me the first time he attacked!" Zabuza murmured from his hiding spot to the east of the action. Eyes opened wide in slight confusion when he just received the memories of his clones and realized they were taken out not just by Kakashi but the girl in the large drab coat. A split second later, he felt the heat of a fireball at the back of his neck. Throwing himself to the ground before the it connected, he was dodging to his left when the branch he was just standing on was blown to bits by another one.

"Tch, I missed!" Sasuke called out, hands still in a tiger sign. Taking a huge gulp of air, he shouted,"Katon: Housenka!"

Multiple landing spots around, on top, and underneath Zabuza were ignited by Sasuke's rapid fire shots of fireballs. He saw no way of escape the next barrage unless he retaliated. Hand signs formed, he shouted, "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!"

A huge column of water shot out at Sasuke, faster and more dense then he was prepared for.

"Aaaaargh!" He was quickly washed away and thrown painfully against a tree trunk.

"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed, rushing to his aid from behind the brush the other's were hiding from.

"Matte, Sakura!" Kakashi called out, chasing after her.

"There you are!" Zabuza screamed, arms back and muscled flexed as Headchopper arched to remove her head from her shoulder's.

Kakashi gripped Headchopper right where the hole near the tip of the blade was, stopping the swing from continuing...

"Predictable," Zabuza scoffed, instead of swinging the blade as Kakashi was expecting, he jabbed the flat of the blade at Kakashi with a thrust into his chin and neck.

This Kakashi did not disappear in a puff.

Dazed and with his hands momentarily up to prevent another strike of the weapon, the Copy Cat Ninja had not anticipated Zabuza to use the weapon as a brace and kick him straight into the lake.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto growled, trying to keep up with the battle of jounins, but was falling far behind with Hinata and Tazuna rushing to help Sakura with Sasuke.

Kakashi's head poked out of the water long enough for him to realize the water did not seem normal, but heavy. He couldn't chakra walk or grip in it.

"It's a trap!" Kakashi spluttered.

"Yes, it is." Zabuza blurred through a few hand signs and shouted, "Suirō no Jutsu!"

The water swirled around Kakashi, enveloping him in a dome that he was not able to move or escape from. Zabuza's hand was still encased in the water when he turned around to look at the gathered gennin and bridge builder with triumph.

"Well, well, well...I can see how you all defeated my chunnin. I am incredibly impressed and I must admit I completely underestimated you all. However, in the end, you can't possibly defeat me." Zabuza's deep voice chimed with anticipated victory. He brought his other hand in front of him with a single hand sign.

From out of the air another clone appeared between him and the gathered gennin.

"No more tricks," the clone called out, looking up from under its head band at them. "No more ambushes...this is just you all against me, face to face."

"Grrrrr," Naruto growled, but heard Sasuke snap at him to wait and let everyone think through this.

"Get out of here, all of you! While he has me in this prison, he can't chase you! Tazuna and Hinata are your priority! Get them to safety, now!" Kakashi demanded from inside the sphere.

"No," Hinata said loud enough, but with worried eyes towards Team 7's sensei. "I won't go...I will stay here, with everyone and fight...because, that is the right thing."

Naruto gave her a nod of agreement, then turned to Tazuna expectantly.

"I don't know about these ninja things, I'm just a bridge builder. I do know that if you squirts think it is better to stay here and fight, then do so. I'm alive now because of your decisions, not mine." He said, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, a small grin on his face as he prepared to attack.

"By the way," the clone cleared the distance between Naruto and itself, kicking the hitai-ite off of Naruto's head. Orange jumpsuit and teenager skidded to a halt between his team mates, forehead bare. Stomping on the leaf symbol in disgust, he looked directly at the blonde gennin and scoffed, "You still think you are a ninja because you wear this on your head? In our village, we have children half your age that have shed more blood in battle against foes stronger then me! You think you deserve for me to take notice because you know a few tricks! You don't deserve to have the honor of a hitai-ite!"

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata was at his side, helping him to his feet.

Growling, Naruto wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jumpsuit, returning the glare of the Mist Jounin. "You know something Sasuke, Hinata, Sakura," he called out with a smirk, "You're right. I should think this through, but there are also times when one just shut up and take things head on."

With a loud battle cry, he charged Zabuza head on.

"Baka!" Zabuza snarled, exchanging blows with Naruto that was more child's play then anything he ever encountered. He took his time, letting him even get close enough to kick, swipe, cross, and dodge. When Naruto looked like he was going to attempt to sweep him, Zabuza kicked him smartly under his chin. Naruto rolled into a heap at Sasuke's feet.

"What the hell are you doing, dobe!" Sasuke asked, hand on his right side of his ribs.

"Naruto-baka! He's going to kill you if you do that..." Sakura's wind was taken out when she saw what was in Naruto's hand.

"Naruto...kun..." Hinata looked at him, confused but also in awe.

Dented and dirty, Naruto's hitai-ite was in his grip. Panting but with his ever indominable smile, he stood up straight and tied it back on his head. Pointing at his enemy, he called out proudly, "I may not have as much blood on my hands or the skill of your people, but I know that I will not quit, I will not stop, and I will not run away, for that is my nindo!"

Everyone was silent, inspired by Naruto's declaration. He jerked his thumb to his hitai-ite, his chin thrust out, "My sensei gave this to me when I saved him and myself from a traitor who wanted to use me as a tool for his own ends! I got this hitai-ite by the first person to recognize me and see me as a protector of my village, my friends, and everyone who is precious to me, and I will not forgive anyone who thinks it's something to be ground under their foot! Kage Bushin No Jutsu!"

Approximately two dozen more Naruto's appeared, pulling kunais out. Charging, they swarmed Zabuza, creating a dome of bodies stabbing downwards at him with all their might.

"Die!"

By sheer strength, Zabuza's clone expelled the Naruto mass in alternating puffs of smoke. One of them tumbled, but threw a folded blade at Sasuke, "Teme, catch!"

Sasuke pushed Sakura away from him, lept into the air and gripped the weapon Naruto threw at him. With a knowing smirk, he unfolded it. "So that's your plan."

When Sasuke took to the air again, he released the fuma shuriken with the results that made his respect for Naruto grow that much more.

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"This looks bad," Haku edged closer to the trunk of the tree branch he was standing on. Zabuza just released Kakashi due to Naruto's unhenging from a shuriken and tossing a kunai at the real Zabuza.

"Magnificent," Xyouln uttered, truly awed by the ingenious display of power and skill both sides were exchanging to the other. "There is no way we can research all this data at one time. We need more information."

"I believe I can do this, my Master." Shade folded her hands inside of her sleeves, observing Kakashi and Zabuza pacing around each other, measuring each other while running on water!

"hmm" Xyouln pondered, but soon winced, making a hissing sound through his teeth. "Now that looks impressive! He's copying his movements...look, now he's created exactly the same water dragon!"

"Zabuza-sama's loosing confidence...this has never happened before. I'm going to rescue him. After I do that, someone needs to distract them so they don't come after me."

"I'll do it." Shade offered, earning a nod from Haku.

"Alright, wait for me to clear Zabuza-sama first." With a swirl of leaves, he was gone.

"What do you plan to do, my apprentice?" Xyouln inquired, watching her stroke the mane on Rhen's neck. Throughout their time in hiding, his demeanor seemed to become more and more agreeable with that of his student. Since her statement had been correct in his eyes, he remarked coarsely how it was possible how a weak and injured demon could possibly fall to humans such as this. In return, he gave Shade permission to show him more. Lyseria, dismounted and thankfully so, had hid behind a tree, facing away from the fighting at hand.

"Be myself, my Master...with help from the great Rhen." Shade offered gently with a knowing confidence.

"You presume to use me in your schemes?" The steed said indignantly.

"I would not be able to succeed without you, great one." She gently stroked his soft muzzle with a deliberately charming smile.

"Bah! I'll eat you after this." He grumped, puffing smoke at her face.

She chuckled at him, shaking her head as if she didn't believe a word he said. A willow-the-wisp orbited around her, bobbing in the air in slight agitation.

"He'll be fine, Snowball. You can go ahead and meet him where he sleeps. He'll be expecting you."

Like some uncordinated butterfly, Snowball's spirit dashed away.

"You might want to leave now, my apprentice. Zabuza has been beaten and Haku looks to have stepped in and immobilized him."

"Yes, my Master. I will not fail you." Slipping herself over Rhen's bare back, she felt Rhen's transformation into a less mystical steed and into a chestnut gelding. With a final snort of disgust aimed at being mounted again, he cantered off in the direction of the closing battle.

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