A/N: Hello, people!
I don't own Naruto.
I have no beta.
ENJOY!
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Team 7 stood before the Hokage, ready for a new mission. The C-ranks were coming in like crazy and the more the team managed to take, the smaller the pile would grow. So far, in the last week they managed eleven C-rank missions alongside their studying and training. Team 7 was rising through the listings and impressing nearly every Chunin that worked in the Mission Assignment Room. Iruka was the most shocked overall since he had directly taught them while they were in the Academy and didn't know of what they were capable of.
"We have another mission here, to Nami no Kuni," the Hokage said as he shifted through the pile and read the scroll he grabbed.
Hikari froze minutely, shocked that it was that time already. She hadn't expected it to be so soon. Or at least, it felt soon. They'd been a team for well over a month, nearly two, so it would make sense in a way. It was time for the fat little man and Zabuza to appear. How could she twist that without Zabuza or Haku having to die in the end? Hm…
"Bring in Tazuna," the Sandaime ordered on of the Chunin, who bowed and left the room.
The Genin turned to look at the door and Hikari grimaced at the picture Tazuna made. He looked like the definition of a sleazy drunk, complete with sake bottle in left hand. His glasses were askew and his hair was mussed.
There was distaste evident on Sasuke's face. He did not like the client at all. Naruto didn't seem to care, but he had originally lived in a district of the village where people like that roamed free, so he was probably used to it. Hikari herself wasn't impressed with the 'master bridge builder'.
"These runts are going to escort me?" the old man slurred. "They looked weak."
Naruto huffed and Sasuke let out a small, 'Hn'. Hikari gave the man a bland look, still not impressed with him.
Kakashi waved a hand as he read his porn, "Don't worry, my team is the most skilled Genin team in the village, with more experience than any of the others. And I'm a Jonin of high caliber, so you won't be in danger."
The Hokage smiled at Team 7 and handed over the scroll. "Good luck to you."
Kakashi nodded, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
He then turned to look at his Genin and said, "Go home and prepare for a week long trip at least. Meet at the East Gate in half an hour."
Naruto and Sasuke nodded and left the room quickly, though Hikari stayed back with Kakashi, following after him as they left.
"Something wrong, Hikari-chan?" the silver Jonin asked, not looking away from his book as they walked.
"Tazuna requested escorts, but neglected to mention that someone has it out for his life. A man named Gato is trying to take over Nami no Kuni and Tazuna building the bridge is getting in the way of his plans, so he's been hiring mercenaries to go after our client. This means either low class ninja or thugs."
Kakashi placed the book down and looked at her. "Should we accept this mission then?"
She sighed, hating how he was leaving it up to her. He'd been doing that a lot more lately.
"Well, we each have taken on Jonin level shinobi and won. I'm sure we can handle thugs just fine."
Kakashi hummed for a moment, "Gato's interference makes our mission a higher rank and Tazuna knows that, doesn't he? Why would he lie?"
"Nami no Kuni is being oppressed by Gato and taxes are through the roof, Their only hope lies in Tazuna and him finishing the bridge, or else they'll die out."
The Jonin nodded, "This will be the fifth C-rank mission we've gone on that will be upgraded to B-rank and if it gets rough, A-rank. Are you sure you all could handle it?"
Hikari inwardly scoffed. If the original canon Team 7 could handle it, even though they had one useless member and barely any training, then they could definitely take it.
"We'll be fine sensei. And I can always learn about enemies along the way."
"Well then, we won't need to mention anything until the mission is over then. Now go and get prepared for the mission."
"See you soon sensei."
"Demon Brothers of Kirigakure, Gozu and Meizu. Working under Zabuza Momochi as underlings. Attempted assassination on the Yondaime Mizukage that failed. Chunin rank but lacking in power, ordered by Zabuza to assassinate bridge builder Tazuna. Zabuza has been employed by Gato," Hikari rattled off as Naruto tied Gozu and Meizu up to a tree.
Tazuna heard what Hikari said and squeaked in fear. Kakashi rounded on the man and said, "Explain."
Hikari would swear on every Kami out there, that Tazuna whined a small 'mommy,' as Kakashi advanced on him.
But that was neither here nor there.
Everyone dropped to the ground when they felt the oncoming attack. The Genin flipped to their feet as they prepared for battle. Hikari knew what was coming and steeled herself.
"Even the brats managed to sense me coming, pretty good, for Konoha ninja."
Zabuza had a gravelly voice and an eerie laugh to accompany it. It was creepy enough to raise the hairs on her arms and make a shiver run down her back.
He landed on Kubikiribocho, which had been embedded into a tree trunk, balancing himself perfectly on the hilt of the long zanbato. Good balance.
Kakashi huffed and asked aloud, "Hikari, what do you got on him?"
The Genin took a deep breath and speedily replied, "Zabuza Momochi, nuke Jonin of Kirigakure. Known as Kirigakure no Kijin. Former member of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shu, current wielder of Kubikiribocho, the Executioner's Blade. When broken, the sword repairs itself with the iron from the blood of its enemies.
Zabuza Momochi, born August 15th, 26 years old, Blood Type A. Ninja Registration Number: 007719(A/N: I made that part up. Pretend it's real.), water affinity. Was once an Anbu member. Master of the Silent Killing technique, Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Stealth. His Kirigakure no Jutsu is perfect and nearly undetectable to even the best of shinobi. Zabuza can manipulate his chakra outside his body to take on a terrifying form that is used to scare people. He's working with a partner who is waiting not too far off, disguised as a Kiri Oinin, called Haku. He is the remaining member of the Yuki Clan and can utilize Hyoton.
Zabuza attempted to murder the Yondaime Mizukage because he didn't agree with the way Yagura ran everything. He's been taking on mercenary missions in order to gain more money to attempt to overthrow Yagura again."
All the while she was talking, the creepy, no eyebrow having fiend was watching her. She ignored him, in favor of looking at Kakashi.
But by the time she finished, she turned to look at the man and said, "You know there's a new Mizukage. No one knows where Yagura is and no one cares. Anyway, she's been trying to reestablish connections in the shinobi world and trying to get rid of, 'the Bloody Mist'. Your plan is all for naught."
No Brows was still staring at her and she would have gladly stared back at him for however long he wanted, but she sensed something and spun around, whipping out a kunai to deflect the incoming senbon. She jumped back, avoiding Haku's speedy kick and released her weights. She charged the Hyoton user.
Thankfully, with her continuous use of weight seals, Hikari's speed was something to watch out for. Fifty pounds a month for the last two years. She was most likely a quarter way to Lee in his speed. Since she wasn't a fanatic like Gai or Lee, she didn't add hundreds of pounds every month. But still, she was pretty good on her own.
For those who say twelve hundred pounds is impossible to carry, Hikari would like to shove her seals in their faces and go 'nah nee nah nee boo boo'.
Haku obviously wasn't expecting her speed and they crashed together in a Taijutsu battle. Hikari focused her chakra and hit Haku's wrists, disabling them instantly. The boy noticed he could no longer move his hands and made to leap away, but Hikari wouldn't have it. She charged once again and slammed her hand into Haku's neck, knocking him unconscious immediately."
As he went down, Hikari pulled his mask off and sighed, "Well damn."
"What's wrong Hikari?" Naruto asked.
"He's prettier than me."
Silence…
…
…
…
…
…
…
"Are you sure that it's a boy?" Sasuke asked after a moment.
"Haku's a boy. Just a really fucking pretty one. Lucky bastard," Hikari grumbled, walking away from the unconscious shinobi.
"I think you're pretty Hikari-chan! -ttebayo!"
The female gave Naruto's spikes a ruffle, "Thanks Naruto, but you're still not going to be in my harem. You and Sasuke are meant to be together."
"EW! Not with him! Not ever!" the redhead yelled, pointing to Sasuke who was too busy glaring at Hikari to care.
She snickered and waited for further instruction.
They all stood at a standstill, just waiting for something to happen. Zabuza jumped off his zanbato and continued to stare at her. "Brat, who is the new Mizukage?"
"Terumi Mei."
"Mei?" he sounded surprised.
"You know her?"
Zabuza's chilling laugh filled the foggy clearing. "I can't believe that old hag managed to become Mizukage."
"She would kill you for that," Hikari commented. "She gets enough about her age and not being married from her Anbu members and she has no issue with threatening to eviscerate them."
"Yeah, that sounds like Mei," Zabuza laughed even harder. "She's still an old bag though."
"Your funeral."
"So why should I stop my mission, even if there's a new Mizukage?" Zabuza asked after a few seconds. "Who wouldn't want more money?"
Hikari bristled and glared. "There are many reasons. I just took your apprentice out in mere seconds. My teammates are just as powerful. We have Hatake Kakashi on our team. Gato is a liar of a man. A man who was fighting to free his country from a tyrant shouldn't be so blase over the fact that a man who isn't even a ninja, is suppressing the good people of Nami no Kuni. Because money isn't everything."
No Brows stared her down and though she was a bit creeped out, she refused to look away. It was a matter of pride and she refused to be seen as inferior even to someone as powerful as Zabuza. He was powerful and could even be a good ally if things turned out for their benefit. He was a great swordsman and Hikari would value his opinion of her, even if he remained a 'bad guy'. He was a legend, like Kakashi was.
"I don't know the people of Wave, so why should I care?"
"Why shouldn't you care?" she countered.
"The fact that that little piece of worthless flesh put his grubby hands on your apprentice and threatened him should be enough to go chop his head off."
"Morbid. What sort of kid are you?"
"The morbid sort."
She was being mouthy to the Demon of the Hidden Mist. She deserved some sort of award. She had metaphorical balls of steel. She was the 'bigger man' than many others who had faced Zabuza head on.
"So basically, you want me to leave you all alone and kill Gato in order to help Wave Country?"
"Yes, that's about it," HIkari nodded.
"I'm the bad guy, kid."
"The bad guy trying to raise money to overthrow the tyrant who ruined your home? That sounds positively evil to me."
"Don't get mouthy, brat."
"Are we fighting or not?"
Zabuza looked down to Haku's unconscious body and then back up. He surveyed their line of defense and sighed. Considering you could kill Haku in mere seconds and the four of you could gang up on me, it'd be best hat I retreat. Would you allow us to leave?"
"Will you drop the mission and go off Gato?" Hikari countered firmly.
"What's in it for me?"
"You and your apprentice not dying here and now. Your secrets remaining secret and not becoming a part of Konoha. Or we could kill you and take Haku back and have him forced under the CRA and have the Yuki Clan restored in order to add power to our nation."
She could tell that Zabuza's mouth had dropped open behind his medical wrappings.
"You are one sadistic brat. Fine."
Hikari smirked. "You wouldn't mind if our sensei went with you, to verify that you will follow up your claims? We'll protect Haku until you return of course."
The man grumbled and Hikari turned to Kakashi. "Payback for making me check people so damn often. Have fun sensei!" She patted his shoulder before turning to Sasuke and Naruto, who had at some point during the conversation, turned to each other and began to play Mushi-Ken. "Come on you two. We're escorting Tzuna and Haku the rest of the way. Sensei will catch up later."
The rest of the Wave mission had gone by rather quickly.
Kakashi and Zabuza had rejoined Team Seven and Haku a few days later and the two groups went their separate ways. Tazuna made use of Naruto's Kage Bunshin in that time period to help finish the bridge he was working on. Naruto managed to drill determination into Inari somehow after taking the kid on a long walk. Tsunami - aptly named - was very mothering.
She'd seemed so cold in the manga and Hikari had never been impressed, but meeting the woman personally and seeing how much she worried for her family, was enough to change the kunoichi's mind. There was love there, it was just buried under and sense of duty and a lot of worry.
Team Seven returned to Konoha not too long after the bridge was finished. Naruto managed to get it named after him, simply by taking the kids of the small island out and teaching them how to protect themselves against robbers and pillagers. The children were the future after all. His Kage Bunshin simply took a child aside and sowed them the basics on how to fight and protect one's self and family. Tazuna had been inspired and named the stone structure, 'The Great Naruto Bridge'.
Sasuke had refused to let up on teasing Naruto about his new historical monument. The red head glared, but did not rise to the bait. In turn, Hikari made a blasé comment about their developing romance, which led to all three refusing to look at each other for varying reasons.
When Kakashi handed in the mission scroll, the Hokage smiled at them and took their reports immediately. And even upgraded the rank of the mission to B-rank, which made more money in the end. Also a better look on their records. Genin doing B-ranks was rare. Especially when they returned and weren't injured in the least.
The team was given a three day resting period, to catch up on normal life and personal training.
Kakashi wished them a farewell and told them to take their vitamins. Like he ever actually took any when at their age.
Hikari looked to her two idiots and smiled. "I'm going to go see someone. Do you want to meet up at Ichiraku's later?"
"Are you meeting the Hyuga?" Sasuke asked, suddenly looking more alert than before. Naruto was a lot more awake as well.
"No, I wanted to see how Sakura is faring under Tsunade's tutelage."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. If only he knew the threat level Sakura would pose once she spent a good deal of time in Tsunade's presence. He wouldn't be so inclined to believe that the girl wasn't anything but a weak nuisance. Of course her prior actions in regards to him were what created this opinion in the first place. But she was learning.
"She'll be great one day," Hikari said with conviction. "You just need to wait. And do you really think Tsunade s going to go easy on her?"
The boys both winced at the thought and shook their heads.
"Exactly."
The pink haired kunoichi was panting when Hikari appeared by her side in Training ground Three. She was standing on the side of a tree, obviously working on her chakra levels.
"How goes it, Haruno?"
The girl jumped with a loud squeak and fell. She managed to turn herself around to land on her feet though. She'd gotten a lot better.
Hikari could tell that Sakura had already cut her bangs. They closely resembled Tsunade's now and when the pinkette turned slightly, Hikari could see that the rest of her hair has been pulled into two low ponytails. Instead of leaving it there like Tsunade had, Sakura has decided to braid the two long strips of pink. So while she was emulating Tsunade, she was also making her own splash in the world.
"Hi, Hikari-san. I'm working on my chakra control while trying to expand my reserves. I won't be able to do much in terms of being a Med Ninja until I use more chakra."
"I'm sure you're doing well. I came by after my latest mission to see how you're taking Tsunade's hard ass training. I also wanted to see if you needed help with your chakra work and by the looks of it, you need more than just Academy help."
Hikari led the girl over to the infamous river that flowed through the grounds.
"So, in the Academy, we had to be able to balance a kunai on a finger, with only our chakra. This task will be similar. You will place your hand in the water and focus your chakra into the tip of your fingers. In doing so, a small amount of water will cover your fingertips in individual bubbles. Your task is to concentrate as long as you can, by keeping the little bubbles on your fingers. Eventually, you will begin to move them, until you can force them to hover above your fingers with only your chakra."
Sakura looked apprehensive, but when Hikari withdrew her hand from the water and hand five large blobs of water floating above her fingers, Sakura gulped, but nodded.
"I'll do my best."
"Good."
Hikari spent her first day of her break, in the Yamanaka Flower shop and the hospital. Her independent study of creating poisons had her scouring all sorts of knowledge for information. She wanted to created something that would numb the nerves and cut off the victim's connection to their chakra. Almost like a Juken strike to the tenketsu, without having to physically hit them to do so. A mall nick would be enough to accomplish this task.
Ino's mother, a tall woman with brunette hair that was pulled into a classic bun, was a big help. Though the woman reminded Hikari of high society people, just by her appearance, she was rather kind and soft spoken. Hikari knew very well that the woman was a capable fighter, despite looking so regal. The woman had a good arm. Hikari could see the difference in muscle definition between her arms.
"I know several plants that are poisonous. Angel's Trumpet, Deadly Nightshade, Poison Ivy, Monkshood, Larkspur, Black Locust, and False Hellebore. Other than those few, I don't know many, nor where I would find them."
Ayame Yamanaka gave her a smile. "Well done. Not many people know more than ivy."
Hikari obviously wasn't going to mention that she learned all those poisonous plants from reading a lot of Harry Potter fanfiction. She simply allowed the woman to think that she was a lot smarter than previously assumed.
"I'm working on creating my own poison to use. I don't want something that kills. My goal is…"
She spent the next few hours explaining her idea and recording the effects of certain plants when ingested.
She thanked the woman and moved on to the hospital, bugging as many people as she could, including Tsunade. She knew Tsunade was an expert in counteracting poisons, since she had taught Sakura and the pinkette had kicked ass in Shippuden.
The blonde sat behind her desk as she explained the various reactions certain plants had on chakra. Ayame wasn't a shinobi so she didn't know this information.
Tsunade smirked as she regaled many exploits of hers, when she used her own poison on 'perverted fools', AKA, Jiraiya.
"Why do you just want to block their chakra? Why not just kill the enemy and be done with it?"
Hikari scoffed, "Some enemies can't just be killed. Some are so good, that you need every ace in the hole you can get. Something like this would be good for my first foray into the world of poisons and serums. I'd also like to be known for more than just being a powerhouse like my Bingo Book entry thinks I am."
"Good to know. I have many names that I earned over my many jaunts across the Elemental Nations."
Hikari nodded and gave the woman a smirk. "Like the Legendary Sucker?"
"Oh, get out brat!"
"See ya baa-chan!" she said quickly, Shunshining away.
"Sasuke, you're supposed to covered your entire body in lightning. And then you charge your enemy and either a kick or a punch will successfully fell them, as well as giving them one hell of a powerful shock."
Hikari was trying to explain the Volt Tackle to the 'last Uchiha'. She'd finally begun using her knowledge of Pokemon attacks and maneuvers.
"The lightning will charge the negative electrons within your cells and chakra, making you run much faster. Still, you should up your Taijutsu training. Added more weight to your weights every week and do more laps up and down the Hokage Monument."
The Uchiha glared at her and she shrugged. "You want a cool attack right?"
"This better work," he frowned, before focusing his lightning chakra once again.
"Naruto, we need to get you outfitted for a set of dual sickles. The attacks I have in mind would be best implemented with a weapon of sorts."
"Cool! -ttebayo!"
"It's about that time," Hikari murmured as they made their way toward Ichiraku's for lunch. "That old man was annoying. Or am I the only one who noticed how he was ogling Sasuke's ass?"
Said teen sputtered in horror and gave her a look of utter contempt.
"What? He was looking right at it. Any second I was waiting or Naruto to yell at him for challenging his claim."
"Dammit, Hikari-chan, teme and I aren't like that!"
"I know," she agreed. "But it's still fun to piss both of you off. So sensitive."
The Uchiha huffed and walked faster. Naruto simply. "Now teme's in a mood."
"He's an Uchiha. He's always 'in a mood'," Hikari joked. "They were said to have perpetual icicles up their asses."
"No wonder he's so cold most of the time. -ttebayo!"
"Boss!"
Naruto and Hikari stopped in the middle of the street as Sarutobi Konohamaru ran up to them, his two friends Moegi and Udon, trailing behind him. The boy threw his tiny arms around Naruto's middle and grinned up at the red head.
"Hey Konohamaru! What have you been up to?!"
The three midgets gladly introduced themselves, clamoring around for Naruto's approval. Hikari smiled. They were cute when not trying to be nuisances.
"Can we play Ninja today? Will your friend play too?" Konohamaru asked.
Moegi giggled, "Please? Cool kunoichi are hard to come by."
"I'm sure we could turn this into a rather high end training session," Hikari grinned maliciously
Naruto grew nervous and repeatedly waved his hand over his throat. "Come now, Naruto. I'm not that bad."
"Guys, don't listen to her. She doesn't care about how old you are! -ttebayo!"
"Bring it, kiddies!" Hikari whipped out a kunai and threw it. Vaguely, as the children began running away from her, she wondered if this was how Mitarashi Anko felt when she was proctoring the Chunin Exam. It felt really good to chuck weapons at people.
Naruto joined the kids as they scrambled to get away. Unlike them, she took her time rounding the corner and came upon a very familiar scene that made her heart flutter and her stomach fill with butterflies, because this meant something important.
Not the fact that a living version of Kankuro was holding poor Konohamaru up by his collar. Though that was amazing as well, to see Mr. Kitten in person. But it meant that Gaara was only moments away from showing up. And she had a plan. And now she had to plan.
What would Gaara look like as a real person? Would his hair seem like that fake red people liked getting, or maybe it would resemble freshly spilt blood. And how pale would he be? And his eyes! as it actually possible for someone to have eyes that shade of teal?
Her heart was pounding as she thought about it.
Naruto had already extracted Konohamaru from Kankuro's grip.
She joined him, pushing the three children behind her. "You are here for the Chunin Exams, not for an attack on the Hokage's grandson," she said firmly, adding a glare to the mix.
Temari paled and Kankuro took a step back in shock.
Sasuke dropped down on her other side and Team Seven regarded the Suna ninja with cool expressions. All three were ready for an attack though.
Hikari briefly concentrated and released her weights.
As if they were one person, Team Seven all looked to their right as Gaara's chakra signature appeared in the tree, just like in canon. Temari and Kankuro both looked as well and each took large steps away from Gaara's presence.
His hair was like blood and his eyes seemed to glow in the shadow of the tree. He stood upside down with his pale arms folded. Strange that he lived in a desert but was so pale skinned. He glared at his brother and sister, before looking her in the eyes.
Damn! He was fine.
They stared at each other for a moment, assessing one another's power. Gaara's chakra rose and brushed against her own. She rebuffed his sly caress and pushed heavily on him. Those teal eyes widened. He Shunshined, appearing beside his brother.
"H-hey G-Gaara," Kankuro sputtered, wincing.
"Shut up," Gaara hissed. "You're an embarrassment to our village. Grown ninja picking on children does not mean you are strong. And you, Kankuro, are weak to begin with."
The cat like ninja flinched back and mumbled dozens of apologies that Gaara ignored when he turned to fix his eyes on Team Seven.
Teal and black eyes connected and the redhead asked, "You are?"
"Mizumi Hikari."
He then looked to Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
And finally Team Seven's own redhead.
"Uzumaki Naruto! -ttebayo!"
"I'm Sabaku no Gaara."
Hikari nodded and then looked to Sasuke, who was glaring at the sand team. He grunted and gave her a 'what?' look. Her brows twitched upward once and she jerked her head in Gaara's direction.
Sasuke managed to understand what she was getting at and he blanched. "No!"
"Yes," she nodded.
Hikari cracked her neck and looked back to Gaara, who was watching her blandly.
She flashed.
No one but she and Sasuke, knew what she was going to do. Her body had disappeared from everyone's view. She ignored the others and simply shoved her way into Gaara's personal space. The sand didn't even react to her presence. Or she had moved too fast for it to notice.
The kunoichi wrapped her arms around Garry's slim shoulders, pushing herself up against him. He gasped in shock and probably a little fear since no one had ever gotten close enough to actually touch him. She then pressed her lips against his own.
Gaara had frozen in place and she ignored the scream of terror that she was sure came from Temari. All that was there, was her and Gaara. And his lips were really soft too. She was impressed, because he lived in the desert and yet his skin was so soft.
"Hikari!" Sasuke yelled from behind her.
With a sigh, she disengaged herself from the redhead and moved to flash away, when he did the unexpected. Gaara's surprisingly strong hand locked into her waist and she paled, realizing that in order to get away, she may have to hurt him.
Shit.
He was staring at her with wide eyes. He didn't look crazy and his sand hadn't moved in a threatening way. He was just looking at her with those bright, teal eyes.
She stared at him for a full minute, before zapping his wrists with her chakra filled fingertips, making them go limp. She then flashed away, until she was beside Sasuke once more.
Said Uchiha was not happy. "Why him?!"
"Sasuke, have you seen him? Oh, wait. You're only into Naruto, my bad."
The boy sputtered, glaring at her in annoyance.
She patted his head and turned to leave, "You still aren't going to be in my harem, Sasuke."
She left them all there, Shunshining away before Gaara's mind would catch up with the present time.
She'd done it! She kissed Gaara and wasn't killed! And it was pretty good, for an amateur kiss.
And Gaara's eyes outlined by those black markings, was a mix of cute and hot. They made him look like a Panda or a Raccoon. Gaara was like a mix of a Panda and a Raccoon. A Pancoon! PANCOON!
She giggled to herself as she ran home. The Chunin Exams were going to be fun.
A/N: Another one is done.
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See ya! :D
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