Chapter 11
Climb a what?
Kakashi awoke to find himself in a bed and the sun shining through the window. He heard Naruto singing in what sounded like a shower. Kid can sing pretty damn well. Thought Kakashi as he tried to move. "Ah, you're awake, Kakashi-sensei" said Sauske's voice Kakashi turned to see Sauske sitting on the windowsill sharpening a kunai.
"Yeah, who brought me here?" asked Kakashi
"After we got Tazuna here, Naruto sent three of those clones of his in to retrieve you, since then we have taken turns keeping an eye on you." Responded Sauske. Kakashi tried to get up. "Sensei, you need to rest, I may not have my Sharingan yet, but I do know of its drawbacks." Said Sauske in a concerned voice
"… Fine, but call the others in here, I have something important to tell you all." Said Kakashi. Sauske nodded and left.
I hope they're ready for a mission like this thought Kakashi. Soon Naruto, Sauske and Sakura entered the room.
"You really had us worried there, Kakashi-Sensei!" said Naruto who from the looks of it just got out of the shower
Kakashi smiled at the three but then his face got serious. "There is something you should know; Zabuza isn't dead." He stopped to examine the reaction these words gave; Sauske only raised an eyebrow, Naruto's hands balled up into fists, but the words had the most impact on Sakura who fell face flat on the floor the moment those words left the Jonin's mouth.
"B-but Kakashi-Sensei, I thought you dealt with him when Naruto made short work of those water clones and got Tazuna to safety, because Naruto's clones didn't see Zabuza anywhere." Said Sakura in a panic
"Calm down, Sakura," Said Sauske who bent down to hug his girlfriend, trying to comfort her.
"How did he survive?" Asked Naruto
Kakashi explained of the intervention of the Hunter Nin and how it was possible that the hunter Nin was Zabuza's ally.
"Hunter Nin?" asked Sauske
"They are a Corp of Ninja designed to capture and kill missing Ninjas, once the ninja is dead, they dispose of the body in a specific means so it seems the person never exists, they know enough about human anatomy to know what the person did for Jutsu, what elixirs and potions the person drank and much more." Explained Kakashi
So much for the saying Dead men tell no tales said the Kyubii
"This Ninja took out Zabuza using Senbon needles, normally not lethal unless they pierce a certain spot, so it must've rendered him into a Death-like state which can be undone by a jutsu."
"So in other words we have to train to prepare for their next strike." Said Naruto
"How do we do that?" asked Sakura
Kakashi shrugged "Climb a tree." He said simply
A SHORT WALK OUTSIDE LATER…
"Did I hear you correctly?" asked Sasuke trying to clear out his ear with his little finger "Because I could've sworn you said climb a tree." They were out in a clearing not far from Tazuna's house, Kakashi was on crutches.
"No, your heard me correct, Naruto, but the catch is; you don't use your hands, what you do is channel chakra to the feet which is the hardest place to do it, the chakra level must be right, too much and you will damage the tree, too little and you won't stick at all; like so," Kakashi formed the ram seal with his hands and walked to the tree, stuck out his foot and started to walk up the tree. Stopping only when he hung upside down from a low branch. "The theory behind this is if you can master this, no jutsu should be beyond your reach." Explained Kakashi
"I'll hold you to those words or else I'm gonna be disappointed." Called Naruto who was hanging upside down from three branches above Kakashi reading his book.
"How in Kami's name did you do that?" asked Kakashi astounded
"Hayabusa village has more challenging forms of chakra control, after standing on a rolling boulder, balancing on a spike with one finger, this is a piece of cake." Explained Naruto
It would be easy to say both his teammates were shocked. And they stayed shocked for Naruto made it look like taking candy from a baby (not that they'd ever do that). After about 20 minutes of doing this, Sakura was already making significant progress, and Sauske was already at half her ability. He noticed Naruto was practicing his sword katas that he obviously designed. "Yo Naruto, can you give me a little advice on this?" he asked his friend.
"What are the signs for that fireball jutsu of yours? it looks like fun to use." Responded Naruto "the trick is to remain calm, take a few deep breaths and get a running start."
Sauske smirked, "The seals are in this order: Snake, ram, monkey, boar, horse, tiger." Explained Sauske "Oh, and have something to drink nearby, those jutsus can get you thirsty." he added
Naruto got up and went elsewhere. While the others kept on what they were doing.
THE NEXT MORNING…
Naruto got up and snuck out of the house and went to a spot overlooking the mangroves, he found this spot recently and had snuck out in the morning to sit here and read. It was quite pleasant to sit by the water with a good book in his hands, really calmed his nerves that would normally be stressed with the dangers of Gato, Zabuza, and Zabuza's mysterious ally. As he opened the book he heard something, whipping around, hand on a kunai, he saw that it was a young woman. "Hello, nice mourning to be out." She said
Kit I smell something I Don't like about this Chick warned the Kyubii
Yeah, I sense it too responded Naruto
"Yes, it is," replied Naruto, keeping his guard up
"Forgive me, but I couldn't help noticing your headband of the leaf village, and your sword." She said, eyeing the blade. "Do you have anyone precious to you?" she asked out of the blue.
"Countless." Said Naruto
"Then you know of how strong you can get by protecting those you hold precious, as for me, I hold someone very dear to my heart, I owe him my life, he gave me a purpose, a reason to live, and I'd do anything to repay that dept." she said "Well, I must be going, I have to collect some herbs to heal someone." She finished and got up to leave."
"I hope Zabuza gets better, I never had a more challenging sword fight." Called out Naruto as she left She paused for a moment but continued on.
THE NEXT DAY…
"God damn it, I knew I should've gone back with Sauske and Sakura after training" said Naruto as he got up from his bed and dressed in his usual attire, as he strapped on his sword, he heard a little commotion going on downstairs. Quietly, Naruto went downstairs and saw around the corner two guys with samurai swords at their belts, half drawn.
"the head Honcho said we need only one hostage so we'll take the woman and carve up the kid." They said laughing while Tsunami and Inari cowered in a corner.
Inari thought Naruto, he thought the kid was a little pain in the ass at first until they both learned each other's story.
~Flashback #1~
It was dinnertime and Inari came down for dinner seeing Naruto and the gang laughing and talking about training. Sick of this, Inari Blew up. "You think the more you train the better you will be against Gato and his thugs, You're not from here, you don't know what it's like to have your friends and loved ones slaughtered before your eyes!" he called out in a tearful rage
Naruto laughed "So that's it huh, you don't know shit about me, Even before I was a ninja, People who cared for me and I cared back were sent out on missions and though some came back alive, there were those that died or returned in such a state that they could never be ninja again, the world me, my friends and sensei live in is danger with a capital D, putting your life and the lives of those you love on the line, I believe we don't understand even each other!" said Naruto in a fit of rage and Inari stormed off. That was when Tazuna explained what happened to Inari's Father.
~End Flashback #1~
~Flashback #2~
Inari sat out on the docks looking out at the water remembering what happened to his father. He heard the sound of someone coming toward him. He turned to see Naruto's teacher coming towards him, "Could I join you?" he asked, Inari said nothing.
Kakashi sat down beside him "you really shouldn't have said that to Naruto. Compared to him, you're lucky, you still have your blood family with you, as he never knew his real parents, just got his inheritance from them; He lived outside the leaf village for his childhood, but childhood in ninja clans like the Hayabusa clan who took in Naruto, ends early, for Naruto, according to his father, any chance for a normal childhood for Naruto ended when the black spider clan struck, Naruto was five, and he saw three of his close friends at the time slaughtered at the hands of those ninja, this threw Naruto into such a fit of rage that… he called upon a strength not even many Full grown shinobi have and somehow slaughtered all Black Spider clan ninja in the area." Kakashi thought he had found a way around telling him about Kyubii. "Since then he has been trained, but let me tell you, he doesn't hate you." Added Kakashi who got up to leave.
~End Flashback #2~
Inari, we may have our differences, but I can't let this happen to you thought Naruto as the Ronin pulled out their swords. "Hey, Bevis and Butthead, try picking on someone who can fight back." Said Naruto
"Da boss said you would be out training so not to worry!" said the second one.
"You know how to use those things?" asked Naruto nodding to his opponent's swords while drawing his own and going into a ready stance. The two Ronin charged at Naruto who jumped, sticking his feet to the ceiling with chakra, holding his sword in a reverse manner, Naruto called out: "Dance of the Asian Lung!" and with a powerful yet graceful series of strikes designed from the Asian dragon's hunting style he cut the Samurai wannabes at first both their Achilles tendons, then the ligaments in the wrists then at the neck, killing them.
"Naruto-Kun!" called Inari with relief.
"Those who live by the sword can expect to die by the sword." Said Naruto "Now I've got to go help your grandfather, here." He said and handed each of them a Kunai. "To defend yourself, barricade the doors with anything you can find, good luck." He said and ran out the door
"Summoning Jutsu!" he called and Therros appeared "We need to get to the bridge, fast, fly low!" said Naruto and the two friends flew off.
MEANWHILE…
Damn, he hasn't moved an inch thought Zabuza as he stared down Kakashi bringing their fight to a standstill. With Sakura, it took everything she had to maintain calmness, while with Sauske, even with the Sharingan unlocked he couldn't pinpoint Haku's location. The result made him look like a human pincushion.
BACK WITH NARUTO…
Kit, I am going to give you something I should've given you after the incident with the black spider clan, please perform a Genjutsu to make your eyes look like what they do now. Called out the Kyubii
Okay, thought Naruto and almost instantly after doing it, he felt red chakra channeling to his eyes and the word Kyugan appeared in his mind
This is my Kekkei Genkai, similar to the Sharingan, but it can only copy bloodlines and make them your own said the fox
"This should scare both Sauske and Neji." Said Naruto.
Use it well, and have fun said Kyubii
BACK AT THE BRIDGE…
All of a sudden there was a sound that sounded like a dragon's roar. Naruto? Thought Kakashi and all of a sudden the sound of wing beats could be heard and out of the mist dropped clones of Naruto and Naruto's Familiar Dragon; Therros, Sword held ready. The real Naruto stood in front of Zabuza sword not drawn "Y'know, you are a bad ass and all but sending two Ronin to take a hostage to hide behind was a totally new form of low." Said Naruto very pissed "once my clones get a hold on your daughter, we can settle this man to man." He finished
Zabuza didn't know what the kid was talking about "I didn't send any Ronin to take hostages." Said Zabuza.
"This is a BIG mistake," called Haku's voice, One of Naruto's clones had him in a headlock. "Zabuza-Sama holds the name of Demon proudly and refuses to go THAT low." She said as the clone half throttled her before Naruto motioned for the clone to let her go.
"Gato." Uttered Zabuza
"So the demon of the mist has been brought down by a trio of kids." Said the voice. And all turned to see Gato and a mass of thugs behind him." "Like I was going to pay you anyway." He continued.
"You double-crossing snake!" exclaimed Zabuza.
"Hiring ninja is an expensive business venture, however if I hire a missing ninja then kill him once the job is done, the village won't give a shit and pay me the bounty giving me more money, besides hiring Ronin is far cheaper."
"That's why our contract is off!" said Zabuza angrily then turned to Kakashi. "You and your subordinates wouldn't mind a little rumble?" he asked
"You can take Gato, Naruto here is worth way over a thousand of these clowns." Said Kakashi Naruto's mask crinkled into a very evil grin.
"Hey, you're not leaving ME behind!" exclaimed Sauske coming foreword "I may look like a pincushion but I still have some fight in me."
Naruto looked into his eyes and noticed a different look in them: the Sharingan he thought and Naruto's own eyes triggered copying the Sharingan into his own body. Sauske is SO gonna be surprised thought Naruto but for now he wanted to go all out on the people who made the villager's lives a trial to them. "Time to call out the big guns." Said Naruto, reaching into his pocket pulling out a green curved jewel. Turning to the thugs he said "You girly men are the first to see the True Dragon Sword in action" and he slipped the jewel into the pommel of the katana making the blade glow white. Weaving three hand signs together: Dog, Horse, Tiger, Fire Clone Jutsu! He called out in his mind. Damn, didn't see the hand signs thought Kakashi and Sauske together and all the clones ran at the thugs head-on, not even raising their swords, as the first line of clones got hit, they burst into flames burning away the thugs. Soon the number of thugs was reduced to a small amount that survived. Those who had at least an ounce of a brain in their coconut made a run for it back to the boat. Those who didn't make it were barbecued by Therros who hid under the bridge. Those who made it to the boat were Gato and a small handful of the goons he brought.
"If we hurry, we can make it out of here!" said Gato
"Oh you won't be going anywhere." Said a voice from a box on the floor. As they all looked at the box it poofed into Naruto making everyone scream. Naruto instantly silenced them with the dance of the Wyvern. Leaving Gato for last.
"Mercy, please, I'll pay anything you want, does the leaf village need money, I'll provide financial support." Begged Gato pleading for his life.
"No money can cover up what you did, feel grateful I'll make your death quick and painless, oh and give Zabuza's regards to the real demons." Said Naruto, raising his sword and parting Gato's head with his body.