Next chapter of Shinobi of Destiny. Team 7 and Team 9 continue protecting Tazuna in Wave while the bridge is being built. However, they are unaware of a threat as a Demon of Mist and his deadly underling seek to stop them. And for those wondering about pairings I have decided on one being NaruSaku or NaruTayu.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
At Wave Naruto Uzumaki was busy sparring with Motochika Osaka the two members of the two teams fighting one another.
Naruto dodged a punch and evaded a kick, the blonde leapt backwards and threw a kunai at him. He responded by twirling his staff and deflecting it off of it. Naruto nodded in approval at his tactic as he spun it overhead and they resumed sparring.
Team 7 under Hatake Kakashi and Team 9 under Kojiro Oda had been staying in Wave for the past couple of days, finishing up their job as bodyguards for Tazuna the bridge builder who with his men was constructing the bridge that would connect Wave to the mainland and also end The businessman Gato's iron fisted rule he had over them.
It was currently nighttime at Wave and both teams where done for the day and where allowed to do whatever they wanted before they resumed in the morning.
"Alright that's enough for today," Naruto as he blocked a kick. "It's getting late, Gato's thugs have been seen prowling around lately, we should head back." He said to him and he nodded and the two began heading their way back to Tsunami's house where the groups was staying at while the bridge was being built
When they made it to the house Naruto overhead a discussion going on.
"I give it about three more days and the bridge should be complete." Tazuna said the old man seated at a table and seated at it as well was Kakashi and Kojiro along with the rest of them as well. "It is about halfway done and should soon reach the end of it. Once it is built Wave will be connected to the mainland." He said as he took a drink of Sake.
"Hmmm perhaps so, however we should be careful during this time." Kakashi responded to him. "Some hired thugs by Gato have been antagonizing the workers lately."
"We can deal with anything they throw at us." Naruto said stepping into the room and speaking up. "They aren't ninjas, they just bullies who intimidate through fear and are wimps against someone who stands up to them." He said a confident smile on his face.
"Hmph, there are many of them boy." Kojiro replied to him. "They won't attempt to fight you one on one, they'll wait till your back is turned and then ambush you with ten others. There's no chivalry or honor in fighting those types of scum." He said distastefully.
Naruto frowned at him and was about to respond when a voice spoke up.
"It won't work whatever you're doing, you'll fail and die, just like everyone else who opposed Gato." The voice said and they turned and saw a young boy standing in the doorway of the room. "Nothing you do will ever change what happens here, you might as well just give up." He said with pain and sadness in his voice.
Tazuna looked at his dear grandson Inari, the young boy who had been traumatized by what had happened to his father in law who was one of the first to oppose Gato and had been brutally executed by his men in front of everybody in the center of Wave where they had to watch what was happening. The old man knew the effect this had had on him and was part of the reason why he wanted this bridge to be built. So he could see his grandson smile again.
"You've given up haven't you Inari?" Naruto said to him surprising them as a frown was on his face. "You and Wave just gave up and let Gato walk all over you without any resistance."
"Naruto!" Sakura hissed at him loudly for his cold words. Inari glared at the blond and spoke again.
"The greatest man in the world wasn't able to do anything, he got killed by Gato's men and the same thing will happen to you guys as well."
"I'm far from the greatest man in the world, but I know how much crap I can take from somebody before they push me too far and I fight back. You guys just let him walk all over you and let him strangle Wave's economy." He said and looked at Tazuna. "I've seen Gato's thugs, they number less than a hundred and I can tell by looking they aren't well trained and just rule through fear. You guys have more than four times that amount, if you just stood up for yourselves and rose up you would overthrow them and take back your lives that was stolen by him."
"He's right," Hanbei said as well. "If the bridge is complete what will Wave do if he orders his men to destroy it? You'll just be back where you started if that does happen unless you stand up to him."
"You can't just give up without a fight Tazuna and neither can you Inari or the people of Wave. If I did back in Konoha when people called me names and threw rocks at me because of-" Naruto started to say but then stopped and changed it as he didn't want the others to know about the fox. "I wouldn't be here today if I had given up if I let them get to me."
Tazuna didn't respond as he could see what they meant, true if the bridge was completed Wave would be connected to the mainland, but if Gato's men attacked and destroyed it they would just be back where they started and things would be even worse. Part of the reason why Wave was in such a pitiful state was because they where too afraid to oppose him and that allowed his men to do whatever they liked.
"That's enough for tonight," Kakashi said breaking it up. "It's about time we get some rest we got training to do tomorrow." He said as he stood up from the table. "Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, I'll see you at the training grounds tomorrow." He said to them and they nodded.
The next morning Naruto and Sakura where busy working on walking up the pole by using chakra. Kakashi had gone into town to check up on how things where going and he had taken Sasuke with him telling the two to continue working on using their chakra.
All three had seemed to master using chakra and using it to walk and cling to trees. Sakura had surprised them all including herself with excellent chakra control and was the first to make it to the top. Sasuke had done well as well while Naruto in the early goings had struggled as he could not find a focused ground and use his chakra correctly.
Sakura had helped him out after seeing how much trouble he was having with it and gave him pointers on how to do it and giving him encouragement and Naruto managed to get it down and be able to stick to the tree and make good progress on going up it. He was neck and neck with Sasuke the two rivals not wanting to be outdone by the other.
The two where now taking a break and was watching what was going on in the town from afar. It looked like some of the people where starting to show some spirit now as if their lives where returning to them. That was a hopeful sign cause the people here when they first arrived where barely more than lifeless husks that had everything sapped out of them.
As they watched Naruto looked over at Sakura and saw her brushing her long pink hair out of her back.
"You should cut it." He said suddenly.
"Huh?" She said turning to face him a confused look on her face.
"Your hair, you should cut it, it's too long in my opinion and will hinder you." He explained to you. Sakura's expression told him she didn't have a clue what he was talking about and he smirked. "You should cut it or at least shorten it, an enemy could grab you by it and immobilize you. Your hair is just telling people to grab it with as long as it is."
Sakura looked at him and then at her hair. "But…Sasuke won't-"
"Don't tell me you believe that your long hair will attract him Sakura. What did you listen to that blonde girl who was our classmate who you called a pig? What's her name, Ino?" He said as he folded his arms. "I doubt he cares how long your hair is or how shiny it is either. I don't think he goes for girls with long hair. Besides I think he prefers them to be short." He said with a teasing grin.
"You really think so?" Sakura asked as she looked at her hair a small blush on her face. She had grown her hair out cause her rival had done so and had taunted her claiming she would attract him with her long blonde hair. She had grown hers out and was hoping he would like it but so far her attempts to make her crush like her hadn't worked.
"Yeah, plus maybe you could try working with that Jun girl and maybe try to become what's she's doing, a medic or something." He said to her and she nodded as yesterday while they had the rest of the day off she had snuck one of her books with her and had tried reading it. She wasn't able to understand a whole lot of it before she had to return it before the quiet girl noticed it was missing but she did get a few things like where to hit and strike in an opponents body to incapacitate them which she had managed to get.
"You don't have to cut your hair if you don't want to, I'm just saying that's all. It'd just be one less thing a person could use against you." He said to her and started to walk back to where they was training and Sakura followed after him his thoughts in her head.
Meanwhile Kojiro Oda the sensei of Team 9 looked on at his students who where watching over the constructed bridge. The three where practicing walking on water as he had been teaching them when they weren't guarding the bridge. A smirk of amusement appeared on his face as he saw Motochika fall through into the water after taking two steps. They still had a way to go. He heard voices and saw Kakashi speaking with the old man along with the Uchiha. A frown went on his face as he saw him done talking and starting to walk over towards him.
"It appears that Gato's man have given up as so far they haven't been hagglers these day and it's after two attack." He said cheerfully and Kojiro didn't respond. "I suppose since this mission is going to be a success this will make both our teams eligible to enter the Exams in two months."
"The Chunin Exams?" He asked him and turned to face him. "You're not serious are you Kakashi? You plan on having your team complete in the exams if we manage to survive this?"
"I don't see why not, they are capable of handling themselves." Kakashi said not noticing the frown on his face.
"Your students are still fresh out of the academy and wet behind the ears. They have little business participating in it and neither do my students."
"Oh?" Kakashi asked him.
Kojiro shook his head. "The Forest of Death is no place for rookies, you can't expect them to be able to contend with its perils and dangers they will face when they just have three months experience as a team can you? I kept my original team back from entering the exams until a year had passed so I knew they where prepared for its challenges and be able to adapt to any situation. Your team just now learned chakra control to walk on trees, none of them not even the Uchiha that is highly praised by Konoha is ready for it."
Kakashi looked at him. "Are you sure it's not because you believed they where ready or is it cause you had a lack of faith in them?"
Kojiro's eyes narrowed at that. "I am not a fool Kakashi, I can spot my student's flaws and yours as wells. Flaws that will hinder them and in a merciless place such as The Forest of Death, can be fatal. My students as of now lack the experience and skills needed to survive in there. You and I may have done it and completed when we where under the age of ten but that was at a time when Konoha needed soldiers and trained killers with the wars that was going on back then. Konoha now doesn't need the trained soldiers like it did back then as the Academy is meant to educate them in other fields away from the path of the ninja than to instruct them how to kill people like Mist's butchering academy. You graduated the academy at the age of five and became a Chunin when you was six and I became a Chunin when I was seven years old."
"Well still I believe you are underestimating your team, your team has potential and so does mine as well. I know we disagree over our methods but I believe that both our squads are capable than more than what we believe in." Kakashi said to him.
"It sounds like their arguing." Hanbei said as he and his teammates watched on.
"Yeah it does, sensei doesn't like that guy very well." Motochika said as he wiped himself off with a towel as he had gotten soaked earlier.
"Each does have their way of working so it's inevitable they come to a disagreement." Jun Seiko said the girl standing in the water focusing on standing on it as only the bottom of her sandals was getting wet. She had among the three gotten the hang of being able to stay on the water without falling in and was now taking light steps on it to test her control.
Team 9 was practicing walking on water as they had already learned chakra control and being able to walk on trees, so far Jun had gotten the hang of it although Hanbei was able to get a few steps in. The trio having been assigned to look after the workers of the bridge during the morning where watching on and could see a small group of men watching on with looks of disgusts on their faces.
"Gato's men." Hanbei said as he recognized the one who their sensei had injured his arm with his wires. "Something tells me their going to be trouble before this is all over." He said to his teammates.
"Yeah I guess so, this Gato's guy their meal ticket. If he loses his money then they lose their jobs as well." Motochika said as well.
Hanbei nodded at that and looked backed at the bridge, although it would soon near completion and would connect Wave to the mainland he couldn't help but have a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that something was going to happen before this mission was over.
Later that night the two teams done with their training and guarding over the bridge they where at Tsunami's house. They where eating dinner and there was small bits of conversation going on between them.
Sakura who was in the bathroom checked herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe she had done this but she couldn't help but think that maybe this was a smart thing to do as she put the scissors done and looked over herself.
"It sure is a lot shorter now, it's going to take a while to get use to it not being so long." She said and then exited the bathroom and went to where the others was at
Naruto gulped down the ball of rice he was eating hungrily. The blond filling up his bottomless stomach.
"Dang, I eat fast but I think I actually taste my food." Motochika said in amazement as he and Jun watched on.
"You should see him at Ichiraku's." Hanbei said with a smile having gotten use to Naruto's eating methods.
Naruto continued eating and heard footsteps. He thought it was their senseis and glanced but his eyes widened and he spat out his rice in surprise at what he just saw.
"S-Sakura-chan?" He said in disbelief as he wiped his mouth off with a napkin.
"Hi everyone." Sakura said as she took a seat in between Naruto and Sasuke. Her once long pink hair was now shorter, now just at her neck. (The same length it is when she cuts it in the FOD) She calmly began eating her food unaware of the stairs given to her by Naruto and Sasuke who was a bit amused.
Sakura noticed the looks she was getting and looked at the blonde. "Is there something on my face?" She asked with a smile as the blonde was speechless.
"Your hair, you cut it off!" He said in surprise.
"Yeah, I thought about what you said earlier and I figured you was right about how it was being too long and someone might try to grab it and trap me. Do you like it?"
"Y-Yeah, I do like it but I didn't think you'd actually listen to me." He said a blush on his face as he didn't know why he was acting like this.
Sakura giggled a bit at his actions and looked at Sasuke who looked at them with an amused look on his face.
"Do you like it as well Sasuke-kun?" She asked hopefully.
"Hmmm…it's alright." He said and resumed eating.
Naruto looked at Sakura and he couldn't help but stare at her and her new hair style.
The next day Naruto and Hanbei where taking a walk, the teams had gotten the day off for today and the two where walking around Wave speaking to themselves.
"We shouldn't be here much longer, I think it will be done in about two days." Hanbei said to him as they walked.
"Yeah but yesterday during our shift some of those goons showed up and harassed the workers. Unfortunately for them I managed to drive them off with my kage bushin and sent them running with their tails in between their legs." Naruto said with a grin. His grin however soon disappeared when he thought of the words spoken to him by Inari.
"I don't get that boy, I don't get how he's just given up and let himself be in that state."
"He did lose his stepfather who his mother says was like a true father to him Naruto-san." Hanbei said.
"I know but still that doesn't mean he should just give up like that. I know it sucks he lost him but he can't just let it hang over him all the time." Naruto said. "We lost our parents as well when we where just infants."
"I know," Hanbei said in a somber tone of voice as he remembered being told by the Hokage that there was no info about him and it was possible that both of his parents had died in the Kyuubi attack that occurred as Iruka-san had told them the truth of why Naruto was hated.
The two continued walking and as they did they suddenly heard grunts and sounds of a person. The two quickly increased their pace and soon discovered what was making that noise.
A figure wearing a pink kimono with long black hair was in front of three training dummies. The figure had their eyes closed and then opened them revealing brown eyes and went into a flurry of movements. Running throughout the area and throwing small thin needles at them. The figure zigged and zagged across the area and threw several more senbon at them.
The person's moves where precise and crisp showing few weaknesses as he made his moves. They also had a grace and elegant style to them as well as the person unaware of his onlookers did a somersault in the air and threw more senbon each one hitting its target.
"Whoa awesome!" Naruto shouted after seeing the person finish. The figure stopped and turned around a bit surprised look on their feminine face at seeing them walk up.
"Hi there! My name's Naruto Uzumaki!" The blonde said to him. "That was cool what you just did."
The figure smiled and bowed politely to them. "Hello, my name is Haku. It is nice to see you on this day." The figure said and Naruto and Hanbei bowed as well.
"I'm Hanbei, I think I've seen you a couple times in Wave." Hanbei said to him as he shook his hand and then shook Naruto's as well.
"Yes, but I don't live in Wave, I live in a small place a bit far from here for now. I was just doing my training exercises. Sorry if I disturbed you while you was on your walk." The figure said with a smile on their face. "I take it by your hitai-ate you two are from Konoha?"
"Yeah we where on a walk when we saw what you was doing miss." Naruto said and Haku to his surprise chuckled in amusement. "What's so funny?" He asked not knowing why he was laughing.
Hanbei nudged him in the arm. "Naruto, he's a boy." He said to him.
"Huh?" Naruto said and looked at Haku again. "You're a HE!" He shouted loudly in shock and disbelief at this.
"Last time I checked I was." Haku said good naturedly.
"Sorry about that, it just that your looks and you're wearing pink it just was-" Naruto struggled to say rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.
"Don't worry, I get that a lot." Haku said taking no offense. "Would you like some tea, I have some prepared if you two are thirsty."
The two agreed and Haku went to a small campfire stove he had setup that had a kettle of tea on it. He poured three cups and gave two of them to them. The three drank the tea peacefully and began talking.
"So Haku you have skill, how come you don't become a ninja?" Naruto asked him.
"I don't really have any goal of becoming a ninja. I just train with senbon to protect myself in case any troublemakers threaten me or the ones I care about." He said quietly to them.
"Well that sucks, it's a bummer about that." Naruto replied.
The three stayed and talked with one another about each other, their goals in life and what they hoped to do. None of them delved into the other's past as they instead focused on the present and future.
Haku it seemed like wanted to protect those close to him and become strong enough to devote himself to fulfilling others goals.
The three talked for quite a while and after an hour had passed Haku stood up. "Well it's about time I head to my home. It was a pleasure meeting the two of you." He said and started to walk away.
"Maybe we'll see each other again before we have to head back to Konoha." Naruto called out to him.
He turned and smiled thoughtfully. "Perhaps we will." He said and continued walking.
Naruto and Hanbei also decided to head back as well.
Later that day…
Haku looked at the man who had bandages over his mouth and face as they where in a cave which was their hiding spot. The feminine boy was out of the kimono he wore and was now wearing a green and brown outfit. In his hands he carried a mask
Similar to that the hunter nin had worn…
"I'm back at full strength once again, now we will be able to finish our task." Zabuza Momochi said The Demon of Mist not dead as it was thought.
"Hai Zabuza-sama." Haku his servant and right hand man to him said.
"Your technique of putting people in a death like state is superb Haku although I wish it didn't take this long for me to heal."
"I apologize Zabuza-sama." Haku said with a bow and the older man patted him on the head.
"It's alright, you did what you thought was best. I may have been in trouble back there but this time I plan on finishing the job." He said as he removed his flak jacket revealing the scars on his body from years of his work as Jonin of Mist.
The former swordsman of Mist and his follower where planning their next move to attack and kill Tazuna the bridge builder. Their first attempt had been foiled due to the leaf bodyguards but this time Zabuza planned on taking their lives.
Haku looked at his master who he had sworn his life too after finding him after he lived on the streets scraping for food after the loss of his parents during Mist's chaotic rule of the Mizukage. Zabuza having found him saw promise in the boy and took him under his wing as Zabuza had been forced to leave after a failed coup against the ruler of Mist and the two where missing nins on the run. Zabuza had trained him to be a weapon, teaching the boy everything he knew and how to use his special ability.
Zabuza planned to go back there one day and overthrow Mist and rid it of the butcher house that it was that resulted in him killing all the academy students and many other teachers. To prevent a demon such as him from ever being born there again.
Haku heard footsteps and he turned around and his eyes narrowed in anger at what he saw in the entranceway.
"For a Jonin you sure have a pathetic record." The man said with a sneer as he was accompanied by two bodyguards.
"It was just a minor setback Gato. He'll be dead soon enough." Zabuza said to him not bothering to look at garbage in his eyes.
"Perhaps I should have Zori and Waraji teach you not to fail me." Gato the crooked shipping magnate said to them. "If that bridge is complete my empire will crumble and I'll lose all my money! Do you know what would happen to me if that does happen?"
Haku had a good idea what would happen but didn't voice his opinion.
Zabuza kept his back turned to them and spoke up. "Don't worry, he'll be dead in two sunsets I guarantee you. He won't last ten seconds once I have him back in my sights."
"Hmph you better or else I'll have you killed painfully and slowly." Gato said to him which amused Zabuza that he would threaten him. Gato then turned and saw the younger boy. "What are you looking at boy?"
Haku scoffed. "I'm just amazed that a maggot can somehow be capable of speech and walking on two legs like a human."
"What did you say?" Gato roared in anger and approached him. "How dare you talk to me in that manner you miserable worm!"
Gato went to strike him across the face but Haku was the quicker and caught it and stabbed three senbon into his arm. Gato yelled in pain and surprise at his actions.
His two guards drew their weapons and started to advanced but where stopped when Zabuza pulled out his Zanbato and stopped them in their tricks. Pointing it at them he walked over to Gato.
"I can understand you being upset Gato but don't worry. He'll be dead soon enough. And you'll pay us just like you promised." He said to him and then his eyes narrowed dangerously. "But if you even get the thought into your thick skull about betraying us or not giving us our money. You will learn personally why I am referred to as a demon." He said a dangerous warning tone in his voice to him.
Beads of sweat appeared on Gato's head and Zabuza nodded at Haku who pulled the senbon out and let go of his arm.
Gato glared at the two but regained his composure and left with his men.
"A ninja of your stature and legend having to work for a maggot." Haku said in disgust as they watched them leave.
"This will be the last time we have any association with him Haku." Zabuza assured him. He then sheathed his Zanbato and spoke again. "Now then prepare yourself for tomorrow, as we will finish our mission and rid ourselves of working with Gato."
"Hai Zabuza-sama…"
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.