~Scroll 13~

Naruto felt Kakashi slam into his body as they both hit the ground. The snow hare ran off into the forest. The little clearing echoed with an ominous 'thunk'. Still hidden underneath Kakashi, Naruto looked up to see a man with no shirt and half his face covered by bandages standing on the hilt of a zanbatou. The man looked down upon them. Their eyes locked.

Naruto could tell that their enemy was stronger. He had more control over his Heart Song. Naruto only heard it a few seconds before he attacked. He was about the same height as Kakashi-sensei. His dark brown hair was held back by his own hitai-ate; giving him a rooster look. He was well muscled since he could wield the massive clever-sword. He wore camouflaged wrist-wrappings and leggings with pinstripe pants and a strange belt-like suspender.

"Well, well…" Kakashi commented as he got to his feet. He was pleased that even the enemy could fall victim to Naruto's eyes.

Naruto looked at Kakashi curiously then back at the enemy, who continued to look at him.

Ka'a and Kakashi noticed this and were surprised. He's not afraid. They both thought. Kakashi wondered why while Ka'a understood. This man had seen and accepted the truth about himself. This one had no fear. This one was free of expectations, burdens and responsibilities that chained him to an identity that was not of his making. This enemy was who he was.

"If it isn't Momochi Zabuza, the kid who ran off and left the Land of Mists!" Kakashi stated; filing the anomaly for later.

Naruto looked between his sensei and the other man, Zabuza. The air around them became thick with tension. The petite blonde knew and understood that this was a fight between them. Respectfully Naruto slowly stepped back; allowing the two more powerful men the room they needed to fight.

~Very wise, Little One.~ Ka'a whispered.

~You can probably beat him, ne?~ Naruto absently asked. Ka'a knew it was to cover his fear and yet even afraid, Naruto's voice had that brotherly pride in him.

~Easily, my Jailer.~ Ka'a grinned, ~In fact, even in my sleep, my Beautiful One.~

Naruto nodded as he continued to move back.

"Coward." Sasuke hissed as he was about to lunge forward.

"Don't. Interfere." Kakashi ordered. He knew the Uchiha was restless and had a taste for action.

"This one is on a different plane from our previous opponents." Kakashi stated.

Zabuza said nothing; only to continue to stare but this time his focus was on Kakashi.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan Eye…" Zabuza finally spoke.

Sasuke snapped to attention as he stared at his sensei. The Sharingan - the Mirror-Wheel Eye?! Sakura looked torn between her sensei and her teammate. She knew what it meant to have the Sharingan. Everyone in Konoha knew. Naruto had asked Ka'a, who in turn replied that he did not know.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble," Zabuza formally requested, "could you surrender the old man?"

Kakashi said nothing.

~He knows a battle between them would only end in death.~ Ka'a supplied, ~He was hoping to avoid such needless loss.~

~He respects Kakashi-sensei?~ Naruto was surprised.

~Yes,~ Ka'a sighed, ~there is nothing wrong in acknowledging and respecting the accomplishment and strength of one's enemy. After all, would you acknowledge and respect a weak fighter as an enemy?~

~No. To fight someone weaker than you is just being a bully.~ Naruto answered. Ka'a nodded approvingly.

"Assume the Manji Battle Formation." Kakashi ordered. The teens obeyed, "Protect Mr. Tazuna… and stay out of this!"

Zabuza slowly turned around as Kakashi too slowly lifted his hitai-ate to reveal his hidden eye. Curious as to why his eye was hidden, Naruto crept forward a bit for a better look.

"And now Zabuza," Kakashi stated; revealing a crimson eye with three pinwheels, "shall we?!"

~THE EYE OF NIGHTSHADE?!~ Ka'a gasped.

~The what?!~ Naruto asked, but Ka'a did not answer. He was still shocked to see a human possess a fully developed Nightshade eye, even if it was just one eye. ~Ka'a, what's the eye of Nightshade?! I thought it was called the Sharingan Eye?!~

"Ahh…" Zabuza exclaimed, "To face the Legendary Mirror-Wheel eye so early in our acquaintance… This is an honor."

"Sakura-nee… what's he talking about?!" Naruto asked the pinkette, who looked extremely uncomfortable. Ka'a's silence was making the teen really nervous.

"Shinobi who have the Sharingan, or Mirror-Wheel, Eye…" Surprisingly it was Sasuke, who answered, "have mastered a form of ocular ninjutsu. It enables them to penetrate and see the reality behind any illusion or spell and to reflect the power of the magic they penetrate back on those who cast them…"

"Heheh…" Zabuza chuckled, "you're well versed but you forgot one more important fact about the Mirror-Wheel Eye… the Sharingan can discern and the duplicate its opponent's greatest skill."

~All that power comes with a price.~ Ka'a finally said.

~Ka'a!~ Naruto cried, ~You know about the Sharingan?~

~Not by the name, which you humans have given it, but its proper origin.~

~Hunh?~

~Now is not the time for a lesson in demon physiology. Remember, we have an enemy before us.~

~Right!~

"When I was an assassin for the Kirigakure," Zabuza continued, "I possessed the usual bingo book - a kind of who's who of our enemies."

Zabuza looked thoughtful for a moment.

"It had quite the extensive write-up on you." He confessed, "Including a mention of your impressive record, the man who penetrated and copied over a thousand different techniques, Kakashi the Mirror Ninja."

The teens were shocked. To be mentioned in a bingo book, a ninja had to be at least ANBU level in skill and/or a criminal. For their Jounin leader to be in a bingo book, he had to be stronger than he appeared to be. Sakura was awestruck at the idea of the extremely powerful Jounin. Sasuke was confused. He knew that only a small number of people, who could have possibly possessed the Sharingan Eye, and that were members of the Uchiha Clan only. So then how did this outsider gain possession of the Sharingan Eye? Naruto was also worried. From what he heard, this Sharingan was a powerful tool in a shinobi's arsenal so then why was Kakashi using it already?

~Because your sensei is aware that this man is stronger than he is.~ Ka'a observed.

~No way!~ Naruto challenged.

~Rest assured the fight is still undetermined. Either man could win.~

~But how's that Zabuza guy stronger than Kakashi-sensei?~ Naruto asked; still not believing that anyone could be stronger than his sensei.

~Strength comes in many forms, Naruto-dono…~ Ka'a paused, ~What does the music tell you about the two men?~

The question struck Naruto as odd but did as asked and listened. He was amazed at the strength of the two men's Heart Songs. Their Songs were loud and full of passion, but there was a difference. One of which Naruto did not realize was important. Zabuza's Heart Song was peaceful, calming and surprisingly gentle while Kakashi's was sorrowful; almost weighed down by something painful that he cannot forget. Naruto tried to explain to Ka'a what he heard and what their Songs meant to him.

~As I have thought.~ Was Ka'a only reply.

Naruto wanted to know more, but Ka'a was right. They were in a middle of a fight.

"Enough." Zabuza remarked, "Pleasant as this conversation has been, the time for talk is over.

"I'm on a very tight schedule to polish off the old man."

Tazuna gasped in surprise.

The teens stood their ground around the old man.

"But, Kakashi," Zabuza replied with whimsy, "it looks like I'm going to have to kill you first."

Kakashi did not even bat an eye at the other's tone.

Zabuza pushed himself off of the tree with his zanbatou in hand and vanished.

Kakashi's eye casually followed Zabuza's movement; not surprised the man re-appeared on the water. The silver-haired jounin could sense his team's nervousness when Zabuza disappeared, and he could sense their surprise at his re-appearance.

"Is he… walking on water?!" He heard Sakura ask.

Zabuza stood completely still with his left arm extended straight up and his right arm bend in front of his face. The water around him began to move around; creating a whirlpool around the man's feet.

Kakashi watched him closely. Mentally he applauded his enemy's cleverness in building up a concentration of chakra; however, for what purpose he did not know… yet.

"The finest of the ninja arts…" Zabuza jeered as he slowly faded away into the sudden misty fog, "the Kirigakure jutsu."

"He's gone!!" Tazuna gasped.

He will come after me first. Kakashi analyzed, Momochi Zabuza of the Kirigakure Assassin Corps is a famous Master of the Art of Silent Killing…

"Letting your guard down around him," Kakashi quietly stated, "buys you a direct trip to heaven."

~And he a trip to the lowest pits of the seventh Hell.~ Ka'a promised; easing Naruto's nervousness.

"What's… what's with this fog?" Naruto whispered, but the fog amplified the soft whisper.

"There are eight targets…" Zabuza's voice echoed around them.

"Wha… What was that?!" Sakura whimpered.

"Throat, spinal column, lungs, liver, the jugular vein, the subclavian artery, kidney, heart… so many choices… what vital, vulnerable place shall I choose? Heh-heh!"

Kakashi remain still; not letting Zabuza's taunting to distract him. Suddenly the jounin could feel the fog become a thick miasma, full of Zabuza's killing intent. He quickly expanded his own battle aura around himself; showing the Mist ninja that he was not afraid.

Sakura whimpered as she felt a fear that she had never experienced before seep into her very bones. She subconsciously inched closer to Sasuke, who began to tremble. He had never felt such terror since that Day. It was suffocating him; making him hyperventilate. Naruto did not fair any better. He whimpered at the intensity of Zabuza and Kakashi's Heart Songs. Their Songs vibrated so violently that the teen could feel it in his bones. Then suddenly all was calm.

Naruto felt Ka'a's tails wrap themselves around the blonde child; soothing his frantic heart and anchoring him to the present. Naruto slowly released the breathe he held and listened to Ka'a's strong Heart Song. It was strong and vibrant; giving him the strength to focus. Naruto calmed down; ignoring the Heart Songs as he focused on his duty. It was then he felt the Forest around him; reaching out to him and giving him strength.

Kakashi was impressed as he observed Naruto. He could see the moment the blonde had clamed down and regained his focus. He could see the tendrils of Naruto's chakra connecting with the forest around him; anchoring him to the present and not the fear. However, his attention quickly focused on Sasuke. He's panicking. Kakashi thought.

"Sasuke," Kakashi called, "Calm down. Even if he gets me, I'll still protect you."

Sasuke looked at his sensei in surprise.

Naruto too looked at his sensei and gave the barest of smiles. Ka'a was impressed.

"I will never let my comrades die!!"

"I wouldn't bet on that…" Zabuza's voice loomed.

Sasuke and Sakura were stunned as they felt the enemy appear behind them.

Tazuna paled as he thought of the children before him dying.

Naruto pushed his chakra into the grass; making the lush patch grow and become a rolling tide on land, knocking everyone off of their feet just as Kakashi rushed forward.

"Game -- Eh?" Zabuza's words were stifled in his throat as he felt Kakashi's kunai thrust into his chest; below his heart, nicking it and causing a massive hemorrhaging.

The Heart Song still sang.

"SENSEI! BEHIND YOU!" Naruto cried as Sakura shrieked at the sight of their sensei being cleaved in two.

The first Zabuza disappeared into a puddle of water, followed by Kakashi.

Zabuza stared in surprise. A water doppelganger?! He thought, He was able to copy me in the mist? Suddenly he stilled as he felt cold steel against his flesh.

"Don't move…" Kakashi growled.