Sorry for the huge delay. I'm trying to get back on track for all of my stories, but sometimes inspiration just doesn't come. I hope I may be forgiven. And I promise you that the next chapter will showcase the first fight between Team Kakashi and Zabuza...so stay tuned, so to speak.

Enjoy.

It hadn't really taken much convincing.

"Most of the village's ninja learn all their skills there," she had said. "And what if I happen to be working alongside them sometime? Shouldn't I know how they think, so that I can work with them instead of against them?"

Some of the more obstinate elders of the clan might have said that they would preferred to stay as far away from them as possible, but Hyuuga Hiashi was nothing if not pragmatic.

"Pride may be worth dying for," he might have said in response to those elders, "but foolishness is not."

"Besides," she had went on, "Neji-san went there. And look at him. First in his class, and now he works under Maito Gai."

Hiashi had wrinkled his nose in obvious distaste at the mention of that man, but Hiashi was intelligent as well, and knew better than to say that Gai was a bad ninja.

He was one of the Leaf's finest.

"Neesan went there," she dared to add, "and now she is working under Hatake Kakashi. You've heard the reports, Chichiue. She's getting stronger. How couldn't she, with a tutor like him?"

A glare settled on her father's face, but he said nothing. As displeased as he was with his firstborn daughter, he couldn't deny she was growing, just as he couldn't deny Gai's skill.

And as tired as he was of hearing about his daughter's commander (everyone he associated with seemed to bring it up), Hiashi had to admit that if anyone could turn meek little Hinata into a Hyuuga, it would be Hatake Kakashi. And from the looks of it, he was doing just that.

So, he had no real answer to why Hanabi should not enter the academy, as her sister had. There was no reason why learning the basics wouldn't assist her greatly in future private tutelage under her father.

The elders, of course, disagreed. The academy was for outsiders and Branch members; true Hyuuga learned from their own. From blood flowers greatness, they said. To uproot Hanabi, they said – following the foolish metaphor – and replant her with the likes of those ones, would cause her to wilt, wither and die, her great potential untapped.

Hiashi waved them off. He wasn't one for metaphors. Poetics had been his brother's department; he had nothing to do with it.

"Very well," Hiashi had said. "You shall go. But know this; I expect you to follow your cousin's example...not your sister's."

Hanabi nodded.

And it was done.

She wasn't sure why she had wanted to enter the academy. She supposed it might have been because of how much her sister had liked it. Learning to become a soldier alongside her best friends...surely a rewarding experience.

Another part of it might have been because learning from her family was just so boring. They went on and on about the "greatness" they held, even though most of the people who taught her hadn't been in a true, honest fight in years, and never really taught her much of anything.

Hiashi did, of course. Lectures weren't his style. He preferred to go hands-on, and show his student's ineptitude instead of brow-beating them into admitting it. That way, the lessons stuck, and the desire to improve was born, instead of simple resignation that wouldn't help anyone except a gravedigger in need of clientele.

But even training with her father hadn't felt worth it for Hanabi. All too often, Hiashi would add a vehemently indignant soundtrack to their training with longwinded lamentations about how disappointing Hinata was, and even though he accented those monologues by praising Hanabi's own skill, it was still highly uncomfortable.

She was decidedly pleased when she ended up in Umino Iruka's class. There were any number of other instructors at the academy, several of which might be considered better, but Hanabi had been hoping to follow in her sister's footsteps and enter into the classroom of the most beloved – if not best – teacher in Konoha.

Upon entering into the class for the first time, however, she'd realized that perhaps she had made a mistake.

Looking around the room, at the people she would be sharing a class with for the next four to five years (there were legends circulating that Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi, most notably, had graduated from the academy in a single year, but Hanabi was nothing like those two, and she was modest enough to admit that), Hyuuga Hanabi suddenly longed for the cold, distant halls of her own compound.

She sat down at one of the only available seats and tried to drown out the sounds of her "classmates'" giggling, shouting, and cacophonizing (a word of her own creation because real words just wouldn't suffice), and thought that if she couldn't go back home, she could at least hope for sweet, silent death.

When Iruka stepped into the room that first day, she lowered her hands from her ears and slumped forward in her seat, resting her chin on the cool wood.

"All right! Quiet down, everyone!"

Iruka's voice carried well, and a few students did listen, but the majority did not.

"NOW!!"

The suddenness of the snarled command probably shocked the rest of the room into silence more than it compelled them to obey him. Hanabi blinked, surprised that the man her sister had described so often as docile, friendly, and patient to a fault could have such a sharp, loud voice.

When all was quiet, a sunny smile rose on the young man's face. "Good. What say we get the trivialities out of the way first, shall we?"

He turned and scratched his name on the blackboard. "That's my name, there. Umino Iruka. Most of you probably know that already."

He turned back around.

"Now, most of you probably also know why you're here. I have been commissioned to instruct you. Shape you, mold you, and a bunch of other clever metaphors. By the time you leave this room for the last time, you should have the proper experience and knowledge to join the ranks of our village's ninja corps."

He swept his gaze over every face in the room.

"I'm going to be frank with you all, because it wouldn't be fair of me, otherwise. This won't be fun and games. It won't be glorious. It won't be gratifying. Not if I teach you correctly.

"What you are embarking on is the beginning of a journey that will most likely end in a premature death. I'm not going to sugarcoat what we're going to be doing here. You're here, and that means you will be treated like soldiers in training. You aren't children anymore."

Something in Iruka's face told Hanabi that that statement hit him much more poignantly than it did any of his new students.

"I'm not here to teach you academics. I'm to teach you to kill. That principle is at the heart of a ninja's job. A ninja exists to kill.

"A florist has the creative vision and patience to create beautiful works of art with flowers. A painter can blur the line between reality and falsehood with only a brush and a canvas. An author can use words to send us to other worlds.

"We ninja have our own art, and that art is death. We deal with death, we deal in death, we deal out death. Your parents believe you are talented enough to become proficient in that art, for the good of the village, and that is why I am here."

He began to pace, and Hanabi watched his every movement studiously.

"Some people might tell you that a ninja should enjoy the art of death just as much as a sculptor, painter, florist, or author loves their own."

Murmurs of consent on that point. Many had heard it.

Hanabi had, although not in so blunt a fashion. Many of her elders had told her that a Hyuuga must thrive on challenge, must revel in the search for perfection.

The only way to do that was to, as Iruka put it, love the art of dealing death.

The chuunin's eyes grew hard.

"Those people are parasites."

Hanabi's eyes widened.

Many of the other students gasped.

"If I do my job correctly, not a single one of you will feel the 'thrill of the hunt.' That is not what I am teaching you. I am teaching you to kill for the benefit of this village. I am teaching you to become soldiers to protect those who live under our protection, and that is the only reason you should ever seek to end another life."

He turned back to the blackboard and wrote something down. Turning back to the class, he read it aloud without looking at it.

"'Noble is the blade which bites to keep the blossom in the light; wicked is the blade which thrusts to keep itself from gaining rust.'"

Hanabi had a feeling that her uncle, Hizashi, would have liked that saying.

She also had a feeling that her father would not.

"My own instructor, when I was not much older than you, taught me that. And I have lived by it ever since. It's an important distinction that keeps us separate from beasts. We're not beasts. We don't run on instinct. We may use instinct, as much as we may have, to assist us in battle...but we aren't slaves to it."

Hanabi wondered if any of the other students understood half of what he was saying.

As if reading her mind, Iruka chuckled. "Many of you probably don't really understand what I'm saying right now. Not sure how it pertains to getting stronger, learning martial arts, and getting to play with knives. Because I'm sure at least a few of you are here for that specific reason.

"But you will understand. By the time we're done, whether it be in one year or ten, you will understand precisely what that saying means, what it signifies, and just why you should take it to heart."

Hanabi felt compelled to raise a hand.

Iruka saw it and nodded. "Yes?"

"You're telling us that we're here to learn how to kill, and that we're going to die doing it. That doesn't seem like a good way to do things. Are you trying to scare us into leaving the academy?"

"Trying? No." Iruka shook his head. "But if what I have said manages to keep even one of you who isn't up to the task of becoming a ninja from taking a path that isn't right for you, then I've done my job.

"I'm not trying to purposefully scare you, but I'm not going to blind you all to the truth of it, either. That would be worse than scaring. That would be misleading. And I can't afford to do such a thing, because doing so might get you killed."

He turned and looked around the room. "So, if any of you feel you don't want to take part in this, if it seems like too much, I urge you to leave now. Please. Because I don't want anyone to go into this line of work without truly wanting to.

"Ours is a noble goal. We, as ninja, defend the defenseless. We are taught skills that others cannot achieve, in order to protect them. And if you manage to prove yourselves, and join Konoha's ranks, you will have the gratitude and admiration of everyone in the village. You will live knowing that you are protecting your home and your people.

"If that isn't enough for you to risk your lives...then please, leave."

A few did.

Iruka nodded. "Good."

"...Bein' a ninja's pretty crazy, huh?"

Hanabi blinked and turned to the speaker, who was sitting next to her; a boy around her age with messy black hair and goggles propped up on his forehead, much as she remembered Naruto doing before he'd received his hitai-ate.

"Hi," the boy said with a grin that, again, reminded the young Hyuuga of her sister's crush. "Konohamaru."

"...Hanabi."

"Good t' meetcha, Hanabi. Hey...you got the same eyes as one of Naruto-niichan's friends. You guys related?"

"...Yes. Hinata is my sister."

"Hinata. That's right. Well, cool. That's cool. I—"

"Shall I take the rest of the class outside, Konohamaru? I'd hate to interrupt your discussion."

The boy squeaked and turned his eyes forward. "U-Uh...no, Sensei! Sorry!"

Iruka rolled his eyes. "...Another Naruto..." he whispered under his breath.

Konohamaru heard, and it apparently made him happy because he grinned again.

"I take it you know him," Iruka said.

"Sure!"

"...Well, you may act like Naruto...but don't think it'll be easy to get through my class just because he managed to pull a fast one on everyone and pass without doing any work. I won't tolerate a student like that again."

"Niichan got through, and everyone says he's kickin' butt!"

"Yes, he's doing well, but that comes from having friends who pushed him into doing the work that he refused to do in class."

Konohamaru snorted. "Sure."

Iruka groaned. "...That kind of attitude will get you killed. Keep in mind that I reevaluated Naruto's final performance and gave him a passing grade. He only got through and received a hitai-ate because I decided he was ready. If you aren't ready, I won't pass you. And judging by your attitude...I don't think you will be. So I do hope you prove me wrong."

"Oh, you bet I will!"

"...I look forward to it."

The look on the chuunin's face told Hanabi that he wasn't looking forward to it at all.

And yet...from the slight curving of his lips as he continued speaking...maybe he was, just a little.

Konohamaru, clearly not listening again, leaned forward and rested his head on one hand. "I wonder what Niichan's doin' right now...think he's fightin' some enemy ninja?"

"I...don't know. I don't think so. Neesan told me they were on a C-ranked mission."

Konohamaru frowned. "That sucks...sounds boring."

"Naruto, are you going to dance all the way through the mission?"

"Maybe!"

"Naruto-kun, we know you're proud, but...but this is a serious mission. A lot more serious than we thought. I...I think maybe we should go back."

"Until we know all the details about this mission," Kakashi cut in, and glanced pointedly at Tazuna as he stepped into the boat, "we will continue as planned. If it turns out this team is ill-equipped to handle the situation, it may be better to go back."

"Ill-equipped? Screw that! We're plenty equipped!"

"You've done well so far, but don't let it go to your head. A fortune-teller can see the future correctly ten thousand times, but it will only take one misinformed client to string him up and watch him hang."

"...Huh?"

"You can get it right as many times as you want," Gaara said, "but you can only get it wrong once. Be careful, in other words."

"Oh. Well, yeah. 'Course. I'm careful. I'm plenty careful!"

"Yes..." Kakashi murmured noncommittally. "Plenty careful. Come on, you three. Let's move."

They climbed into the boat after their commander. Tazuna came last. The rower pushed away and began steering them toward their destination, face impassive as stone.

"So," Kakashi began conversationally, but with a hard edge to his voice, "how about we get the whole story this time. Play straight with me, Tazuna-san, or we're leaving."

Tazuna frowned. "...Fine."

As Tazuna explained the true depths of his trouble, Zabuza and Haku watched silently from the sidelines.

"I'll catch them when they get off the boat," Zabuza said. "It's time I see just what Konoha's conjured for this one...keep an eye on everything, Haku. Understand?"

"Of course, Zabuza-sama."

Growling, the missing-nin shook his head.

"...Why not strike now? Surely it would put us at an advantage to bring them into the water?"

"If I wanted an advantage, I'd use one."

"...This is a game to you, isn't it?"

"I suppose you could call it that."

"One thing worries me, Zabuza-san."

"What?"

"The girl. Her eyes."

"The hell? Don't tell me you're getting starry-eyed poetic on me, now."

"Nothing of the kind. I'm serious. Those eyes hold the byakugan. It will see through mist as clearly as through air. Your...silent arts will be largely nullified against that one."

"Tch. Idiocy. Just because she can see doesn't mean she'll be able to do anything."

"Aren't you the one who said not to underestimate the enemy?"

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't prioritize them. The girl's the least of your worries. It's the other two you should be worried about, if you're going to worry at all."

"She seems delicate...but then, so do I."

He winked.

Zabuza grunted disgustedly. "Fuckin' pretty-boy pansy...I oughtta sell you. I'm sure some fat old man will find a use for you."

"Now, Zabuza-sama, that isn't nice. Don't you love me?"

"What I love is silence. Now shutcher fuckin' face and watch."

Holding back a laugh, Haku did as ordered.

"So, instead of finding money, or telling us up front that you couldn't pay right now, for a B-rank or higher...you lie. Gatou is after you, one of the richest men in the world. Your bridge is the only thing stopping him from taking over this region, and he has scores of shinobi at his disposal to get rid of you...and you hire genin."

"Oh, I know it's not in your job description. You're right. You should go back. I'll most likely be killed when you do, but...oh, it's not your fault."

Gaara clenched his teeth.

"My grandson will cry...he'll cry fit to flood, oh yes!" Tazuna continued, clearly over-dramatizing. "And my dear daughter will hold a grudge against Konoha shinobi for the rest of her life, and our village will be destroyed! But...that's not your concern. It's not in the job description. Go ahead and—"

"One more word demonizing us after we've already risked our lives for you once, and I throw you overboard," Gaara hissed.

Tazuna stopped.

"Got some gall callin' us out when you're the one who lied," Naruto added. "Think we forgot? Think we don't care? I'm all up for fighting. Gotta test myself, ya know. But you got no right tryin' to guilt us into a mission we didn't agree to."

Silence.

"...We'll escort you," Kakashi said finally. "This shouldn't be anything we can't handle. The bridge is almost finished, is it not?"

Tazuna nodded, sobered.

"Fine. The mission goes on. But don't think you'll be paying for a C-class escort mission. You will pay what this mission is worth, in one way or another. I will not have my students cheated."

A sullen nod.

Kakashi nodded in turn. "Glad to see we understand each other. Now we can work together."

He turned to Hinata, who had been silent through the entire conversation thus far. She seemed distracted, looking out at the water.

"Hinata? What is it? Do you see something?"

She shook her head.

"Something's bothering you."

"Yeah, spill," Naruto put in. "What's up?"

She turned her eyes to her companions.

"...I think we're being followed."

Dun-dun-DUN...

It's starting, folks. The real meat of the Wave Country Arc.

I said once that I would be exploring Hanabi's character for the purpose of giving her one...but that isn't really why. I mean, it's part of it, but another part, a larger part, is to give myself something to write when I'm not sure where to go with the main plot. Hopefully, you still find it interesting.

Well, this is it for now. I'll do my best to update sooner this time, but fight scenes are tough.

'Til then, take it easy.