Chapter 36, the end of the mission to the Wave. Hard to believe I'm almost at the Chunin Exams now. Although I never really expect this fanfic to be as long as it has been. Guess I shouldn't complain though, it's gotten a pretty good following already. I just really hope that it keeps growing like it has. One big thing though, I only got one review on the last chapter. I really don't want to complain because I can't thank you guys enough for your support, but that feedback is how I know if I'm doing well with the story. Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW.

Gato couldn't believe it, these idiot ninja were actually gonna try and take on an army. He didn't care how good of a ninja you were, this was a freaking army. This wouldn't take more than ten minutes.

He was close, the bandits were running after 9 minutes. Jiraiya would send a rain of hair senbon at the bandits while Zabuza cut them to ribbons with his sword. Anko used her shadow snake hands to hit multiple people at once and Haku hit them with more ice than they could handle. The kids didn't kill nearly as well, but all of them were forced to make their first kills. Sasuke and Kakashi had woken up and found that the Sharingan was pretty damn impressive after all.

Gato couldn't believe this, "What the fuck is wrong with you idiots? Just kill them already!"

What was left of the bandits began to regroup. Jiraiya was about to tell the kids to take a rest when he heard a small voice behind them, "Hey, get out of our village!"

Kakashi smiled at Inari's voice. He had brought the whole village with them and Gato growled at them, "Screw you! I've got an army behind me!"

One of the bandits shook his head, "No, you don't. These ninja were enough of a pain, we're not taking on the whole village."

Gato screamed at them, "If you want your pay, you'll stay here!"

The bandits started to run away, "Hell no, money ain't got no use if we're dead! Besides, I don't think you'll be paying anyone once these guys get done with you."

Gato looked at Zabuza, "Yo-ou! I'll still pay you if you keep me safe!"

Zabuza gave a dark laugh, "Because I can trust you alright. I'm afraid that people you cross me don't get to live."

Gato was stuttering, "Wai-it, we can ta-alk about this!"

Zabuza flung the sword off his back, "Too late asshole."

Gato didn't have time to respond, all he had time for was for his head to roll off of his shoulders. Jiraiya cringed, "Went a little too far there Zabuza."

Zabuza shrugged, "Whatever. I say we all go sit down somewhere and talk this shit out."

Jiraiya sighed, "Fine, come on guys. Let's head back to base and figure out where we go from here."

They were all pretty skeptical at the idea of talking things out with Zabuza, but Jiraiya had the most experience so they did as he said. Not like there was a need for anymore fighting anyways. Plus, they all felt that they owed Haku for not killing Sasuke and Kakashi. So they would at least hear Zabuza out.

Zabuza leaned back in his chair, not really sure where to start, "Um...I don't suppose the fact that I was being paid makes anything any better?"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes, "If anything that makes it worse. How the hell does a ninja of your caliber find himself a thug for hire?"

Zabuza wasn't particularly fond of that topic, "I'm assuming that you know about the bloodline purges in the Mist?"

Jiraiya nodded, "You're Mizukage lost his mind and started killing off everything that had a bloodline. I'm guessing that's how you picked up Haku."

Zabuza remembered the day he found Haku quite clearly, "Yeah. Apparently once Haku's dad found out about bloodline, he tried to kill both Haku and the kids mother."

Jiraiya winced, "Damn, that's awful."

Zabuza frowned, "You're telling me. Once that Haku killed that bastard by accident, we met by chance and ended up traveling together."

Jiraiya figured it had been something like that, "Alright, still doesn't explain how ended up working for Gato."

Zabuza glared at him, "I'm getting to it, keep your pants on. I don't know if you know this, but the Mizukage actually ordered for the assassination of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist."

Jiraiya was pretty shocked to hear something like that, "Why in the hell would he do something like that. You were his most powerful ninjas?"

Zabuza couldn't agree more, "Yes we were, the only problem is that made us a liability. We had been on so many big mission that we had enough info on the Mist to send it tumbling down. So he order Kisame to kill all of us."

Jiraiya had heard the name before, "Kisame Hoshigaki, he supposed to have water jutsu as strong as the Second Hokage's. So he killed five of you guys?"

Zabuza clearly didn't like talking about this. He was shifting uncomfortably in his seat, "Yeah, I was on a different mission at the time. Only me and Kisame are left. Apparently, Kisame went a little crazy after he was forced to kill his comrades. After that I tried to off the Mizukage and, to be honest, I got my ass kicked. I'm getting as much money as I can so that I can use it to take that crazy son of a bitch down."

Jiraiya understood now why he did it, but he still didn't approve, "You had other options than working for a prick like that. Why don't you come to the Leaf with us? I know I can talk the Hokage into it and you and Haku can start over?"

Zabuza shook his head, "No, I don't think that will be a good idea. I really do intend to overthrow the Mizukage one day. Although I'm rethinking just how I'm going to be doing that now."

Jiraiya figured he would take what he could get, "Fine, but if you try to kill us again we will end you."

Zabuza shook his hand, "Fair enough. I'm getting Haku and we'll get out of your hair."

Jiraiya got out of his chair, "Alright then, we're gonna be heading out too. Maybe we'll see each other again, on better terms of course."

Zabuza was smiling under his mask, "Yeah, better terms sound a lot better than that shit on the bridge."

Jiraiya walked back to meet his students, "Agreed."

Kakashi kept looking at his eyes in the mirror, "Kakashi's gotta admit, these look pretty cool."

Sasuke laughed at his cousin, "You've just obtained one of the greatest tools in the ninja world and all you can say is that they look cool? You really are something special Kakashi."

Anko looked over them, they seemed okay but she had to ask, "You all okay? I know that you guys had to make your first kills today."

Naruto wasn't feeling great, but that was mainly because he almost lost control of his powers, "If we hadn't killed them they would have kept making the lives of the people of the Wave a living hell. If it was either them or the villagers, there's no question about it."

Anko smirked. These kids were pretty smart, "Well said gaki. No about the Kyuubi…"

Naruto scowled, "I know, it was so stupid of me. If I had lost control on that bridge I could have hurt all of you guys."

Anko put his hand on his shoulder, "Yeah right, it took us less than a minute to calm you down and you had thought your friends died. I was actually saying that we're gonna have to teach you how to control it's chakra so that you know how to use it properly. If you learn how to control the chakra, it'll be almost like you have unlimited chakra. Plus you'll be be much stronger physically."

Naruto gave a sigh of relief. They weren't made at him, "How are we gonna do that?"

Anko had no idea, "Not a clue, that's the toads sage's department. You'll be training with him after your usual training once we get back to the Leaf. I'll still be teaching you, he'll just be helping me. You're all gonna have to start doing some specialized training, the Uchiha boys with their Sharingan, Mito with her medical stuff, Hinata with her Byakugan, Naruto with the Kyuubi and Sai...I don't know what we can really help him with, but we'll find something."

Naruto was psyched, this was gonna be awesome, "We are gonna kick some major ass!"

Anko glared at him, "Only I get to swear on this team dammit. Once you can hold you ligure with me, you can say whatever the fuck you want."

Naruto could feel the killer intent coming off from her and didn't want to argue, "Right, sorry Anko-sensei."

Anko ruffled his hair, "I'm just screwing with you kid. Old enough to kill, old enough to swear."

They all laughed. She did make a good point on that one.

Inari had tears in his eyes as he said goodbye to all of his new friends. "Can't you guys stay in the wave, we need ninjas too?"

Kakashi shook his head, "Sorry, but we have to go back home and protect the people there. Don't worry, Kakashi knows that you guys will do just fine. You won't be dealing with anyone else like Gato anymore."

Inari wiped his eyes and gave Kakashi a hug. Kakashi turned to Zabuza and held up Shiromaru, "I know he's actually yours for the substitution stuff, but can Kakashi please keep Shiromaru? We've bonded."

Zabuza raised an eyebrow, "Um...sure. Not like I can't get another one."

Kakashi jumped up and down happily and Haku bowed to them, "I'm glad that we didn't have to kill one another. I hope we can meet again as friends."

Naruto didn't quite know how to say this, "Um, Haku, I've gotta ask this. To be blunt, are you a boy or a girl?"

Haku didn't look angry at all, "Don't worry. Most people can't tell, I think it's the close I ware. I'm a boy, despite the fact that I may look rather feminine. Just imagine the surprise Gato's men got when they made a pass at me"

Naruto and the others were glad that was finally cleared up. Although everyone who thought he was a girl was very surprised to hear otherwise. Zabuza shook their senseis hands one last time and headed out. The kids were actually sad to see them go, they had grown kid of fond of them...you know when they stopped trying to kill them.

Jiraiya and Anko turned to their students, "Alright, time for us to go too. Bet you can't wait to tell your friends you went on an A-ranked mission."

He was right about that. A group of genin going on an A-rank mission was freaking amazing. They couldn't wait for their parents to hear about this. Although Jiraiya wasn't really looking forward to explaining this to them. Especially his wife, whom he had a feeling might beat him senseless. At least he was used to it at this point, plus since they got married he and Tsunade would have makeup sex when it was over.

The kids continued to chat happily about who they would tell first while Jiraiya and Anko watched with smiles on their faces. Things really did end well, so they weren't going to complain.