Here Be Root

Sasuke's p.o.v

Team Seven stood to the side as Zabuza absolutely wrecked Gato and his men. Kakashi was confused by the missing nin's actions. Sai didn't care but would likely report to Danzo as soon as we reached Konoha. Naruto was guarding Tazuna but the chances of any of Gato's men getting past Zabuza or Haku were extremely small.

Looking at the fight a second time (this time not knocked out) really gives a man some perspective. Future us could have ended the fight in less time than it was taking the demon of the mist. Then again Zabuza might just be pissed at Gato's treachery. Who knew with these crazy elite ninjas?

"I'm bored. I want some action too."

"Nobody cares Dobe."

I can feel him pouting. "Sakura-chan would care."

"The kitling would tell you to shut up."

"You're supposed to be on my side Kuruma."

"No."

"Even your pet fox can't stand you dobe. Tell me how does it feel to be so obnoxious yet so ignored?"

"Listen here you Uchiha piece of-"

"Looks like our friends are finished." Kakashi comments.

Sai plasters on that fake smile of his. "It's weird. Zabuza had such disdain for his employer. I thought even missing nins had honor."

Zabuza swings his blade clean of blood and puts Kubikiribōchō back on his back. Haku looked at the bodies disinterestedly but kicks them out of his way to meet his master.

"Don't confuse us with samurai are only beholden to the highest payer..." Haku grabbed Gato's head and threw it to the fishes. "And those that don't try to make fools of them."

"Mah I was wondering how Gato could keep such a high ranked shinobi under his payroll." Kakashi says.

Zabuza grinned sharply, all of his teeth on display. "He planned to let me kill you and the bridge builder before stabbing me in the back and killing us."

Kakashi hums. "Those are the worst kinds of clients. Always underestimating us shinobi."

I face palm as they continue talking. "Oh kamisama they're doing the shinobi equivalent of small talk."

Kuruma snorts. "I believe your kind call it intel gathering."

"It's gossip that's what it fucking is. They're gossiping like old ladies at the fish market."

"Can I stab myself and claim a medical emergency?"

"Sakura isn't here to heal us so not unless you want to be treated by the dindling medical supplies Wave has."

"That's it I'm copying some healing techniques when we make it back to Konoha. Not everyone has a ball of chakra as an extra energy pack."

"Kuruma isn't an energy pack..he's more like a separate power line."

"You're both dead to me."

"How long will Kakashi-sense I take to gather intel?" Sai asks.

"What time is it?" Naruto asks.

"Ten past one." Sai answers.

"Till lunchtime." Naruto and I answer together.

"Lets take a look at what weapons these low lives might have accumulated then." Haku chips in.

Team seven looks at each other and I shrug. "Not like we have anything netter to do."

So while two feared elite ninja gathered "intel" (gossiped) us understudies were pillaging dead body for any loot worth taking. Waste not want not and all that.

To anyone it would be insane to think that we were working together when just a week ago we tried to kill one another. But like I said veterans from the Third War lived by another set of rules and we had kind of planned for this so it was all good going the until it was time for Team Seven to leave Wave.

Naruto has bonded with Inari once again and Kakashi kept up his disdain of civilians but the trip back home was faster than the trip to Wave country. Soon we had passed customs at the gates and Team Seven was standing in front of the Hokage explaining how our first C-rank ended becoming A-rank.

"And then Zabuza and Haku cut them all down and we picked the bodies clean." Naruto finished his retelling of the fight on the bridge.

Lord Third took a long puff from his pipe before exhaling the smoke. "That is quite the adventure you had Naruto-kun."

Naruto bounced in place. "It was super cool old man! We saved a village, killed the bad guy, and made new friends!"

"If discussing murder techniques and battle strategies from the past war counts as making friends then sure, we did that." I murmurs.

"Nope that was Kakashi-sensei!"

"What is your opinion on the order of events Kakashi?"

Kakashi straightens up from his slouch and gives Lord Third a look. "If it had come down to it I believe that Team Seven could have disposed of Zabuza and his apprentice. Sasuke's speed would have been enough to counter the apprentice and Sai's drawings could have been used to herd him into a losing position. As it stands I'm glad we didn't come to blows. We might not be friends but Konoha now has an in with the rouge nin if we ever need one. I do find their timing suspicious however. How did they find out that they were being scammed?"

"That's a question you can ask them next time you meet each other on friendly terms. Right now you're all dismissed. Your missing pay will be upgraded to a B-rank."

B-rank? Last time it had been A-rank. It must be because we didn't fight Zabuza a second time.

"Probably."

A knock interrupts the conversation. "Come in." Ordered lord Third.

A cane stepped into the room first followed by the man.

Danzo.

Hatred burns in me at the sight of my clan's killer. He had forced Itachi to wipe out the Uchiha. He had weakened the village out of his own selfish need and turned the other nations against us.

Danzo had to die. And I would gladly do it all over again.

Am I back from the dead? Maybe so...

Welcome back everyone. Restart is back so don't forget to leave a review. (Just yell at me we all know you want to.)

Violet