Kakashi woke up, the first thing he saw was a ceiling. He didn't know where he was-
"Kakashi-sensei! You're finally awake!" He heard Sakura exclaimed.
He turned his head to the side seeing Sakura, sitting near the bed, and Sasuke, leaning against the wall. Naruto was nowhere in sight.
"W-where...?" Kakashi asked, his mouth dry.
"We're at the old man's house. Naruto's outside, said he was bored and he's just taking a walk." Sasuke said.
"Ah." Kakashi nodded. "Sasuke, can you call find Naruto. I have something to explain to all of you." Sasuke opened his mouth but Kakashi cut him off. "And I'll tell you later about the Sharingan." Sasuke nodded and went outside.
"Sensei, you want something?" Sakura asked. "You can't force yourself right now, you've suffered chakra exhaustion, though it's not too bad."
"Can you help me move downstairs?"
Sakura complied, assisting Kakashi downstairs. Ten minutes passed and Sasuke came back with Naruto in tow. Tazuna also joined with them, asking Kakashi if he needs anything.
"Good you're all here. I'll say this straight to you. That Zabuza might be still alive." Kakashi said getting various reactions from his team and Tazuna.
He explained that the hunter-nin used senbons putting Zabuza in a near death-like state, taking his body and not burning it on the spot, like a typical hunters.
It's also the reason why he sent his summon back to Konoha to request a back-up.
"But I know Zabuza will not be back for awhile. He'll also need time to recover, and I estimate that he'll be back in action for about a week, and I bet that he'll also have a back-up of his own aside from the fake hunter-nin, at the very least." Kakashi explained. "So we'll use this remaining free time to train you three."
Naruto and Sasuke looked interested, while Sakura looked scared, probably at the thought of Zabuza being alive and adding more allies.
"So, what will you teach us?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi just asked to follow him outside for a better demonstration.
"You're gonna learn how to climb trees." Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
Sasuke glared, thinking this is some kind of a joke, while Sakura looked confused and Naruto was still smiling though he could see it was twitching.
Kakashi sweatdropped, and sighed as he walk to a tree. After a minute he was standing upside down on one branch.
He jumped down and explained the importance of this exercises, to achieve better control of their chakra and not using it excessively.
He tossed three kunais at their feet. "You can use those kunai to mark your progress by slashing your mark at the trunk. The best way to start these is to run straight up. Remember, try to find and send a balanced amount of chakra to your feet. Too much will blow you off and if you used too little, you'll slip down. Now, go."
Kakashi sat down on the shade on one of the trees, hoping that this will be enough to keep them alive on this mission.
*LINE BREAK*
Back up finally arrived in the form of Team 7. Doffy felt them approaching as he came back from the forest.
He was already done with the exercises Kakashi gave them. It was useful, he concluded. It gives him a better chance in holding his ground, literally, or at least weaken an impact if he is ever sent skidding away.
Though Sakura was the first to complete the exercise, possessing small amount of chakra, Doffy still learned it, even with large amount chakra. Though he guessed his past training helped him. Sasuke took longer, but he got it down near sunset.
He arrived at Tazuna's house, informing his team of their back-up's arrival.
Ten minutes later a knock rang on the door with Sakura opening after a confirmation from Doffy.
Team 7 introduced themselves to Tazuna and his family, taking a seat at the living room.
"So Kakashi-kun, can you update us of you situation right now?" Kushina asked.
Kakashi recounted the events that led to this, stating Zabuza's appearance, their battle, his accomplice, and Zabuza's semi-comatose state.
"I've taken the liberty of requesting a back-up whether Zabuza has more accomplices or none, to make the mission to go more smoothly."
"Namikaze-san, again thank you for coming here. It's not that I'm not grateful of Kakashi-san and his team, but I can't help but feel more comfortable with you all here." Tazuna said.
"Ah it's no problem, Tazuna-san, we're just doing our job." Kushina replied, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "You can thank us after the mission is done."
From the other side of the room, Menma said, "you hear that, Naruto? From just our presence, that old man feels already safe. He can see the difference between us, even a civilian knew you were a weakling." Menma smirked tauntingly.
Sasuke and Sakura glared at Menma. Satsuki looked at her brother's stare, surprised that he reacted, let alone defend someone. She knew back at the academy Sasuke held a distinct hate at Naruto, probably because he beat him on their spar back then.
"Oi, brat, you don't know what Naruto did back-" Tazuna was cut off before he can defend Doffy.
"It's alright, old man. Let him be, if that's what makes him happy, let him be... fuffuffuffuffu... I'll be going around for a walk." Doffy said grinning, unfazed from the insult.
He left the house, bored out of his mind. He didn't want to stay there listening to their boasting, he would only suffer a headache.
*LINE BREAK*
Haku walked around the forest, scouting and searching of their potential enemies in disguise as someone picking up leaves and herbs.
He heard from the reports of some thugs that more ninjas appeared at their target's house, probably back-up, he thought. In response, Zabuza also called some of his own back-up, Mei Terumi, the leader of the Rebels in Kiri.
He saw someone sleeping at the forest floor, Naruto, if he remembered correctly. This kid was strong, he knew. He debated on killing him right now, but decided against it. He heard from Zabuza that maybe he was a sensor, and a great one at that, as he seemingly tracked Zabuza inside the mist when battled, and when he was trailing Kakashi's team, he saw the kid looked straight right at him.
Haku was forced out of his thoughts when Naruto suddenly woke up, a kunai in hand.
"Oh, sorry that I woke you up," Haku said gently. His soft voice fooled a lot of people, along with his face. "though you might catch a cold if you keep sleeping here in the forest floor."
"Hm? Ah don't worry about me, I've survived worse than cold heh heh heh..." Naruto replied smiling widely.
"Oh, you must be a strong one with a lot of people rely on you then." Haku said, earning a confused frown from Naruto.
"Huh? What are you saying?" Naruto asked.
"I mean, for me, that people get stronger if they have something or someone to protect." Haku concluded.
"Oh." Naruto muttered. "Heh heh heh. I guess I understand what you're saying. But it's not the only reason why people grow stronger." Naruto said. "Ninjas like me should have their resolve to get stronger, no matter how many precious people you have to protect." Naruto said spreading his arms wide with a huge grin.
Haku frowned softly. "What resolve? To prey and kill on others?"
Naruto wagged his finger side to side. "No, nononono... What I mean is, that you had to have the resolve to put everything on the line for the ones you want to protect." He finished, grinning at Haku.
Haku showed a small smile in response. "I see. I understand. I guess I'll see you around... uhh."
"Ah where are my manners. I'm Naruto, by the way."
"I'm Haku, and see you around, Naruto." Naruto nodded and went back.
Haku walked for a second before looking back at Naruto, amused at how he was walking.
He shook his head at the time that they might face off tomorrow. He didn't want to fight him, but as Zabuza's tool, he would do it.
*LINE BREAK*
The dinner table was full with teams 7 and 11 occupying it. It was a pleasant night, and Kushina was thankful that Menma didn't start taunting Naruto again. It gives her a migraine all week.
Menma would taunt him and Naruto would reply a one-liner then Menma would explode, while Naruto would laugh gleefully.
The silence was pleasant as they eat when Tsunami's son, Inari, spoke.
"Why?" The kid whispered.
"Hm? Why what?" Menma replied as everyone looked at the kid.
"Why are you still doing this? You know that you can't win! Gato will only kill you!" The kid exclaimed.
"Fuffuffuffuffu..." Kushina looked at Naruto as he started laughing silently.
"You! Laugh all you want! That's all you can do! Laugh and smile! You don't know what suffering means! I bet that you don't even felt something like this!"
Kakashi groaned beside Kushina, muttering something she couldn't hear quite clearly as Naruto suddenly laughed loudly.
"Heh heh... Suffering, you say?" Naruto said as he stood up, hovering over the kid. "You're correct, brat. I didn't know anything how or what you felt. I didn't receive what you and your family get on a daily basis. I only felt it once, back when I was eight." Naruto said as he leaned back, standing straight with arms wide open.
"That night, I only received metal pipe to my chest, punches and kicks to my face! Kunais stabbed all over my body, blood gushed uncontrollably, you know! Fuffuffuffuffu!" Kushina was horrified. She didn't heard anything regarding that. Her twins also looked a little green, Sakura, Sasuke and Satsuki all have widened eyes and Kakashi just closed his eyes.
"So yes, I don't know what suffering is, brat." Naruto laughed, telling Kakashi that he'll be around the forest again.
"Uh, Kakashi-san, is it true? What Naruto said?" Tazuna asked curiously.
Kushina also leaned slightly, along with their students.
Kakashi sighed before answering. "Yes. I'm on duty that time when I was still on ANBU. What Naruto said was a filtered version. I saw him unconscious with lots of other villagers also knocked out, no evidence of Naruto retaliating. I don't know what happened but I know what happened to him." Grim silence entered.
"Konoha is lucky that Naruto didn't chose to have revenge against those who tortured him that night." Kakashi concluded.
"And what do you mean by that, Kakashi-nii?!" Menma demanded.
"Menma." Kushina said quietly but full of authority. He immediately shut up.
Kakashi didn't reply, he just looked at Menma before telling his team to rest.
After helping cleaning the dishes, Kushina went up to their borrowed room. She didn't know why that happened. She racked her brain for any possible reasons. The only thing came to her mind was the alledged pranks.
'But torture would be too much of a punishment.' Kushina thought.
"Kushina-sensei, why did Naruto-san suffered aomething like that?" Satsuki suddenly asked.
"I don't know, Satsuki, I don't know." Kushina muttered. "All I know is that he's always pranking the villagers." She caught Menma wince slightly, but didn't comment filing it for the future.
"B-but isn't that too severe of a punishment! Just because he pranked the village, doesn't amount to be attacked like that!"
"Tch. Maybe Naruto's lying again." Menma said, though without the usual bravado.
Kushina didn't comment, letting sleep take her over for the night.
*LINE BREAK*
Doffy was infuriated. He wanted to bring out his rage. That brat, Inari, irritated him to no end. But it didn't help the mocking and the insults he received from Menma, though oddly enough, he didn't get something from Mito, and now he was ordered to stay and guard Tazuna's family.
It all started when he woke up late earlier this morning as he trained overtime last night. The time he went downstairs, they're all geared up.
Kakashi assigned him guarding Tazuna's family, expecting some thugs going to the old man's family. He complied, begrudgingly.
Now after an hour since then, Doffy was just outside the house, still waiting for those expected thugs. He really wanted to just head-off to the bridge and join the fighting, when his Haki sensed a bunch of people approaching his position, probably the thugs, he thought.
He decided to intercept them, his patience now gone.
"Ah, Naruto-san, where are you going?" Tsunami asked worriedly.
"Cleaning up some trash." Doffy replied, not bothering to face her.
A minute later, he saw the group of thugs, and the sight of them only infuriated Doffy more.
"Hey, brat, get out of our way! We don't have time for you. Get away from here and we'll let you leave here with only bruises on your face." The leader commented.
Doffy's grin disappeared, the thugs' comment snapped something inside his mind.
The thugs looked confused as the kid just looked at them, when the kid suddenly grinned back wider than before with veins twitching at his forehead.
"You don't have time for me, huh? What a coincidence! That's what I'd also want to say to all of you idiots here. Fuffuffuffuffu." Doffy said mock cheerfully." Just as you said, I don't have time for all of you, but please survive as long as you can! Hahahhaaha!"
A minute later, all thugs were unconscious, faces beaten badly...
...and Doffy is still not satisfied.
*LINE BREAK*
Mei Terumi was reaching her limits. Of course fighting blow by blow with the Red Death and her team tended to do that.
She jumped away from another barrage of chains, leaning away to the side as the two female genin made a collaboration of fire and wind jutsu combo.
'Those two have a great teamwork.' Mei thought. Their last teammate helped the Uchiha boy against Haku.
"What a nice teamwork you two girls have." Mei said. "In any other circumstances, I would love to talk to you, but I don't have to waste more time here."
Mei suddenly put her hands on the ground and called out her jutsu, "Lava release: Lava Bed!" As she finished, the ground cracked and lava burst out, covering her surroundings.
Kushina made her genin jumped away, as she used her chains to stop the lava from eating more footholds.
Kushina's hands flashed through hand seals that Mei identified.
"Water release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Mei was doing her own counter when Haku's shout distracted her. She looked at her two allies and saw that Haku used his mirror to appear and shield Zabuza from Kakashi Hatake's Raikiri.
She didn't have time to know if Haku is still alive as she was hit by the water dragon, sending her near her two allies.
Suddenly, claps were heard across the battlefield, as Gato appeared with all of his men.
The Konoha-nin also gathered on their side, all exhausted but still have their guard up.
"The hell are you doing here, Gato?!" Zabuza demanded, his voice rough.
"Well, you all are taking too long. So we decided to help you kill them, along with you Zabuza and your companions as your services are too pricey, you know. Though, I guess I'll spare these women for other... relieving purposes." Gato said, lust evident in his last words.
"It would seem that our fight with you is done, Kushina, Kakashi-san." Mei said, standing up.
"You bet it is." Kushina said with a growl, clearly mad at the midget.
"You think you all can fight in your condition, even if you're all ninja, I have a hundred men. You're all clearly exhausted!" Gato exclaimed.
Mei knew he was right in some part. They could beat them but she was sure they will also recieve injuries, adding to the ones they already have.
Before either side could make a move, a loud laughter rang above them. Mei saw one of the genin from Kakashi's team, Naruto, flying down to them.
Mei couldn't believe her eyes, and from the looks of others, even Naruto's teammates looked shocked.
"Well, well, well. So, you are Gato, huh? I must say I'm not impressed. Fuffuffuffuffu..." Naruto said, anger clearly roiling off of him.
"Who the hell are you, brat?! Move now, I'm in a bad mood right now so unless you wanna die like those ninjas, you better get away from here!" Gato exclaimed, only making Naruto laugh harder, sending shivers through everyone in the area.
"You're in a bad mood? No, you can't say that you're in a bad mood because I AM IN A BAD MOOD! You see, this day is one my worst days in my life. Ever since I woke up, I'm looking for someone to fight seriously, but what did I get? A bunch of thugs and wannabe pirates lurking around, not enough to entertain me for a bit. And now that I've arrived here, you came in terminating your contract and ending the fight! My day just got worst you know! Heh heh heh." Naruto chuckled, though he clearly wasn't happy right now.
"And the only thing I can have right now is you, a pathetic midget surrounded by a hundred more pathetic men of yours. But, as they say, beggars can't be choosers. So I will settle with you, as no other option is available for me now." Naruto jumped on to the air, and Mei expected him to obey the Laws of Nature by landing back, but he stayed up in the air and he sat on it.
Though on closer look, she noticed some shiny lines in the air where Naruto sit.
'Are they... webs? Maybe strings?' She thought, looking at the other ninjas and knew that they also noticed the those strange strings.
The red-haired genin, Mito, muttered beside her mother and twin. "Looks like strings, but it looked very different and stronger than the ones that Suna puppeteers uses. It's like our chains, Mom." She said. Kushina looked at her daughter, wide-eyed.
"Are you sure?" Kushina asked seriously, and recieved a nod from Mito.
Gato looked very frightened right now, as Naruto laughed again.
"Oh no. No, nononono... I'm not gonna beat you like your other men back there. I'm not going to touch you, that would be beneath me..." Naruto chuckled. "I have a much more... elegant way to show you." He suddenly pulled seven metal pipes from his storage seal, and tossed them to the thugs.
Naruto lifted a hand, almost unnoticeable threads appeared, and suddenly seven thugs began picking up the pipes.
"He's controlling them like a puppet!" Zabuza said as he patched up Haku, though he's still in a bad shape. Mei went to him, applying healing jutsu.
"I didn't know Naruto could do this." Kushina whispered.
Mei was surprised of Naruto's rare ability, and she already considered a dangerous one right now. He'll only grow more frightening in the future.
"Now, I've heard lots of things about you, Gato. Waves' natives always said that you're bragging about being untouchable, and that you've never suffered any injuries, even minor bruises since you were a child." Naruto mused, a hand on his chin. "And you say that you've never been struck before and practically untouchable, correct?" The thugs that was in Naruto's control began to edge closer to Gato.
Naruto shook his head, as if he didn't agree on something. "Now, that won't do. That just won't do at all! I am of the opinion that all children should be beaten as they grow up. Violently too! It's a part of a healthy upbringing! I mean, after all..."
The thugs began circling Gato, his cries was ignored by all present. The pipes went up, and Naruto started to truly laugh, this time.
"...IT DID WONDERS FOR ME! FUFFUFFUFFU! FUFFUFFUFFUFFU!"
The others can only watch the spectacle. The genins were a bit disturbed, and the jounins just watched emotionless.
"S-sasuke, I know Naruto is a bit creepy, but, this..." Sakura said.
"Well... he's still has a limit how much shit he can take..." Sasuke replied, uneasiness clear in his voice.
Mei can only shiver at what she was witnessing, and it's not a pleasant one.
*Sorry if the fights sucks. I'm not really good at writing fight scenes and/or anything related to romance.