## Training Ground 7 ##
A loud series of clashes from the repeated action of two blades was echoing throughout the entirety of the training ground. Naruto was going toe to toe against a reinforced shadow clone that had 50% of his total chakra. All that could be seen were sparks flying as the two Naruto's repeatedly disappeared and clashed.
The rest of team 7 was sitting down watching with wonder at how much stamina and chakra Naruto could simply have. "I know he's part of the Uzumaki clan, but having this much chakra is ridiculous!" Sakura exclaimed enough to make people's ears bleed. Sasuke wiped a little bit of blood from his ear before scoffing.
Naruto dodged a slash from his clone quickly countering with a fast slash of his own. Much to his annoyance, his strike was blocked. Naruto grit his teeth in frustration as he clashed with his clone once again. The sound of the two swords scraping against each other was enough to make everyone cover their ears.
Naruto's black and white sword clashed against his mother's signature katana as the two pushed as hard as possible. This was getting quite annoying. "I need to end this soon. I'm nearly at my limit." Naruto thought as he saw a kick coming towards him from the shadow clone. Naruto's world seemed to slow as he sidestepped. Naruto was unintentionally using reiatsu to slow his perception.
The strangest thing started to happen as Naruto felt his stamina returning. "What the hell?" Naruto wondered aloud as a very faint orange glow could be seen along his skin. Naruto didn't have more time to think about it as he saw his clone coming for a downward slash towards Naruto's shoulder.
"Hmm, let's try this," Naruto said before dodging the strike with ease. The strike had caused a small blade-sized crater to form. Naruto was looking rather calm. Naruto then disappeared from everyone's sight including the clone's vision. "Normally, I wouldn't result to this but, you gotta do what you can to win the battle," Naruto said with a sad smile before a murderous look formed in his eye.
Naruto tripped the clone while delivering a sharp kick to its side. The clone winched in pain before the sword was ripped from his hands. "It's over," Naruto said while he drove a sword into the clone's stomach. The clone disappeared in a large cloud of smoke. Naruto could feel his chakra and stamina replenishing as the clone's reserves united with his once again.
Naruto heard applause from his sensei and one of his teammates. Naruto's head turned towards that direction with a cautious look as he ripped his swords from the ground. The ground was cracked in the area where Naruto and his clone were training. "Very well done," Kakashi said with his signature eye smile. "The way you fought was quite an impressive feat. Naruto. Most chunin wouldn't be able to deal with that style of fighting."
Naruto simply waved off the praise. "That may be true Kakashi-sensei, but the style is still imperfect," Naruto said with a small smile. Most of his team shot him a weird look. "What? The style is imperfect because it's meant to accommodate the use of swapping between single and dual bladed combat," Naruto said scratching the back of his head. "It's fairly simple. It is one of the most effective styles of sword fighting because you're always so unpredictable. The enemy can never figure out how you're going to attack because of the constant swapping between single and dual-bladed combat."
Kakashi and Mayumi were both listening. Sakura was too busy pestering Sasuke about going on a date with her. Sasuke, well Sasuke was wishing he was dead. Sasuke didn't find it all too fun to deal with Sakura's constant attention.
Naruto was just laughing at Sasuke's annoyance. "Something funny dobe?" Sasuke asked sharply not in the mood for this. Sasuke knew all too well for what he had just signed up for though.
Naruto merely shook his head. "Yea, yea there is," Naruto said with a smirk. Sasuke simply glared at the blonde. "The way you're acting is just all too funny to not laugh at. You're acting like a horny teenage girl on her period." Naruto simply smirked as he could practically feel the malice directed at him. Mayumi just started laughing. Kakashi was trying to hold in his laughter but found himself unable to.
"This team is just great," Kakashi said laughing. "Anyways, Sasuke before you murder Naruto, we all need to talk about our next." Everyone's attention was placed onto Kakashi once this was said. Anytime Kakashi asked them to talk it was usually about something serious.
Kakashi started seeing that all eyes were on him. "We are going on our first C-Rank mission tomorrow. I just figured that I should warn you," Kakashi said calmly. "We will be escorting a bridge-builder into wave country. Pack two weeks' worth of supplies." With that being said Kakashi was about to disappear when he felt a hand grab his arm.
Kakashi turned his head to see Naruto grabbing his arm. "What are you doing Naruto?" Kakashi asked wondering what this slight itching feeling was present under where Naruto was gripping his arm.
"You didn't tell us what time we were leaving," Naruto said with a smirk knowing precisely the seal he had applied onto Kakashi. Naruto had applied a seal that would release raiton chakra whenever activated by Naruto.
Kakashi merely looked forwards and said, "We leave at seven in the morning. Don't be late." Kakashi said in a sharp voice that indicated him being serious for the time since they had met. Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Team 7 was left sitting there with nothing to do.
After a while of Sasuke trying to murder Naruto for his earlier words, Naruto finally broke the silence. "Mayumi," Naruto said getting the red head's attention, "I'm going back to the compound now, are you coming?" Mayumi simply nodded and placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder as they disappeared in a shunpo causing minor damage to the field.
Sasuke and Sakura were blown backward onto their asses from the wind and dust that was kicked up whenever Naruto disappeared like that. "Damn you Naruto," Sasuke said under his breath before he turned to leave. Sasuke noticed that Sakura was standing in front of him with a determined look in her eye. "I hate my life," Sasuke grumbled as Sakura started to talk.
## Uzumaki Compound ##
The wind was blowing an ever so slightly cold breeze that felt nice to the touch. The moonlight was shining down onto Naruto lighting the area around him as he silently sat there watching the stars. Naruto was simply sitting down thinking about a relatively new relavation. Naruto hadn't thought about what it meant to be a shinobi. "Being a shinobi is not about merely protecting the village. It's to protect the village at all costs no matter what the cost is. Whether you have to make the descent into the darkness or becoming a merciless killing machine, you do it all for one goal. To protect the village no matter the cost is what being a shinobi truly means. To drop all sense of individuality and become a living weapon to be commanded by one man." Naruto said slamming his fist onto the ground. "Dammit! I just can't." Naruto said with tears streaming down his face. "I just can't be like the two of you," Naruto said looking towards the stars.
Unbeknownst to Naruto, a certain redhead was listening from afar. Mayumi wanted to go over and comfort Naruto but something just told him that it wasn't a good idea. Naruto continued to sit there doing nothing but staring into the stars as if they were going to give him some kind of answer.
Naruto was simply sitting there with tears still visible when he felt someone walking towards him. Naruto looked up to see what appeared to be a member of the anbu. "What the hell do you want?" Naruto practically shouted towards the purple-haired member of the anbu.
"The Hokage demands your presence in a meeting with the shinobi and civilian councils." The anbu said with no emotion.
"Oh really?" Naruto asked annoyed. The anbu member nodded. "Fine then, I'll be leaving soon. If that old geezer wastes my time there will be hell to be paid." Naruto said standing up. "Well lead the way." Naruto was simply annoyed that he was being summoned by an old geezer who thinks he has any control over him.
"One of these days it'll happen," Naruto said before disappearing with the anbu.
Mayumi was simply left speechless. "Why would the Hokage request Naruto's attendance at the council meeting?" Mayumi thought she ran towards the hatch on the roof to tell Shisui what had transpired.
## Council Meeting ##
Naruto stood outside of the doors to the meeting room with the purple-haired member of the anbu. Two anbu stood outside of the doors looking at Naruto. "Demon." One of the anbu members muttered under their breath. Naruto simply looked towards the member of the anbu and cast a silent bakudo on him.
"Bakudo #22: Juryoku Nensho (Gravitational Burning)." Naruto thought with a smile as he saw the anbu member fall to his knees. "ENTER!" Hiruzen shouted from within the room. Naruto simply walked forward towards the room. Naruto smirked as the anbu was being reprimanded by his partner.
The anbu simply glared at Naruto as he was taken away. Naruto entered the room to see all of the heads of the clans present. The civilian council was also present. Many were sending him hateful looks. Everyone was sat down along a large table with the Hokage sitting in the center with his two advisors to his left and right. "What do you want?" Naruto said looking relatively bored. Many people flinched at the way Naruto had said that. Normally no one was allowed to talk to the Hokage like that.
"Just sit down Naruto," Hiruzen said. Naruto shook his head in defiance.
"That will not be happening until I know why I am here," Naruto said calmly. "You have five minutes to explain and if you don't I'm leaving."
A member of the civilian council was about to say something when they were silenced by a large amount of killing intent from Naruto. Naruto heard the word "demon" come from a member of the civilian council.
"You call me a demon one more time and you'll be losing your worthless life," Naruto said as he appeared behind the man who had said it. Naruto had the blade of his sword pressed up against the man's throat. "I dare you. Watch how fast I slaughter your entire family." Naruto hissed as the room grew dead silent.
"Naruto!" Hiruzen shouted. "If you do that then you will be killed on the spot." Hiruzen expected some type of reaction from Naruto but received none.
Naruto simply reappeared in his original spot. "Get to explaining why I'm here you old geezer," Naruto said while tapping on his arm impatiently. Many of the people in the room grew tense. Hiruzen simply sighed.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said. "Go ahead."
"Naruto, what do you know of the anbu?" Danzo asked the annoyed teenager. Naruto simply gave him an annoyed look.
"The anbu is the village's elite black ops unit," Naruto said receiving a nod from Danzo. "The members of the anbu are typically considered to be the best of the best out of all shinobi."
"Yes," Danzo said hesitantly. "Now why do you think you were summoned here?"
"The only logical conclusion would be my upcoming mission. But that is none of your damn concern." Naruto said. "Or the fact that you plan on asking me to join anbu. Wait not the anbu, your root division." Hiruzen simply sighed. He had known this was a bad idea. "My answer is no. I don't give a damn about you trying to train me, the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Yoko. I am in no need of assistance from someone like you." Naruto said viciously, pointing towards the man.
Danzo's face remained unchanged for the majority of what Naruto had said. That was until he had mentioned the Kyubi no Yoko. Many of the other people were having the same reaction as Danzo. They were panicking because their greatest asset to the village had somehow known of his being as the jinchuriki of the nine tails. "How do you know about that?" Danzo asked with narrowed eyes.
"That is none of your concern, now is it?" Naruto rhetorically asked.
"Yes it is our concern, brat," Danzo snarled. "The Kyubi is Konoha's property. And so that would make it our concern." Many people from the civilian council agreed with Danzo.
"Don't you dare say that again, Danzo," Naruto commanded the man, "The Kyuubi no Yoko is not the property of Konoha, the Kyuubi is technically the property of the Uzumaki clan," Naruto narrowed his eyes as he saw the panic in everyone's eyes start rising. He was just guessing that was because he had technically just said that the Kyubi was the property of two people. "The Kyuubi has only ever been sealed inside of an Uzumaki and as such becomes the property and burden of its current jinchuriki. And since I am part of the Uzumaki clan it would then make the clan the owner of the beast."
Danzo wanted to say something back but he couldn't. Naruto was technically right. The nine-tails were his burden and because it was sealed inside of him. That also made the nine-tails technically Naruto's. Naruto could see the build-up of annoyance in Danzo's eyes. Naruto just cocked a smirk at the sight.
"If that's all you need I'll take my leave then," Naruto said as he started to walk towards the door.
"Naruto, wait," Hiruzen said. "We still need to discuss something." Naruto turned around and looked the old Hokage directly in the eye.
"What's that?" Naruto asked bored out his mind.
"We need to discuss something about the Uzumaki clan," Hiruzen said hoping to entice Naruto into staying.
"If you wish to discuss that matter, then you will need to come by the Uzumaki compound," Naruto said with his arms crossed. "Clan business is not to be discussed in front of the other clans and the civilian council," Naruto said starting back towards the door. "If you wish to discuss these matters then it will have to wait. I have to get ready for my mission."
With that Naruto disappeared from the council meeting leaving many people shocked; others confused; and many angry at the supposed "demon". Hiruzen just rubbed his templates. "You give me nothing but trouble." Hiruzen thought.
## Gates of Konoha ##
Naruto was bent over a table writing his signature on some paperwork when he was asked, "Why do you need to sign all of the paperwork to simply leave the village?" Sakura asked with a confused look.
Both Izumo and Kotetsu shot Naruto a knowing look. Naruto simply sighed. "This is none of your business Sakura, but I will tell you that it's an S class secret," Naruto said with his eyes closed. Naruto already knew that Sakura's face was starting to contort and that she was going to say something dumb.
"Oh, yea and why would a baka like you know of this S class secret?" Sakura said with an annoying smirk on her face. "I think you're just making this is up Naruto." Sakura stood there with her hand on her hip mocking Naruto sassily.
"You're such an annoyance," Naruto mumbled. Naruto finished signing the paperwork when he saw an angry-looking Kakashi walking down the street. Kakashi looked like he wanted to murder someone. "But anyways Sakura if you're so inclined to know about it, then just ask your parents. But they would be sentenced to a public death if they told you a single word of it." Naruto finally looked at Sakura. Nothing but pure nothingness was visible in his eyes. Both Sakura and Mayumi shivered at the way Naruto stared at the useless pink-haired girl.
Kakashi looked at Naruto as if he wanted to murder him. "You damn brat," Kakashi mumbled at the now smirking blonde. There was just something about that smirk that reminded Naruto so much of Minato. Just the way it made his heart swell with warmth yet coldness at the same time was puzzling.
"Something wrong Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked still smirking. "It looks like you had quite the shock." Naruto couldn't contain his laughter anymore and started to burst out laughing. All of Naruto's teammates gained curious looks on their faces once Naruto started laughing. Kakashi was still just glaring at the blonde.
"Do you want me to explain what happened or would you like to?" Naruto asked Kakashi who was considering putting Naruto under a hellish genjutsu with the Sharingan. Kakashi was snapped from his thoughts and simply continued to glare at the blonde. "Oh fine," Naruto said smirking. "Pretty much I attached a small mark that would emanate raiton (lighting) chakra once I channeled my chakra through it onto Kakashi yesterday when I grabbed his arm. I channeled a large amount of chakra at seven to make sure he would get up." Naruto continued to just sit there smirking at his annoyed sensei who was currently signing their release forms from the village.
## Time Skip - 15 Minutes ##
"Done," Kakashi said as he lazily finished the paperwork. He was internally grateful that Naruto had already filed his release papers though. It required too much effort to sign that many papers. "So Naruto, Sasuke, Mayumi, and I will be setting out onto a mission today," Kakashi said confirming it with his team. Sakura, however, was left standing there confused.
"Yo-you mean I'm not going?" Sakura asked slightly sad. Kakashi noted the tone. He wondered whether it was because she had wanted to go onto actual missions or just be alone with Sasuke for two weeks.
"Yes, you are not going on this mission. That is because your training as a combat medic starts today." Kakashi reassuringly said. "You will travel with us until we reach wave country, where we will hand you off to an old friend of the Hokage. The woman was a rather powerful kunoichi in the Second Shinobi World War." Sakura's eyes lit up at hearing this. She was rather happy that the Hokage had accepted her mother's request.
"Oh! Okay then." Sakura said with a large smile plastered on her face.
Naruto was sitting down with Izumo glaring at him. Naruto was in Izumo's usual chair cleaning the blades of his swords. A man could be seen walking towards team 7. Naruto frowned at the sight of the man. "Great we're going to deal with a drunk." Naruto thought with a large tick on his forehead. Naruto stood up and sheathed both swords only to overhear the man spouting nonsense.
"So it's a bunch of prepubescent teens taking me to wave country." Tazuna loudly said soon belching from the alcohol. "Just great." Naruto's eyes shot towards the man when he mentioned wave country.
"Wait do you mean wave country as in where the Village Hidden in the Mist is?" Naruto asked abruptly only to receive confused looks from everyone but Mayumi. The drunk only nodded towards the child. "Hmm, interesting I guess we'll need to keep our eyes out, won't we Mayumi?" Naruto asked the redhead who was simply secretly admiring the blonde.
"Yea, I guess it does," Mayumi said quietly. "Maybe we will find something of importance." Naruto offered a bright smile to the redhead causing her to blush slightly.
"Look out for what?" Sakura asked as if she had the right to know everything. "Why would you two be so interested in anything from wave country?"
Naruto simply shot Mayumi a questioning look. He started to explain when he received the nod from the redhead. "We are going to look out for anything related to the Uzumaki clan." Sakura shot him a curious look. Naruto simply sighed before explaining. "The Uzumaki clan originated from the neighboring country, the land of whirlpools. We are looking out for a relic that is valuable to the Uzumaki clan." Naruto said with Sakura, not really understanding.
Kakashi just sighed at how stupid Sakura could be some of the time even though she had some of the highest grades in her class. "Okay how about we get going? Also, Tazuna cut out the drinking. It isn't fair if you get to drink and I don't." Kakashi said only to receive a laugh from the man. Tazuna simply shook his head no. Kakashi sighed in annoyance.
The five members of team 7 were walking along a peaceful road in a hexagonal formation around Tazuna with Kakashi in the lead, Naruto and Mayumi in the back, and Sakura and Sasuke on the two sides. It was a rather sunny and calm day so far. Sakura had been talking the entire trip until Naruto had made her pass out from killer intent.
Naruto was just walking with his eyes closed trying to work on his sensing abilities. Naruto was able to sense the negative emotions and actions of others even without his peripheral vision. Many would kill for an ability like this, but not Naruto. No, Naruto saw it as more of an annoyance because it sometimes activated at random causing him to feel the horrendous emotions of others.
Kakashi was simply reading his perverted book; giggling like a mad man at what is practically porn. Sasuke was brooding and thinking about how to get strong enough to kill his brother. Mayumi was simply walking looking at the different animals. Sakura was doing something worthless like usual.
Naruto just cracked a sad smile at this. "It's good to see that everyone is content with themselves." Naruto thought sadly. "I wish I could be like that, but I just can't. These thoughts, the threats, and the treatment..." Naruto was looking down with tears starting to well in his eyes. "It's not fair!"
"I know kit," Kurama said from within his mind in a comforting tone. "It seems that the world just wants to kick you and only you down. Doesn't it?" Naruto just remained silent; not being bothered to even respond. "The world has a way of doing it to the kindest of souls. All I have ever felt from you is the want, no the need to feel wanted and to protect."
"I know it's just so unfair," Naruto thought sadly, "Wearing this mask of a happy, energetic person is just tiring. It's just difficult trying to force yourself to be happy when you just aren't; it's impossible to do when all you feel is an endless rain of despair and pain." At this point, the tears were starting to fall down Naruto's face. Yet nobody except for Mayumi noticed. Kurama silently agreed with the boy.
"I know Naruto, the world is unfair," Kurama said quietly, "I have seen it many times. Someone who is flat out rejected by all and who is simply alone in this vast, lonely world." Naruto was intently listening.
Naruto was soon brought back to reality when he heard a scream.
Naruto instantly snapped his head towards the scream. Naruto had managed to look just in time for what had appeared to be Kakashi's death. Naruto started frantically looking around for the perpetrator when his eyes landed on two shinobi with crossed-out headbands. The symbol was for that of the Mist village.
Sasuke and Sakura both froze at seeing Kakashi seemingly die. Mayumi simply ran towards them and engaged one in a taijutsu bout. Naruto just seemed to be standing there doing nothing.
Mayumi went for a low sweeping kick against the nukenin only for her leg to be grabbed by a large metallic gauntlet. The metallic gauntlet was the signature weapon of the Demon Brothers of the Mist. Two B rank nukenin (missing ninja) from the Village Hidden in the Mist.
Mayumi felt something sharp stab into her leg. She bit her lip to try and resist the urge to scream but was left to no avail. Mayumi stilled screamed. This instantly caused Naruto's head to snap toward her direction.
Naruto unsheathed his sword without hesitation and shouted one word, "CORRUPT!" The entirety of the area seemingly started shaking violently once this simple word was said.
All eyes were now on Naruto as hellish reddish-black energy was surrounding him. Sasuke and Tazuna had both managed to shake off the shock of Kakashi's death by this point, but this was something else entirely. They had never felt something so strong, so violent, and so demonic. The aura exuding off of Naruto just screamed to want to kill.
The wind was blowing violently with the release of such potent energy. The ground around Naruto cracked slightly. Naruto just stood there staring at the person who had harmed Mayumi. Naruto simply felt the want for the blood of this person.
"I will warn you. This is going to be excruciatingly painful for the both of you." Naruto said this in a low tone with his killer intent rampaging. Both of the demon brothers were sweating with the amount of killer intent being released. Both Sasuke and Tazuna were sent to the ground.
Naruto's right sclera was slowly turning from its usual color to black with a bright yellow iris. Naruto's face contorted into an angered look as he disappeared from everyone's vision.
Naruto appeared behind the demon brother that was holding Mayumi's leg. Naruto swung his sword right through the ninja's arm completely shattering the bone in the process of cutting through the arm. "Ahh!" the demon brother yelled out as the sword cleaved right through his arm.
The other demon brother instantly went on the defensive as Naruto went after him next. The demon brother jumped back hoping to get some form of jutsu off to slow the blonde down, but Naruto persisted. The black blade was scraping against the demon brother's gauntlet as Naruto was pushing down onto the handle of his blade. The sword was cutting cleaning through the gauntlet quite easily, almost as if it was just a piece of wood.
The demon brother was distracted by this and could not see the kick that was being sent right towards his legs. the kick connected with the nukenin's legs making the bones in his legs groan in agony at such a forceful kick. Such a thing was unheard of for a mere genin to do. Yet here was Naruto doing it because he was being amped by some form of murderous power.
The demon brother narrowly dodged a sharp slash from Naruto's blade only to be pierced by another blade. Naruto had unsheathed his mother's sword and stabbed the nukenin right in the shoulder. Naruto then ripped his sword from the demon brother's arm causing the tendons in his shoulder to be cleanly cut through. Blood squirted from the nukenin's shoulder onto Naruto's face.
The demon brother was soon kicked right to where his brother was. He was trying to stand up whenever he heard, "Futon: Shishi Fuugarappu (Wild Wind Fang Dance)!" from Naruto as a fierce wind started channeling around Naruto's swords. Naruto slashed his two swords towards the two enemies once the wind was spinning fast enough to start sucking oxygen from the air. (A/N The "Wild Wind Fang Dance" technique was adopted from Kyoya Tategami's Beyblade's, Rock Leone, special move)
"What the hell is that?" Sasuke shouted out as he saw was appeared to be a tornado rushing towards the two former chunin from with the focal point of the tornado being the wind chakra emitting around Naruto's blades. Mostly everyone had passed out from the sheer amount of killing intent that Naruto had released but Sasuke hadn't succumb to it as he had felt a great deal of killing intent from Itachi the night of the massacre.
Both of the nukenin had thought that they were going to die whenever a certain silver-haired jonin had appeared in front of them and blocked the attack. Kakashi stood there trying to block the attack but was having a great deal of trouble with it. With how fast Naruto had the wind chakra spinning it was causing the surrounding area to be destroyed as it ranged on.
Kakashi was blocking the attack with a kunai, but there was one problem. The kunai started to crack. "What the hell kind of attack is this?" Kakashi thought as he pulled out another kunai and ran lighting chakra through both. "Naruto! You need to cut out the attack!" Kakashi shouted at the blonde.
Naruto finally managed to snap back to reality and instantly stopped the attack. "Naruto, what the hell were you thinking? You should not have tried to kill the enemy yet. It valuable that we interrogate them first." Kakashi said scolding the confused-looking blonde.
"What do you mean I tried to kill them?" Naruto asked with a cocked head. Naruto had no idea what the man was talking about. "The last I remembered I saw Mayumi get hurt and then it just felt like something snapped inside."
"So you don't remember trying to kill them?" Kakashi asked curiously. The blonde just shook his head no. "Also why is your right eye black and yellow?"
"Did you say black and yellow?" Naruto asked in a panicked tone. Kakashi nodded but just narrowed his eyes. "Why is my eye like that of a hollow's?"
"This is a conversation that must be later had, Naruto," Zangetsu said from within Naruto's mind. "You need to be prepared I sense an enemy approaching."
"Okay, Zangetsu." Naruto thought. "Thank you for the heads up as well."
Zangetsu gave no response but Naruto knew that Zangetsu appreciated the thanks. "Naruto," Kakashi said waving a hand in front of the blonde's face. "You zoned out."
"Wait what?" Naruto asked.
"I said you zoned out but that's not important," Kakashi said. "These two are b rank nukenin from Kirigakure no Sato. They said that they were hired to kill Tazuna by someone called Gato." Tazuna started to panic when he heard that name.
"Damn that Gato," Tazuna said with grit teeth. "He comes after wave country and now me."
Kakashi looked towards Tazuna trying to think of how to word this. "Tazuna..." Kakashi was cut off though. A large sword flew towards team 7 and Tazuna. "Everyone get down!" Kakashi shouted as he dragged Tazuna and Sakura to the ground. The sword had managed to behead the two demon brothers in the process. The two demon brother's heads hit the ground with a thump. Blood started to squirt from both of their headless corpses. The ground became stained with their blood.
The blade had lodged itself in a tree. The blade was rather large. It looked as if it was meant to be wielded with two hands. There was a circular hole in the top part of the sword and a half-circle on the lower edge of the sword. These two points were meant for executions of some form. Kakashi was looking at the blade when he recognized it as Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade). "So it's him. Just great." Kakashi said as a lean-built man appeared on the top of the blade.
The man wore camouflage arm and leg warmers. The man wore grey shinobi pants and wore no shirt. He had bandages wrapped around his neck and mouth. He had shark-like teeth and short-cut spikey black hair. He wore a hitaiate of the Village Hidden in the Mist that had a slash mark running through the symbol of his village.
"Well, well if it isn't the demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momoshi." Kakashi calmly said with his hands in his dark blue pants. "I suppose that you're here to kill Tazuna, but you know we can't allow that."
Zabuza merely glanced at his opponent. "Yes that would be correct, however, I think I'll kill you in the process, Kakashi, or as you are known across the world, Kakashi of the Sharingan," Zabuza said smiling madly under the bandages covering his mouth.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "I would suggest that you all stay put and defend the client. None of you will be of much help in this battle." Kakashi said shooting a glance towards his team. "Well except for Naruto. He is simply beyond the others in every manner." Kakashi thought.
Sasuke scoffed as if to insult the very idea that someone like Zabuza is beyond him. "Sasuke," Kakashi said, "Zabuza is beyond you. He is an A-rank missing-nin."
Sasuke again scoffed earning a sharp look from Kakashi. "Sasuke don't let your arroga..." Kakashi was talking when Zabuza appeared behind him swinging the large sword towards Kakashi. Kakashi was going to block it with a kunai when the sound of two swords clashing could be heard.
"Naruto! What do you think you're doing." Kakashi asked the blonde who was clashing blades with Zabuza.
Naruto merely side glanced at Kakashi. "Saving your sorry ass from being diced-tomatoes," Naruto said. Kakashi merely groaned at the response. As if Naruto thought that he wouldn't have been able to block a simple strike. "Kakashi-sensei his sword is not normal. There is a reason why Zabuza Momoshi is known as the demon of the mist and as one of the Seven Ninja swordsmen of the Mist. It's because his sword is Kubikiribōchō or the sword that gets stronger each time it spills on enemy's blood."
Zabuza merely sneered at the blonde. As if a mere genin could block his strike. "You have some nerve kid. Though you do seem to have some talent for the art of kenjutsu."
Naruto merely laughed. "You fail to realize how fucked you really are don't you?" Naruto asked rhetorically. Kakashi practically felt like laughing at the statement.
Zabuza, however, did laugh at such a statement. "As if a mere genin would make such a bold claim," Zabuza said in annoyance. "You can't do anything boy." Zabuza started applying more pleasure down onto the handle of Kubikiribōchō. Zabuza was rather surprised to see Naruto merely smirk though.
"Oh yea, is that so?" Naruto asked finally letting all of that built-up chakra and reiatsu run rampant.
The air surrounding Naruto seemed to gain this blackish-blue hue to it as more of his entry was unleashed. The ground beneath his feet started to crack at the sheer amount of force that Naruto's energy was exerting. The wind started blowing rapidly as more and more energy was released.
"There is something I can do," Naruto said lifelessly. "I can, no will, crush you with such a sheer amount of power that you're begging for mercy. People like you don't deserve to be left living."
Zabuza gained a sadistic smile. "People like me, huh?" Zabuza asked sarcastically. "Why would you say that.
Naruto merely squinted his eyes. "The reason you are known as the demon of the mist is that you slaughtered over one hundred of you fellow classmen to simply pass. You did not have to do such a thing but you did." Naruto said with an angered expression. "One more thing. You murdered one of the children of one of my mother's close friends."
Zabuza narrowed his eyes. How could a mere child have access to this information? It simply wasn't feasible. Yet Naruto stood there spilling why he was known as a demon.
"The last thing, I know something about being a demon, or rather working with a demon," Naruto said as his purple eyes turned to those of the Kyuubi no Yoko's. Two red eyes with what appears to be two slits.
Zabuza was startled, to say the least. As if Konoha had to balls to tell their jinchuriki that he wielded the strongest being in the world. "I'll admit kid that you do have some balls, but you can't hope to match me in combat."
Naruto merely smirked. "Who said anything about matching you in combat?" Naruto asked with the hope that Kakashi was ready. "Kakashi-sensei told you. Us genin are not you opponents, he is." Zabuza grit his teeth in annoyance.
Zabuza's annoyance turned to surprise when he felt himself losing ground to Naruto. "How the hell?" Zabuza wondered as he was being pushed backward by the blonde.
"It's rather simple Zabuza," Kakashi said pressing his kunai against the neck of Zabuza. "You're losing your touch."
Zabuza merely laughed. "You underestimate me Kakashi," Zabuza said dispersing into the water.
"Water Clone!" Kakashi exclaimed as his leg was kicked; making Kakashi fall onto one knee.
Zabuza appeared in front of Kakashi, blade drawn ready to end his life. Zabuza was getting ready to swing the sword whenever he heard, "Bakudo: 28: Shogeki Chen (Impact Chains)" from Naruto as what appeared to be black chains shot out from Naruto's hands. The chains shot through the air and wrapped themselves around Zabuza's arms.
Zabuza looked visibly frustrated at this. "Something wrong Zabuza?" Naruto mockingly asked as the man struggled against the chains that were binding his arms.
Many thoughts were running through Sasuke's head. "Is this some form of Kekkei Genkai (bloodline limit)?" Sasuke wondered, marveling at the chains that could restrict someone who was bordering on Kage level. "No, that wouldn't make sense." Sasuke thought shaking his head. "Naruto shouted out the name of a technique. It sounded something like bakudo?"
Sakura was simply standing in front of Tazuna shaking. Sakura was unable to help in any way whatsoever.
Mayumi was stilled unconscious from when she was attacked by one of the demon brothers who now lay in a pool of their own blood.
Tazuna, well Tazuna had passed out from the amount of killing intent released by Kakashi and Zabuza.
"You damn brat," Zabuza muttered. "What type of jutsu is this anyway?" Naruto simply laughed when he heard Zabuza ask this.
"Who said anything about jutsu or chakra?" Naruto rhetorically asked the trapped ninja. Most everyone adopted a confused expression. Not using chakra? They had never heard of such a thing. The chains had to be made of chakra. Yet they weren't because none of them could sense anything from the chains.
"What does that mean dobe?" Sasuke asked narrowing his eyes at the blonde.
The wind started blowing as Naruto said, "Sasuke that isn't important." Sasuke gained an annoyed look. Sasuke was simply wondering why it wasn't important at the moment. Sasuke soon came to remember the situation they were in.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted gaining the silvered-haired man's attention. "Get ready the chains are starting to disperse and I can't recreate them for some time, so I hope you have a plan." Kakashi nodded his head towards Naruto confirming that he indeed had a plan.
"I guess I have no other choice," Kakashi said lifting his hitaiate to reveal a fully matured Sharingan. "It certainly has been a while," Kakashi muttered as he heard cracking.
"It's about damn time," Zabuza said finally managing to get rid of those cursed chains. "Well, I suppose that those were the chakra concealing chains of an Uzumaki if my guess were to be correct." Zabuza turned to look at Kakashi only to start laughing and smiling sadistically. "It's about damn time Kakashi! You finally unveil that cursed eye of yours, the Sharingan."
"Let's see why that eye makes you so famous Kakashi," Zabuza said as he disappeared onto the nearby lake. Zabuza raised his left arm into the air; making a hand seal in the process. Zabuza positioned his right arm in front of his chest making a hand seal and saying, "Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu (Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu)!"
A thick cloud of mist started to surround team 7 cutting off all lines of sight. The only senses they had at their disposal were their sense of smell and hearing. Naruto was an exception, however, his heightened senses accompanied by his sensory abilities told him exactly where Zabuza is. "So that's where he is." Naruto thought honing in on exactly what Zabuza was doing. "Damn I can't sense what he's trying to do!" Naruto raged in thought.
"Everyone stay back and protect Tazuna," Kakashi ordered in a commanding voice. "Zabuza is a master of the silent killing arts, so he can kill you and without you noticing until your untimely demise," Kakashi said in a serious tone. "If I am to be captured retreat with the client. Tazuna's safety is more valuable than my own." Naruto was going to try and refute that claim but was silenced by a look from Kakashi.
"So considerate, Kakashi," a voice echoed from each direction. The voice was coming from the thick cloud of mist that surrounded and blocked each person's vision. The only person who could somewhat see in the mist was Kakashi. "Though saying such a thing is foolish as you will soon find out."
Sasuke and Sakura stood in front of Tazuna to protect from a potential frontal assault from Zabuza. Naruto stood slightly off to the right where Mayumi was asleep; guarding her in case Zabuza chose to attack her.
A thick wave of killing intent was being released by Zabuza. This had caused both Sasuke and Sakura to freeze in place. Sweat was trickling down Sasuke's face.
"Sasuke, Sakura, you need to calm down," Kakashi said calmly, "I won't let you die. I promise on my life." Kakashi said eye smiling towards the two genins.
The two did not calm down, however, they started panicking more as they felt Zabuza appear behind them. "We'll see about that, Kakashi Hatake," Zabuza said. Zabuza landed in a crouched position with his sword ready to swing.
"It's over!" Zabuza shouted as he swung his giant sword trying to kill the genin and Tazuna.
The blade cut through the air at a rapid pace towards them but was undoubtedly blocked. A black sword blocked the swing. A minor shockwave was created at the collision of the two blades meet. "Not gonna happen," Naruto said smirking at the grimacing Zabuza. "Also watch out!"
Zabuza felt the cold steel of a kunai pressed against his throat. "Too slow Zabuza," Kakashi said while making a slashing motion against Zabuza's throat. To Kakashi's surprise; Zabuza merely turned to water.
"Behind you, Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura shouted towards the surprised silver-haired shinobi.
Kakashi quickly turned around to try and block the large sword that was coming towards him at a rapid pace. "Too slow, Hatake!" Zabuza shouted as he split the man in half. Much to Zabuza's surprise though Kakashi turned to water.
"How?" Zabuza raged frantically looking for the silver-haired man. "In this thick mist did he manage to copy the jutsu with that wretched eye of his."
"It's simple really," Kakashi explained with a kunai pressed against the man's throat. "I never copied it. I had already known the jutsu from fighting a ninja long ago."
"Heh, now that was somewhat impressive," Zabuza said with a smirk. "However, not good enough!" Zabuza dispersed into water appearing behind Kakashi.
"You were too sloppy!" Zabuza shouted swinging his sword towards the man's neck.
Kakashi swiftly ducked under the sword, only having a few sliver flocks of hair cut. Zabuza's sword swung past Kakashi's causing the blade to hit the ground and imbed itself in the dirt. There was a large slash mark where the sword had struck the ground.
Zabuza pushed downward on the handle using as a leg of sorts as he delivered a devastating kick to Kakashi. Kakashi managed to block the kick that most likely would have broken a couple of ribs had it connected to the rib cage. Kakashi was sent flying into the water where Zabuza appeared right next to him.
"He's also good at taijutsu!" Sasuke exclaimed in thought trembling at such a man.
"What?" Kakashi wondered out loud. "Why does this water feel so heavy and dense?"
Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi smiling sadistically. "You fool!" Zabuza exclaimed laughing maniacally. "The water feels so dense because it's a trap you fool!"
"Suiton: Suirō no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu)!" What appeared to be a ball of water surrounded Kakashi. The source of the water appeared to be at the point of contact between Zabuza's hand and the water.
"Don't bother wasting your efforts with futile escape attempts," Zabuza said with a laugh. "You're caught in my inescapable prison."
Kakashi broke out of his shock and shouted, "All of you run! You can't hope to face Zabuza in one on one combat."
"There's no point in trying to talk Kakashi," Zabuza said. "They're going to die anyway." Zabuza made the tiger hand seal as clones of water emerged from the lake.
Naruto just stood there with a glazed overlook. Naruto heard someone screaming when he saw Kakashi saying something. "So he most likely wants us to run, however, that's out of the question. Zabuza will prove to be too fast to allow us to escape." Naruto thought. "The best plan of attack would be to clear this mist and somehow make Zabuza release Kakashi."
"You're in quite the predicament aren't you Naruto?" Kurama called from within his mind. "You could always use my power." Naruto mentally scolded the fox.
"That's out of the question Kurama." Naruto rebutted. "That would cause too much panic."
"How about using a wind and fire jutsu combination attack to clear the mist and then forcing Zabuza to release Kakashi from the water prison with a large-scale lightning jutsu?" The fox suggested from with Naruto's mind.
"You're a genius Kurama!" Naruto exclaimed. Naruto then sighed. "Guess I'll need the assistance of emo then."
"Yea, yea just leave me be. I want to nap." The large lazy fox said while curling into a ball to prepare for sleep.
Naruto just sighed again. "Damn fox," Naruto muttered in too low of a tone for the others to hear.
"Yo emo!" Naruto shouted at his teammate. "I have a plan."
"And what would that be Naruto?" Sasuke asked really just grasping for straws at this point. The emo Uchiha had no idea what to do. He was considering engaging Zabuza head-on but quickly ruled out that option as it was far too dangerous.
"Okay let's do it then," Sasuke said kind of pumped. Sasuke didn't know why but the thought of fighting Zabuza got him excited.
"Let's," Naruto said while weaving the hand signs; Tiger, Ox, Dog, Rabbit, and finally Snake.
Sasuke was weaving the hand signs; Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.
Sasuke shouted, "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fire Ball Jutsu)!" as a large fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth.
Naruto shouted, "Fūton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!" shortly after. A large gust fueled the flames of Sasuke's fireball.
"What the hell?" Zabuza wondered aloud. "What are they trying to do?" Zabuza asked in thought. Zabuza's face showed an expression of anger. "Those damn brats.
A large scorching fireball made its way through the air towards Zabuza. The fireball looked like a miniature sun when looked at head-on. The fireball was causing the water to ripple as it made its way across the lake. The air was rapidly increasing in temperature as the fireball remained lit.
Zabuza saw the large fireball being fanned by the wind jutsu. Though both techniques were C-rank when combined it created a wildly powerful combination jutsu bordering A-rank. Zabuza blurred through hand seals once he saw the fireball coming. Zabuza performed the hand seals; Tiger, Snake, Rat, Snake, Tiger. "Suiton: Suijinheki no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Formation Wall)!" Zabuza exclaimed frantically in thought.
A wall of water formed in front of Zabuza. The wall of water looked like a wave that was frozen in time. The large fireball connected with the water wall. Neither jutsu gave way. Though the fireball jutsu is weak to water, it could still match the water jutsu from the added wind that had fanned the already large white flames.
The water and fire jutsu soon canceled each other, leaving steam blocking Zabuza's line of sight on team 7. The large cloud of steam was thick enough that only a strong wind jutsu could blow it away. "Well done," Naruto complimented Sasuke who just gave a,"hn" in response. "Now it's for phase two." Sasuke nodded in response and pulled out a demon wind shuriken.
"Let's go Naruto!" Sasuke shouted trying to draw out Zabuza's line of thought. Zabuza was slightly bewildered that the genin was launching a successful plan against him.
Zabuza snapped his head towards the direction of the sound only to be left seeing a large four-bladed shuriken heading towards him. 'How pitiful," Zabuza said in a mocking tone as he jumped over the shuriken. "What?" Zabuza asked aloud as he saw a second shuriken appear in front of him.
"God you're annoying little shits," Zabuza muttered as he caught the second shuriken. The demon wind shuriken was spinning on Zabuza's hand as he stopped it.
"Oh is that so?" Naruto asked Zabuza as he shunpoed behind him. A minor shockwave could be felt as Naruto appeared behind the ninja.
Zabuza was completely surprised to see Naruto. He had seen Naruto standing next to Sasuke. "How?" Zabuza asked. Zabuza received his answer when the Naruto beside Sasuke poofed into smoke. "You damn brat," Zabuza growled.
Naruto pulled out his mother's sword and said, "Now I'll show you the art of the shunpo." With that Naruto starting disappearing and reappearing all around Kakashi and Zabuza.
All that could be seen and heard was the sound of sonic booms as Naruto broke the sound barrier in a quite casual way. The water was being kicked up into the air with Naruto moving at such a fast pace. Nobody's eyes could follow Naruto's movements as he moved. Not even Kakashi's Sharingan could keep up with such a rapid speed.
Zabuza was completely shocked to see Naruto move at such a speed. "I can't even follow him with my eyes!" Zabuza exclaimed worriedly in thought. "He's moving at Kage level speeds!" Naruto merely smirked at the reaction slowing attaching two chains to the bottom of his swords to use as a long-range weapon.
Sasuke's jaw was completely on the floor. "How the hell?" Sasuke wondered in thought. Sasuke was simply terrified and amazed at the same time. To think that Naruto was capable of doing something of this magnitude was simply mind-boggling.
"Now!" Naruto shouted as he sent his raiton (lightning) chakra-infused swords towards Zabuza. The swords sailed through the air causing the air to seem as it was being shredded apart.
Zabuza was thinking of how to dodge the swords when he realized that he had no way of keeping Kakashi in the water prison. One of the swords was heading rapidly towards Zabuza's right wrist. If Zabuza didn't move his wrist he would lose his hand.
Zabuza made the only logical decision and jumped backward ripping his hand from the water prison, setting Kakashi free. "That damn brat!" Zabuza was seething. A mere genin had managed to launch a successful plan and force him to lose his grasp on Kakashi.
Naruto's sword sailed past the frustrated-looking Zabuza. The sword went straight into the water; the raiton (lightning) chakra dispersing right before hitting the body of water. The sword was quickly pulled backward by Naruto via the chain attached to the bottom of the sword.
The water prison surrounding Kakashi dispersed causing the man to fall into the water faced first. The water-soaked Kakashi's hair causing it to fall into a silver mop falling over his eyes. Droplets of water fell from Kakashi's hair as he caught a fast punch from Zabuza.
Kakashi caught the punch with his left hand before launching a sharp jab right into Zabuza's gut. Zabuza grunted at the force of the punch. Kakashi was done playing around now. Zabuza was about to get his ass kicked.
Kakashi's face remained neutral as he pounded Zabuza into the ground. Kakashi launched a kick right into Zabuza's right leg which made Zabuza fall to one knee only to receive a sharp uppercut in the process of falling.
Water shot up as Kakashi wailed on the poor man. Zabuza had gone after Kakash's comrades and Kakashi was not about to lose anyone else; especially the son of the Yondaime. Kakashi swore on his life that he would win.
Naruto and the rest of team 7 watched in horror as Kakashi repeatedly hit the poor man over and over again. "I can't stand to see this." Naruto muttered before shouting out, "Bakudo #6: Suimin (Sleep)!"
Kakashi heard this and started to feel somewhat drowsy. Kakashi was trying to think straight but found himself unable to. "Why do my movements feel so heav..." Kakashi thought unable to finish his thought before passing out. Kakashi fell forward when one of Naruto's clones had caught him.
"I'll end this now," Naruto muttered before whipping his swords towards Zabuza who was looking bloodied and beaten. Naruto's swords were sailing towards Zabuza when they were intercepted by a kunai. "Come out I know you're in the tree!" Naruto shouted with squinted eyes as what appeared to be a hunter ninja jumped from the tree throwing zenbon into Zabuza's neck in the process.
"A hunter nin?" Naruto wondered with his violet eyes squinted towards the ninja. "What are you doing here?" Naruto asked the ninja who was squatted on the ground getting ready to pick up the man.
The ninja merely gave Naruto a side glance before saying, "I am eliminating the target." The ninja said in an eerily calm voice. "I should thank your team for making my job easier though." Naruto simply extended his senses to see if the ninja was lying. Naruto sensed a small amount of deception but thought nothing of it as the nin had village secrets to protect.
"I'll be on my way then." The nin said before disappearing with Zabuza's dead body on their back. Leaving the majority of team 7 shocked and uncomfortable.
"Whatever," Naruto muttered before walking over to Sakura and shaking her from her trance. "Wake up dumbass!" Naruto shouted in the pink-haired bitches ear. Sakura flinched at the tone Naruto used before realizing that she was now aware of her surroundings.
"What happened here?" A horrified Sakura asked the blonde who looked like he wanted blood.
Naruto just stood there silently thinking of how to explain it. "A battle has taken place moron. Now stop standing there and get moving." Naruto practically shouted at Sakura. "Now!"
Both Sasuke and Sakura flinched at Naruto's tone. They had never seen him act like this before. They simply watched the lifeless eyes of the blonde scan the battlefield seeing that his clones had laid Kakashi and Mayumi down on top of one of their cloaks. "Thank god!" Naruto thought in relief. Naruto walked over and dispersed his clones gaining their memories. "Good they'll both be okay."
"Hey come on you three!" Naruto shouted towards Sasuke, Sakura, and the now conscious Tazuna. "We set off for Tazuna's house now. There will be no complaining or you'll be properly dealt with." Naruto explained. "This mission went from C rank to a high A rank. So be on guard."
"I'll get these two. You two walk ahead of Tazuna." Naruto explained before making a 30% clone that picked up Kakashi. The clone of Naruto picked Kakashi up in a form of bridal style which was rather difficult considering how much bigger Kakashi was than Naruto's clone.
Naruto personally picked up Mayumi with tears welling up in his eyes. "How could I let this happen? I let her get hurt even though I should have been stronger," Naruto said tears flowing down from his eyes. Yet no one noticed like normal. Why would they? No one would bother worrying about a "demon".
Naruto was clutching Mayumi tightly in his arms before he and team 7 set off to Tazuna's house. They started the long walk to Tazuna's house.
Okay, so I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I know that I differed from canon in many ways with Kakashi wailing on Zabuza in all that, but I think that I want this version of Kakashi to break character and snap a little more.
I suppose I should explain the whole Naruto keeping up with the Zabuza thing. Naruto is not at jonin level yet. He was being amped by both his zanpakuto spirits and Kurama. I just felt I should explain that. Naruto is not close to that level yet. Also, the whole moving at Kage level speeds was due to Naruto's use of the "Shunpo". Naruto is not that fast normally. His base speed without amps is around mid-high chunin level.
Also, the parts where Naruto was having sad thoughts will make sense later on. This is all caused by the trauma that he experienced as a child. This is why I purposely skipped Naruto's early childhood. I want to be able to explain a majority of it through the use of flashbacks and material for fueling the story.
Anyways I'll see you guys later. Follow, favorite, and leave a review or Ima kick your dog. Don't make me do it. Because I will. Bye, you little shits!