Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows.
This chapter was beta-ed by Jenny-Cat-Miaow.
To all those that think I should update more often since this is an adopted story, I'm getting you used to the idea that I won't be able to update every week or so no matter how much I'd like to.
Things as they are
Chapter 4
He could hear dripping. Liquid- water, perhaps? Or maybe acid? Maybe blood.
He tried to gather what he knew about the room he was in.
Dripping liquid. It had dripping liquid.
Dark. It was dark, too. With no light, none at all.
Cold- but not the cold of the underground he usually felt. This was … Bitter. Damp.
Disgusting.
Footsteps? Did he hear footsteps in the distance?
"Sasuke-kun, are you awake?"
Ironic. Such a caring phrase, yet such a sneering voice. How he hated being called –kun.
Silky, yet pure venom.
He knew only one person with that voice.
The hebi-sannin, Orochimaru.
Hate, at first. He could not describe his fury at the sannin. But before his anger had erupted completely, Orochimaru spoke.
"I suppose you know what is happening, don't you, Sasuke-kun?"
No. He wanted to say no. He wanted to spit in the hebi's face and torture him to death.
But he couldn't. He'd chosen this path, it was his to follow.
"Kukuku, Sasuke-kun, you can't speak, can you? Well, let me explain for you." The sannin began to pace around the table which Sasuke was chained to. "You are about to become an experiment."
The snake-like yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness leaned in closer, locking with the boy's Sharingan.
"My experiment."
Pain. Indescribable pain.
Then blackness.
Sasuke snapped up suddenly, hardly daring to breathe. He jerked his head around, almost expecting to see the huge glass vials filled with strange liquids and Orochimaru's face leering into his, a smug expression on his lips. Sasuke's lungs expanded, contracted, expanded, contracted-
An experiment.
The hebi...
Breathing deeply for a few minutes, he tried to calm himself down. Quiet down, Sasuke! It was... It was only a dream...
He shook his head.
Some things would never change, but for Naruto's sake, for his sake, they had to.
"Where is Kakashi-sensei?!"
Again, Sakura was whining about the tardiness of her sensei. Again, it had only been five minutes. An entirely new experience for Sasuke and one he wasn't entirely sure he liked or not.
Sasuke felt like banging his head against the tree stump he was leaning on. His nightmare had left him in a foul mood, and now Sakura's whining was causing him a headache. No, scratch that, Sakura's whining and Naruto's silence were both causing him a huge headache. "Will you mind quieting down, Sakura?" It was more of an order than a question. A tone of voice he usually reserved for when speaking to Orochimaru, Kabuto and their snivelling experiments.
She glared at him. "Baka, you have absolutely no right to order me in that tone!" Sakura placed her hands on her hips defiantly. "And I'll keep on complaining until someone," here she glanced at Naruto in a lovesick way, "tells me to stop."
Do not Chidori your teammate, do not Chidori your teammate, do not Chidori your teammate …
Naruto, as usual, ignored her, his blond hair falling over his eyes as he glared at the ground. The Uchiha averted his eyes. He still had to reach Naruto before the Chuunin Exams, but he had no idea of how to do it. I... I can't act like Naruto. That's just not me. But unless I do, how can I reach him, like he did for me? Can I just... act myself? Will it work? I only have one chance...
Sasuke snapped his head up suddenly, sensing a chakra signature on the left. Strange; it was hardly suppressed, and almost seemed flaunted. He raised an eyebrow. Surely Kakashi-sensei wasn't that stupid? Had he done that the first time around?
"Hey!" Not Kakashi-sensei's greeting.
A man walked out of the woods. Uchiha was the first thought that came to Sasuke's mind. Short, spiky black hair, and ridiculous translucent orange goggles tied roughly where his hitai-ate should've been, or rather over it. He had this strange vibe about him that made Sasuke think of Naruto and that was weird.
Sasuke blinked. He didn't know this person at all. Should he just "wing it"? Was he supposed to know this person?
The female kunoichi of Team 7 glared at the man. "Who are you?" She asked, observing him closely. "You're not our sensei."
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, then laughed. "I'm the Uchiha Obito!" Obito? Why did that sound familiar?
Sakura's eyes twitched. " 'The'?" She asked skeptically.
"Ehhh..." He gave a lopsided grin.
Sasuke tried to smile at this "Obito" person, but only managed a slight twitch of his lips. He noticed Sakura doing the same, but Naruto gave the man the angriest glare the blond could manage. He knew the Uchiha, personally.
Obito's face fell flat, and he groaned. "Great- two Kakashis!" But then he brightened- "Nice, a Rin!" He said, glancing at Sakura. "But I thought Sasuke-kun was supposed to be more like me?"
Suddenly, a voice from the trees on the left. "Shut it, Obito. What are you doing with my team?" Kakashi's voice was like steel, but the Uchiha with the goggles seemed used to it.
"Aww, Kakashi, you ruined everything..." Obito whined.
Sasuke blinked. This man seemed almost like the old Naruto, to an extent. With Kakashi-sensei like this, whatever this was, it reminded the younger Uchiha of himself and his own Naruto.
Kakashi rolled his one visible eye and joined Obito in front of his team. "Obito, you can watch if you want, but don't interfere."
"Whatever." Sasuke never thought he'd see a grown man pout AND an Uchiha no less.
"And now," the silver-haired Jounin turned to his new team, "your survival training will start." He took two bells out of his back pocket and dangled them in front of the Genin. "I have two bells here. If you get a bell before noon, you can have lunch. But if you don't get a bell, you fail the test- and I'll tie you up to one of those posts over there," he pointed to three tall, wooden posts behind them, "and you will watch me eat lunch."
Sakura gulped, then noticed something odd. "But sensei, there are only two bells."
Kakashi cocked his head and smirked. "Well, then one person is guaranteed to be tied up and sent back to the Academy."
All three Genin widened their eyes in terror, fervently hoping they wouldn't be the victims, Sasuke only because he'd been through this before and this new Kakashi was unknown to him.
Sasuke breathed quietly, hoping Kakashi-sensei wouldn't hear his steady breaths. He'd already suppressed his chakra to a level which would hide him from most Genin. Of course he expected Kakashi-sensei to notice him, but if Sasuke had suppressed his chakra to a level which would hide him from most Jounin, his sensei would become suspicious at his sudden "disappearance."
And the last thing Sasuke needed was for Kakashi to become suspicious.
But he didn't like losing. Still this test was never about the bells. He knew that but how would he convince the others of that? Sakura would do whatever Naruto did. Once again Sasuke was stuck with the sense of frustration, a frustration that he realised Naruto, his one anyway, had been faced with for most of his life.
The silence was tense. Though he had improved greatly under the tutelage of Orochimaru himself, the Uchiha boy still wasn't sure if he could take down Kakashi-sensei, a Jounin and ex-ANBU, by himself. Especially at the level he was at now. This wasn't the point of the exercise, he knew that and he had to remember that, but if Kakashi got to Naruto or Sakura before him...
A shrill scream interrupted his thoughts, and he jerked his head towards the noise. Darn, he's already got Sakura...
Only one thought ran through his mind as he raced through the trees.
I have to find Naruto before Kakashi gets to him.
"Naruto."
Naruto, startled, jumped back from the voice. He relaxed when he saw it was Sasuke, but still held a wary glare.
"Naruto, we have to work together on this."
"And why should I do that?"
Sasuke winced. Maybe I should've started differently... "Why do you think they put us into teams?"
"It's probably just a trick."
The dobe was being so stubborn... Naruto, at least the one from this reality, seemed to have the potential to figure out this test but his arrogance was getting in the way. Sasuke swallowed his pride. "Please, you just have to trust me on this." He stepped forward. "Please."
Naruto could hardly believe it. He checked for a henge, but found there was none. Sasuke, the dead last, was actually begging for help?
Sasuke pressed on. "I know the purpose of this test. I asked one of my relatives about it and they gave me a hint." He was lying, but he didn't care. He just needed Team 7 to pass the test. He didn't know what he'd do if Naruto called him out on being disowned.
The blond considered the idea, then rolled his eyes. It would be the first and last time he'd do something like this. He had to become a genin so that he could progress. "Fine."
"Then this is what we'll do..." Too bad Sasuke couldn't use all his skills.
Kakashi did not like to wait. In fact, it irritated him every time he had to. And now he was irritated. Very irritated.
Simply put, there had not been any action since the beginning of the test, when Sasuke had "challenged" him before disappearing into the forest. He did not count Sakura's failure to recognize genjutsu action.
"You think they have a chance of passing?" Obito asked from a bench, interrupting his thoughts. The Uchiha was lounging around, getting just as bored at the other Jonin, only his relief was to annoy said Jonin since he didn't have to keep an eye out for pesky genin.
The silver-haired Jounin shrugged. "If they pass, they pass; if they fail, they fail. It doesn't matter what I think."
Obito rolled his eyes. "But still, what do you think? Do you think they're promising enough?"
A sigh. "I have the extremes- the best and the worst in the class, matched with the average. Naruto, though sensei's son, seems the complete opposite of him. He's dark, moody, and overall inconsiderate of others. Sasuke, the Uchiha, is supposed to be the "dead last" of the Academy, but seems serious and mature enough. Minato-sensei also said he almost outran his ANBU." Obito's eyes widened in surprise, before recognition dawned and he muttered something about Shisui, and Kakashi continued on. "Finally, Sakura..." Another sigh. "She's all over Naruto and all under being a Shinobi. Not a good combination."
Obito snorted. "Figures, just like Rin was all over you in the Academy. Still she was serious enough about being a ninja." The he dropped the grin. "But the dead last... almost outran ANBU? And sensei's personal ANBU, to boot? Either he's hiding something, or the Academy's graduating level has jumped exponentially the last few years." He rubbed his temples.
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I visited the Academy a few months ago to pick something up. It hasn't grown in level at all- it's still the same. Personally, I don't see how Sasuke could have outrun ANBU. I looked at all of his scores for the Academy, and they average about D-."
"Even in speed?"
"Even in speed. Perhaps the ANBU are starting to get soft. Peace does not do us any favours." Us – ANBU.
Obito shook his head in disbelief, and ignoring the ANBU comment. It was ridiculous. Those guys were expected to be at the top of their game at all times. "Then he's hiding something." He glanced up, his expression filled with fear. "Do you think... it... got out?"
The other shook his head. "I checked for signs of demonic chakra, but found none. Sasuke is himself, though I don't see how he could have that extreme level of speed."
"Strange..."
Without warning, a few kunai were thrown out of the forest, aimed at Kakashi, but the Jounin quickly took out his own kunai and blocked the others without trouble. They weren't thrown with enough force. Both Naruto and Sasuke leaped out of the forest, and Kakashi, quick as always, struck both of them with the flat of his hand-
But they disappeared into smoke.
Bunshin... These Genin are better than the other teams. But are they what I'm looking for? After all Bunshin and henge could mean only one genin, but which one?
Sasuke leaped out of the forest on his right, and Kakashi was surprised- the "dead last's" speed did match that of ANBU's. But there was no time to think about that. Naruto had sprung out on his left, fast, but not as fast as Sasuke. Kakashi prepared to deal with them with taijutsu. He wouldn't resort to ninjutsu unless necessary, and his specialty was not genjutsu, but it just might be Sasuke's since he was an Uchiha … but he didn't have the Sharingan, at least that's what the reports said.
Obito was shocked into silence and awe; the two Genin were far better than expected, especially from the "dead last." The two were working flawlessly together. When one feinted, the other struck, and together they were slowly taking Kakashi down. It was almost as though they had worked together before, but reports said they hated each other. Activating his Sharingan, Obito noticed that it was Sasuke that was working in conjunction with Naruto? It was Sasuke that was making the teamwork flawless.
Too bad it wasn't an only-taijutsu match.
Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu! Kakashi quickly formed the seals for the fire jutsu. Both of the Genin's eyes widened, but Sasuke, having the faster reflexes, pushed his friend out of harm's way. The large fireball was closing in on Sasuke, and for a moment the Jounin thought it would hit his new student.
But Sasuke, as usual, had a surprised for everyone.
At first it seemed like the Kaiten; then after, it seemed as if not. Sasuke, having decided he wouldn't be able to survive the Goukakyuu without using one of his high-levelled jutsus, or using his own fireball which would result only in a larger explosion, performed a jutsu derived from the Kaiten, except in mid-air. The spinning air quickly deflected the fire and dissipated the fireball within a few seconds.
It isn't possible, Kakashi thought, but there it is.
He noticed the spinning Sasuke had just performed the bunshin no jutsu and sent it behind Kakashi.
He also noticed its hands were reaching for the bells. Bunshin, unless made out of something like mud or water, couldn't actually touch anything. Unless it was a shadow clone. What was the Uchiha playing at?
But then he noticed Sasuke's pupils flash crimson red for a moment, then disappear. Sharingan...Or was it just a trick of the light? Whatever it was, it served to distract him and perhaps that's all that it had really been intended to do.
He felt something on his hip. Right where the bells were- he wasn't a jonin for nothing and he wasn't going to lose to the supposed 'dead last' of the Academy!
Kakashi snapped his arm towards the bunshin and it exploded into a smoke ball. Mentally, he let out a sigh. That has got to be the first time a Genin has gotten that close to getting a bell from him.
Indeed, this "dead last" Uchiha Sasuke was definitely someone to look into.
Sasuke breathed hard, his lungs gasping in air. He noticed Obito and Naruto gaping at him and Kakashi's one eye scrutinizing him suspiciously.
He cursed. I knew I shouldn't have done that...
But a voice in the back of his head resisted: If you hadn't, Naruto would've been scorched!
Still...
Isn't it worth it to save the dobe?
Growling in frustration Sasuke jerked his head away from the others so they wouldn't see the battle of emotions raging in his eyes. He wasn't as skilled as he'd been in his own world but he was definitely above average, way better than when he'd been a genin the first time and wondered if he could still use all the techniques he'd been working on.
Still, was displaying those skills to save the not-so-dobe dobe?
Sasuke decided it was. He was about to give a plausible explanation for his unexpected move when suddenly a sharp, repeating bell rang out through the clearing. Mentally, he swore. We still didn't get the bells... but we did use teamwork. Does that mean we pass, or not? Is this new Kakashi enough like the old one to pass us?
"Well," Kakashi started, "do you now know the reason for this test?"
"Was it teamwork?" Darn Naruto, stealing Sasuke's answers. At least Sasuke never took credit when it wasn't due. He sneered in distaste at the blond.
"Correct. Genin, if they worked together, could theoretically take a Jonin down. Since you two teamed up, you two pass." Kakashi's eye formed a slight crescent.
"But sensei," Naruto started, "we didn't get a bell. What do you mean, we pass?" And they called Sasuke the dobe. There was the Naruto he knew and loved to hate.
"The bells were never the objective of the mission. Look beneath the underneath. The true meaning was teamwork. And since you two did that, both of you pass."
"But what about Sakura?" Sasuke asked, fearful all three wouldn't be passed and therefore change the future. He couldn't predict the future of a different timeline. But this fear was unfounded. It had to be. Still, this Kakashi was not his Kakashi. "A genin team is three!" Sasuke added with a protest and saw an odd yet surprised gleam in Kakashi's visible eye.
"Sakura, I'm afraid, has failed. She will be tied up to one of the poles, while you two will get lunch." Kakashi seemed not to care.
A voice came from the far corner of the clearing: "Who will get what?"
Sakura grinned and waved. "I broke out of the genjutsu, Kakashi-sensei! Now what?"
Everyone sweatdropped at the pink-haired kunoichi.
"Ehh, what did I do?"
"I don't care what you say. Genin teams are three. Sakura passes or we all go back to the Academy!" Sasuke wasn't sure where the outburst had come from but it was there and it was surprising everyone, including himself.
"Didn't he request to be on your team because of Sakura?" Obito whispered to Kakashi whose eye twitched.
"If that's true then I'll eat my own mask." Kakashi deadpanned.
"Oooo, Sasuke-kun, why did you request to be placed on Team 7?" Obito asked gleefully.
"Yuuhi's team was not in my skill set." Sasuke replied shortly. "Team 7 also has Hatake as the jonin sensei. He is the jonin most suited to my fighting style."
"Well that was unexpected. Who knew there was actually a poor misguided soul out there that truly wanted to be around your arrogant ass Kakashi? Don't worry Sasuke-kun, I'll save you from your deluded misconceptions of this baka." Obito laughed when Kakashi sent him a withering glare.
"If that's the way you see things Obito, then why the hell are you still bugging the shit out of me?" Kakashi snapped but internally he was thinking that unexpected just didn't seem to be adequate enough when it concerned a certain Uchiha.
Obito and Kakashi walked away from the training ground, both of them more than a little stunned. Kakashi was trying to wrap his head around the fact that Sasuke had been so different from the report and was starting to understand why his sensei had made the switch.
Obito was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Kakashi had actually passed a team. How could he not when they'd worked together so flawlessly?
"It was all Sasuke, wasn't it?" Kakashi asked quietly, looking to Obito with a sideways glance. Obito was walking on Kakashi's right so that he wasn't in the other jonin's blind spot.
"With the teamwork? Yeah it was. It was like he knew how Naruto-kun would fight." Obito replied. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I mean what if he's a spy right, and his whole aim is to get close enough to the Hokage."
"If that were the case then what about the last twelve years? He's been the open favourite of Minato-sensei's for years. No, it's not an assassination plot, it's different." Kakashi mused.
"Maybe we're all over thinking things here. This is Sasuke-kun we're talking about right, and he is an Uchiha. Then there's that sealed within him. It could be making a difference. Not to mention, Sasuke-kun is the younger brother of Itachi-kun. There had to be some family resemblance." Obito suggested.
"But why hide?" Kakashi countered.
"Didn't he say it was because everyone hates him?"
Kakashi didn't reply. They'd reached the jonin station where all the jonin sensei had planned to meet to give the results of their individual tests. Kakashi sighed and mentally prepared himself for a lot of irritation. This was going to get bothersome.
Obito grabbed his arm and yanked him inside. "Hey everybody! You're never going to believe this!" he announced as he walked in, dragging a reluctant Kakashi.
"Let me guess, Kakashi failed his team, again. Man I'd hate to be the Hokage when he gets home tonight." Asuma chuckled.
"Wrong! Kakashi passed them! Sasuke-kun figured out the meaning behind the test and oh so skilfully got Naruto to work with him. You guys should have seen it. It was amazing." Obito gushed dramatically. Personally Kakashi thought he was over doing it but that was Obito for you. He never did anything like a normal sane person would.
Several people choked on their coffee while others dropped things they'd been holding. Mostly though, they stared at Kakashi in shock.
"What? I couldn't fail them after that." Kakashi very nearly pouted. "Besides, Sasuke did some rather interesting things. I want to see what else he can do."
"But Hatake-san, I thought that Sasuke-kun was more of a tracking kind?" Yuuhi asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah, so did we. But he's more of a frontal attack type. Doesn't really wait in the shadows. He started the test by coming right at me." Kakashi replied with a frown. "But now that I think about it, it was like he was doing it …" Kakashi's voice trailed off and Obito's eyes widened.
"Like he was doing it for old time's sake." Obito finished. "He wasn't really focusing on the spar. His attention was on the trees where Naruto-kun and the pink haired one was hiding. Not very well I might add."
"Things just get worse and worse." Kakashi sighed. "And now I actually have to teach them."
"I don't want to freak you out Kakashi, but I gotta tell you. I think Sasuke-kun has been stalking you." Obito suddenly whispered overly loudly and with too much dramatic flair. Kakashi narrowed his gaze at the Uchiha who grinned back.
"And why do you think that?" Kakashi deadpanned.
"Cause he fights just like you do. Well when he's not using the Uchiha style, which by the way is very sloppy. It never was quite as effective when one doesn't have a Sharingan. Anyways, there were some moves in there that weren't from you or the Uchiha style, but that could just be improvisation but I don't think so. He was too thoughtless in the action, instinctual. It's really kind of creepy when I think about just how much he reminds me of your fighting style when you were still a jackass and started to copy the Uchiha style just to piss me off." Obito explained.
Kakashi sighed. He really hated it when the genin teams surprised him. However, this was the first time they'd over exceeded his expectations.
"He's better at this underneath the underneath thing than you are my Eternal Rival." Gai said with his eyes wide. "I did not think it was possible."
"We'll just have to wait and see." Kakashi dismissed, folding his arms across his chest to indicate he was done with this conversation. He would have been out of here long ago but he had to wait for Minato sensei. Things were going to get very interesting indeed.
"Naruto, at point A. Target is in sight."
"Sasuke, at point B. Target is also in sight."
"Sakura, at point C. Target... in sight."
"Good. Close in and capture target."
Sasuke shook his head as he tried to keep his concentration. He had stayed up late the previous night, reviewing some scrolls he'd found in his apartment. So far he'd found nothing interesting but if he took into consideration that he was supposed to be like Naruto in this reality, then any scrolls he deemed worthy of keeping had to have something either completely useless or utterly golden in them. But so far, nothing. That exhaustion plus the pure boredom of continuous D-ranked missions was beginning to eat at his attention span, which was already dwindling.
As Sasuke listened to Obito-san's hardly-disguised chuckles, absentmindedly he wondered if D-ranked missions were created for the amusement of the Jounin senseis.
A shrill meow rang out through the forest, alerting the Uchiha boy that the target, a.k.a. Tora the cat, was caught. And a few minutes earlier than estimated, by his watch. Well finally, he was about to die of boredom.
He moved in, pushing aside a few bushes blocking his sight. The view was as expected. Sakura was comforting the cat, while it tried to squirm free. Considering what he knew of that cat he certainly didn't blame the darn thing. If this wasn't a mission, he'd actually set it free out of pity. The Uchiha did typically summon ninja cats after all.
Though when it caught sight of Sasuke, Tora suddenly decided a new target had appeared.
He tried to push the clawing menace away from his face- Not the eyes, not the eyes!- with little success. Suddenly, Tora's fate didn't seem to sadden the Uchiha all that much.
Sasuke shuddered as Sakura finally took pity on him and lifted the cat away.
I really, really hate cats. Well, that cat anyway.
"What mission do you want next? There's walking dogs, helping out at a home, babysitting, painting some fences, village chores, planting the tomato crops, harvesting the bean crops..." The Yondaime's voice droned on. While tomatoes were Sasuke's favourite, he just didn't think he liked them enough to actually plant them. He actually almost considered it though, just so that he could get a few seeds and start his own little tomato patch, seeing as the stores didn't sell him anything worth eating.
It seemed as if Team 7 were almost asleep due to the man's low tone, however, Sasuke was thinking a matter over, a more important matter than that of tomato plants. If I interrupt him and ask for a better ranked mission, we'll go on a mission to Wave Country. Yet, if I don't, we get stuck with more D-ranked missions.
...Is there even a competition?
He glanced at the pile of papers the blond was shuffling.
Well, I guess I'd better start my outburst...
Acting Naruto-like is so not me. Oh man, this gets more embarrassing every time I do it …
"Hey, Minato-oyaji!"
Minato looked up at the excitable Uchiha. For once, he was glad to see the boy acting like himself. "What is it, Sasuke-kun?" He asked, a smile tugging at his lips. If I know Sasuke-kun, then he's bored of these D-ranked missions.
"I'm bored of these annoying missions! Can't we do something cooler, not that tomatoes aren't cool and all but come on!? This is getting ridiculous. I'm too awesome for these kinds of missions. I need something with action! I need something with princesses–"
Kakashi promptly silenced the boy with a slap on the back of the head and Sasuke could cry for the relief he felt. That acting was starting to require far too little effort on his part. "Disregard his rudeness, Sensei." Kakashi really was so much more respectful in this reality. Man, it was almost annoying.
"But, aren't you tired of these missions, too?" Sasuke whined, faking tears, which unsurprisingly had no effect on the silver-haired Jounin.
Kakashi narrowed his eye. "That is beside the point. Genin take D-ranks and as your sensei, so do I."
"You are, aren't you, Kakashi-sensei? That 'rules are everything' crap is only an act, isn't it? I bet you'd love nothing better than to grab one of those weird little orange books and read it to your heart's content, no matter where you are. And being on time has got to be a pain in the ass–"
"Silence!" An enraged yell from Iruka shut Sasuke up quickly. "Genin aren't supposed to do C-ranked missions! Those are reserved for Chuunin only! Do you understand, Sasuke?"
"Yeah, yeah," Sasuke waved his hand dismissively. "Back to the point! Can we do one, Minato-oyaji? Please? Please? Puh-leeze?" Interestingly enough, Kakashi was silent as a crypt about Sasuke's earlier statements. Maybe Sasuke would get him an Icha Icha as a present.
"You disgraceful-" Iruka's face was reddening. Man that guy had a temper.
Minato held a chuckle in. Sasuke was rather amusing, he admitted that. He somehow brought the best out of everyone... even if they were unwilling to admit it. "Sure, Sasuke-kun, I have just the C-ranked mission for you." And really, the mission he had in mind would be perfect. It would satisfy Sasuke and Iruka.
Sasuke's face turned gleeful, while Iruka shouted indignantly, "What? Hokage-sama, you cannot be serious!"
"I am," Minato's eyes sparkled with excitement. "if Team 7 agrees." Jip, it would be perfect. It was hardly more than a babysitting job after all. Kakashi might just hate him for it but oh well.
Sasuke immediately gave his consent. "Hai, I'm ready!"
Naruto tilted his head, and Minato took it as another consent. If only that boy had a little more expression, something a little more like Sasuke, well more like the way Sasuke had been. It saddened him to think that he now had two, wait counting Kakashi made three stoic individuals that were precious to him.
Sakura, seeing her crush's decision, agreed as well. "If Naruto-kun wants to do the mission," she blushed, "then I will, too."
Kakashi, though, was silent for a few moments, his expression unreadable. Finally, "Genin are not supposed to do C-ranked missions. Is this wise?" he asked. Ah, back to the rules again. Sasuke was sooo getting him an Icha Icha book. That book was going to haunt his sensei until he accepted it.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
The silver-haired Jounin sighed. There was no getting around him, was there? "No, Sensei. I agree to the mission."
"Good!" Minato leaned back in his chair with a large grin, like he hadn't just levelled his best jonin with a glare cold enough to freeze hellfire. "Iruka, give Kakashi the information slip."
Iruka, thankfully without protesting, handed the man a slip of paper- though grudgingly. "I still wish you hadn't..." he muttered.
"You will be escorting someone to the Land of the Wave." Minato smiled at Sasuke's shining eyes, never guessing the boy was acting his excitement. On the inside, Sasuke wanted to groan. There had always been the off chance that the mission had been given to some other team or that it had taken place next week. But as luck would have it, it was this week, on this day, in this particular hour.
How fun.
"Who will we escort, oyaji? A princess, maybe? Someone royal, I hope!" Sasuke jumped up and down in anticipation. Outwardly smiling like a fool, but inwardly the Uchiha was thinking of ways to calm down by imagining all those that he'd like to throttle. Wasn't so bad when he thought if it that way. Oh look, there went Orochimaru, ah Kabuto, he would not be missed, ooo now it was this weird ass Naruto who never smiled . . .
"Tazuna-san," Minato called, "you may come in now."
Team 7 turned towards the door behind them. A man, roughly built and raggedly-dressed, walked in. He held a sake bottle in one hand and a towel in the other, draped casually over his shoulder. His grey beard and bespectacled face only brought the three Genin back to reality.
Sasuke's face fell dramatically. They were definitely not escorting someone royal and he would know.
"These three kids are escorting me?" he asked incredulously. Tazuna, as Hokage-sama had addressed him, pointed at Sasuke. "Hey, is that one with the stupid face really a ninja? 'Cause he sure doesn't look like one."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes in anger, but said nothing. Still he had to wonder how it was possible that he looked like the stupid one in this reality when he was acting no different from the last time and in his reality Naruto had been the stupid looking one. Minato and Iruka's eyebrows raised simultaneously. Sasuke was not usually one for restraint in situations like these and there probably went the little bit of comfort the Hokage felt around him. Now he was just going to be even more suspicious and if Sasuke kept falling into the 'act like Naruto' bit, the Yondaime was going to catch on and realise that he could switch it on and off like a light switch. It would not end well.
A tense silence reigned as Team 7 digested the insult. Kakashi, as a rule, did not like people making derogatory remarks about his team (it was his only team and it was by extension insulting him), though his expression stayed the same. Naruto stared with indifference, and Sakura couldn't have cared less. Seeing their reactions clenched at Sasuke's heart, but he gritted his teeth in silence.
Tazuna rolled his eyes, unimpressed at their control of emotions. "I'll be going to the Country of the Wave. Hope you gakis aren't too scared of water."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "We are ninjas, Tazuna-san, not kids to be babied. Whatever it takes to get you there, we will do it." Sasuke knew better than anyone just where this mission was headed. Straight for the A-ranks. At least there was something there.
"Whatever," Tazuna shrugged.
Kakashi turned to his team. "Tomorrow, eight o'clock, at the East Gate. Don't dawdle." And with those instructions, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Sasuke held back a snort and wondered if he should be late, just for the hell of it.
Minato watched the three Genin walk out of the room. He leaned back, and absentmindedly, he wondered how they would hold up. He was a little saddened when Sasuke-kun didn't look back as he left.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when Sasuke-kun poked his head through the door and grinned mischievously as though he knew that Minato wasn't expecting this, "Thanks for the mission Minato-oyaji." Then he was gone again.
The Hokage sighed and wondered just how many more surprises that boy was going to throw at him.
"Sakura."
Sakura turned, finding the person she least expected. "Sasuke-baka," she hissed, "What do you want?"
Sasuke's eyes held a blank stare. "Sakura." Yet inwardly, he found himself asking, once again, how the hell Naruto had put up with it and why he ever liked Sakura in the first place?
She was surprised at the lack of the -chan he usually added to her name. Now he sounded strange; like it was a whole different person speaking. The kunoichi crossed her arms in annoyance a disdainful expression came over her face.
Though, whatever she was expecting Sasuke to say did not come. Instead …
"Sakura, are you a Shinobi or not?"
It wasn't a question. It was a statement. You're not a Shinobi was the hidden message behind the question, like he knew something she didn't. Those eyes said it all. Sasuke's bold, onyx eyes narrowed at her, challenging her, sneering at her, mocking her-
"Why you-" Sakura fisted her hand and drew back for a punch. An automatic reflex where Sasuke was involved.
But Sasuke was behind her before she knew it. His grip on her wrist was iron-like, fierce and unmerciful. Sakura could feel his hot breaths on her neck.
When had he gotten so fast? He'd always been beaten by Naruto-kun and she'd always landed her punches before … before graduation.
"By the way you fawn over Naruto, I'd think you were a simple lovesick girl. And I'm beginning to think that's right."
She tried to twist out of his grip, but her efforts were in vain.
"Naruto doesn't care about anyone who doesn't try hard to be a Shinobi. All he cares about is strength." That was assuming Naruto was exactly as he'd been when he was younger.
Tears leaked out of her eyes. He's right, her Inner Self told her. Naruto-kun doesn't care...
"You have to train hard to be a Shinobi. One of the best. It's not something you can simply answer, like a test. It's a way of life. The answers don't come in a textbook and can't be recited."
Naruto-kun doesn't care...
"Train harder. Only then will Naruto acknowledge you."
He doesn't...
The iron-like grip was released, and Sakura fell forward, breathing deep, uneven breaths.
He doesn't care about people who don't try hard to be a Shinobi.
Am I... like that?
She turned around, only to see Sasuke had disappeared.
Train harder.
She gripped the edge of the kunai she had taken out.
It's true, only then...
Sakura lifted it to the back of her head. One hand held a fistful of hair, while the other gripped the kunai, shaking.
A single slice.
A single stroke.
Pink hair fluttered down to the ground. A momentary decision that felt right.
...will he acknowledge me.
The next day, Sakura came to the East Gate with her cherry pink hair cropped at shoulder-length.
To any dignified kunoichi, such as Yamanaka Ino, the act she had done the previous night would have seemed like a scandal, no less than a heinous crime. Naruto, as usual, gave the new haircut one glance and then looked away. He had no time for lovesick fangirls such as a certain two blond and pink haired kunoichi. Sasuke gave Sakura an approving look before he too looked away. Kakashi made no outward sign of noticing the hairstyle, and Tazuna had not yet arrived.
The pink-haired kunoichi sighed. At least they didn't say anything negative, right? Especially Naruto-kun. But he should've at least smiled a bit! That boy doesn't know anything about how hard it is to be a kunoichi! Lately, Sakura noticed her Inner Self had become quite active in conversations.
Naruto never smiled. So why would now be any different. Now that Sasuke had confronted her, she realised just how much of a fool she'd been, just how she must seem to Naruto.
She started to walk over to Naruto, but then remembered Sasuke's words.
"Sakura, are you a Shinobi or not?"
"By the way you fawn over Naruto, I'd think you were a simple lovesick girl. And I'm beginning to think that's right."
"Naruto doesn't care about anyone who doesn't try hard to be a Shinobi."
Sakura froze midstep, then backed away from her crush and instead stood a few yards away from him. She crossed her arms, but said nothing, and stared at the ground. Kakashi rose a single eyebrow at the new development. Any day Sakura decided not to proclaim her love to Naruto was a special day indeed; but he said nothing, as he did not wish to ruin the peaceful lull that had come over the four Shinobi.
The three Genin found something very interesting with the ground for the next few minutes. Sasuke mentally sighed, finding the silence straining. He felt the urge to break it, since it clashed with his expectations and memories of his team but he was stubborn. He would not be the one to break the silence. That was Naruto's job.
But … in this world, he was Naruto.
"Ohayo, gaki!" Tazuna, their client, jogged up to the group. He was dressed as before: ragged clothes and a sake bottle in hand. "Let's go!"
Silence greeted him, but Kakashi rose and joined Tazuna. Slowly, the Genin did as well - Sakura first, then Sasuke, then finally Naruto. Sasuke figured that Naruto and Sakura didn't think much of Tazuna or his mission. He suspected that Kakashi had already figured something was up with the man but wasn't certain about it, and could possibly be chalking up suspicions up to a case of paranoia. Sasuke, however, knew better.
As the group began walking out of Konohagakure, Tazuna's high spirits were somewhat dampened by the silent Shinobi. When he had requested escorts, he hadn't expected a group of regular ice blocks. What was it with Shinobi and their 'no emotions' rule?
Tazuna brightened when he heard Sakura speak up: "Kakashi-sensei, are there Shinobi in the Country of the Wave?" Maybe he wouldn't be the only one talking.
"No."
Or maybe he would.
Sasuke mentally wondered if he should ask the same questions from before, but decided against it seeing as he already knew the answers, assumed the other two already knew them seeing as it was Naruto, the Rookie of the Year and Sakura, the regular know it all in anything theoric, and if they didn't know he didn't care enough to bug the grumpy Jonin into telling them.
Icha Icha was so on his to do list …
Kakashi did not pause when he noticed the conspicuous puddle of water lying on the road, but that did not mean he did not notice it.
A puddle on the road? It had not rained for days.
His hand slowly reached for a kunai and he readied himself for a fight.
Sasuke had foreknowledge of the Demon Brothers' attack, of course, but what should he do? Naruto had frozen up with fear, in the original timeline; should he also? Or should he fight?
His expression formed into somewhat of a smirk.
Of course he would fight. What type of question was that?
Naruto narrowed his sapphire eyes. He knew something was off. That puddle back there; it wasn't a real one, was it? He gripped a kunai he had hidden in his pocket.
He was no ordinary Genin, after all.
He could fight.
Sakura felt uneasy. She couldn't state exactly why; something put her on edge, and she couldn't concentrate. But she would be ready.
After all, she wasn't weak...
Was she?
It all happened so quickly.
Chains wrapped around Kakashi and tightened in on a mass of blood and flesh, breaking through with a sickening crunch.
"One down," a menacing voice called. The Demon Brothers were here.
Sasuke knew he needed to act, and to act fast. "Sakura, guard Tazuna-san!" He ordered. Rushing at the two Chuunin, he drew out a dull kunai, mentally noting that he'd have to buy some new ones when he returned. He slashed at one's chained glove, forcing chakra in to the blade since it was so blunt it was almost useless. One end of the long chain snapped in half, then wrapping around the other Demon Brother. Sasuke, with a quick leap and a strong roundhouse kick, sent both of the brothers into a tree.
And then it was done.
The fight, the one Naruto was supposed to take part in, was over.
And that - that dobe - had just hogged up all of the glory.
How dare he.
Anger came before reason, in Naruto's case. All he saw was his missed opportunity, not the skill that Sasuke should not have had.
"Naruto-kun, are you okay?" a breathless Sakura rushed up to the blond, unable to suppress her fangirlism. He shrugged her off, still seething over Sasuke's show.
He is worthy of my rivalry... When did that happen? Naruto found himself wondering to himself when the level of the fight and the one who had been fighting finally wormed its way through his answer.
Sasuke was stronger than him. Sasuke of all people, was better than he was. He was faster for one thing, having acted and dismantled their attackers before Naruto could even react. Still Sasuke had seemed disappointed with himself, as though he wasn't satisfied.
He would surpass the Uchiha, no matter what, and then go on to surpass his Otou-san.
I will surpass...
Sasuke mentally kicked himself. He was supposed to be a Genin, the dead last of the Academy. How could he have revealed his talents - albeit only a slight fraction - of what he could do? And with Kakashi, the all-seeing Copy Nin Kakashi, there, it only secured the Hoakge's suspicions.
After all, Genin weren't supposed to be able to perform the Kaiten in mid-air.
Genin weren't supposed to be able to pinpoint Chuunins' positions.
Genin weren't supposed to be able to defeat Chuunin, period. And two of them at that.
Sasuke sighed.
He knew Kakashi was going to have a little "talk" with him when they reached the Country of the Wave.
Kakashi had not been killed, of course; ex-ANBU had more skill than that. As soon as he had seen the suspicious-looking puddle, he had gone on guard immediately. And when the Demon Brothers had appeared, he had performed kawamiri. The Demon Brothers were down, as he expected.
But what he did not expect was Sasuke's sudden burst of power and skill. More so than what he had displayed during the bell test. Kakashi chalked that off to trying to lower his skill so that he was on par with Naruto and in so doing was working together with him and meeting the teamwork requirement.
Suddenly the boy improved in less than a split second - and took down the two Chuunin single-handedly.
Something told him Sasuke had been hiding his skill for quite some time. Perhaps even since Kakashi had met him. How could he have missed it? The nervous glances, the sudden changes, the incident at the Uchiha compound, his unexpected aced final exam.
Has he unlocked the Sharingan yet, I wonder?
He wanted answers.
And when Hatake Kakashi wanted answers, he wouldn't stop until he got them.
"Tazuna-san."
The bridge builder looked up in a mix of annoyance, apprehensiveness, and fear.
Fear at being discovered, Kakashi thought. So I am right.
"You may be wondering why I left my Genin team to fight the Demon Brothers." Which they - or rather, Sasuke - handled quite well, Kakashi added silently. The bridge builder made no implication that he did. "I had to see who they were after, since it could have been me, a Jonin with a rather large bounty on his head, it could have been Naruto, given his parentage, and it could have been Sasuke for a number of reason. And then, lastly, it could have been you." His onyx, all-perceptive eyes seemed to stare straight through Tazuna, who gave an involuntary shudder. "Why were the Demon Brothers after you?"
Kakashi's tone left no room for protests, and Tazuna decided honesty would be his best policy. He sighed. "For a long time, Gatou - I'm sure you know who he is -"
"Who is he, sensei?" Sakura interrupted.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Gatou, a wealthy businessman. I've known about him since he first came into power."
Sakura mouthed a silent 'oh' and motioned Tazuna to continue on. He cleared his throat. "Well, as I was saying..."
Mist was not uncommon in the Country of the Wave. Clearly the name of the land stated so. But this mist... It was odd. Not quite wet, far too thick - and a certain tingly feeling which made Kakashi on guard.
Also was the fact that the entire mist had formed in less than a minute. A glance at Sasuke only strengthened his tension, since the supposed genin was more on guard than he was. While he was suspicious, Sasuke was expectant, like he knew something they did not.
"Hatake Kakashi, also known as the Second White Fang of Konoha." A deep voice, slightly muffled by cloths. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the name, adding it to his list of differences.
He knew that man. That zanbanto, there was only one like it. "Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Mist."
"I'm honoured that you know me."
The voice came from another part of the mist. Inwardly, Kakashi hit himself for detaining the blindfolded training he had meant to do. He depended far too much on his eyes, but in this mist they were near useless.
But Kakashi - one of the best - was not going to back down at all. He was ex-ANBU, and still had some of his pride to retain. "If you know me, Zabuza, then you should know my background. Do you wish to challenge one of Konoha's best?"
Hollow laughter. "Your bark is worse than your bite, for those who have not much bite tend to bark louder. Isn't that right, Kakashi?" More laughter mocked Kakashi.
"I see you will not back down."
"Do not try to stop me. All I need to do is kill that old man over there and my job will be done. But if you get in the way..." the voice trailed off.
Kakashi responded by dropping into his regular fighting stance.
"I see there is no way to stop you."
An eyebrow-less man's face came into view.
"Then let us see who is the stronger."
Namikaze Minato, though his duties as the Yondaime Hokage were taxing, liked to relax every once in a while. He had come to name paperwork as his number one enemy, and the best way he knew how to relieve himself of the stress was to get some ramen to eat. Ramen did always taste good.
Especially Ichiraku's ramen.
He strolled into the small ramen stand, smiling and waving at the bewildered customers and the delighted cooks Teuchi and Ayame. Minato was not wearing his robes; after acquiring his position, he found - much to his dismay - that the robes were rather stuffy and hot, so he ditched them whenever he could.
"One bowl of beef ramen for me!" he ordered, giving his trademark lopsided grin at the prospect of his favourite food.
Teuchi smiled and shook his head. Some things never changed. "Coming right up," he replied, disappearing into the back of the stand to make some of the delicious ramen.
Ayame handed Minato a glass of water, blushing slightly as she did so. After all, it wasn't every day that the Yondaime came to Ichiraku's.
A small smile graced Minato's lips. He couldn't wait for his ramen. It was his favourite food in the world, aside from Kushina's cooking but … that was a painful topic.
Absentmindedly, Minato wondered if Kakashi and Team 7 were faring well. Genin were not supposed to take C-ranked missions, after all, but on a whim he had let them. Was it the right decision? He wondered. But then smiling to himself, Minato took a sip of water. They'd be fine, he knew that. His student, Hatake Kakashi, the second White Fang, was on their team, as well as Sasuke, the Kyuubi no gaki, and -
Minato's smile faltered. Naruto. His son.
He couldn't describe his feelings about his son. Lately, the two had been arguing even more so than before. In fact, almost every time Minato and Naruto met, there was often a petty argument between the two. It was as if they were obligated to argue.
Minato missed the days when he would come home from the Hokage's office to be greeted by an exuberant Naruto. He could see a messy blond-haired, sparkling sapphire-eyed boy running up to him as fast as those short legs could run... But Naruto was all grown up now, already a ninja.
And a great rift had formed between them. A rift he wasn't even entirely sure he knew how it had formed.
He partly blamed it on the excessive paperwork that had increased over the last few years. More and more Minato found himself at the office instead of at home. If I were working at home instead of at the office, would we still be so far apart? he wondered.
Minato's hands gripped the clay cup as he wandered in his thoughts. And he would've lifted it to his lips, but -
Sapphire eyes snapped back to reality as his ears picked up a low, but distinguishable sound. The blue orbs shifted their gaze to the painted cup in his hands.
Water spilled out of a jagged crack on the cup's side.
An involuntary chill ran up Minato's spine. His eyes widened in horror. An omen... Naruto. No, no, how could this be? He stared at the cup, a few drops of water slowly dripping out. Their C-ranked mission... He drew a sharp breath in panic.
The cup crashed to the counter. Ayame, hearing the noise, swirled around -
But where Minato had been there was now an empty seat, the chill of the night air as the entrance curtain flurried about -
And a cracked clay cup surrounded by a small pool of water.
Zabuza, the infamous Demon of the Mist, lunged forward from his place on the shore with every intention to kill Kakashi. With a huge zanbatou gripped in both hands, he leaped up above the small group. He could see Tazuna, and a bloodthirsty gleam shone in his eyes. Tazuna, he thought as he descended, you're mine!
Of course, a certain Leaf Jonin had different plans.
"Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto!" Kakashi ordered, his eyes never leaving Zabuza, "Guard Tazuna! Swatsika form!" The three Genin immediately formed the familiar guarding stance. Sasuke knew of a few other stances which would be more defensive, but he knew this was hardly the time to argue and hardly the time to educate his fellow teammates either.
Kakashi's onyx eyes flashed with the thought of a challenge. It had been quite some time since he had had a battle with a worthy opponent...
A flash of steel temporarily blinded Zabuza as Kakashi drew his chakra blade. It was sleek, and had kanji running up both sides of the blade. A rough cloth was wrapped around its hilt for traction. As the silver-haired Jonin grasped it, Sasuke noticed a white chakra dance its way up the blade. That chakra must be the Hatake's Kekkei Genkai, he realized, grateful he had read through Kabuto's information book. A Kekkei Genkai that Kakashi had never been able to use in his world because he'd never had the chakra to spare seeing as the Sharingan had always been so taxing. Did this mean that Kakashi did not have the Sharingan, did this confirm something Sasuke had begun to suspect?
As Zabuza landed, Kakashi whipped around, ripping the missing-nin's body into half - only to find that the nin's body lost form and splashed onto the ground, merely a water clone. He turned away, as he had expected nothing less from an S-classed missing-nin.
Naruto was shivering from the intense sakki being poured out. He had never been in a real battle before, and in the long run, it mattered not as much how a person trained, but how they reacted in battle. He was pale and shivering - barely holding onto the thin thread of hope that kept him from running away from the battle.
Sakura only noticed a certain thickness in the air, as she found it hard to breathe, and a clench in her chest, but could not identify it as sakki.
Sasuke was not shivering at all; rather, he had an odd feeling of strange enjoyment. Perhaps it was because of the lack of action in D-ranked missions. Orochimaru had often lashed out on some of his less fortunate subordinates and sometimes, that horrible sakki - a hundred times worse than this - had leaked out onto Sasuke. Which, resultantly, had given him a high tolerance for sakki. That dobe better shape up least he attempt the same stunt I did last time around, Sasuke sneered to himself.
Kakashi slid into a neutral stance as he surveyed the area around him. Zabuza was somewhere, he knew enough to know the former mist nin was not enough of a coward to flee at the beginning of battle. "Where are you, Zabuza?" Kakashi muttered, scanning the shores. He could see little in the thick fog blanketing the landscape, but tried anyway. Right? No. Left? No. In front? No. Up? No. Behind -
Before Kakashi could respond, Zabuza had appeared in between him and his team, grinning maniacally. The nin, in one smooth stroke, swung his huge weapon towards Tazuna, where it prepared to behead both a pink-haired girl and a blond-haired boy. It drew closer, three feet - two feet - one foot remaining -
As quick as a flash, Sasuke was in the path of the zanbatou. His bangs fell out of his eyes, revealing a flash of red, but it was gone before anyone could be really sure and with the mist so think, it only further added to the uncertainty.
Kakashi's eye widened in horror at the situation, but he couldn't do anything. Except watch his student be killed.
A clash of steel was heard.
Sasuke was gripping a kunai and was single-handedly blocking Zabuza's huge zanbatou. Sweat dripped down the Uchiha's forehead, but he was still smirking, displaying yet another jump in his skill.
Zabuza's eyes widened. He was putting his full weight behind his sword, and yet - that Genin - was blocking it? With one kunai?!
Either the Uchiha is exceptional, or training in Konoha has gotten tougher... or I'm getting weaker...
Leaping away, Zabuza thought over the matter. Originally, he was going to attack the Jonin, deeming him the greatest threat, and then slowly finish off the Genin. After that, Tazuna would fall. But now, he was rethinking his strategy. He realized that Uchiha Genin could now be one of his larger threats, as he had just pushed off the zanbatou as though it were something pitiful. How dare he! Zabuza thought. His eyes drifted to the trees. Haku, you'd better be noting all of this... because that kid is most definitely not normal.
Sasuke smirked. "Are you ready to play now, Zabuza?" he cocked his head challengingly, mocking the nuke-nin into a state of further enragement.
Kakashi wanted to cry out, to say, Don't! He's one of the Seven Swordsman of the Mist! I don't want to lose one of my team on the first C-ranked mission we go on! But his words stuck in his throat. A part of him felt that Sasuke would be able to handle this.
Sasuke was smirking on the outside, but inwardly he was seething. How could I have done that? I can't continue this much more. I keep on accidentally giving more and more of my skill away. Kakashi'd better hurry up and help...
Right after he thought that, Kakashi leapt towards Zabuza with his chakra blade drawn. Zabuza easily blocked it with his huge zanbatou, but Kakashi, who had expected this, took out a kunai and slashed Zabuza's hand, the one that was holding the zanbatou, rendering it useless. Strangely enough, Zabuza laughed. "You think you're so smart, Kakashi, don't you?" To this Kakashi did not reply, but Zabuza grinned. "Too bad for you I can wield my zanbatou with my left hand, as well." Kakashi's one eye widened a fraction, but then resumed its determined look. Zabuza continued, grinning as he slowly pushed the silver-haired Jonin back, inch by inch. "Can you do the same, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's eye widened and he jumped back as Zabuza swung his zanbatou with his left hand. Knowing he could not beat his opponent in taijutsu since that sword would never allow him to get close enough, Kakashi quickly formed some seals and put one of his gloved hands to his mask. Blowing, Kakashi let out a large fire dragon, which roared and twisted as if alive. Katon: Karyuu Endan!
Zabuza dodged the dragon with ease, and it crashed into a tree, setting it ablaze. The swordsman was unfazed. In fact, he still kept that odd look of eagerness and cruelty in his eyes. "Is that really all you can do?" he mocked. "I am so disappointed."
Again, Kakashi said nothing. He had expected the Demon of the Mist to dodge the attack, but perhaps not the chakra signature behind him, in the forest. That signature had dodged quickly as well. Kakashi's expression darkened. There is another Shinobi in the woods. Judging from their speed, I'd say Chunin or even a Jonin.
"You cannot defeat me. Even the elite Jonin of Mist could not defeat me, and they, I believe, are so much more powerful than you Konoha Shinobi."
Kakashi held his chakra blade, which was still glowing a faint white. That attack had taken a considerable amount of chakra, but not too much. He could still fight, and would not show any weaknesses. "Then perhaps, Zabuza," there was no need for any honorific here, "you are underestimating us."
The Konoha Jonin disappeared and reappeared behind Zabuza. He thrust his sword forward, but was blocked by the huge zanbatou. Coursing more chakra into the blade to keep it from cracking in half, Kakashi pressed on, but suddenly dropped to his knees. Zabuza, losing his balance, toppled forward, but stabilized himself in time. Kakashi, though, gave him no time to act.
Sliding behind the missing-nin, the Jonin struck Zabuza on the back of the head and then, using two of his fingers, pressed a pressure point which rendered the swordsman unconcious. Pitiful. Kakashi thought. He obviously underestimated me.
Suddenly, three senbon flew out of the woods on their right side, puncturing his hand that was gripping Zabuza's neck. Startled, Kakashi let go of the man and a hunter-nin appeared. The strange nin lifted Zabuza onto his shoulder and said in a surprisingly cold voice, "You have no place here. I was promised to kill Zabuza, and I shall. He has taken everything away from me, and I want my revenge." The hunter-nin pointed behind them with one free hand. "Go. I wish for my revenge alone."
Casting a suspicious glance at the limp form of the missing-nin, Kakashi turned around and quietly told the frightened Genin, sans an annoyed and slightly relieved? Sasuke and Tazuna, "Let's go." He knew something about this situation didn't add up but his mind was focused on his own team and how a certain someone had been far, far too efficient in this little scuffle.
After the five Konoha Shinobi had left, the missing-nin took off his mask. "The silver-haired one rendered Zabuza-san unconscious," he muttered. "and he will pay for it."