Mika's purpose for being on this mission is in this chapter!
"This fogs so thick, you can't see anything." Sakura's voice softly cut through the next bout of silence.
Mika nodded nervously, hating the isolation and cloying silence brought on by the mist. Anyone could sneak up on them and get away with it... it was a cloying prospect. He channeled a very slim amount of chakra into his ears, straining to hear anything and not be beset easily by their enemies.
The boatman spoke next. "The Bridge isn't far now, our destination isn't far ahead, the Land of Waves." And he was right, a massive bridge came into sight, clearly unfinished with signs of construction covering it. Pullies and cranes and pieces of metal and stone all over the place. It was an amazing sight, humbling in a way.
Without hesitation, Mika grabbed Naruto's shoulder, knowing him just enough to know he would do just that. " Don't yell." Naruto frowned at him but nodded,
"Mr. Tazuna, before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something. The men who are after you, I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I am afraid we'll have to end this mission when we drop you ashore." Kakashi's declaration had everyone looking at Tazuna.
"I have no choice but to tell you, no I want you to know the truth. As you said, it goes beyond the original scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a very long and dangerous shadow."
Kakashi asked. " A deadly shadow. Who is it?"
"You know him, or I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world. The shipping magnet Gato."
"Gato of Gato transport. He's a business leader, Everyone knows him."
"Gato is a very famous Tycoon of a famous company. With the same ruthless methods, he uses to take business and nations eh sells drugs and contraband using gangs and Ninja. It was one year ago when Gato first set his sight on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his vast resources to take total control over our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried ot stand in his way simply disappeared. In an island nation controls the sea controls everything. Finance, Government, our very lives. But there's one thing he fears -the bridge! When that is complete that will connect us to the Land and that will break his control. I am the bridge builder."
Mika sighed. "There are a million flaws there, like what if he puts up a toll or simply destroys the bridge? If my goal was total domination and power, then that is what I would do."
Naruto's eyes were wide. "You would really do that?"
"If I were Gato, then yes. The most damage for the least amount of work, really simple to be honest." Naruto looked at him with disgust.
Sasuke nodded, looking pleased. "That explains why they were after Tazuna, Gato sent them after him."
"I don't understand, if you knew he was dangerous, knew that he'd sent ninja after you then why did you hide that from us?"
Because the Land of Waves is a small impoverished nation, even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge can't afford an A or B-ranked mission. It's too expensive. If you end this mission when you drop me ashore there will be no bridge. They'll assinatie me before I reach home. But don't feel bad about that. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset. He'll cry, grandad I want my grandad! And my daughter will condemn the ninja of the hidden leaf. Denouncing you for abandoning her father and living her life in sorrow. Oh well it's not your fault, forget it "
Mika snorted, amused.
Kakashi rubbed his forehead. " I guess we have no choice, we'll have to keep guarding you."
"Oh, I'm very grateful!"
Laughing very lightly, Mika turned to the old man. "You are a liar and you are exceedingly manipulative. I like that. I think you and I will get along very well. Still, we might want to monitor the bridge for such things."
Kakashi nodded. "You make a fair point."
All went silent again for several minutes before they approached a massive tunnel under the bridge and the oarsmen said. "Tazuna. We have been very fortunate no one has noticed up so far."
"Nice going. " The old man replied.
And then they broke through the tunnel and the fog, only to see a beautiful sight. Countless raised houses, trees growing straight out of the water, and a sense of peace that filled the very air itself. R
Slowly, they made their way to a dock, where they all stepped off. "That's as far as a I go." The oarsmen said.
Tazuna, last off the boat, nodded. "Right, Thank you for taking such a risk."
"Just be careful. " And with that he was gone, his boat taking him off into the distance.
"Alright, take me to my home and I mean get me there in one piece." Tazuna commanded.
Kakashi nodded. "Right."
And so they made their way past the main part of the village and into the woods where the Mist was thin. They made no small talk but everyone was on edge, except the oblivious Naruto... who randomly threw a kunai at something they all heard rustling.
"It's just a mouse," Naruto said, laughing lightly.
Mika frowned, something just felt off.
Sakura screeched some nonsense he all but ignored, Kakashi warned him against using Kunai recklessly and Tazuna bellowed about being scared by an idiot like Naruto. All in all exactly what Mika expected...
'Then why do I feel... off.' Frowning, he turned in each direction. He ignored Naruto repeating throwing his kunai at what turned out to be a snow white rabbit, which set off all of Mika's alarm bells. "Kakashi, something's wrong, that rabbit is snow white as if it has been raised indoors!"
Kakashi frowned. You're right!" His eye widened. "Watch out!" He screamed before all of them ducked as a massive sword flew threw the air, connecting with a tree.
A powerful-looking man appeared on the handle of the massive butcher-like blade. Mika stood, looking at the strange shirtless man. He was tall, with a thick build and cow-colored arm guards and grey pants. His face was covered in bandages and he had a mist headband on. He radiated malice, hate, and rage so deep that Mika felt it under his skin.
"Well if it isn't Zabuza Momochi from the Village Hidden in the Mist," Kakashi said.
Mika reached out and grabbed Naruto, his impulsivity was legendary. "Don't lash out, this guy is out of our league. Can't you feel his malice?"
Kakashi frowned, turning to Naruto. "If he's our opponent, then I'll need this." He reached up and grabbed his headband.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan eye. Did I get that right? It's too bad, huh, but you'll have to hand over the old man."
In an instant, the air changed and charged with power only upper-level ninjas were really capable of.
"Now Quick!" Kakashi belted out, hand still on his headband. "Manji Formation, protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight. I taught you teamwork, now it's time to use it. " He lifted the entire headband revealing a scar across it and a deep red eye with three comas inside. Mika knew, from his training, that eye and that scar had a very long story behind it. A sad one, and the mere presence of another's bloodline in his body would sap his strength greatly. "I'm ready."
Mika did as he was told, rushing to stand behind Tazuna with a tanto out. The others did as they were old, and moved into formation. Sasuke stood in front, Naruto and the left and Sakura on the right.
"Well, it looks like I get to see the Sharingan in action. This is an honor." Zabuza's bloodlust was intense, and yet there was a hesitation to it as if he was only unleashing a fraction of his power. Mist, thick and filled with chakra, filled the air in an instant. "As for you Jonin, in the assignation unit of the Hidden Mist, we had a standing order to destroy on sight. Your profile was in our bingo book. It called you the man who copied over a thousand jutsu. Kakashi the Copy Ninja."
"Wow that so cool!" Naruto bellowed out!
'This is so far beyond my paygrade, damn it... I need all of my skills to just survive...'
"Enough talking," Zabuza growled out. " I need to exterminate the old man. Now! So I will have to eliminate you first, Huh Kakashi. So be it." In a flash, the man disappeared, sword and all.. .only to reappear on the water within arm in front of his face the other in the air. Chakra, so thick it eclipsed even the Mist in the air, built around him. " Ninja art Hidden Mist jutsu!"
The Mist tripled, becoming impossibly thick, Mika was deeply impressed. 'This cannot use much chakra, and it uses the water Element... I could really be quite dangerous with this technique. Note to self, figure out how to mimic it.'
Kakashi moved, facing the water. "He'll come after me first."
"But, who is?" Sakura asked, her voice shivering with fear.
"Zabuza Momichi, the ex-leader of the Hidden Mist assassination unit. He is a master of the Silent Killing technique."
"Silent?" Naruto asked.
"As the name suggests, it happens in an instant without sound or warning of any kind. it's so fast you pass from this life before you even know it. the Sharingan cannot fully neutralize it. So don't lower your guard. Well if we fail we only lose our lives."
Mika tightened his grip on his blade, coldly focusing not on the killer intent but on his own power weak as it was. He would not falter here... 'I am a medic, my job is to protect my client, I might have to flee... Naruto is going to flip his shit.'
"How can you say that?" Sakura all but screeched.
Naruto barked out. "The Mist is getting thicker and thicker!"
Tazuna, oddly unafraid, said. " The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean, a swirling mist are ever present."
"Sensei! "Sakura called out.
"Eight points," Zabuza said, his voice echoing through the mist without direction. " Larnyx, Spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart, Now which will be my kill point."
"Sasuke, calm down. I'll protect you with my life, all of you. I will not allow my comrades to die, trust me." There was a release of breath as if Sasuke had calmed down.
Then they heard it, right in the middle of their formation. " I wouldn't be so sure," Zabuza spoke. "It's over." And he was there, standing with his massive blade out.
Before they could so much as breathe, they were shoved to the side with a trickle of water spilled against the ground. It made a pool that trickled towards Rooku's feet, true water.
'An elemental clone! That takes so much chakra!' Mika gritted out, knowing how fucked they were.
"Sensei behind you!" Naruto called out and the other Zabuza burst into water.
"Don't move, now it's over. " Kakashi's voice pierced the Mist, signaling the end... he saw him, putting a Kunai to Zabuza's throat,
"Alright!" Naruto screamed, his gravely voice piercing the world.
Zabuza's laughter destroyed any joy they all felt. "Finished? You really don't get it, do you? Your technique is nothing but a crass imitation, I'll never be defeated by a mere copycat ninja like you. You are full of surprises though, you'd already copied my water clone jutsu when you made your little speech. Very skillfully executed. You made your clone say those words to draw my attention while you hid in the mist, while you waited for me to make my move, Nice try but I'm not that easy to fool."
In an instant, Kakashi killed the clone speaking, all while the real Zabuza appeared behind him, sword drawn.
"Hey, that one is a clone too!" Naruto called out.
Kakashi ducked underneath Zabuza's strike, the sword slammed into the ground just as Kakashi was kicked hard away, flying high above them all. Zabuza rushed after him, only stopping with the words. "Makibishi spikes! Trying to slow me down, foolish!" The mask just jumped over them, just as Kakashi fell into the water, rising moments later... only for Zabuza to appear behind him, rushing through handsigns. "Fool! Water Prison Jutsu! This prison is made of water but is stronger than steel. It is hard to fight when you can't move, so much for the great Kakashi. I'll finish you off later, but first, your little friends will have to be eliminated. Water clone jutsu!" From the water, rose a single clone of water. "You think wearing a headband makes you a ninja... when you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you then you may be called a Ninja. When you've become so deadly your profile is entered into my bingo book, then you may be called a ninja. But to call upstarts like you Ninja is a joke." The mist thickened once more and they all froze in fear, if only for a moment. Mika barely managed to see Naruto get slammed in the face by a powerful kick that sent him flying. "You're just brats!"
"Listen, get the bridge builder and run, you can't win this fight, He's using all his power to keep me in this prison. He can only fight you with his water clone, but the clone can't go far from his real body. If you get away from him, he can't follow!"
Sighing, Mika grabbed Tazuna and threw himself away, rushing towards the trees, using the Shushin to rush away as fast and far as he could manage safely. He was grateful for his training, otherwise, this would have been far too hard. Chakra control really came in handy!
"What are you doing?' Tazuna screamed.
Mika rolled his eyes. "The mission comes first, we have to get you to safety, that is the entire point. As a medic, that is what I am trained to do, to keep you alive by any means! We have to get to safety!"
"That is cowardly!"
"I'm a genin and a beginner medic, that is what I am trained to do. I am not Kakashi, with decades of training, this is the smart option. Your life is more important as long as we are on a mission, that is the facts of life, simple and true." His voice and chakra spiked, and Tazuna recoiled in shock. "Now come on, before I leave you behind and just save myself."
They made it maybe about four miles from the battlefield when the world around them was rocked by a massive rush of water, making the world vibrate with power. Water, waves, and waves of it, crashed into the trees around them, destroying several and making the ground flush. It was actually rather annoying, the shaking and splashing made it harder to flip from tree to tree but somehow he managed it. Just as quick as the water crashed through, it fade, draining away as it's chakra source diminished.
"Should we go back?" Tazuna asked.
"I am not sure,..." Mika said, hoping to another tree. It was only here that he sensed another presence approaching and he had to put Tazuna down. Turning he flipped out his tanto and readied himself, only to see Naruto rushing toward him. "Kakashi Sensei beat Zabuza but passed out from using that eye of his!"
Mika shushined to Naruto, pinning him with his blade. "Prove it's you!
The boy frowned. "What do you mean, it's me, Believe it!"
Sighing, he put away his blade. " That's Naruto, only you are dumb enough to shout believe it... "
"Why'd you leave us?" Naruto asked, offended. "That was cowardly, people who abandon their comrades are trash and-"
"We were told to flee by our commanding officer, so I did. Keeping the client alive is the point of being a ninja. Plus, I am a medic Naruto, our training informs us to not be killed so we can take care of our allies or client."
Naruto pouted. "Sounds dumb... anyway, I'm a clone... we need to go to Tazuna's house so we can patch up Sasuke and Kakashi Sensei."
"Fine...you grab Tazuna this time, he's heavy."
"HEY!" Tazuna barked out.
They ended up making it back to the spot where the battle had been fought in mere minutes, Naruto carrying Tazuna while Mika just hurried forward. When they reached the battlefield, he immediately rushed to Kakashi who was on Sasuke's shoulders and evaluated him. Placing a hand on him, he pushed a tiny sliver of chakra into Kakashi and was shocked to sense almost no chakra responding. "He has near terminally low chakra levels, we need to get him to safety where we can push fluids and food. I can make a tea that will perk him up but he has to be conscious. He won't be helping us for at least a few days, depending on how fast he heals." Lifting Kakashi, They followed Tazuna the three miles to his home, where Mika quickly got to work getting Kakashi into shape, laying him to rest in the guest room. He ignored everyone as he laid his green glowing hands on Kakashi's ribs, focusing hard on healing Kakashi's bruised ribcage making sure they were not cracked or broken. That would be too much to heal.
"What are you doing?" Naruto asked.
"Healing him, this is an A ranked Jutsu that is really hard so be quiet, please! Everyone out, now!"
His tone ensured that even Sasuke obeyed...
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
If you've guessed one of the reasons Mika is on this mission, you win a cookie!
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.