The group slowly climbed out of the boat. The docks creaked under their feet.

"This is as far as I go," The ferryman said.

Tazuna thanked him.

"That bridge is huge," Naruto said.

The bridge loomed in the distance, shrouded in mist.

"How long will it take to finish?" Sakura asked.

"Who knows," Tazuna waved a hand at her. "Let's be quick about this."

The group moved quickly and quietly. The bridge and the small town near it was soon behind them.

"Not much further now," Tazuna said.

Kakashi stopped again.

The kids tensed.

Tazuna stared at him.

"Duck!"

Naruto and Sasuke dove to the ground.

Sakura tackled Tazuna to the ground.

A large blade flew over their head, sinking into a nearby tree.

A man appeared, standing on the handle of the blade.

Kakashi recognized him.

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi said.

"Kakashi of the sharingan, I presume." Zabuza's eyes met Kakashi's. "Would you surrender the old man?"

Kakashi slowly lifted his headband, revealing his sharingan. Zabuza chuckled. He vanished

A mist began to roll in, surrounding them.

Sakura and Sasuke took positions behind Kakashi. Tazuna remained on the ground.

"You kids stay back. Keep your eyes peeled. Protect Tazuna."

Naruto stared at Kakashi for a moment before backing up. The three of them surrounded Tazuna.

"Don't let your guard down, no matter what happens."

Kakashi noticed Sasuke staring at him. He was trembling.

"He will go after me first," Kakashi continued. "Do not attack him unless he attacks first."

Kakashi performed quick hand signs.

Zabuza appeared, swinging his blade through Kakashi.

Kakashi collapsed into a puddle of water.

"Sensei!" Naruto shouted. He threw a kunai, Zabuza vanished into the mist. "Damn it!"

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled. "Calm down!"

The kids scanned the mist. Waiting. They jumped at every sound.

"W-what do we do?" Naruto asked.

"We're screwed!" Tazuna whined.

Zabuza was there, standing over Tazuna.

Tazuna slowly raised his head, staring up at the blade as it descending on him.

Kakashi appeared, pushing Tazuna away and driving a kunai into Zabuza.

Zabuza collapsed into water. Another Zabuza appeared, kicking Kakashi into a nearby pond.

Zabuza appeared on the water over Kakashi, performing hand signs.

Kakashi was absorbed into a large water bubble.

The kids watched as he struggled, unable to escape.

Zabuza laughed.

"You brats are free to run away, as long as you leave the old man behind." He performed a hand sign. Another Zabuza formed from the water.

"W-what are you talking about?" Tazuna demanded. The kids shifted around him.

"How much are you paying them?" Zabuza asked. "Do you three really want to die as tools for this old bat?"

Naruto threw a kunai at Zabuza. The clone blocked it with his sword.

"Shut up!" Naruto shouted. "Let our sensei go!"

The clone started for them.

"Tell them to run, Kakashi." Zabuza's eyes narrowed. "Or would that betray the mission?"

Kakashi said nothing.

Naruto hesitated, watching Zabuza's clone approach. Sasuke took a step back. Sakura stiffened.

"Please don't leave me!" Tazuna begged. "Please!"

"You aren't even worth being called ninja," Zabuza mocked. "You're worthless!" He kicked Naruto, launching him into the air.

Sasuke and Sakura were frozen.

Naruto landed on his back with a grunt.

Zabuza's clone started for Tazuna. He raised his blade.

"Stay back!" Sakura shouted, but backed up. Sasuke stepped up, Zabuza's clone slapped him aside. Sakura lunged, swinging her kunai.

Zabuza's clone caught her arm and struck her with his fist. Sakura fell to the ground. Zabuza aimed his blade at her.

"If you run now, I'll spare your lives."

Sakura stared up at him, eyes wide.

"Well?"

A kunai came flying from Naruto. The clone deflected it.

Two Naruto's came charging at him.

Sasuke unfolded a fuma shuriken and hurled it at Zabuza.

He ducked backward, letting it fly by.

The Narutos jumped at Zabuza. A single swipe of his blade dispatched both of them.

Sakura lunged forward, driving her kunai into Zabuza's leg.

At the same time, Sasuke yanked a wire, pulling the shuriken back.

The shuriken landed in Zabuza's chest.

He collapsed into water.

Tazuna stared at the puddle of water, frozen. The kids assembled around him.

"You were a bit slow, Naruto," Sasuke said. "If it weren't for Sakura, he would've noticed my shuriken."

"Shut up, jerk!" Naruto snapped.

"Both of you shut up!" Sakura ordered. "We have to free Kakashi!"

Naruto created two clones, leaving them to guard Tazuna. The three quickly advanced on the real Zabuza.

"If we distract him for just a second, Kakashi sensei should be able to get free," Sasuke explained. The three of them paused at the water's edge.

"Enough of this," Zabuza grunted. "I'm getting bored."

He produced a few kunai.

The kids were plotting. Naruto was dipping his foot into the water, trying to walk on it.

Zabuza threw two kunai at Sakura. She blocked one, the other lodged in her side. She went down.

Sasuke immediately retaliated, throwing a volley of shuriken. Zabuza Deflected them with his blade, he threw three kunai at Sasuke.

Sasuke and Naruto both dove to the side. A kunai hit Naruto's arm. He cried out, grabbing at it.

"Dance for me!" Zabuza laughed. He produced more kunai. "Danc-"

Kakashi erupted from the bubble.

Zabuza immediately swung his blade, Kakashi caught it.

"That's enough."

Zabuza narrowed his eyes.

"I suppose I was distracted," Zabuza said, unconcerned.

He quickly jumped away, performing hand signs.

Kakashi immediately mimicked Zabuza's hand signs.

The water churned between them.

Naruto pulled the kunai out of his arm, wincing. Sasuke attended to Sakura. She was gripping the kunai in her side.

The water between Kakashi and Zabuza erupted into two dragons. The dragons clashed and destroyed each other.

Zabuza performed more hand signs. Kakashi mimicked them.

Zabuza paused for a moment, stunned.

"Giant waterfall!" Kakashi finished before Zabuza.

The water rose into a giant wall, descending onto Zabuza.

The water washed him out of the pond, throwing him against a tree.

He grunted, grabbing his sword.

Kakashi appeared nearby, brandishing a kunai.

"It's game over, Zabuza!"

Two senbon sunk into Zabuza's throat.

Kakashi paused, noticing a masked figure standing on a tree branch.

He recognized the mask.

A mercenary.

Kakashi approached Zabuza, checking his pulse.

"I hope you don't mind me intruding," the figure said. "I wanted to end him myself."

Kakashi inspected the figure for a moment. He couldn't be much older than his students.

The figure hopped down to Zabuza, hoisting him up. He nodded at Kakashi before vanishing.

Kakashi sighed.

He noticed the kids, they were gathered around Tazuna. Sasuke was carrying Sakura.

Kakashi started for them.

He collapsed.