Chapter two
"All this for a stupid cat," Sakura grumbled as team seven made their way to the Hokage's office to report.
Two weeks had passed since they became official gennins. Naruto decided to take his friend's advice and stop being so attention seeking.
No longer was he the loudmouth brat but much more mature now. It was as if Naruto finally decided to show his true self.
Of course he still hadn't achieved Sasuke's level but he was getting close.
"I demand another mission that is not D ranked!" Sakura, to everyone's surprise screamed when she heard that they were getting another D ranked mission.
The Third stared at her for a minute before giving in "Very well, your next mission is a C rank. You are to escort this man to wave country,"
"Hey are these brats enough?" a drunken old man by the name of Tazuna asked.
"Don't worry. I am an elite ninja. I will be coming along too," Kakashi reassured their client as he looked worriedly at Naruto, afraid of his short temper.
However Naruto might as well not have heard him at all from the reaction he gave.
"Meet me at the bridge in half an hour,"
They had been traveling for more than half the day now. To Naruto it seemed to be more of a picnic than a mission. Sakura was asking Sasuke on a date as usual. Tazuna was singing a weird song and Kakashi was happily explaining about the countries, although no one was listening.
"Get down!" Naruto suddenly yelled as he pushed their client down avoiding a kuntai.
"I see we've been detected, brother," a sharp voice rang out as two black cloaked men appeared, "I have to admit I'm surprised you could even sense us with your sensei dead, "the taller red head complimented as he pointed to the bloody form of Kakashi.
Sakura whimpered as her face paled considerably while Sasuke tried to stop shaking in fear, but failed miserably.
The red head smiled at their bewildered looks and charged straight at Tazuna.
Naruto however just smiled, "And you call yourselves ninjas. You can't even tell a bushin from the real person!" Naruto smirked as Kakashi appeared behind their attackers and killed them with one clean cut.
"Are you guys okay?" Kakashi asked as he turned back to his team, "I'm sorry for scaring you like that, but I needed to know who they were after. Oh and by the way, why are ninjas after you Tazuna? I thought this was C ranked mission."
"Well, there's something I've been hiding. Wave country is totally controlled by this dirty business man named Gato and the only thing that might threaten his power is the bridge I'm supposed to go build so Gato probably hired them to kill me." Tazuna explained guiltily.
"This is going to be more fun than I thought," Sasuke murmured as Kakashi slowly considered their choices.
"I guess we're going have to protect you until the bridge is finished Tazuna," Kakashi finally replied to Tazuna's great joy.
"Wait! This is probably an A class mission. We're gennins. We can't complete this mission. We'll die!" Sakura exclaimed to Kakashi as if this was the most stupid idea she had ever heard.
"Shut up you scardy cat," Sasuke yelled before Kakashi could reply, "Stop being a liability,"
Sakura took one look at Sasuke's glare and promptly stopped ranting, "But . . ."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. You won't die. I'll protect you," Naruto exclaimed cheerfully as he patted Sakura on the back.
"Thank you Naruto," Sakura muttered as she brightened up and followed Sasuke toward wave country.
For the next two hours they traveled in silence as Naruto threw several kuntais in random directions killing three rabbits and four squirrels.
Naruto suddenly threw another kuntai which embedded itself in a rabbit.
"Stop trying to act cool Naruto. This is the fourth ra-" but Sakura was stopped in mid rant as the air around team seven suddenly became much heavier, "I can't breath," she managed to choke out as she collapsed.
"Sakura form a barrier of chakra around yourself! Now!" Kakashi ordered.
Sakura did as he said without questioning and let out a breath a breath of relief when she found herself able to breath again. "What kind of justu was that?"
"That's not a justu," Kakashi replied eying their surroundings suspiciously, "It's called a killing intent. Why don't you come out Zabuza?" Kakashi relaxed considerably when he saw a bandaged guy jump down from a nearby tree.
"Copy eye Kakashi? Fancy meeting you here. Too bad I'm on an mission to assassinate that drunk fool over there or I'd invite you over for some tea." the so-called Zabuza joked as he got into a fighting stance.
"Hey no eye browed freak what's the hurry, why don't you ask that boy in the bushes to join the party," Naruto suddenly exclaimed as he a bushin dragged a boy about their age into the clearing.
Zabuza's eyes widened as he stared at the blond boy in front of him, "Naruto," he gasped.
"Heh long time no see eh no eyebrows," Naruto laughed as he scratched the back of his head.
"Hey Naruto I demand a rematch!" Zabuza ordered with a tone of mock seriousness.
"No," Naruto simply replied as he turned away.
"Yes,"
"No,"
"Yes,"
"No,"
"Yes,"
The others just watched the argument take place with neither giving in an inch. It was almost like a tennis match each taking their turn to hit the ball.
"Um Zabuza-san," the mystery boy finally managed to mutter, "Do you know this boy?"
"Oh Haku," Zabuza said slightly embarrassed at his childish behavior.
"Who's is he? I don't remember him." Naruto too stopped their argument as he stared questioning at Haku.
"Oh this is Haku. I found him a while after you left. He is one of the last with the mist bloodline."
"Cool!" Naruto yelled as he stretched out a hand to Haku, "My name's Naruto! It's nice to meet you!"
The Haku boy shook his hand hesitantly as Sakura finally managed to speak up,
"You may not be aware of this Naruto but Zabuza is a missing nin from the mist so how the hell do you know him so well?!" Sakura screamed the last part finally dropping his cool exterior, "And did I forget to mention that he is trying to kill us all?" Sakura's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Are you talking about me?" Zabuza asked in mild surprise.
"Of couse you!" Sakura screamed now totally confused.
"I'll admit I'm a missing nin but I not trying to kill all of you, of course not." Zabuza retorted indignantly as everyone stared at him.
"Wait you aren't here to kill me?" Tazuna asked trying to sort everything out.
"Well, I won't deny that killing you was my mission but now I have no intention of completing it," Zabuza replied smoothly.
"Well then, I guess we might as well get going then," Kakashi finally spoke up as he turned to leave but Zabuza held him back.
"There's no way your leaving until I get to spar with that blond student of yours," Zabuza's voice now returned to a menacing tone.
"I have a better idea. Why don't I fight with your student and you can have your spar with Kakashi sensei," Naruto tried to compromise.
Zabuza thought more a moment before agreeing, "Okay but if you fail to beat Haku you have to spar with me,"
"Sure," Naruto replied as he went into a fighting stance.
Naruto charged at Haku with a kuntai in hand only to have it paired with a needle. Suddenly Haku smiled as he began doing one-handed seals.
"Experience my Demon Ice Mirrors," Haku smirked as mirrors appeared around the two fighters.
Followed by the remark was a series of lightning quick attacks from Haku.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed, "I have to use that technique," Naruto started forming a complicated series of hand seals as blood red chakra surrounded him.
The onlookers gasped at the immense amount of chakra surrounding Naruto.
"Rend no justu!" Naruto cried having completed his seals. Suddenly blades made of chakra appeared in the air and aimed themselves toward the ice mirrors. Every mirror shattered instantly as the chakra blades hit them as Naruto ran after Haku.
Unable to keep in balance Haku was did not avoid a hit on his chest causing him to break more than one bone.
"I give up," Haku panted as he collapsed on the ground having used too much chakra.
"You were really strong," Naruto complimented as he stretched out a hand to help Haku up, "Your turn sensei!"
It took Kakashi a moment to register what he meant therefore receiving a kick in the face from Zabuza.
Kakashi skidded back a few feet before he regained his balance and pulled up his forehead protector to review the Sharigan.
"You have the Sharigan?" Sasuke muttered in shock. This day was by far the most surprising for Sasuke. First the dead-last showed that his skill is far above an average jonin. Then there was his teacher with the Sharigan although he was not of Uchiha blood.
But all this wasn't important at the moment as Sasuke watched his battle unfold. In fact it looked more like a dance than a battle. All the moves seemed so well coordinated that it seemed as if they had practiced it a million times.
Sasuke was inwardly rooting for Kakashi but much to his disappointed when he fell into a water prison set up by Zabuza.
"I win!" Zabuza gloated only to find Kakashi holding a kuntai to his throat.
"What how," he gasped as the Kakashi is his prison turned out to be a bushin.
"Don't say it's over until it's over-"but Kakashi was cut off when another Zabuza slashed at him from behind "A bushin," he gasped as he dodged the slash.
The two fighters were back to where they began as they waited for each other to start the second round.
Suddenly Zabuza started performing hand seals and to his surprise Kakashi was mimicking them exactly.
"Dragon waterfall no justu," they both yelled at the same time as the two splashes of water canceled each other out.
"He is but a mere parrot, I am," Zabuza growled.
"The genuine person, no one can defeat me!" Kakashi finished nerving Zabuza even more.
"You can't copy me!" both fighters screamed as they started the same hand seals.
Completely freaked out Zabuza hesitated on the last seal giving Kakashi the time to finish the justu before him.
"Impossible!" Zabuza explained as a huge wave knocked him down.
"I admit defeat," Zabuza smiled as the water flowed away leaving a tired and beaten Zabuza.
"Well, well, how is it going here," came an oily voice as a rather fat guy in a business suit stepped into the clearing followed by around fifty goons armed with all sorts of weapons, swords spears arrows you name it.
"Gato," Zabuza growled as he tried to get up.
"Look at our baby demon he wore himself out," Gato cooed mockingly as he watched the struggling mist nin, "As you might have guessed Zabuza I never planned to pay you. Even you can't take out all these goons yourself. Kill Him,"
Those fifty goons all charged forward at the same time. Although their array of skills weren't all that perfect but their number covered their victory.
"Wait," Gato suddenly commanded his eyes gleamed evilly at the swaying Haku, "I have to pay this young boy back for breaking my arm first," he smirked as he made his way toward the helpless Haku.
"This was for disobeying me," he kicked the young boy in the ribs "This is for breaking my arm," another kick followed by a crack as Haku's rib broke "And this is for helping Zabuza," Gato held his foot out again or to be stopped by an enraged roar from Zabuza.
"Don't you dare touch him you filth!" Zabuza roared as he charged at Gato.
"Kill him!" Gato screamed nervously as the goons surrounded Gato. Zabuza slashed through the crowd as he made his way toward Gato intent on killing him.
"You'll find out who's the baby demon soon. Because your coming with me to hell!" he roared almost gleefully as he killed Gato with one clean slash.
"Zabuza-san!" Haku cried as his most precious person collapsed.
"Haku, go with Naruto to the leaf village. Maybe then you won't be forced to be a ninja," Zabuza smiled as he shut his eyes and allowed death to envelope him.
"It'll be alright," Naruto reassured as he patted Haku's shoulder "You can come with us,"
A few days later they held the funeral for Zabuza and headed back to the Leaf village with a completed mission.
Haku had decided to come along in hopes of joining the Leaf. Kakashi had of course questioned about Naruto's past with Zabuza but unfortunately he had not been able to extract anything from him. All Naruto would say was that they had met before when he had been traveling.
On their return Kakashi had immediately reported to the Hokage but he hadn't got much of a reaction from him either. He just repeated what he said before and impaled upon him how much he trusts Naruto.
Therefore Kakashi decided to drop the subject and put his entire mind on training his team.
Haku on the other hand successfully became a medic nin of the Leaf .
It was on a normal day a few weeks after the mission. Naruto had just finished his training and had returned home only to find a visitor.
"So what's it this time," the blond drawled.
"The chunnin examinations are coming up in two months. And Gaara's participating,"
"..."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Get revenge. What else?" he smiled a merciless look in his red eyes.
"All this for a stupid cat," Sakura grumbled as team seven made their way to the Hokage's office to report.
Two weeks had passed since they became official gennins. Naruto decided to take his friend's advice and stop being so attention seeking.
No longer was he the loudmouth brat but much more mature now. It was as if Naruto finally decided to show his true self.
Of course he still hadn't achieved Sasuke's level but he was getting close.
"I demand another mission that is not D ranked!" Sakura, to everyone's surprise screamed when she heard that they were getting another D ranked mission.
The Third stared at her for a minute before giving in "Very well, your next mission is a C rank. You are to escort this man to wave country,"
"Hey are these brats enough?" a drunken old man by the name of Tazuna asked.
"Don't worry. I am an elite ninja. I will be coming along too," Kakashi reassured their client as he looked worriedly at Naruto, afraid of his short temper.
However Naruto might as well not have heard him at all from the reaction he gave.
"Meet me at the bridge in half an hour,"
They had been traveling for more than half the day now. To Naruto it seemed to be more of a picnic than a mission. Sakura was asking Sasuke on a date as usual. Tazuna was singing a weird song and Kakashi was happily explaining about the countries, although no one was listening.
"Get down!" Naruto suddenly yelled as he pushed their client down avoiding a kuntai.
"I see we've been detected, brother," a sharp voice rang out as two black cloaked men appeared, "I have to admit I'm surprised you could even sense us with your sensei dead, "the taller red head complimented as he pointed to the bloody form of Kakashi.
Sakura whimpered as her face paled considerably while Sasuke tried to stop shaking in fear, but failed miserably.
The red head smiled at their bewildered looks and charged straight at Tazuna.
Naruto however just smiled, "And you call yourselves ninjas. You can't even tell a bushin from the real person!" Naruto smirked as Kakashi appeared behind their attackers and killed them with one clean cut.
"Are you guys okay?" Kakashi asked as he turned back to his team, "I'm sorry for scaring you like that, but I needed to know who they were after. Oh and by the way, why are ninjas after you Tazuna? I thought this was C ranked mission."
"Well, there's something I've been hiding. Wave country is totally controlled by this dirty business man named Gato and the only thing that might threaten his power is the bridge I'm supposed to go build so Gato probably hired them to kill me." Tazuna explained guiltily.
"This is going to be more fun than I thought," Sasuke murmured as Kakashi slowly considered their choices.
"I guess we're going have to protect you until the bridge is finished Tazuna," Kakashi finally replied to Tazuna's great joy.
"Wait! This is probably an A class mission. We're gennins. We can't complete this mission. We'll die!" Sakura exclaimed to Kakashi as if this was the most stupid idea she had ever heard.
"Shut up you scardy cat," Sasuke yelled before Kakashi could reply, "Stop being a liability,"
Sakura took one look at Sasuke's glare and promptly stopped ranting, "But . . ."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. You won't die. I'll protect you," Naruto exclaimed cheerfully as he patted Sakura on the back.
"Thank you Naruto," Sakura muttered as she brightened up and followed Sasuke toward wave country.
For the next two hours they traveled in silence as Naruto threw several kuntais in random directions killing three rabbits and four squirrels.
Naruto suddenly threw another kuntai which embedded itself in a rabbit.
"Stop trying to act cool Naruto. This is the fourth ra-" but Sakura was stopped in mid rant as the air around team seven suddenly became much heavier, "I can't breath," she managed to choke out as she collapsed.
"Sakura form a barrier of chakra around yourself! Now!" Kakashi ordered.
Sakura did as he said without questioning and let out a breath a breath of relief when she found herself able to breath again. "What kind of justu was that?"
"That's not a justu," Kakashi replied eying their surroundings suspiciously, "It's called a killing intent. Why don't you come out Zabuza?" Kakashi relaxed considerably when he saw a bandaged guy jump down from a nearby tree.
"Copy eye Kakashi? Fancy meeting you here. Too bad I'm on an mission to assassinate that drunk fool over there or I'd invite you over for some tea." the so-called Zabuza joked as he got into a fighting stance.
"Hey no eye browed freak what's the hurry, why don't you ask that boy in the bushes to join the party," Naruto suddenly exclaimed as he a bushin dragged a boy about their age into the clearing.
Zabuza's eyes widened as he stared at the blond boy in front of him, "Naruto," he gasped.
"Heh long time no see eh no eyebrows," Naruto laughed as he scratched the back of his head.
"Hey Naruto I demand a rematch!" Zabuza ordered with a tone of mock seriousness.
"No," Naruto simply replied as he turned away.
"Yes,"
"No,"
"Yes,"
"No,"
"Yes,"
The others just watched the argument take place with neither giving in an inch. It was almost like a tennis match each taking their turn to hit the ball.
"Um Zabuza-san," the mystery boy finally managed to mutter, "Do you know this boy?"
"Oh Haku," Zabuza said slightly embarrassed at his childish behavior.
"Who's is he? I don't remember him." Naruto too stopped their argument as he stared questioning at Haku.
"Oh this is Haku. I found him a while after you left. He is one of the last with the mist bloodline."
"Cool!" Naruto yelled as he stretched out a hand to Haku, "My name's Naruto! It's nice to meet you!"
The Haku boy shook his hand hesitantly as Sakura finally managed to speak up,
"You may not be aware of this Naruto but Zabuza is a missing nin from the mist so how the hell do you know him so well?!" Sakura screamed the last part finally dropping his cool exterior, "And did I forget to mention that he is trying to kill us all?" Sakura's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Are you talking about me?" Zabuza asked in mild surprise.
"Of couse you!" Sakura screamed now totally confused.
"I'll admit I'm a missing nin but I not trying to kill all of you, of course not." Zabuza retorted indignantly as everyone stared at him.
"Wait you aren't here to kill me?" Tazuna asked trying to sort everything out.
"Well, I won't deny that killing you was my mission but now I have no intention of completing it," Zabuza replied smoothly.
"Well then, I guess we might as well get going then," Kakashi finally spoke up as he turned to leave but Zabuza held him back.
"There's no way your leaving until I get to spar with that blond student of yours," Zabuza's voice now returned to a menacing tone.
"I have a better idea. Why don't I fight with your student and you can have your spar with Kakashi sensei," Naruto tried to compromise.
Zabuza thought more a moment before agreeing, "Okay but if you fail to beat Haku you have to spar with me,"
"Sure," Naruto replied as he went into a fighting stance.
Naruto charged at Haku with a kuntai in hand only to have it paired with a needle. Suddenly Haku smiled as he began doing one-handed seals.
"Experience my Demon Ice Mirrors," Haku smirked as mirrors appeared around the two fighters.
Followed by the remark was a series of lightning quick attacks from Haku.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed, "I have to use that technique," Naruto started forming a complicated series of hand seals as blood red chakra surrounded him.
The onlookers gasped at the immense amount of chakra surrounding Naruto.
"Rend no justu!" Naruto cried having completed his seals. Suddenly blades made of chakra appeared in the air and aimed themselves toward the ice mirrors. Every mirror shattered instantly as the chakra blades hit them as Naruto ran after Haku.
Unable to keep in balance Haku was did not avoid a hit on his chest causing him to break more than one bone.
"I give up," Haku panted as he collapsed on the ground having used too much chakra.
"You were really strong," Naruto complimented as he stretched out a hand to help Haku up, "Your turn sensei!"
It took Kakashi a moment to register what he meant therefore receiving a kick in the face from Zabuza.
Kakashi skidded back a few feet before he regained his balance and pulled up his forehead protector to review the Sharigan.
"You have the Sharigan?" Sasuke muttered in shock. This day was by far the most surprising for Sasuke. First the dead-last showed that his skill is far above an average jonin. Then there was his teacher with the Sharigan although he was not of Uchiha blood.
But all this wasn't important at the moment as Sasuke watched his battle unfold. In fact it looked more like a dance than a battle. All the moves seemed so well coordinated that it seemed as if they had practiced it a million times.
Sasuke was inwardly rooting for Kakashi but much to his disappointed when he fell into a water prison set up by Zabuza.
"I win!" Zabuza gloated only to find Kakashi holding a kuntai to his throat.
"What how," he gasped as the Kakashi is his prison turned out to be a bushin.
"Don't say it's over until it's over-"but Kakashi was cut off when another Zabuza slashed at him from behind "A bushin," he gasped as he dodged the slash.
The two fighters were back to where they began as they waited for each other to start the second round.
Suddenly Zabuza started performing hand seals and to his surprise Kakashi was mimicking them exactly.
"Dragon waterfall no justu," they both yelled at the same time as the two splashes of water canceled each other out.
"He is but a mere parrot, I am," Zabuza growled.
"The genuine person, no one can defeat me!" Kakashi finished nerving Zabuza even more.
"You can't copy me!" both fighters screamed as they started the same hand seals.
Completely freaked out Zabuza hesitated on the last seal giving Kakashi the time to finish the justu before him.
"Impossible!" Zabuza explained as a huge wave knocked him down.
"I admit defeat," Zabuza smiled as the water flowed away leaving a tired and beaten Zabuza.
"Well, well, how is it going here," came an oily voice as a rather fat guy in a business suit stepped into the clearing followed by around fifty goons armed with all sorts of weapons, swords spears arrows you name it.
"Gato," Zabuza growled as he tried to get up.
"Look at our baby demon he wore himself out," Gato cooed mockingly as he watched the struggling mist nin, "As you might have guessed Zabuza I never planned to pay you. Even you can't take out all these goons yourself. Kill Him,"
Those fifty goons all charged forward at the same time. Although their array of skills weren't all that perfect but their number covered their victory.
"Wait," Gato suddenly commanded his eyes gleamed evilly at the swaying Haku, "I have to pay this young boy back for breaking my arm first," he smirked as he made his way toward the helpless Haku.
"This was for disobeying me," he kicked the young boy in the ribs "This is for breaking my arm," another kick followed by a crack as Haku's rib broke "And this is for helping Zabuza," Gato held his foot out again or to be stopped by an enraged roar from Zabuza.
"Don't you dare touch him you filth!" Zabuza roared as he charged at Gato.
"Kill him!" Gato screamed nervously as the goons surrounded Gato. Zabuza slashed through the crowd as he made his way toward Gato intent on killing him.
"You'll find out who's the baby demon soon. Because your coming with me to hell!" he roared almost gleefully as he killed Gato with one clean slash.
"Zabuza-san!" Haku cried as his most precious person collapsed.
"Haku, go with Naruto to the leaf village. Maybe then you won't be forced to be a ninja," Zabuza smiled as he shut his eyes and allowed death to envelope him.
"It'll be alright," Naruto reassured as he patted Haku's shoulder "You can come with us,"
A few days later they held the funeral for Zabuza and headed back to the Leaf village with a completed mission.
Haku had decided to come along in hopes of joining the Leaf. Kakashi had of course questioned about Naruto's past with Zabuza but unfortunately he had not been able to extract anything from him. All Naruto would say was that they had met before when he had been traveling.
On their return Kakashi had immediately reported to the Hokage but he hadn't got much of a reaction from him either. He just repeated what he said before and impaled upon him how much he trusts Naruto.
Therefore Kakashi decided to drop the subject and put his entire mind on training his team.
Haku on the other hand successfully became a medic nin of the Leaf .
It was on a normal day a few weeks after the mission. Naruto had just finished his training and had returned home only to find a visitor.
"So what's it this time," the blond drawled.
"The chunnin examinations are coming up in two months. And Gaara's participating,"
"..."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Get revenge. What else?" he smiled a merciless look in his red eyes.