Sazanami knew he was going the right way because of the assaults on his life. He continued for about a week before he came to a man that, for the first time, since he had left on his journey to find Gosunkugi, didn't want to kill him. He sat down next to man who appeared to be deep in thought. "He old man what are you doing in the path?" "Gosunkugi has sent me hear to tell you to lay off your quest to find him." The man answered as he pulled out a canteen of water from his pant. After he took a swig of the water he handed it to Sazanami who graciously accepted it as Sazanami was taking a sip the old man began again.
"You see there is a long story to why the man steals so many things but I do not want to explain them to you. All I can tell you is that if you want to meet him then you must follow my advice you must stop making it obvious that you are trailing him. You know those other 4 men that you have killed?" The old man asked. Sazanami nodded his head.
"They were 4 bounties that heard that you were a bounty hunter. They have nothing to do with Gosunkugi. You have been following the path to Leaf Village or at least fired Country but the problem is you need to cross back the river and turn around. You know of the border town located in the north? That is where my master is located you will find him there." " Thank you kind sir for all of your assistance, you have been of great help." With that he walked away but right as he had not made it any more then 5 steps he found a knife slicing across his face.
He continued his journey taking no interest in his attackers. He had continued for only a day before he came to the border town. As he walked into a bar he saw three younger children with the headbands of the village hidden in the leaf. Sazanami realizing who they were walked over to them with a smile on his face and extended his hand to greet them. They were shocked with his action but Kiba shook his hand none the less. "Who the hell are you stranger?" asked Naruto. Sazanami didn't know why they were their but he knew he needed their help. Sazanami was about to answer when a black haired black bearded man walked through the front door of the bar with 4 huge men behind him.
Naruto saw that the man that was leading the 4 muscular men was the one that he and his team had been looking for. Without thinking he charged forward towards the man with Black hair. The black haired thief took a step back and the 4 men stepped in front of him like body guards. One of them grabbed Naruto and threw him back. Gosunkugi turned and fled back. The 4 men marched forwards towards Naruto and his team and one of them brought his fist down to hit Naruto but Sazanami with shot forward and with and upward blow with his elbow knocked the man out. He then saw another man bringing his fist towards Kiba and he used an upward blow from his arm to block the 2nd man's attack before knocking the wind out of him with a punch to the stomach.
The 3rd man charged towards Sazanami and with a quick punch Sazanami knocked the man back into a bar. The 3rd man was not as weak as the other 2 and he brought his fist into Sazanami's stomach. Sazanami felt the pain and grabbed his arm and then with a upward motion flipped the man over his head. When the man had landed on the grounded he brought his foot down on the man's head and knocked him out. The 4th man kicked at Sazanami with a vertical motion but caught the leg and twisted it causing the whole body to twist around and the man's side slammed into a table he then knocked him out with another kick to the face. Seeing the fact that he was so much stronger then the 3 children decided that he would not use their help.
Naruto seeing this instantly became captivated by the man. He ran over to the man and started to ask him many questions. Naruto then revealed why the 3 leaf Genin were there in Stone Country. He knew that the quest was his own and he hit himself for ever thinking that he needed help. "Hey you two over there why don't you come with me in my quest to capture the thief?" asked Sazanami and acknowledging him the 2 came over and behind Naruto they followed him out of the village. When they were outside of the village Sazanami punched Naruto in the face and knocked him out. He then turned to Kiba and with a kick to the face knocked him out. He then punched Hinata in the stomach and the attack knocked her out.
"Good bye young ninja." He said quietly before and he turned and continued his journey. He looked at the map that he had taken off the blond ninja and read it carefully apparently he was coming unto a canyon which was about 3 day's journey away. He stopped for dinner on only one of the 3 nights and finally after 3 days he finally made it to the Canyon. He knew that he had a good chance of capturing Gatsu. He entered the Canyon and saw the black hair of the thief in front of him. He grabbed the sword out of his sheath and as soon as he had it raised in the air an arrow shot past him. "You are foolish blacksmith for coming after me." A deep voice muttered that seemed to be coming from right in front of him."
The man turned around and raised his hand that showed 3 inch long nails on each finger of both his hands. The thief charged at him and they began to fight. The thief cut the blacksmith in the arm and then punched him in the stomach causing him bleed in that area of the torso also. The blacksmith was to busy fighting with the archers surrounding him in the canyon to see the thief come behind him and with a swift movement he punched the blacksmith in the back and then extended his hand and the nails cut deep into his back. He fell to the ground and pain and was not able to move. The thief fled and with signal from his hand the men surrounding the canyon followed.
Sazanami sat down and laid his back against the wall of the canyon in a place that was soft due to it being covered by a thick layer of moss. As he laid there and apologized in his mind to everyone whom he had told he was going to kill the thief. Right as he was about to black out he saw an orange arm reach out and grab him by the neck he then saw a fist come towards his face and the he turned to see a dog bite unto the orange arm and the arm pulled back. He finally blacked out just as a he felt a soft feminine hand touching him on the shoulder. He woke up 4 hours later to see a fire burning and the 3 young ninja sitting there with their hands close to the fire trying to gather warmth. He then looked up and with a weak voice he asked, "What are you doing here?" "We have come to help you with your quest as we have told you before." The blond replied.
"That is my quest to capture the thief." Kiba the boy with the dog stepped forward and with a deep voice asked, "Why are you so interested in capturing this thief?" Sazanami pointed to the ground in a way to say 'Sit down and I will tell you." The 3 ninja sat down and Sazanami recounted the story of how he was hired to make the sword for the man and when he got to his house he had found him and his wife and daughter dead. He then told them how he had vowed to get revenge. "That is a sad story." said Hinata giving her point of view on it. "Even if all this has happened you still have to stay behind because you are too weak." "No I will not this is my fight." He argued as he tried to stand up but he fell right back down. By the time Naruto and the Gang had left it had become day time. Naruto and his friends greeted farewell to the man and they continued off on their own quest to capture the thief.