I finished my own Original Story, it is entirely free and on Wattpad. Check it out, Destiny Rebellions- A Queen's Champion... if you love A Mortal's Might you'll love it. It was inspired heavily by that story and this one. Please check it out and tell me if you love it. I will be publishing it one day, so check it out before I pull it off of Wattpad.
"How did you not freeze up?" Naruto's voice, rough and gravely, startled Rooku from his seat on the boat.
"What do you mean?" He asked the boy, confused.
Naruto turned, looking ashamed. "Back then, with those two guys,... how did you not freeze up? I did, but no one else did."
Understanding the shame in Naruto's face, Rooku offered a warm smile. "I am a medic, we are taught to deal with stress in combat and in the hospital. My training involved working in the Medsurge, I've seen death, bloody wounds and horrible violent injuries that you could not comprehend. I had not choice but to see these things, I have become desensitized to the realities of the world. It was how I was trained. Sasuke... Sasuke's seen some terrible things, so I am not shocked he was okay. Sakura didn't do much, she might have frozen if they got closer but we won't ever know. You Naruto, you've never been in a situation where you needed to act, so you had no chance to adapt and that is okay. Just do better, work harder and become the man you want to be."
Naruto nodded, smiling at him soflty. "Thank you..."
About ten or so minutes of silence passed before it was broken by Sakura.
"This fogs so thick, you can't see anything." And she was right, the Mist was terribly thick, but thankfully natural.
The boat man 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.
Rooku turned to Naruto and put a hand to his mouth, just in time to stop Naruto from shouting. "No shouting, we need to be silent."
Naruto looked down, ashamed of himself. His eyes alone said sorry...
"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. Like you said, it goes beyond the original scope 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, he 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 to 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."
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 is too expensive. If you end this mission when you drop me ashore there will be no bridge. They'll kill 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 "
Everyone felt a twinge of pain in their hearts. Kakashi rubbed his forehead. " I guess we have no choice, we'll have to keep guarding you."
"Oh I'm very grateful!"
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.
Slowly, they made their way to a dock, where they all stepped off. "That's as far as 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.
After a few minutes, keeping his eyes focused on the back to make sure no one was following them, Rooku jumped as he heard a Kunai thrown but before he could toss himself and Tazuna to the ground, he saw Naruto with his hand stretched out and everyone else alarmed. '"Damn I was so in mind own head I never noticed him being dumb... or maybe he really noticed something...either way, I need to do better.'
"It just a mouse." Naruto said, laughing lightly.
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. Something shifted in the air and Kakashi's entire being changed. "Watch out!" He screamed before all of them ducked as a massive sword flew threw the air, connecting with a tree. Within moments a man appeared on the sword, a 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 and aggression and ruthlessness.
"Well if it isn't Zabuza Momochi from the Village Hidden in the Mist."
Turning, Rooku glared at Naruto, who looked ready to charge. The boy's impulsiveness was legendary, and he had no desire to get him killed. Prevention was the best medicine, and this was no exception. "Do not run after him, we need to be smart about this!"
Kakashi frowned, turning to Naruto. " Rooku is right, this guy's in a whole other league. 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."
"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 scar across it and a deep red eye with three comas inside. "I'm ready."
Rooku did as he was told, rushing to stand behind Tazuna with a kunai out, his hands ready to rush into seals for the few jutsu he knew. 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 a fraction of his power.
Zabuza laughed. "This one understands how to follow orders, a rarity nowadays." 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!
Rooku shivered, hoping against hope that he could survive this. He was a medic damn it, he was literally not meant to be on the front lines! Damn Kakashi for forcing them on this stupid mission, it was so far beyond their paygrade!
"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.
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."
Rooku wanted to whine, but he kept quiet, desperate to survive. He kept his senses open, hoping his experience as a medic could help in any way.
"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 breathe 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, was 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!'
"Sensei behind you!" Naruto called out and the other Zabuza burst into water.
Rooku did not see what happened next so he rolled over, turning to see what was happening, knowing he was useless facing away.
"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 ones 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. Waterclone 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. Rooku barely managed to see Naruto get slammed in the face by a powerful kick that sent him flying. "You're just brats!"
Rooku knew he had to act, but what could he do?
"Listen, get the bridge builder nad 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, Rooku grabbed Tazuna and threw himself away, rushing towards the trees.
"What are you doing?' Tazuna screamed.
Rooku frowned. "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!"
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
Why does no one show someone doing the practical choice? Like obeying your commanding officer or whatever you can do, saving the Client is the point...
Also, why does everyone make Sasuke evil when in canon he was concerned about his team a lot? I just rewatched the wave arc and he cared deeply for his team in his own way.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.