The two teams and Tazuna rested for about half an hour, before hitting the road again. Hana was worried that they would bump into even more trouble, but at the same time, she wanted practice. She could not believe she had frozen up like that, and Sasuke had had to rescue her. She wanted to rescue him for once - or better yet, rescue herself.
The young girl walked along in between Sumi and Sasuke. An awkward silence was in the air, or maybe it was just awkward for Hana...you know...since she had asked her brother to go on a date with Sumi. Sumi still did not know that Sasuke had declined the offer, so she was still swooning and blushing in his presence.
Hana felt bad for her, but she was also concerned for her friendship (if you could call it that?) with Sumi. Just when Sumi had opened up to her, she was about to give her bad news. Though Sasuke was not one for going on dates, Hana had known that before even asking him. She was just unsure of why she got so upset at the thought of him never falling in love. Really, though? Like...ever? Would he not even consider it?
She shook the thoughts from her head, deciding to focus on her surroundings in case they were attacked again. Before long, they reached a small dock. The air around them was misty, and Hana was struggling to see past her field of vision. "Where are you headed?" the boatman asked Kakashi, who whipped his wallet out of his pocket "the land of Waves" he nodded to him. The boatman took the money from Kakashi, then hauled them all on board his small fishing boat. Hana felt sick as the boat rocked backwards and forwards, but she held it all in in fear of embarrassment. She was never really any good with moving objects, she often got travel sickness.
"Are you alright, Hana?" Nari asked her, concern evident in her tone. "Of course" Hana smiled "just feeling a little ill". "That's okay, Hana" Takahashi smiled "I have pills". He reached into his backpack, pulling out some travel sickness pills "I always take them with me on missions like these". He handed her a pill, which she took and immediately swallowed, since it was tiny "thank you, Sensei". Takahashi smiled warmly at her, before returning his gaze to the water.
"This fog is so thick, though" Sakura mumbled to Sasuke "you can't see anything". Sasuke did not respond, he just stared into the fog. "The bridge is not far from here" the boatman announced "our destination is just up ahead". Seconds later, Hana squinted to see a broken bridge up ahead. Either that, or it was half finished. She presumed the latter. "Woah!" Naruto exclaimed "it's HUGE!". Nari began to bounce up and down excitedly "yeah! it is!". Hana smiled at them. At least they were enthusiastic.
"Quiet, you two. I told you no noise!" the boatman exclaimed "why do you think we are travelling like this, huh?! Turning off the engine, rowing. Moving through the dense fog - it's so they don't see us". Naruto covered his mouth, clearly frightened by those words and embarrassed at the same time. Hana was amazed that Naruto could even get embarrassed. He apparently had a filter, after all.
"Mr Tazuna" Kakashi started "before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something". Tazuna remained silent, looking down. "The men who are after you. I need to know why" Kakashi finished "and if you don't tell us, I'm afraid I'm going to have to finish this mission when we drop you ashore".
All eyes were now on Tazuna, who was silent for a few seconds. He took a deep breath "I have no choice but to tell you. No, I want you to know the truth. As you said, this is beyond the scope of your original mission". Hana tensed up. What more could there be? "The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a very long and deadly shadow". "A deadly shadow?" Takahashi asked, tilting his head ever so slightly. Tazuna nodded briskly. "Hm. Who is it?" Kakashi asked. "You know him. At least, I'm sure you have heard his name before" Tazuna said "he is one of the wealthiest men in the world. The shipping magnate Gatō".
Kakashi and Takahashi stared at him with wide eyes. Whoever this man was, Hana knew he was dangerous by their reactions. "Hm? Gatō? Of Gatō transport?" Kakashi asked "he is a business leader, everyone knows him". "Who? Who? What? What?" Naruto asked excitedly. Tazuna started to explain who Gatō was. He said he was a very powerful businessman on the outside, but underneath it all he uses very ruthless methods to take over businesses. He said that he uses gangs and Ninja. He explained how it had been one year since Gatō had first laid his sight on this land of waves. He came to the island, and used his vast wealth to take total control over transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way - they disappeared. In and Island nation, he said, a man who control the sea controls everything. Finance. Government. Our very lives - but according to Tazuna, there was one thing he feared. Which was the bridge that Tazuna was building. When it is complete, the bridge will attach the island to the land and that will break his control. He looked up at the bridge "I am the bridge builder". "So that's it" Hana nodded "since you are in charge of the bridge, you are standing in his way". Sasuke turned and looked at her "that means the guys we fought in the forest. They were working for Gatō". Hana nodded to him "that sounds right".
"I don't understand" Kakashi said "if you knew he was dangerous, and knew he would send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?". "Because the land of waves is a small, impoverished nation" Tazuna told him "even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge...they can't pay for an A or B ranked mission. It's too expensive". Hana felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Those poor people. "If you end the mission when you drop me ashore" Tazuna continued "there will be no bridge. They will assassinate me before I reach home. Ah, don't feel bad about that. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset. He'll cry "GRANDAD I WANT MY GRANDAD"".
Hana gasped, feeling yet another wave of regret and sadness. She did not want the little boy to be devastated like she had been! "Oh, and my daughter will condemn the ninja of the hidden leaf, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning her father and living her life in sorrow". Naruto and Sakura hummed with worry. "Ah well, it's not your fault. Forget it". Everyone let out a worried sigh, feeling bad for him but also worried for their own lives.
"Well" Kakashi said, eyeing Takahashi "I guess we have no other choice". Takahashi turned to look at Tazuna "we'll have to keep guarding you". "Aw! I'm very grateful" Tazuna said happily. "We're approaching the shore" the boatman told them "Tazuna, we have been very fortunate. Nobody has noticed us so far". "Nice going" Tazuna complimented. Before long, after they passed under a small bridge, they were in a beautiful, small town. Hana smiled gleefully, leaning over the side of the bridge and running her hands along the crystal, blue water. Nari joined her, giggling happily. Sasuke watched his sister laugh with Nari, and a small smile threatened to fall upon his lips, but he refused to show it.
They stepped off the boat once it pulled up in the dock. Hana was the first to get off, feeling happy to be off the water. She helped Nari out before looking around the town. It was actually quite beautiful, for somewhere that was impoverished. "That's as far as I go, good luck" the boatman said to them. "Right" Tazuna said "thank you for taking such a risk".
"Just be careful" the boatman said to him. They watched him take off, before Tazuna turned to them "right. take me to my home - and I mean get me there in one piece". Hana felt overwhelmingly nervous. What if they were attacked along the way? What if they failed to protect Tazuna, and his poor grandson and daughter were left heartbroken? She knew all about that. She really did.
After a bit of trouble, and Naruto being over dramatic, Sakura hitting Naruto, Naruto startling a rabbit and Hana laughing way too hard, Hana began to sense someone else's presence. She looked around at the two sensei's, who were looking at each other. They seemed to sense it too. That could only mean one thing -
And just like that, out of nowhere - a large sword came swinging at them. Everyone fell to the ground, dodging the weapon just in time. They looked up seconds later, only to see the sword was now wedged into a tree, and a male wearing a white mask was now standing upon the handle - as if it were nothing. Everyone watched him closely, waiting for his next move.
"Well, well, well" Kakashi began "if it isn't Zabuza Momonchi - rogue ninja from the village hidden in the mist". Naruto went to charge at him. Hana tried to grab a hold of his sleeve but just missed by seconds. Thankfully, Kakashi held his hand in the way of Naruto "you're in the way, get back". "But why?!" Naruto exclaimed. "He's not like the other ninja. He's in a whole other league. If he is our opponent" Kakashi said, lifting his hand up to his mask "I'll need this". "This could be treacherous" Zabuza spoke "Kakashi of the Sharingan eye. Did I get that right?". Sasuke and Hana both gasped, eyeing each other before looking to Kakashi.
"It's too bad, huh? But you'll have to hand over the old man" he said to him. "Now, everyone!" Kakashi yelled "protect the bridge builder, and stay out of this fight. Takahashi. You are with me". "Yes!" Takahashi exclaimed, getting into fighting formation. Hana gulped loudly, looking towards Sumi who stood the other side of her. "You heard the man, gang!" Sumi yelled "we must protect him. That is the mission that was given to us".
With that, the air was suddenly filled with fog. Everyone formed around the bridge builder, holding kunai in their hands. Kakashi and Takahashi prepared to fight. "So, I will have to eliminate both of you first, eh?" Zabuza asked "so be it". With a swift movement, he pulled his sword out from underneath him, landing before Kakashi and Takahashi on the water - he was STANDING on it! Though seconds later, he vanished.
"Wha- he vanished!" Nari exclaimed. "He'll come after me first" Kakashi said, stepping forward. "Who is he?" Sakura asked. "Zabuza Mamochi, the ex-leader of the village hidden in the mist assassination unit. He's a master of the silent killing technique". "S-silent?" Naruto stammered out. "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 without realising what has happened. The Sharingan cannot fully neutralise it. So don't lower your guard".
"The fog is getting thicker" Naruto said worriedly. "The land is surrounded by water" Tazuna explained "the mist is ever present". That's when the mist became even stronger, completely consuming Kakashi and Takahashi. "S-sensei!" Hana cried out, as did Sakura at once. "Eight points" they suddenly heard. "W-what was that?" Sakura asked. He named the eight points "now, which will be my kill point?".
Everyone tensed up, moving in closer to protect Tazuna. "You ready, Kakashi?" Takahashi questioned. Though none of them could see them. Kakashi blew the mist away, leaving them all dumbfounded. Hana was so frightened she was shaking. "Sasuke!" Kakashi suddenly yelled, causing everyone to look at Sasuke. "Calm down. I'll protect you with my life - all of you" Kakashi said "Takahashi AND me". "Yes" Takahashi nodded, looking back at Hana and the girls "I promise". Hana felt her bottom lip wobbling "s-sensei...".
"I wouldn't be so sure" they heard, startling as they felt Zabuza swoop down. Hana turned her head slightly to see he was behind them! "It's over" he said, smirking through the mask. Hana let out a small scream of fright, causing Sasuke to grab her into him and hold her close - he would die first for her.
Suddenly, they were knocked to their feet, Hana landing below Sasuke. "I've got you" he said to her softly, making her feel less frightened. His tone of voice was different than other times - it was relaxing. They looked up to see that Kakashi had stabbed Zabuza with a kunai, and instead of bleeding, he was dripping water from his wound.
"Sensei!" Naruto yelled, and everyone's eyes fell on the figure behind Kakashi - Zabuza! Kakashi turned, and Takahashi jumped out from a tree above, ready to kick - but he missed. Kakashi was slit in two, and then water splashed everywhere. Hana sighed happily - Kakashi was okay! "Don't move" Kakashi said, holding a kunai to Zabuza's throat "now it's over".