AN: New chapter.


"Haku, wait a minute. I've got to talk to this guy."

"Master…You're injuries…"

"Nothing that's gonna kill me. Besides, this is important."

"Very well Master."

"Might Guy, I want you to know something: The stories I got told really didn't do you justice."

"The renown of the Green Beast has spread far I see!"

"Like hell. I'm not talking about some damn rumors. Old guard had stories about some Taijutsu Master from the Hidden Leaf, some guy in green who decimated half of them back in the day. I didn't believe it until now, until I fought you. That guy, he was the real deal, not some made-up story like I thought."

"My father is who you're speaking of: Might Duy."

"Yeah, that's who I'm talking about. I got to tell you something: That old man of yours is a legend to us. Taking out so many of us like that? He was damn good."

"…I thought you were escaping."

"And I thought you were going to kill me? Yeah, I can see how banged up your body is. Shouldn't have taken those hits for those kids."

"It is not my Ninja Way to allow my comrades to be hurt, to stand on the side and let them suffer!"

"Yeah, yeah. Go on about that Ninja Way nonsense later when I'm not around. Just know, I'm not giving up on killing that builder. But I can split my pay, call in a few favors."

"You don't mean…"

"Let's just say this: I hope you take after your old man or else this is going to be a real waste of their time."

Momoichi had been pulled away by his accomplice with that parting remark. Guy had wanted to pursue but Zabuza's assessment had proven true when he had collapsed shortly afterwards from his myriad of wounds. Primarily from blood loss stemming from his lacerated arm.

It was frankly a miracle that he hadn't lost it.

Despite the injury coming early on in his clash with the Missing-nin, he had managed to fight through it until the end.

The two Jonin who had been brought in as reinforcements frowned as Guy finished his retelling of his confrontation with Zabuzu Momoichi, of how it had ended on such a foreboding note a few days ago. All nine Genin had been dismissed from the room, sent to perform a myriad of tasks to occupy their time while the three Jonin spoke.

"That's…foreboding. And very worrying." Kurenai accurately summed up what they were all feeling at the moment.

"We're going to need more help than just the two of us. Our teams aren't that ready for this either." Asuma wanted to light up a cigarette but decided against it. "This is big. How many do you think he'll bring?"

"In this situation? I would expect as many as the remaining five, perhaps even all other six." Guy frowned, his normal smile gone. "Part of me wants to forsake this mission, dismiss the plight of the people here if it could so easily cost the lives of my students, of you now as well, but…I would never be able to forgive myself if I did such a thing." He looked to his bandaged arm, the injury Zabuza had managed to deal him too severe for him to fight at his best. "When I requested you as reinforcements for this assignment, I did not expect Momoichi. I expected an army of thugs that could be defeated, that this would prove a helpful experience to your students." His good hand formed a fist. "I have clearly made a mistake."

"You're not considering…" Asuma didn't finish, couldn't speak the words.

"He is." Kurenai's red eyes were focused on the Jonin. "Aren't you?"

"…It has crossed my mind more than I care to wish." Guy rose to his feet from the bed he had been on for the past few hours. "I do not consider the use of the Eighth Gate lightly but…I feel it will be necessary against foes as formidable as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist." Once more, he looked to his arm, heavily wrapped in bandages and gauze. "Although, my injury will be limiting even then. I would not like my chances."

"Damn…" Asuma looked to the ceiling, looked to it for some kind of answers. "We're going to need more help for this. How long do you think we have?"

"The bridge will not be finished for another…two months at its earliest. With Tazuna's injury, he'll be slow going even if we find any aid for him beyond his family. I expect Zabuza to attack by the end of that time. Gato, for all of his evil, is a businessman above all else and will wait for the bridge to be completed. He'll wish to occupy the bridge for his own ends, use it tighten his stranglehold on the Land of Waves even further than it already is." Guy headed towards the door. "…No matter what, I will be here to face him and whatever force he brings. I will not abandon these people to suffer more than they already have."

"Then we've got two months to prepare." Asuma's hand landed on his shoulder. "We'll face this together."

"We've faced worse odds." Kurenai tried to give a reassuring smile. "We'll have a story for Kakashi after this."

"Yeah." Asuma managed a poor laugh. "Only bad thing about this? My team was looking forward to entering the Chunin Exams. They're gonna miss it since we'll be busy here. But there's always next year."

None of them added on the fact that they hoped they lived that long.

If they could do absolutely nothing else, they were going to make sure their students made it out of this mess alive.


AN: Want to aim to update more often. Going to put a limit on roughly 2-3 weeks between updates and see if I can stay on schedule. Also, this has quickly spiraled away from being funny. I may have a problem.

Review/PM if you want.

Peace.