"We have so much catching up to do," Sakura said eagerly, taking a seat at what appeared to be the only table in the house. "Do you have any paper? I know how much you love my art," Sakura said.

Tsunami looked at her confusedly but nodded and went to get some paper. Returning a few seconds later she told little Inari to go sit elsewhere while she and 'Sarada' talked. She then handed the paper to Sakura and sat after an indication from Sakura to do so.

"How is uncle Tazuna? We barely hear anything from him anymore?" she said aloud while writing a completely different message on paper, 'Tazuna safe. We're being watched. Act natural.'

Tsunami visibly relaxed after seeing the message on the paper. "Well you know how it is. Just building bridges as usual. He actually went to seek aid a few weeks ago, we haven't heard from him since," Tsunami said, playing along. "But tell me Sarada, what brings you here at such a strange time?" she asked, pointedly looking at the paper.

"Oh this and that. I'm really just passing through on my way to go and study in the Land of Fire," she said. 'Konoha ninja hired by Tazuna. Here to resolve situation without casualties.'

Tsunami nodded, glancing at the room she had sent Inari to then back again. "So what do you want to do now that you're here?"

"Maybe you could show me around. Oh and I can't wait to try your cooking," Sakura said excitedly. 'We need to make it look like we're here to take your money. That's what ninja watching think. Later today three ninja will come to your house to go through your belongings. Do not worry, they are friends.'

Tsunami nodded. "That sounds alright. I just hope that you won't use up all of my money."

"I look forward to it. I'm staying nearby, so if you need to find me for anything look me up," she said, writing down the directions to where she thought they would be staying. "Well I guess I'm not so good at drawing after all," Sakura said, crumpling the paper. "You'll be doing me a favor if you burn that." She handed the crumpled paper to Tsunami and stood, walking around the table to give Tsunami an awkward hug. "I'm going to meet with a friend now, I'll see you later. Stay safe," Sakura said finally. "Tell Inari I said goodbye."

Tsunami led her to the door, let her out and watched as Sakura walked to the end of the block. Letting out a breath, Sakura snuck into an alleyway and changed the henge slightly, then did so again in another alleyway. Slipping into a store and changing her hair color while no one could see her. When she finally reached the alleyway again she looked entirely different from the way she had looked previously, now resembling a middle aged woman with graying hair and a baggy dress that looked like it had been patched up far too many times.

Sasuke to her delight was already waiting in the alleyway with a smug expression on his face as he handed a piece of paper to Sakura. Taking the piece of paper she let the henge fall apart, revealing her small pink haired self and she examined the paper, seeing the address written on the one side. Turning it over she gasped and dropped it, stepping away.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, bending over to pick up the paper.

"Don't," Sakura warned. "That's an exploding tag."

Sasuke frowned. "Are you sure?"

"We can ask Naruto when he gets here but I'm pretty sure."

Shrugging Sasuke reached gingerly for the tag. "It didn't explode before," he said as way of explanation. "It's probably for if I die while fighting I can still act as a bomb."

"Where did you even get that?" Sakura asked.

"Some guy in the bar gave it to me. Said that I could kill a ninja if I came to this address tomorrow," Sasuke answered.

Sakura squinted. "Did he mean us?"

"I don't think so."

"So it's probably someone in Zabuza's group. Maybe one of the demon brothers. We should find him and ask," Sakura said.

Sasuke winced. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

"Why not? Ninja look out for each other."

"Yeah but they're missing nin," Sasuke said as if that explained anything.

"So?"

"So they're worse than trash. They abandoned their village."

"The same village that forced them to kill their partners to graduate. The same village that let Zabuza kill his entire graduating class."

"Are you supporting him?"

"No. But I just. . ." Sakura trailed off at the sight of a scantily clad young lady entering the alleyway, giggling to herself and stumbling with each step.

Sasuke and Sakura looked everywhere but at the lady, continuing to avoid her gaze even as she stopped right in front of them expectantly.

"Can we help you?" Sasuke asked coldly, still avoiding the woman's gaze.

The girl giggled to herself. "It's me silly. I found a way in."

Sakura looked at the girl and noticed three horizontal scars on each of her cheeks. "Naruto?" she asked.

The girl nodded then the henge dropped and Naruto was once again himself, if a little red faced. "I hate alcohol," he said with a dreamy smile on his face. "Gato wants young attractive women to work for him, serving him sake and stuff. So I got the job. I start tomorrow night."

Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other before looking back at Naruto. "Just tell us everything and don't leave anything out," Sakura said. "Then we're going to Tazuna's house afterwards."

They both nodded.

(O_O)

Sakura ordered them armed to the teeth, they were putting on a show and needed to make sure that anyone watching would get the entirely wrong message. Armed to the teeth for three genin didn't mean much, seeing as all they used were kunai and shuriken and concealing too many on one's person would be disadvantageous. At least to the civilian looking on they may have just appeared to be normal children if not for the headbands. To any other ninja though, the opened kunai satchel, the four shuriken held ready in a glove, the senbon keeping Sakura's hair up and the kunai hidden up their sleeves broadcasted that these three genin were sporting for a fight, which in Sasuke's case was actually true.

Taking the lead, Sakura knocked on the door and put on her best mean face, Naruto attempting to do the same and Sasuke keeping his normal expression which managed to make children cry regardless. Tsunami answered the door and looked down at them confusedly. She didn't have very long to stay confused however as Sakura slammed the door open, knocking Tsunami backwards where she dropped to the floor.

None of them had learned any hand signal besides for the pure basics, so they had made up some hand signals just before to throw any watchers off of understanding them. Sakura pointed and her teammates split up. Naruto made a good show of picking up objects that were sitting on raised surfaces and throwing them on the floor, nothing broke obviously as he only picked up objects that were more durable, but by the time he was done the floor was a mess.

He could hear Tsunami shouting at Sakura from another room where Sakura was no doubt interrogating the lady of the house. Naruto was able to hear her shouting that they didn't have any money and that she hated them. She was really a very good actor. At least Naruto hoped she was acting.

Grabbing a painting off a wall that didn't seem to be worth much Naruto returned to the entrance where Sakura was holding a kunai to a quietly sobbing Tsunami. Naruto felt a pang of regret seeing her like this, but he knew that she would thank them later. "There's nothing," Naruto said.

Sakura looked up and at Sasuke who shrugged. Growling, she stood and put her kunai away. "What a waste of time. Send word ahead to sensei to execute the prisoner."

Tsunami let out a sob, making Naruto cringe inwardly. Lying to people really did suck.

Sakura spared a look of distaste for the sobbing Tsunami. "Move out," she said, walking out of the house, Sasuke and Naruto following closely.

Now onto finding Zabuza.

(0_0)

"Oh Zabbey Zoo," Naruto called out into the forest. "Come out and play."

Sasuke sent an annoyed glance Naruto's direction then looked pleadingly at Sakura most likely asking her to stop him.

Sakura wasn't paying attention however. She held herself tightly and tried not to think about what she had done. She had sent a wink Tsunami's way but she didn't think Tsunami had caught it. Either way Tsunami had been expecting their arrival, Inari's absence was proof of that and although she had reacted badly Sakura knew that it was just an act. Outer Sakura, Hokage Sakura, knew that logically and had already filed it away as irrelevant, inner Sakura was having a harder time dealing with it. So she shivered and did everything to stop herself from crying because now wasn't the time. Finally managing to put on a semblance of calm, Hokage Sakura took the reins.

"Naruto that's not going to work. And if it does it's probably because he wants to kill us," Sakura said blandly, lightly tapping him upside the head. The tap, although it shouldn't have hurt, was enough to get Naruto to stop.

"Sorry team leader," Naruto said, standing to attention. "I just figured that if we don't try the easiest ways first then we might waste a lot of time trying the hard ways."

Sakura opened her mouth to explain how easy and dangerous wasn't exactly more desirable than difficult but safe, however she shut her mouth quickly as the sound of bushes rattling alerted her to another presence. Readying her weapon she hoped it wasn't Zabuza, while wondering what was going on with Naruto's head if it was. However the figure to emerge, while familiar, wasn't Zabuza.

"Haku, right?" Naruto asked. "How are you keeping?"

Haku, the girl that had led them into town earlier, smiled brightly at Naruto. "I'm doing well. I heard someone shouting and I came to see if I could help?"

Naruto put his arm around the older girl's shoulder. "That's great Haku. You're the best," Naruto said sincerely. "We're trying to find this really scary ninja named Zabuza because we think he's going to be assassinated tomorrow and we thought we would help him out. I don't suppose you could help us with that?"

The sound of two hands hitting faces in exasperation followed Naruto's monologue. "Naruto," Sakura started angrily. "What do you think you're doing?"

Naruto grinned. "What's the problem? Haku said she was going to help us."

"I'm a boy," Haku said, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that. Anyways Haku said she wanted to help, so I figure that she'll help us," Naruto finished.

Sakura sighed. "No offense Haku, but she can't help us Naruto, she's a civilian, there's no chance that she would know where Zabuza is."

Naruto looked at her confusedly. "What are you talking about? Haku's a shinobi," he said obviously.

"What makes you think she's a ninja?" Sasuke asked, tensing suddenly.

Naruto scratched his head. "She's friendly," he said finally. "Right, Haku?"

Sakura nodded suddenly in understanding but Sasuke still looked confused. "So what?"

"Civilians generally avoid ninja," Sakura explained slowly, watching Haku with a careful eye. "She found us twice and acted friendly. She doesn't appear old enough or rich enough to have hired ninja before and there's no ninja academy here. Which means her familiarity was solely for the purpose of gathering information."

Sasuke looked at Haku strangely but eventually nodded.

Haku was watching the exchange with a wide smile on her face. "I don't exactly know what any of you are talking about," she said innocently. "But I can sense that I'm not wanted here." She shifted her weight, smoothly pulling herself out of Naruto's embrace and moving away from them.

"Tell Zabuza we'll be here," Naruto shouted after her as she disappeared, then turned to his teammates. "Good thing we tried the easy way, huh?"

Sakura and Sasuke glared at him, turning away to start setting up camp a moment later.

(I_I)

Zabuza came with the night. Even with all of team seven awake they didn't notice his presence until they sat down to eat and realized that there were in fact four of them. Turning slowly to face their guest all of them caught the downwind of his chakra and froze up. It was Zabuza, that much was certain.

Naruto silently handed a bowl of rice to Zabuza who took it and started feeding it to himself under his mask, a feat, Naruto felt, was exclusive to very skilled ninja. It was probably meant as a warning or something.

They ate in silence, nobody wanted to interrupt Zabuza's eating for any reason, even if it was for the purpose of saving his life.

"Thank you for accepting our invitation," Sakura said carefully once it was clear that Zabuza was finished.

"I haven't accepted yet brat. If I like what you're saying then maybe I'll stick around. If you're just wasting my time," he let the sentence trail off. "You'll regret it."

Sakura nodded her understanding, keeping her face calm. Naruto wondered if she was using henge to keep herself looking so calm under duress. He couldn't imagine being in her shoes, it seemed terrifying. "We have news which could potentially benefit both of us, if not one of us," Sakura continued. "Where are you going to be tomorrow at noon?" she asked.

"I don't see why that's any of your business."

Sasuke slipped out a piece of paper and showed it to Zabuza.

"Where did you get that?" he snarled, grabbing the piece of paper.

"Why don't you tell us what's going to happen there?" Sakura asked.

Zabuza stared her down and suddenly all of team seven quivered in their seats, struggling to breath, struggling to hold themselves up. "Don't screw with me kid," he said.

Sakura tried to stare him down but eventually gave in, nodding to Sasuke.

"A mercenary gave it to me in a bar while I was under henge," he explained. "He said that if I wanted to kill a ninja and make good money I should show up at this location."

Zabuza grabbed Sasuke by the shirt and pulled him closer. "Swear it," he hissed.

Sasuke stared him down unflinchingly. "On my word as a ninja."

Zabuza stared at him for a while then relinquished his hold. "This is where I'm supposed to get paid," he said in a whisper.

Naruto grimaced. "What are you going to do about it?" he asked finally, breaking the silence that had settled.

Zabuza's eyes flicked to him. "I'm going to go," he said. "I need that money."

Naruto nodded his understanding. "Do you want to meet us there or do you want to bring your crew here?"

Zabuza raised an eyebrow. "Why would I meet you there?"

Naruto shrugged. "We're going to help you, right guys?" he asked turning to his teammates, both of whom didn't look particularly disagreeable, at least not more than normal.

"Maybe."

"I'll check my schedule."

Naruto grumbled then forced a smile. "That's a yes."

"Do what you want," Zabuza said, standing up. "I'll kill anyone he sends to kill me."

"Can you kill an army?" Sasuke asked seriously.

"I guess we'll find out," Zabuza said, then disappeared into the mist.

"Send Gozu and Meizu our regards. Oh also Haku," Naruto shouted out to the mist. Settling back down into his seat with a grin he looked at his teammates.

"Why did you offer him our help?" Sasuke asked angrily after they were sure Zabuza was gone. "Everything was going just as planned. Let them kill each other for all we care."

Sakura nodded in turn. "I have to agree with Sasuke, what were you thinking Naruto?"

Naruto grimaced. "Zabuza's a good guy," he explained. "He didn't sound pleased about hosting a mass slaughter tomorrow. I don't think he wants to kill anyone, he just wants the money. I figure that with us helping him we could prevent anyone dying while still getting Zabuza the money."

Sakura frowned but didn't argue, Sasuke still looked annoyed. "Why do you care so much about saving their lives?" Sasuke asked finally.

"Because I can," Naruto said simply. "Doesn't that make it my job?"

"No."

"Well you can have your own opinions if you want to," Naruto said sticking his tongue out. "But this is what I was taught, there's always a third way."

"Who taught you that?"

"The academy hobo."

"I don't believe you."

"I don't care."

(O_O)

Flash tags, so many flash tags. It was Naruto's greatest work, he thought. Then there was the tunnel which was masterful.

"Your plan sucks kid," Zabuza muttered as they waited for Gato.

Naruto shrugged. "It'll work."

"We'll see."

They stood together in the mist waiting for the end. The designated location was in the middle of nowhere and was far enough from any water to make classic Hidden Mist jutsu more difficult. Zabuza's team was in hiding, the demon brothers having paired up with Sakura and Haku having paired with Sasuke. For a moment Naruto wondered if everything may have been an elaborate scheme to get team seven killed but thought better of it a moment later, realizing quickly that if Zabuza wanted to kill team seven he could've done so with a hand tied behind his back while sleepwalking.

As the time of the meeting neared, Naruto was able to make out figures moving towards them from all directions. A few minutes later they were discernible as mercenaries. Stashing away his headband, Naruto performed the henge to make himself look like Meizu and did his best to act like him, which was really just breathing heavily and being jumpy which he was already doing.

"How many do you count?" Naruto whispered to Zabuza.

"Two hundred at least," Zabuza said.

"Think you can take them?"

Zabuza didn't respond.

Naruto grimaced. It seemed that Zabuza had been planning on showing up to the fight alone and letting this army kill him. Not exactly the best of ideas. Strong ninja didn't necessarily mean clever ninja, Naruto supposed.

As the crowd neared Naruto began feeling uneasy. He was able to make out ninja in the ranks, these ones weren't missing nin but their headbands weren't those that Naruto recognized, which wasn't a proof of anything. He could only hope that the ninja wouldn't see through the deception. The crowd encircled Naruto and Zabuza, standing menacingly but still at enough of a distance to give them some breathing space.

The crowd parted eventually, allowing the passage of a short fat man with a cruel smirk on his face, that Naruto could only assume was Gato. "I thought I told you to come alone," Gato said good naturedly.

"I thought you said you would do the same," was Zabuza's response. "Where's my money?"

"No need to be so hasty Zabuza, it's right here," Gato said, tapping a briefcase that one of his ninja bodyguards was holding. "There's a lot of money in here though. What could a ninja like you do with all of it?"

"That's none of your business. Now give it to me."

Gato nodded solemnly. "Of course," he said nodding to the bodyguard to throw the briefcase towards Zabuza, where it landed softly at his feet.

Naruto watched this exchange with growing confusion. There was something he was missing. Gato really looked like he wanted to kill Zabuza what with the army he brought, but at the same time he had just acquiesced too quickly. There was something he was missing.

Zabuza knelt to pick up the briefcase and Naruto eyed it with suspicion, raising his gaze he turned it on the ninja that had thrown it and saw the ninja place his hands together. Everything fit together very suddenly and Naruto slammed into Zabuza, grabbing the briefcase and throwing it in the opposite direction. The briefcase exploded only seconds after leaving Naruto's hands. Naruto was knocked back into Zabuza, his own body shielding Zabuza's from the explosion. He could feel the fire burn all across his skin, sending him into agonizing pain, but pain was a friend or at least an acquaintance and he had a job to do. Bringing his own fingers together he flared his chakra.

Only a second later Naruto realized that he'd forgotten to don his goggles. Having stuck several hundreds of flash tags over the surrounding area, the results were obvious and effective. Naruto was immediately blinded by the immense white flash. Coupling that with the immense burns he could feel across his chest and stomach, it took every last fiber of Naruto's self control not to panic. He was especially careful not to panic when an arm curled its way around his stomach and pulled at him. He had to stop himself from screaming as he was pulled along at breakneck speed.

They stopped moving almost immediately and a hand was shoved over Naruto's mouth to stop him screaming out in pain. Naruto would have been offended by the lack of faith but was in too much pain to care much. As his vision started returning he could make out Zabuza sitting next to him and keeping a watch out while crouched in the foliage.

They were concealed only a small way away from where the ambush had taken place but from the fact that their hiding place hadn't been overrun by mercenaries it appeared that the tunnel diversion was working incredibly. Part of the seals that Naruto had detonated after the explosion had opened a big tunnel near their original location, basically painting a sign that said 'Diversion' in big letters. Apparently Gato's mercenaries weren't the most paranoid of warriors.

"Can you move?" Zabuza asked quietly, reaching out a hand for Naruto once it was clear that they weren't going to get overrun.

Naruto nodded in turn, taking the offered hand and pulling himself up, wincing heavily as his skin stretched. It was a good thing his henge had caught most of the blast, otherwise he would most likely have been toast. Following in Zabuza's step wasn't easy, even without the injuries he had sustained, Zabuza was a jonin level and without the experience of chasing after Kakashi every morning he wouldn't have been able to keep up. As it was he was able to match his pace if barely.

They made it to the beach just as the others were arriving. Sasuke and Sakura didn't even give Naruto more than a passing glance, but the strange glares he received from the demon brothers and Haku we enough to make him feel self conscious. Had the explosion burned away his pants? That would suck. Glancing down he saw that his pants were in fact still concealing everything important. Shrugging, he moved to follow.

To find the hideout they had to walk along the beach until they came across a small cave that was disguised by a dune, only walking right in front of the entrance would allow anyone to find it and doing that would require someone to have waded into the water some distance. Gathering around a small fire Naruto took a seat against the cave wall, allowing his injuries to rest while the rest of the team sat around in the center of the cave and nearer to the fire.

"So that went well," Naruto coughed.

Everyone else in the cave grunted in various pitches.

Naruto waited until he was sure no one else was going to say anything. "So who wants to dismantle a criminal empire and take all their money?" Naruto asked.

Once again he was met with a lot of disbelieving gazes.

"I'm going to take that as a resounding yes," Naruto said. "Wake me in five hours. I need to be an attractive woman," he said before passing out from his injuries.