"It's just a C-rank," Kakashi says to the masked Root member. "Please stop following me."
The other ninja does nothing except keep staring. Kakashi has been walking twice as slow as a civilian so he has enough time to convince the Root member to leave. This is Kakashi's mission and he does not need help walking his genin around. They may not be on leashes but everyone knows the first time is to get them acclimated to being outside the village.
The speed is definitely annoying Team Seven and their client. Kakashi even saw poorly hidden tracks that indicated an ambush (two of them) had been set up, but then the enemy got tired of waiting and left. That's how ridiculously slow Kakashi has been moving.
Team Seven is right outside the bridge builder's house at this point and for some reason this particular Root ninja is stubborn. Kakashi glances through the trees to where his team is clustered around the family of three, completely ignorant to the ninja that has been following them. If he was alone, he would be able to lose the tail.
"Nothing is going to happen," Kakashi insists. "Seriously, go home, take a nap, whatever – literally just do anything else. I can feel your eyes on me and it's distracting."
The Root member seems to consider Kakashi's words for a moment, then lies down on the ground and curls up near the base of a tree.
"I mean take a nap at home inside Konoha," Kakashi deadpans but doesn't keep pushing it. As long as Kakashi isn't being watched constantly then he's fine with this. He pulls out his Icha Icha and walks back to his team.
Kakashi tracks Zabuza closely but keeps his students in his periphery.
Sakura is standing determinedly in front of the bridge builder, her feet steady and kunai sharp. Sasuke is fighting the fake hunter-nin and most definitely winning. Naruto is probably still sleeping away at the house, able to keep the small family safe from whomever Gato would likely send after them.
Haku hits the ground hard from Sasuke's last attack and tumbles back, rising to his feet quickly enough despite the blood he then coughs out.
Zabuza only laughs.
The air grows colder rapidly and the water around Sasuke jerks upwards, taking shape and solidifying in an instant. The flat planes reflect like mirrors but a chill seeps off them like ice. Sasuke can barely be seen through the slight gaps in the walls and Haku leaps into one of the mirrors, dissolving into it.
Kakashi moves forward. He doesn't know this jutsu and he's not comfortable with leaving one of his students inside no matter how good Sasuke is. Zabuza darts in front of Kakashi but the Konoha ninja simply flips over the other man and continues, easily sliding into the cage through one of the small gaps.
There's a slight possibility that Zabuza would just go for Sakura and the bridge builder, but the most likely reaction is to follow. People like Zabuza don't go for the weak ones when they can have Kakashi instead.
The Konoha-nin very calmly lands beside Sasuke and raises a mud wall to block the hail of senbon that fires from every ice mirror. He takes the wall down and spends a moment enjoying Haku's startled expression before grabbing Sasuke.
The plan to jump his way out fails when Zabuza charges in, his unnecessarily massive sword whistling through the air with how fast he swings it.
Kakashi mentally apologises and kind of drop kicks Sasuke out of the ice prison –softly!- while Haku is still distracted. By the time Sasuke lands on his feet outside, Kakashi is already turning to block the missing-nin with a kunai. He has to lean into the defence with how strong and heavy the sword is and Haku takes advantage.
A hail of senbon shoot from the mirrors, aimed for Kakashi. He drops to the ground, avoiding them all, but Zabuza's sword swings down since Kakashi isn't holding it up anymore. He rolls to the side and the weapon clips his jaw, cutting his mask and drawing a thin line of blood.
Kakashi lurches to his feet and the ripped mask falls. His hand snaps up and holds it on but Zabuza's eyes are quicker.
"Oh," the missing-nin says slowly, lowering his sword.
Sakura watches in relief as the mirrors vanish but tenses when she realises the two missing-nin are still standing. So Kakashi didn't win? But he's not injured either, though he does seem to be adjusting his mask.
Zabuza moves forward and leans into Kakashi, the two adults having a quickly whispered conversation. It ends as suddenly as it started and Zabuza straightens up, turning and striding away with Haku following at his heels, the boy also looking a bit confused.
"What?" Sasuke finally blurts out, unable to keep quiet. "What just happened?"
Zabuza waves a careless hand at the Uchiha. "Keep your teacher safe, I'll be back after killing some people."
Sakura, Sasuke and Tazuna all turn to stare at Kakashi in confusion. The jonin smiles and pretends this is all normal and according to plan. If they press him for an answer then he can claim it's the mystical powers of the Sharingan and no one can argue.
Sarutobi takes a long draw of his pipe and peers over his desk at the two missing-nin beside Kakashi, only allowed in after their weapons were stripped from them. The genin were already sent away after being praised for doing a good job.
"So," the Sandaime Hokage begins. "Are you aware that there is a missing-nin holding your hand…?"
"Yes," Kakashi says simply, hunching his shoulders and raising the bright orange book to further hide the small portion of his face visible. His other hand is clasped securely inside Zabuza's and Haku stands a little behind and to the side.
"Could you please explain why?" Sarutobi orders more than he asks.
"After the third time I left a clone and escaped, he decided to hold hands," Kakashi reports. "It may also stem from his childhood and the lack of physical affection-"
"I wanted to escort him home," Zabuza interrupts carelessly, completely at ease with being surrounded by tense Konoha ninja. "You never know what kind of sick people might be out there. He could get hurt."
The Sandaime stares at the missing-nin, the blood thirsty monster from Kirigakure, and simply nods in agreement instead of pointing out the hypocrisy. "And what do you plan to do now that you've successfully escorted Kakashi home?"
"I'll leave," Zabuza claims easily enough. "I need to get stronger to protect him better."
"Maybe focus on getting stronger than me first," Kakashi murmurs.
Killing intent fills the room and Zabuza turns to glare at him. "We never did finish the fight. You wanna go?"
Kakashi's 'trump card' causes obsession, not warm and fluffy feelings. People don't lose their personality so Zabuza is still a cruel asshole, he's just forced to direct that cruelty into keeping Kakashi alive and content. In Zabuza's mind, fighting doesn't count as malicious harm towards the Hatake because he's not going to kill the Konoha ninja at the end.
"Try me," Kakashi drawls.
The Hokage coughs loudly and pointedly while the other ninja in the room stay coiled up and ready for a fight.
Kakashi inwardly winces but his face stays blank. The last time he showed his face to someone, he was twelve and accidentally hooked some poor kid with a scar across his nose. Kakashi is an adult now, this is not supposed to be happening and he's maybe a bit upset so that irritation gets transferred to the nearest safe target: Zabuza.
The Hokage nods at Zabuza and the missing-nin stalks out of the room with Haku at his heels. Then the Hokage turns to Kakashi. "I think we should get you a more durable mask, don't you think? To hide that Sharingan better."
Kakashi makes a vague sound to indicate a positive reply as he tries in vain to smother himself with the orange book.
.
A/N: I don't know Naruto that well (I haven't read more than the bridge mission above) so I can't do more than the bare basics, but if anyone wants to continue this, just tell me and I would be very happy for you to write it.