Akira's POV
I jolted awake when I heard someone suddenly shouts.
"Wooow! It's huge!" Someone shouts, startling me, my eyes twitch recognizing the voice.
"Naruto..." I mutter.
"Oh, you're already awake..." Sensei said beside me, making me jump again
(What the hell... I'm going to have a heart attack)
"nhn" I just said looking at our surrounding
(So we are already at the Land of Mist, judging by the thick fog and not finished bridge)
"Tazuna-san..." Sensei suddenly said
"I want to ask you something before we arrive at the pier. The identity of your assailants, and the reason why they are after you." Sensei asked looking at Tazuna-san
"If you don't tell us...our mission may end when you make landfall." He finishes looking very serious. We look at Tazuna-san waiting for him to speak.
" It appears that I don't have a choice. Frankly, I'd like you to listen." Tazuna-san said with determination
"Actually I'm being targeted by a terrifying man." He continues
" Who?" I asked confused
" You guys have probably heard his name before. A shipping magnate by the name Gato" He answered
(Gato... Why do I feel like I know that man...) I thought as I look at Tazuna-san squinting my eyes, to recall who is it.
" What?...Gato... of the Gato Company?" Sensei said shocked
"Who? What?" Naruto said excitedly.
"Yes, On the surface he's the chief executive of a shipping company...but underneath he's into drug trafficking. Moreover, he runs a despicable business, ruthlessly taking over nations, and enterprises. It was one year ago when he sets his eyes on the Land of Waves... he uses wealth and violence to enter this country, and before I know it he had taken complete control of the island's maritime transportation and shipping. Having a tight grip on the ocean, in an Island Nation like the Land of Waves, means having control of finance, the government, the people... and everything." Tazuna-san explained.
"I see..." Sakura and I both said. While Naruto just stares at Tazuna-san looking shocked.
"Since you're the one building the bridge you've become a hindrance" Sakura clarifies.
"Then, those ninja's from before were Gato's men...?" Sasuke said looking at the team.
"Tazuna-san, why did you lie about the mission?..." Sensei asks with furrowed eyebrows
(Damn, I'm gonna die on our first C-rank mission, that's horrible) I thought crossing my arms
"The Land of Waves...is a very poor nation, and even feudal lords have no money. Of course, we ordinary citizens have no money either. We cannot afford to make requests of Rank B or higher..." Tazuna-san answered with sadness
"Well, if you pull out of the mission when I land ashore, I will, no doubt, be killed. Killed sometime before I make it home. But there's no need for concern! Should I die, my cute grandchild who will turn eight will only cry his heart out!" He shouts making our expression change from concern to a poker face.
"And... my daughter will only blame the Hidden Leaves Ninja for the rest of her life and grieve in solitude! Oh, it's not you're fault at all!" He continues making us look at each other.
"Wow, you're guilt-tripping us now..." I deadpan.
"what about us, the people close to us will cry and cry, because they will know that their cute genins died because we've been lied to on a mission..." I said mocking him. He just stare at me, analyzing what I said
"Well, it's not like I have that..." I scratched my neck as I whispered the last part.
(Well, it's my team... the group of people I considered really close to me, then the Hokage, or maybe 'him' who just vanished out of nowhere) I thought, nodding my head, recalling the last time I saw him.
Before speaking, Sensei clears his throat. "Well... I guess we don't have a choice; let us continue as his bodyguards," Sensei explained uncertainly.
"Oh, I am most grateful!" Tazuna-san perked up hearing what Sensei said. My eyebrow twitch when he look back at the person paddling the boat and did a peace sign.
"We'll be arriving soon" The person paddling the boat said
"Tazuna, it appears we haven't been noticed up until this point..." The person continued.
"Thanks" Tazuna-san replied to him
Once we pass the bridge, the scenery changes revealing brighter and clearer surroundings, and small houses can be seen.
"We're here..." Tazuna-san said as we came to a stop
We follow Naruto as he got off the boat first, then Tazuna-san said his thanks to the other person before he leaves.
"Okay, get me home safely." Tazuna-san said turning to us
"Right." Sensei said his hand on his pockets
(This is really great) I thought with a poker face
-skip-
My eyebrow twitches when Naruto speeds up to catch up to Sasuke again.
"Naruto can you stop..." I said
"I can't let Sasuke outshine me again" He whispered looking around like a mad man.
The team suddenly stop when he ran forward-looking around our surroundings.
"Naruto, what the-" I said but immediately stop when he throws a kunai on a bush
"N-naruto!" I said shocked
(What's wrong with him)
"Heh... Just a mouse" I walk towards him pinching his ear
"What's your problem, baka!" I said to him as he rub his ear that I pinch.
"Ahh, Akira, I just thought-
"Quit trying to show off! There was nothing in the first place!" Sakura shouts pointing to Naruto
"Please, Naruto. Don't use kunai knives recklessly. They're really dangerous." Sensei said
"Hey brat! don't be doing anything confusing" Tazuna-san shouts looking nervous.
"Huh? I sense a presence there! No, over there?!" As soon as Naruto finishes, I sense a chakra spike.
"There!" Naruto throws a kunai on a bush. Where I am looking and there is a chakra spike again.
(What's that...) I thought just looking at the bush
"Stop it already!" Sakura said smacking Naruto on the head
"Someone's really been targeting us the whole time!" Naruto said touching his head. I look back again at the bush and see Sensei already walking towards it. I just stare at his back, as he slowly approaches the bush, he stops when he sees it. I got curious by his sudden silence as he stares at the bush, so I walk towards it and part away the bush revealing a white bunny that is still shivering the Kunai Naruto throws is on top of its head pinned on the tree.
Sakura sees the bunny and quickly runs towards it, Naruto following behind her.
"Naruto! What have you done?!" Sakura said pointing at him.
"It's a bunny. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... I'm sorry" Naruto said looking devastated, picking up the bunny and hugging it.
"It's just a rabbit, eh." Tazuna-san said.
Zabuza's POV
(I see... The Demon Brothers wouldn't be enough to take on these guys.) I thought holding onto my sword(Kubikiribōchō).
(The Copy Ninja from the Village of the Hidden Leaves. 'Sharingan' Kakashi is with them...) I thought as I examine the Famous Copy Ninja. The ninja next to the Copy Ninja caught my attention.
My face turned into confusion as I remember someone with the same eyes and hair.
(No way...) I thought observing the ninja.
(No, that's impossible...) I thought shaking my head
( That person died 2 years ago... well, why don't I confirm it myself... I'd like to have a little play...) I thought having a sadistic smirk on my face as I throw my sword(Kubikiribōchō) towards them.
Akira's POV
(That's weird...) I said to myself making my eyebrows scrunch. I look at Sensei who is looking at the bunny in deep concentration. He suddenly looks at me and sees the confusion on my face. He look at me and nod with an eye smile, he was about to put his hand on my head, but a swishing sound can be heard coming towards the team.
"Everyone, get down!" Sensei shouted, I was about to run to Naruto but Sensei pulled me down under him to cover me.
A sword passes right above us, landing on a tree, while a man with a bandage mask steps on it.
I look at Naruto and see that Sakura is holding him keeping him on the ground. I look again at the man and see him smirking and looking at us. I look at Sensei and see him looking at the man with furious eyes.
(Who?...) I thought looking back at the man
I stand up as Sensei stands, still looking at the ninja. Sensei walk forward now with a calm look.
"Well, well. If isn't the Rouge Ninja of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi!" Sensei said looking at the rouge ninja.
Naruto suddenly run forward to attack but I stop him.
"Naruto, What are you doing?" I said with furrowed brows
"But-" Naruto said but Sensei cut him off.
"You're in the way. Get back, you guys." Sensei said very seriously.
"Why?!" Naruto asked confused
"He's on a totally different level from the guys from the other day." Sensei explained holding on to his Hitai-ate
"I assume you are Kakashi, the Sharingan user..." Zabuza said. I saw Sasuke tense hearing what Zabuza said.
"Sorry, but... I'll have you hand over the old man." Zabuza said looking at Tazuna-san
"Get in Manji battle formation, you guys. Protect Tazuna-san...Don't involve yourselves in the fight. That's the teamwork in this situation." Sensei commanded. We just look at him as he slowly pull up his Hitai-ate
"Fight me." He said revealing his eye
(Sharingan...) I thought as I stare at his eye
"Well now... I never expected to see the rumored Sharingan this soon... This is an honor." Zabuza said.
"Everyone's been saying the Sharingan... What is it?!" Naruto said frustration clear in his voice.
"... Sharingan, a power that the light of the eye generates, and the pupil emanates. The user of the so called Visual-Jutsu is said to possess the vision to see through all Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu and is able to deflect them. The Sharingan is the type of eye that is unique to the user of visual art. However, that is not the only power of the Sharingan." Sasuke explained looking at the ground.
"Well said. That is not all. What's more frightening is that such an eye can assess an opponent's techniques and copy them. When I was in the Anbu Black Ops of the Hidden Mist, search information about you was in the Bingo Book. I would carry it around with me. There was also something else in the book... About a man who has copied over one thousand skills...Kakashi the Copy Ninja." Zabuza finishes explaining.
(What's with all of the explainings...) I thought as I look around. The surrounding already has thin fog
"W-wow!" Naruto said excitedly. Sasuke looks confused, looking at Sensei.
"Let's end the talking here. I must kill the old man immediately." We all get into a Manji Formation. Sakura and Naruto at eachside of Tazuna-san. Sasuke is at the front and I position behind Tazuna-san but keeping an eye on the enemy, all of us holding a kunai.
"But it seems I have to defeat you first." Zabuza said to Sensei as he disappeared from his position and appeared on top of the water.
"Ninja Art, Hidden Mist Jutsu" Zabuza raised his hand, as the mist become thicker.
Zabuza's POV
"Ninja Art, Hidden Mist Jutsu" I said making the mist thicker.
(So, the fun part will start now...) I thought, a smile on my face seeing the brats scared faces. I look at the puple-eyed brat and examine her
(No one has the chance to see her face...) I chuckle darkly
(A child on a battlefield full of blood... hands already tainted with blood... Such a waste that she died too early.) I thought, smirking like a madman
(It's really unlikely to be her... Well, I'm gonna find out whos behind that mask.) I thought jumping from the tree to attack releasing Killer Intent that makes them all shiver and want to take one's life. The thought of being able to see blood again makes me chuckle.
Akira's POV
(Damn it...) I thought looking around not being able to see anything.
"He vanished!" Naruto said shocked
"Sensei!" Sakura said as Sensei move forward
"He'll probably come to erase me first..." Sensei said
"What is he?" Sakura ask scared
"He is known as "the silent killing" technique expert. As the name suggests... It's a killing skill that's implemented in an instant in silence. By the time you realized it, it's possible you find yourself in the afterlife. I haven't totally mastered the use of my Sharingan. So don't lower your guards, you guys." He explained making the team more nervous.
"Well, if we fail, we'll only gonna die." Sensei continued sounding very calm.
(Did he intend to scare us...) I thought as I hold my kunai tighter
"How can you be so carefree?!" Sakura said scared
"The mist is getting thicker..." I mutter looking around as Sensei slowly disappear from the thick of the mist.
"The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean. So mist rises very easily" Tazuna-san explained
"Sensei!" Sakura says
"Eight spots. The larynx, the spine, the lungs, the liver... the jugular, and the subclavian veins. the kidneys, the heart. Now then, which vulnerable spot would be good?" Zabuza killer intent on the surrounding rising.
I take a deep breath to calm myself and keep an eye on our surroundings. Sensei then release chakra clearing the mist. The killer's intent suddenly rises making us alert.
"Sasuke, don't worry. I'll protect you with my life. I will not allow my comrades to get killed" Sensei said looking at us, with an eye smile. I can't help but smile a little hearing that.
"I wonder about that..." Zabuza said suddenly appearing behind Tazuna-san pushing all of us away from Tazuna-san.
"It's over." He said swinging his sword
(Kuso...) I quickly stand up and run toward Tazuna-san, when Zabuza swings his sword to kill him. A clash of metal can be heard through the forest
"You're fast..." Zabuza said as he pushed his sword making it heavier
(Why is this damn thing so heavy...) I said as I try to maintain my defense
"You really gonna protect this old man huh? Actually... you remind me of someone... purple eyes, with-" He said pushing his sword again, his other hand about to touch the end of my hair. Sensei suddenly appear in front of me, pushing me back and Tazuna-san.
"Shut Up!" He said, stabbing a kunai in Zabuza's stomach, water starts pouring on his wound
(Water clone?) I thought examining the scene, but another Zabuza appears behind Sensei
"Sensei! Behind you!" Naruto shouts pointing at Zabuza, as the Zabuza clone Sensei stab turns into water. "Die" The Zabuza behind Sensei swing his sword perfectly cutting Sensei in half, making my teammates shocked.
(Sharingan, a really powerful Dojutsu...) I thought with a small smile