Chapter One: The Land of Waves

Tsunami stood on her porch looking at the young woman she had come to consider her friend. She stood leaning on the rail looking out at the woods surrounding the small house. The wind blew her brown hair and her blue eyes stared off hazily. Tsunami moved next to her leaning on the rail as well. "Hakari, you know I wouldn't ask unless it was serious." Tsunami sighed. "I know Tsunami." Hakari nodded while closing her eyes. "I can't take him on alone, I doubt I'd stand a chance I haven't honed my skills for about 1 year and a half almost two, ever since I gave up looking for my love." Hakari informed her friend. "The best I can offer right now Tsunami is a map to my village, where your father can get ninja's who'll stand a chance against Gato's new hired hand." Tsunami was quiet as she thought over what Hakari said. "I suppose that will have to do." Tsunami sighed softly. "If you want I'll take him halfway, but that's as far as I can go." Hakari offered. "What are you so afraid of in your village?" Tsunami asked. "It doesn't matter because I'm not ever going back." Hakari declared.

The next morning Hakari met up with Tazuna, Tsunami's father and began leading him to the Village hidden in the leaves. "Hakari, you know I'm sure that your family is very worried about you. It's been about 4 years since you left; I'm sure they will be happy to know you are alive and well." Tazuna said seriously. "I'm not returning home Tazuna." Hakari snapped. "What's your last name? Perhaps I can just let them know you're alright?" Tazuna tried after a moment's silence. "As far as my family is concerned I'm dead." Hakari bit while quickening her pace. At the half way marker Hakari stayed the night with Tazuna, until morning where she reminded him of the path he should take. She then made her journey back to the land of waves. Halfway home a mist seemed to grow around her, Hakari stopped and began focusing her chakra trying to locate whoever was making this mist. Locating the source, she faced his direction. "What can I do for you Demon of the hidden mists?" She asked calmly. Zabuza Momochi stepped out of the mists and approached her. "My employer would like to see you." Zabuza sneered. "Do you really want to bring me to him?" Hakari asked. "Are you going to be a pest for me?" Zabuza asked. "I'm not hired; I don't wish to fight anymore. I'm on a mission of my own accord." Hakari informed him. "Come with me kunoichi." Zabuza ordered. Hakari followed Zabuza to Gato's. "Aw, thank you Demon here is your coin." Gato said tossing him a pouch. Zabuza handed the pouch off to Haku, before taking a seat on the sideline. "Staying Momochi?" Gato asked.

"In case my services are needed." Zabuza smirked at Hakari. Hakari realized that only Zabuza and Haku knew she too was a ninja, and that Gato and his men thought of her as nothing more than a troublesome woman. "She's just woman, why would I need you." Gato laughed confirming her thoughts, before turning his attentions to Hakari. "Where did you take the bridge builder?" Gato asked. "I led him to my village of origin, where he plans to hire ninjas to protect him." Hakari shrugged. "Which village is that?" Gato asked. "I can't seem to recall at this exact moment." Hakari smirked. "You are either a very brave woman or stupid." Gato frowned. "I'm neither; you however aren't the brightest among the bunch." Hakari spat. Zabuza sat on the sidelines enjoying the little debate. Gato's face reddened in his anger. "Men, make this bitch talk." Gato growled. His men lounged at Hakari who easily avoided all attempts and easily took them down. "You are going to lose Gato; you might as well give up while you're ahead." Hakari snickered. "Momochi, do something." Gato growled. Zabuza stood and approached Hakari. "Which village do you hail from?" Zabuza asked sternly. As Hakari opened her mouth to answer him he cut her off grabbing her by the chin. "And remember yours words to me earlier Kunoichi. You should know how seriously I take my missions." Hakari stared up at Zabuza, she didn't want whoever was bringing Tazuna to get bombarded by Zabuza, but she didn't want to have to face him either. "Konoha." She sighed. "Good Kunoichi, I'm glad to see you know when to stand down." Zabuza chuckled as he patted her cheek.

"May I go now?" Hakari asked angrily turning her head to Gato. "Since you're cooperating now, how about a job?" Gato asked. "I'm not for hire." Hakari growled. "Shame." Gato sighed as Hakari began walking away. "Kill her." Gato ordered. Hakari spun in time to see Zabuza attacking her. Using a substitution jutsu she just barely evaded the attack. She quickly took off and headed back to her apartment where her gear was packed. Zabuza didn't pursue though, he and Haku left Gato's and returned to their own home to plan the assignation of Tazuna and the leaf ninja who were guarding him. Zabuza knew where to find Hakari, and could easily finish her off later.

Meanwhile, in Konoha Tazuna had paid for Konoha's service. As he was waiting for them to gather a team he decided to bring up Hakari. "Excuse me; I have another request of the Hokage." Tazuna said while bowing his head. "What is this request?" Lord Sarutobi asked. "The reason I came here, is because a friend of my daughter told me to. You see she hails from here; I wish to inform her family of her health, so they need not worry about her." Tazuna said. "I can send for the family what is the name?" The Hokage asked. "She would not give me her surname, but her first name is Hakari." Tazuna informed the Hokage. "Tell me about the child." Lord Sarutobi pressed hope filling his heart as he sat straighter. "She's about seventeen; she has long brown hair, and deep blue eyes. She's been living in my land for about two years now." Tazuna informed him. The Hokage sighed a breath of relief, "Thank the Gods, she is alive." Tazuna looked up at the Hokage confused. "The girl of which you speak is my grand-daughter Hakari Sarutobi. She chased after a young man four years ago after he had massacred his whole family, leaving but one other surviving member. Hakari loved the boy, and she just couldn't believe he had committed the crimes, so she pursued him." Lord Sarutobi recanted.

"Thank you, for bringing news of my grand-daughter to me. It warms my heart to know she is well." Hiruzen smiled at the man. He soon dismissed Tazuna and summoned Kakashi Hatake, "Kakashi, I have a side mission for you." Hiruzen informed the shinobi. "What of my genin, Lord Hokage?" Kakashi asked confused. His team had just been given the c-rank mission a mission above their ranking, and now the Hokage was asking him to do a separate mission. "You shall still be joining them; it appears our client has found what I have lost." Lord Sarutobi explained. "You mean he's found her." Kakashi asked surprised. "Yes, it appears so. However, it seems Hakari is still not ready to return home. I want you to retrieve her and bring her home Kakashi. Bring her home by any means necessary." Hiruzen knew his grand-daughter would be enraged upon being dragged back to Konoha, but it was for her own good and that of the village.

Back in the land of waves, two days had passed and Zabuza had yet to show up to kill Hakari. Having placed traps all around her apartment, she dared to venture out. Tazuna should be returning today with some shinobi, Hakari needed to warn them about Zabuza. On her way to Tsunami's she ran into Inari, Tsunami's son. "Inari, you shouldn't be out alone. What if one of Gato's thugs came along and picked you up? They'd threaten to kill you to get your grandfather to stop building that bridge." Hakari scolded the child. "Come on let's get you home, I'm sure your mom is worried." Inari walked with Hakari in silence. Something was bugging the kid, and Hakari believed she knew what it was. "It's alright to be afraid Inari, I'm afraid too. What's important is not letting those fears control your life." Hakari sighed as they neared his house. "I let them control me and because of them I let you and your family down, as well as my own." Upon reaching the porch of his house Inari turned and faced Hakari. "It's too late now." Inari growled before running inside. Hakari let out a shaky breath as Tsunami joined her on the porch. "What is going on Hakari?" Tsunami asked. "I'm sorry, Tsunami. I'm sorry that I've been such a coward. I don't want to be anymore. I've failed you and your family." Hakari sighed. "Hakari, you don't know that my father could still make it he should be here soon." Tsunami comforted her friend.

"Gato hired a top-level assassin. One named Zabuza Momochi, also known as the demon of the hidden mists." Hakari informed Tsunami. "I fear the shinobi, that are accompanying your father will be far out of his level. I'm not even at his level." Hakari said. "I want to protect you and Inari, until I know you are safe. Will you allow me?" Hakari asked. Tsunami nodded and urged her friend inside. Hakari headed for the restroom and changed into her shinobi attire. As Tsunami went about her chores, Hakari sat and meditated focusing and honing her chakra. As the sun started to descend from the sky Hakari sensed a large chakra force arriving at the house. She calmly walked outside and gazed out into the darkening forest from the direction in which the energy was radiating. She noticed five figures approaching three of which were small. She breathed a sigh of relief; they had made it by some miracle they had made it. The five reach the porch and looked up at Hakari. "Hakari?" Tazuna asked unsure if it was her he was used to seeing her in her white dress. Hakari nodded, Tazuna looked her up and down. Her face was covered from the nose down like Zabuza's and Kakashi's; She wore a blue and green outfit the exact same colors as Kakashi's to be precise. "Honorable Grand-daughter." Kakashi said with a bow of the head.

"I should have known Tazuna, would still seek out my family even without my last name. Not many girls have run away from Konoha recently, huh?" Hakari asked. "Honorable Grand-daughter…?" Sakura and Naruto asked in stereo. "Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, this is Hakari Sarutobi. She is the Lord Hokage's grand-daughter and Konohamaru's older sister." Kakashi introduced the genin to the Hokage's grand-daughter. "Hatake, I should warn you the demon of the hidden mists is…" Hakari began. "I know, he's no longer a problem." Kakashi said before his body gave out on him. "You used the sharingan?" Hakari asked while holding Kakashi up with Tazuna's help. "Kakashi- sensei was amazing he copied Zabuza and defeated him." Sakura chimed. Tazuna and Hakari carried Kakashi inside and into a room. "Quickly lay out his bed roll." Hakari ordered the young genin that followed them. They quickly did as order allowing Hakari and Tazuna to lay Kakashi down. "Rest Hatake, you've done enough I shall protect the young ones and along with Tazuna and Tsunami." Hakari told him.

A couple of days later Kakashi had given his genin a training exercise and had come to the conclusion that Zabuza was not dead but had been saved by the Anbu imposter; after Hakari had shared the details with him of her and Zabuza's meeting and bringing her to Gato. As the week passed Kakashi regained his strength, Hakari went out to go back to her apartment to get some more supplies and a few soldier pills she had lying around. As she entered the apartment, she stopped a sense of fear filling her, her traps she had left up were disarmed. As she turned to go Haku appeared before her, "Zabuza, wants to see you." Haku smiled and motioned inside. Sighing Hakari turned back to her apartment and entered, she finding Zabuza leaning against a wall in her kitchen. "Kunoichi." Zabuza greeted her. Hakari stood between the man and his young protégé. "Momochi." Hakari greeted back. "Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you?" Zabuza asked as he sat before her table and motioned for her to sit as well. "I doubt there is one that you'd accept." Hakari answered quickly, but gently sitting as she was told. "You are smart, I admire that what is your name?" Zabuza chuckled. "Is my name of importance?" She asked eyeing him warily before looking back to the young ninja behind her. "It is if you want to live." Zabuza shrugged. "You're not known to leave survivors." Hakari challenged she knew she was pushing her luck, but she didn't want to be toyed with. "I'll take a hostage if I need to." Momochi said seriously as he reached across the table and touched her cheek with his fingertips. "I wonder if you hold any importance to the copy nin?" He mused a loud. "Hatake and I are mere acquaintances." Hakari said turning her face away from his hand. "Before I fought him, I heard him tell his genin that he may have to leave them to find someone. I believe that someone is you." Hakari had to get away from him, she couldn't have Hatake pulled into this in his condition.