The group soon reached the water that was covered in thick fog, there were two men with a boat waiting. Tazuna explained that they would have to travel across the foggy water to the Land of the Waves.
The group climbed aboard and Sasuke pulled Aika onto his lap
"Hey Sasuke what are you doing?" Aika asks confused
"You're too small, you'll fall off the boat easily" Sasuke says boredly
"hey I can protect her just fine" Naruto growls "she can sit on my lap"
"If I left her to an idiot like you she'd fall in" Sasuke says emotionlessly
"Excuse you!" Naruto shouts
"Sasuke, Naruto's Aika's big brother, let him hold her" Sakura says
Sasuke ignores the two and just stares out at the water.
"..Sasuke I can sit on Naruto's lap" Aika speaks up
"You'll fall in idiot" Sasuke puts his arm around her "just stay with me"
"o-ok" Aika looks at Naruto and shrugs
Naruto looks annoyed and sits down next to Sasuke so he can watch Aika.
Kakashi sighs "Can we go now?"
The boat begins to move and as they travel further the fog becomes thicker.
"We'll be able to see the bridge in a minute" the man rowing the boat tells them "on the other side of it is Nami no Kuni, the Land of the Waves"
The group watches ahead as a giant stone bridge comes into view.
"Woah it's huge!" The Uzumaki siblings shout
"Hey! keep it down" the man scolds "this mist'll keep us hidden, but from this point on we have to tur off our engines and row. We'd be in big trouble is Gato caught us"
The boat goes through a stone tunnel and they arrive at the port. After they get off the boat they once again begin journeying through the forest to get to Tazuna's village. Naruto suddenly threw shuriken into the bushes startling everyone.
Aika hid behind Sasuke "B-big brother what's wrong"
"I.. uh.." Naruto adjusts his headband and tries to look cool "guess it was only a mouse"
"What mouse?! Are you out of your mind?!" Sakura shouts
"Big brother you're so amazing" Aika says
"huh?!" Sakura looks at Aika before turning to Naruto "Come on there was nothing there, you moron!"
"Please don't play around with your shuriken. They can be just a teensy bit dangerous" Kakashi says
"Idiot don't turn into your brother" Sasuke flicks Aika's forehead
"Hey midget! Don't go scaring us!" Tazuna shouts at Naruto "Stop messing with our heads!"
Naruto folds his arms behind his head and grumpily walks forward. They hear a rustle and Naruto throws a kunai towards the bush.
"Eel!" Aika jumps and holds onto Sasuke's arm
"seriously" Sasuke says annoyed "how are you a ninja?"
"This time! Over there!" Naruto shouts
"I told you to quit it!" Sakura hits Naruto on the head
"I swear there was someone in there!" Naruto defends "after us!"
"you are such a liar" Sakura says annoyed
Kakashi walks over to the bush and pulls it back to see a terrified white rabbit, the kunai missed it by an inch.
Aika gasps "a bunny!"
"Naruto look what you did!" Sakura scolds him
"It was an accident" Naruto hugs the terrified rabbit "I'm sorry bunny, snap out of it please"
"huh.." Aika suddenly looks serious and stares at it
"What is it?" Sasuke asks her
"..it's white" Aika looks at him "the fur of the snow hare changes color with the seasons. In the winder, when their is very little sunlight, the pelt is white" Aika looks around
"hm? And?" Sasuke questions
Aika looks at him again "I might be wrong but-"
"Everyone take cover!" Kakashi shouts
Everyone ducks down, a huge sword flew right over their heads and hit against a tree. They look up to see a shirtless man with his mouth covered, standing on top of the weapon.
"Well, well.. If it isn't Zabuza Mamochi: rogue ninja of the village hidden in the mist" Kakashi says, Naruto moved towards him but Kakashi held out an arm, blocking him "You're in the way, get back"
"But why?" Naruto asks
"He's not like the other ninjas. He's on a whole other league. If he's our opponent.." Kakashi put his hand over his headband, ready to uncover his left eye "I'll need this... this could be treacherous."
"Kakashi of the Sharingan eye. Did I get that right?" Zabuza questions. Sasuke gasped once the Sharingan was mentioned, Zabuza laughs "It's too bad huh but you have to hand over the old man"
"Now quick, Manji formation! Protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight! I taught you teamwork, now it's time to use it!" Kakashi directed before he uncovered his sharingan eye "I'm ready!"
"Well, looks like I get to see the Sharingan in action. This is an honor" Zabuza says amused
"Everybody keeps saying Sharingan, Sharigan!" Naruto shouts confused "Will someone please tell me what it is?"
"Sharigan.." Sasuke begins "A rare power. It resides in the eyes. The user of this visual jutsu or Dojutsu can instantly see and comprehend any genjutsu, taijutsu and ninjutsu and reflect back the attack. The Sharigan is a special, rare form of Dojutsu. However there is more to the Sharigan than that, a lot more"
"You got it right boy but you've only scratched the surface. The Sharingan can analyze an opponents technique and then copy it to the smallest detail." The forest slowly filled up with mist as Zabuza spoke "You were called you the man who copied over 1,ooo jutsu. Kakashi: the copy ninja. Enough talking. I need to exterminate the old man. Now.."
The team got in formation with Kakashi standing in front of them
"So I'll have to eliminate you first, Kakashi. So be it" Zabuza says before quickly moving his body to stand on the water "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Zabuza vanished behind the mist and Kakashi stepped up
"He'll come after me first" Kakashi tells them
"but who is he?" Aika asks confused
"Zabuza Mamoichi, the ex-leader of the Hidden Mist Assassination unit. He's a master at the silent killing technique. As the name suggests, it happens in an instant with out any sound or warning of any kind. The Sharingan cannot fully neutralize it so don't lower your guard" Kakashi says "Well, if we fail, we only loose our lives"
Aika whines in fear at the last part. Soon the mist started to get thicker, to the point they weren't able to see anyone well.
"Sensei!" they shout
"We can't see anything" Aika cries
"Calm down Aika" Naruto says from next to her, just as scared "you'll be safe I promise"
"6 points.."Zabuza's voice echoed in the mist "Liver, spine, lungs, arteries, kidneys, heart. Now which will be my kill point?"
Sasuke sweats in fear, he is shaking. Aika looks down at the Kunai in his hand in worry.
"Aika, Sasuke calm down both of you" Kakashi says "I'll protect you with my life.. All of you! I will not allow my comrades to die. Trust me"
"I wouldn't be so sure!" in a flash Zabuza was in between them "It's over!"
Kakashi quickly blocked Zabuza's incoming attack before it reached them. He stabbed him and instead of blood pouring out, water did. The real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi.
"Sensei!" Aika shouts
"Die!" Zabuza swung his blade
Zabuza cut Kakashi in half but that was a water clone. The real Kakashi had moved behind him.
Kakashi held a kunai to his throat. "Don't move, now it's over, you're finished"
