Chapter 4
I'm back! Welcome to chapter 4 of 'Ninja of Mochi'. In this one, we will see the Wave arc in action. I originally was going to do another C-Rank mission, but sadly, I don't have any new or original idea for a C-Rank. So sorry, but we are sticking to cannon. And I almost forgot! Here I am introducing the pairing. And for the ones wondering, I will give Naruto conqueror's haki, but in the future. Or maybe now? Or maybe in the fut-Okay you get the idea. And will all this said, let's go to the story!
Legend:
"Talking."
'Thinking...'
Jutsu Name
Chapter 4: B-Rank
"Team 8 reporting, Lord Hokage." Itachi said as he entered, being followed by Shino, Choji and Naruto, the last one holding Tora in a vice grip, close to choking the creature.
Minato smiled seeing the team "I take you captured Tora without any problem."
Itachi nodded, remembering how his team, mostly Naruto, almost kill the cat more than once. Better to keep that information to themselves.
Naruto nodded Tora to its owner and the team watched how Tora, this time, is almost crushed by the fat woman.
Once she left Minato coughed in his hand to call their attention. "Well, we have more missions for you. Miss. Nakamura needs her fence to be painted, or Mr. Tozawa needs to get his missing dog back, also-"
"Lord Hokage, may I request a C-Rank mission?" Itachi interrupted him and Minato raised a brow waiting for Itachi to explain himself "My team has improved this time we were together and we already broke a record of D-Ranks. I think it is only fair for us to have a higher rank mission."
"I understand Itachi, but sadly we don't have a lot of C-Ranks, the last one was taken by Kakashi's team so-" Minato started to explain when a small dog came through the window with a scroll on its mouth. Minato took it and the dog left in a cloud of smoke. He read the scroll with a frown.
"Something wrong Lord Hokage?" Itachi asked and Minato sighed.
"Kakashi's team had some trouble in their mission. They met with the demon brothers and they are requesting backup." Minato explained and Itachi nodded.
"We can go."
Surprisingly, it wasn't Itachi the one asking it, but Naruto instead. "If Kyoka is in danger, I'll go."
Shino nodded "I agree. Why? Because it is our duty as fellow shinobi to help and protect our comrades."
Choji nodded as he stuffed his face with chips, a determined look on his face.
Itachi smiled and looked at Minato "So what's your answer, Lord Hokage?"
Minato smiled as he closed his eyes "I'll allow it. This isn't a C-Rank mission, as I am making it a B-Rank. Be careful out there."
*Wave*
"Who would say that you are afraid from the water, Naruto." Choji commented as Naruto gripped the edge of the boat with enough strength to make it crack.
"I'm not... afraid." Naruto said and Shino pushed his glasses back.
"It is not to be embarrassed to have a fear to water bodies. Why? Because accident happens and people had died in them."
"I am not afraid of this river." Naruto said again and Itachi chuckled.
"Don't worry Naruto. Your secret is safe with us."
Naruto closed his eyes but said nothing. He just wants the boat trip to end.
Once it did, they asked directions where Tazuna's house was and went there. They knocked the door and a woman opened it. "Oh, you are the backup that Kakashi said?" Itachi nodded and the woman let them in.
Once inside, Naruto looked for Kyoka that was sat next to Sasuke, talking to her with a smile. He walked towards her and she noticed him as a grin formed on her face.
"Naru! You are the backup?" She asked as she jumped to hug him.
"I am. Are you hurt?" He asked and Kyoka shook her head.
"I got a cut from Zabuza, but Sasuke-Teme patched me up!" She explained and Naruto nodded slowly as he looked at Sasuke.
Sasuke expected for him to thank him for protecting his sister but got another thing instead "Are you that useless that you can't protect your teammate well?" Naruto asked him, keeping his cold look.
Sasuke glared at him as he stood up "I protected her the best I could and she is fine. It seems I am doing a better job that you in that area, while you were catching a cat, I was being useful." He smirked at the end as Naruto narrowed his eyes, he was ready to punch Sasuke when Itachi called them to stop it.
Naruto turned around and gave Sasuke a side glance "This isn't over."
"Hn."
Kyoka chuckled embarrassed as Naruto walked away to his team "Sorry about that. Older brothers, you know how they are." Sasuke gave her a small smile. "I will go to make sure he is calmed down."
"Whatever." Sasuke said as he sat back on the couch.
*Next Day*
Naruto went out for a walk in the morning. He told Itachi about it that was already awake to not worry about him, that he will be back shortly.
In reality, Naruto just wanted to eat his donuts that he brought from Konoha. And there wasn't enough privacy in Tazuna home for him to take his scarf and eat. So, the forest was the best choice.
He laid under the shadow of a tree, removed his scarf and took out a donut from its box. He eyed it with a smile, the only thing besides his sister that make him feel complete joy and peace, are these. He opened his mouth wide, ready to eat it whole when a voice behind him interrupted him.
"Hello, are you... okay?" He stopped mid-bite to look at a girl dressed in a kimono, she had black hair and brown eyes and had a basket in her hands. She was starring with wide eyes at Naruto that still had his mouth open and wide eyes. Why the hell did he deactivate his Haki!? He always do the same when he eats donuts, and always pays!
He narrowed his eyes, placed the donut back on the box and wrapped the scarf around his neck as he in a blink was in front of the girl. "Did you see it?" He demanded and the girl gulped "Did. You. See. My. Mouth?" He asked slowly and the girl nodded slowly.
Naruto glare intensified. "You tell someone about it, and you are death."
"I-I don't care how your mouth looks, so no need to worry." She said with a small smile as sweat started to form on her forehead. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he used Haki to see if she had any other intentions. When he didn't find anything, his eyes returned back to his clod look and nodded.
He was ready to find another place to eat when the girl called him. "I am Haku by the way."
"Naruto." He said as he picked the box of sweets and was ready to leave.
"Well, do you mind helping me pick up some herbs for a friend of mine? I think it would be fair for the way you treated me before." Haku said with a small smile that for some reason, calmed Naruto. Thing that he didn't like.
"Fine." He simply said and went next to her to pick up herbs.
"So, you are a ninja?" She asked and Naruto nodded.
"Yes."
"And what brings you to Wave?"
"I can't tell."
Haku nodded at his answer and the rest was spent in silence. After they were done, Naruto looked up to the sky. It was late and he still hadn't eaten one donut. He was ready to leave when Haku asked him "Naruto, why you fight?"
Naruto stopped in his tracks and looked at Haku over his shoulder "I have a sister that got hurt once because of me. I won't allow it again. That's why I fight."
Haku smiled at him "To protect your precious people. I do the same. I hope we meet again, Naruto."
*Next Day*
Haku went back to the clearing to search for more medical herbs. Zabuza was getting better but if they are going to fight the Konoha shinobi again, he needs to be even better.
"I didn't expect you seeing you again." She looked up to a tree to see Naruto sat on a branch.
Haku smiled at him "I still need some herbs. Why don't you join me? We can talk a little bit."
Naruto didn't answer. He just jumped from the branch and started to pick herbs. He doesn't trust Haku completely, so using his Haki he wanted to see if she would come back. If she did, he can have some answers.
"How long had Gato stayed like this?" Naruto asked suddenly and Haku placed her hand on her chin.
"I don't remember exactly. But it has been for some good time now." She had a sad looked as she thought of the people that had to suffer because of that man.
Naruto saw her conflicted emotions. Something wasn't right here. This feeling wasn't of pain but of guilt. Why?
"Haku, what's the name of your precious person?"
Haku looked at him and smiled "Ichizuka. Why?"
'She's lying...'
Naruto turned around left the herbs on the ground and walked away "I honestly thought that you were different. Guess I was wrong."
Haku looked at him with a confused expression "I don't understand. Did I do something?"
"I know when you are lying. Give Zabuza my regards. We know that he is still weak."
Haku eyes widen and she took some senbon and threw those to Naruto. Naruto predicted the attack and, in a blink, he was behind her with a kunai to her neck.
"It's over." Naruto simply said and Haku closed her eyes.
"Then do it Naruto. End the life of this tool." Naruto raised a brow.
"Tool?"
"I am Zabuza's tool. I only exist to serve him. My life means nothing if it wasn't for him." She expected him to cut her throat, to kill her, instead, she felt how the cold blade got removed from her neck.
"You wanted to talk. This is your chance. Why are you with Zabuza?"
And so, Haku told him her life. How her mother was killed by her own father due to having a bloodline, and if it wasn't for Zabuza, she would had died too. Zabuza thought her all she knew from fighting to education.
Naruto watched in silence as Haku finished her story. After some minutes of silence, Naruto stretched his box of donuts to her. "Want one? Kyoka always get better when I give one to her."
Haku eyed one pink frosted donut and took a small bite from it. Her eyes widen liking the taste as she smiled to Naruto "It won't make any harm, but it won't solve all your problems. It will just make you happy until it is done." Naruto said eyeing one donut he had in his hand.
Haku finished her donut before asking "So, that was my last meal before you kill me?"
Naruto stood up as he grabbed the box. "You are free to go. You can go back to Zabuza and we will fight. You can go to another place and start over. It is your choice. I hope you use it Haku." And with that he left leaving Haku thinking...
'Who is this boy?'
*Days Later, Bridge*
Today was the day that Zabuza was supposed to attack. Itachi and Kakashi were going to fight Zabuza and if his apprentice appeared, Naruto would take care of him. Sasuke and Choji kept guarding Tazuna family and Kyoka, Shino and Sakura would protect Tazuna.
Naruto didn't tell them of his meetings with Haku. He decided to give Haku a chance to escape and live. One that apparently, she wasted as she was next to Zabuza with a hunter-nin mask as mist and bodies surrounded them.
"Remember what each one of you must do and don't leave your mission!" Kakashi said as he and Itachi went to fight Zabuza.
Naruto with his hands in his pockets walked slowly to Haku that didn't move. "You decided to stay after all."
"I already told you Naruto, I live to serve Zabuza. So, I am going to give you the same chance you gave me. Leave to protect your sister. I don't want to be your killer."
Naruto answer was to use his speed to stand in front of her and kick her in the stomach sending her to the railing. She threw some senbons to him and he left his place to stand in front of her, he raised his feet, ready to stomp her head, when she dodged it and tried to stab his neck and he grabbed her wrist and threw her to a side.
Haku managed to fall on her feet and made hand signs for a jutsu. "Mako Hyosho (Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals)"
Naruto didn't move. He already knew what it was. He was about to get surrounded by mirrors and indeed, it happened. Haku appeared in front of him in one of the mirrors. "Give up. This is my ultimate technique. Please, give up."
Naruto didn't bother, he coated his fist in Haki and went to punch the mirror. It cracked a lot but still didn't break. Naruto was going to punch it again when using his Haki saw it would be useless due to Haku going to repair it. He backed down and thought of his options.
"Do you give up already? If you do, I will let you go." Haku said and Naruto opened his eyes.
"I am just thinking what to do next. It doesn't matter how hard I am going to hit the mirrors, they won't break, and it doesn't matter how many senbons you throw at me, due that I will evade them or block them." Naruto explained and Haku nodded.
"So, no matter what we do, we are going to be here." Haku said and Naruto nodded.
"Until Zabuza losses. I can feel his presence and it isn't as strong as it should be. It is just thing of waiting. That, or you just running out of chakra."
"Then I have no time to waste." Naruto used his Haki to predict where the next attack will come and was surprised that it wasn't towards him, but to the outside.
To Kyoka that was trying to break the mirror using her fists and kicks.
Naruto went to punch Haku again, using all his strength in that punch to break the mirror, but haku was way too quick and was about to send a senbon to Kyoka, when Naruto felt something inside of him.
He wanted to protect Kyoka, he needed to do it. She will become Hokage and make her promise come true. He released a scream as a dark purple aura surrounded him. Everyone on the bridge felt that strong presence. The mirrors exploded in tiny pieces as Haku almost fainted, Sakura did and Shino had to stand in one knee as he was breathing hardly and Kyoka was panting as she was sat.
Zabuza fell to one knee as he held his sword as did Kakashi. Itachi was barely to stay on his two feet as he was stumbling a little.
Naruto fell to his knee, not used to that power 'Was that... Conqueror's haki?'
He walked to Haku that was barley getting on her knees, he grabbed her by the neck of her kimono and took her mask off and threw it to a side.
Haku smiled at Naruto "It seems... that you protected your precious person." She closed her eyes "Are you going to kill me now?"
Naruto remained in silence "I should. But... I don't want to be your killer." He looked at the end of the bridge "Someone is coming. And they are not friendly."
He let Haku sat on the bridge and walked to Itachi "Sensei, enemies are coming."
Itachi raised a brow and with his sharingan, he indeed looked at the army of mercenaries that was coming at their way. Itachi looked at Zabuza "I think we need to make a truce."
*Next Day (A/N: Sorry for not writing what followed but it would had been boring)*
"Zabuza, what's going to happen to us now?" Haku asked to Zabuza that was bandaged up.
"I don't know, Haku. I don't know."
"Well maybe I have a suggestion." They turned around to see Kakashi reading from his book. "Maybe you two could join Konoha. You are strong shinobi, one with the reputation and another with a bloodline. Besides, you helped us fight off Gato and his little army. I bet that the Hokage will listen to your proposition of joining."
"You think?" Zabuza asked and Kakashi nodded.
"Yeah. Besides, the two kids of him supported the option and one even suggested it."
Haku tilted her head "Naruto?"
Kakashi nodded "Yeah. He suggested it and Kyoka immediately accepted. So, if those two can convince him, you are welcome."
Zabuza grinned and Haku smiled. Naruto was watching from a tree branch with a neutral expression. He closed his eyes.
He needs to think why he did that.
And done! That was chapter 4 of 'Ninja of Mochi'. Sorry if you were expecting more from Shino or Choji, but the chunin exams are next and there will be more interactions. Jss2141 helped me to plan the arc and I think it will be good. And that's all! Remember to leave your Review that it helps my motivation, PM me for any doubts or suggestions, Follow and Favorite me and the story.
Till Next Time.
Roy D. Harper.
Next Chapter: Forest of Death