A/N: I am only doing this chapter to address a few notes. After this, it is back on hiatus while I work on my other stories.

Referring to Chapter 17, I was in band myself, people. I played Euphionium, and was first chair for five years before I had to leave Band. I know the difference between Octaves and Decibles. But Naruto, a thirteen-year-old, who in my story has never even touched a musical instrument and would probably only hear the phrase in passing, does not. I am all too aware that there was a mistake. It was intentional. Naruto uses no sound-based techniques like the Oto-nin, and doesn't play any instruments, so he wouldn't know the proper use of the word Octaves. I just thought I'd clear that up for all of you who think I'm either ignorant or stupid. Just because he is a Genius and a bad-ass, does not make him infallible. There is a lot of shit he doesn't know. This chapter will be short.

Chapter 26: The Build-up

"We shouldn't trust that man..."

"I know, but we aren't in any position to deny the mission."

"I have a bad feeling about it all, though."

"You and your superstition!"

"Zabuza-sama, I'm serious. Call it superstition or Intuition. Either way, I don't feel right about this job."

"Heh, the girl is afraid. Whatcha say, Gozu? Think we can get it done without any need for them?"

"I think so, Mizu."

"You two have one chance before I intervene." the twin men with mirrored gauntlets bowed and vanished, leaving the large, muscular man with the androgynous girl. "Haku, relax. We just need to kill one old man, then we can go back to Kiri," he said softly, resting a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder.

"That's just it, Zabuza-sama," she whispered back. "I'm not sure we can."

With Naruto in his room

"Kona, leave Tora-chan alone while she adjusts," Naruto said in a bored voice as he flipped lazily through one of his uncle's manga. He'd read the whole series. Konohamaru pouted, but walked away from the cat and flopped onto the bed next to his cousin.

"Naru-nii, are we keeping her?" Naruto sighed and put the book down.

"Yes, Kona, we are. Now go wash up for dinner before Oba starts making a fuss."

"Hai!" Konohamaru an out to go wash just as his mother called up the stairs for him to do so. Naruto rose, scratched the cat behind the ears, and clicked his tongue for her to follow. He trotted down the stairs with the orange tabby hot on his heels, and he entered the kitchen, grabbed a saucer and the milk from the fridge. He poured some milk into the saucer, then put it on the ground out of the way so she could lap at it, which she did with great glee.

"Naru-kun, when did you get a cat?"

"Today, Oba-chan. She was the Daimyo's wife's cat, but she decided she liked me better. Isn't that right Tora-chan?" he asked as he squatted down and rubbed Tora's back. She purred and jutted her back into the rub.

Naruto suddenly shivered violently, drawing the Attention of his aunt and Asuma, who had just entered the kitchen.

"Well, that can't be good. I know you aren't cold. What's up Naru?"

"I don't know Tou-chan... I just felt like everything is about to change..."