14: Singer In The Mist

A lie.

The entire mission they had taken on was based on a lie. As Team Seven and Tazuna sat around a campfire that evening, having disposed of the remaining Demon Brother, Kakashi all but ordered him to tell the truth. As it turned out, Tazuna was in much deeper than he ever wanted to let on. The truth of it all was that the bridge the old man was building was indeed meant to save his village, but the problem wasn't bandits, or even simple C-rank missing nin. The problem was a man named Gato. A tycoon that had the wealth of three nations under his belt.

And he wanted Wave as his own, bar what happened to the people living there. They, as it was seen by him, were not needed.

Which is why Tazuna wanted so desperately to finish his bridge, in order to make Wave prosperous again. And to do that, they needed a trade route accessible by land. Which would also mean that that Gato wouldn't be able to force the people of the small nation out without getting himself in trouble by the Daimyo.

Rich he may be, but a business man had no chance against the word of a feudal lord.

As Kakashi debated what to do with the situation, Pakura's attention, as well as the rest of Team Seven, were focused on the lone blond of the team. Most of the time, Naruto would be chowing down on cup ramen, or yacking Sasuke's ear off about how great he was during the battle, but now that same energetic teen was sitting quietly against a tree, staring down at his right hand...the same hand he had first used his Shakuton abilities through.

Sakura looked at Sasuke in worry, "Do you think he'll be alright?" She asked of the young Uchiha, looking between her two teammates, "I've never seen him this down before, not even when Hokage-sama wouldn't let him have any ramen for a week!"

Sasuke shrugged, "My brother always used to tell me that making your first kill usually put some kind of strain on the person that did the killing," he said, looking at his friend, "And Naruto did use his Kekkei Genkai for the first time, worse yet it was on pure instinct to kill someone."

Pakura sighed, nodding along with the boy's words, "Sasuke-kun is right about that," she said, looking at her son, "Killing for the first time is always hard on the person that does the deed, and it's worse for those that have a gift such as Naruto-kun, or even Sasuke-kun does. Wars are different because a person won't have any time to brood over what they've done, but on a mission like this?" She shook her head, "Naruto-kun's feeling the full weight of that man's death."

Sasuke looked at her, "Will he be alright?"

Pakura sighed and picked up the bundle she had next to her, "We can only hope." She stood up and made her way around the camp to him, and sat down beside the boy. Naruto barely noticed as kept staring at his hand, only to blink as the woman placed her hand on his head. "Hey, how are you holding up?"

Naruto looked at her, smiling weakly, "I guess I'm alright...but...Mom, the look on that guy's face..."

"He didn't know he was about to die," Pakura nodded, sighing sadly, "Naruto-kun, I know that you dislike killing, but you have to realize that killing isn't always the last option, nor is it the only option. It's chance. Killing in battle is sometimes necessary, especially when the one you're fighting is trying to kill you in the first place."

Naruto nodded, "I know I shouldn't be thinking about it like this, but...I just can't help it..."

Pakura sighed, reaching her arm around the boy's shoulders, "The first time is always the hardest to get over, but over time, things do get easier." She said, making the boy look at her in concern, "I don't mean it gets easier to kill, but it does become easier to make such a decision. To end a life in defense of another, or to let live those that would take the life of someone precious to you." She smiled as the boy nodded, and reached for the package at her side, "Here, I picked these up for you." She unwrapped it, and revealed the gauntlets worn by Gozu.

Naruto paled, "I..I don't think I can wear those," he said, feeling sick.

"Think of it this way," his mother smiled at him, "In the Sand, once a shinobi falls, that's it, but if someone were to take up his weapon, and use it, that person would be honoring their memory." Pakura smiled as she placed the metal gauntlets in his lap, "This way, Gozu-san's memory will never die, because you will use these, and never forget about him, right?"

Naruto picked up one of the weapons, "He...he put up a great fight, and would've killed me if I hadn't unlocked my Shakuton...because of him, I got stronger..." he slipped the it on over his left forearm, flexing his fingers, "It fits..."

Pakura tapped the metal, "I've adjusted it to your size, and made it so that the claws only extend when you want them to. That way you can use your Bo staff when wearing them." She explained as Naruto placed the other gauntlet over his right arm. "They look good on you."

Naruto sighed and sat back, "Has Kakashi decided what to do about the mission?"

Pakura shrugged, "Both of are Jonin, so we could probably handle whatever came at us down the road, provided they were only Chunin, but if we came up against a high-level Jonin, we may have a problem." She said, holding up her hand, and producing a small ball of red-white flames. "You see, Shakuton isn't as powerful as people think. It's horribly weak against water. If a water Jutsu came at either of us, we'd be finished if we weren't quick enough to get out the way. Water and Wind are similar to to the combination of Wind and Fire. While the water would douse the Fire in Shakuton, it would combine with the Wind and double the damage hurled at you by the other Shinobi."

Naruto nodded, "So, even when I master the techniques, I only need to use it when I know I can't miss when going against a Water user?"

"That's right," she nodded, "It's why I always kept myself ready to cast either a Wind or Fire Jutsu just in case I was fighting against Water." She said, sighing, "When using elemental techniques, you must remember; Fire will burn, Wind and Lightning will cut, Earth will endure, and Water will always destroy." She said, looking at him, "Wind can only give power to Water when storm roars over the sea, giving rise to hurricanes. And Water can quench Fire, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Even Earth can be worn away by Water given enough time."

Naruto sighed, looking down at his new weapons, "So, even though I have this amazing power, it's still not enough?"

Pakura chuckled, "I didn't say that," she smiled, "You see, the reason I've taught you both Wind and Fire based Jutsu, it's to give more power to your Shakuton."

Naruto looked at her in confusion, "I don't understand, Mom, if I want it to get stronger, then shouldn't I use more of the Shakuton?"

"Not with a sub element," Pakura explained, "You see, with subs, the two base elements that create the sub must be strong to give strength to the sub." She smiled at him, "Meaning the stronger your Wind and Fire are, the stronger your Scorch will be come in the long run."

Naruto nodded, smiling as it sunk in, "Then I'll just have to bug Asuma-sensei and Sarutobi-Jiji for some stronger Fire styles, huh?"

Pakura huffed and pulled at his cheek, "What? And your mother can't have any power Fire techniques locked away?"

Naruto laughed then as he ducked away from her grasp.

Sasuke and Sakura smiled as they saw their teammate acting normally again, the rosette giving out a sigh of relief. Kakashi sighed as he and Tazuna walked back into camp, "Well, kids, it looks like we have a decision to make." He said, stopping Pakura from teasing her son, "Given what's happened today with the Demon Brothers, this mission can no longer be classified as a C-rank. With the addition of enemy Shinobi, this is now B-rank, or A-rank depending on the level of Shinobi we may encounter along the way." He said, letting his words sink in, "And with Gato involved, I'm willing to bet we won't be dealing with mere Chunin the next go-round. So, I'm asking, do you wish to continue this mission as a whole, or should we turn back?"

"What the hell?" Naruto blared out almost immediately, "No way am I chickening out at this point!" The blond growled, pounding himself on the chest, "Don't forget, I can run circles around our local Anbu, and get away with it!"

"They weren't trying to kill you," Kakashi sweatdropped, not bothering to count Yugao's attempts to educate the boy in proper manners. "And let's not forget that you froze up during a crucial point during the battle earlier today, Naruto-kun, even if the moment was a shock, you could have easily gotten yourself killed had I not stepped in."

Sasuke stepped up, and growled, "Hey, lay off, Kakashi, he just killed a guy, and you wanna scold him for freezing up?"

Kakashi looked down at the boy, "I would say the same to you, Sasuke," he said, "Your speed is nearly on par with Naruto, but you could do nothing against that Chunin that was about to gut him. You went blank." Sasuke flinched, growling.

"Kakashi-sensei, please, don't be so hard on them," Sakura pleaded, "I could have done something, but all I did was hide with Tazuna under my Earth Dome."

Kakashi turned his eye on her, "You did as you were told, and protected the client, meaning you were the last defense if Naruto or Sasuke actually failed, which they didn't. All of you did exceptionally well, but you must understand that fresh Genin going up against even Chunin level rogues is all but suicide for the younger shinobi."

Pakura then took up the defense, her hands on her hips, "Kakashi, while I agree that the boys did well, but could have done better, you're being far too harsh with them." She said, "You forget, a Shinobi's best weapon is deception, and three fresh Genin like them are the picture of that, because no one expects a rookie to know an elemental Ninjutsu, let alone a Kekkei Genkai like Naruto, or Sasuke. And Sakura's strength is almost super human compared to her classmates."

"If you think they're ready, then fine," Kakashi said, "But I would rather have their opinion. The boy's could have done much better, and should they make the same mistakes they did today against a Jonin, it could mean their deaths."

Naruto crossed his arms, the metal gauntlets clinking, "I won't freeze again."

"Neither will I," Sasuke glared, "So you can stop trying to scare us, Kakashi!"

"Yeah, I won't just sit back and watch anymore!" Sakura shouted loudly, wincing as the boys looked at her in annoyance, "Sorry?"

Kakashi sighed, and looked at Tazuna, "You're lucky I have such a stubborn team."

Tazuna smiled slightly, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

=|Two Days Later|=

The mist was heavy as the team of Shinobi crossed into Wave country. Naruto was curious as he looked about, the mist far too thick for him to actually see anything, "Why is it so heavy?" He asked, moving his hand experimentally through the mist, watching as it swirled around his fingers.

Kakashi had noticed it as well, "This isn't ordinary mist," the man said whilst looking at Pakura, "Be on guard, whoever is creating this is no Chunin, as I feared."

Naruto nodded, not knowing that he was speaking to the Kunoichi, "I know...I can actually feel something..." he shivered while his teammates looked at him, "It's almost like the fight I had with Gaara seven years ago...like something's waiting for us..."

Kakashi looked down at the boy, "Naruto-kun, have you been feeling anything else like that lately?"

"Yeah, back when we fought those two Kirinin," he said, "It wasn't as strong with them, but it was the same feeling."

Kakashi smirked a little under his mask, Looks like he's a Sensory type...that could be useful if trained properly...heh, if we don't get back in time for the Chunin exams, I'm recommending him for a field promotion for Chunin. "What you're feeling is blood lust, Naruto-kun. This comes from an insane desire to kill, and serves as a warning to weaker Shinobi such as Genin to spook them off, or divert their attention from the main objective."

Sasuke looked around through the mist, no seeing anything, "So what are we gonna do?"

Kakashi cut the boy small look, smiling beneath his mask, "You three will be protecting Tazuna," he said, looking over at his fellow Jonin, "And Pakura will be knocking some dust off of her kunai, and help with whoever comes at us."

Pakura ignored the jibe at her unused skills, and looked at the young blond, "Naruto, remember what I told you." She said to him, "Don't try to fight with Shakuton, only your base elements unless you get a clear shot."

Naruto clenched his fists, nodding wordlessly. Tazuna gulped as the Shinobi team planned as if he weren't even there. The fear he felt was no illusion as the mist was. He was terrified. The three younger Shinobi around him seemed to share some of that fear, but the two Jonin were just short...of excited. Pakura had a small grin on her face as if anticipating something grand about to happen. Kakashi, however, was more serious than he'd ever seen the man, even as short a time as he knew him, there was a gleam in his lone eye that bordered feral.

Suddenly, Naruto stiffened, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Kakashi noticed this right away and whipped around. The sound of something massive whirling through the air.

"GET DOWN!"

Sakura tackled Tazuna to the ground as Naruto and Sasuke ducked down beside them, their weapons drawn. Kakashi and Pakura did so as well as a large blade passed over head.

The blade missed both of them by mere inches and sailed over them to bury itself in the trunk of a tree.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan," An amused voice said, "And Pakura of the Shakuton if I'm not mistaken. Not a bad haul if I cash in on the bounties on your heads."

Sasuke looked at his sensei in shock, "Sharingan?"

Naruto nodded to him, "Yeah, I heard from Jiji that he has an implant from his former teammate," he ground out as he raised his eyes toward the blade where a man now stood on the hilt of the sword. "Oh, man...Sasuke, you remember that guy from Kiri we were checking out in your dad's Bingo Book?"

Sasuke looked at him and then up at the man, and paled. "Oh, shit..."

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi droned out, "The Demon of the Bloody Mist."

Zabuza let out a chuckle, "To be known by the legendary Copy Ninja is truly an honor," he said giving a mock bow, "A man with an implanted Sharingan eye he supposedly got on friendly terms during the last war, or perhaps he stole it in a moment of chance as an Uchiha lay dying? Said to have copied over a thousand different Ninjutsu, you are wanted dead by almost every nation, that eye plucked from your skull."

Kakashi sneered at the man, reaching for his Hitai-ate, and lifting it, "I won't be giving anyone this eye," the metal plate rose, revealing the blood red eye with three tomoe around the iris, "It was given to me by someone precious, whose memory will live on as long as I live!"

"We'll see about that," Zabuza reached for his blade, flipping himself down to the ground, and swinging the sword over his shoulder, "Having an eye that can copy a person's movements down to the last second is all well and good, but what happens when that same eye comes up against someone with superior skill?"

He dodged to the side just as Pakura threw one of her Shakuton techniques at him. The woman glared at him as she stood, "Don't you dare ignore me, you murderous rogue." She said evenly, "Gato hired you, didn't he? You're after Tazuna!"

Zabuza grinned behind the bandages wrapped around his face, "You're right about that, little girl." Pakura sneered a the comment, "Tazuna is my target," he said, looking at the man cowering on the ground where Sakura stood over him. Zabuza then turned back to the two Jonin, "But that doesn't mean you two are safe from me." He said, pointing his blade toward the pair. "The woman alone would bring me a small fortune if I sold her out to Kumo for that Kekkei Genkai of hers, but you," he sneered at Kakashi, "You would let me set everything I want into motion."

"As you said," Kakashi said, his Sharingan spinning, "We'll see."

Naruto and Sasuke had watched them all up until that moment, but the second that they finished speaking...they vanished.

"Wha-Where did they - ?!" Sasuke yelped.

"First things first," Zabuza's voice said coldly from within their midst. Naruto and Sasuke whipped around, and there he was. His sword swung over his shoulder, ready to cut them in half, "Bye, bye, kiddies."

As the blade began to descend, Kakashi appeared, catching the edge of the blade on the metal of his glove, "Leave them out of this, Zabuza!"

Zabuza laughed, "Are you joking?! This is a battle between Shinobi!" He roared and kicked him away, the blade rising for a downward strike, "Nothing is left out!"

"SCATTER!" Naruto roared.

"Stay put!" Pakura's voice rang out, "Shakuton: Dragon Kick!" From underground, Pakura erupting, her left leg engulfed in her flames. Zabuza had just enough time to Flicker out of the way. Pakura righted herself and glared at the younger Genin, "Naruto, Sasuke, do not move from your positions!"

"R-right!" Naruto gulped.

"Understood," Sasuke yelped.

She nodded, and smiled at the boys, "Listen, you three just let me and Kakashi handle this. He may be on our level, but he's alone, and there's two of us. We'll make short work of this."

Zabuza appeared a short distance away from them, smiling beneath his mask, "Alone?" A chill went down her spine as the Mist Jonin spoke, "Who said I was alone?"

"On guard!" Pakura roared before a blade came screaming out of the mist, meeting her kunai,

"Futon: Great Casting Net!" Naruto whipped around as a blast of wind met with him, sending him careening across the clearing.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled.

"Stand firm!" Naruto called out, reaching for his tessen, "I'll be fine! Just watch out for Sakura and Tazuna!"

Sasuke scanned the area, his eyes finding nothing, "This is nuts!" He grumbled, "How the hell are we gonna fight like this?!" A clanking sound came to his ears from behind them, "Sakura, get down!" He whipped around, an unfolded Fuma Shuriken in his grasp, and slashed the air above the rosette as she ducked down. The blade crashed into a wooden structure, shattering it. "What the -!?"

"A puppet?" Sakura gasped as the wooden skeleton fell to the ground.

Sasuke stood close to her looking for the puppet master, but the mist was just too thick.

Meanwhile, Naruto was having a rough time finding his opponent, even with his talent for sensing blood lust, but this person didn't have any. "This mist is driving me nuts!" The blond growled to himself, flaring open his fans. "Alright, Futon: Dual Drilling Sky Dancing Fan!" The wind around him picked up, yet doing nothing to move the chakra laden mist, and formed into twin cyclones around the blades of his tessen. "Sasuke, Sakura! I really hope you dodge this!"

He spun out, letting the two cyclones sweep over the area in a massive wind storm.

Sasuke and Sakura yelped as the wind crashed over them, "Hey, Naruto! What the hell are you doing?!" Sakura roared.

Sasuke dug his feet into the ground against the wind, and noticed that the mist was being carried away by the chakra enhanced wind. "He's getting rid of the mist!" He grinned, "Keep it up, Naruto!"

Pakura clashed against the shrouded shinobi as the wind washed over them, and was shocked to see a familiar face. "Baki?!"

"Pakura-san?!" Baki yelped.

"What are you doing here?!" Both demanded. Baki shook his head, "Never mind that!" He snapped, looking around the aread where he saw Kankuro sprawled out on the ground trying to fight the wind. "What happened to Naruto?! Is he alive?!"

"Of course he's alive!" Pakura roared, smiling, "He's the one making this wind!"

Baki's eyes widened, "Oh gods, TEMARI!" He roared.

Naruto whipped around, his bladed fans sharpened by the wind as he flushed out his attacker. She was right on top of him! The kunoichi came at him with a gigantic tessen. Naruto folded the fans, and bared his clawed gauntlets...until he caught sight of familiar blond hair...and teal eyes.

The sight of the golden hair and cerulean eyes of the Shinobi she was fighting made her falter. Her fan began to slip from her grasp even as she descended on him.

Fan and claw came together in a clash of steel. Her feet touched the ground, barely able to hold her up. Naruto didn't dare move as he crossed his arms to defend himself.

As the mist fully cleared, the bright sun illuminated the battle field. Naruto's eyes went wide as he finally saw her face completely, unobstructed, her eyes just as wide as his with tears brimming the edges.

"T...Temari?"

"Naruto..."

Next Time

Enemy Mine

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