I do not own 'Naruto'
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"Sensei, can we please get a real mission?" Sakura asked.
"These chores are pointless and demeaning." Sasuke stated.
Kakashi looked at his team with a simple gaze.
With me, the training I've been giving Sasuke and the training Naruto has...acquired, they can probably handle it. He reasoned.
"Sure, lets ask for a C-Rank." He spoke. "Let's go."
"Hokage-Sama, Team 7 would like a higher mission." Kakashi spoke.
"Well, do you think their ready?" The Hokage asked, receiving a nod. "I do have one mission, send him in."
In walked a man who smelt strongly of sake.
"What's this, I asked for Ninja, not a bunch of brats." He spoke rudely. "And what's with the blond one, he looks like he forgot how to smile."
I've had enough of this. Naruto thought.
"You should know this blond one can kill you with a finger." Naruto stated as he aimed a finger at the drunk.
"What, do you have loaded fingers?" He teased.
He was silenced when his bottle shattered in his hand.
"He does." Everyone, minus Naruto stated.
"W-well that's nice to know." The drunk nervously stated. "I am the super bridge builder Tazuna, your mission is to protect me."
"Meet up in front of the East gate at sunrise." Kakashi ordered. "Don't be late."
Pot calling the kettle black. The team thought.
"Good morning Team." Kakashi greeted. "I-ah!"
The Jounin had to duck to avoid a water bullet from Naruto.
"Who are you?" Sakura demanded.
"I'M YOUR SENSEI!" He shouted.
"LIAR, KAKASHI-SENSEI IS NEVER ON TIME!" Sakura screeched.
"...I can be on time." Their Sensei mumbled. "Well team, l-"
"Wait!" A new voice called.
They all turned to see Ino running up to them, carrying a bag.
"Hello Ino-Chan." Naruto greeted.
"Hello Naruto...-Kun." She added the suffix with a blush.
"What are you doing here piggy?" Sakura asked.
"Quite forehead!" Ino retaliated before turning to Naruto. "I heard from Sensei your team was taking a C-Rank, I'm a little jealous actually." She stated nervously.
"What's in the bag?" Naruto asked.
This seemed to make her a little more nervous. "Well, since you cooked on our last ...date, I decided to...uh..." She began fidgeting with the bag. "I MADE YOU A MEAL FOR YOUR MISSION!"
"HAHAHAHA!" Sakura laughed. "You went on a date with Naruto?" Sakura asked in disbelief. "I know you're desperate to get to Sasuke-Kun, but that method won't work."
Ino took a single glance at Sasuke and her 'rival'. Huh, was I like that?
"I know my cooking won't be as good as yours, but I hope you like it." Ino stated with a light smile and large blush.
Naruto took the bag with a smile of his own.
"I'm sure I'll love it." Naruto stated, before gaining a mischievous smile. "But can I get some sugar to go with it?"
Ino blushed even harder at the message. This would be her first kiss with her fellow blond, her first kiss period!
She leaned in and gave her fellow blond the kiss he asked for. It was a light peck, but it lasted a full minute.
"I could get use to that." Naruto stated. "Strawberry lip-gloss."
"Not to interrupt, but we have a mission." Kakashi spoke.
"Come on idiot, unless you want to get left." Sakura stated.
"See you when I get back Ino-Chan."
Ino watched as the team made their way off on their mission. She was sadder to see her fellow blond go than she thought she would be.
Hurry back. She thought. I hope he enjoys his gift.
She wasn't talking about the food.
"Since when did you and Ino start dating?" Kakashi asked.
"Not to long ago, a week actually." Naruto answered.
"And you already have her cooking your meals?" Tazuna asked.
"I'm sure it'll make a great poison." Sakura added. "It was made by a pig after all."
Naruto was about to defend his girlfriend when he saw a puddle on the ground. That's not natural. It hadn't rained in weeks and has been relatively warm as of late.
Using his 'eyes', he saw two chakra signatures inside.
Before he could signal his Sensei, the ninja struck.
They wrapped Kakashi in a shuriken-chain bond. In a single pull, they tore him to pieces.
"Kakashi-Sensei!" Sakura shouted.
Naruto saw Sakura freeze up, while Sasuke charged in to engage the enemy.
Foolish!
Naruto threw a kunai in front of Sasuke, stopping him in his tracks while aiming another finger at one the enemies. He fired, hitting him in the side of his knee. This caused his partner to lag because of the weight.
"Sasuke, pull back now!" Naruto ordered.
"Don't order me dead last!" Sasuke snapped.
The un-wounded Shinobi disengaged the bond and charged again.
Only to be close lined by Kakashi.
"Sensei, you're alive!" Sakura cheered.
After his return, Kakashi quickly handled the last ninja. They were rogue Shinobi from the Mist village.
"What happened to you Sensei?" Sakura asked.
"I wanted to know who these two were after." Kakashi answered. "Also, I wanted to see how you three handled yourself in a real situation."
"I would have been fine if the dead last hadn't got in my way." Sasuke sneered.
"Our mission is to protect the client, not run to fight every ninja." Naruto countered. "Ninja that we knew nothing about, it was a foolish and suicidal thing to do."
"You can't talk to Sasuke like-" Sakura began.
"He's right." Kakashi stated.
"What?!" Sasuke screamed in outrage.
"You can't charge into the unknown." He explained. "What if there had been more enemies hidden?"
"Nn." The Uchiha grunted.
"Now Tazuna, care to tell me two ninja are after you?" Kakashi asked the nervous builder.
Tazuna began giving a teary explanation about his village being destroyed by a wealthy man named Gato. He explained that his home's only hope was to complete the bridge.
"Tazuna, a mission like this is easily an A-Rank." Kakashi explained. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to end it."
"Please, we need your help!" He begged.
"Well..."
After a bit of a team debate and Tazuna adding a bit of guilt about his daughter and grandson, they decided to continue.
"Hey kid, sorry about before." Tazuna spoke. "I didn't think much of you before, but now I see you've got a good head on your shoulders and skill to match."
"That's fine." Naruto stated. "Just doing my duty."
Sasuke had heard the brief conversation between them and scowled even harder.
The Uchiha had been willing to tolerate the dead last since he stayed out of his way. He had even shown that he'd be semi-useful.
But never would he tolerate the dead last showing him up!
I am the Uchiha! I am the elite. He thought. It isn't right that he shows such skill! Skills that I should have!
He turned to the blond, who met his gaze, and flinched. It was as if Naruto could tell what he was thinking, and didn't care!
I'll show you! He mentally growled.
He took a few steps ahead of the team and scanned the area.
"Your out of formation." Naruto called.
Sasuke ignored him.
There! He threw a kunai towards a bush.
This put everyone on edge.
Naruto took one 'glance' at the bush before sighing. He made his way towards it and pulled out a rabbit.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack for nothing." Tazuna stated.
"Get down!"
They did, just as a large blade passed over them. It collided with a tree, on it was the enemy.
"Zabuza Momochi, the demon of the Mist." Kakashi spoke. "This'll be tough, I'll have to use it."
He raised his headband to reveal a single Sharingan eye.
"Copycat Kakashi, what an honor." Zabuza spoke. "Hand over the bridge builder and I'll let you all live."
"Not happening." Naruto said as he aimed a finger at the Mist nin.
"What, do you have loaded fingers or something?" He asked.
He was answered by a water bullet being fired at him. Only for it to miss his head by two inches.
"Bad aim." Sasuke mocked.
"No." Kakashi answered. "He dodged it, barely."
"If I hadn't seen that Jutsu before, it would have killed me." Zabuza stated. "Where does a kid learn a Mist Jutsu?"
"Why would I share knowledge with the enemy?" Naruto asked back.
"Fair enough."
Zabuza had pulled himself back into the mist and began flooding the area with his killing intent.
"Careful everyone, Zabuza is a master of the silent killing." Kakashi warned.
Naruto had activated his eyes to see better.
Kakashi was a few yards away from them, scanning for Zabuza.
Sasuke and Sakura looked as if their heart were going to pop. Thought, Sakura seemed to think the Uchiha would keep her safe. Said Uchiha was close to taking his own life.
Wait... There was someone else.
In the trees was another chakra signature. Was it friend or foe?
"It's over." A voice spoke from behind.
Naruto turned and impaled Zabuza with his W.C blade. Instead of blood, out came water. Naruto watched as the Mist nin dissolved into a puddle of water.
A clone! He realized. I was careless to let him get so close.
"It seems the kid has some skill, can the same be said about his Sensei?" Another Zabuza asked.
"Let's find out." Kakashi spoke.
Naruto watched as the fight progressed. His Sensei and Zabuza seemed to be on the same skill level, only for his Sensei to make a mistake.
He dived into the lake.
This allowed Zabuza the chance to imprison him in a sphere of water.
"Get out of here!" Kakashi screamed. "Take Tazuna and leave!"
"Sensei, I am just...disappointed." Naruto spoke. "I'll let it slide that you just wanted us to abandon you, even after your teachings, the mission and all." The blond continued. "I'm just disappointed that you decided to challenge a water Shinobi in the water."
"Getting scolded by your student huh?" Zabuza spoke with a chuckle. "You deserve it."
Kakashi had the decency to look down in shame.
"Besides, what makes you think Zabuza will just let us go?" The Mist nin's chuckle confirmed their suspicion. "Sasuke, Sakura." Naruto spoke as he made his way to the water. "Protect Tazuna."
Naruto didn't wait for his team to respond, he charged forward.
"Seems he wants to play." Zabuza spoke as he summed a few clones.
They quickly surrounded Naruto and each drew their over sized blade.
Wind Style: Vacuum wave
Naruto took a deep breath and began spinning in a circle. He released the air in a compressed blade of chakra that knocked the clones away and cut through them as he turned.
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Naruto formed four clones by his side.
They charged the demon of the mist in a diamond formation.
Zabuza swung at the first Naruto, severing him in half. The second Naruto ran behind the swing and held the weapon, keeping Zabuza from swinging again. He then delivered a kick to the Mist nin's upper rib, just under the armpit. This forced him to slack up on the grip, but not enough for the clone to snatch it and run.
With his weapon arm restrained, Zabuza kicked the next clone, turning him into smoke.
The next one was already on Zabuza, restraining his leg, forcing him into an uncomfortable position.
This left him right open for the last Naruto to get in close.
Wind Style: Blade of wind
Naruto emitted wind chakra from the tip of his fingers, giving him pinpoint cutting accuracy.
He delivered a cut to the demon on the mist's exposed torso.
Zabuza jumped back, releasing Kakashi, just in time to avoid a fatal wound. He did not escape being wounded. There was a diagonal cut going across his midsection with a thin trail of blood leaking.
He grabbed the closest Naruto around the neck and raised him, while the blond fought to be released. With a quick jerk, he turned this Naruto into smoke.
"Come one kid." He growled.
"Actually Zabuza, your fight is with me." Kakashi spoke.
"Afraid your Genin's luck might have ran out?" Zabuza asked.
"That wasn't luck, that was skill." Kakashi stated. "He forced you to release me." He pointed to the Mist nin's mid-section. "That's proof enough."
"Shut up!" Zabuza shouted as he charged.
The last clone charged as well, while the real Naruto backed away to land. Zabuza's eyes caught sight of the clone's face long enough to see him mutter one word.
"Boom."
Thanks to years as a Shinobi, Zabuza had enough reflex to bring his large sword in front of him as a makeshift shield.
Just as the Naruto clone went up in smoke.
What, it wasn't the exploding clone Jutsu? It was a distraction.
He turned to see Kakashi finish weaving a series of hand signs.
Water Style: Giant vortex Jutsu
The Jutsu followed it's namesake.
Zabuza could do nothing as the water dragged him away like a rag-doll. Only when he collided with a tree did he stop, but the Jutsu continued against him.
When it was finally over, Zabuza was too battered and exhausted to continue.
He looked up to see Kakashi in the tree above him.
"It's over." Kakashi stated.
He prepared to deliver the final strike when he saw Zabuza stiffen and collapse. In his neck were two senbon needles.
"I'd like to thank you for your assistance." A new voice spoke.
They turned to see a masked nin, a hunter nin.
"You're a Mist hunter nin." Kakashi stated. "I assume you're here for Zabuza."
"I am."
"Why didn't you help in the fight?" Sasuke asked. "Are the Hunter nin from Mist to weak to handle their own trash?"
"I could ask the same of you." The Hunter nin countered.
Wind Style: Vacuum wave
The Hunter nin was able to dodge the attack with relative ease and made off with Zabuza in a Body-Flicker.
"What was that idiot?" Sakura screeched. "Why did you attack that ninja, are you trying to start a war?"
"The Hunter was a fake." Naruto stated.
"How would you-" She was silenced by Kakashi placing a firm grip on her shoulder.
"Naruto, explain." Kakashi ordered.
He took a look at his team before sighing. "My bloodline told me that the Hunter was actually friendly towards Zabuza." He stated. "That means they must be friends, or acquaintances."
"Bloodline?" Sasuke spoke.
"I refuse to divulge any valuable information." Naruto stated.
"Must not be anything special." Sasuke taunted.
"Well it isn't monkey see-monkey do." Naruto countered. "Sensei, your chakra-"
"I know." Kakashi stated. "Naruto, you're in command until..."
Their Sensei said nothing more as he lost consciousness. He would have hit the ground if Naruto hadn't caught him.
"Sensei!"
"He's fine." Naruto stated as he laid the Jonin down. "He just has a case of Chakra exhaustion." He spoke as he lowered Kakashi's headband. "Where is your house?"
"Close." The bridge builder answered.
"Sasuke and Sakura." Naruto spoke. "You two carry Sensei."
"What, why?" Sakura asked.
"Because if we run into trouble, I'm the only one combat ready." Naruto answered.
"Who put you in charge?" Sasuke asked with a sneer.
"Your Sensei did." Tazuna answered.
"Sasuke, if you keep acting out of line then I will consider you a threat to the mission." Naruto stated.
"What're you going to do?" Sasuke taunted. "Write me up for insubordination?"
"No, I'll execute you." He answered as he raised a finger.
Naruto answered with an uncaring tone that was too familiar. It made the Uchiha's blood boil as he thought of his brother.
He's just like him! He seethed.
"Lead the way Tazuna." Naruto spoke.
They had arrived at Tazuna's home where they met his daughter and grandson. After placing their Sensei away, Naruto wrote a letter asking the village for assistance.
Though, there was a hidden message in there as well.
Review.
I decided to lower the rating from 'M' because there will be no lemons. I will change it back if I do add a lemon scene.
Until next time, which will be longer.