"Thank you, shinobi-san, for this message's secure delivery," the head of the merchant household they'd been sent to bowed slightly, the three genin returning it and Kakashi inclining his head – as a jounin, he had a fair bit more leeway when it came to courtesy, and he was familiar with this merchant anyway, he wouldn't be expecting it from him.
"If there is anything else?" he asked leadingly, eyeing the three genin for just a moment before directing his question to Kakashi, as he should.
"Maa – I am curious, have the merchant fleet and the captured pirates arrived and been dealt with?"
"Oh yes, they arrived yesterday morning, Hatake-dono," the man bobbed his head, "Now that the official business is out of the way, might I invite yourself and your students for tea?"
"Much appreciated, Naka-san," now he bowed – slightly, but he bowed. He was no longer acting as a jounin of Konoha, after all. The Naka family had been old contacts of the Hatake clan, and while he didn't do much with his mantle of the headship, he took care of those that had at one point relied upon the clan for protection. There was only so much he could do, as one man, but he helped where he could.
Undoubtedly, Sandaime-sama had been well aware of this when he'd chosen to give them this mission. He'd have to bring the man some Wave country tobacco in thanks; it had been a while since he'd had a chance to cultivate this particular connection.
The genin, predictably, perked up at the formality and Sakura immediately bent Naruto's ear, hissing that he needed to follow Sasuke's example or so help her – Kakashi listened with a small smile, Naka Hikaru's crinkling eyes indicating he heard her as well and was, fortunately, amused. He'd have to work on their volume control, it seemed.
Thankfully, Naka did not hold an entirely formal tea ceremony, though it was evident by Naruto's wide eyes and very, very careful mimicking of Sasuke that he felt entirely out of his element. Good thing he knew some old operatives that owned teashops back in Konoha, because they'd need to develop some social graces, especially if Naruto was really serious about this Hokage business.
Kakashi hoped so. The faces of the council members if he ascended would definitely be a Sharingan-worthy moment.
Pleasantries exchanged and out of the way, Hikaru set his tea aside and sighed happily, the black-haired man smiling as he reported, "The pirates have all been sentenced to execution or very long hard-labor terms, it's unlikely they will survive in those cases. The freed slaves have been sheltered and are being offered a portion of the loot from the pirates liberated funds as well as transport home. Interestingly, none are interested in the latter offer."
Kakashi nodded and offered his own information in response, "It has come to my attention that one Gatou Corporation is taking advantage of Wave's isolated nature to claim power and oppress all forms of competition with a decidedly Iwa touch."
Hikaru's nose wrinkled in distaste, the man saying, "Marvelous. I don't suppose Konoha would be willing to deal with the situation without being called in?"
"I cannot comment on that," Kakashi said with true regret, inclining his head towards his team, "As you can see, I have different responsibilities now."
"I am pleased to see Hatake-dono is passing on his knowledge to the future generations," Hikaru informed the genin, before an impish look came into his eyes and Kakashi suppressed a groan – he knew where this was going, "Though I would be far more pleased if he actually produced said future generation, it seems I will have to settle for descendants of teachings, if not of blood."
Sakura was the only one who blushed at that, the boys just looking distinctly uncomfortable, but Sakura was also the only one who managed to respond, "We will do our best to be worthy of the honor, Naka-san."
"Very smooth," Hikaru said approvingly, "And well said, young kunoichi. You have much better social graces than your sensei did at your age."
There was one problem with seeing old contacts with students in tow, Kakashi reflected ruefully, they knew all the old stories. Or at least all the old stories that weren't classified beyond belief, but those would be more than enough to ignite his genin's curiousity, evident by the intent interest clear on their faces at that hint.
"As for Gatou – I'm afraid all I've heard are rumors, rumors of nukenin, mercenaries and shady deals," Hikaru shook his head, "I do not deal with products from Wave much. I will see what I can rustle up from those in my circle who do, and shall get back to you. Are you staying at an inn?"
"Yes, the usual," Kakashi informed him, rising to his feet and his genin following; Hikaru sighed and stood, not minding the breaking of protocol in the least beyond the fact he realized he couldn't tease anymore. Victory was his, this round.
"Very well, I will contact you tomorrow? Do stop by if you need to depart before I reach you, my wife will never forgive me if she is not able to see you while you are here, and she would love to meet your genin," Hikaru said, escorting them to the door personally.
Kakashi sighed and nodded, knowing better than to object. Besides, he wouldn't exactly mind seeing Naka Maiko again, she was just… very exuberant.
One of his more memorable nightmares was imagining her meeting Gai, after all.
***===***pagebreak***===***
Sasuke was eyeing their sensei thoughtfully while they ate food obtained from a random street vendor – not ramen, thank kami sensei had put his foot down on that (though how he was eating without showing his face… genjutsu?). Sakura was dragging them through the markets, anxious to inspect wares and compare prices and tugging Naruto after her – supposedly to help judge things, in reality in the hopes she'd find pants to force him into in a color other than neon orange.
Thankfully, he didn't have to do anything for that particular self-appointed mission of hers, which left him free to mull over the things he'd learned on this mission.
And not just jutsus, though the genjutsu sensei had taught Sakura was interesting, and the basics of fuuinjutsu he'd taught all of them was useful in the extreme – and the chakra-string technique he'd started him on with changing kunai direction midflight was, dare he say it, cool – no, what was most interesting were the things they'd learned about their sensei in this week and a half.
Because in hindsight, it was obvious that the man's introduction had been so lacking not only because it would frustrate them, but because he didn't plan to let them pass – both because of the teamwork emphasis and because of the council. Sasuke figured they should count themselves lucky sensei hadn't just said screw the test and failed them anyway to spite the council. It would probably have been easy enough to just not give them that second chance.
But in spite of that lacking introduction, a picture of just who sensei was had been filling out, slowly but surely, and a lot of that had clicked into place this week.
He was clearly a former ANBU, and probably a former Captain in that force, if his mention of Ita – of that man as a subordinate and pupil meant anything. He was just as clearly an extremely skilled and valued shinobi, in addition to his self-professed genius – the two did not necessarily go together. He was a decent teacher, disclaimers aside, and was willing to help them actually reach their goals rather than his or some nebulous point where he'd stop teaching them.
He also had a sharingan, and a mastered sharingan at that. They had all wondered just why he covered his face and what had happened to his eye – Sakura in particular, seeing as how narrowly she had avoided a similar fate. Finding out that he had a sharingan – and that he used the sharingan to take mental pictures of utterly random occurrences – had been shocking in the extreme, and, at first, infuriating. Sensei had said he wasn't going to lie to them, but what the hell had this been?
His explanation had made sense of that, at least, and left Sasuke numbly wondering about what he would have done if his father had won that argument years ago, and sensei hadn't kept his sharingan. How would he have learned? He had scrolls, certainly, he'd figure it out, he was sure – but it would take a lot longer, and he wanted to advance now.
He couldn't, he knew that, but he ached to. At this age, Itachi had nearly been a jounin! A member of ANBU! He was so far behind, sometimes it felt like he'd never catch up!
A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his despairing musings and he looked up to meet his sensei's concerned gaze, "All right there Sasuke?" the man asked, and what could he do but nod? They were in a public place after all.
He nodded, and his sensei released his shoulder with a final pat before returning to his hentai book. Such a weird sensei.
And to think, this man was called dono! Was given the respect owed a clan head! Sure, Sasuke was sort of aware that there was a Hatake clan listed in Konoha, but sensei was the only member he'd ever heard of, and was apparently the only member period if what Naka-san had implied was true, but he was still treated with the respect owed a clan head by civilians! And judging by the implications of their conversation during tea, the Nakas considered themselves a form of vassal to him, and to his clan, which meant he held them under his protection. His personal protection, given the state of his clan as a whole.
It was – heartening. In a way. That a clan could be respected, could fulfill its duties, even when only one person was holding its banner.
Maybe his dream of an honorable and restored clan wasn't entirely out of his reach.
***===***pagebreak***===***
Sakura hadn't expected Naruto, of all people, to be her ideal shopping buddy.
But really, he was! He was interested in random trinkets, just like she was, and had no problem with modeling the occasional bit of clothing she thought would look good on him so long as she returned the favor, and he wasn't even perverted about it! He was honest, telling her that the red scarf she'd fingered didn't go with her hair at all and accepted her judgment that the orange jacket he so longingly stared at was entirely unacceptable and wasn't the same shade as his pants anyway so it didn't work.
They bantered about various wares and had a good time picking out the most obnoxiously awful thing possible to force the other into (why did that one vendor have a stock of spandex leotards in lime green? Seriously, why?). They chatted frankly about prices and quality and Sakura happily dickered with a few of the merchants, teaching Naruto the finer points of cheerful bargaining.
He even looked like he was having fun, just like she was! It was no fun shopping with someone who was secretly miserable, eventually they gave it away, but Naruto seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself! Which was perfect, because it let Sasuke and sensei wander after them without actually interacting with anyone and she got to fully enjoy the market without bothering them.
She'd have to drag him to the flea market in Konoha one day, especially after they got their C-rank paycheck! Sure, she had fewer expenses than he did because her parents still housed her and fed her, but surely Naruto could afford to splurge a little bit, on something besides ramen.
Maybe if she sold it as part of their prank preparation…
Well, something to consider for later.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto said, voice awed.
The last time he'd sounded like that, it had been the most gaudy orange and yellow feathered monstrosity of a dress she'd ever seen. And no one, she meant no one was ever going to know she tried it on.
Bracing herself, she ducked down the remnant clothes merchant's aisles to find him, and found Naruto holding up a fitted navy blue turtleneck, of all things.
"Naruto?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "What's so special about the shirt?"
"Watch!" he whispered, holding up the neck part and showing that it was extra-long. It was so long, in fact, she wouldn't be surprised if it covered… his…. face…
"No. Way."
"We have to get one," he said seriously.
"We have to get three," she grinned, "And a camera."
"Genius!" he hissed, holding his treasure to the heavens. "Come on, quick! Before the other two come in here to see what's taking us so long!"
It was a matter of moments to get the extra-long turtlenecks in the appropriate sizes, and she was certain they were even the exact shade of navy blue. Maybe these were leftovers from when he was a child and special ordered them or something? The place did sell clothes that regular merchants couldn't get rid of after all…
Nah, that was just ridiculous. They wouldn't hold onto things like this for that long. Sensei was old!
After due consideration, they ended up buying six of the shirts and an orange hat that Naruto just couldn't live without. The merchant had happily wrapped their purchases and given them a tip on a good place to buy a camera.
"Good thing sensei taught me storage scrolls yesterday," Naruto said, sealing up their purchases behind the counter – the merchant was fascinated and gave them a discount for the demo! – "Otherwise they'd be way suspicious!"
"This is going to be awesome!" Sakura grinned, "Thanks for your help!" she called to the merchant as they scampered out the door, gleefully heading for the camera booth.
Good thing they'd packed money from the D-ranks, that's all she had to say.
That night, Naruto had distracted sensei with questions about explosive tags – not a conversation you'd want to leave Naruto hanging on, because otherwise he'd probably experiment, so Sakura was able to pull Sasuke aside and present him with the two shirts roughly his size and explain the plan.
She considered it a very good sign that he just looked at her and smirked. Good. He was in.
Tomorrow morning was going to be epic.
***===***pagebreak***===***
"How does he do this, seriously?" Naruto's voice echoed down the steps of the inn, and Kakashi sighed, turning the page in his book. He had been waiting down here for thirty minutes, already eating his share of breakfast because he'd woken up far before his baby genin needed to.
Judging by the extensive clattering and clanging that had come the moment he'd heard their room's door creak open, he hadn't missed much.
Just as he was debating putting away his book and seeing what the heck was taking his students so long, he heard a choked laugh from the inn-keeper and snickers from the other early risers. "Morning Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto bellowed, and Kakashi looked over only to feel his jaw literally drop.
All three genin were standing there, wearing navy-blue turtlenecks in the exact extra-long style he had been special ordering for years, covering half their faces with their hita-ates worn across their left eyes.
It was… hilariously adorable, actually.
Sharingan photo!
"Seriously sensei, I have so much more respect for you now – I have nearly killed myself, Sakura-chan, and Sasuke-teme so many times with the one eye thing! How do you do this? How do you fight like this? I can't even walk without tripping over myself!" Naruto exclaimed, waving his arms around and nearly whacking Sakura in the face.
"Practice," Kakashi replied dryly, shaking his head ruefully as he considered his genin. His utterly ridiculous, pranking team of genin. "So this is what you and Sakura were snickering over last night."
"Got a sweet deal on them too!" Sakura's beaming expression was uncannily like his own with the mask – she'd probably practiced. "And… a camera! Team picture! Please Innkeeper-san?" she held out the camera she'd hidden behind her back and the man accepted, still snickering as the three genin carefully made their way over to him.
He ruffled the two boy's hair and beamed at the camera, Sakura leaning against his legs and throwing a victory sign while the boys crossed their arms and tried to look tough and implacable. Judging by the innkeeper's increasingly violent snickers, it wasn't entirely successful.
"Thanks!" Sakura chirped, taking the small camera back and handing it to Naruto, who tucked it away in one of his pockets before they clambered into seats to start breakfast.
"Well, eat up you three, we have to go visit Naka-san before we head out," Kakashi said, shaking his head in bemusement as he returned to his book.
"Neh, sensei, since we're going to show you our faces, will you show us yours?" Naruto grinned, squinting eyes unmistakably part of that expression.
"You realize that doesn't work when I've seen your faces already, yes?" he replied dryly, "Besides, I already ate. Better luck next time, kids."
"Kuso, so close!" Sakura cursed, but the three quickly adjusted their hita-ates and pulled down their masks so they could devour the food he'd bought them.
He'd thought that was the end of it.
When he was brought into Hikaru's home again, he knew he was mistaken when he heard Maiko squeal, "They're so adorable!"
Sighing, he resigned himself to a long, ear-piercing conversation.
But he couldn't keep from smiling.
***===***pagebreak***===***
That smile was long gone by the time they were heading out of Keiharu Port later that morning, the three genin equally grim, turtlenecks down and hita-ates in their usual places. He had a feeling this was going to be a running gag though, the reactions had been too good for Naruto and Sakura to give it up, and while he was deeply surprised (though very, very pleased) that Sasuke had agreed to be involved, it was likely that he'd keep it up too. Maybe not inside Konoha, but depending on how well Naruto sold it as the 'ultimate teamwork exercise', he wouldn't be surprised.
Actually, goofing off together – especially something so elegantly coordinated and team focused as this – it was perfect for those purposes.
Now the question was if Naruto had consciously calculated this prank for that effect or simply retroactively realized this effect for that prank. Either would present some very interesting options for future cultivation.
Despite Maiko's glee at their appearance (and the many, many pictures she'd taken with her own and Sakura's camera) (oh kami, candid shots, why?) Hikaru's news had quickly brought the mood down. All reports indicated that Gatou was a full-fledged crime lord, and no one had brought him to heel because he had dealings with multiple nukenin and was rumored to be in bed with quite a few political powerhouses in multiple nations. Unsanctioned in the extreme, he was sure, or at least they would be, if they ever came to light, but effective.
Annoying? Yes. There had been nothing regarding this in intelligence for the region, which meant someone had dropped the ball.
Something he needed to worry about? Not at the time.
That had quickly changed when a red-banded hawk had dropped down the moment they stepped into the streets and left him with a scroll marked 'urgent'.
It seemed the team they'd needed to beat had taken a C-rank to guard a bridge builder named Tazuna on his journey home to Wave.
And they'd encountered two nuke-nin on the way, the Demon Brothers of Mist, revealing that the mission had been misranked. Nevertheless, they had pressed on, after getting the details from this Tazuna.
If they pulled it off, it would be glorious – Wave would be indebted to Konoha severely, the genin team would receive a huge boost of confidence and recognition and the sensei would undoubtedly win 'most epic first C-rank' for the year.
But he found it very, very unlikely they would pull it off.
Because he'd been keeping his ear to the ground regarding nukenin movements after that whole escaped Iwa-nin fiasco and figuring while he was there, may as well see if anyone knew what Itachi was up to, and he knew who the Demon Brothers were working for.
Momochi Zabuza was not an opponent to drag genin against.
"Sensei, how are we getting to Wave?" Sakura asked, putting on a brief burst of speed to run alongside him. He'd have to carry her soon, and probably get a clone to carry Sasuke. Naruto's endurance was simply ridiculous.
"Hikaru gave me directions to a contact of his that owed him and would be willing to take us across," Kakashi explained shortly, "Once we arrive, we're going to stay together and search out Team Ten. Naruto will send out clones, as will I, but you three are staying with me, got it?"
All three nodded, understanding that he was deathly serious this time. He had told them who they'd be facing, and just what that meant.
This was no time for screwing around, of any sort.
"Work on a plan to protect Tazuna and any downed member of Team Ten. Sakura – no iryo-jutsus. Fish are much less dangerous to experiment with than people, if you do the slightest thing wrong you could seriously screw up their chakra network, all right? Basic medical care only, no chakra, got it?"
"Hai sensei!"
"Sasuke, Naruto, if she gives medical care, it's your job to cover her and ensure the objective is met," Kakashi frowned, "That objective being Tazuna, safely at home, and team ten alive. So long as he gets home safely, Team Ten's mission is complete and I could care less about what happens to him next, but Team Ten alive is the priority. If you have to choose between him alive and Team Ten, Team Ten, all right? He lied to us, he misled us as to rank and it is his fault that these genin, these comrades, are in danger from the likes of Momochi. Do not pity him."
"Hai sensei," all three replied, equally grim.
It wouldn't last, he knew it wouldn't. Once they came face to face with the man, had time to truly come to terms with the plight of Wave, they'd be tugged, they'd be empathetic, they'd be merciful and they'd forgive.
But first, they had to get Team Ten out alive.
***===***pagebreak***===***
Naruto was angry.
He listened to Sasuke and Sakura plot, inserting his own ideas and confirming their questions as to his Kage bunshin's capabilities occasionally, but the majority of his focus was on thinking past the seething fury building in his gut. Sensei had told them the standard policy for C-ranks, and told them about the 'C-rank curse' where the first C-rank always, always went wrong.
Theirs had gone wrong when they intercepted another team's mission and fought off pirates. Their second one had gone perfectly smooth and they'd gotten some laughs out of sensei!
Apparently that wasn't enough though, because now jiji had given them orders to go and aid another team who apparently had gotten a triple helping of C-rank curse! Team Ten! The team they'd needed to beat to get to a C-rank had taken one to Wave, a place that Momoko-san had said most of the people were taken from with a funny look on her face and if what sensei said was right she had been hinting that there was more wrong than just one pirate crew.
And now, if sensei was right, and by now Naruto knew enough to figure he probably was, they were running straight for an at least A-rank nukenin from Kiri, called "Demon of the Mist" and any other accomplices he may have, in addition to the mercenaries that weren't shinobi.
Given that the kyuubi was a demon, he didn't really want to know what a person had to do to get that title. Thankfully, no one else had asked.
"Okay, sensei, I think we have a plan," Sakura said quietly, sensei shifting slightly to look at them but not moving from his position on the small boat. They were crammed together, the fisherman slash smuggler that Naka-san had directed them too being very clear that they needed to stay where he put them because there were shallows here that weight-distribution was vital to avoid.
"Naruto and you send out clones – we were thinking twelve for Naruto? – they scatter and try to find Team Ten. The one that does dispels and the others split, half coming to us, half going to Team Ten. If things get dicey, Team Ten runs into opposition, they make it home, whatever changes – then the ones with Team Ten dispel one by one so we get updates constantly. We weren't sure if Naruto should approach them but we figured it'd be best to not and stay a surprise for anything that goes wrong – unless he gets caught or something, then he shows up and explains we're here to back them up," Sakura explained.
Sasuke continued grimly, "At that point it depends on the situation. If they're in combat, we figured the priority was to get the enemy down – especially if it's Momochi Zabuza. Naruto says he can kawarimi with people pretty well and his clones can too – we were thinking if Zabuza's there and relatively immobile, one of the clones with us can switch with him and while he's disoriented he should be easier to take down."
Naruto liked that plan. He liked it a lot. Got Team Ten out of the worst of the danger, stat, disoriented said worst of the danger to the point sensei could hopefully take him out pretty easily – fingers crossed no C-rank curse came into play now too! – and he played a crucial role while also buffering his teammates.
He'd be the one running around and sending clones to fight, and hopefully Sakura and Sasuke wouldn't have to kill on this mission either. Because killing sucked.
"Who have you switched with before, Naruto? And your clones?" sensei asked, Naruto hesitating before replying, "Uh – Mizuki-teme, in a prank. And Kiba, once or twice."
"Hmm. Kawarimi is an interesting jutsu, in that while you can use it to substitute with living things, and even people, it's far easier with dead things, such as pre-cut logs," Kakashi explained lowly, his hands in 'ram' – what was he using chakra for right now?
"This is because of chakra. Replacing something with greater chakra than your own is extremely dangerous to both parties involved. Your chakra capacity is immense, Naruto, which is the only reason this didn't backfire on you. But why is the kage bunshin so dangerous?"
Naruto had to scramble for that answer, rage finally subsiding to a grumble in the back of his mind as he now had a distraction – he'd only read the scroll in question once after all, and hadn't really understood all the words that had gone into the warnings – he'd been more worried about the instructions. "Uh.. it splits your chakra, right? So if I make one clone, it has more chakra than if I make three clones?"
"Exactly," sensei nodded, eye-smiling at him and Naruto felt a burst of pride at that confirmation. "Which is the reason it's a kinjutsu and Sakura and Sasuke don't have enough chakra for even one yet. Now, with that in mind, can any of you tell me why it would be odd for one of Naruto's clones to be able to kawarimi with a jounin-level opponent like Zabuza?"
"Shinobi-san, we're within a mile," the smuggler hissed, oars pulling in while the man started to pole along the shallows. Kakashi-sensei nodded, saying softly, "Think about it, I'll ask again later. No more talking now, I can't keep this jutsu up."
His fingers released the hand-sign and Naruto could suddenly hear the water against the boat, smell the salt in the air and the terror this smuggler was working past. That… that was a scary jutsu – if it made them invisible or at least let them talk without too much worry, it was useful, but it cut them off too – how would they have known if they were approaching danger?
Naruto shook that thought off and started thinking on the question Kakashi-sensei had asked. Kawarimi was dangerous if you didn't have as much or more chakra than the thing you were replacing – that explained a lot. Now if only someone had actually explained that in class! You'd think it'd come up in a lecture on dangers or something and he always paid attention to jutsu lectures if he was actually allowed to stay for them.
Well, maybe that's what had happened. Whatever, take it as given that he had more chakra than Mizuki-teme and Kiba (ha!) because he could switch with them without hurting himself. He'd guess that a jounin, like this Zabuza jerk, would have more chakra, maybe even more than him. So that made sense – and if his clones split his chakra, that meant they had less chakra than he did, right? Which meant if he couldn't switch with the guy, they definitely wouldn't be able to.
But if he only made two clones, one could find the guy, the other could stay with him, and then that clone could try switching and if it did hurt, he'd get the memories of what happened but wouldn't actually be damaged himself. Yeah, the memories would probably suck, if it didn't work, but the plan would still be there and the only people at risk would be his clone and the Zabuza guy.
Maybe he could do the twelve clones and then if one found Team Ten fighting, they all dispelled and he made two new clones, one to go find Team Ten and Zabuza again and the other to stick around and do the kawarimi?
Yeah, that seemed solid. Man, if he had been kicked out for the kawarimi lectures, that meant he probably missed stuff on the other two too! Now he'd have to go find the textbook and handouts to see what he'd missed.
Maybe Sakura-chan or Sasuke-teme could explain it. He didn't want sensei to think he was an idiot; the academy was just so boring!
***===***pagebreak***===***
Kakashi was not happy.
He hadn't been happy when this order had come in, granted, but now he was unhappy about something besides the mission the Sandaime had issued so at least he had something else to sink his brain into. There wasn't much more he could work on with Gatou and the Wave situation until they got on the ground and he had a chance to get more information anyway.
But the genin had come up with a decent plan, except for one thing.
It seemed none of them understood the dangers of kawarimi with a living creature, much less a trained shinobi with developed chakra coils.
Taking into account the fact Naruto had said he'd done it before, Kakashi gave the Academy curriculum the benefit of slight doubt. After all, if Naruto had done these people-kawarimi's in front of witnesses, it was entirely possible the students ignored that part of the lecture because clearly if the class idiot could do it, it wasn't that hard.
That didn't excuse them in the least, because they should have, if anything, emphasized the dangers so no other students decided to try it and subsequently destroy their chakra coils. But it gave them a little leeway.
Sakura though, she read that textbook backward to front and some of her answers to his questions were still word-for-word from the book (he'd checked once out of curiosity). So if there was mention of the dangers of kawarimi (as there damn well should be) she'd remember it. But it didn't even occur to her that Naruto would be in danger in this plan; if it had, she'd have mentioned it and the plan wouldn't have been presented as finished. She'd have at least asked him if the idea was feasible first.
Now, given this disturbing lack of information, what else had his students been mis-taught or entirely not taught in that Academy of theirs?
Damn it, he'd have to actually read that stupid textbook at this rate. And thoroughly.
This teaching business sucked, seriously. Even if his baby genin were kind of adorable. Occasionally.
The shoreline came into foggy view and the smuggler stopped his boat, Kakashi having told him they would water-walk the rest of the way. He left money behind – a tip, if anything, seeing as Hikaru had let him cash in on one of his favors for this – and stepped out of the boat, genin following him and following his lead in bowing to the smuggler-fisherman before heading for the shore, none of them saying a word.
Deciding to test them, he flicked his fingers in reasonably slow hand-signs and allowed himself a moment of smug contentment when they fell into the exact formation he wanted. A diamond with him at point, Naruto in the back, Sakura on his right with Sasuke on his left; arranged primarily because the two boys could take more damage than Sakura could at the moment or at least hold their own for a little longer.
They reached the beach, none of them leaving prints in the sand as they ducked into the forests, Kakashi finally signaling a stop and indicating with a short gesture that Sasuke was to stand watch while the other two crouched down with him and he murmured, "Now, thoughts on the kawarimi question? Naruto?"
The blonde perked up and said softly, "Jounin have more chakra than the others I've done this with, and clones have less chakra than me, so it might be that a kawarimi won't work. But sensei – what if we found them with the twelve clones, but then all of them dispelled and I made two more, one to stay with us, one to find them again and when there was an opportune moment, the clone with them dispelled and the clone with us tried it? If it hurts Zabuza-san, just as well – and I wouldn't be damaged myself, even though the memories will probably suck. And if it works – awesome, right?"
Kakashi wished he could do more than smile at the boy and say, "Well thought. That should work to fix the flaw."
Judging by the glow in the boy's eyes and Sakura's murmured, "Nice one, Naruto!" that gesture was more than enough.
Good, because this was the kind of critical thinking and planning he wanted all of them to develop at least the basics of. He quickly made four clones and Naruto furrowed his brow before quietly murmuring the jutsu's name and making twelve. He was much better at controlling numbers – at the start of their C-ranks he hadn't been able to make less than five with any precision. Now, the two clone plan was actually feasible.
Kakashi rose to his feet and gestured for them to fall in again, continuing at an easy pace even as the clones disappeared in all directions. The smuggler had at least been familiar with Tazuna and the bridge and had brought them to the right island, so there was that worry taken care of.
Of course, it was the biggest island of all of them, but that was just typical.
They hadn't gone much longer when Naruto stopped, hissing, "Shit!" even as he created two clones, one taking off to their northwest.
"Engaged with Zabuza?" Kakashi asked shortly, none of his clones had been with the one that had found them, all four dispelling when the Narutos started killing themselves. Naruto nodded and Kakashi eyed the clone, saying, "Move, kids."
They darted back just as the clone's eyes snapped open, fingers flying as he said, "Kawarimi no jutsu!"
More smoke than usual but the figure that was left was definitely not a distended or destroyed Naruto clone.
"What the – gurgle," Zabuza collapsed, throat cut and Kakashi covered his Sharingan, watching dispassionately as the now dead man crumpled to the floor, massive sword thudding into the ground.
"Naruto?"
"Fine sensei!" Naruto chirped from his perch in a tree, "One clone's staying with them to make sure things are okay – "
"Sensei!" Sakura screamed, Kakashi jolting at the note of terror in her voice and bolting for it, Naruto hard on his heels.
Sharingan blazing, he flew into the fight, a kick launching the hunter-nin away from Sasuke, a senbon riddled arm laying slack on the ground but the Uchiha had left his own marks on the Kiri-nin, Sakura darting in with her medical kit unsealed and ready while Naruto crouched over them, a feral snarl on his face.
Hunter-nin attacking Sasuke, he mused, blocking senbon with the kunai stained with Zabuza's blood and weaving through those he couldn't quite get – kunai on the ground suddenly flung at the hunter-nin, well done Sasuke, good use of chakra strings – opening in the next four seconds three two o – what the fuck was that?!
Flare of chakra behind – the genin!
"No!" Naruto shouted, Kakashi already reversed and sprinting for them, hunter-nin springing out of a block of ice ready to strike a killing blow Naruto was bleeding red not my baby genin you fucking chirp faker chirp done!
"Oh that's gross," Sakura said, Kakashi keeping his eyes locked on the hunter-nin he'd speared through the chest with his arm, barely hearing the faint, "Zabuza-sama," that served as the boy's last words.
Shoving the now dead-weight off his arm, he turned to his genin, "Status?"
All three of them were splattered in the dead fake's blood, Sakura offering him a scowl before saying, "I think Sasuke's been hit in paralysis points. I've removed a couple of them, they're not poisoned. I'm uninjured."
"Uninjured," Naruto growled, Kakashi casting him a sharp look and swearing mentally – that hadn't been the red of blood, not entirely. Shit.
"Naruto," he said, putting some chakra into his voice in a calming technique he'd stolen from medics. "Your teammates are safe. You have completed the mission. You protected your team. Your teammates are safe."
Naruto took a few shuddering breaths and the ruddy red chakra his Sharingan could just see faded, darkened whisker marks lightening to their usual traces and eyes losing the slitted quality that was damned unnerving. "Sorry sensei," Naruto shivered, "I – uh – was just angry and – um. Yeah."
"We'll talk later, you did well, Naruto," he reassured him, turning his attention to Sasuke and asking, "You, Sasuke?"
"Just my arm," Sasuke grumbled, "Sorry sensei."
"No need to apologize, you did very well," Kakashi caught a red glint in his student's eyes and he chuckled ruefully, "Very well indeed."
Tossing a kunai – at a speed Sakura could intercept easily if he was wrong – he was pleased to see Sasuke's eyes flare into the Sharingan and the kunai get caught in moments. Sakura cut off her demand of what the hell that had been with a gasp, "Sasuke! Your eyes!"
"You got them teme!" Naruto whooped, "Magic eyes of doom!"
Sasuke's shocked pride subsided at that and he glowered, "The sharingan is an honored dojutsu, not magic eyes of doom, dobe."
"Maa, I don't know Sasuke-kun," Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully after he slid his hita-ate back down, "I rather like magic eyes of doom."
"Well, for you it'd be magic eye of doom, sensei," Sakura giggled at Sasuke's glowering pout – there really were no other words for it. "There's the last senbon gone! From what I read, you should regain mobility in a few hours. Let me know if it starts hurting really bad, and I'll check mobility in a bit. Now what, sensei?"
"Now we go find Team Ten, after sealing up the corpses," Kakashi said, pulling out one of his black and red trimmed scrolls – black and red for enemies, black and gold for allies – and sealing up the hunter-nin. "We'll go over the bodies once Team Ten is secured and their mission complete. Help Sasuke gather up his weapons and meet me at Zabuza's corpse."
"Yes sensei!" They chorused, rising to their feet and getting started.
None of them seemed too bothered by the blood scattered on them. He'd remind them of it and have them wash up after they met with Team Ten and that Tazuna who'd gotten them into this mess. Seeing children covered in blood might just drive home the kind of error he'd made in lying to shinobi.
And emphasized their deadliness and teamwork to Team Ten, both genin and jounin-sensei. The team that killed together stayed together, after all.
"And Naruto? Make sure you have Sakura's scar story ready to go!"
"Hai sensei!"
A/N: More cute moments, some badassness, and they got to Wave!
...Please don't kill me! (ducks for cover)
On another note, are the italicized words spaced weirdly and parenthesis odd? On the editing window, they're weird, but when I preview they look fine... just want to confirm it's not all nasty looking. Thanks!