Sasuke Uchiha, right? I should warn you—he's coming for you.
Uchihas were recognizable mostly by their Sharingans. Sure, most of them had handsome features, dark hair and eyes, and a lithe build, but so did many other ninjas. In Konoha, maybe people would recognize an Uchiha because they'd seen the family around, but in other places people wouldn't know with one glance if someone was an Uchiha or not. Unless they were using the Sharingan. Which Sasuke most definitely hadn't been.
Sasuke Uchiha, right?
Even though it had been a question, there had been no doubt in the stranger's oddly exuberant voice. It was clear from the moment he'd stood in front of Sasuke to stop Sasuke from stabbing himself that the stranger recognized his features. There had been a flash of recognition that the stranger hadn't even bothered to hide, and his mouth had twisted into a triumphant smile.
I should warn you—
As if somehow the stranger owed him some sort of debt, knew something involving Sasuke that no one else knew. The easy familiarity he'd used suggested they'd been friends for years, but Sasuke had never heard the name 'Kaze Naminato' or seen someone with features even remotely close to the ones he'd seen today.
—he's coming for you.
The inflection didn't really make sense; who else would he be coming for? By this point, Sasuke had already decided the stranger was talking about Itachi, because all the clues were pointing to a connection with Itachi. Itachi was the only surviving Uchiha and the one Sasuke looked like, so that could be the only way Kaze had recognized him. Still… why would Itachi come now, after all these years? It didn't make sense—it wasn't like Sasuke knew anything more than he had four years ago. He grabbed one hand to keep it from shaking, wondering if this had anything to do with Naruto Uzumaki.
"Sasuke? Are you okay?" Sakura asked, her concern piercing his cloudy thoughts for a second. He shared a look with her, one which she clearly interpreted as 'not okay,' but he couldn't bring himself to lie when he was this shaken.
"I've been meaning to ask—what exactly did that Kaze person say to you?" Sai asked, his smile replaced by a fake look of worry. Sasuke gritted his teeth, but said nothing. He needed to focus on their mission now, and he'd have to decide his course of action later. Everyone on Team 7 had been silent as they'd continued escorting Tazuna, but after Kakashi finally got himself back together from what Kaze had said, he'd stopped them and asked Tazuna to tell the truth. The truth was, this mission wasn't a C-rank after all. It was a B-rank, maybe even an A-rank. This was Sasuke's chance to finally prove himself, prove that he was strong enough to take on Itachi.
But his confidence was shot. It had been years since he'd felt such a strong aura of malice, and it seemed he'd forgotten just how terrifying it could be. Kaze looked only slightly older than him, which made him younger than Itachi. If he knew Itachi, did that mean Sasuke's brother was at that level or higher? Sasuke couldn't imagine defeating someone on that level the way he was now. It was impossible; he needed to get stronger, way stronger.
"Well, if you won't answer, at least Kakashi will, right? Sensei, was what it he said to you? I mean, when he said something and you looked like a terrified rabbit about to be eaten by a wolf."
Sakura's fist was in Sai's face before he could finish saying 'wolf,' and Sai looked shocked as he stumbled back and fell. He frowned up at Sakura, whose face a mask of rage.
"Making fun of people for being scared when you yourself were shaking," Sakura growled. "You're a real piece of work."
"It's fine, Sakura," Kakashi sighed. "It just hit an old nerve I thought I'd gotten rid of a long time ago. It was strange hearing it from someone so young, but I should've been prepared."
No one spoke into the silence after that, and Sasuke decided not to point out that Kakashi still hadn't answered Sai's question. It seemed Team 7 had a lot of secrets between them. He doubted they'd ever be able to work efficiently together if things stayed like this.
"White rabbit?" Sai suddenly said, and everyone paused to watch a white rabbit hop across their path. Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and then he grabbed the band over his eye.
"Lord Hokage, you called?" Yugao, head of the Anbu Black Ops, asked. She was young, but incredibly strong, and Sarutobi could still remember when he'd chosen her. She'd accepted it without happiness or anger; only a cool, efficient indifference. People had whispered behind her back that she was like a machine, but Sarutobi had seen the potential for so much more. Now, she had more than grown into the potential Sarutobi had seen, thanks to her lover, Hayate. Although the personalities were different, Sarutobi couldn't help but think of Minato and Kushina. Like the Fourth and his wife, Hayate and Yugao brought out the best in each other.
"How's Hayate holding up? Is he able to do his duties as a Chuunin Exam instructor?" Sarutobi asked for preamble. He'd been chastised by Danzo and the Council for being too soft on the Anbu, who thought the elite ninjas should be treated like tools, but he couldn't help having a soft spot for them. He'd watched them all grow and handpicked them to become Anbu members, so he knew each one of them on a personal level.
Yugao's usually blank eyes softened and she smiled in appreciation at Sarutobi's concern.
"He's doing fine; he's happy you're letting him help. He may seem soft, but he's almost as stubborn as I am, and I doubt he would've been satisfied just resting. He's bound and determined not to let this sickness get the best of him or prevent him from doing his duties for Konoha."
Ah, there are so many fine shinobi in the Leaf, Sarutobi thought happily as he chuckled. He wished he didn't have to be the bearer of bad news.
"I'm glad. He's a good man, and I'm sure the two of you have a bright future ahead of you."
After chatting amicably for a few more minutes, Sarutobi got around to the point of why he'd called Yugao in. Her smile faded as she listened, and her body tensed up. He could see the desire to protest in every rigid muscle, but he knew she was one of the only ones who wouldn't. She was loyal to a fault, and she could see the wisdom in Sarutobi's plan, even if she didn't want to have to carry it out.
"Do you understand?" Sarutobi asked when he'd finished telling her the details. She pressed her lips together, a finger tracing the Anbu mask she always kept at her waist when it wasn't on her face. She definitely wasn't happy.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," she ground out stiffly, and for a second Sarutobi could see the young girl she'd once been; headstrong and arguing with every little thing. He smiled and moved around the desk to stand beside her, laying a warm hand on her arm. She wasn't angry with him for asking, but she was immensely sad.
"I asked you because I know you'll put the Leaf ahead of even me," Sarutobi told her gently. "But I don't want you to feel guilty because you could've done something. You've done everything you could, so hold your head high like the splendid shinobi you are. The will of fire runs strong through you and Hayate. I entrust the future to you."
Yugao reached up and quickly swiped at her eyes. Anbu Black Ops were dedicated to the village and the village alone; they weren't supposed to have an attachment to any one Hokage. Yugao's situation as the head of the Anbu didn't change that—in fact, in her situation that rule should've been stronger for her than anyone. Yet the kind heart nobody believed she had showed in moments like this, and Sarutobi was once again proud he'd made the right choice.
"I won't let you down," Yugao vowed, and now that he'd spoken to her and Kakashi, Sarutobi's plans were complete.
The fight with Zabuza was terrifying, tense, and strangely exhilarating. For the first time, the genin of Team 7 saw what their sensei was capable of, and it was beyond what they'd expected. In the end, Kakashi still ended up trapped, but Sakura was beyond proud at everyone's reactions. When Sakura and Tazuna refused to run, Sasuke also vowed to stand his ground and Sai nodded in agreement.
Even if they died, none of them would go down without a fight. Sai pulled two scrolls from his pouch and held them out, distracting Zabuza's attention long enough for Sasuke to make a move. He was so quick Sakura barely saw him, and even after he'd moved it took a second for Sakura to realize what he'd done. There was a soft clank in the air as two kunai hit each other above Zabuza's head and each kunai was directed towards one of the Zabuzas near them. Both clone and the real one dodged, but by that time Sai had already summoned four large ink beasts. They all lunged towards the clone at the exact same time he attempted to dodge the kunai, and boxed in as he was, he ended up struck. As the clone disappeared in a splash of water, Sakura allowed herself a small moment of giddy happiness.
"I'm impressed you managed to take out my clone, but don't think the real me will be that easy," Zabuza laughed. Sasuke and Sai exchanged a wordless glance, then moved away from each other so they could attack separately.
"If your clone was any reflection of your own power, I don't think we have too much to worry about, do we?" Sai asked with a smile that was purposefully fake-looking. Zabuza glowered dangerously, but with one of his hands occupied he couldn't do jutsus as fast. As one, Sai and Sasuke leapt towards Zabuza with handfuls of shuriken. Zabuza rolled his eyes, snagging one of them from the air and using it to block the others.
Sakura could see what Sai and Sasuke were planning—even though Zabuza had managed to stop all the shurikens, he'd be distracted, so if they both attacked there was no way for him to stop them one-handed. It would've been a good plan against a normal enemy, but Zabuza had power beyond that of a normal enemy. Sakura could see in the slight shift of his stance that his eyes had been tracking her teammates the whole time, and he was planning something to damage them both before they could hit him. Only, Sai and Sasuke had already leapt for Zabuza and couldn't change their course now.
"Tazuna," Sakura said quietly, casting a quick glance over her shoulder at the surly bridge builder. "If we can't save Kakashi, we'll all die here anyway. Do you mind if I help my teammates?"
"Do what you have to," Tazuna said, giving her a solemn nod. She whipped her head away from him and ran towards the battle as quickly and stealthily as she could, pulling some wire from her ninja tool pouch as she did. Zabuza spun to kick Sai with one foot, his hand darting for Sasuke's throat. The two genin just managed to get out of the way, but the flow of the battle had been completely interrupted into Zabuza's favour.
Until the two kunai Sakura had thrown when Zabuza was distracted made the Hidden Mist shinobi have to dodge, leaving him open to an attack from Sai, who was at his back. Sai used three more ink beasts and Sasuke jumped again, but Zabuza had managed to snag a second shuriken. He moved to throw them both at Sasuke, which would take care of the young Uchiha so he could go after Sai's ink beasts.
"No!" Kakashi yelled, clearly horrified at what was about to take place, but Sakura wasn't done yet. She pulled her hands back and a cut appeared on Zabuza's face. His mouth opened to say something, but he was cut off as the two kunai Sakura had thrown came back towards him, pulled by the wire Sakura had attached them to before she'd thrown them. Zabuza had only three choices; let the kunai hit him, dodge into either Sasuke or Sai's attack one handed, or let go of Kakashi and jump up. He chose the third with a curse, releasing Kakashi from the water prison as he leapt up to dodge the three separate attacks coordinated at him.
Sasuke fell into the water right where Zabuza had been a second before, his eyes sparkling ferociously. Sai gave one of his rare real smiles, and Sakura allowed herself another moment of pride before running back to stand in front of Tazuna.
"I'm impressed," Tazuna said as the fight between Kakashi and Zabuza picked up where it had left off, only this time with Kakashi taking the leading rhythm.
"We're more than just children," Sakura said, never taking her eyes off the battle in front of her in case she was called on to help again. "We're shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Don't underestimate us."
The battle culminated rather disappointingly in Sasuke's opinion, but it was probably for the best that one of the Hidden Mist's own villagers took the monster Zabuza down. Either way, Zabuza had been cornered in the end by Kakashi's clever use of the Sharingan. Sasuke still wondered about that—there was only one way to get a Sharingan if you weren't an Uchiha. He wondered if it had anything to do with the person Kaze had mentioned. Rin. Before the fight, he'd wanted to ask Kakashi about it, after seeing Kakashi's Sharingan when Kakashi had looked at Kaze. Now, inexplicably, his desire to question his teacher had diminished. Somehow, Sasuke felt like he'd come to trust his team more after the last battle.
It was a relief to finally reach the Land of the Waves, after so many days of tense travels and battling. They'd all collapsed into bed after helping Kakashi into his own room, and the next day Kakashi had explained his suspicions that Zabuza might still be alive. Refreshed from their stay, Sasuke, Sai, and Sakura were now standing in front of Kakashi, who had decided to teach them chakra control in case Zabuza came back.
"Like this?" Sai asked, and Sasuke was beyond annoyed to watch his fellow genin stride up to a tree and walk up it with ease. Sai was shockingly good at it, as if he'd had training before. At least him and Sakura were in the same boat, Sasuke thought to himself. She'd proven to be useful in battle, but there was no way she'd get the hang of this so—
"Come on, Kakashi, teach us something harder," Sakura said, already dangling her feet over a branch. Sasuke could feel his eye twitching as his teammates turned to him as if expecting it to be as easy for him as it was for them. Well, why shouldn't it be? He approached the largest tree and built up the chakra in his feet the way Kakashi had taught them. Then he tried to casually stride up the tree the way Sai had. It didn't work out so well.
"That was the most pathetic attempt at chakra control I've ever seen," Sai said with a grin, and Sakura covered her mouth as if holding in a laugh. Sasuke picked himself up from the ground, brushing himself off, his face hot.
"I'll let you figure this one out on your own," Kakashi said with a smile, and Sai flipped out of the tree to land gracefully beside their sensei.
"Well, I don't believe I need anymore training in chakra control. I think I'll take a look around the village," Sai said, and left with Kakashi. Sakura stayed a bit longer as if to take the sting out of Sasuke being the only one who couldn't get it, but after a while it was just annoying to watch her control her chakra with such ease. Sasuke wanted to ask her advice, but his pride didn't let him, even after she offered it. Eventually, he got so angry he told her to go away, and she offered him an apologetic shrug before leaving.
For the rest of the day, Sasuke pushed himself the way he always did. Although the technique itself didn't use much chakra, constantly using it over time drained enough chakra for Sasuke to notice. He could get halfway up the tree by the end of the day, but it was still nothing compared to the ease with which Sai and Sakura had mastered the technique. He bent over double, drawing in deep breaths as sweat dripped from the tip of his nose. He'd train all night if he had to. He would allow himself one break now to cool off and wash the sweat away, but after that he'd stay out until the sun rose.
Coming out here earlier in the day, Team 7 had passed a small fresh water lake, so Sasuke decided that was where he'd break. He stumbled towards where he'd seen it, lightheaded from lack of chakra and dehydration. When he finally reached the lake, he collapsed beside it and dunked his entire head in to drink. It was cool and refreshing, clearing his mind long enough for him to realize he should've taken a breather a few hours ago and brought some water along.
"This sucks," he muttered to himself, splashing his face and scrubbing the sweat and grime from it. If anyone asked later, his distraction with the state he was in and his fatigue were the reasons he didn't immediately register another presence. After he'd cleaned his face long enough and was about to begin his arms, he finally looked up to see someone else at the lake. Someone who noticed him at almost the exact same instant.
Black eyes met blue just as the wind picked up, ruffling obsidian spikes at the same time it ruffled blonde ones. It made ripples across the smooth lake, which were disturbed only when they touched the thighs of the figure standing stark naked on the shore opposite Sasuke. The figure tilted his head to one side curiously, droplets of water falling from golden lashes and landing on his cheekbones, where they trailed down his cheeks past strange markings.
"Hey, you…" the figure said, as Sasuke gaped, taking in short, graceful curves of toned muscle. Whoever this guy was, he pushed his body even further than Sasuke did. He was all hard angles and sharp definitions, with the slightest hint of baby fat beginning to edge off his face. A face that was frowning at Sasuke with a thoughtful interest, watching Sasuke watch him. Sasuke felt heat rise into his cheeks as he realized he'd just been studying a completely naked stranger.
"Hey, you…" the figure said again, his frown deepening into a scowl. "Where are you looking?"
