Frozen Heart

Another chapter down. I think I'm starting to like writing this story. Let me know what you think.

Naruto is slightly grey in this story and it has elements of Killer Instincts.

I don't own Naruto or Killer Instinct

Enjoy

Chapter 7

"This is how we're getting into Nami no Kuni?" Sakura asked, looking between the owner of the small boat and the bridge builder.

"This is the only way to get in." Tazuna explained. "Well, until the bridge is complete." He continued. Sakura was appeased with the brief explanation and boarded the small vessel. It was slightly cramped, but nothing Team 7 couldn't handle. Naruto was the last to hop aboard, he didn't hate it, but he didn't like it either.

The engine of the small vessel started.

"Why such a small boat?" Sasuke asked, looking bored. He wasn't fazed with the ride, but wanted to train as soon as he could.

"It'll be easier to get in unseen." Tazuna explained, sweating slightly from the brow.

"So is this guy really that scary?" Sasuke asked, looking back at Tazuna. Tazuna only looked at Sasuke with a stunned look. He didn't quite know how to respond.

"Wh-what do you mean?" He asked, feigning ignorance.

"It's obvious isn't it?" Naruto picked up the questioning. Kakashi was slightly impressed. The Genin had chosen the perfect time to confront Tazuna. There was nothing but the vast sea in front, behind and on either side of them. Tazuna, more or less, had no choice but to answer the questions. Something he felt terrified to do.

"W-well it's… its' complicated." Tazuna responded to Naruto and Sasuke's enquiry.

"Yeah, this Gato guy must have some power?" Sakura joined in. She was looking out at the seas, a small smirk on her face.

"So you knew?" Tazuna asked, causing Sakura to look at him. She still had the smirk on her face, something which looked so unnatural on a young girls face.

"It wasn't that hard to figure out." Sasuke lied. Tazuna looked at Sasuke then at Naruto. Both were sitting in front of him.

Sakura was seated beside Tazuna while Kakashi was seated at the front, concentrating on reading his book. The owner and driver of the boat was at the back, not wanting to get into the conversation.

"Well I suppose there is no point in putting it off." Tazuna stated, looking down at his hands. "Nami no Kuni was once a great country. We had everything we needed. Then this tycoon, Gato…" Here Tazuna looked up, searching for Sasuke, as if to answer him. "He had money, he had power. He took control of the shipping and transport industry. It became much more difficult to live in Nami no Kuni after that." Tazuna looked down once more, feeling his emotions getting the better of him.

"We had a hero who fought back, he died soon after his voice was raised." Tazuna continued, voice heavy with grief. "Now we struggle to survive, that's why we need to complete this bridge. It'll lead us to the shores of our neighbouring country, no need to worry about the ships." Tazuna stated once more, looking at the monolithic structure in front of them.

Sakura gasped at how large the bridge was. It had been unnoticeable because they were travelling in a dense fog, but after the fog cleared, Team 7 got a clear view of the bridge. Naruto looked at the bridge with awe in his eyes. He hadn't seen a bridge this large in his life. Sasuke had the same feeling as his teammates. Kakashi smirked, looking at his teams' reaction, this won't be the last time he sees the surprise on his teams faces.

The engine of the boat stopped at that point, causing the three Genin to look at its owner. "Don't want to give away our position. Gato has men patrolling these water." He stated, answering their unasked question.

With that, Naruto stood up, causing Tazuna to gaze at him with a questioning look. Sasuke did the same. At the same time, they stepped off the boat. Tazuna was going say something, but stood shocked as he saw the two Genin standing on the water. With that, the two Genin got behind the boat, and started pushing it, at a light run, towards the shore of Nami no Kuni.

Sakura smirked with what her teammates were doing. She had looked at Naruto and then at Sasuke, eyes lingering longer on the latter than the former. Kakashi too smirked. At first he was surprised, but then found it amusing. He knew that they were training in secret, but didn't know the extent of their power.


Team 7 and Tazuna thanked their ferrymen for the ride across the sea. Sasuke and Naruto didn't feel winded at all from their light workout.

"Not far to go now." Tazuna stated, taking up his pack and walking in the direction of his home.

They had been walking for roughly an hour. Naruto felt the presence first, then Sasuke and Sakura. Kakashi had felt the presence, but still wanted to see how strong his team actually were.

A kunai flew from Naruto's hand and went straight for the bushes. Sasuke flew forward intending to get involved, but found that it was a small white rabbit. Sakura laughed at first but then felt the need to duck. At once, Team 7 hit the deck. Kakashi was fast enough that he dragged the bridge builder down with him.

The sword had just missed the team and embedded itself in a tree.

"Hahaha, Well you weren't an ANBU captain for nothing." Spoke the large man atop the sword.

"Zabuza." Sakura whispered, more to herself than anyone else. Kakashi caught what she said, but focussed on the enemy in front of him.

"Momochi Zabuza. One of the fabled Seven Swordsman of the Mist." Kakashi responded coolly.

"Copy-cat Kakashi. Oh and who are the brats?" Zabuza asked, looking from Kakashi to Team 7.

"I got this one." Kakashi exclaimed, raising his headband.

"Hmph. So it's true." Sasuke exclaimed. Looking sideways at Kakashi's eye.

"Ah. Get to see the Sharingan straight off the bat." Zabuza exclaimed, before grabbing his massive sword and disappearing from sight. Team 7 followed his movements and saw him reappear on top of the lake.

"We need to talk about your skill level when we get to Tazuna's house." Kakashi stated eyeing his opponent. Zabuza had one hand in the air whilst the other was in front of his face. Water was bubbling from his feet and Team 7 could sense his chakra building up.

"Hidden Mist Jutsu." Sakura stated once more. This drew the attention of Zabuza. He looked at Sakura and then at Naruto. Lastly he looked at Sasuke, seeing nothing but dark red eyes, before the mist distorted his being from his enemies.

"You think you'll be leaving this place alive." Zabuza stated, enforcing his words and the mist with Killing Intent.

Sakura shivered slightly from the Killer Intent. She had never felt anything like this before and it made her scared. Zabuza felt this and wanted to exploit her fear. "There are eight vital points." His voice came from everywhere at once. "Kidney, heart, throat, spinal column, lungs, liver, jugular vein, subclavian vein." Zabuza finished, causing goose bumps to rise on Sakura's skin.

"Don't worry." Kakashi said looking at Sakura. "I won't let anything happen to my comrades." He continued, smiling his infamous eye smile. This caused Sakura's nerves to dissipate.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Zabuza responded, appearing in the middle of the bridge builder and Team 7. Before he could swing his massive sword, however, he broke into a puddle. Kakashi standing in front of where Zabuza once stood, kunai in hand. Another Zabuza appeared and swung his sword at Kakashi, cutting him in half and causing him to disappear in a puddle as well.

Kakashi reappeared behind Zabuza. Just as he was about to open his mouth, the Zabuza in front of him turned into ice, causing Kakashi to jump back. At that moment, another Zabuza appeared in front of Tazuna. He was about to swing his sword at the bridge builder once more, but blocked a kunai flying towards him at the last instance.

Zabuza looked at Sasuke, smirking slightly behind his bandage-like mask. "Seems there's more to your brats than I first thought." Zabuza exclaimed, resting his large sword on his shoulder.

In a blink of an eye, Zabuza was gone. He appeared in front of Naruto and sent him flying with a kick. Zabuza disappeared once more and appeared in front of Sasuke, about to give him the same treatment. At that moment, though, he had to dodge a kick coming directly at his face. Zabuza dodged and smirked once more. Now he was facing Naruto and Sasuke.

"It seems I need to step up my game." Zabuza said. Kakashi was sitting back observing. He saw that Zabuza was stronger than Naruto and Sasuke, and felt it was time to step in.

Zabuza disappeared once more, and reappeared in front of the two Genin. He was about to swing his sword, but felt a kick straight to his chest. The kick was from Kakashi, and it sent Zabuza flying towards the lake. "I'll take it from here." Kakashi exclaimed, disappearing and reappearing on the lake.

Zabuza didn't like this, and started going through hand-signs at a phenomenal speed. He was surprised to see Kakashi going through the same signals at the exact same moment.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Missile." Kakashi and Zabuza exclaimed at the same time. Naruto was surprised by the strength of the jutsu. He also felt like he could learn something from these two extraordinary shinobi.

Naruto could see from his position that Zabuza looked slightly surprised. He could see that he and Kakashi were talking, but didn't know what they were saying.

Zabuza and Kakashi started going through more handsigns. Zabuza froze halfway through but Kakashi finished with a shout. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu". Zabuza was sent flying from the jutsu and hit the trunk of a tree. Four kunai embedded itself into his legs and arms keeping him upright.

Naruto and Sasuke came closer to look at Zabuza. They both wanted to see what an A rank Ninja looked like. At that moment, though, a senbon hit Zabuza square in the neck, killing him instantly.

"Huh". Sasuke exclaimed, readying his kunai as he turned to look at the person who threw the senbon. Naruto was also in a ready stance, waiting for the nin in front of them to make the first move.

"Ah… Hunter nin from mist." Kakashi exclaimed, covering his sharingan eye. He was glad that Sasuke and Naruto were on high alert.

"Thank you for weakening Zabuza enough for me to kill him. Now I must dispose of the body." The hunter nin exclaimed, moving before anyone could respond.

Sasuke was about to say something, but Kakashi placed his hand on his shoulder, stopping him from speaking.

The hunter nin took the body of Zabuza and disappeared. "Who was that?" Sasuke asked, looking at Kakashi. Before Kakashi could answer, he fell forward, losing all strength in his legs.

"It seems like this has taken its toll on me." Kakashi exclaimed, indicating his Sharingan eye. "How far is it to your place?" Kakashi asked Tazuna, trying hard to remain conscious.

"Not that far." Tazuna responded, looking at Kakashi lying on the ground. "Follow me."

Naruto created two clones to pick Kakashi up. Tazuna took the lead, with Sasuke and Sakura walking beside him. The clones and Kakashi were following whilst Naruto brought up the rear.


Team 7 and Tazuna arrived at the house. Tazuna knocked on the door causing confusion on the Genin's face. They found it strange that someone would be knocking on their own door of their own home.

A young lady opened the door and gave Tazuna a hug. "This is my daughter Tsunami." Tazuna introduced the young brunette that answered the door. "This is the team from Konoha."

"Nice to meet you." Tsunami exclaimed, bowing to Team 7. She was slightly surprised when she found that there was a set of triplets. Two holding another person, and one standing at the back, looking around outside.

"Sorry to be a hassle, but we need to get our Sensei inside and on a bed as quickly as possible." Sakura stated, catching the attention of Tsunami.

"Most certainly, please come this way." At that the clones took Kakashi to the room that Tsunami designated. "Is there anything else I could do for you?" Tsunami asked.

"Not at the moment, thank you." Sakura responded. Tsunami closed the door and left the clones and Sakura in the room. As she departed, the clones disappeared in a haze of smoke.

Sasuke and Naruto hadn't entered the building and were doing the rounds. Unbeknownst to Tazuna and his family, Sasuke went hunting for food whilst Naruto got the lay of the land. He was also setting up some traps that may catch the enemy unaware.

Naruto entered the house as quietly as he could. He came upon Tazuna conversing with his daughter.

"…they look like kids. Surely you could have asked for a better team?" Tsunami asked.

"They look like kids, but they are shinobi. They may not look it, but they are strong." Tazuna responded.

Naruto made a noise, gaining the pairs attention. "I have set up a perimeter around the house. There are traps in places that shinobi would exploit, these should not inhibit your movements." Naruto explained

"But my son is down on the docks, would it hurt him?" Tsunami asked.

"No… I saw him there, and figured he was a part of this family. Beside Sasuke also went to the docks to get some fish. He should have some ready for dinner."

At this proclamation, Tsunami slightly gasped. These 'youngsters' were taking care of their own needs, whilst being considerate of their host.

"We need a schedule for what each of you will be doing and when. We may have to split our team up to ensure the safety of the three of you." Naruto continued, astonishing Tazuna, as this is the most he had heard Naruto speak.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Tsunami asked, concern clearly written on her face.

"It's simple… Gato wants Tazuna's head. He will stop at nothing to achieve this, including using you and your son." Naruto responded, keeping his voice as flat as possible. "Tazuna is our main responsibility, but you and your son is a secondary."

"Okay, okay." Tazuna stated, before taking a sip from his bottle. "I'll be going to the bridge tomorrow to continue working on its completion." Tazuna said, looking at Tsunami with a questioning look.

"I'll need to get some groceries from the store tomorrow, that's about it." Tsunami explained.

"What about your son?" Naruto asked.

"Well… He'll probably stick around here." Tsunami said, voice dropping slightly into a whisper.

"Thank you, now I'll have to wait for Sasuke to return before we designate ourselves to these tasks." Naruto explained, before disappearing up the stairs, into Kakashi's room.

A few minutes later, Sasuke joined them. At this point, the three Genin went through and explored each of their roles over the next few days.

Naruto knew this was going to be a long mission.