Kitsune and Dragon
I don't own Naruto, but I do own Denko.
Chapter 6: A New Team
"State your name and purpose." A chuunin guard says as the group approached the gates of Konoha.
"C'mon Genma-san, you should know who we are. We are the team that burns brightly with the FIRE OF YOUTH!" Gai yells.
"And we have just gotten back from our mission, we have to see the Sandaime about something other than the mission report." Kurenai says as Kakashi turns a page of his little orange book with a small giggle.
"Open the gate!" Genma calls to the other guard.
"Let's give our report to the Hokage, get our pay, and go home." Kiba says with a yawn as Akamaru barks in agreement.
"Did you forget about me so easily gaki?" Zabuza asks right behind Kiba.
"Ano…ano, of course not! He he he." Kiba laughs nervously as his eyes strayed to the zanbatou.
A few minutes later the group of fifteen walked into the Hokage's office. Kakashi is still reading his little orange book and to the group's surprise, so was the Hokage.
"Oi, oibore! Put that crappy book away! We're back from our mission!" Naruto yells. Naruto may have grown up learning Hyuuga customs, but he was an Uzumaki, he just can't help himself at times.
"So how did the mission go?" Sarutobi asks as he slips the book into a drawer.
"The mission was successful, we have obtained some prisoners who are being led to their cells at the moment and Momochi Zabuza and Haku would like to speak with you privately." Kurenai answers and Kakashi is still reading Icha Icha Paradise.
"Alright, from what you have sent to me by bird, I believe that you should all be paid for a Class A mission and it will be recorded as such. Here is your payment." Sarutobi says and hands each of the Konoha shinobi an envelope with their pay inside. "Kakashi-san, Gai-san, Kurenai-san, please wait outside of the door while I speak with Zabuza and Haku. The rest of you may leave."
Each of the genin went straight to their respective homes with little more than a simple goodbye to each other as they part down different streets. Naruto and Hinata had their tails wrapped around as they leaned on each other, looking like they were sleep walking in a three legged race while Denko and Neji somewhat guided the younger genin home.
"Tadaima!" The four young teens say as they stumble through the entrance of the building that housed the main house members.
"Let's get you washed up before you fall asleep standing up." Hizashi says when he saw their tired state.
After they took their baths, which the elders disapproved of the heiress's habit of bathing with Naruto, the four genin stumbled into their rooms. Again the elders didn't approve of Naruto sleeping with Naruto. Hizashi and Neji had recently moved into the main house after Hiashi convinced the elders to allow his brother and nephew to live there because if the main house would be unable to lead the clan, they would be the closest people they would have to the main house.
"I see that you two wish to become Konoha shinobi." Sarutobi says.
"Yes, and I wish to adopt Haku as my daughter." Zabuza says putting a hand on a surprised Haku's shoulder.
"I see, well since you have defected from Kirigakure you should be punished in some way, Zabuza-san. I believe that some punishments you will find a little different than from where you come from, but here I try to get at least some use out of those who break laws. In your case, you will be teaching kenjutsu to the ANBU and anyone else who wishes to learn, you will help train the genin, and you will provide whatever information you may have about Kirigakure and Mizu-kuni. Is that acceptable?" the Sandaime says.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Zabuza says without a second thought.
"Haku, I'll try to find a genin team you, the chuunin exam is being held here shortly and Konohagakure would like to show its strength."
"Arigato Hokage-sama." Haku says, bowing.
"No needs to thank me yet, after the jounin give me their mission report I'll introduce you to the ANBU and the genin teams and arrange for an apartment for the two of you. Here are your Konoha hate ate. Please wait outside." The Sandaime says giving the new Konoha nin their head protectors who bowed and walked out and stood where Gai, Kakashi, and Kurenai were as said jounin walked into the office to give their report.
An hour later you could find the Hokage, Zabuza, Haku, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai with the ANBU having a meeting about Zabuza and his terms of agreement for joining Konoha. Normally Morino Ibiki and Mitarashi Anko would have been at the meeting as well, but they were having a little bit of 'fun' with Mizuki and the other prisoners. Their methods are quite reliable, they got whatever they wanted from those they questioned. For some of the laws that weren't severe enough to call for death, the punishment was normally a torture session with one of them. That in itself was usually enough to prevent people from committing crimes that warranted that punishment.
After the meeting with the ANBU, the Hokage led the Momochi family to their new apartment. It was situated in the same building as a few of the other jounin and chuunin. That group included Kakashi, Gai, and Ibiki. Anko who recently moved in with Iruka seemed to be rubbing off on him a little, he seemed a little happier, and Anko learned to calm down a little and work on her people skills for outside of work. The couple as people started say live right next to the apartment that Zabuza and Haku now share and decided to greet their new neighbors.
"So who are the new neighbors?" Anko asks sizing up Zabuza and Haku.
"These are Konoha's newest shinobi, Momochi Zabuza and his daughter Haku. Haku will be joining a genin team for the chuunin exams, I believe I know who to team her up with since the exams are taken in teams of three. Anko, Haku, come to my office at nine tomorrow morning." Sarutobi explains.
"Ah, that's nice. Welcome to Konoha." Anko says with a slightly creepy smile.
"I see having Iruka as a koibito has calmed you down a bit when you're not in the interrogation room, Anko."
"So what of it?"
"It's nice to see someone who trusts you so much since your genin days."
"Hai, it is really nice. Well Haku, if you want to talk to a girl, just knock." Anko says before going through her door.
"What did you mean that she calmed down, Hokage-sama?" Haku asks.
"That you will have to ask her yourself, it's a topic that she would rather forget all about. Well, I'll leave you here and here's some money for whatever you may need. Sayonara." Sarutobi says before poofing away.
"Let's see our new home, Haku." Zabuza says turning the key to open the door revealing a simple apartment with two small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen with a table. To the right is a small couch facing a television on the opposite side of the room.
"Simple, but better than what we're used to, ne?" Zabuza says looking at his adopted daughter.
"Hai, it's even better than the house I lived in with my parents."
Across the street was someone who shows a great interest in this new family, given the fact that this person was watching Zabuza and Haku very carefully with his Sharingan activated so he could see in better detail. The last Uchiha was staring at Haku mostly, only looking at the man when they interacted.
"Taken an interest in Haku have you?" someone says from behind causing him to spin around to find the Sandaime standing there.
"Wha- what do you mean? I just don't trust Zabuza." Sasuke says quickly with a slight blush on his face.
"I believe it's about time you actually started to show interest in someone. Your biggest rival from the academy is already far ahead of you in that department." The old man laughs.
"Why do you say that?"
"So you know that I'm talking about Naruto then. Hinata and he are engaged."
The dope is engaged?"
"Hai and they don't even know yet. Though I must say that you should make an attempt to get Haku soon before any other boys beat you to her if you like her so much."
"….." blush.
"Sayonara, I have work to get done. Maybe I should let Naruto spend a few days with me at the office to see if he really wants to be Hokage." The old man jokes as he leaps away from the silent, red faced genin. 'My matchmaking work is done here for now.'
"Ah good you are all here." The Hokage says to the four people in his office. Mitarashi Anko, Uzumaki Denko, Momochi Haku, and, Honoo Akane, an academy student that requested not to be put on a team so she could develop her skills.
"So what are we here for Hokage-sama?" Anko asks,
"You are going to take some time off from interrogation duties to be their jounin instructor. Denko, I'm taking you off of your team because the chuunin exams are taken in teams of three and this team needed a third member. Akane, your clan has told me that they think you are ready to join a team, I think you will like having another girl on your team and a familiar face as well." the Hokage explains and smiles at Akane's face turned nearly as red as the streaks in her blue-black hair.
"Why do I have to train these brats? Ain't there anyone else who can do this?" Anko yells.
"Actually there is, but I feel that you would be best suited for the job. Besides, you only have to train them until the chuunin exams, if none of them pass you are stuck with them until at least on of them passes in the next chuunin exam."
"Great, just great. I'm stuck playing babysitter. At least there are two girls." Anko grumbles.
"You think I can't handle myself against you, let alone a bunch of genin?" Denko asks Anko in a challenging tone.
"What makes you think you can beat a special jounin, gaki?" Anko asks putting her face right up to his.
"Keh, I can probably handle my own against all three of you." Denko challenges.
"Really? Tell me, do you think you can beat us just because we're girls?" Anko asks.
"No, I believe I can beat you because I'm a better shinobi." Denko smirks.
"No one questions my skills and gets away with it! We'll take your challenge, right girls?"
"Hai!" Haku and Akane chorus.
"I could use a break to stretch my legs a bit so I'll watch the fight." The Hokage says as he rises from his chair.
At training field twenty a crowd gathered consisting of all of the academy students and their sensei, the genin teams and their sensei, Hyuuga Hiashi, Hanabi, and Hizashi, Momochi Zabuza, Morino Ibiki, and Akane's parents as well as a few ANBU and jounin, and the Hokage who was going to be the judge.
"This ought to be fun." Denko smirks.
"SHOW THEM THE POWER OF YOUTH, DENKO!" Gai and Rock Lee yell causing everyone to edge away from them sweat dropping.
'I can't believe that they are my friends.' Denko, Neji, and Tenten think with a sigh.
"Let's get this fight over with I'm getting bored here!" Anko complains loudly.
"Alright settle down. This fight will be like the third part of the chuunin exam except this will be a three on one fight between Mitarashi Anko, Momochi Haku, and Honoo Akane versus Uzumaki Denko! Anything can be used but we would wish that you not kill each other. Hajime!" the Hokage says.
Haku started by throwing several senbon at Denko who simply dodged them putting little effort in the act. Anko followed up by throwing kunai and shuriken and rushing after them with a kunai in hand. Denko dodged the kunai and shuriken and grabbed the wrist that held the kunai and twisted her arm behind her back, forcing her to drop the kunai. He leaned back as Akane tried to hit him with a flaming fist only to be hit in the head by her knee that sent him a few meters away still holding Anko with her arm behind her back. Denko had to release her when snakes came out of her sleeve and attempted to ensnare him.
"What? Don't you like my Senei Jashuu?" Anko asks.
Before Denko could answer Haku used Sensatsu Suishou from the side followed by Mizu Bushin. Denko jumps away from the water needles only to find himself surrounded by the bushin.
"This gets better all the time." Denko smirks and drops flat to the ground as all four of the bushin throw senbon only to hit the one across from them, causing them to burst into puddles.
"Katon: Goukokyuu no Jutsu!" Akane yells as she blows a large fireball at the boy who jumps into the air to avoid the attack.
"Bad idea, up there you can't dodge attacks." Anko says as she throws several shuriken.
"That's what you think." Denko smirks as wings burst from his back and propel him away from the shuriken before shrinking them into his back and dropping to the ground to find his landing spot covered with smooth ice. "That's not gonna work on me!"
"Oh yea?" all three women ask as they charge the falling boy from different directions. Denko pulls his right fist back as blue electricity sparks from the fist.
'Is he using Chidori? It can't be.' Kakashi thinks as he lifts his hate ate and exposing his Sharingan. Sasuke had his Sharingan activated during the whole fight so far and was surprised at the first offensive move the boy was using during the whole fight.
"Raiko Kobushi!" Denko yells as he punches the ice releasing the lightning he gathered in his fist in a blast that not only destroyed the ice sheet and creating a two by one meter crater, but threw the kunoichi back a few meters. Stepping out of the crater Denko swiftly delivered a punch to each of them in the solar plexus, effectively forcing the air out of their lungs.
"I declare Uzumaki Denko the winner! Good show all of you!" the Hokage says followed shortly by cheering. Iruka ran up to Anko asking if she was hurt as Zabuza helped Haku to stand as Denko helped a bruised and blushing Akane to her feet putting a hand behind her back to keep her upright.
"Good job Akane. That fireball was a lot bigger than most I've seen before. I think you got Sasuke-chan jealous 'cause you can use Katon jutsu better than he can." Denko says as he leads the girl to her parents who were talking to the Hyuuga's.
"So what are ya guys talkin' about?" Denko asks as the pair reached the families.
"Oh not too much, just telling how much Akane likes you to Hiashi-san." Akane's mother says as if she was talking about the weather.
"Oka-san! You promised that I would tell him that I love him!" Akane yells with her red as a tomato.
"I did let you tell him honey and you told the whole world while you were at it." her mother says with a mischievous smirk.
"You love me?" Denko asks with a small blush. Akane answered with a nod.
"I can't believe you didn't notice how much she liked you when we were at the academy. Even Iruka-sensei knew." Neji taunts as he joins the group with Tenten at his side shortly followed by Naruto and Hinata.
"Oi Niisan! When did you come up with that last move? It was great!" Naruto says displaying his excitement with his tails which are shaking with excitement.
"Eh not too long ago, why don't you and Hinata-chan go make your own version." Denko says. Akane's parents noticed that he still hadn't taken his hand from their daughter now that she was standing on her own, but had dropped his arm around her waist. They enjoyed watching Akane create new shades of red as she noticed where his hand was as well.
"How the hell could he beat me like that? Iruka-kun, you taught him at the academy right?" Anko complains.
"He does that a lot. He told me once that he started to get his opponents angry and overconfident to win fights against some of the Hyuuga elders actually. He wasn't one of the top students of the year for nothing." Iruka explains, torn between feeling sorry for the woman he lives with and laughing at her humiliation. He decided to do both at once.
No one seemed to notice Denko and Akane slip away together as they went Ichiraku Ramen for a snack. Naruto and Hinata joined them after a few minutes and started telling Ichiraku and Ayame how the fight went. Back at the training field Sarutobi caught Sasuke staring at Haku and gave him a nudge.
"Come with me." Sasuke says to Haku.
"Why should I?" Haku asks as she replayed the fight in her mind.
"I- I want to take you to get something to eat."
"You obviously don't do this much, do you?" Haku asks as they walk away from the crowd.
"….."
"I noticed that you're pretty quiet. Why's that? You have plenty of people who want to get to know you. There's a lot of girls that would love to go out with you, why me?"
"You're not like the others. You know what it's like to lose your family. You're strong and skilled kunoichi."
"You don't have a family?"
"My brother killed my whole clan except me five years ago and to test the power of the final level of the Sharingan. To achieve that one must kill their best friend. He used its power to make me see my parents' deaths at his hands over and over again for what felt like three days, in reality it was mere seconds." Sasuke was surprised at himself; he had never told anyone what happened except the Sandaime the day after the incident.
"Where I come from the villagers hate those with Kekkai Genkai because they believe they are the cause of wars. My mother's bloodline ability is very rare; controlling water and ice. Somehow my father found out about my mothers secret and killed her, then he went after me and I killed him with its power. A few weeks later, Zabuza-san found me and took me as his apprentice because he was interested in my bloodlines ability." Haku says quietly, the only people she had told that to were Zabuza of course and the Hokage.
"Hn, it's getting dark. You should get home before you Zabuza-san starts looking for you." Sasuke says after they had simply walked around for hours, skipping the lunch that he had offered and the sun was starting to set.
"We never did get anything to eat, did we?" Haku smirks as their stomachs growled loudly.
"Maybe tomorrow?"
"Sure. Thanks for everything, except for the hunger I feel a lot better now."
"Me too."
"Oyasumi nasai!" Haku says before pecking him on the cheek and running home.
"O- oyasumi nasai." Sasuke manages watching her disappear before walking home for something to eat.
To be continued….
AN: A little bit of fluff, humor, and action all in this one chapter. Didn't focus on Naruto and Hinata this time but they'll be back stronger than ever for the next chapter when the chuunin exams start. The pairings are pretty obvious and you can look forward to women getting jealous and fighting. I can't wait to see what I come up with for that, but now that I'm thinking about it I'm getting ideas. Probably something about Haku and Sakura fighting over Sasuke during the chuunin exam and telling everyone. If anyone has any ideas please send them to me in a review and I might put your idea in somewhere.
The next chapter will be really fun, most likely longer than this one and this is the most I've ever typed for anything. Nine pages is definitely a lot for someone who normally struggles to fill a single page with double spacing for reports for school. Anyway if you're disappointed with the lack of descriptions of the original and usual characters and the fight scenes I'm sorry. I'm not a very descriptive guy most of the time but I will give better detail during the next chapter. Until then……
Ja ne!
Lightning Bob