Vanex: Hello all! Did you all enjoy beating the crap out of Danzo? I hope you did. (Grins evilly.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Normal Talking"

"Normal Thinking/Dreams/Flashbacks"

"Demon Talking"

"Demon Thinking"

*Scene Change*

Chapter 1

Twelve years later...

Hiruzen watches Iruka lecture Naruto about the different ranked missions, due to Naruto's outburst about wanting a mission above a D-Rank. However, Hiruzen knows the lecture is pointless, considering Naruto takes after Kushina in personality. He frowns, thinking about Kushina's departure again. Even now, after twelve years, he can't figure out a reason to explain Kushina abandoning Naruto. He did confirm that she departed from the east gate, thanks to the gate guard on duty at the time. He just can't figure out why.

He looks at Team 7 again, but then looks behind them to see Team 8 enter the room. An idea pops into his head.

"Tell you what, I'll give you a C-Rank mission, but it'll be done in conjunction with Team 8."

Team 8 stops where they are upon hearing that. Kurenai steps forward and bows to the Hokage. "What is the mission, Lord Hokage?" Kakashi also pays attention.

"It'll be a simple escort and guard mission. You're client is Tazuna, a bridge builder from Nami no Kuni. You are to escort him back home, and guard him until the completion of the bridge he is currently building."

Kakashi and Kurenai both nod, understanding the mission.

One hour later...

The two teams, along with their client, are walking south towards Nami no Kuni. Sakura is talking with Tazuna, Sasuke is brooding, Kiba and Akamaru are enjoying being outside of Konoha, Shino is just walking, Hinata is blushing next to Naruto, who is also enjoying being out of Konoha, and Kakashi and Kurenai are bringing up the rear, keeping an eye out for any trouble.

Kurenai notices that Kakashi is also sending subtle glares at Naruto. She sighs, knowing that Kakashi harbors hatred towards Naruto, due to the Kyubi attack that result in the death of Kakashi's sensei. She brought up her concerns when the Hokage announced the teams and senseis.

*Scene Change*

"Team 7 will consist of Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki. Their sensei will be Kakashi Hatake."

Kurenai stepped forward. "Lord Hokage, I have an objection about that team."

"What is the problem, Kurenai?"

"I'm concerned with Naruto Uzumaki being in a team under Kakashi. Considering their interactions in the past, I fear for the safety of the boy."

"I agree," said Asuma Sarutobi. "Putting those two together could pose a risk to the boy."

"I understand your concerns, you two. But, I took all that into account when deciding the teams and senseis. Due to tradition, Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha must be on the same team, to balance the teams. Also, Sasuke is reaching the age where the chances of him unlocking the Sharingan will rise. Kakashi is the best person to train Sasuke in the use of his Sharingan, and he'll need that training down the road."

The two nod in understanding, even though they don't like it. Hiruzen went on with announcing the teams, until Kakashi showed up, late as usual.

"Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?"

"You're in charge of Team 7, consisting of Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki."

Kakashi's eyes darkened at the mention of Naruto. "I understand, Lord Hokage."

"Good. All of you are dismissed, except for Kurenai and Asuma."

All of the other Jonin left. Asuma looked at the Hokage. "What's wrong, father?"

"Like you two, I don't trust Kakashi with Naruto's safety. So, I'm going to give you two a special mission. It's an S-Rank mission. Keep an eye on Kakashi. If you see him attempting to harm Naruto in any way whatsoever, arrest him immediately. If he tries to resist arrest, you two are authorized to incapacitate him by any means necessary, including death."

Both of their eyes widened, before they nodded.

"Good. The ANBU will also be participating in this mission. You two are dismissed."

*Scene Change*

Kurenai looks at Kakashi again. 'I hope you don't do anything foolish, Kakashi.'

Naruto smiles at the fact that he is out of Konoha and away from the villagers. Even though they're on a mission, he allows himself to be a little more relaxed than he should as he talks to the shy girl next to him. The two have been friends since the Academy. She was one of the only people who would talk to him, though she always stuttered around him for the first few years, until he helped her overcome that. The only other people who really talked to him were Shikamaru and Choji, but neither are here, so he only has Hinata to talk to. "So, Hinata-chan, how are things on your team?"

"They're okay, Naruto-kun. Kurenai-sensei and Shino-san are okay. Kiba-san takes a little bit to get used to. What about your team?"

The smile drops off of Naruto's face. "Horrible. Sasuke is his usual arrogant self. Sakura does only two things: praise Sasuke and insult me. Kakashi is a horrible sensei. He hasn't taught us much of anything. Just teamwork exercises, even though it doesn't help us much with the fact my entire team hates me for no reason. Also, I think he's giving Sasuke special training, as he has Sasuke stay behind at the training field after every training session."

Hinata looks at him, shocked. "He hasn't taught you anything?"

"That's what I said."

While they are talking, they walk past a puddle on the ground. Naruto takes notice of it immediately, as does Hinata, Shino, Kurenai, and Kakashi.

After they walk past, two figures rise out of the puddle as it fades away. They both are wearing a strange gauntlet on one of their hands and the gauntlets are connected by a chain. They move fast, ensnaring both Kakashi and Kurenai in the chain. Pulling on the chain, it rips right through the two Jonin, tearing them to shreds. Sakura screams at the sight.

"Two down," says one of the two ninja.

The duo charge towards the others, but Naruto, Shino, and Hinata act quick, tricking the duo into snagging their chain on a tree, trapping them long enough for Sasuke and Kiba to knock the two out.

"Nice job, everyone."

They all turn to see Kakashi and Kurenai walk out from behind a tree, completely unharmed.

Sakura is shocked. "But, you two were killed!" She looks at their shredded corpses, only to see nothing but the shredded remains of two logs.

Kakashi looks at the two unconscious ninja. "The Demon Brothers. Two Chunin level missing ninja. Tazuna, you owe us an explanation."

Some time later...

Kakashi looks at the two teams. "This mission has been risen from a C-Rank to an A-Rank. We can either go back to Konoha, or continue on."

Kurenai looks at him. "We should return to Konoha. We are ill-equipped to handle an A-Rank mission."

"We'll be here if anything goes wrong."

Kurenai glares at him.

"Tell you what. I'll send a messenger hawk back to Konoha, asking for reinforcements."

Kurenai sighs. "Very well."

Kakashi sends the hawk and looks back at everyone. "Let's go. I want to reach Nami no Kuni as soon as possible."

Everyone nods as they continue walking.

Some time later...

The group has arrived at Nami no Kuni and are headed towards the town. Suddenly, Kakashi stops.

"Everybody, down!" he yells. Everyone drops down to the ground just as a giant sword flies over them, before lodging into a tree. They all look up to see a ninja standing on the handle of the sword. Kakashi glares at the ninja. "Zabuza Momochi, the Kirigakure no Kijin."

"You appear to be Kakashi of the Sharingan, and that woman appears to be Kurenai, the Genjutsu Mistress. Sorry, but the old man is mine."

As Kurenai steps next to Kakashi, Kakashi looks back at the two genin teams. "Surround and protect Tazuna. Do not enter this fight." He lifts up his headband, revealing his Sharingan eye. "Zabuza, fight us first."

"Ah, I already get to see the famous Sharingan. I'm honored. When I was a member of Kiri's assassin team, I kept a handbook. It included information on you. The man who has copied over 1,000 jutsu. Copy Ninja Kakashi. Now, let's end all the talking. I have to kill that old man. But, it seems I have to beat the two of you first." Zabuza quickly pushes off the tree with his sword, ending up standing on the nearby water. "Hiding in Mist Technique."

A thick mist rolls in, preventing everyone from seeing Zabuza. Kakashi takes a quick glance at the others. "He'll come after me first. As a member of Kiri, he was known as an expert at silent killing. You don't even notice until you're already dead. Be careful."

Naruto notices something. "The mist is getting thicker!"

Zabuza's voices rings out from the mist. "Eight choices."

Sakura looks around in confusion. "What?"

"Liver, Lungs, Spine, Clavicle vein, Neck vein, Brain, Kidneys, Heart. Which one should I go after?"

Zabuza suddenly appears between Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna. But before hi can attack them, Kakashi stabs him with a kunai. Everyone quickly moves away from the two. Suddenly, Zabuza dissolves into water as the real Zabuza appears out of the mist and slices Kakashi in half, only for him to dissolve into water as well. Kakashi appears behind Zabuza, placing a kunai at his neck. "It's over."

Zabuza laughs. "It's over? You don't get it. There's no way you can beat me with your monkey-like imitations. But that was impressive of you. But..." Zabuza dissolves into water as another Zabuza appears behind Kakashi. "I'm also not that easy to beat."

Zabuza attempts to cut Kakashi in half again, but Kakashi dodges the attack. Kurenai rushes over to join the fight. However, thanks to all the water, Zabuza has a trick up his sleeve.

"Water Prison Technique!" Both Kakashi and Kurenai are ensnared in spheres of water. "I now have you both in my inescapable special prisons. Now, I'll finish things with you two later. First, I'm going to take care of them," he says, looking over at the Genin and Tazuna. "Water Clone Technique!"

A water clone of Zabuza appears. The clone looks at the Genin. "Hehe, you are all wearing forehead protectors and acting like real ninjas. But you know what? A real ninja is someone who has survived numerous brushes with death. Basically, once you're good enough to be listed in my handbook, then you can start calling yourself a ninja. You guys should not be referred to as ninjas."

He moves fast, striking Naruto and sending him flying back as his headband falls off his head. Kakashi cries out to the Genin. "You guys! Take Tazuna and run away! You have no chance at beating him! As long as he's keeping both me and Kurenai in these prisons, he can't move! Also, the water clone can't go far from the original body. Just run away now!"

Naruto sits up, looking at Zabuza's water clone. 'This is a Jonin, a real ninja. At this rate, I'm really going to die, even with the Kyubi sealed in me and with the gift she gave me!' As he gets to his knees he bumps his left hand on the ground, reminding him of his injury, and of the promise he made when he made that injury. He gets back to his feet and charges at Zabuza. Zabuza smacks Naruto away again, causing him to land back near the group, where Naruto reveals that he was only retrieving his forehead protector. He stands back up and glares at Zabuza, tying the forehead protector back on. "Hey, you eyebrow-less freak. Put this in your handbook. The man who will one day become Hokage. Konoha ninja, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Zabuza's eyes widen. "Wait. What did you say your name was?"

Naruto gives him a questioning look. "Naruto Uzumaki. Why do you ask?"

The clone stabs his sword into the ground as he walks over to Naruto and looks closely at him. "Well, this changes everything." The clone dissolves and Zabuza releases his hold over the two Jonin. "You win this round. For now, I need to report to my superior, concerning something very important."

Kakashi looks at him. "What does Gato have to do with Naruto?"

Zabuza laughs. "I'm only a spy, placed in Gato's organization. I work for someone else. I will retreat for now. We'll meet again. Kakashi, Kurenai, Naruto."

Zabuza teleports away. The Genin and Tazuna run over to the two Jonin. "Should we let him escape?" asks Shino.

Kakashi nods. "Yes. His target is no longer the bridge builder. Still, the fact he's working for someone else worries me."

Kurenai nods in agreement. "As is the fact that this person would have an interest in Naruto. We should get moving and reach town before nightfall."

*Scene Change*

Zabuza and Haku are standing in a clearing, where Haku summons an ice mirror, connecting to one located in a room in a village on the verge of revealing its rebirth to the world. A figure walks in front of the mirror. "You have something to report, Zabuza?"

"Yes, Lady Uzukage. We were carrying out an assignment from Gato. However, the target was protected by two ninja teams from Konoha, one of them being led by Kakashi Hatake."

The Uzukage's eyes narrow. "I told you, I don't want to hear anything to do with Konoha."

"I'm not finished. One of them was a twelve-year-old boy with blond, spiky hair, blue eyes, and had whisker marks on his face. He said his name is Naruto Uzumaki."

The Uzukage's eye widen. "That's impossible. He died twelve years ago."

"I took a careful look at him myself. I'm certain it's him."

The Uzukage hunches over in shock for a few moments, before straightening back up. "Have they seen your face, Haku?"

Haku shakers his head. "No, Lady Uzukage. They don't even know that I was even there."

"Good. Zabuza, you'll pretend that you suffered injuries from Kakashi. This will keep Gato off your back for a while. Haku, you will be keeping an eye on Naruto. Try to befriend him and see if you can learn anything about him. Anything to explain how he's alive and how his life has been. My daughter and I will be coming to Nami no Kuni to confirm that he really is Naruto."

Zabuza and Haku both nod. "We understand, Lady Uzukage."

"Good. I'll talk to you both when I get there. Out."

Haku dissolves the mirror and looks at Zabuza. Zabuza sighs. "Well, I'm going to need some injuries, Haku."

Haku nods. "I'm sorry, Zabuza-sama." He starts attacking Zabuza.

*Scene Change*

In the room with the ice mirror, the Uzukage looks at the blank mirror for a few minutes before a tear slips out of her eye.

"Mom? You're crying! What's wrong?"

The Uzukage turns to look at her daughter. "Get ready to leave the village, Mito. I'm just gotten a report from Zabuza that your twin brother is alive and in Nami no Kuni."

Vanex: That wraps up this chapter. I bet some of you like the fact I have Zabuza and Haku working for Kushina. And now she's on her way to Nami no Kuni. I can safely predict that most, if not all, of you are looking forward to the Uzumaki reunion, which still won't be for a little bit. See you all next time!