The Mission to Wave

Kagome was happy for the first time in as long as she could remember. Anko had heard that Kakashi was more than curious and a little paranoid about Kagome's skills, so she had approached him and informed him of the training sessions. Anko also shared with Kakashi that Kagome had just a few memories of before she was found outside on the Hidden Leaf so she remembered a few strange techniques. Also Kagome decided to confess that she had taken the liberty of watching people of all levels train for the past five years so she had picked up more than a few things.

Every one had gotten stronger by leaps and bounds. Kakashi not liking that his students had learned so much without his help had started putting time aside to help with their training and to hurry things up, he help more with the simple D-rank missions they received. That is until Naruto got tired of weeding gardens and looking for lost pets, he had gone to the Hokage and demanded a harder mission. His team had agreed and now they were walking to the some village with a grumpy bridge builder, who seemed to so easily rub Naruto the wrong way. It was almost funny watching the young ninja and the old bridge builder insult each other the way they did.

All happy thoughts were pushed aside, when Kagome spotted a puddle in the middle of the road. At first she didn't know why it bugged her so much, until it occurred to her after some thought that it hadn't rained in this area for close to three weeks. The sun shined brightly overhead so any water that did fall would be quickly evaporated. Her guard was up and she tried to make herself completely unaware as she tried to expand her senses so that she would no what to expect. However, she couldn't expand her powers enough without tipping them off that she knew they were there. So she listened, a valuable talent that Sesshomaru had taught her.

She smiled lightly when she remembered Inu Yasha's reaction to Sesshomaru deciding to take her under his wing and teach her how to properly fight. He said it was not only because she saved Rin's life, but also because she was the one who stood the greatest chance of killing Naraku for good. It was his decision to take time off and train her that encouraged every one else to start training her as well. Sango had started teaching her all the ways of the demon slayers saying that Kohaku would not survive Naraku and that she had doubts about her own chance of survival. Her people would at least live on through Kagome, which would be enough. Mirkou had helped her master her priestess abilities, along wit Kaede who helped Kagome with herbs and healing. Shippo had even shown her the tricks behind all of his fox magic. Inu Yasha and Kouga had helped with hand to hand combat when ever Sesshomaru wasn't around, but they spent more time arguing then anything so that was when Kagome studied for school. The fact that she was educated and could read well was another that helped Kagome form a friendship with Sesshomaru. He was very educated as it turned out and didn't expect to find a human that would know so much about science and math as she did. In all it had been the longest and yet happiest two and a half years of Kagome's life, it just hadn't lasted long enough.

Kagome's thoughts grew dark as she remembered coming home to see that some random demon that had survived the centuries had killed her entire family. She had taken it upon herself to track that demon down in her own time and she had killed the demon and to her horror had enjoyed it a little. She had then returned to the feudal Japan and decided that she would make her life in that time, where her family was. Within the next six months they had hunted down Naraku and separated him from the shard and killed his heart. During the last battles everyone else had died. Sesshomaru, Inu Yasha, and she had been the last ones. The tree of them had barely been able to kill Naraku and it had cost her two brothers their lives. She had given up on Inu Yasha long ago, and had been planning to work under Kaede until it was her turn to be the priestess protector of the small village that was like home. She never expected that the jewel would give her a chance to make amends to her friends and to forgive herself that is why she would protect these people. The first people she stopped would be the ones hiding waiting to ambush them.

It was then that they decided to attack she was going to interfere and second the attack but it appeared that everyone else was quick to act. Sakura put herself between the attackers and the bridge builder. Naruto much to Kagome's surprised froze and Sasuke was the only one to act, Kakashi had used a substitution technique and she could feel his presence in the trees watching to see how they would to. All in all it was over before it truly even started. In the end the mission appeared to be far above their abilities, Naruto she hoped and made a promise that he could keep. It certainly didn't help having Sasuke mock Naruto. Any way it was voted that they would continue with the mission and at Kagome's hint Sakura offered to heal Naruto's wound and he refused.

It was two hours later that they would be tested when Zabuza decided to make himself known. Naruto had heard something and thrown his Kunai into the woods only for a white rabbit to jump out. Sakura had yelled at Naruto and he was ready to apologize to the rabbit when Kagome had finally figured out what was bothering her about this scene.

"Is it just me or is that rabbit the wrong color for this time of the year." Kagome asked as she realized what was wrong; the rabbit still had its winter coat. Everyone looked at her for a moment before they realized something was moving their way quickly.

"Everyone, get down!" Kakashi yelled as he pulled the old bridge builder down out of the way. As the four genin threw themselves down onto the ground, when they looked up there was a powerful looking man standing on a mammoth sword that was embedded in the bark of the tree directly in front of them.

"Oh if it isn't a jonin and a group of genin for the Hidden Leaf, tell me are the brats so hopeless that they have to have an extra member on their team." The man asked with a small chuckle that grated against Kagome's nerves. She would have walked forward to challenge the man if Kakashi hadn't put his hand on her shoulder.

"You four guard the bridge builder, I'll handle this one." He smiled as he stepped forward and pulled his forehead protector off his left eye, exposing the sharingan. The man in the tree allowed a small look of surprise to cross his features for a mere moment as he recognized who Kakashi was.

"Oh, if it isn't Kakashi the copy ninja, the one who is said to have copied over a thousand jutsus. Showing the sharingan so early, I feel so honored." The man jumped to the ground pulling his sword with him he then leapt to the river where he landed and started a technique that shrouded the whole area in a think mist.

"Zabuza the demon of the mist and the master of the silent killing." Kakashi stated from somewhere in front of the group.

"That's right now where should I strike, so many vital spots and yet I can't make a choice. Should I name them for your little brats or should I just teach by example….' Zabuza started until he was cut off.

"You know for the master of silent killing you certainly are loud." Kagome cut in as she closed her eyes and focused on the enemy's foot steps, they were faint and she could barely hear them but they were there. She readied herself, his footsteps and stopped and he was in a tree behind them waiting for his chance to strike.

"You insolent little girl, you will die." He said and the next instant he landed right in front of Kagome ready to strike. He brought down his sword only for it to be stopped by what appeared to be nothing. It was only upon closer inspection that Zabuza saw that Kagome was holding a long sword and had parried his strike. She pushed him back and charged low when she was just out of range she jumped and flipped so that she landed close behind him. She swung her blade in a right horizontal arc and cut through flesh only to have him burst into water. Zabuza then appeared closely behind her, but this time Kakashi appeared to her right and interfered ordering her go back to the others.

Every thing from there on is the same as the show, now they are at the house and have decided that Zabuza is still alive.

In the woods training

"Okay for training today you are going to be climbing trees." Kakashi said as he limped ahead of the four genin.

"Sensei, what do you mean?" Sakura asked

"Yeah, how will climbing trees help us fight that Zabuza guy?" Naruto asked.

"Well when I say climbing trees I should add that you won't we using hands, this exercise should help in basic chakra control." Kakashi said as he looked at them each in the eyes. When they remained silent he asked Sakura to describe chakra and how it works, which was tuned out by Naruto so Kakashi just decided to give them an example. When he reached the branch he threw four kunai down so that they landed in front of the genin, training for the day had begun. Sakura was able to perform the exercise perfectly; Naruto didn't even make two steps up the tree. Sasuke made it up fifteen feet and when everyone looked around they didn't see Kagome.

"Um, where did Kagome go?" Naruto asked after Kakashi had made his little comment about Naruto and Sasuke lacking in ability while Sakura was somewhat more advanced. Sasuke and Sakura started looking around as well, while Kakashi sighed as he realized that he had already lost on of his genin and would have to go and find her and then bring her back to the area.

"I'm over here, Naruto." Kagome said and everybody looked to see her sitting with her legs out on the branch and her back was leaning against the trunk, her long raven black hair was the only indicator that she was upside down on the branch. She was reading her book and once again looked completely bored.

"Kakashi sensei, would it be okay if I went over to the next field. It looks like it has some rare medical herbs that can only be found in this area, and I think that they could come in handy. That and I'm interested in seeing if I can mimic the conditions and grow them back home." Kagome said as she briefly looked down at them from her book.

"Alright Kagome can go gather herbs, Sakura will continue this exercise for a little while to work on her chakra reserves and the boys will stay and perfect this no matter how long it takes." Kakashi said as he started walking down the tree to head back to the house. Kagome leapt from her branch and disappeared from sight as fast as she could. She had decided that it was time for her to master this element technique that she had read about in many of her books and scrolls. To pull forth the elements without summing any thing or using any chakra, would become a great assent. Theoretically it would also allow her to call force her priestess powers without being forced to expel all of her chakra and wasting all of her energy.

The next few days passed like that, nothing eventful happened until the battle at the bridge.

Not going to describe the battle, I can't imagine it ended in differently without messing up the story line more than intended.

Well there it is the fourth chapter. Review and tell me what you think, any ideas would be appreciated. Next chapter includes the start of the chunin exam.

Alikat89