Chapter 3: The Land of Waves
Two years later, on a pathway just outside Kanoha, walked a group of nine people, six Gennin, two Jounin sensei, and an old bridge builder. Hatake Kakashi, the famed copy-ninja of Kanoha, walked in front, a bored look on his face. Or what could be seen of it anyways. Behind him walked the three members of his Gennin team, Uchiha Sauske, one of the two last known members of the famed Uchiha clan and rookie of the year, Haruno Sakura, one of Sauske's most adamant fan-girls and a theoretical genius, and Satsu Rokujou, a much hated bully who liked nothing more then to see others in pain. In the middle walked a man named Tazuna, a bridge builder from the land of waves who had hired these ninja to defend him on his trip back home. Bringing up the rear was Yuuhi Kurenai, a newly instated Jounin and master Genjutsu user and her own team, Inuzuka Kiba, a rough and rugged boy who was never seen without his canine sidekick Akamaru, Aburame Shino, the quiet boy that was known for being a living hive for a large number of chakra eating bugs, and Hyuuga Hinata, a timid girl with little confidence despite the fact that she was the heiress to the strongest clan in all of Kanoha.
Kiba was exited, this was after all his first ever C-ranked mission, even if he did have to share it with another team. "Hey Shino," he whispered to his teammate, "What so you think are the odds that we'll be doing some actual fighting here?"
The bug user shrugged, "Honestly," he replied, "not very high. Since this is only a C-ranked mission, the only people who would be attacking are simple bandits, and with eight bodyguards I would think most bandits would simply wait for an easier target."
Kiba cursed. The only reason that they had gone on this C-ranked mission was that Kiba had been complaining about the ease and boringness of the D-ranked ones and Kurenai had apparently had spoken to the Hokage about it. The Sandaime had agreed, but only on the condition that a second team also be sent out to help make sure no one got hurt. But what was the point of going on a higher ranked mission if they weren't going to fight anything?
In the Land of Waves Naruto sat down in a dark room and listened to his sensei as he made a business deal with a short, fat man named Gato.
"Your prices are high mister Momochi," the slimy man stated, "but I also know that you are the best in the business."
Zabuza scowled, "Don't try and flatter me Gato, just tell me what my job is and what you are willing to pay me."
Gato nodded, "There is a man named Tazuna, a bridge builder who is becoming a serious threat to my boating business and also to the economics of the Land of Waves. I want you to kill him, before he finishes his bridge. I have tried to threaten him with my own men but the greedy man simply refuses to back down."
Naruto looked up, "And this man, Tazuna," he interrupted, "does he have any family?"
Gato slowly shook his head, "No. He is just a lonely and greedy man who only cares about money and doesn't stop to consider how many people he's harms getting it. Many people are employed by my boating business and if he finishes his bridge all of them will be out of a job. Anyways, as to your pay…"
Naruto didn't want to hear anymore. Roughly he stood up and walked out of the room and onto a large balcony. A moment later he heard the door open again and turned to see that Haku had followed him out. "Are you alright otouto?" he asked.
Naruto slowly nodded, "It's just…even if this man is a heartless and selfish person with no family who only cares about money…does he really deserve to die?"
Haku placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "I don't agree with it either," he replied, "But you're not a bad person if that's what's bothering you."
Naruto shook his head, "How can you say that? I've killed so many people. Many of whom I'm sure didn't deserve to die. People back in Kanoha used to call me a demon because of this…thing inside me. Maybe they were right."
Haku shook his head, "Don't say that Naruto, you've also done so many good things. You have saved the lives of just as many people, you have even saved Zabuza-sama."
Naruto raised an eyebrow in confusion, "I don't remember ever saving Zabuza." He replied, "When did that happen?"
Haku smiled, "You remember what Zabuza was like when we first found you. He was bloodthirsty and cruel. He didn't care who he killed as long as he was paid well for it. You changed him, you taught him how to love. He'd never let anyone see it, and still has a long ways to go, but I believe you have already saved his spirit."
As Haku finished the door opened and Zabuza stepped out on to the balcony. "We've got our new jobs," he stated, "I'm sending the Demon Brothers out first. Naruto, I want you to follow them with one of your shadow clones, apparently this Tazuna person has hired a few ninja bodyguards so I want you to watch what happens with the Demon Brothers. Find out who our enemies are and then report back to me."
Naruto rolled his eyes. The Demon Brothers, Gouzu and Meizu, were two of Zabuza's "temporary" followers. Naruto called them temporary because followers like them rarely lasted more then a few months. Some died, others panicked and quit when they saw the dangers of following a missing-nin. It honestly annoyed him when they picked up people like that. After all Naruto and Haku should be more then enough for whatever job Zabuza wanted them to do, right? But he nodded anyways and turned to go inform the brothers.
Kakashi was on his guard…that was the third time they had passed a puddle just like this one. This of course wouldn't be a big deal except that it hadn't rained in weeks and there was no other body of water around here. He turned his head back to look at Kurenai who nodded, showing that she too had noticed something amiss.
He didn't have much time to think it over however as two figures seemed to appear out of nowhere, each with a metal claw on one of their hands and a lethal looking chain connecting the claws. So shocked at this sudden attack was Kakashi that he didn't even move as the two mist Chuunin quickly wrapped their chain around him and squeezed until the jagged edges of the chain tore completely through his body.
The surrounding Gennin and Tazuna looked on in shock as what was left of Sharingan Kakashi fell to the ground.
Naruto smirked as he watched the fight from the treetops. Of course he could tell that the Jounin was about as dead as he was, probably waiting to see what he brothers would do. Naruto took this time to observe the six Gennin.
Two of them were fighting crazily, without any apparent strategy to their wild punches, one of these he could tell as being an Inuzuka both from the fang-like markings on his face and the small pup that fought with him, the other didn't seem to come from a clan and fought only with the basic academy taijutsu. Another, who he could instantly tell was a Hyuuga girl, looked terrified. She was shaking so badly that Naruto might have thought she was having a seizure and even when one of the two brothers went for her she didn't move. The other girl, a pink haired one who Naruto had to admit was very pretty, was keeping her cool but seemed to be overwhelmed by her more powerful enemies and allies. The only two that seemed to know what they were doing were a boy who used strange bugs that came out of his body and kept his face covered, obviously an Aburame, and another boy whose taijutsu style revealed him to be an Uchiha.
But something bothered Naruto. Why was there Gennin here at all? If Tazuna knew that he was in danger from one of the richest men on earth…why would any ninja village send six Gennin? And ones as fresh out of the academy as these ones obviously were. For as much money as he had, Gato could have hired anyone, and in fact he had hired someone who was way too dangerous for these kids.
At that moment, the Jounin reappeared out of the ground, quickly knocked the two brothers out, and began speaking to his teammates. Naruto strained his ears to hear the conversation.
"These ninja were unexpected," stated the silver haired Jounin, "Tazuna only paid for a C-ranked mission, but this elevates it to a B or A rank."
Well that explained Naruto's original question but it also raised another question. Why wouldn't this man pay for the best protection?
"We're not experienced enough for these kinds of battles," stated the pink haired girl, "Even with Kakashi-sensei and Kurenai-sensei. We should go back."
Wait……did she just say Kakashi? As in the famed Sharingan Kakashi!? Zabuza-sama would want to hear about this.
The other Jounin, Kurenai he believed she was called, nodded, "This is too much for our young students, we should go back and send a more experienced group."
The Inuzuka boy looked furious, "Oh no!" he yelled, "I am not going back to doing stupid D-ranked missions! I say we keep going."
The Aburame stepped up, "Kiba, stop being rash for a moment and consider what we would be getting into. We have no experience fighting other ninja. If this happens again and one of the Jounin sensei aren't around-"
"Then we'll deal with it!" Kiba yelled in annoyance, "We're not babies you know, we're ninja! And ninja don't give up when the road gets a little more bumpy then expected!"
Naruto couldn't help but be impressed. This boy certainly had guts, even if he did need a little polishing. If he lived long enough Naruto was sure he could be a strong shinobi.
Kakashi seemed to think for a moment, "Well maybe we should ask the boy in the trees what he thinks?"
Naruto cursed.
RobotPitateNinja: Perhaps. It's really not important but if you'd like I can have Sarutobi mention it when next he sees Naruto.
Raptor2001: Zabuza vs. Kisame? Well I do have plans for a confrontation of sorts between them. You'll have to wait to see exactly what it is.
Now for something new. ONE of them, either Zabuza or Haku, will die on the bridge battle. One will not. I already know which one I want it to be but if enough people vote the other way I might change my mind.
I wont tell you who I want it to be (because that would stop one side of the voters and make the others go crazy and I wouldn't get an acurate vote).