AN: Here is the third chapter of Heir to the Crown. I should have gotten this done a week ago, but I suddenly lost my muse to wright and I ended up taking a whole other week to finish I hope you all can forgive me for that. So with nothing more to say here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto or anything else that may or may not appear in this fic that is related to anything else.
Journey to the Land of Waves
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Angel Talking"
"Kyuubi Talking"
'Kyuubi Thinking'
It had been a month since Team 7 had passed Kakashi's Bell Test and she had become an official Genin of Konohagakure, and Sakura Haruno could honestly say that it was nothing like she had expected. When Sakura began her final year at the Shinobi Academy she had only one goal and that was to be ranked as the top kunoichi of the year ensuring that she would be placed on Sasuke's team at the end of the year, with the Uchiha of course earning the title rookie of the year. She had achieved her goal she been placed on the same team as Sasuke Uchiha. Her joy was diminished slightly with the knowledge that she would also be on a team with Naruto Uzumaki, the dobe of the class, but Sakura was sure she could put up with the annoying blond idiot as long as she was with her precious Sasuke-kun.
When Kakashi, who had been two hours late to meet them, had informed the Genin hopefuls that they still had to pass one more test to become true official Genin, or be sent back to the academy, Sakura had been worried that she would be separated from the last Uchiha. When the test began Sakura had been determined to do whatever she could to get one of the bells, so she could continue being Sasuke's teammate. But the most she had done was shout out a warning to Naruto, something that she still didn't understand why she did, if she truly hated the blond like she had said in the team introductions the other day. Yet by some miracle or a chance of fate they had all ended up passing Kakashi's test, but in all their excitement of passing, and Kakashi having his first Genin team, they had forgotten that Naruto was left tied to the training log.
That was when everything changed and the life that Sakura had been expecting ended.
When they returned to Training Ground 7 the next day in search for their missing teammate they found him still tied to the stump they left him at beaten, bloody, burned, and completely different. The boy they found tied there was no longer the cheerful hyperactive boy that never stopped smiling, and in his place was a teen that was calm and indifferent, if not a little cold, to everything. Even his physical appearance had changed, and she had only been able to recognize the boy because of the rags that once was his orange jumpsuit, and the next day after the blond had left with the Sandaime Hokage to get new clothes even that had changed. When he arrived at the training grounds the next day he was wearing a dark blue shirt that was almost black, white hakama pants that had a ballooning effect that gathered around his ankles, and had built in kunai holster, and flat pointed ankle-high boots instead of sandals. He had on samurai styled armor that extends over his left shoulder looping around to connect in the back and a long dark red sash tying together, which his headband was attached to. Over it all he wore a black sleeveless haori with the kanji for seven written on the back in white in a white lined rhombus that's tips were solid white.
The only thing Sakura could associate the teen with how he looked like before was the whisker marks on his cheeks, and even those were so faint now that you could hardly see them.
The difference in Naruto was never more apparent to the pink haired girl then when Kakashi had them spar about a week and a half after Naruto's transformation had taken place.
Flashback
"Alright are you two ready?" Kakashi asked two of his students, standing beside a scowling Sasuke, that were on opposite sides of the fields waiting for the signal that will begin their spar.
"H-Hai Sensei," Sakura answered, just a bit nervous at having to face her white haired teammate, as she remembered how easily he faced off against Sasuke a week ago. Naruto didn't bother giving a verbal answer instead giving the copy ninja a small nod of his head that was almost missed by everyone.
"Alright then begin." Kakashi told them. As soon as Kakashi gave the signal Sakura had pulled out a kunai from her holster and had gotten into a defensive stance, half expecting Naruto to suddenly appear in front of her like he had done with Sasuke. But looking toward the other side of the field the storm-grey eyed genin gave no indication that he heard the Cyclopes shinobi because he was still standing there arms at his side and just looking disinterestedly ahead, of course remembering that he had done the same thing against Sasuke during their spar only served to unnerve Sakura more than anything.
"Well?" Naruto began calmly, "Are you just going to stand there, Haruno?" He asked her, but by his tone of voice it was obvious he didn't care the least about her answer. Some of Sakura's old fire seemed to come back to her at the former blonde's casual dismissal. Throwing the kunai she had in her hand at the boy she followed it up by throwing some shuriken in his direction before pulling out another kunai and charging at him. Smoothly lifting up his hand Naruto caught the kunai by its ring with a finger, spinning it around his finger the blond haired boy deflected the quickly approaching shuriken before blocking the kunai that Sakura still held in her hand. Their eyes meet one set fierce and determined hiding most of the owner's nervousness, the other completely calm and composed. Jumping back Sakura once more threw her kunai at her sparring partner only for Naruto to move his body slightly to the side dodging the kunai completely. Going through a quick set of hand seals Sakura created a couple of clones in an effort to confuse the white haired boy.
Naruto shifted his gaze between the three approaching pink haired kunoichi; his eyes searching for any signs that would set the real Sakura apart from her clones, of course being able to create the real thing made it a real simple thing to do. Naruto pulled out a kunai from his holster so fast that it looked like it had materialized in his hand. Stepping forward Naruto slashed at the Sakura on the left with the kunai that he had in his right hand, the blade going through the fake. The former blond haired shinobi ducked down avoiding the punch from the one in the middle before he threw the kunai in his left land at the Sakura on the right, the kunai going through the last remaining clone. Shifting his head Naruto watched as his pink haired teammate aimed to punch him in the head. Moving it slightly to the right Sakura's punch just missed connecting with his head, their two bodies so close now that Sakura could feel the gentle warmth coming off of Naruto. Starring at Naruto's expressionless storm-grey eyes from such a close distance with her own surprised emerald ones, Sakura once again realized how much things had changed in the last couple of weeks. Before his transformation Naruto had never been able to evade any of her punches, and yet here he was doing it with the minimalist of efforts now. Continuing to stare into Naruto's eyes Sakura could feel herself being memorized by the white haired teen's gaze. Looking at his calm expression Sakura could feel her face slowly heat up, and she was sure that it had nothing to do with the spar they were having. She could hardly believe that the handsome teen in front of her was the same annoying Naruto from two weeks ago.
'Wait handsome?' Sakura thought surprised, as she began to wonder why she suddenly thought her white haired teammate was handsome. Sakura was brought out of her thoughts by the feel of cold metal pressed against her neck and the sound of Naruto's voice.
"Disappointing," Naruto muttered quietly.
"W-What?" Sakura stammered back at him.
"It's disappointing to think that the top kunoichi for our year is so easily distracted and weak." Naruto answered her, just as quietly as before. "Since leaving the academy you haven't improved in the least."
"But it's only been about two weeks." Sakura tried to defend herself, though even she could admit that her excuse sounded feeble at best.
"True," Naruto acknowledged, "But as shinobi we are to improve our selves' everyday so we are stronger than the day before. Tell me Haruno, besides the training that Hatake has us doing, what have you done to grow stronger?" The silence that followed his question made it all too obvious what her reply would have been. "You're pathetic Haruno and a disgrace to all kunoichi." He finished walking away from the pink haired girl just as Kakashi approached them, leaving the girl watching his back with wide eyes as he walked away.
Flashback End
Naruto's words from that day had deeply hurt Sakura, more than anything Sasuke had ever said to her, mostly because of how true it all was. Since then she had trained harder than she had ever trained before in the hopes of proving that she wasn't as weak as Naruto believed her to be, though she couldn't understand why it mattered so much to her to suddenly prove herself to him, she was confident it was just because he called her pathetic. I mean what else could it be, right?
Sasuke had also been something that had turned out completely different then what she expected when she was first assigned to be on his team. Since losing his spar against the white haired teen the last Uchiha's mood had worsened considerably, to the point that Sakura was hesitant to even approach the raven haired boy to ask him out on a date in fear of how he would react. Sasuke saw his lose to the class dobe as the ultimate humiliation and had since then done whatever he could to prove himself superior to Naruto, only for the storm-grey eyed boy to completely outshine the avenger every time.
Currently Team 7 was out on another D-rank mission that had been assigned to them earlier that day. But because of how simple the D-rank missions turned out to be, being better compared to chores that academy students could be able to do, the three genin of Team 7 were quickly growing tired of them, though only two of the genin showed any indication.
"Is everyone in position?" Kakashi questioned his genin team through a radio while he sat on a tree reading his book.
"Blossom in position," Sakura's voice was the first to reply over the radio.
"Raven in position. Let's get this over with already," Sasuke was the next answer annoyance clearly evident in his voice.
"Fox ready," Naruto stated evenly being the last to answer.
"Alright then on my signal… Go!" Kakashi ordered. The three genin rushed toward their target, Sasuke moving faster than the other two refusing to let Naruto capture their target before he did. What followed was several minutes of scratching, biting, and yowling surprisingly, or not, none of it actually came from their target. "Confirm a red bow on the left ear." Kakashi said.
"Confirmed, red bow on the left ear, mission missing cat Tora accomplished." Naruto answered back behind him Sakura was holding onto a cat trying to soothe the small creature while Sasuke glared daggers at it, his face covered in claw marks, wishing he could set the damn thing on fire with one of his Fire Jutsus.
"Great work on finishing another mission team. We will head over toward the Hokage's tower to return Tora and grab another mission." Kakashi finished turning a page in his book and giggling perversely.
At the Hokage tower the three genin of Team 7 watched as the Daimyo's wife suffocated Tora, as the cat desperately tried to escape the over affectionate woman's clutches. Sasuke watched the cat struggle quietly muttering to himself, wishing for the woman to squeeze just a little bit harder. Sakura felt sorry for the little demon cat understanding why it ran away so often. Naruto while indifferent to the situation did feel sort of sorry for the cat's suffering. Sighing to himself, Naruto stepped forward.
"Excuse me Shima-sama," Naruto began.
The Daimyo's wife stopped her excessive cuddling to look at the white haired genin, "Yes Genin-san?" She asked him staring at the young genin intently.
"I mean no offense to you Shima-sama, but if continue to treat Tora as you have then he will never stop running away." Naruto said causing nearly everyone in the room to become tense at having a genin chastise the Daimyo's wife. "Each time you hug him you suffocate him it only causes him to want to run away." The room grew quite while everyone else waited to see how the Daimyo's wife would react. Sasuke had an actual smile on his face as he waited to see what would happen to the former blond, Sakura had worried expression on her face, Kakashi had stopped reading his book, Iruka, who was helping the Sandaime assign missions, looked like he was about to scold Naruto, while the Sandaime had an unreadable expression on his face. No one expected for her to suddenly smile at the storm-grey eyed shinobi.
"Excellent work young man," She said making everyone bar the Hokage confused, "What's your name?" She asked.
"Naruto Uzumaki," The bewildered genin answered her.
"Well Uzumaki-kun I'm sure you're confused why I'm suddenly praising you so I'll explain." Shima began, holding Tora far more gently now and petting the cat's back making it purr, "It's a brave thing you've just done, standing up to someone who is technically your superior when you know they are doing something wrong. Most shinobi would have just allowed me to continue treating Tora as I have been, too afraid of what my husband might do to them if they spoke up like you have. But you challenged me for someone else's benefit and that is something you should never be afraid of doing, within reason of course." She said with a smirk, "Your sensei has already taught you the meaning of teamwork, correct? And how much it is valued here in Konoha?" She asked them getting a nod of the head from all three of them. "Well consider this a lesson similar to that one. Never be afraid to question authority when you feel they are leading you wrong, and never follow someone blindly just because they are your superior." Shima finished. "Again of course within reason," She added at the end.
Sakura tentatively raised her hand, "Um Shima-sama?" The pink haired girl asked nervously
"Yes Kunoichi-san," Shima replied, smiling gently at the girl to ease her nervousness.
"Well, I understand what you're saying, but why are you doing this in the first place?" Sakura questioned.
"This is sort of a tradition that is passed down from the previous wife of the Daimyo to the wife of the new Daimyo that goes all the way back to when Konohagakure was first founded. I learned about it from my mother-in-law just like she learned it from hers, even Tora here is the descendant of the first Tora that belonged to the Daimyo's wife of back then who started the tradition. And the reason why is because neither my husband nor I wish to have mindless drones working for us." The Daimyo's wife answered her getting a nod of understanding from the young kunoichi. Turning to face the Hokage Shima continued, "Now as a reward for Uzumaki-kun's bravery he'll receive payment equal to that of a C-rank mission, as was agreed upon for anyone who speaks up. Plus Team 7 will no longer need to take the mission to retrieve Tora when he 'escapes'." She finished causing the three genin behind her to cheer in their minds.
"Of course Shima-sama," Sarutobi said tipping his toward the woman.
"Now if you'll excuse me Hokage-dono it's time I take my leave, for now." She said giving the old man a small bow.
"Of course Shima-sama," The Sandaime repeated before the woman made her way out the door. Turning his attention to the waiting Team 7 Sarutobi gave them all a smile. "Congratulations on another mission accomplished Team 7. Now we have a list of missions you can take babysitting a councilman's grandchild, picking up groceries from a neighboring village for an elder, helping in a potato farm-"
"Tora, NO!" The voice of Lady Shima suddenly shouted out from the other side of the door cutting the Sandaime midsentence.
"Luckily, thanks to Naruto-kun, Team 7 won't ever need to capture Tora again."
"No," Sasuke stated stepping forward, "Those missions you've been assigning to us are a joke, as an Uchiha elite I demand you give us a better mission." The raven haired Uchiha said arrogantly a smirk splattered across his face.
"Sasuke! Watch how speak to Hokage-sama!" Iruka chastised the young teen, half surprised that it was the Uchiha demanding for more challenging missions rather than Naruto, but from the changes the Hokage told him the former blond went through he supposed it was to be expected. "The missions that are assigned to you are the standard for genin that have just graduated the academy. They are so you can gain experience working with your team before you're sent out on one of the higher ranked missions." Iruka finished giving the boy a light glare before going into an explanation of how the varies missions that were received by Konoha were assigned to the shinobi under the Hokage, like the lectures he used to give the three genin. When he finished he noticed that no one was paying attention, not even the Sandaime, Sakura was talking lightly with Naruto, who was at the very least acting like he was listening, Sasuke was looking off to the side disinterested, Kakashi and Hiruzen had pulled out their copies of Icha Icha and were giggling at something they read.
After realizing that Iruka had finished his lecture, with said academy teacher off to the side with storm cloud over his head muttering about the lack of respect he received, Sarutobi coughed into his hand to get everyone's attention. "So you want a more challenging mission, is that it?" Sarutobi asked, though he didn't bother waiting for a reply before focusing his attention on Kakashi. "So Kakashi as their sensei, do you think they are ready for the responsibility that comes with a higher ranked mission?" The Hokage asked the masked jounin.
Kakashi lifted his eye from his perverted book to the aged Hokage before shifting his attention to his three genin who were all looking at him with varying degrees of expectancy. He turned his attention back to the Sandaime before eye smiling at the old leader, "I'm sure they are ready Hokage-sama." Kakashi answered him.
Sarutobi smiled softly at them, "Very well I have a C-rank mission ready. You are to escort the client back to his home in the Land of Waves and protect him while he completes construction on the bridge being built." Hiruzen told them before calling out to his secretary. "Please send in Tazuna-san!"
A minute later an old man with dark skin, short grey hair, a strange hat on his head, and holding a sake bottle walked into the room. From his posture and the smell of alcohol coming off of him it was obvious that the old man was at least a little drunk. "These are the shinobi who are supposed to be guarding me? A bunch of brats," Tazuna asked annoyed. "They sure as hell don't look like much. They look like they would wet themselves at the first sign of danger." Tazuna was about to take another swig from his drink when an ice cold voice stopped him before the bottle even reached his lips.
"Don't be so foolish as to judge us by appearances alone Tazuna-san." Naruto stated evenly, as he stared at the old drunkard coldly. The look in the white haired teen's eyes unnerved the bridge builder; he had never seen someone so young look so cold and indifferent to the world around him.
Tazuna shakily nodded his head, "Alright I'll be sure to remember that." He gulped nervously.
"Ok team," Kakashi spoke up drawing the three genin's attention to him, something that Tazuna was inwardly grateful for, "Go home and pack enough supplies to last a few weeks, we'll meet at the North Gate in an hour." The one eyed jounin instructed his students getting varies degrees of understanding from the three of them. They were all making their way out of the room when the Hokage called out to Naruto.
"Naruto-kun if you could stay a moment longer, there is something I would like to discuss with you before you leave for your mission." Sarutobi said gaining curious glances from the storm-grey eyed genin's teammates, nodding his head Naruto walked back to stand in front of the Hokage's desk. Sasuke and Sakura wanted to stay and see what the Sandaime wanted to talk with Naruto about, but they were quickly ushered out of the room by their sensei. "Iruka, how about you take a little break I'd like to talk with Naruto in private." Hiruzen suggested towards his assistant though it was clearly more than a suggestion.
"Of course Hokage-sama," Iruka replied giving the Hokage a light bow before standing up and making his way out of the room, giving Naruto a smile, which was returned, before exiting the room. When it was just the two of them left in the room the Hokage let out a sigh pulling out his pipe before he began.
"As we decided we kept the emergence of the crown quiet for as long as possible, but word has finally reached the civilian council about your sudden transformation." The Sandaime began, "They have begun to demand an explanation of what has happened to you, and while I have been able deny them any information at the moment they are becoming increasingly insistent. The shinobi council is also curious, but they are more concerned that this is an effect caused by the Kyuubi. With your new mission they will be forced to wait for your return before they can 'ask' you what has happened, but once you do return I can guarantee that the honorable council will request your presence before them." He explained.
"I see," Naruto muttered quietly, "I'll prepare to deal with them when I return. Can I count on you being there to support me Hokage-sama?" The white haired shinobi asked the old man.
Sarutobi gave the boy a gentle smile, while it was almost impossible to note he could tell that the boy was a bit nervous about having to deal with the council on his own. "Of course Naruto-kun." Hiruzen answered, he could tell that his answer relieved the boy ever so slightly.
"Thank you Hokage-sama," The Kyuubi jinjuriki said, "Is that all?" He questioned receiving a nod from the aged leader turning around Naruto made his way toward the door before stopping right next to it, "Jiji if I may be frank. You are the Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato while this village is not a dictatorship it is also not a democracy. The council was created to make your job easier you should not for them to make demands whenever they want. It is time they were reminded of that." Naruto finished exiting the room and leaving the Hokage alone with his thoughts.
An hour later all of Team 7 and Tazuna were walking down a road heading toward Wave country. Sakura had asked a few questions about where Tazuna was from and if they didn't have any ninja of their own with Kakashi providing an answer, Sasuke was just staring ahead, and Naruto was keeping a subtle eye out when he noticed a puddle in the middle of the road. Naruto immediately became alert, it hadn't rained in weeks and the puddle was in the middle of the road without any sort of shade to keep it out of the sun. He didn't bother checking if the others noticed the strange anomaly or not, if they failed to notice a puddle in the middle of the road on a sunny day then they obviously weren't as capable as they should be.
They had all just passed the puddle when two figures came out of it. They were dressed similarly with the exception that one wore a tattered cloak with a single horn attached to his headband and a clawed gauntlet on his right arm, while the other figure had two horns on his and the gauntlet was on his left hand the two of them connected by a spiked chain. They were Gozu and Meizo respectively, the Demon Brothers. Acting quickly they both wrapped the chain around Kakashi and pulled, slicing Kakashi to pieces before anyone could react.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screamed terrified by the fact that her sensei was so quickly done away with.
"One down," One of them murmured turning their attention to the others.
"Four to go," The other one finished. The two brothers focused their attention on Naruto who stood closest to them charging forward with the intent of slicing the white haired teen with their chain. Before they could ensnare him the former blond created a Shadow clone and both stepped to the side avoiding the Demon Brothers' attempt of an attack. Then the two look a likes raised their fists and each slammed it into one of the Demon Brothers' face shattering the mask that they were wearing.
"Bastard," The single horn brother, Gozu, muttered, as he glared at the teen and his clone both had an uncaring look on their faces.
"You'll pay for that brat," Meizo muttered threateningly spitting out some blood. But before they could do anything a shuriken was thrown by Sasuke at the chain pining it to a tree. The Demon Brothers tried to pull themselves free, but a kunai from the avenger to the chain made sure that the chain couldn't be separated. The Uchiha then landed on their out stretched arms and kicked them simultaneously in their faces. With little other choice and still needing to deal with the bridge builder the two Kiri-nin disengaged from the chain, Gozu going after Naruto to distract the blond and get some payback from that punch while Meizo charged at the bridge builder, with only Sakura protecting him. As Gozu approached the white haired genin, Naruto disappeared in a burst of speed leaving just his clone behind. Gozu didn't have time to wonder what happened to the young teen, because the boy's Shadow clone suddenly appeared in front of him slapping the clawed gauntlet, which he had out stretched to thrust it into Naruto's chest, and delivered a jaw breaking uppercut to the rouge ninja's face launching him backwards and hitting a close by tree knocking him out. With Gozu unconscious the Shadow clone dispelled itself, its job done.
When Naruto reappeared he was standing in front of Sakura and Tazuna surprising them. Pulling out a kunai Naruto blocked the remaining Demon Brothers thrust with his clawed hand, but before he could continue fighting the missing-nin Kakashi suddenly appeared knocking the Kiri shinobi out.
"Kakashi-sensei, but how?!" Sakura questioned him before turning her head toward where Kakashi's body was supposed to be, only to see a sliced up log there. "Substitution jutsu," Sakura realized.
"Great work team," Kakashi commended them. "I could have beaten them a few seconds, but I wanted to see how you three would react."
"If you're so strong why let the brats fight them? Why not just take care of it yourself and be done with it?" Tazuna demanded stepping out from behind Sakura.
"Simple really," The masked jounin replied lazily, "I wanted to see what their objective was. Was this an attack on fellow ninjas or was someone else their target." Kakashi paused for a second, as his eyes hardened staring at the bridge builder. "I think there is something you should explain to us Tazuna-san."
Tazuna went on to tell the four leaf ninja about how Gato had taken control of Wave and was draining the country dry of everything, and how the bridge he was building was the only hope the country had of escaping the small tyrants grasp. Kakashi had even interrogated the Demon Brothers, after they had woken up, and confirmed what the old bridge builder had told them, Tazuna then tried to guilt trip them into continuing the mission through fake tears and saying that his daughter would forever hate Konoha and his grandson would cry for his grandfather.
The grey haired jounin let out a sigh before turning to his team, "Well it's up to you three to decide on whether or not we continue the mission." He told them.
"We'll continue the mission," Naruto said not even waiting a second to reply. "It is not unheard of for missions to suddenly increase in difficulty, this is no different. As shinobi we aren't allowed to give up just because the mission parameters have changed," He finished.
"As if I'd let the dobe get ahead of me," Sasuke scoffed an arrogant smirk on his face, "Besides there are probably stronger opponents waiting for us this is a perfect chance to test myself."
Kakashi nodded his head in understanding before turning his attention to his last student. "Well Sakura it's all up to you. We'll continue, but only if it's a unanimous vote." Kakashi stated causing everyone to look at the pink haired girl expectantly. Sakura fidgeted nervously under their combined gaze, but already knew what her answer was going to be.
"We can't just leave all those people suffering. We have to help them." The pink haired girl decided resolutely. Looking toward her teammate to see their reaction to her statement she wasn't all that surprised to find they looked majorly indifferent to what she just said, though she was happy to note that there was a smidge of approval in his eyes before they returned to their now normal cold uncaring indifference.
Kakashi nodded his head, "Very well looks like we're continuing the mission Tazuna-san."
With that decision Team 7 and their client continued on their journey to the Land of Waves. When they reached the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves a friend of Tazuna's gave them a ride in his boat, with the danger they were in they had to remain quiet as they crossed into Wave being able see the unfinished bridge that Tazuna was making through the thick mist, silently impressing the genin, and to a lesser degree Kakashi. Once they reached land Tazuna's friend turned his boat around and left as quickly as possible.
Team 7 was walking through the forest on their way toward Tazuna's home, they were all on alert for possible threats, Kakashi had told them on the way that it was more than likely that there next opponent would be jounin level. Hearing a faint rustling in the bushes Naruto threw a kunai where he heard the sound coming from, Kakashi went to investigate and when he returned he was holding a white rabbit that was scared to death, probably because it was so close to being impaled by Naruto's kunai.
"Nice work dobe." Sasuke said sarcastically, "You stopped a rabbit from attacking us."
Naruto kept his eyes on the rabbit for a moment longer before he shifted his attention to look around the surrounding area, "If you knew how to pay proper attention instead of trying to appear better Uchiha you would have noticed the puddle the Demon Brothers were hiding, and what is wrong with the current situation." The storm-grey eyed genin said continuing to search for something.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke demanded confused.
Sakura was looking at the rabbit in confinement as well, a few weeks ago if Naruto, before he changed, had done the same thing she would have figured it was because he was being his usual hyperactive self, now she was sure that Naruto wouldn't have wasted the effort if there wasn't a good reason. It only took her a second longer for her to realize what the white haired teen was getting at, "Its fur," The pink haired kunoichi began, "The color of its fur is all wrong. It's white, for this time of the year it should be brown."
"That's rig-Duck!" Kakashi shouted pulling Sasuke and Tazuna down with him keeping them from being cut in half by a zanbato that was flying through the air. Naruto had been the one closest to Sakura, so he had pulled the girl down with him causing him to land partially on top of the young pinkette.
"Are you alright?" Naruto asked her coolly.
"Y-yeah, t-thanks," Sakura stuttered a small blush spreading across her cheeks.
Knowing that the pink haired girl was fine Naruto picked himself, up and look toward where the giant cleaver had stuck itself on the side of a tree. Standing on the handle of the blade was a man with short black hair a strap that went over his bare chest, most likely to help carry the sword. He wore light blue shinobi pants, the standard shinobi sandals, and camouflage arm and leg warmers. The lower half of his face was covered by bandages and on his head was his Kiri headband worn slanted and to the side.
"Well, well, well Copy-cat Kakashi. No wonder the Demon Brothers were defeated, with you as their opponent." The unknown mist ninja said looking at Kakashi, dismissing the genin as unimportant. "I'm only after the bridge builder hand him over, and you and your little greenhorn genin can leave with your lives."
"Zabuza Demon of the Mist," Kakashi muttered recognizing the shinobi from his bingo book.
"I see my reputation precedes me," The now named Zabuza stated smugly.
'For an opponent like this I really don't have much of a choice,' The one eyed jounin thought to himself lifting up his headband to reveal that his left eye was a blood red with three tomes surrounding the pupil.
"Oh, the infamous Sharingan, for you to bring it out so early in our battle I'm honored." Zabuza said pulling his zanbato out of the tree and landing on the water of the lake that was in front of them. Kakashi stepped closer the Kiri-nin, standing between him and his team, as he pulled out a kunai from his holster.
'Sharingan?' Sasuke thought in shock staring at his sensei, 'How does he have the Kekkei Genkai of my clan?'
"Stay out of this he's way out of your league. Protect the bridge builder." The gray haired jounin ordered his genin. The genin followed their sensei's order and moved to stand around Tazuna in a triangle formation.
Zabuza started things off by performing a single hand seals, "Hidden Mist Jutsu!" The Demon of the Mist said thickening the mist that already existed in the area making it hard for the Konoha-nin to see anything, more for the three genin than Kakashi. Hidden within the mist Zabuza spoke his voice reverberating from every direction. "There are seven points in the human body that result in instant death the heart, the larynx, the jugular, the brain, the spine, the liver, and the kidney. Now which point should I attack?" Zabuza questioned releasing a massive amount of killing intent that Kakashi countered with his own.
Sasuke began to shake in primal fear the bloodlust that filled the air was suffocating the desire to kill was too much; he had to put an end to it. Griping the kunai he had in his hand firmly he was about to thrust it into himself to end it when Kakashi's voice stopped him before the metal blade pierced his skin.
"Sasuke," Kakashi said to his shaking student without even looking back at him, "Calm down. I promise that nothing will happen to you." He finished trying to convince his subordinate that nothing will happen to him.
"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep Kakashi." Zabuza said suddenly appearing in the middle of the genins' formation and in front of Tazuna. But before he could swing his zanbato to cleave the bridge builder he felt something impaled into his gut. Shifting his eye sight toward the side the masked Kiri-nin saw the white haired genin standing with the kunai that was currently jabbed into his gut looking at him coldly.
"And you shouldn't be so arrogant or underestimate your opponents, Demon of the Hidden Mist." Naruto stated pressing the kunai deeper into Zabuza when suddenly the missing-nin burst into water. "A Water clone," Naruto muttered to himself realizing what just happened.
"Heh not bad brat," Zabuza said appearing behind the former blond genin, his giant cleaver ready to decapitate the boy. "But not good enough." He finished tensing his muscles in preparation of swinging his sword. But before he could Kakashi appeared in front of him kunai in hand stabbing Zabuza with it, though like before the mist shinobi turned out to be just another Water clone, as it had burst into the liquid the moment the kunai penetrated its skin. The mist began to lift slightly showing Zabuza standing a short distance away from Team 7. "That's an interesting brat you've got there Kakashi, but it's going to take more than a greenhorn genin to beat me." The masked missing-nin stated.
"Is that so?" The gray haired jounin asked rhetorically before he burst into water.
"What?" Zabuza gasped surprised, "A Water clone?" From the mist Kakashi emerged thrusting his kunai at Zabuza who pulled his sword from behind his back in retaliation to block the kunai. "Should have known you would have copied my jutsu with that eye of yours," Zabuza grunted.
"Don't flatter yourself." Kakashi replied, "I already knew that jutsu, it's not all that special." He finished. Zabuza growled slightly at the insult and started to press down harder with his sword forcing Kakashi to counter the increase in strength with his own, but was still made to slide back a bit on the ground. Seeing that he was losing ground Kakashi jumped back to put some distance between him and the Kiri nuke-nin causing Zabuza's zanbato to slam into the ground. With the zanbato momentarily stuck in the ground Zabuza used the handle as leverage to spin himself around and land a kick on Kakashi sending the masked Konoha-nin into the lake.
Sputtering for air Kakashi broke the surface of the lake before he noticed something strange about the water he was in. 'This isn't normal water it's dense, heavy.' Kakashi's eyes widened as he realized what that meant when Zabuza appeared behind him going through a string of hand seals.
"Water style: Water Prison Jutsu!" Zabuza declared. The water suddenly rose up twisting around Kakashi encasing him in a sphere of water that floated above the lake, with Zabuza standing beside it his left arm connected to the water sphere. The grey haired jounin tried to move inside the sphere of water, but it was almost impossible for him to do so. Zabuza chuckled at Kakashi's struggling form, "This prison is made of water but its stronger than steel." He said performing a single hand seal, "Now to take care of your little brats, Water Clone jutsu!" He finished just as another Zabuza emerged from the lake's surface.
"You brats," The clone spoke standing in front of the three genin, "Run around wearing those headbands calling yourselves shinobi as if it is supposed to mean something. You have no idea what it really means to be a shinobi, to be between life and deaf so often that it will no longer affect. I'll only consider you true shinobi once you've earned yourselves a page in my Bingo Book." The water clone stated performing a hand seal and thickening the mist that was present. In a split second that the water clone was hidden by the mist he suddenly appeared in front of Naruto aiming to land a hit to white haired teen's midsection. Naruto was just barely to put up a guard to block the kick, but the force of the attack still pushed him back. "None of you have a chance of beating me."
"Run!" Kakashi shouted from inside the water prison, "Zabuza's water clones can't move to far away from him, and while he is using this jutsu Zabuza can't chase after you. Take the bridge builder and run away now!" He ordered them.
"Do you honestly expect us to follow that type of order?" Naruto muttered loud enough for everyone to hear lowering his arms so they were at his side, his hair shadowing his eyes. "This is the sort of situation that Shima-sama was talking about, being given an order that we know is wrong." Naruto lifted his head slightly, so one of his eyes was no longer obscured by his hair, he stared determinedly ahead looking passed the water clone and staring at Kakashi and the real Zabuza. "I still haven't forgiven you for leaving me tied to that training log and for what happened afterwards, Hatake. But I'll at least take that lesson to heart; I will not abandon a comrade." He finished shifting his attention back to the water clone.
'Naruto,' Sakura thought surprised by the young teen's speech while her heart clenched once again remembering that she had also left him tied there all night.
"Brave words brat, but it will take more than that to beat me." The water clone stated lifting his zanbato from his back and holding it in his arms.
"Is that so," The stormy-grey eyed teen murmured his voice once again growing cold. "I had hoped to keep this secret for a while longer, but considering the circumstances that no longer seems possible." Lifting up his hands Naruto performed a single cross shaped hand seal, "Shadow clone Jutsu!" He said before in a poof of smoke a single Shadow clone appeared beside him.
"Oh the Shadow clones Jutsu that is an impressive technique," Zabuza's water clone said mockingly. "But it's going to take more than a single Shadow clone to win this fight brat." Naruto didn't reply to Zabuza's taunt, though a smirk did spread across his face.
Behind Naruto the rest of Team 7 and Tazuna watched as a strange light blue seal appeared on the Shadow clone's back. Looking at Naruto they noticed that a different looking seal, this one a purple color had appeared on his right hand. 'What the hell is that?' They all thought simultaneously.
"Aspect," The clone spoke the seal on its back glowing brighter, "Invidia." It finished being consumed in a light that made it impossible to distinguish any of its features, as its shaped slowly began to change.
"Aspect," Naruto said lifting up his hand in front of his face, the back of the hand facing Zabuza so he could see the seal, "Avaritia." For a moment when the white haired brat said that word Zabuza felt something strange, but it soon went away so he just shrugged it off.
When the light that surrounded the Shadow clone shattered it revealed that it had changed and had become an exact replica of Zabuza's zanbato, which was imbedded into the ground. Reaching out and lifting it up with his left hand Naruto slung the giant zanbato over his shoulder.
"This," Naruto said softly in a cold voice, "Is the power of the 'Crown of Seven'."
AN: Alright I'm going to end it there. I had originally intended for this to finish after the fight with Zabuza, but this just seemed like too good of a spot to stop, so I'll leave the fight with Zabuza to be the beginning of the next chapter and it will probably cover the entire wave arc unless I can come up with something to extended it. With this chapter done I will begin working on my Shinobi of the Digital Hazard story and after that I'm not sure.
So until next time everyone please remember to review.