Hey everyone! Thanks for all the encouraging reviews! I'm glad so many people like this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter... Remember I write things a little differently than Mr. Kishimoto, this story is the way I would have written Naruto... not that Mr. Kishimoto didn't do a wonderful job himself. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter Four: The Truth

You're starting to give me a headache, dobe," Sasuke spoke out of irritation.

"He's starting to give us all headaches," Kakashi said as he leaped from the tree branch.

The group of five departed Konoha a little before noon. Sasuke and Sakura were on both sides of Tazuna; Kakashi was in front, and Naruto... was just being Naruto.

"It's such a great day!" The blonde cheered. "And you said we didn't have to worry about enemy ninja, right Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi sighed, and placed his hands in his pockets. "Most likely not," Kakashi said. "Wave does not have shinobi of their own. However, other nearby countries would... The Konoha is not the only hidden shinobi village."

"Hmm," Naruto said as he placed him hand under his chin to fake a look of pondering.

The group continued their journey through the forest. Glancing upward, Sakura noticed how hot the day was. She looked to her left, and noticed a puddle of water on the forest floor. Taking a step toward it, Sakura nodded to Naruto to take her place next to Tazuna. She inconspicuously kept walking while keeping her body between the puddle and her team. Kakashi noticed the puddle as well, and fell back behind the team a little ways.

The team was about five yards away from the puddle when something happened...

Two shinobi leaped from the puddle, and surrounded Kakashi in a wire. They kept wrapping it around him, until Kakashi's body seemed to disintegrate.

"One down," one of the shinobi said. The two then appeared behind Naruto. The two shinobi had a chain connected between the two...it was the same wire that had made Kakashi...

"Now, two down," the other shinobi commented.

"Dobe!" Sasuke yelled. "Move!"

Sasuke and Sakura reacted at the same time, Sasuke flew into the air, and Sakura appeared behind the two shinobi. Sasuke flung one of his kunai at the base of the chain that connected the two shinobi... it stuck to a tree behind them.

The two shinobi then nodded to themselves, and the two broke off the chain. Sakura then, appeared behind one of the shinobi; she had a kunai in one of her hands, and jammed it into the base of his neck. One of the shinobi fell to the ground.

The other shinobi stared blankly at the pink haired girl, but then shook his head. Taking one last glance at Sakura, the shinobi raced toward where Tazuna now stood unguarded.

"Move!" Sasuke called from his vantage point in the tree. Sakura glanced at Naruto and slapped him in the face.

"This is a mission Naruto," Sakura said suddenly. Naruto blinked a few times, but a smile appeared on his face. He appeared in front of Tazuna just before the other ninja could get there. Naruto had a kunai in his hands, and his face read complete determination.

Just as the shinobi was about to hit Naruto, a poofing cloud of gray was seen in front of Naruto, and Kakashi appeared with the shinobi unconscious and in his grasp.

"Sorry I didn't help out a little sooner," Kakashi said with a smile. "I wanted to see what you all could do... Great job, Sasuke and Sakura. You too Naruto, after you got over your shock.

"Your only problem was you left Tazuna open to other attacks."

"But that's another problem right there," Kakashi said with a sigh. "You never said shinobi were after you... especially hidden mist shinobi... and one of them did hit Naruto with a poisoned kunai."

Naruto's eyes widened, and tears almost threatened to fall. "I will not be a burden to my team," he said as he took out a kunai.

Naruto was about to slam the kunai into his hand before a hand prevented him from doing so. "I'll take care of it Naruto," Sakura said with a small smile.

She grabbed Naruto's hand and lightly dug the poison out of his vein. She then placed some healing cream on it, and smiled. "We should be heading to Tazuna-san's village, right?" Sakura asked.

"That's the problem," Kakashi said with a sigh. "This mission is already moved up to a B ranking... this isn't for a genin squad. We should turn around and-"

"Coward," Naruto muttered. "You know we're capable. I promise as this blood drips.... I will protect the old man with my life."

"Naruto, it's not that easy. You are all more than capable... But Tazuna-san needs to tell us the truth," Kakashi said staring directly at Tazuna.

"I suppose I will," Tazuna said with a small frown. "There is a very dangerous man after me... his name is Gatou, and he wishes to stop the building of this bridge.

"The building of this bridge signifies the freedom we can have in trading; we wouldn't have to use the high priced trade routes Gatou owns... I'm sure you've heard of him before."

Kakashi blinked a few times but smiled. "Nope," Kakashi said while he rubbed his head sheepishly. "Never heard of him."

"Gatou from the Gatou crime family... he is said to be one of the richest and most powerful in the world," Sakura said lightly.

Tazuna raised an eyebrow. "The girl is right," he said. "None of my fellow country men can afford the cost of trading when Gatou controls it all. The completion of this bridge would mean possibly the end of Gatou's control over us."

"You knew there would be a chance of shinobi attacking you," Kakashi said. "Why didn't you ask for a more experienced team?"

"The wave country is poor... even our feudal lord has next to no money," Tazuna said. "If money is what you need, after the bridge is built I will send you enough money to cover the costs of a b-ra-"

"Don't worry about it," Naruto said with a large smile. "We'll protect you with our lives!"

"We'll at least take you back to your village," Kakashi said with a smile.

"Gee, thanks," Tazuna said sarcastically.

All five of them began walking again; Sasuke and Naruto were on both sides of Tazuna; Kakashi and Sakura were walking together a few feet behind them.

"You saw the puddle of water," Kakashi stated. He glanced over to his only female teammate and she nodded.

"It hasn't rained in a week," Sakura said quietly.

"One of the mist nin... he seemed to recognize you," Kakashi said remembering back to battle. "He glanced at you before going for Tazuna...."

"I wouldn't know why he looked at me," Sakura said. "Maybe he underestimated my strength and was shocked to have me take down his partner..."

"I know you're lying, Sakura," Kakashi said while stopping his student. He grabbed her shoulders forcefully, and kept her still. "You guys go ahead and set up camp over the next hill. Sakura and I are going to get some firewood."

The three males in front of them only nodded, none of them looked back.

"Tell me. How did that Mist nin know you?" Kakashi asked softly.

"..." Sakura didn't answer. She allowed her eyes to drop to the ground. "...What if I told you I wasn't born in Konoha?"

Kakashi visibly relaxed. "Keep going, Sakura," Kakashi said; his arms had not left her shoulders. "I'm listening."

"And my father and mother were both nin from the mist?"

"Okay Sakura," Kakashi said with a small smile. "Now, we're getting somewhere."

"I didn't lie about them being murdered though..." Sakura said, she directed her eyes upward, and stared into Kakashi's. "They were assassinated... My whole clan was. I was supposed to be..."

"Sakura," Kakashi frowned. "It's okay. Why didn't you go to your Mizukage?"

"He ordered the hit, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said with light tears stinging her eyes. "My Mizukage killed my family."