Sasuke sat on a tree-trunk slightly apart from their camp, doing his watch while thinking hard. Not only regarding the things Kakashi had ordered him to think about, no, his mind, for some reason he was not yet aware of, could not shake the view of the slightly blushing Sakura bringing him his stew. Why? He admitted that she didn't look half bad, especially the rather striking combination of pink hair and vibrantly green eyes with the cute blush, but he had known her for quite some time now, and she was definitely too clingy and immature to think about any other relationship than being team mates. So why didn't he manage to get it out of his head? The only obvious answer would be that he WAS somehow interested in her in another way than regarding her importance in the team, which as she was now was rather minimal. Huh, maybe that would pose a viably solution. He decided to openly give her some hints at how to become an asset instead of a hindrance, and see what would happen. Yes, this was a perfectly explainable reason to think about her, and had absolutely nothing to do with any other thoughts he might have. He decided to start giving her …. advice tomorrow. He would make sure to give some to Naruto as well, no need in being too obvious and after all the blonde needed them almost as badly. Yes, that was a suitable path to take.
Sasuke continued his watch far less distracted than before.
The rest of the night had gone by without anything happening (to their knowledge) and so Team 7 broke up its camp and continued on the path to Wave. They should reach their destination today, which was the reason for 6 Narutos moving ahead, beside and behind the group. While he was not the most attentive person, Shadow Clones that did not hamper their user did have their advantages.
Still Sasuke, who took point again, kept scanning the area with his Sharingan most of the time.
Better save than sorry after all. After their breakfast he had taken Sakura aside and given her some ... hints on how to be an asset to the team, especially focusing (for a start) on stopping to ridicule Naruto in front of clients or enemies (altogether prohibiting laughing at the blonde would have been cruel after all, seeing the number of opportunities he provided) and being more alert than fawning over him all the time. She had looked at him as if he ahd grown a second head, but predictably agreed. Depending on how much of that she was able to actually perform he had promised to teach her a bit. Although she probably had some other form of teaching in mind, seeing how she had blushed at that. He smirked, it was only fair after all, seeing he had thought about some of her assets lately as well, ahem...back to scouting. Now.
He had also agreed to spar with Naruto to enable the blonde to actually develop something akin to Taijutsu instead of simply swarming everything with Kage Bunshin, but that would have to wait until they had time to do it. Doing such strenuous work while on the move, and probably being followed by enemy Ninja, would be the paramount of stupid. And as a good Uchiha, he would not sink to such lows. He smirked.
And so they marched for roughly 3 hours, the weather getting cloudier and cooler all the way, until they reached a small lake surrounded by trees and rocks, fueled by the rivulet they had been more or less following for the past hour or so. He had just wanted to ask if they would make their noon break here, when his Sharingan picked up a movement that would come his way roughly 50m ahead and "screamed" danger at him, and he instinctively dodged, shouting "Attack!" while he did so. And good that he did dodge, because the fucking huge sword that swished only inches over his head, cutting some of his unruly hair off, half a second later would have fileted him. Now it continued spinning until it embedded itself into a tree a few dozen meters behind the group (which due to Kakashi had managed to dodge it as well). Just as he wanted to ask what the hell was going on, a large, muscular man with bare chest, wearing only dark trousers, some sort of blackish arm warmers, a bandage covering half of his face and a scratched Kiri headband suddenly stood atop the swords long handle, scowling at them and emitting quite the amount of killing intent...
Zabuza had eagerly been following the Demon Brothers trail when he stumbled over another set. These were rather less well hidden than he would have expected from any group able to defeat the brothers with such obvious ease and led towards Wave. So, probably his target had hired himself some competent protection. This would be fun!
He followed the trail while sending Haku on ahead to circle the group and approach once he had engaged them. That is until he stumbled upon 2 exactly identical orange clad boys which were oblivious enough about watching their surroundings to not even remotely realize he was there. Clones behind the group, huh, not a bad idea. However the fact that these Ninja obviously let the less attentive one scout made him even more eager to end it fast, and so he advanced to get to them in a nice and obvious frontal assault. Maybe that would wake them up...
And waking them up it did, the brat at point even evades his Sword with enough time to warn the rest. Fast little bugger, still, time for his great entrance! It would never do to let his reputation drop after all...
Kakashi tensed, quickly nodding Sakura and Naruto to shield Tazuna, for which purpose Naruto made 2 more clones.
"Well well, Zabuza Momoshi, the Demon of the Mist himself. I had not expected you to work for scum like Gateau, but it seems being a Missing Nin forces you to sink even lower than I had expected from the likes of you." Kakashis tone was icy, his stance however betrayed the banter as just that. He held himself highly ready.
"If it isn't Sharingan Kakashi the "Copy Nin." Zabuzas Voice on the other hand showed clear signs of eagerness, and some kind of aggressive mirth. "And look at the cute little team you have there! Say, do they know what will happen now?" With that he launched himself from the sword, pulling it out of the tree and somersaulting to the ground in one smooth move, his killer Intent spiking sharply.
Sasuke had never heard of this "Demon of the Mist", but seeing Kakashis reaction made him gulp. If his sensei took the man that seriously, he was WAY out of his league, and worlds out of Narutos or Sakuras. Damn. And just as he had started to feel comfortably superior in his new team.
He drew a pair of Kunai and readied some Shuriken. Even if he was no threat against that Demon Guy on his own, he might be able to contribute. His Sharingan started to spin more quickly, as it tried to anticipate Zabuzas next move. The large Ninja however simply made a single sign, and Mist started to coalesce in the area.
"His "Favorite", the Hidden Mist Jutsu. Be wary, my pupils, he is a master of the art of silent killing." Kakashi said while removing the cover blocking his Sharingan. The Sharingan should give them both some advantages here, but Sasuke would have given half his weapons for a Hyuga right now. Ah well, when had he ever been that lucky? Stuck in a world where his elder brother had killed the whole clan, with no idea how he got there or how to get back. Compared to that this was just normal bad luck...
So he simple held himself ready, while Zabuzas voice started to count down the points where he would attack, and instantly kill, them. Stupid Killing Intent, it made Sasuke shake, even after training with Itachi from time to time, he had never experienced such amounts. He looked around frantically, trying his best to pierce the fog, but could see nothing. Tazuna had started to whimper to himself, and Naruto had dispersed 6 additional clones around their client. Wouldn't help much, Sasuke reckoned, but better than nothing. Which was exactly what Sakura was doing, dammit. He did not have the time (or energy if he was honest) to do something against that now however...
He had just thought that thought when Zabuza attacked...
All the while, back in Konoha, the Hokage entered his room, where Ibiki was waiting for him, radiating a mixture of frustration and anger. "Sit, sit." He ordered his Master Torturer, while quickly walking to his seat and lighting his pipe, which had gone out quite some time ago. Leaning back and enjoying his first mouthful of smoke he sighed. "As you have not said anything yet, I assume your efforts of finding some info on what happened to Sasuke and how in the Uchiha compund where fruitless." He did not voice it as a question, but Ibiki nodded nonetheless, his face as impassive as most of the time. With another sigh the Hokage leaned forward. It was days like this that made him feel his age. He felt old now, far too old to hold his position. Nothing new, but still, it made him feel like a relic long better replaced by a more vigorous, more active Hokage.
"Well, my efforts of searching all the secret Hokage Scrolls has provided similar results. I have ordered the Clan heads to search their libraries, but so far nothing surfaced. Unless Danzo has hidden something, and while I would not put it behind the traitorous old schemer to do that I am pretty sure he has not, the only place where we might find such information is in the 4th`s scrolls..." The Hokage had long ago told Ibiki all about Narutos "Legacy" as far as he knew, after all it was possible that the Master Torturer would have to … deal with Naruto should he lose it. "Alas until we tell Naruto everything, we cannot access them at all. So, until he gets back from his mission, I am sending you and 2 Anbu of your choice to go search info about the subject outside Konoha. You will start in..."
A few minutes later Ibiki left the Hokages room, and Sarutobi felt even more tired. Rushing the decision to reveal Narutos heritage or risk not knowing about a new threat to Konoha, including the possibility of loosing their last Uchiha, why were his decisions never easy? He relighted his pipe, took a deep swig of smoke, and went back to work. No use in mourning his fate now, he had to hold out for the time being...
Sasuke managed to avoid the first water bullet that seemingly came out of nowhere only due to his Sharingan telling him where it would go. He could not however evade the second one, or it would have hit Sakura and Tazuna. He had long been taught by his uncle that relying on the Sharingan came with one major drawback: it was egoistic to the extreme. Yes, it showed you the "perfect" thing to do. Unless you had friends or clients to protect. So he threw his Kunai at the oncoming bullet while tackling his teammate and their stinking client, barely evading the attack. He whispered a "Stay down" into Sakuras ear and jumped away to prevent Zabuza (or more likely some clone of the Missing Nin) from having an easy target. But what could he do? He could not see farther than 2 meters, and blindly shooting Jutsu around was dangerous for his team without providing a real chance of hitting Zabuza. He heard water crash onto something not too far to his left. Probably Kakashi fighting the "Demon". That was his chance. He went through a series of 4 hand-signs and executed the "Sparrowhawk" Jutsu. The only combat-related one Obito had ever taught him, this Wind Type Jutsu allowed to boost ones speed while on open ground, though it only lasted until the chakra ran out or one executed another Ninjutsu. Still, he had to try, and so, with a speed that would have astonished his teammates, had they been able to actually see him, he rushed slightly to the left of the noises of battle, readying 6 Shuriken in his hands and concentrating on his Sharingan to the utmost of his ability. A small diversion would be all Kakashi would need to get an edge, he thought, and so that was what he would provide.
As he exited the denser mist, he could see Kakashi and Zabuza standing on the lakes surface, blasting each other with Ninjutsu, namely Water Dragons at the moment. Awesome sight, and another Jutsu copied, though he doubted he would be able to execute it in the near future. He flipped to the left, aiming his Shuriken with all the precision and speed his Sharingan and Wind Jutsu gave him, threw them, landed and immediately started to execute the Hosenká no Jutsu. While this would deplete his chakra reserves down to less than half, he wouldn't be of much help anyway seeing their opponent could fight Kakashi on equal terms, so he blew 6 small fireballs at Zabuzas location, due to his perfect timing they landed exactly after the Shuriken had hit. Steam rose, obscuring his sight almost completely, but he kept moving, albeit far slower than before. That is until his Sharingan suddenly hurt, his vision getting somewhat deeper, and made him stab to the left with a Kunai while ducking under some kind of small but dangerous attack, just in time to hit …. something with it before an unimaginably strong force hit his torso and propelled him upward. Flying out towards the water, slowly rotating along his vertical axis, Sasukes wondered why he did not hurt at all while his sight faded to black, only vaguely seeing the spots of red flying with him, alternating between being lighted by the silver sky and framed by smooth, dark water, still active Sharingan plotting their paths until darkness claimed him...
AN: Sorry for the delay, it took me longer than my usual 3-5 days because of some family issues as well as my birthday (yes, I am officially even older now...). The relative lack of reviews did not help either, so let me thank those of you who DID review!
You can expect the next chapter to be up some time around Tuesday at the latest. Earlier if inspiration hits me (or a huge amount of reviews lets my motivation spike).
Also, while I usually tend to avoid cliffhangers, maybe this will boost your interest...