13 Tails
Chapter 5: Demon of the mist
The group came to a silent ninja halt at the edge of the forest,where an open grassy plain began. Gai was impressed, after all that running their new member didn't look tired at all. His breathe was even more level then his other two students – although Lee's didn't show..
"Is that where we are going?" Goku asked,pointing at a small village sitting at the foot of a mountain.
"Yes. And that up there," Gai gave a captain pose ,pointing beyond the village. "Is Fire Mountain." He said. "That's where the Ox King's castle is." The Genin all looked at the great mountain with awe.
Stories were told of a great and fearsome warrior who had been one of the most powerful shinobi in Fire Country. A great ox summoner and legendary taijutsu and Kenjutsu master. Apprentice, just like the third hokage ,of the great Master Roshi – the world's most powerful shinobi and missing ninja(literally. As in no one knows where he is) . All of these stories were repeated whenever the Ox king's name was mentioned.
They all began walking towards the village ,and as they neared the first houses,Goku asked: "So what do we do now?"
"Well ,since this is a two part mission, I'm going to go deliver this document to the Ox King." Gai said petting his chest which was probably where he kept said scroll. "The second part doesn't start till the Fry-pan festival begins which is in two days so till then it will be free time to train.
Passing the first houses, they noticed that the villagers were all spotting ear to ear smiles ,showing their obvious excitement for the up and coming festival. Some were even waving at them. Goku found this weird. Strangers never openly waved at him ,well ,not like this anyway. And it seemed he was the one getting the most attention!
"Looks like the village likes our little man." Tenten said, but Goku was still lost to the feelings to realise any implications on Tenten's part. He was knocked out off his stupor, though, after Lee began petting his head in a 'you are short and I am tall' manor.
Frowning, Goku smack the hand away and began chasing the thick-browed boy around the other two. Gai smiled, and so did the villagers. It was great seeing his Genin getting along so well. This would only insure a better and stronger team in the future. 'FOUR THE FLAMES OFF YOUTH BURN EVEN BRIGHTER WHEN BURNING TOGETHER!'
The've been walking for hours now and still no attack from bandits,but then of couse, no normal civilian criminal is going to attack one that is protected by ninja...well,not a smart one anyway.
As he trailed behind the rest of the group, lost to the world in thought, Naruto figured that maybe the attack might come when they were vulnerable, like when they are resting or asleep or something. But however he looked at it this still failed to ease his mind. Somehow he felt like they were being followed. His muscles were tense and his hands were sweaty. He felt very uneasy.
Looking towards his teammates, he noticed that the other two Genin were as confident as ever. Turning his eyes to his sensei, the jounin seemed to not even care about the world around him, but the blonde knew he did,he just didn't seem to be bothered by anything. He hung his head in shame. Even Sakura was braver than him. This is a discrace,he thought,to shinobi and men everywhere.
Kakashi turned his eye to the downcast blonde and smiled; the gesture evident only through the visible eye. He then turned to his other students. Sasuke was walking a step behind Tazuna, ready to protect if anything happened, but other than that the raven-haired boy was oblivious of his surroundings. Sakura was even worse. Lost in lala land, the only sign of life in this world was the constant side glances towards said raven-haired boy. The Jounin sighed and went back to reading.
An hour and a half or quarter or so later, the group came to a stop before a wavy shore. Naruto watched as the tide came in,bringing a cold chill with it,then ebb back,but only to be engulfed by another wave. "Right on time." Tazuna said,looking at his watch. "Our transport should be here in ten minutes."He said, and sure enough, nine or so minutes later, a figure appeared in the misty sea.
The boat sliced over the water, slowly making its way towards them. When the group was finally on board and slowly making their way to the island of Wave country, Naruto found that he still couldn't shake the feeling of being followed.
Come on Naruto, he scolded, stop being so paranoid. On the water? He sighed. This is pathetic even for you.
Kakashi, hearing him sigh, spared a glance to his blonde, scar-cheeked student. He shook his head smiling, Looking towards his other Genin he's smile fell. Although the Uchiha kept a straight, confident face, the Jounin could see that he was completely unaware of the two Chunin level ninja following them. He figured Chunin, because, well, their stealth abilities weren't Jounin level. What kind of idiot releases killing intent while trying to sneak up on a person? But how could he not feel it? The two were on them ever since they left the village.
He was going to wait and see what they did, 'If they attacked...'.He trailed off, returning his thoughts to his Genin.
Sakura...sigh,she isn't even taking this mission seriously. Most young konuichi still have the protect me mindset of, since she is the only female around four guys she will be among those who are to be protected. Although this may be true, a kunoishi, especially one that wants to become Jounin, should never rely on another person's help. Infect, she should be the one looking to see who she can be able to help not the other way around.
Sakura is going to have to learn not to rely on Sasuke or Naruto to save her, or else her ninja career is going to be very short and I'll be damned if I let that happen on my watch,the Jounin thought.
The file that he had read on Naruto stated that the orange clad boy is untalented, but what he's seeing here on their first real mission has proven that information to be wrong. Out of the three of them, Naruto was the only one able to sense the two following them, and all done out of instinct alone. The Jounin frowned. He knew that, as the last Uchiha, Sasuke has been taught to his full potential. And he realises that most all Genin would have a tough time sensing a Chunin but as a genius he should be able to sense something .By his deduction, if Naruto had anything close to a deasent education,he could have not only been the Genin of the year, but one passing in the previous years. The only problem that he had with the boy was his motivation.
Sasuke was after revenge. He'd have to find a way to work around that, or perhaps convince him of a new path. Naruto though,being the most powerful shinobi ,not only in the village but the world itself. Such an ambition always leads to villainry, and another Orochimaru is something the leaf won't stand for, literally. And he didn't what to have a part in it.
"Naruto," Kakashi broke the silence for the first time since boarding the boat. "Why do you want to be the most powerful shinobi?" He asked. All eyes then turned to the sun-kissed blonde boy who blinked at the questions.
Forgeting his earlier worries, Naruto summoned a smile. "So I can protect everyone who is precious to me." He said. "Oh, and so I can be stronger than Goku. He also wants to be strong." Kakashi smiled as Naruto continued "Although I can't beat him all the time while sparring,I am sure I'll beat him now using my Kage-"
"Naruto!" Sasuke shushed. Gesturing to his ear, he mouthed a 'listen'.
A distance away from both sides of the boat, the group could here splashing sounds as if people were running on the water. "Somebody's out there." Sakura nervously said.
"We are getting close." The driver whispered. For some reason the guy could only take them a short distance further. "After this," He said. "It might be too dangerous.
Dropped smilingly in the middle of nowhere, team 7 and there charge began tracking their way through a forest. It wasn't even thirty minutes when Kakashi suddenly stopped. He could feel a very powerful killing intent coming from the trees. "So you've finally decided to show yourselves." He said out loud, directing his words to the trees.
"HA ha ha ha ha. Hatake Kakashi!" A menacing voice came from around them. With an impacting sound followed by something braking, a body came flying over them.
"GET DOWN!" Kakashi shouted,jumping over Sakura and Tazuna. Naruto and Sasuke quickly dropped to the ground.
The body came flying over them followed closely by a gigantic sword spinning horizontally at its wake. After the now relieved gas-masked Kiri-nin hit a tree, his legs were cleaved off by the sword as it embedded itself in the trunk.
"AHHH!" The guy's cry vibrated through the forest as his legs came dancing down till they hit the floor in a bloodied splat!
As the four on the floor turned their eyes from the legs to high up in the trees where the sword was, they saw another guy squatting on the blade, looking down at the now legless ninja whose torso rested on the blade.
"Momochi Zabuza." Kakashi exclaimed.
The assailant turned his head to them. "So you've heard of me? I feel honoured." He said. "Though I'm a little ashamed." He continued,pushing himself up to stand on the sword. "For a Kiri-nin to act so cowardly is a disgrace to me. If you're going to attack someone, do it and get it over with. If you die,you'd at least go with some form of honour. Following them for hours hoping to find a weakness or to catch them off guard is pathetic, even if it is the legendary Copy-nin Kakashi."
"There were two of them, where's the other one?" Kakashi asked, but as he finished the last word, body parts fell from the trees right in front of them hitting the ground in a bloody mix-up. They were then followed by a blood soaked chain.
"Now that that's over," Zabuza said, braking the silent screams of a certain pink clad Genin. "we can get to business. Kakashi," He said. "I'm afraid I can't let you continue. There is a bounty placed on the bridge builder's head and I intend on cashing in"
Now, at this moment, if looks could kill then Tazuna could have keeled over an died in the most horrid and agonising death from the look he was getting from Kakashi. This mission was said to be a C-rank,which would consist of protecting a civilian from bandits and thieves, not ninjas. An S-class ninja like Zabuza could easily turn this in to an A-Rank which is strictly for Jounin level ninja,not even chuunin.
Turning his eyes from the old bridge builder, Kakashi locked eyes with the bandage-masked demon of mist. He'll have a word with Tazuna later, now just isn't the time.
"You three protect our..client." He dead-panned with anger evident, all of which directed at said client. He lifted his forehead protector from around his eye to reveal the three tomoe of the Sharingan. Zabuza smiled behind the bandages then disappeared from his spot along with his sword, leaving the torso of the dead Kiri-nin to fall and hit the ground besides it's legs. The forest then went silent as a powerful killing intent flowed through it.
Acting quickly, Kakashi tackled Tazuna out of the way as the ground split were he stood just a second later. The earth scar started from one side of the clearing to the other. The attack happened so fast that all the Genin had heard was an explosion.
"Good,Kakashi." Zabuza's voice rang throughout the forest. "Now let's see if you can do it again." A thick veil of mist began to cover the clearing.
"Protect Tazuna!" Kakashi shouted. "Surround him,I'll deal with Zabuza!" He then disappeared.
"Deal with me? Ha ha ha ha." Zabuza's laughter echoed in the clearing.
Seconds later, as the Genin took their positions around Tazuna, the sounds of metal against metal began to ring all over the mist around them. As the sounds continued to play, a tall silhouette appeared in front of Naruto and Sasuke.
With kunai in hand, the two dropped in to stance, ready for the worst, but before anything happened, Kakashi tore through the silhouette with his kunai. Water splashed over the group. "They're water clo-" Before he finished,the Jounin quickly turned and blocked Zabuza's giant cleaver with two kunai. "Clone. They are not that hard to defeat. You guys can take them." The two veterans then disappeared.
Holding a seal, Naruto summoned twenty clones which also took their positions around them. As another silhouette appeared, a battle cry roared from the clones then their kunai and shuriken went flying.
With one swing from the water clone's blade five orange clones were gone, then with another blade swing appearing from nowhere on the other side of the group,four more were gone.
"Great Fireball no Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted as he finished sealing. The great ball of flames struck the Zabuza clone which instantly turned into water, but only to be replaced by two more silhouettes which appeared behind it.
"There are just too many of them!" Sakura's voice was heard in the mist as another clone appeared in front of her.
Gritting his teeth,Naruto summoned as much chakra as he could in the short space of time. "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" An army of orange popped into existence. Those in vanguard began throwing their new found projectiles. Naruto's teeth strained as he got the memories of all the clones the Zabuzas were mowing through.
Six,seven clones at a time, the numbers depleted, and fast. Seeing no other way out, the Genin readied their kunai. There was no way of preparing the mind for what was sure to come.
Holding up there kunai ,Naruto and Sasuke blocked but were quickly over powered and sent back till their backs were pushing up against Tazuna. One strike from the clones sent Sakura flying and collide with the group. Horrid expressions played on her and Tazuna's faces as the cleaver was swung once again.
The attacks came from all sides. The Genin stood no chance as the blades sliced through the group at different angles.
"NO!" Kakashi tore though the clones, but before he was done with the last one,their bodies disappeared into clear smoke. He narrowed his eyes. That was too close. He was surprised he didn't see through this..
The remaining clone lifted its sword to attack, but before it could a kunai sliced through its neck and Sasuke bust through the water.
"Ah, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto appeared on his right, "That was my clone." He complained.
"You lose dobe,I got one more then you." Sasuke smirked at him.
"NO FAIR! Sensei took all of mine!" The blonde reasoned
"No,actually,he took the rest of mine." Sasuke corrected.
"Where is Sakura?" Kakashi asked the boys.
"She's protecting Tazuna." Sasuke answered, eyes still locked with the frowning blonde.
"Good. Go help her!" Kakashi said. Turning, he found himself face to face with Zabuza – the real one.
"Your little brats aren't half bad, but I seen better." The mist demon said, his eyebrowless eyes showing a smiling expression."Huh,looks like I'll have to kill you first,Kakashi. Then I'll get the pleasure of slowly skinning them and the old man."
"You guy stay back." Both veterans then disappeared, their presence only realised by the sounds of metal ringing in the mist.
The two ended in a stalemate, standing on top of a misty lake. Zabuza smiled. "Looks like our kenjutsu is evenly matched." Blood trailed down the cut on his cheek. "You even got lucky. Too bad your luck has just run out."
"Why is that?" Kakashi asked
"We are surrounded by. Now, Lets see if you can still match me!" The missing-nin jumped back, hands already flying through seals. Looking up he realised Kakashi was also going through the same signs.
The two finished at the same time. "Water Dragon No Jutsu!" Two dragon shaped waves shot out of the water in front of each warrior, shooting straight for their opponent.
The dragons collided into a huge explosion. As the water rained down on them, Zabuza made a seal and stuck his hand in the lake. Kakashi had little time to react as a water-hand grabbed his ankle. He poured chakra into his feet trying to fight the hand tried to pull him under. He used his kunai to slice but it didn't work, the blade just went through the water..
Finding that he was having trouble, Zabuza stuck his other hand in and began to pull harder. The water around the Konoha Jounin vibrated and a large area around him began to sink. With a demonic cry, Zabuza pulled his hands out of the water. A splash sounded as Kakashi dropped into the lake, and without wasting time Zabuza followed, his giant sword in hand.
Inside, their movements were a lot slower. Kakashi had just completed his seals when Zabuza swung his sword. Using the only breath he had, Kakashi blew out a great fireball right in front of the missing-nin, cancelling his last thing he saw in the water was Zabuza waving his hands frantically.
Cough! Cough! Using chakra in his hands, Kakashi pulled himself out of the water. He noticed that the mist was clearing and he could now see a lot farther than before.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura's voice reached him on the lake. The group seemed fine with a wide eyed Tazuna standing in between them. I've got to have a serious talk with that man, the Jounin promised himself. One very serious talk
The area in front of him began to lift reveal an angered, steaming Zabuza. His eyes were narrowed to slits. "I see why you rate so high on the bango book." He said.
"Was that a complement?" Kakashi eye smiled. "Let me show you what else I can do." His tomoe began to spin faster.
Zabuza began a series of complex seals, intending to finish this once and for all. He got frustrated as Kakashi once again copied him, but this time going even faster than him, doing seals before he himself got to them.
"SUITON:DEMON CANON!" The Sharingan user shouted first. Holding hand seals at his sides, large water spheres rose from the water. The mist demon found himself in the ugliest of situations. Faced against an attack which is not only your own, but one you had started first but only to defend? Saying he was pissed now would have been a serious understatement.
He sent his to counter those by Kakashi. 'This copy-monkey might be able to copy my attack, but one thing he can never copy is my affinity!' Zabuza put his hands together and pulled out a gigantic sphere and sent it flying towards his opponent. " Suiton:PRISON CANON!"
Kakashi sent one of his water balls upwards, and before Zabuza's attack reached him he disappeared, replacing himself with the water sphere.
The attack hit the sphere and continued in its path beyond the lake and into the forest, taking down a few trees as it did.
The sound of birds chipping filled the clearing. "Not bad." Kakashi appeared above him, his hand burning bright with blue electricity. "Chidori!" He through his fist.
Finding that he had on other choice, Zabuza jumped back only to have Kakashi follow him as soon as the Jounin touched down. He had no chance. The Chodori came dancing towards him as Kakashi extended his hand.
The leaf-nin, seeing every card Zabuza could pull, struck home on his chest. Reacting with the water all over the missing-nin's body, the chidori exploded and sent Zabuza flying till he passed the borders of the lake.
Kakashi approached the fallen warrior with a kunai inhand, ready to deal the final blow. Zabuza coughed, the bandages around his mouth turning red. "It's over." Kakashi said. As he was about to strike , his shinobi senses drew his eyes towards flying projectiles. Turning his head, two sendons came sailing through the air and imbedded themselves inside Zabuza's neck.
His eyes trailed the origin. On top of a branch stood a blue clad ninja wearing a white mask with a Mist cymbal on the forehead. "Thanks for stopping him for me" The new arrival said. "If you hadn't I'd still be chasing him." The masked guy said.
'This is not a normal kid.' Kakashi thought, looking over the ninja who didn't look over 14. The Konoha genin all looked at the new arrival with frowns.
After checking Zabuza's pulse,Kakashi stood. "Don't worry guys," He said. He found that he was leaning heavily on his right leg. "It's not an enemy."
"Your battle is over." The Kiri-nin said after appearing next to Zabuza's body. "Thank you. I must now go dispose of this body. Farewell." He then disappeared..
Kakashi's left leg chose this moment to go numb rendering him to his knee. "Kakashi-sensei?" The others turned to him. The Jounin then fell forward. "KAKASHI-SENSEI!"They all ran to his side.
"My body won't move," He said. "I used the sharingan too much." Naruto and Sasuke helped him up, letting him wrap his arms around their shoulders.
"Come. Let's get him to my house so he can rest." Tazuna said, gilt very clear in his voice.
"Okay, Goku." Gai said, appoaching said red-haired with a small bolder in his hands. Placing it in front of him, the green clad Jounin turned to a tree."You first gather chakra into your feet and run up that tree," He showed him a very tall tree."With this rock in your hands." He smiled.
After meeting the Ox-king and giving him the document, Gai had decided to start with Goku's control exercise. They were told that the person they were to protect wasn't around and that they'd get to meet her the next day, This allowed them free time till then which Lee and Tenten had decided to use to spar – There was no reason for them to stay with the other two.
Goku picked up the rock and gather chakra in to his feet. This can't be that hard, he mused. Gai had even demonstrated by walking up the trunk of another tree then around it – very easy. 'It's going to be harder with all this weight though, but,' He took off running towards the tree "I can do this!"
His first steps on it cracked the bark, after which he tried using less chakra making this foot slip and lose balance, his hands throwing the rock upwards as he fell. He hit the ground head first, followed by the rock that struck the space close to his head.
Meanwhile, in a forest hideout somewhere in Wave country, Haku worked with haste. Zabuza has lost a lot of blood and the hole in his chest wasn't going to heal itself. The needles he had stuck in his neck had temporarily stopped his bodily functions, hence his blood flow, but not for long.
He unwrapped a cloth full of dried herbs. Putting a handful in his mouth, he began making hand seals over the Mist demon's chest. The wound began to close as a green aura appeared around his hands. He held the snake seal and the process sped up, closing up quickly.
He Spat out the herbs and put them on the wound and took out a bandage and wrapped it around Zabuza's chest. Sigh. That was too close. Zabuza-sama could have been killed, he thought with a frown, but it then turned to a pleasant smile.
Being careful not to course anymore damage, he pulled out the needles and touched a pressure point. Zabuza's eyes shot open and he coughed out the blood that was stuck in his throat – not a pleasant experience. He set up, his hand automatically going to his chest to find bandages. He grinned, showing shark-like teeth. 'Haku.' He deduced. 'There is no better tool.' He concluded.
The two turned their heads up as the door opened to reveal two figures. The first of which wore a pink and purple Chinese outfit, complete with black Chinese shoes. The second guy had on a striped business suite.
"So, this is the power of the mist demon?" The short business suite asked. "I should say I could have called it." He continued smugly. Zabuza grit his teeth. He really hated Gato. "I take it you failed?" Gato gave them a stupid face.(that's the only way to describe it) "It doesn't matter," The guy continued. "I've hired a new person." Gato extended his hand towards the pink clad guy. "This!"He introduced. "Is Mercenary TAO! He'll be taking over your job while you're...away."
"Away?" Haku questioned.
"Yes. TAO!"
"It will be my pleasure." Tao stepped forward, pulling out a sword from thin air.
Zabuza's hand went for his sword which Haku had placed next to his bed. His fingers tightened around the handle. Haku pulled out a hand full of senbon.
The sounds of the forest were then drowned in the sounds of metal against metal, then followed later by a great explosion. "Zabuza-sama!
Author note : In a chapter or two, we get to see the first chakra VS ki now on I'm going to start posting shorter chapters.
Things I'm sure you've noticed: Kakashi is a little different. Naruto is not that stupid and Sakura's weakness is shown early. I am not bashing! She and Sasuke are going to have to learn quickly that this Author is not going to baby them. These two are going to have to get strong even quicker – Sasuke especially. I mean,what's the Sharingan going to do against a full-blooded super saiyan Prince who can use chakra, or better yet, a full-blooded legendery super saiyan who has a tailed demon in side of him. I'm just saying. author shrugs
review please
P.S –Please Don't ask me about things that haven't come to pass yet . Snake-born