An: Again I would like to take the time to thank everyone who takes the time to review this story it helps to keep the drive to put pen to paper going. So again thanks. Also, in later chapters you'll get a glimpse of the woman Zabuza was thinking about at the end of chapter 3. I know at least one of you will be happy. Sincerely, your humble author S.o.t.A.
Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto and I'm writing this for fun not profit
Chapter 5: Just me and my shadow clones
"Welcome class, for what most of you will be your final year on your journey to becoming excellent Leaf shinobi," greeted the chipper voice of Iruka Umino. Looking over the assembled students he sees many faces of students whom he has taught before in the past four and a half years he has been a teacher.
Hinata smiled at her favorite teacher while looking around the room spotting varies classmates that she has had in the past. Her eyes settled on Sakura for a moment longer than most, ever since the incident in the courtyard they have avoided each other. A few times Hinata wanted to go over and try to repair their friendship but after so long it seemed like an insurmountable wall had sprung up between them, with neither able to breech it. Moving on to the boy Sakura was sitting next to while lightly blushing every time she looked at him was Sasuke Uchiha. Hinata has never had a class with the last Uchiha before; she had briefly wondered why but figured that due to their clans' old rivalries most assumed they would make poor teammates. Perhaps her Hyuuga blood is what made her immune to the fan girl disease that seemed to afflict kunoichi of her age group.
"I just don't get it," the boy sitting next to her said while eyeing Sasuke.
"What's that Kiba?" Hinata asked smiling having a pretty good idea what was bothering Kiba Inuzuka.
"Why do all the girls in the academy fawn over that guy when there is a prime example of an alpha male right here?" Kiba asked while sticking his thumb into his chest.
"Perhaps it is his quiet and mysterious nature coupled with the dark aura that surrounds him," replied the boy sitting on her other side Shino Aburame.
"Well if being quiet and creepy were all it took, then you'd have women falling all over you too," Kiba countered smiling at the slight jab at his friend.
"What makes you so sure that they do not," Shino replied while looking at the back row where a few of his secret fan club sit. "But to know that you think of a future comrade as creepy is hurtful."
Sweat dropping at Shino's mood shift both Hinata and Kiba thought, "Great, now he's sulking."
Trying to raise the bug user's spirits Hinata said, "I'm sure Kiba didn't really mean anything by it Shino,"
"Yeah," Kiba interjected.
Hinata carried on saying, "Besides you know Kiba rarely thinks before speaking."
"Yeah….hey," Kiba said, but smiled at the good natured jab.
Hinata had become good friends with the two boys, having shared classes together over the past couple of years. She hoped when it came time for team selection she would be paired with them.
Sasuke Uchiha was sitting at the desk with his fingers laced in front of his face and elbow on the desk, while listening to Iruka welcoming the students. He had ignored all of the girls who tried to talk to him including the pink haired one currently sitting next to him. When he was younger he would have been flattered at the attention but now all it did was distract him from his goal. While he knew one day he would need one of these girls to help in rebuilding his clan, as they were now none of them had the strength to be the future matriarch of the Uchiha. The two closest to catching his attention, from his classmates was Ino Yamanaka and Ami Fu, due to them being the strongest of the girls after him.
Putting those thoughts aside Sasuke focused on his teacher again when Iruka stated that in order to see if they have been keeping up with their training they were going to have taijutsu sparring matches outside. Heading outside they spread out around a circle drawn into the ground.
Iruka explained, "I'm sure you know the rules, but for any who may have forgotten there simple. Taijutsu only, no clan techniques, matches go until one student is either knocked out of the circle or I feel is mismatched against their opponent. Are there any questions? "Seeing nobody had any Iruka continued, "Good, then first up is…"
At this point Sasuke tuned back out wondering who he'd be matched with only barely watching the fight between Sakura and one of Ami's lackeys Fuki. After Sakura barely managed to squeak out a win by knocking the girl out of the ring he could hear the Inuzuka whispering, "Let me fight Sasuke," with his eyes closed and fingers crossed. Taking offence that the boy from an inferior clan thought he was a match for him he said, "As if you could take me, Mutt."
Of course this has the desired effect of Kiba roaring, "What did you say?"
"Kiba settle down," warned Iruka. Moving on he announces the next fight, "Sasuke and Shino you're up next."
Sasuke moved towards the center of the circle with Shino taking up a position in front of him. Neither boy saw a reason to taunt one another as they both assumed their fighting stances. Sasuke slipped into his Interceptor Fist while Shino without the ability to use his Kikaichu bugs got into the basic academy stance. Sasuke smiled at this while knocking the Aburame down a few notches on his threat board, apparently without their bugs they were no threat.
Sasuke stood watching the Aburame; however he quickly grew impatient with his opponent who was just studying him. Deciding to get things started he charges the stoic boy sending several jabs at him. Shino easily blocked them and countered with a hit to Sasuke's solar plexus causing him to stagger back with his vision getting blurry.
"One should not underestimate an opponent even if he appears to be weaker," Shino calmly stated.
"Hn," Sasuke said while rubbing the spot Shino had hit, "Thanks for the tip, but I don't need advice from the likes of you."
Once more charging this time he feinted a jab to the face and when Shino attempted to block it, he then struck his real target with his other hand. Hitting the bug user in the same place that he had been hit, as Shino stumbled back Sasuke pressed his advantage. Shino still reeling from the strike to his chest tried to block but his ability to defend was greatly compromised letting more of Sasuke's blows land.
Being driven to the edge of the arena Shino attempted a counter-strike towards Sasuke's jaw. However he avoided the blow by moving his head just out of the way. Gripping Shino's over extended arm Sasuke flipped him over his shoulder onto his back. Sasuke then tried to finish off Shino with a flipping axe kick to the head; however Shino managed to block it by crossing his arms. Both boys quickly rolled to their feet, panting from the exertion.
Trying to regain some momentum Shino went onto the offensive, while not connecting with anything but a few glancing blows he was driving Sasuke to the edge of the circle. Just as Sasuke was about to be ringed out he slammed his knee into Shino's stomach, then spinning behind him Sasuke delivered a hard kick to Shino's back sending him out of the ring. As Iruka declared Sasuke the winner he puts his hands into his pockets and snorted derisively, "Humph, loser."
Hinata and Kiba helped up Shino. Hinata said gently, "You did very well Shino."
"Yeah not bad buddy, of course if it was me I would of won," Kiba joked.
"Perhaps, your taijutsu is superior then mine Kiba, particularly due to the handicap I was faced with," Shino calmly stated not particularly upset with the loss. "Nevertheless that guy is on a higher level than me."
The three then settled in to watch the next couple of matches before it was Kiba's turn. He faced off with Shikamaru Nara, who had been in Hinata's first year class, and if he was still the same he would quickly give up. Sure enough as soon as Iruka said start the lazy boy caught Kiba in his Shadow Possession Jutsu disqualifying himself much to Kiba's displeasure.
As they are walking out of the circle Kiba asked, "What's the big idea?"
"It'd been far more troublesome to fight then to give up," Shikamaru explained.
"Then why use that jutsu on me?" Kiba demanded.
"Because you looked to be in such a big damn hurry, you probably would have hit me before I could forfeit," Shikamaru told the still angry Kiba. "If it'll make you happy, I'll admit your better than me."
"I am better than you," Kiba insisted.
"Good, glad we can agree on something," with nothing left to say the Nara simple fell onto his back and falls asleep.
"Next up, Hinata you'll spar against Ino," Iruka stated.
Ino smiled at this it would be the perfect chance to prove herself to Sasuke. After all Hinata had been Kunoichi of the Year the past two years in a row. Ino had been a contender for the award both years only to lose to Hinata and by a pretty wide margin too. She had always believed that Hinata was given the award due to the prestige of her clan. After all she remembered how Sakura had put Hinata in her place that time in the academy courtyard; the Hyuuga had simply run off crying. While Ino did find the incident strange for Sakura having had the pinkette throw away their friendship too made her think, maybe Hinata said she wanted Sasuke too, after all girls in love could be vicious. Making her way to the center of the circle she watched as the girl in orange got into her clan's fighting style.
Looking at Sasuke the blonde struck a pose and said, "Watch me Sasuke my love," then finished by blowing him a kiss. It was a tactic that had worked in the past for her when sparring against her fellow kunoichi generally any declaration like that would throw her opponent off their game. She could see the other girls who had surrounded the Uchiha had tic marks on their foreheads, most notably on Sakura. Although when she turned back to Hinata she saw just the calm determination that had been on her face from before.
Sighing at the display Iruka said, "Are you ready, Ino?"
"y-Yes, Iruka-sensei," Ino replied no longer as sure of victory as she once was.
Iruka watched Ino get into her stance, which while better than most showed just how much the kunoichi of this age group had let their taijutsu training slide. Then looking to Hinata he thought, "Well at least one of them has taken their training seriously." Seeing Hinata's slight nod indicating she was ready he announces, "Begin."
What followed was a decidedly one sided battle as Hinata quickly closed in. While the gentle fist wasn't as strong without using chakra or the Byakugan, which she didn't use considering Shino had not been allowed to use his bugs and Kiba couldn't use Akamaru, was easily more than a match for Ino's poor defenses. After landing a three hit combo that ended with a palm strike to Ino's chin which sent the girl into the air landing on her back Iruka called the match. Hinata tried to help Ino to her feet only for the embarrassed blonde girl to ignore the hand up and make her way to the edge of the ring. Hinata made her way towards her friends listening to the loud cheers of, "You Rock Hinata," from Kiba. When she reached them Shino quietly congratulated her by claiming, "While not as loud as Kiba's my opinion of your skill is that you may be the strongest in taijutsu of our class."
"I don't know Sasuke was pretty amazing and not everyone has had a turn yet," Hinata said humbly.
"True," Shino said acknowledging her point but convinced of his assessment added, "However, the only two remaining left to fight are Ami and Kasumi. It is unlikely for them to be in your league, unless both of them have improved considerably from what I recall them capable of last year. As to Sasuke he may be the only one capable of matching you but having now sparred against you both I believe you to be the stronger."
"Thank you Shino," Hinata added happy that someone as analytical as Shino would put her in the same category as the person many would bet had a lock on being recognized as the best student of the academy by year's end.
"Hey what about me," Kiba complained about being ignored followed with a small 'arf' from his puppy Akamaru, "I said you rock."
"Thank you too Kiba," she replied smiling while bending down to pet the puppy at his feet.
As the fight between Ami and Kasumi began Sasuke continued to watch the girl petting the small dog. During the beginning of the fight between Ino and Hinata he had rolled his eyes at Ino's act before the start of the match even if it was one of the reasons he had considered her a possible contender for his favor. It showed she at least could use her opponents' flaws against them. Also, even without that tactic he considered her the strongest of the girls he had seen fight when it came to taijutsu, with Ami being a close second. But, this Hyuuga had demolished her and while he doubted she'd give him a good match she was well above any of these other girls. In truth he had always believed it to be due to the girl's family she had won those awards, even though some could say the same about him with his Shinobi of the Year Awards. Now though he saw that this Hinata Hyuuga did indeed deserve them. Perhaps it was time to put the ancient rivalry between Hyuuga and Uchiha to rest? Besides, she wasn't bad to look at either. Deciding to ask her out after class and sure she would accept he tried to figure out which high-class restaurant should have the benefit of hosting his first date.
Recently promoted Leaf Village jounin Fumiya Yamada was running through the trees as if his life depended on it and if the bingo book entry on the guy chasing him was accurate it did. Looking back he could see the half-covered face of the man behind him, as well as the giant sword strapped to his back. As he ran he wondered what it was he did to piss off Kami. The job he was given was supposed to be an easy C-rank courier mission, he was transferring secret information between company offices located in Bird Country, it wasn't supposed to be the type of job you encounter a freaking former member of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist. Checking behind him while hoping that maybe it was just some bad dream, yet sure enough he was still there and closing. He needed a distraction turning to a jutsu he had been allowed to learn from the Scroll of Seals upon making jounin he formed the cross hand sign that the technique called for as he shouted out, "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Behind the Leaf Jounin, Zabuza's eyes widen as two new copies of his target come into existence. Allowing a predatory smile to appear on his lips as he began to chase down the jounin with renewed vigor, after all while he had to take this job for peanuts due to a lack of work it may have yielded an unexpected bonus. Zabuza having increased his speed watches as two of the identical jounin he is chasing take off going different ways. However, he followed the one that didn't change course whoever this guy was he didn't strike him as all that tactically brilliant seeing as the one he continued to follow was taking the direct path toward the city the documents he was carrying had to get too. Besides he had stationed Naruto and Haku closer to the city if he did guess wrong then they would pick up the chase. It might also quiet the blonde boy's complaining about the lack of stimulating jobs ever since he had killed Gwon.
Fumiya seeing his diversionary tactic didn't work began panicking, "Crap, crap, crap, how did he know which one was the real me?"
Looking behind and seeing Zabuza even closer he imagined a giant demon looking aura around the former mist-nin as he closed in. So scared was he that Fumiya forgot one of the fundamentals of tree hopping, which is, "Look out for that tree."
Zabuza winced as the Leaf Jounin ran headlong into the trunk of a tree at full speed. He had to rush to snatch the knocked out fool from the air before the ground could finish the job the tree started. After all, it wouldn't do to have wasted the valuable resource that the man represented now would it?
Hinata was sitting on one of the benches near the academy after the first day of the new school year. She had agreed to wait for Kiba who had already gotten in trouble for lack of concentration along with Chouji and Shikamaru. She had overheard Iruka saying something about having them learn a leaf concentration exercise before she had exited the classroom. Shino had not been able to wait with her having promised his father to go on a bug hunting expedition after school. He had asked her to come along once but she refused, while having long grown used to the beetles Shino carried in his body it didn't mean she wanted to go out finding new kinds.
Feeling someone staring at her she saw Sasuke leaning against a lamp post with arms crossed gazing at her intensely from across the path. Blushing a little from the scrutiny of his stare she quickly looked away while poking her fingers together in her old nervous habit. Seeing this Sasuke thought confidently "Got you."
Walking up to the blushing Hyuuga, Sasuke smiled as he said, "Your Hinata right?"
"…Uhm, Yes," Hinata answered while thinking, "I wish he'd stop staring at me like that, it's kind of unnerving."
"You fought well in class today," Sasuke said unaware of his affect on Hinata.
"Thank you, as did you," Hinata politely replied, wondering why Sasuke who hadn't said a word to any of the people who had tried to talk to him all day in class was currently starting a conversation with her.
"You're not like the other so called kunoichi in our class, you actually have talent," Sasuke said unaware how arrogant that made him sound to Hinata.
While Hinata had to admit many of the kunoichi in their class didn't live up to their true potential she never confused it as a lack of ability, just dedication. After all she saw herself as an example of how a person could improve through hard work and perseverance. Naruto had inspired her to become stronger so she could protect others as he had once protected her.
So hearing Sasuke write off the other girls in the class rubbed her the wrong way, which she let him know by saying, "You shouldn't speak that way about them, many of them think very highly of you."
"Hn," Sasuke responded to the rebuke but carried on by saying, "Anyway, I would like to get to know you better and would like to take you out for a date."
"He's asking me out, how should I respond?" Hinata wondered. Aloud she said, "I'm honored…"
"Excellent, what time should I…," Sasuke began tuning her out after hearing the beginning of her sentence.
"…but I have to refuse," was how Hinata concluded her sentence.
"…pick you up?" Sasuke finished but when his brain comprehended the rest of what she said he added, "What!?"
"I'm afraid that I have no desire to date you," Hinata explained. "However, if you would still like to get to know me better please feel free to join me and my friends at lunch tomorrow."
"Hn, why would I want to eat lunch with those losers you've surrounded yourself with," Sasuke responded his pride stung by her refusal.
Hinata narrowed her eyes at Sasuke following his comment and with a bit of steel in her voice she couldn't help but pick-up do to her station as a member of the Hyuuga main family said, "Do not insult my friends again Uchiha."
"Whatever," Sasuke said as he walked away not willing to admit his pride had been hurt and that he had been slightly intimidated by the smaller girl.
Silently fuming Hinata thought, "Oh the nerve of him, to ask me out in one breath and then insult my friends the next. What do the other girls see in him?"
"Oi, Hinata," Kiba said running up to the girl waving. Upon reaching her he asked, "Hey, was that Sasuke?"
"Yes," Hinata replied her voice still sounding a little irritated do to the Uchiha.
"What the hell did he want?" Kiba asked.
"For me to go on a date with him," Hinata answered wrinkling her nose at the idea, while she had been indifferent about the boy before his attitude had seriously aggravated her.
"WHAT!?" Kiba exclaimed, "You said no right."
"Don't worry I refused Kiba," then turning her head and smiling sweetly at him she added, "Just like I refused you, although you took it a lot better than him."
"Aw c'mon Hinata," Kiba whined, "I already told you the only reason I asked you out is because you're like the only girl in our age group not caught up with the, 'I love Sasuke disease."
Hinata laughed lightly at his remark as Akamaru barked his agreement with his partner's opinion. Wiping his brow, Kiba then blew out a breath as he said, "Whew, it does take a load off of my mind though."
"Oh, why's that?" Hinata asked genuinely puzzled by his statement.
"Well up until now you've never shared a class with Sasuke right?" once Hinata nodded her head he continued, "It's just that I thought that once you did, you would beging coming to school all dolled up proclaiming your love for the jerk, another victim of that horrible disease."
Hinata and Kiba both shared a good laugh at that. Once they calmed down Hinata said, "Don't worry Kiba, I'm immune."
Both continue to walk and talk enjoying their conversation unaware that someone else had witnessed Sasuke talking to Hinata. Ami narrowed her eyes at the Hyuuga. Having noticed that Sasuke after leaving class had not taken his normal route home had followed him. While she had not been able to hear what they had said to each other, from where she observed their conversation, the mere fact that Sasuke had sought out the Hyuuga was reason to hate the girl.
Ami had been glad when Hinata had handed Ino her butt earlier in the day but now she was worried it had impressed Sasuke so much that he felt the need to proclaim his love for the Hyuuga. It never entered her mind that Hinata might not be interested in Sasuke. Far from it, it could all just be part of her plan, pretending not be interested to make Sasuke want her all the more. This was bad. Ami had to find a way to make Hinata unappealing to Sasuke; however if the strength she showed today was any indication she wouldn't be able to take her head on. Heck, she doubted she would be able to take her with Fuki and Kasumi backing her up. Just then an idea pops into her head. If she was this worried about Sasuke meeting up with Hinata after school then all the girls competing for his attention would be. Smiling at that she realized she would just have to form a coalition with all of the girls to go against Hinata. Tomorrow she'd have her lackeys put the word out that she'd want to meet with all of them, after all as things presently stood Hinata was a hell of a lot closer to Sasuke's heart then any of them and desperate times called for desperate measures.
Zabuza was right Naruto was not happy at having missed the opportunity to test his skills against a Leaf Ninja Shinobi. The blonde haired boy was at this moment venting his displeasure to Zabuza who had long since stopped listening. Thinking about how far the boy had come since first joining him and Haku made him smile. Ever since escaping the trap he had practiced how to use the Kyuubi's power without the need for a strong emotional trigger. Naruto could now turn the cloak on and off at will. Zabuza had set only one rule, he didn't know if it was possible to communicate with the creature sealed in him but if it was never listen to anything it said. More importantly never try and strike a bargain with the creature. Naruto had readily agreed, especially after Zabuza told him while the Kyuubi may be willing to help if its containers life was in danger it still was a prisoner and he was the prison and warden all rolled up into one. Bad things always happened to the warden when prisoners escape. Another reason Naruto agreed had to do with the fact that he didn't like using the Kyuubi's chakra. He said it made him feel as if he was cheating, that by using its strength he wasn't developing his own. Zabuza had to agree with that, thinking back to his battle with Yagura the 4th Mizukage. While the Mizukage could fight without his Bijuu's strength he had been nowhere near as good a fighter and had only been able to best Zabuza after unleashing it.
Hearing Naruto say, "We final got a job where I can cut loose and what do you do, you station Haku and I further along his route having all the fun yourself."
"That means everything went according to plan you idiot," Zabuza growled. "If he had reached you that meant he had gotten away from me you were the back-up plan remember."
"That's easy for you to say," Naruto accused while pointing a finger at Zabuza. "You don't have to do all the lame ass missions you've managed to get for us ever since we escaped from that trap two years ago. Whoever heard of a Ninja walking dogs and cleaning gutters, huh?"
Haku having watched the exchange spoke up, "That has to do with the fact that most intermediators refuse to work with us now. Ever since Zabuza killed Gwon they have refused to pass along the more difficult kinds of missions to us."
"Why? That bastard set us up," Naruto pointed out.
Shrugging his shoulders Haku replied, "Perhaps as a sign of brotherhood amongst their profession or because they could see themselves doing the same thing and they do not want to cross a group that has already survived one such attempt. Whatever the reason the result is the same the jobs we get are the ones Zabuza is able to scrounge up."
"Exactly," Zabuza said agreeing with Haku's explanation. "The only reason I was able to get this job was due to the guy that hired us has worked with me before and knows I'm dependable."
"It still sucks," Naruto stated falling to the ground sitting cross-legged with arms crossed over his chest in his classic pouting position.
"Stop your bitching," Zabuza said and then pointing to the leaf ninja tied to the trunk of a tree continued, "the reason I brought this guy to camp was to have him teach you a new jutsu, but now I think I'll have him teach it to Haku."
Instantly standing up Naruto said, "No, I'll behave please teach me the new jutsu."
Zabuza still marveled how quickly the boy can switch modes with just the mention of new training said, "Fine." After all this was the jutsu he had been hoping to get into Naruto's arsenal ever since the boy showed him how many water clones he could make. Naruto realizing that until the jounin woke up he won't get his new jutsu walked over to the tied up man and began to poke him with a stick he picked up saying, "Hey mister wake up you have to teach me a new jutsu."
Fumiya was having a wonderful dream involving him and Yukie Fujikaze the actress who played Princess Gale. He had just saved her from some evil relative and to show her gratitude they had made sweet, sweet love. They were both currently laying in bed together when she leaned over him; he thought she was getting ready for round two when she said, "Hey Mister, wake-up you have to teach me a new jutsu." Looking at her confused she then began poking him in the chest harder and harder until finally.
"Owww," Fumiya exclaimed, being expelled from dreamland to find his self sitting tied against a tree with a blue-eyed blonde haired boy with his lower face covered by wraps crouched in front of him and poking him with a stick. He is about to yell at the brat when he looked behind him and saw Zabuza Momochi who having heard his yell began to make his way toward him. All Fumiya could whimper was, "Oh Kami."
"No not yet," Zabuza replied hearing the man whimper. "However, whether or not you meet her today depends on you."
"What do you want? You already have the documents." Fumiya asked fearfully.
"I want you to teach the brat here that Shadow Clone Jutsu of yours," Zabuza replied.
"Never, I'd rather die," Fumiya countered mustering as much courage as he can.
To respond Zabuza slamed his blade into the tree only stopping when he was about to come into contact with the whimpering mans neck. Leaving the sword buried into the tree he crouched down to eye level with the leaf jounin and informed him, "Look one way or the other you will do what I ask. It's up to you what kind of condition you are left in after the fact. Do what I say with little problem and I'll let you go. Piss me off and they won't even find the pieces understand."
Seeing the man nod his head Zabuza stood up and pulled his blade from the tree. He then said, "So what's it going to be."
Fumiya began to think it over. On one hand if it ever came to light that he gave away Leaf Village secrets he could spend the rest of his life in jail, and that would be getting off lightly. Of course, the alternative was almost certainly dying here in the woods on what should have been an easy C-rank mission. Well what were the chances that Zabuza would ever tell the Hokage who taught the blonde boy standing next to him the Shadow Clone Jutsu? Besides he really wanted to see the next Princess Gale movie, so with that in mind he said, "I'll do it."
"Smart man," Zabuza replied.
For three hours Fumiya watched as the boy attempted to do what he was told to do in order to master the jutsu. Unsurprisingly, when the boy had fully mastered the jutsu by the beginning of the third hour Fumiya had been floored. It had taken him over a week of practice to reach the point the now happily jumping boy did. Then he was further shocked when the blonde boy testing his ability with the jutsu made hundreds maybe even thousands of clones.
Zabuza satisfied with Naruto's mastery of the jutsu turns toward Fumiya saying," Now just one more loose end to tie up."
Fumiya began to panic, while he had been trying to escape since regaining consciousness he couldn't, it was as if his chakra was sealed away making use of any of the escape jutsus impossible. Closing his eyes as Zabuza stepped up to him, sure that the man was reneging on their deal, and not wanting to see the final blow coming. However the ropes suddenly loosened around him and he took off like a terrified rabbit, it would be several hours later before he realized the reason he can't mold chakra was the chakra repression seal Zabuza placed on the back of his neck.
Zabuza scowled at the coward as he ran off. He had half a mind to hunt him down considering the fact that Chakra Repression Seals were not cheap. Also, his lack of talent with Fuuinjutsu would mean paying the high prices the varies black markets charge to get a new one.
Haku walked up before he could take off after the man and asked, "Was it wise to let him go?"
"Did you want me to renege on my deal with him Haku? That's unusually cold blooded for you," Zabuza stated wondering at the boy's question. Especially considering that Haku was usually the last one that wanted blood to be spilled.
Haku shook his head no as he answered, "He is from the Leaf Village is there not a chance that he will have recognized Naruto. Not to mention you just had him teach Naruto a high level jutsu."
"Ha-Ha-ha," Zabuza laughing off Haku concerns before saying," Don't worry Haku that's exactly why I'm not worried about him having recognized Naruto. He'll have a hard enough time explaining how he lost the documents. Do you think he'll admit to treason on top of that? Besides there are plenty of blue-eyed blonde haired boy in the world, as long as those marks of his stay covered I'm sure no one will recognize him."
Naruto having heard Zabuza laughing dispeled his clones and asked, "What's so funny?"
"Forget it," Zabuza replied then giving Naruto a stern look said, "Don't be training yourself into the ground with that jutsu tonight, we have to get the documents we took off the leaf ninja to our client tomorrow."
Throwing Zabuza a mock salute as he said, "Yes sir," he then goes off into the woods to do just that after all there has to be tons of cool ways to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Each of them then proceeds to occupy themselves until it is time to turn in for the night.
Ami stood in the park where she had Fuki and Kasumi tell the other girls interested in Sasuke to meet her after school. Seeing Ino who was of course the last to arrive she tried to begin the meeting when Ino interrupted her by asking, "Where's Sakura?"
"She ain't coming Hog," Ami replied rudely.
"What did you say you bit…," Ino tried to counter when one of the other girls seeing where this was going asked if Ami could get to the point of why she called them all there.
"The point is that yesterday the milky-eyed whore Hinata met with Sasuke after school," Ami informed the girls. "And from what I could see it was Sasuke that sought her out."
Letting that sink in she noticed the looks of worry crossing all the girls faces until Ino said, "So what?"
"So what," Ami repeated like Ino was an idiot, "Has Sasuke ever come up to you after school?"
"No, but…," Ino began but was cut-off by Ami.
"Exactly, probably due to her kicking your ass yesterday Sasuke was so impressed that he wanted to ask her out," Ami said planting the seed of worry in the other girls minds.
"Well did she say yes?" one of the girls asked.
"I don't know, I couldn't hear from where I was at," Ami responded.
"Then why are you getting so bent out of shape?" Ino asks.
"Because Hog, Sasuke is showing interest in her whether you want to admit it or not," Ami countered getting fed up with Ino's playing devil's advocate. If it wasn't for her, Ami probably would have had all the other girls signed up for what she had in mind already. "Look Ino if you want the pasty-eyed whore to move in on Sasuke then shove off. Let the rest of us who really want Sasuke do what needs to be done."
"And what would that be?" another of Sasuke's admirers asked.
"We need to make it so Sasuke doesn't even want to look at her again," Ami said glad to see many of the girls coming around to her way of thinking. Even Ino seemed to be wavering; this has to do with her thinking back to right after Hinata bested her the day before she had looked at Sasuke only to see him staring at Hinata as she was petting Akamaru. Looking at the memory with this new information she could now place the look that she had seen in his eyes, desire.
"I'm in," Ino suddenly shouted. She'd be damned before Hinata could suddenly come into the picture and have Sasuke sweep her off her feet. This sets off a chain reaction of all the other girls suddenly agreeing to help take care of Hinata.
"Great the way I see it we need to take a page from Foreheadasaurous and public embarrass her," Ami said referring to the time she had controlled Sakura in the courtyard. Even if only her lackeys knew the truth of what went down. "The Hyuuga bitch might act all calm and collected but get people laughing at her and she'll crack just like last time."
"But how are we supposed to embarrass her like that the only reason Sakura got away with it was because her and Hinata had been friends so her guard was down?" one of the more spineless fan girls asked.
"I'll do it," Ino volunteered. "I'll use my Mind Transfer Jutsu and make her look like a complete dork in front of Sasuke."
"Not bad Ino," Ami said but then a mean smirk formed on her face," but you need to think bigger."
"Bigger how," Ino asked not liking the smirk on Ami's face.
"Simple, why just have her act like a loser when we can really knock her out of the running for Sasuke's affection," Ami replied. "I think it would be best if Hinata has a little accident in front of everybody with her bladder don't you."
Getting what Ami was implying but thinking that was going too far Ino said, "I-I don't know that's a li…"
Seeing Ino about to back out Ami gives her a little push by saying, "Tell you what you do this Ino and the rest of us will let you have first crack at Sasuke once it's all said and done."
Getting first crack at Sasuke and wanting a little payback for the embarrassment she felt yesterday when Hinata beat her she said, "Ok, but I get first shot at Sasuke after right," as she stuck out her hand.
"Absolutely," Ami said shaking her hand while the other girls nodded their heads in agreement.
"Then we'll strike tomorrow during taijutsu practice," Ino said as she took her leave of the other girls and feeling a little dirty for agreeing to help Ami. She then thought, "I'll go find forehead considering how she ambushed Hinata that one time she'll probably want to be a part of this."
It was getting dark when Ino final decided to go to Sakura's house having been unable to locate the pink-haired girl anywhere else. Knocking on the door she smiled at the person opening it as she said, "Good evening Ms. Haruno. Is Sakura home?"
"Why hello Ino I haven't seen you here for a while," Misaki Haruno said a little surprised at the blonde girl showing up on her door step, "and yes she is up in her room, I'm sure you remember the way. You two behave I have to leave for an important vote tonight okay."
Ino nodded her head at the women who after she let her in left for her council meeting. Ino then made her way upstairs to where Sakura's room was. Knocking on the door she heard a, "Come in."
Ino walking in saw a surprised look appear on Sakura's face as she turned from her desk the homework she was working on quickly forgotten as she asked, "What do you want Ino-pig."
"Why weren't you at the park earlier today?" Ino asked ignoring the jab
"Because I hate Ami, why would I show up to anything she called?" Sakura answered the anger she still felt for Ami easy to hear in her voice.
Holding up her hands Ino said, "Take it easy forehead, and the reason you should of went was to find out Sasuke may have asked Hinata on a date."
"What!" Sakura shouted, and then listened as Ino repeated everything Ami told them during the meeting in the park. Which was why Ino was surprised when after she finished Sakura said, "It doesn't matter."
"What do you mean it doesn't matter, I think the weight of your forehead is damaging your brain," Ino said shocked at Sakura lack of response.
Sakura simply countered, "Hinata doesn't want Sasuke," and then counting off her fingers as she made her points said, "First, did they look like a couple today? Second, Ami admits she didn't hear what he asked her it could have been anything. Third, as I said before Hinata doesn't want Sasuke she wants…well she wants someone else." Sakura knew the third point for a fact considering how Hinata still visited Naruto's burial plot to take care of it, however she didn't tell Ino not wanting to give away any of Hinata's secrets.
Ino wasn't convinced though by Sakura's reasons if anything they made her angry. Why is she defending Hinata? Especially, considering what went down between the two of them. Deciding to call her on her B.S. Ino said," First, maybe they are trying to keep it a secret. Second, so what, Sasuke went out looking for her something he has never done before. And third where do you get off sounding like you and Hinata are still friends, huh? When's the last time you really talked to her, like what almost four years ago? Maybe she's changed her mind."
Sakura was about to start yelling back when Ino cut her off saying, "Look my reason for coming here was to let you know that we're going to pull a page from your handbook and publicly embarrass her tomorrow during taijutsu practice."
Upset by the reminder of how Ami controlled her Sakura was unable to look Ino in the eye as she asked, "What are you going to do?"
Ino quickly ran over the plan that Ami and her agreed too. While she admited to feeling soiled for agreeing to this plan, she told her self that it was so she can be with her Sasuke. Seeing Sakura had pulled into herself and that she was still unable to look her in the eye which made Ino feel even worse about agreeing to do this. While she can't really put why into words it feels like Sakura's opinion of her had dropped.
Feeling uncomfortable she made to leave when Sakura grabbed her arm and with tears forming in her eyes said, "Don't do it Ino."
Shaking out of Sakura's grip Ino said, "Look I came here because considering how you ended your friendship with Hinata I thought you'd want to be a part of putting her in her place. But I guess not so just stay out of the way and let those of us who really want Sasuke do what needs to be done." Ino finished having added her variation of what Ami had told her when she had been on the fence about helping and throwing it into Sakura's face then turned to leave.
Watching Ino leave Sakura didn't understand why it was so hard to tell anyone Ami had controlled her during the courtyard incident. However, after Ino closed the door she decided it would be a cold day in hell before she let Ami embarrass Hinata like that again.
Nighttime at the Black Lotus Bar, located in the Land of Rivers, was always when it was liveliest. It was also the time when the roughest crowd always showed up, generally this meant thugs or bandits although sometimes missing-nin could be found there. Right now though one of the loudest and rowdiest was a man named Thuc, he was a massive man with a war club strapped to his back a favorite weapon of his. He could have been called handsome once except for vicious scars that looked like claw marks that adorned his face. He was currently entertaining a young woman who having seen his scars had come up to talk to him.
"What baby?" Thuc said while pulling the woman closer and leering down the exposed cleavage of her dress. "You want to hear about how I got these scars."
"Please, they just make you look so rugged and sexy," she said smiling up at the drunken man.
"Well I used to work for a man named Zaman and he had this sweet set-up that he used to trap missing-nin," Thuc began to explain unaware that another man at the bar ears had perked up while eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Wow, that sounds like it must have been dangerous," the woman said.
"Yeah, but Zaman had it running like clock-work," Thuc replied but then growing bitter continued," That was until he tried to trap the 'Demon of Mist' Zabuza Momochi. I was part of the group that was taking on his two cronies. We had finally taken one of them down when the other suddenly became covered in this weird red chakra and began to move like some beast, when the bastard attacked me he cut through my war club like it was made of paper leaving me with these beauty marks."
Pulling his war club from his back he said, "But when I run into that red eyed bastard again he's going to have a hard time cutting through this one." He then banged it against the bar reveling it was made of metal instead of the usual wood with metal spikes.
"Oh baby the thought of you taking on missing-nin makes me want you even more," she breathed throatily into the Thuc's ear," let's go somewhere more private where you can show me just how much stamina you have." Thuc threw what he owed on the bar as he led the woman out of the bar with his arm around her shoulder intending to do just that.
After the two left the man who had been eavesdropping waited a good twenty minutes before paying his own tab and headed for the exit. After almost five years of looking he believed the person the drunken oaf had been talking about is the target he had been searching for all this time. Once he was outside of the town he wrote his report on a scroll and then pricking his finger made the hand signs and summoned a rat. Attaching the scroll to the creature he ordered it to take it to his superior and then settled in to wait for his master's reply.
As dawn approached the woman who Thuc had been entertaining that night was currently washing off the results of last night's activities. The truth was Thuc hadn't been half bad and it was the least she could do for such a juicy tidbit of information. Her master had dispatched his varies spies in the hopes of locating men and women of skill to join his banner for some operation he had planned. While not privy to what her master was planning the woman, whose name was Tsukino, knows it was something big. She had first become interested in Thuc due in part to the scars he had. They had healed but still looked red and inflamed almost like he had been cut by chakra. A jutsu where actual chakra was used as a weapon well only the strongest of ninja's could hope to master such techniques. Also, she had heard of Zabuza Momochi and if he was running around with a group of ninjas that strong well she had very little doubt her master would be interested and that was even without mentioning the strange red chakra Thuc claimed covered one of them. Finally clean she watched as the red tinted water swirled down the drain and then dressed as she made her way to the door.
Opening the door to the hall she turned to the bed in the hotel room and said," Thanks again for the story," and then blew a kiss to Thuc's bloody corpse. After all, it wouldn't due for the man to continue spreading his story who knew whom else might be interested. After she shut the door, planning to leave River Country to report to her master, the small flame tag she had set in the bed sparked starting a fire to cover the murder.
As afternoon taijutsu practice came to an end Ami and Ino were getting ready to ambush Hinata with the Mind Transfer Jutsu. They were currently hiding in the tree line behind the taijutsu field. Hinata was in front of them with her back to them. She was enjoying a conversation with Iruka-sensei. The truth was Ino wantrd to back out of the plan she was truly regretting agreeing to this. She was just about to voice this opinion when Ami id "Well what are you waiting for? Hurry up and do it Iruka-sensei is going to call us inside soon or are you going to chicken out."
Not wanting to look weak in front of Ami she said, "I'm going, just make sure nothing happens to my body." Coming out from behind the tree to get a good angle on Hinata she formed the special hand sign of her family's jutsu and just as her spirit left her body her back leg flinched having been struck from behind. It didn't through off her aim much but was enough so that when her spirit entered a body instead of looking up at Iruka as she would have expected she was looking down at Hinata.
A little disoriented she said in Iruka's voice, "What's going on."
Hinata confused by Iruka's sudden change in topic said, "What do you mean Iruka-sensei?"
Ino quickly pulled it together and thought, "Crap I missed." She then formed the hand sign to release the jutsu and traveled back to her own body.
Iruka for his part stood there confused for a second until he realized someone used a jutsu on him and having a good idea who said, "Ino Yamanaka, front and center right now!"
As soon as Ino returned to her body she heard Ami say, "Good going Hog you missed, don't you know how to use your own jutsu." Ino was about to counter when she heard Iruka calling for her. Ami hearing Iruka's call decided she can use this to her advantage ran out of the bushes and said, "Ino's over there Iruka-sensei," pointing to where they had been hiding. "She tried to use her jutsu on Hinata to embarrass her in retaliation for the loss to her yesterday."
Ino had been about to follow Ami out when she noticed the object that had hit her in the leg was one of the dull practice kunai they threw at each other in shuriken practice. However, thoughts of who threw it are tossed out the window when she heard Ami selling her out as she screeched, "WHAT!"
Running out of the bushes she was stopped from pummeling the girl by the hard glare from Iruka-sensei. Staring down at her Iruka asked, "Is this true, Ino?"
"W-well it isn't like that Iruka-sensei," Ino tried to explain.
"But I stopped her Iruka-sensei," Ami added.
"That's not true all of us had agreed to try and embarrass her, Iruka-sensei," Ino says trying to justify her actions.
"Is this true?" Iruka asked eyeing all the other girls, however while he suspected it was, the only one who acted was Ino so he had to take the shaking heads of the other girls in the class at their word.
"Be that as it is Ino, you are the only one who acted so for the next three months you will be staying and cleaning up the classroom after class starting tomorrow," Iruka stated.
"I can't Iruka-sensei I have to mind my family flower shop after school," Ino said trying to escape her punishment.
"Don't worry Ino I'm sure your parents will understand after I explain the situation to them," seeing Ino pale at the realization that he was going to tell her parents. Iruka then looked at the other girls as he said, "I better not hear about this kind of thing again or you'll all be sharing her punishment. Now let's head into class."
As Hinata followed Iruka towards the building she wondered why Ino wanted to get back at her so badly. It wasn't like she had never lost to any of the other girls before. However, as she was walking she felt as if she is being glared at. Discreetly activating her Byakugan she saw that all the other girls in the class were giving her dirty looks. She realized, "Ino was telling the truth they all are after me, but why?" Thinking about what she could of done to anger just about every girl in the class her eyes widen in understanding, they knew Sasuke had asked her out and either they didn't know or didn't care that she had refused him.
As she made her way back to class she now knew she'll have to keep her guard up for the rest of the year probably or at least until Sasuke asked someone else out. She sadly thought, "This is going to be a long year."
The summoned rat made its way through Konoha's sewers towards its destination the underground Root base located under Danzou's compound. Having made its way to the man in charge of collecting all the reports of the varies Root operatives, the summon then disappeared in a puff of smoke. Making his way towards his master's chamber he dropped to his knee and waited for his master's permission to speak.
"Report," Danzou said.
"We have received a request from the operative codenamed Bloodhound sir,"
Quickly running through the list of codenames for his Root operatives in the field and their tasks he remembered it belonged to the only tracker he still had hunting the nine-tail jinchuriki. Danzou asked, "Has he found the Jinchuriki?"
"Not yet sir, however he has a lead that it is traveling with the ex-Kiri-nin Zabuza Momochi."
"What does he request?" Danzou inquired.
"A team to be assigned to him should this lead prove accurate. He fears if he catches up to the jinchuriki by the time reinforcements arrive they would already have moved on or discovered him."
Closing his visible eye as he pondered on the best course of action, he was hesitant to assign a team to a task that could still take months or even years to complete. This depended on how slippery this Zabuza was and considering the amount of resource dedicated to his eradication by the Kiri's hunter-nin corps his skill at evasion must be pretty high. However, if he didn't send them and the Jinchuriki was indeed traveling with the missing-nin he would be letting a golden opportunity to finally posses the power of the nine-tails slip through his fingers. Also, whomever he sent had to be able to disappear for a long period of times unfortunately his best operatives had posts in Konoha's forces that made this impossible. He would have to draw from his pool of operatives that he had yet to be able to sponsor for joining Konoha's ranks.
"What are the available units that are not necessary for maintaining basic Root operations?" Danzou asked the kneeling man.
"You could pull from any of the teams' designated G one through nine sir. But, as you know they are only at genin level strength with only team G9 being the only one ready to be sponsored for the chunin exams. Although one of the members from team three is probably at chunin level already unfortunately he has never worked with any of the members from team nine before and would probably interfere with their team work."
Nodding his head in agreement with his subordinate's assessment Danzou began issuing his orders, "Very well, inform Team G9 they are to meet up with Bloodhound in River Country. Also, tell them to inform him that before they attack they should procure uniforms of Kiri's Hunter Division so that in case they fail it cannot be traced back to Root."
Understanding his orders and that he had been dismissed the man left his master's chamber to inform the selected party to prepare for their mission.
Ino was going to kill Ami that was all there was to it. Hell while she was at it she might as well kill all the traitorous bitches that had set her up. It had been bad enough the day before when after school Iruka had escorted her home and informed her parents of what she had attempted to do, as well as her afterschool punishment. Her father had been furious she thought he was going to spank her something he hadn't done in years; however what he did do was much more humiliating. After Iruka left he had marched her down to the Hyuuga compound having her in front of Hinata, her father, and many other Hyuugas publicly apologize for her actions. What was worse was how guilty she felt afterwards especially after Hinata had thanked her for apologizing and then waved off Inochi's offer of having Ino somehow make amends for her actions. Hinata had simply told him her apology was enough. Although on the way home Ino's father informed her that while Hinata may be willing to forgive her he was not and every free moment she had for the next three months was going to be dedicated to either schoolwork or the flower shop pretty much guaranteeing she wasn't going to have a personal life till her punishment was over.
So here she was after school banging together a couple of erasers to clean them of chalk before she had to clean the floors. As she was doing it she thought, "Kami I'm an idiot, what was I thinking listening to Ami?"
Further self-loathing was put on hold when she heard the door to the classroom open and close. Turning to the sound she said, "What do you want Forehead? Come to say I told you so?"
Sakura shook her head no and while nervously biting her lower lip. Strengthening her resolve Sakura said, "I've come to give you a hand."
"Why?" Ino asked the confusion easy to see on her face.
Sakura answered almost in a whisper, "Because I'm the reason you got caught."
As expected Ino blew a gasket at this, "What you threw the kunai that threw off my aim? Kami why, I thought you hated Hinata more than anyone?"
Sakura near tears now said "Because I couldn't let Ami have her way again, not again, and besides she didn't need you in order to make Hinata humiliate herself, she has a jutsu that allows her to control people. The only reason she didn't use it was so she wouldn't get her own hands dirty."
"Come on Sakura she isn't a Yama…," but seeing Sakura face and the lengths she went to protect Hinata a light goes off in her head as she said, "That time in the courtyard that was Ami controlling you when you poured the ramen on Hinata."
Sakura nodded her head so Ino asked, "Why haven't you ever said anything?"
Sakura responded, "Because we haven't talked except to trade insults for over four year now. I would have told you yesterday but you would have probably just accused me of somehow trying to get Sasuke for myself." Sakura then pulled out a thin black needle and puts it on Iruka's desk.
Picking it up and looking at it in confusion Ino asked, "What's this?"
"It's a chakra needle I found it in my neck after Ami controlled me," Sakura explained. "By placing in my neck and attaching chakra strings to different parts of my body Ami was able to control me like a living puppet."
"How do you know so much about her jutsu?" Ino asked.
"It's in the jutsu section of the library, apparently Ami's father invented it and put it there to hopefully spread the technique, however the Third Hokage tried to make it a forbidden jutsu. Although he was overruled by his advisors so anyone who's interested can learn about it."
"Well why don't you go to Hinata and explain all this to her? I'll back you up." Ino said trying to help Sakura repair her friendship with Hinata.
Sighing at the memory of what started the whole affair Sakura said, "Because I wasn't being controlled when I insulted the person Hinata respects most and while I appreciate the offer the truth is your word with her is probably even lower than mine at this point."
"Yeah," Ino said while looking guilty but then she looked Sakura in the eye while saying, "I want to thank you Sakura. You prevented me from making a big mistake."
Smiling Sakura reached into a bucket of water for a rag and began wiping the chalkboard. Ino got back to work and asked, "So what do you plan to do if you're not telling Hinata what happened."
"I don't know, maybe one day I'll be able to tell her how sorry I am," Sakura said while looking at Ino, "but until then I'll do what I can to watch out for her from the shadows so Ami isn't allowed to screw with her."
Smiling Ino said, "Yeah count me in too, I owe that bitch some payback and screwing up her plans will be a good start."
Both girls then got back to cleaning satisfied not only with agreeing to secretly help Hinata with Ami but also at the tentative steps they've taken to repairing their own friendship.