So i gotta say i was completely blown off my feet by the number of reviews, and favorited stories i had in my inbox
I must be doing something right here, and I'm glad you guys are enjoying how the story is going so far.
Hope you guys enjoy this newest chapter despite the fact that i take long as hell to update lol
Ch.5 The Demon Shrouded in Mist Meets the Monster Cloaked in Scales
Annoyance. If there was anything Naruto felt right now nagging him to the bridge of sanity it was that feeling. Not only was he annoyed by the fact that he had all eyes directed at him due to the earlier battle which unsettled him greatly. He was also annoyed by the pitiful amount of killer intent Sasuke tried sending his way, and most of all Sakura was trying to force small talk...again!
" So i think we handled ourselves pretty well in our first enemy ninja encounter, what do you guys think?" There was a long pause before anyone answered, and the reply came from the least wanted person.
" Well if you ask me it went terribly! First of all your boss there looked like he got torn to pieces, then the dark haired one froze up like a pop-sickle, it was blondy over there that did all the work." Tazuna's words struck pretty hard to some fragile ego's, and worst of all it made Naruto the center of attention again.
"That's right you took both of those ninja all by yourself Naruto you must have gotten lucky or something." Sakura's know it all voice was like a nail on the black board of Naruto's mind as he tried to ignore the entire conversation. " Cmon Naruto tell us how you did." The attention centered on Naruto was intensified, much to his distress.
" Yeah Naruto clue us in I'd like to know just how you did that to the Demon Brothers back there." Naruto immediately caught the double meaning behind Kakashi's words, thinking quickly he set up a sound reply.
" Well all i can really say is that i sorta acted on instinct you know, guess I'm a natural." Everyone seemed to buy Naruto's answer though Sasuke continued to glare at him, and Kakashi gave him a look that said " I'm not buying it." " Anyways what I'd like to know is why Sasuke froze up in the first place, i wouldn't of had to do all the work if he wasn't such a coward."
" What was that loser!" Sasuke outraged by the remark turned red due to the embarrassment of being reminded how he choked during the fight. " You just got lucky that time, next time you'll be the one watching when i show you just how much i outclass you dead last!" Naruto merely laughed in response which only angered Sasuke even more.
" Now now both of you calm down this isn't the time for you two to be arguing like children. And Naruto you shouldn't poke fun at Sasuke just because of a minor hesitation everyone goes through it." The seriousness in Kakashi's voice ended the argument instantly. Soon enough the group had made it to the shore line where they traveled on boat to the land hidden in the waves.
Else where:
" Now would you look at that, he likes the taste of flesh, I think I'm starting to rub off on him little by little." The Nine tailed fox's demonic laughter echoed through out the room as he listened to his containers current thoughts with a crude radio. " I gotta say Ryuuza i like your work, though I'm glad i gave you a hand in some of the fine details." A noise from the corner of the room caught the demon's attention. " Well well speak of the devil."
Ryuuza emerged from the hole the other reptiles had dug, though he was in his smaller form he was no less powerful. " Yes Kyuubi i figured it was about time you and me had a talk."
Back to Naruto and company:
The group had just made it to the island. and were currently headed to where Tazuna said he lived when Naruto's senses picked up another presence. " Hey everyone hold on a minute i think i heard something." The rest of the team stopped immediately, everyone looking around for any would be attackers. " Lets see what we have here." Naruto suddenly leaped into a nearby bush, there was a strange noise followed by the sound of movement behind the bushes, after a few minutes Naruto emerged. " Sorry guys my mistake."
" So then Naruto what did you catch?" Kakashi mistook the red on Naruto's face as him blushing in embarrassment. With a sheepish look on his face Naruto slowly reached behind the bush, and pulled out a red, and white hare. " Thats odd I've never seen a red, and white rabbit before."
"Well it was all white to begin with Kakashi sensei." Though on the outside Naruto looked embarrassed he was quite the opposite in his head. " Damn a few more minutes and i could have eaten the little morsel." Everyone one else looked at Naruto with disapproval with Sakura calling him a bunny killing monster, and Sasuke commenting that all Naruto was capable of killing was a defenseless hare. Naruto quickly wiped the blood off his face, before anyone got wise to what it really was.
" Odd a hare wouldn't have white fur unless it was during the cold season, and its in the middle of the warm season..that must mean..oh no." " Everyone get down now!" Everyone ducked down onto the ground at the sound of their squad captain's command. A second later a gigantic sword flew past where their heads would have been, when it finally latched onto a tree a lone shinobi was there standing on the hilt.
" So then you saw past my trap not bad, though i doubt you'll make it out of here alive." The shinobi then sent a huge wave of killer intent toward the group effectively freezing most of them still out of fear. " Hmmm so it seems those two were able to resist my killer intent."
Kakashi wasn't troubled by the surge of killer intent sent toward the group though he was surprised that Naruto also seemed unaffected as well. A thick mist seemed to appear from no where and surrounded the group, keeping their enemy hidden.
" This one is interesting he uses killing intent to immobilize his targets then..." Naruto suddenly became aware of a presence right behind him, he had barely a moment to step to the side dodging what would have been a mortal blow from the shinobi's sword. What he hadn't realized was that his avoidance of the sword left him open from the left, an opportunity his opponent used. Before he even knew what had happend Naruto now had a kunai to his throat, the shinobi's breath right on his neck.
" You smell of blood boy, have you killed anyone recently?" The ninja expected the boy to just stand there in fear, what he didn't expect was a wide smile to form on the blond's face. " Actually yes a little earlier today to be exact, brothers who fight together die together." The boy's words caught him so off guard he didn't even see Kakashi coming. *Thwack!*
" Now what do we have here if it isn't Zabuza Momochi also known as the Demon of the Hidden mist." Kakashi's punch had knocked Zabuza a good 10 meters away though the ninja stood up like he hadn't been struck at all. " This could get bad, I'll have to be on my toes to keep him from getting that close to the genin again."
" My my is that you Kakashi Hatake other wise known as the Copy Cat Ninja." I almost feel honored to have the pleasure of facing you on such a fine day. Zabuza then turned to liquid, and splashed onto the ground, though his laughter could be heard all around the group.
Sasuke, and Sakura had by now gotten over their immobilization, and began taking formation Sakura in front of Tazuna, Sasuke next to Naruto. " Damn water clones this just got that much harder." Thinking quickly Kakashi threw a kunai to the left striking a Zabuza water clone in the head dispersing it. " And we're right next to a body of water, he has the advantage here."
Zabuza from a safe distance was musing over what the blond genin had said. " Perhaps further inspection is in order." Forming a plan in his mind Zabuza created more water clones, and watched as they charged toward the silver haired jonin. " Can't have you getting in the way Kakashi." Three of the water clones engaged the jonin keeping his attention as he tried to fight all three at the same time, the other water clone charging toward the group.
Sasuke saw the enemy coming, this time he wouldn't be shown up by Naruto in fact he planned on taking down the shinobi on his own. " Watch and learn loser." Rushing forward Sasuke closed the distance between him and the clone, with a quick jump to the side he was able to avoid the sword that crashed down right where he stood, using his momentum he performed a quick knee thrust that caught his enemy off guard. To his horror what should have been a fatal blow only seemed to daze his opponent, the clone cracked his neck laughing while he did, and shook his finger in a " uh uh uh" fashion. "This may be harder than i thought."
Naruto on the other hand had his own troubles to deal with, while the clone fought Sasuke the real Zabuza appeared behind Naruto, and struck him from behind with his fist. " Hey kid whats a obvious killer like you doing hanging around these chumps?" Zabuza aimed a kick toward the down blond only for him to catch his foot, and throw him onto the ground.
" I have my reason's for wasting time with these mammals, what about you?" Zabuza grabbed Naruto's shin as he sprang to his feet, and slammed the blond into a nearby tree, smirking at the boy's pained expression.
" Well i was just thinking you should ditch these losers, and join me kid i could use a weapon with potential such as yourself." Zabuza let a large wicked grin spread on his face, he was really going to enjoy this.
" Dammit another water clone, if this is going to end anytime soon i'll need to find the real one." Kakashi ducked under a viscous slash from the third water clone's sword, with a quick upward thrust Kakashi sliced open the clones neck destroying it. " I can't keep this up forever, then again neither can he." Kakashi noticed the water clone that was fighting Naruto, watching it take a direct blow without dispersing, he realized that Naruto was facing the real Zabuza. " Enough games its time i get serious." Kakashi pulled up his headband exposing his left eye which unlike his right was red and had three strange dots that spun around his pupil.
" So are you interested kid?" Zabuza at the moment had Naruto by the neck, and pinned against a tree his other hand casually holding his sword like it weighed nothing. Despite his situation Naruto couldn't help but smile though they were enemies, and currently locked in combat Naruto was actually enjoying the conversation he was having with Zabuza.
" Well what are the benefits to joining your little club, free dental I'm hoping." As Naruto watched Zabuza cock his fist for a strike he noticed a certain silver haired jonin closing in from behind Zabuza. " Actually how about we continue this conversation later for now you should probably dodge to the left." The urgency in Naruto's voice was enough to convince Zabuza to heed his words, so he quickly moved to the left, and avoided a stab from behind by Kakashi's kunai.
Sasuke at the moment could have been doing better at the time, though he was giving it his best shot none of his moves seemed to have much effect on the water clone. " Oh come on i know i can do better than this." With a pained grunt he forced himself forward, and tried to face the clone hand to hand, which resulted in him being thrown to the ground again. "This sucks."
Sakura watching the entire time had no idea what to do it was her mission to keep the bridge builder safe, but her beloved Sasuke was being beaten to a pulp. " Wait! what he needs is a distraction! CHA!" Sakura thinking quickly reached into her bag, and pull out a strange black item.
' Demon Wind Shuriken Windmill of Shadows' Using all her strength Sakura threw the large shuriken at the water clone, who noticed it out of the corner of it's eye. As it attempted to dodge the shuriken it gave Sasuke the opening he needed to finish the job. ' Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu'The clone was instantly destroyed by the intense flame, seeing that his opponent was defeated Sasuke took a moment to rest. " Lets see you top that Naruto."
Speaking of which Naruto at the time was watching Zabuza's and Kakashi's with great interest. On one hand he wanted his squad leader to win, so they could continue with the mission, on the other he was interested in Zabuza's offer which might help Naruto with completing his own agenda. At the moment both Shinobi were engaged in a water jutsu battle both summoning water dragons, and they seemed pretty evenly matched until Kakashi used a water style technique that nearly drowned everyone.
" I won't be defeated by the likes of you Kakashi Hata.." Zabuza's sentence was cut short by two senbon needles that pierced his neck. As he fell to the ground his eyes met Naruto's eyes his lips forming un heard words. " We..shall...meet..again." A second ninja appeared next to Zabuza's corpse, from the looks of things it was a female though her face was covered by a hunter-nin mask.
" It seems i have finally completed my mission." The hunter-nin turned toward Kakashi and his squad. " Thank you for your assistance i will now have to destroy the body at a discreet location." The masked ninja then heaved Zabuza's corpse onto her shoulders, and disappeared.
" Well team it would seem we've won this battle now lets get to Tazuna's place before i..oh no." Kakashi collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion apparently the battle had taken more out of him than expected. Now all that was left was a tired team of genin, and one freaked out bridge-builder. "...I'm not carrying him."
Meanwhile elsewhere:
" Geez Haku you almost killed me there." At the moment the hunter nin identified as Haku was tending to her master, who she had put in a death like state using careful aim. " Seriously you have the bedside manner of a butcher. Ow!" Zabuza's last comment had slightly agitated Haku, her revenge was in the form of viciously pulling the senbon needles out of her superiors neck making sure Zabuza felt tremendous pain.
" Sorry Zabuza its hard to pull these out carefully when your making smart remarks." Zabuza merely rolled his eyes. " Give a girl a few senbon needles, and a hunter nin mask and suddenly she develops an attitude. OW!"
Haku took a moment to look over her master, the fight with Kakashi had roughed him up a little, and her senbon needles had did more damage than she had expected. " From the look of things your going to need some serious rest for at least a week here."
Zabuza merely grunted in reply, though he knew she was right he still didn't have to like it. " Well then it sounds like it'll be your job to keep a tab on that blond kid for me then. The boy has great potential, heh he reminds me of me when i was his age." Haku nodded in agreement before helping her master to his feet, they still had to get Zabuza back to the hideout.
Back to our hero:
Naruto, and company had successfully made it to Tazuna's house, and everyone was enjoying a much needed rest in one form or another. With Kakashi unconscious still the genin had to find other ways to amuse themselves. Sakura was making nice with the residents of the house Tazuna's daughter Tsunami was very thankful for her father's safe return, and had treated Kakashi's wounds, apparently there was a grandson somewhere in the house though he hadn't made an appearance yet. Sasuke went to find a empty room to rest in though he wouldn't admit that he was a little worn out from the fight. Naruto himself was sitting on the roof of Tazuna's house where he could get some solitude.
Inside Naruto's mind scape:
" Your arrogance is something to be marveled Kyuubi." Ryuuza's statement only earned him a deep laugh from the monstrous fox.
" Oh really says the pint sized newt, who just recently moved in. I mean seriously I've been here all by my poor lonesome for this child's entire life, then you show up and try to act like mister bossy." The great fox though enjoying the heated debate was starting to grow tired of the lizard's commands.
Ryuuza took a moment to think of a proper reply, he knew he was getting no where with this argument, already he had missed the recent battle with the assassin shinobi that had attacked Naruto's team, and he was eager to find out how the battle had turned out. On the other hand he could understand the point that the equally powerful demon was making, the only available option was to make an agreement, for Naruto's sake at least.
" How about we share the boy then?" Ryuuza's reply was a bold one, and undoubtedly unexpected by the looks of his surrounding vassals, and the some what startled fox.
" Your boldness is something to be marveled...Ryuuza" The Kyuubi's response was just as unexpected then again so was the deep chuckling that followed after from the fox's cell before he continued. " But you may have a point no reason we can't all just get along..for now, though i think we'll have to iron out the details at another time it would seem ' our ' boy is calling for you, unless you'd like me to bring him here."
Ryuuza could feel Naruto's thoughts reaching out to him, though he was surprised the Kyuubi could hear the boys thoughts when they were being projected to him the fox had a point. " Perhaps another time i do not believe the boy is ready to meet you just yet, but the time draws near." The great reptile headed back to the tunnel that bridged the two beast's to Naruto's mind scape. " I will return when the opportunity presents itself, farewell for now Kyuubi." Even as he descended back to his own realm Ryuuza could hear the fox's demonic laughter, and tidbits of it's dark influence.
Back to Naruto:
" Ryuuza!"
"Ryuuza where are you!" Naruto was starting to lose his last nerve, Zabuza's proposal had gotten Naruto thinking about a few things, and though he wouldn't admit out loud he wanted the old lizard's advice on the matter.
" Sorry about that kid i was...caught up in some other business, now whats with all the racket?"
" About damn time you old gecko, where you paying attention to that last fight?"
" Not really i only noticed small tidbits of it what happened?" Naruto then went over how the battle had began, and ended the conversation he had with Zabuza being by far the most interesting. " So then did the rogue nins request appeal to you then?"
" Yes it did, if I'm going to have to travel with humans it ought as well be ones with similar ideals its a shame that Zabuza had met his end the way he did." Ryuuza had to agree with the blond from what he had said this Zabuza was an rare individual, and it was unfortunate that a potential ally had been taken out so early in the game.
" Well there isn't much else you can do right now Naruto so its best we just move on I'm sure your team is wondering where you are right now."
" Ah crud your right i completely forgot about them well i better get going then." Naruto stood up and walked down the roof till he reached the second floor window of the house then climbed inside quietly. Once his eyes had adjusted to the dark room he realized he was in the same room Kakashi was currently resting in, the silver haired ninja in his current state was an easy target something Naruto quickly noted. Being the only one within the room besides the sleeping Kakashi Naruto couldn't help, but feel curious about the one-eyed ninja's hidden face. " Couldn't hurt to take a quick look right?"
Kakashi had been awake the moment the blond genin had crept in through the window, his sharpened senses sending off little alarms in his head that danger was nearby. He took a moment to open his eye quickly getting a look at the familiar blond who was currently caught in self thought, now that he knew who was in the room with him he closed his eye letting his other senses help keep a tab on Naruto while he continued to appear like he was sleeping. " What is that boy up too?" He remembered the earlier incident with the demon brothers, no human could have done that. For now he would have to wait, and see what the strange boy would do.
Naruto slowly crept closer to the resting jonin, once he was at the right distance he silently began climbing up the wall of the room his plan was to climb to the ceiling, and use his tail to unmask the cyclops. As he crept closer now on the ceiling of the room he was just about to let his tail loose when he heard foot steps from outside the room, and they were heading in the room's direction. " Shit looks like this will have to wait for another time then."
Naruto quickly crawled back to the window now forsaking silence for speed, the clicking noises of his claws gripping the surface to keep him on the ceiling as he moved peaked Kakashi's curiosity as he opened his eye to watch Naruto crawl out the window. " What the hell?"
A few hours later:
Before getting up to see how his genin team were doing Kakashi had come upon the realization that the hunter nin was not who he/she pretended to be since a full fledged hunter ninja would have destroyed Zabuza's corpse the moment he was dead, which meant that Zabuza was still alive some where, and that meant he would have to get his squad ready for another encounter. " Now team it would seem that Zabuza hasn't died as we may have thought, i believe the hunter nin that attacked him was probably a ally of his that used the disguise to mislead us." The genin all had their own separate reactions, from Sakura's gasp of surprise, and Sasuke's small smirk obviously being ok with the chance to fight a strong enemy, and further his skills, Naruto himself said nothing, and pretended not to care though on the inside he was jumping for joy.
" Because of this i think its necessary to teach you a chakra exercise that will come in handy in future battles." Kakashi then led the group to a large tree outside of the house. " Now you see by focusing chakra to your feet you can actually do some interesting things such as this." Kakashi then proceeded to walk up the tree with no problem at all as if it was the easiest thing in the world. " Lets see you guys give it a try."
One hour later:
" This seriously sucks." Though climbing a tree with the use of his claws would have been mere child's play, Naruto knew he couldn't do that in front of his team so he was forced to do things the hard way, by doing as his sensei had said, and focusing just enough chakra to his feet that he would stick to the tree, but not so much that it would blast him off the tree like it had done so many times before. Laying on the ground exhausted Naruto took a look at his latest slash mark on the tree he was climbing though it was nearly to the top it wasn't as high as Sakura's though it was still a good deal higher than Sasuke's.
" Thank goodness for that right." A sudden movement in his chest alerted him that a familiar friend had returned, the small lizard that normally accompanied Naruto poked its head out from underneath Naruto's large trench-coat. " Alright little guy we'll give it one more try then ok?" The lizard nodded it's head then climbed to his shoulders where it loosely wrapped its tail around Naruto's neck, and placed it's head on his own head. Naruto laughed to his self the lizard's antic amusing him greatly, he then stood up and got ready for a good running start, pumping a good amount of chakra to his feet. " Lets make it hot."
Unknown to Naruto, and his fellow genin they were being watched by a somewhat familiar figure. " Lets see if your really worth Zabuza-san's time
CLIFFHANGAAAA!!!!
lol sorry couldn't resist I'm hoping you readers got a kick out of the chapter
I'll be trying to update again soon, Read and Review folks