The Eye of the Beholder

January 17, 2010

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Flashbacks

Demons and Higher beings

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, otherwise the pairing would be a great deal more clear.

Chapter 4: End of Gatou's reign

Four days had passed and the six genin were making some progress.

As Kaitou was instructing them he noticed a feminine figure walking out in a pink attire with a basket in hand. The figure seemed to be gathering herbs.

"Keep on training," Kaitou told them as he walked over to the person. He pulled out a pen and a note pad and wrote something on it. As he approached the person he said, "You may want the right ingredients for that paralysis drug."

The figure jumped up, startled by Kaitou's approach.

Kaitou himself chuckled and ripped out the page from his notepad and held it to the person, "My name is Kaitou, may I have yours?"

"Haku," the feminine person said hesitantly, slowly taking the piece of paper from him.

"Although caution is a good thing, I thought males were suppose to be more reckless," Kaitou commented. "Especially shinobi such as yourself."

Haku's eyes widened as he got into a fighting stance.

"Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions," Kaitou said with his hands in front of him. "It just happens to be a coincidence that we're here."

Haku dropped out of his fighting stance but didn't relax. He looked at the piece of paper that Kaitou handed him and asked, "What is this?"

"That is a list of ingredients and the instructions to properly mix said ingredients for the most effective treatment to counteract my drug," Kaitou told him. "Nothing poisonous, I promise."

"You made that paralysis drug?" Haku asked in complete surprise. He couldn't find any way to counteract said concoction and hadn't even found anything close to this level of complexity in his studies.

"Not only that, but I also made the cure right after I completed it," Kaitou told the false hunter nin. "Can't have people using my own poisons against me and not have a cure."

Haku couldn't help but agree with his statement.

Kaitou reached into his pocket and said, "I'm a bit busy at the moment, so please give this to Zabuza and be sure to read what's in it." He pulled a scroll out of his pocket and handed it to Haku.

Haku was still hesitant about this guy but he took the scroll none the less.

"And at this point in time, if you follow the instructions to the letter, given Zabuza's height, build and overall physical health, he should have full use of his limbs in about a week and a half," Kaitou finished as he walked over to his charges.

Haku could only watch as he walked away. He looked at the scroll in his hand when he noticed with surprise that there were ten sendons positioned in a straight line with the first one only being about half a centimeter away from tip of his foot. What really got him gaping was that his basket was full of the herbs necessary to make the antidote for the drug. Haku then realized that there was no point in suspecting deception, because if Kaitou wanted Zabuza dead, chances are, the man would be as such.

Ten days later...

Everyone stepped out of Tazuna's house to find Haku standing there in full battle attire. Everyone but Kaitou himself got into a fighting position.

Kaitou just waved them off and walked towards the young shinobi.

"Survey says?" Kaitou asked.

"Zabuza-sama has accepted your terms," Haku answered as he removed his mask. "He's waiting for you at the bridge."

Nearly all the genin were freaked because that was the person that Kaitou was talking to several days back.

"Just so you know, I'm a boy," Haku told them as he put his mask away.

That got everyone except Kaitou wide-eyed.

Sakura just couldn't believe that a male could look better than her.

"I can understand their surprise, especially with how you were dressed," Kaitou told Haku. "You really need to find clothing that makes your gender clear, at least then you wouldn't have any problem with guys trying to get your attention."

All the guys just shivered at the thought.

"I'll be staying here," Haku told them. "Gatou is the kind of man that will use some form of leeway to ensure he wins, and a hostage is just that."

"Meaning you also believe what else I mentioned to be true," Kaitou told them.

Haku nodded.

"Well, let's not keep the man waiting," Kaitou told them as he started off in the direction of the construction site for the bridge.

When they got the workers were afraid to approach the area. Zabuza was seated at the edge of the bridge, sword in hand, although his sword looked different from the last time they saw it.

"You sword wasn't black when we fought," Kakashi said to him.

"That was my doing," Kaitou told them as he walked to the nuke-nin. "So how's your sword working for you?"

"Quite nicely," Zabuza said with a cheerful tone, which was completely out of place given who it was and the situation. "The weight remains the same, but the sword's overall strength and sharpness are on a whole other level."

"More than just that," Kaitou told him. "That sword will not let itself break any time soon, and you're the only one who can wield that blade."

"I thought as much," Zabuza responded.

Kaitou pulled out a scroll and opened it, summoning two swords of his own. "We need to pass the time, so how about we test that blade out?" he suggested.

"Why not?" Zabuza answered as he readied himself.

Kaitou twirled his swords expertly in his two hands.

"Sword skills alone," Kaitou set the rules. "No ninjustu or genjutsu, this is pretty much taijutsu on its own. Kakashi, you specify when we start."

"Hai," Kakashi said lazily as he stepped forward.

"You're free to copy my moves, if you can keep your eyes on them," Kaitou told him.

"No thank," Kakashi told him as he raised his hand. He lowered it and shouted, "Hajime!"

The two rushed forward and sparks flew as their blades clashed.

Kaitou was smirking as he struck ten time, every one of them was either deflected or dodged expertly.

Zabuza himself was laughing under his bandages, not even a minute into the fight and he was already enjoying himself. It had been far too long since he had a spar against another swordsman. The former Kiri shinobi knew that Kaitou was being a sport and just messing around, and to be honest, he was glad he could finally fight without worry of death.

After about ten minutes both jumped back. Both breathing heavily.

"You certainly know how to give a good workout," Zabuza admitted to him.

"Same to you," Kaitou responded. He sheithed his swords and sealed them away again. "I can't have my sword breaking due to over stressing, besides, our wait time is over," he finished as he put his scroll away.

Zabuza shrugged and put his sword in the strap.

The two approached where the bridge met the land to see Gatou and his thugs. Gatou was smirking, his arrogance clear, althought his left arm was in a cast.

"And here I thought you would have been able to take care of everyone," the short businessman said. "I guess you're nothing but a baby demon. Not that it makes any difference now that I have a hostage," he laughed at his own joke.

"And who would that be?" Haku asked as he walked up with the two rurouni that he handled back at Tazuna's house. "Because these imbeciles certainly don't look like they would make good hostages."

Gatou looked in shock to see his two most loyal thugs tied up.

"You're not a shinobi," Haku told him. "Unless you can fight us in the same way, don't gloat about how much power you have."

"I agree, you were barely able to keep a hold onto this country," Kaitou told him. "Mind you, I'm the main reason for that."

Tazuna and his four students agreed to that one. Gatou couldn't help but growl an agreement as well.

"And that's why you'll be the first to die," Gatou told him. He shouted, "I'll pay ten times the normal fee if you all can kill the tall blonde one."

They all were about to charge when all of their weapons fell apart.

"Not again," Gatou cried out in irritation.

"Again?" Kakashi and Zabuza asked.

"This happened about three years ago," Kaitou told them.

"Except that he wasn't the one they were targeting last time," Kagura told them.

"That and he was in such a bad mood that Oscar ended up paralyzing Gatou for two months," Rika finished.

"Oscar?" Naruto asked.

"We call him that when he's in a grouchy mood," Nami replied.

"You'd be grouchy after you had just laid down only to have to go and save someone, especially after seven days of non-stop work," Kaitou admitted.

"What do you mean non-stop?" Sasuke asked.

"It means he was up for one hundred sixty-eight hours straight, no sleep whatsoever," Meimi answered.

Team seven just looked at Kaitou.

"What were you doing for seven days, building houses?" Sakura asked in complete disbelief.

"Yes," Kaitou answered simply.

That just earned him another look.

"What?" Kaitou asked.

"You were building houses for seven days straight?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, and I got all five built in that time as well," Kaitou responded.

Everyone was wondering where he had that kind of will power.

"Please tell me you weren't wearing your coat and weights while you were doing this," Naruto said.

"Why would I lie like that?" Kaitou asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto brought his sensei down and whispered into his ear.

Kakashi just looked at Kaitou in disbelief.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Kaitou asked.

"Because you don't struggle while moving or make a dent while walking."

"It's called control, I used my chakra to ensure that my overall weight doesn't change, I still feel every kilo on my shoulders."

"You have to be fast," Kakashi commented. "Maybe you should try challenging Gai without your weights."

"Why would I want to do that?" Kaitou asked rhetorically.

"Good point," Kakashi agreed. "He'll probably start copying your jacket." Kakashi just stopped and thought for a moment and then said, "On second thought, you should definitely do it then."

Kaitou just looked at Kakashi, "Okay, you just lost me."

Kakashi just put his hand on Kaitou's shoulder, "You'll see what I'm talking about when we get back."

"I WILL NOT BE IGNORED," Gatou shouted.

Kaitou just waved his hand at the fat man, "Shut up, junior and let the parents talk."

And with that, Gatou and his thugs all fell down.

"GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH, NOT AGAIN," Gatou screamed as he lay there, helpless.

"You paralyzed him as well?" Zabuza asked rhetorically.

"That would explain why he has such animosity towards you," Haku commented.

"I imagine that he was unable to move for about two months, especially considering the small dosage he received," Kaitou said as he walked to picked the businessman up. He turned around with Gatou in tow and said, "Alright everyone, show's over."

"Well, now that the contract has been voided we'll need somewhere to stay," Zabuza admitted.

"Tazuna's house is out of the question," Kaitou told him. "Why not just stay where you've been located for the past few weeks, now that Gatou is incapacitated he can't run his empire."

"Very true," Zabuza admitted.

End of Chapter...

That's it for this, I tried, trust me. Anyway Read and Review.