NARUTO
Nox Noctis Ingredior
Journey to Wave
Hokage tower…
"…needless to say, I believe you three did very well on your last assignment," the Third exclaimed, looking over the three young Genin of Team 7 and their Jonin sensei, who was standing behind them proudly with her hands in her pockets. Naruto, Sakura and Hinata were pleased with the praise they were getting from the Hokage, and bowed in gratification to his smile.
Puffing on his pipe, the old ninja removed it from his mouth and blew out the smoke from his lungs, before facing the group again.
"Anko, you are doing a fine job training these three," the Hokage stated, nodding his head. "They may not have been prodigies on their graduation from the academy, but they are becoming quite unique shinobi, and I'm sure I'll be expecting a lot more of your great efforts in the future."
"Thanks, Hokage-sama," Anko replied, giving the old man her Cheshire like grin. "So, got any more missions for us to perform for yah?"
"Of course, of course… why don't we make it a C-rank mission this time, mix it up a little," Sarutobi suggested, lacing his fingers together and propping his elbows on his desk, nearly knocking aside his viewing orb. "This time I will test your teamwork compatibility. Since we have a large number of mission requests coming out and a lot of my Chunin are already out on separate missions, I will be temporarily splitting up Team 7 and mixing them up with the other graduated teams, since a couple of the Genin have called in sick or are visiting relatives. I'm sure you understand my reasoning behind this…"
The three Genin looked between each other questioningly, with Anko just shrugging her shoulders.
"What did you have in mind, old-man?" Anko asked.
The Hokage pulled out two separate scrolls, and unraveled the first one. Clearing his throat a little, he began summing up the details written on the parchment like paper.
"I was planning on giving this mission to Team 8, which was strongly requested for the Jonin leader's capable companions. But then, changes occurred before I could give them notice. Their Team is now short handed, as Kakashi Hatake has suddenly called in ill from food poisoning…" It was at this Naruto, Sakura and Hinata frowned and turned to glare up at their sensei. The purple haired Jonin saw their looks and, with a nervous chuckle, rubbed the back of her head.
"I spiked his rice before he came in for dinner last night…"
"With what?" Sakura asked.
Anko looked up in thought…
Meanwhile…
Across Konoha: Kakashi's Apartment…
"OH GOD! WHY WON'T IT STOP!" Kakashi screamed out from behind the door to his toilet, the rooms outside of it now beginning to smell very unpleasant.
The neighbors were rather disturbed by the outbursts coming from the Jonin's apartment, unaware of the fact that he was suffering from a severe case of violent diarrhea. Of course, instincts from the cries of agony and despair prompted them to call in some support from the patrolling ANBU. When they arrived at the apartment, they weren't able to access it due to the smell and, after much discussion, realized what was going on and decided to wait outside.
The ANBU with the hawk mask turned to his companion with the boar mask, both of them standing on either side of the door in a sort of guard of honor. The two shared glances, and winced as the cries continued to spill out through the locked door and closed windows.
"IT BURNS!" Kakashi cried out. "IT'S LIKE I SWALLOWED HOT LAVA! AAARRGGHH!"
"Should we call for a medic?" hawk asked his comrade, wincing at the continued screams of anguish.
"Nah… we got plenty of time," his friend replied, leaning up against the side of the wall and pulling out a newspaper. He flicked it open and began reading. "Let's just put this place under quarantine, it's a perfect way to kill time. I don't feel like doing much today anyway!"
"MOTHER OF GOD!"
Hawk sighed and shook his head, slumping over. He then crouched low and leapt away. "I'll get a doctor…"
"No rush!" his friend called out, reading the theater guide in the middle of the paper.
Back in the Hokage's Office…
"You know what, I'd rather not say," Anko replied, putting her hands back into her pockets and rocking back and forth on her feet. Naruto, Sakura and Hinata looked at each other, and then looked back at the Hokage, who had stopped when he realized that Team 7 was no longer listening.
When all attention fell back onto him, he cleared his throat and continued.
"Moving on…" the Hokage said, looking back at the open scroll. "With Kakashi incapacitated, Sasuke temporarily joining Team 10 on a C-Rank escort, and Kiba attending a family meeting, this leaves Shino on call. I'll be breaking up Team 7, with Naruto and Hinata joining Shino on this mission, and Sakura joining Team 10 on the escort, filling in for Choji, who is performing a solo D-Rank task."
Hinata added up the numbers alongside Naruto, with the Hyuuga looking up to articulate the result. "So Team 7 will consist of me, Naruto-kun, Shino-kun, and Team 10 will be consisting Sakura-san, Sasuke, Ino and Shikamaru?"
Sarutobi nodded with a smile. "That is correct. Of course, Anko will help with the escort mission with Team 10, filling in for Asuma, who I have sent on a B-Rank mission just last night, and Kurenai will be taking over Team 7 temporarily. This will further test your teamwork capabilities in unfamiliar environments, as I will be sending both teams on C-Rank assignments."
The three Genin nodded, although Sakura was a bit disappointed to be torn away from her group. But at least she had Anko with her, although this proved to be a less comforting notion. The purple haired Jonin nodded to the village leader, her look becoming serious.
"I will gather together the team and meet you here in half-an-hour, sir," she stated. The Third nodded, and tossed the woman the mission scroll for Team 10, which she caught enthusiastically. Taking Sakura by the shoulder, she smiled down at her. "Come on pinky, we have our marching orders! Let's go!" Sakura hastily moved for the door, waving to Naruto and Hinata before she left the room.
"See you guys later!" she called. Naruto and Hinata waved after her, as their friend and Anko vanished down the hallway. At the same time, they saw Shino walked in through the closing door, the boy with his hands in his pockets strolling up to the desk and falling into formation beside Naruto and Hinata.
The two members of Team 7 smiled at the boy, who nodded back to them.
"Great to see you again, Shino," Naruto exclaimed.
"And to you, Naruto Uzumaki," the bug user replied in his usual monotone, even though he was happy. He turned to Hinata, who smiled sweetly at the boy. "Hinata, are you doing well?"
"Yes, Shino-kun," she replied. "It is very nice…to see you again as well."
Forming a row, the three of them then turned back to the Hokage, and stood their waiting for their Jonin leader to show up. Eventually she did, Kurenai slipping in through the window to the right of the desk, smiling as she slipped in.
"Sorry I'm a bit late, I got tangled up in the crowd," she replied.
"That's fine Kurenai, just don't make a habit out of it like Kakashi," Sarutobi replied, watching the raven haired woman approach her team. "At least it's not two hours late like him… honestly, that boy…"
Kurenai smiled as she filed up behind Naruto, Shino and Hinata, with the three of them greeting her in kind. Once in formation, they turned back to the old Hokage and awaited their mission specs. The man in the funny hat unrolled the last of the two scrolls that were in front of him, and read through it briefly. After skimming through it, he then rolled it up and tossed it over to Kurenai, who caught it with ease.
"This one will be relatively simple, Kurenai. As this is your second command of a Genin Team, as this is a mixed unit, I expect this to be done by the book," the Third said, earning a nod from the woman. "However, given an unexpected scenario, you are to act on instinct if need be. Since this is a C-Rank mission, the most likely trouble you should be encountering would be nothing more then highway robbers or mercenaries."
"Understood, sir," Kurenai said, nodding her head.
"Although…" the Third turned to Naruto and raised an eyebrow at him. "I guess I should be expecting some surprises by the end of it…"
The blonde grinned, while Hinata giggled at the handsome and carefree look he gave in return. "I'll try to keep it to a minimal, old man!"
"Mmm…" Sarutobi murmured, leaning back into his chair and huffing on his pipe. He smiled at the boy, winking at him. "At least your new 'friend' wasn't too much trouble, although she did complain about the cleanliness of the interrogation chamber, and offered a few tips to Ibiki to improve torture efficiency. She said the boredom was too… well… boring. In response, Ibiki sent a written complaint to me in regards to the 'people' I was sending him."
"I guess she's a breath of fresh air to the facility, eh?" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes…'fresh air'…" the Third replied with a smirk, shaking his head. He then waved at them. "Get going; your client is waiting in the lounge down below!"
Bowing, the Genin and their Jonin team leader left the Hokage to his devices. Walking down the hall and down the set of stairs, they eventually came across the waiting room, with a few clients sitting around on the couches, waiting for the ninja assigned to them. Stepping forward, Kurenai opened up the scroll she was given and identified their man.
"Tazuna; the Bridge Builder? Which one of you is he?" she asked out loud.
"That would be me!" a gruff, lazy voice replied to the group's left, and they turned to see a grumpy old man rise from his seat, backpack and everything.
He wasn't exactly the last pick in the draft, but at least he was travel-equipped. The man wore brown working clothes, and carried a custom-designed traveling pack and had a straw hat hanging from his neck. The scent of whisky and sake did not go unnoticed by Kurenai and the others, with the leader of the team rolling up the scroll and pocketing it, watching as the old man approached them, scratching the back of his head.
When he arrived at their side, he inspected the four of them, at the same time giving them a look that said he wasn't that impressed.
"So… they assigned a bunch of kids and a super model to protect me, eh?" the man groaned. Naruto was a bit taken aback by the old man, but he respectably held his tongue. Shino was looking at the man with apprehension, and Hinata just continued smiling kindly, despite the man's obvious disapproval. "Well, I get what I paid for. As long as you guys are ninja, it doesn't matter one bit, so long as you can protect me."
"It's a team building job," Kurenai replied, smiling slightly. "Though I'm flattered by your comment, you weren't exactly what we expected either."
"Of course I'm not!" Tazuna replied gruffly, before poking himself in the chest. "I'm Tazuna, Master Bridge Designer and Builder, and I need a bunch of ninja to guard me on my way back home, and to hang around until my project is completed. Can I count on you for that?"
"You certainly can," Kurenai replied, placing her hands on two of the Genin. "We've picked the best hands for this kind of job. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed."
"Very well then," Tazuna replied, stepping forward and bending over, getting a better look at the trio. He adjusted the glasses he wore as he inspected them, while being taken aback by the blonde haired one. "I suppose you will do. Although, I don't know how you can sneak around with that light-bulb of a hair style…"
"For your information, it's inherited, old man!" Naruto replied, pointing out the top of his noggin. "I could have gotten red, but unfortunately I got my dad's hairstyle!"
"It means no difference to me, so long as you do your job," Tazuna replied, straightening up and looking at the Jonin leader. "I'll meet you at the East Gate."
Kurenai nodded. "Very well then," was her reply, before she looked down at the three Genin scattered around her. "Pack for a long trip, we're going to Wave Country. Make sure to bring the essentials."
Doing as they were told, the three Genin headed off…
Meeting back up with their team leader and Tazuna at the East Gate, they were more then ready for the journey ahead. However, on every journey, there would always be unexpected surprises and obstacles they would have to over come. This trip would prove to be a life changer for all of them; they just didn't know it yet.
Of course, when Naruto, Hinata and Shino arrived at the East exit to the village, they were pretty much confident that this relatively simple mission would go smoothly and soundly. By the way Naruto was chatting animatedly with Hinata, meant that he was at ease about the whole situation, with Shino falling relatively into their category. Kurenai smiled at the three of them, then ushered them into convoy fashion, thus beginning their trip. Tazuna followed in between the small group, hands at his sides as he listened to what the children were yakking on about.
"Don't you think plain dango should have more sugar on it, Hinata?" Naruto asked, shrugging his shoulders and adjusting his pack as he trudged alongside her, with Shino behind them. "I mean, I've got a killer sweet tooth to satisfy, which is why I love snacking on a treat once in a while. The new dango they are making at the dango store, in my opinion, aren't really that sweet."
"I-I'm not sure, Naruto. Maybe they changed chefs recently," Hinata replied, smiling at him. "Perhaps… I can… make you a batch of my own."
"Really? That sounds great!" Naruto exclaimed, putting his hands behind his head. "I know you're a great cook, Hinata! It should be awesome!"
"Y-Yes…" Hinata said with a smile, blushing lightly at his compliment. "W-When we get back home…I'll be sure to make you some, Naruto-kun."
"Hehe!"
"Dango, eh?" Shino spoke up, with Naruto and Hinata turning round to face him in response. "In my honest opinion, I reckon the sauce should make the dumplings sweeter. When it comes down to it, the molding of the sauce with the dumplings should make an exquisite delight…"
"Hey, I think you're on to something Shino!" Naruto replied, smiling at him. "I never knew you were a fan of dango?"
"Every so often, I like to treat myself as well," the bug user stated, lowering his head a little. "Dango makes for an excellent treat, so does bean soup. Perhaps adding a little rosemary to the finished soup would help it along nicely…"
"Hmm…" Hinata thought to herself, tapping her chin. "You're right Shino. We could add some spices to the soup, create a new one…"
"Not like the Red Dragon though," Shino commented, glancing at Naruto who grinned mischievously at the name. "I don't think my bugs can handle the flavor…"
"Of course, but my stew-soup can't even compare to the curry sold at the Curry of Life shop where Lee frequently visits," Naruto replied, groaning a bit at the memory and looking up toward the sky. "I couldn't taste anything for a week…"
Hinata giggled. "Maybe I can make you some…" Naruto chuckled and looked over at Hinata and Shino.
"Maybe we can all share, I'll give you the recipe and we can whip up something," Naruto exclaimed.
"Sounds… fun…" Shino said, smiling slightly under his collar.
Kurenai shook her heads at the three of them, and then turned towards Tazuna, who had just taken a swig from his whisky flask. Wiping his mouth off, the old man then faced the black haired Jonin, a look of questioning written on his face.
"They seem green, don't you think?" Tazuna asked, now noticing that they were now entering the incline leading down to the low lands connected to the coastal areas. Wave may be a couple of hours away, but he recognized the territory this far inland well. "As their teacher, you must have an opinion on them?"
"Oh…" Kurenai smiled at the old man. "They're not really my students, I was pulled in as a substitute for the team leader, since we're a bit short handed at the moment. The Hokage feels that we should shuffle leadership a bit to test and improve our Genin teamwork. Genin teams like this one are usually assigned D-Rank missions, but because of their recognized skill levels, the Kage believes that the graduating class of this year should start undertaking more difficult missions. I must admit though, the Nine Graduated Genin are progressing well."
"Hmm…" Tazuna looked back at the three, watching as Hinata and Naruto laughed together, and a quiet Shin shrugged at the joke that they shared with each other. "Still…my confidence in these three is substantially low. I never really expected to have children guarding me…"
"Not to worry, I am a Jonin of course," Kurenai said with a smile. "If the three of them should slip up, I assure you I won't."
The group continued on tour, for the next hour following a winding trail down a slight incline, before leveling out at sea level. Here, the forests of the Land of Fire seemed to thin out a little, and the sky became more open. This meant that with the wider clearings, they could spot an attack coming from a mile away.
Things seemed to get really quiet, as Hinata and the others stopped talking and were busy observing. Naruto had quickly snatched up a grass reed, and was chewing on the end of it, with his hands still behind his head and eyes closed. He seemed pretty at peace with his surroundings, particularly when they crossed a small river leading to the coastline, where he was able to make out a few colorful fish swimming by. Shino even seemed to come under the attention of a couple of dragonflies, and even allowed one to land on his shoulder and rest there for a bit.
Adjusting his jacket, Naruto looked over into the forest, where he spotted a male reindeer grazing near the edge. The animal looked up, and watched without any movement as the group traveled by. The blonde smiled at the creature and looked ahead of him, the sound of a falcon bird high above their heads adding to the other natural sounds around them. It was quite a lovely countryside.
However, something became a miss for Naruto when they entered an even wider clearing sometime down the path. He cracked an eye open and looked around, his nose not only catching a whiff of something foul, but his senses caught onto chakra lingering in the air.
It was when the group came across a puddle in the middle of their path he realized the trouble. Since there had been no rainfall recently in the area, the blonde knew something was up. Calculating the chakra he sensed in the immediate area, as well as local weather forecasts for the month, he knew exactly what was going on.
A snide smile spread across his lips, and with his hands still in his pockets, walked ahead of the group at a much faster pace, stopping at the puddle. Hinata, Shino and Tazuna became puzzled by his actions, but Kurenai remained quiet, and watched how the blond handled the situation she also caught on to.
"Naruto? What are you d-doing?" Hinata asked, approaching the blond.
"I think I know…" Shino replied.
Surprisingly enough, Naruto then suddenly began stomping in the puddle with one foot, humming to himself as he rhythmically pounded into it. Kurenai watched on in shock and let out a sigh, slapping her forehead.
"This boy's methods are so unorthodox…"
After a minute or so of stomping the puddle, Naruto stepped back, smirking down at the puddle.
"I know you're there, so you can come out now…"
Eventually, whatever was hiding in the puddle did, with the water suddenly shooting up into the air slowly, but surely, forming into the shape of a person. That person was then added color, revealed to be a spiky haired ninja wearing a black poncho with a visible gauntlet on his right arm, and a breathing mask covering his face. The headband visible on his forehead revealed that he was from Kirigakure.
After appearing before the group, the man staggered forward a bit, before falling unconscious to the floor, visible bruises on his head and his eyes swirling animatedly. The groaning missing nin from Kirigakure could barely register to anything as Naruto crouched down next to him, soon joined by Shino and Hinata.
"Yo! You still with us buddy?" Naruto asked.
"OOoohhh… pretty colors…"
"Typical," Shino replied, looking up at Naruto. "How did you know?"
Naruto pointed towards the sky. "Seen any rain clouds recently?"
"Oh… I see," Hinata said, the realization clicking in her mind. "You've got a good eye, Naruto-kun."
"In a manner of speaking," Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his head with a smile. "Although… I still have trouble finding that bad milk at the back of my fridge…"
Hinata nodded, before using her Byakugan and checking, not only the unconscious shinobi at their feet, but also spotting another one lurking in the ground nearby. Tracking the chakra signature, she pointed in the direction of a second, hidden foe.
"There's another one, under the ground…" Hinata said.
The three of them got to their feet, with Shino reaching down and grabbing the gauntlet of the fallen brother. Pressing the retraction button on the device, the mechanics then began retracting the shuriken chain attached to it, and in a whir of revving gears, began pulling the second shinobi to the surface. In a matter of seconds, Kurenai and Tazuna watched as the second, younger brother was pulled to the surface, the Chunin exploding from the ground with a roar, and he charged the three Genin.
Shino shrugged and, taking a stance alongside Hinata, both of them punched out, socking the flying man right in the chest, while ducking underneath his clawed arm. The Chunin was knocked senseless when he stopped in mid-air, and was delivered with those two powerful blows to his stomach. In that same few seconds, Naruto leapt over both Shino and Hinata, and while the rogue ninja was still suspended, the blonde grabbed him by the head and drove him straight down into the ground, cracking the earth with the force. The ninja immediately stopped twitching as he too slipped into unconsciousness.
Getting to his feet in front of Shino and Hinata, Naruto dusted himself down and turned to meet Tazuna's shocked expression. His two companions also turned, all three of them folding their arms and glaring at the old man.
"Do you trust us now?" Naruto asked.
"Do we qualify as capable shinobi by your standards?" Shino also asked.
"D-Do tell…" Hinata finished, trying to pull off a serious look and tone.
Tazuna, now under scrutiny of the three kids, gulped and looked down. He nodded his head and let out a sigh. "I… feel I… owe you three an apology…"
"Credit due," Kurenai exclaimed, smiling at the three of them and walking forward. She placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder, and congratulated the three of them. "You three did well, Naruto, Shino, Hinata… although…" She looked over at Naruto, who was still smiling smugly. "You could be a bit more discreet with your actions, Naruto…"
The blond shrugged, rubbing the back of his head in earnest. "Yeah, I could've… but these were small fry… no biggy."
"Still, I'm confused," Shino said, turning back towards the two fallen rogue ninja, hands back in their pockets. "Why would two rogue ninja from a friendly village target us? It's not like we have any bounties on our heads, or are transporting anything of value. Any reasons for these two to attempt to attack us are a bit sketchy."
"Unless…" Kurenai began, glancing back at the old man standing behind them. "…our client is keeping secrets from us in regards to the mission specifications." Tazuna stepped back a bit, now looking a bit more nervous then ever. "Of curse, he paid for a simple C-Rank mission and no higher… so why ninja would be targeting him is beyond me?"
"I guess …I have a bit more explaining to do…" he said, watching as the three Genin analyzed the weapon used by the two problems and the uniqueness of it. Hinata particularly became fascinated by the chain of shuriken and how it was laced with each other. Naruto sighed and shook his head, finally recognizing the two shinobi that had attacked them.
"I know these two…" he said, getting to his feet and folding his arms, smirking at the unconscious duo. "And if the Demon Brothers are here… then the other guy can't be too far behind…"
"Other guy?" Shino queried, looking up at the blond. Hinata rose to her feet, now looking a tad bit concerned.
"N-Naruto-kun… you mean… there's going to be more of them?" she asked.
"I guess so," Naruto replied, turning to his friends with a smile. "Don't worry about it, I know these guys, so we should be able to avoid a confrontation from here on out." He then turned to look at their Jonin leader and Tazuna. "Sensei, in light of this situation, I feel that we should continue on with the mission. We're near the coast line, and I believe that the people behind this assassination attempt on Tazuna would reveal themselves sooner or later." He looked back at the two Chunin. "If they sent ninja of this rank in first, then a shinobi much higher up on the totem pole is more then likely to follow up. I doubt that these guys would know anything anyway, or could give us anything for that matter…"
Kurenai raised an eyebrow at the boy. "Are you certain about this, Naruto?"
Naruto shrugged. "I get around a lot. You'd be surprised." He then turned to consult Shino and Hinata. "What do you guys think?"
"Well…" Shino lowered his head, sunglasses flashing in the light. "Bringing down two Chunin simultaneously in this case, proves that we are capable of facing whatever else may be coming our way. However, if there is going to be another shinobi later onwards, then there is the high possibility that he is going to be of Jonin rank. That may be a bit of a problem…" He looked at Naruto seriously for a moment. "Still, if our teamwork so far has shown us anything, is that we are able to pull through tougher scrapes then this. I can trust your judgment as well as my own, Naruto Uzumaki…"
"I-I will follow Naruto-kun," Hinata stated, smiling at the boy. "I can trust him with whatever decision he makes… I'm sure we will be fine." Kurenai sighed and placed her hands on her hips, looking down at the Genin with apprehension.
"I guess the vote has been cast," Kurenai said, before turning back to Tazuna, her look becoming serious again. "We will continue on with the mission as planned. However, because of certain events that have transpired, we will talk about this on our way to your village, understand?"
"Yes I do," Tazuna replied.
Tying up the two brothers to a tree on the side of the road, as well as checking for anything that might help them to escape, Naruto, Shino and Hinata secured their unconscious targets, and regrouped. To make things more interesting, Naruto took their wallets and pocketed them.
Noting to pick them up on the way back, Team7 then proceeded on trek as normal. They became a bit more cautious though, now on the look out for anything out of the ordinary. Kurenai, senses now more intone, walked alongside Tazuna and questioned him on his situation. He revealed without much hesitation that a millionaire named Gatou was out to get him in response to the massive bridge he was building, connecting the Wave Country to the mainland. Because of this bridge, Tazuna had become a threat to Gatou's business plans in the Wave Country, which he was profiteering off of. Having taken control of all the shipping, he was making money off of everything that came in and out of the country by boat.
By the time the group got down to the coast line, and had hopped into the boat that Tazuna had arranged with his friend at the wheel, he had finished up with his story, explaining why his people could not afford the B-Rank mission, but instead a C-Rank mission.
Amidst the foggy channel, the boat carrying the traveling Team 7 and Tazuna passed right by the bridge that was under construction. It was simply massive, even though it wasn't completed yet.
The group didn't have much time to marvel at it though, for fear of being spotted by one of Gatou's patrol boats. Quickly, the boat's Captain rowed the small vessel into the port at the base of the bridge, where it emerged out of the mist hanging over the ocean into a beautiful village built around a mangrove swamp. Slowly, but surely, the boat sailed them to the walkway connected to dry land, where Team 7 was let off with their worried client in tow. Bidding thanks, farewell and good luck to the fisherman who had gone through all the trouble to take them here, he then set off to attend to other business, leaving the group on their own.
Kurenai tailed behind Tazuna, while the Genin fanned out in front of her. Knowing they were in Gatou territory, they were all expecting an attack to come from anywhere. The raven haired Jonin was particularly worried, not from plain instinct, but was also a little concerned by what Naruto had planned. She knew the boy knew more then he was letting on, and that made her uneasy.
"If things continue to transpire as they are, and what our client said was true, then after Gatou receives word that the Chunin have failed, there will be a Jonin waiting for us," Kurenai thought, shaking her head. She reached and undid the clasp of her kunai holster. "Rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist are particularly hard to beat, particularly when using Genjutsu. I may be at a disadvantage here…"
Naruto hummed to himself as he strode on, still chewing on the reed in his mouth. Hinata noted the boy's carefree mood and smiled.
"You seem relaxed, N-Naruto-kun," she exclaimed.
The boy grinned back at her, noting that they had far gone left the main, beachside village behind them, and were now heading for Tazuna's home on the outskirts of the town.
"I have the right to be," Naruto replied.
"It's a bit unwise, even for you, Naruto Uzumaki," Shino stated, giving the blond his usual, stoic look. "You should really be on guard…"
Naruto chuckled and shrugged. "Don't worry… things between me and the bad guys we're likely to encounter are good…"
"I hope you're right…" Shino murmured.
Now about half a click away from Tazuna's home, Team 7 thought they were home free. That was until they reached the ocean channel which Tazuna's home was built aside, did things start taking a drastic turn.
A scuffle in the bushes beside them caught everyone's attention, and in a swift motion, Kurenai drew her kunai and with a quick spin between her fingers, tossed it into the shrubs. The rustling finished with a loud clunk, and Naruto, Shino and Hinata watched as a rabbit suddenly jumped out of the bushes, scurrying away. Tazuna watched with amusement as the rabbit leapt away, though was still a little nervous when he thought someone was hiding away, out to get them.
"Oh… it was just a little critter," he laughed, coughing into his hand. "Harmless…"
"You think so, huh?" Shino exclaimed in monotone. Hinata giggled as she watched the rabbit stop in the middle of the road, sniff the air and eye the group suspiciously.
"It's so cute," she exclaimed, crouching low and holding her hand out to the fluffy animal. It approached them slowly, observing the five humans as it cautiously hopped forward. When it reached Hinata, it allowed her to pet him, the girl smiling softly as the rabbit moved into her hand. "Your fur is so soft. She's very healthy…"
"Hello again, old friend," Naruto exclaimed, crouching down and petting the rabbit as well. The white mammal took a bit of a shine to the blond, and nestled up against his leg, almost like a cat. "Where's your master, eh?"
"That snow rabbit's coat doesn't have the right color," Shino commented, eyeing the little critter suspiciously, as did Kurenai. He looked up towards the trees, noting the fact that there was still an unfamiliar aura floating about in the air. The lingering chakra signature, and a large one at that, was still hanging around them, and the bug user was attempting to hone it down to its concealed source. "If I know animals, the rabbit's fur is only white during winter, when the days are short and there is little sunlight. The fact that its coat is white means that it must have been raised indoors."
"I agree, Shino," Kurenai replied, stepping out of the circle formed by the group, and looked up towards the treetops, raising an eyebrow. "This rabbit was used as a substitute and a distraction, which means that our next opponent and enemy, has already arrived…"
"Oh please, the owner of this rabbit is no enemy," Naruto replied rising to his feet and walking out into the pen, outside of the group. Kurenai looked over at the boy as he scanned the treetops, attempting to lock onto the source of the chakra in the air. He stopped when he was ten meters out, and pulled his right hand out of his jacket pocket. Jerking his wrist, a custom handle grip shot out, followed by a small gauntlet with a bow protruding from his cuffs. "I know you're there, Zabuza!"
Cranking a dial on the handle he held in his right hand, Naruto raised it and fired an arrow into the treetops. A second thud was heard in the shrubbery, and suddenly, a shadow leapt out of the treetops. Naruto watched with a smirk as the figure flipped through the air over him, and landed in the middle of the road the group was following, an even louder thud of metal echoing around them when the figure landed a top of a massive sword, which impaled itself in the ground.
Perched on the tip of the giant Executioner Blade's handle, standing up straight with his hands in his pockets, and wearing the familiar camo garb, black vest and gauze mask wrapped around his face and neck, was the distinct member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi. Smirking through his mask, the powerful Jonin glared at the blond with a raised eyebrow, and chuckled when he recognized the boy he had ran in to a couple of years back.
"So… it appears I have run into the student of the wandering, perverted hermit," Zabuza exclaimed in his rough, low voice, almost menacing when he spoke. He cracked his neck to the side as he eyed not only Naruto, but the group behind him, which had its Team leader Kurenai on her toes and ready for a confrontation, kunai drawn. "Jiraiya's brat, eh? Naruto is it?"
"You're quick to forget about me, Zabuza-sensei… yet you are a tad bit slow in remembering who I am," Naruto replied, chuckling a little. "After everything we've been through."
"Of course, but…" Zabuza began, stepping off of his sword and landing on the ground with a tap. Pulling it from the ground, he marched towards the by hurriedly, with Shino and Hinata now becoming worried for their friend. Kurenai leapt forward, drawing a second kunai and getting ready to throw, while Shino gripped his high collar and pulled it down, a swarm of beetles beginning to crawl out from their confinements. However, when Zabuza came with arms length of the boy, he stopped, swinging his blade around and sheathing it on his back. Grinning under his mask, he held his hand out to the blond, meeting his boy's glare. "It's great to see you again, brat."
Naruto grinned back and shook his hand in turn. "Nice to see you too, Zabuza." With a brief but firm handshake, they retracted arms, and Naruto looked around, obviously expecting someone else. "So… is Haku around?"
The swordsman smiled and nodded, looking up towards a nearby tree to his left and waving. In a swirl of leaves, a masked ninja with black hair tied up into a top bun, and wearing forest green robes. Kurenai, Shino and Hinata were indeed surprised at a second shinobi on the battlefield, their first thoughts being that this newcomer was a part of Kirigakure's ANBU or Hunter Nin corps, what with the markings on his mask. However, when the Hunter Nin took up the left flank beside Zabuza and removed his mask, they immediately knew that he was no Black Op member or anything such, since those guys never show their faces.
"You've grown a lot since I last saw you, Naruto," Haku exclaimed in a friendly voice, revealing a healthy and radiant smile behind the white and red mask. "Training hard?"
"Well… of course…"
"And you're a Genin from Konohagakure now," Zabuza commented, folding his arms over his chest, at the same time glancing up at the blonde's teammates. "Isn't that kind of a step down for you, brat? I mean, when you weren't a ninja, at least you didn't have to follow orders."
"I'm flexible with my time," Naruto exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head and grinning broadly. "There is time for teamwork and time for freelance work. I've still got a couple of those masks Haku gave to me in my collection!" The by emphasized this point by reaching into his jacket and showing off the white and red porcelain mask hanging from a bandoleer strapped around a mesh shirt, along with an arsenal of other weapons. "You may even recognize its picture in the bingo book…"
"You're working your way up in the world," Zabuza commented, with Haku smiling up at him. "I've heard many stories about a shadow less shinobi showing up every now and again in the Land of Fire, as well as several other countries, with a method of fighting similar to that of the Forth Hokage. These occurrences usually span over the course of a month. Been busy?"
"Oh yeah," Naruto replied, zipping up his jacket and pocketing his hands. He glanced over at Haku. "Been keeping your sensei safe?"
Haku nodded enthusiastically. "I have. And I have also been training hard too."
"Good to see you're getting out and getting some sun," the blond replied. Remembering that his team was still waiting patiently behind him, he looked back and waved them over, before looking back up at Zabuza. "Unfortunately, I find us standing on different ends of the chessboard, Zabuza. I assume Gatou hired you to assassinate Tazuna?"
"Yes…" the swordsman replied, arms still folded as he watched the group approach them. "He ordered me to kill this man, and for a pretty high sum to?"
"Did he pay you yet?" Naruto asked. The former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was a bit caught off guard by this question and in a show of discomfort, cleared his throat and loosened the gauze around his neck.
"Well… uhh… no… not yet," Zabuza replied. Naruto slapped his forehead, letting out a sigh.
"Sensei… I told you, half now, half on delivery!" the blond grumbled, glaring up at the tall shinobi, who was now flustering under his mask. Fists on his hips, the boy continued his little lecture. "When I make a deal, I make sure I get paid half to ensure myself that I at least get some of my cut, Kami forbid, should I ever get stabbed in the back by my client!" Naruto shook his head, just as the others arrived and stood about a couple meters out behind the boy. "Well, I guess that is a good thing in this case. If you haven't been paid, that means I can hire you for something else."
"I doubt you will be able to pay me in the amount Gatou has offered my group for that man's head," Zabuza replied, gesturing to Tazuna, before looking back down at the boy. "Unless you can up it with something else of greater value…"
"Actually, I can!" Naruto replied, reaching inside his jacket pocket again. He fumbled around, trying not to cut himself on the arrows and kunai sheathed in his bandoleer. Kurenai and Tazuna looked at each other oddly, while Hinata and Shino watched with interest as the blond attempted to turn this encounter with the enemy ninja into their favor. "Let's see… I know I have it in here somewhere. AH-HA!"
Shouting in triumph, the boy pulled out a package, gift wrapped with a pretty red bow on it. Zabuza was a bit taken aback at the small four inch by five inch package, with Haku also curious by the package. Naruto dusted himself down and handed the man the gift.
"I believe you pre-ordered this, Zabuza."
Curious, the man took it and opened the package. When the paper fell away, the rogue ninja was greeted by a magnificent sight. He exaggerated it so much, that a visible light could be seen shining off of the cover of the book he was holding.
"Oh my…GOD! This is…this is… is…"
"Icha Icha Hotsprings, hard book cover and autographed by Ero-Sennin himself; they don't come out for another few weeks," Naruto replied. Everyone standing behind Naruto fell over backwards, anime style. Perhaps the drama of the unveiling was a little too much and unexpected.
Zabuza hugged the book to him, and even went as far as to inhale its new book scent. Looking down at his student, he saw Haku giving him a dirty look, and he quickly pocketed it, chuckling in embarrassment.
"I'm a fan…"
"Heh-heh… so… we got ourselves a deal?" Naruto asked, holding his hand out to the tall man, who looked back at him with a much light-hearted expression. "You do, after all, owe me big from that last gig we pulled back when I was still in training. If I remember correctly that was a very pricy mission, and you took the whole cut for yourself."
"Alright… fine," Zabuza exclaimed, holding his hands up. "We have a deal, kid." He shook the boy's hand. "I'll help you guys along with whatever mission you have with the geezer, and anything else you may need. Heh… this way I won't be adding anymore guilt on my conscience."
"Well… enjoy the walk, we just need to get to our client's house first before anything else," Naruto replied, nodding in the direction they were headed. "Come on…" The blond led on, with Haku accompanying him so that the two old friends could catch up. Zabuza smirked after the boy, folding his arms. Hinata and Shino jogged past him, also catching up to Naruto and Haku to make introductions clear. During which, Kurenai walked up alongside Zabuza and stopped, allowing Tazuna to go on ahead.
Zabuza looked down at the Jonin, who was glaring up at him suspiciously.
"What?" he asked with a shrug.
"You're Zabuza Momochi, right; rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, correct?" Kurenai asked. The eyebrow-less ninja shrugged his shoulders and walked on, closely followed by the raven haired shinobi woman.
"I'm honored that a lot of shinobi know my name at the sight of me, especially you, Kurenai Yuhi. You may be a young Jonin, but your reputation precedes you," the Jonin replied, every so often looking down at the glaring Konoha shinobi. "I know I've developed a bad rep in my time, but that provides me with extra insurance. Being well known as a 'ruthless, cold-hearted killer' so to speak, means that no one will even think of causing me any trouble when I walk into a bar for a drink." He said this in sort of a joking way, but passed it off as a bit more serious then wanted.
"Don't expect me to fall into that line of fear," Kurenai replied, seriousness still laced in her voice. "What's your angle here? Gatou hired you, yet you are willing to help us because one of my students knows you? I expected someone with your history, would never be bargained over by a kid, especially after making a deal. A man part of a group sworn by oaths and making agreements that cannot be broken? Isn't that what the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were trained to follow?"
"We may be shinobi, but we are friends through and through," Zabuza answered, nodding in Naruto's direction. "I met that boy years ago when he was traveling around with one of the Legendary Three Sannin. He's a good kid, and sure gave me a mouth full whenever he was around me and Haku." He looked down at the red-eyed Jonin, raising an eyebrow at her (well… if he had any). He then smiled at her. "You should also be aware of the fact that many of the original Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist defected from the village, influenced by greed, free will and also searching for a greater purpose in life."
"What was your reason for leaving?" Kurenai asked, a little curious as to his excuse. What she found next from the dangerous ninja was something she did not expect.
Zabuza, still smiling, looked up towards the kids, who were locked in animated discussion, particularly Haku and Hinata, the two of them becoming more familiar with one another.
"I left for the benefit of Haku," Zabuza exclaimed, grinning widely. "I didn't realize it at first, but I cared for my student more then I let on. Other then that…I guess it was because of greed that forced me to leave my village."
"After you tried to assassinate the Mizukage, right?" Kurenai raised an eyebrow at him, earning a frown from the sword wielder.
"Mizukage Ameritus was a tyrant, no matter how you looked at it," Zabuza replied, folding his arms over his chest. "I'm grateful he's been replaced. Where he's gone I have no idea. Still… I'm a little pissed that I couldn't kill him myself."
Kurenai smiled a small one towards him, and turned back to the road ahead, catching a glimpse of the house by the side of the water side. "When we get there, you, Tazuna and I are going to sit down and have a serious chat…"
"Fine with me," Zabuza replied, pocketing his hands.
TO BE CONTINUED…