Yes, Naruto is obviously mine, which is why you've never heard of these characters and whatnot and I'm positing on FanFiction. Mm-hmm. Right. No, Naruto's not mine. It's called sarcasm.
Mizu remained silent until they reached the clearing where she and Haku had spent their time earlier. She glanced around, wondering where Zabuza and Haku were hiding. She didn't have to wonder long.
"Get down!" she shouted. The squad dropped without question, pulling Tazuna down as well.
Just in time: Zabuza's sword came flying over right where Tazuna was standing earlier.
Mizu faded back again, not wanting Zabuza to recognize her, though she feared she was too late for that. She recognized the glare he directed at her, and knew he knew.
She watched as Kakashi fought Zabuza. She was afraid to wish for one outcome or the other: if Kakashi won, Haku would be heartbroken at the death of his master; if Zabuza won, it would be a loss for her own village. She decided to wish for the best outcome: both surviving.
When it seemed like Kakashi was about to kill Zabuza, a pair of senbon sliced through Zabuza's neck, seeming to kill him instantly. Mizu knew better. "Haku," she breathed joyously.
Naruto spazzed at Haku. Mizu slid out of the shadows, seeing to have never left. "Mist ANBU, eh?" she called up to him.
Haku bowed. "You are ANBU as well."
A smirk tugged at her lips. "It's a good thing we met under friendly circumstances. Let's hope our paths do not cross again, shall we?"
Haku nodded. He disappeared with Zabuza's body.
Mizu sighed. "They'll figure it out soon enough," she thought.
Just then, Kakashi fell forward. Mizu darted underneath him, catching him. "Too much chakra?" she asked.
"Probably." Kakashi slid into unconsciousness.
Mizu shook her head. She slung him over her shoulder. "Come on. Your home isn't too far, is it?" she asked Tazuna.
He gaped at the image of Kakashi over her shoulder, even though she seemed slight and young.
She grinned; glad her mask covered her face.
No, it's not," he finally responded.
Lead the way." To the gennin, she said, "until your sensei wakes up, I'm taking charge. Stay near Tazuna. Sasuke, take head, stay on alert. Naruto, behind me. Sakura, between Tazuna and me."
The gennin quickly followed orders. "Nice," she thought. "I might think about doing this sometime."
Mizu stayed on alert. She noticed things were a lot easier keeping Naruto and the Uchiha boy away from each other. Sakura didn't seem too happy, but was much calmer away from the boys.
"Finally," Mizu murmured. "Peace and quiet." She knew it wouldn't last long, though.
"Will you ever take your mask off?' Naruto asked from behind her.
"Eventually. After the mission, probably."
"Will we see you without the mask?"
"Most likely not."
"Why not?"
"Maybe because you'll be disgusted. Maybe you'll be enraptured. Maybe you'll realize I'm not who I claim to be and I'm actually working with Zabuza to kill you all. Either way, you can't see my face."
She noticed Tazuna tensed.
"Although, if I was going to kill you, you would all be dead, and I would be gone, so that's ruled out."
"Maybe you're just saying that, and we'll all have our throats slit by morning."
"The almighty Uchiha boy speaks," she said sarcastically. "But no. Throat-slitting isn't my style." She stifled a shudder. "Probably a battle, in which you die quickly and painlessly. Unlike most ANBU, I'm not a sadist. Might take you out like- like that Mist ANBU did. Quick and painless, so you won't even know what hit you."
"How did he do that anyways?" Naruto asked.
"You still on alert, Uzamaki?" Mizu asked.
"Of course! I'm just curious."
"Training. Lots of it. The only way he could have become ANBU is through training, years of relentless training. What you three gennin are only beginning to grasp."
The gennin fell silent, digesting this new information.
"We never did get your name," Sakura asked finally.
"You didn't, did you?" Mizu mused. "My name… is Mitsukai. Kai for short, because my name is a mouthful."
"Kai?" Naruto asked.
"Girly, isn't it? Not at all what you'd expect from ANBU. But hey, you're teamed with Sakura, and that's feminine as well. Easier for kunoichi to have feminine names. Gives the image that they're unable to protect themselves, not that there's weapons hidden under their clothing."
Sakura seemed pleased. After a moment, she asked softly, "Kai-sama?"
"Nn?"
"Is it difficult, being as young as you are and in ANBU?"
Mizu paused. She never thought about it. "It can be, at times," she responded. "It's… difficult, knowing the only other shinobi who was ANBU at my age was Uchiha Itachi, and I'm sure we all know what happened with him, Sasuke especially." She sighed. "So I have a lot of animosity because of that. Plus the fact I'm female and this young… I was never listened to until I became a captain. And even then, most of the ANBU still don't really listen. I'm fifteen, female, and a captain. The older members, males especially, don't like being ordered around by a 'little kid'. Trust me, Haruno-san, being in ANBU isn't all it's cracked up to be."
They finally reached Tazuna's home. Mizu made sure Kakashi would be taken care of. To the gennin, she ordered, "Stay around here, don't stray too far. Remember, you're still protecting Tazuna."
"Where are you going, Kai-sama?" Sakura asked.
"Not very far," she responded vaguely.
She went outside, to the back of the house, then lightly leapt onto the roof. She landed silently, stretching out on the sun-warmed roof. Her eyes slid closed, thinking about Haku.
"Haku," she whispered. "Let's hope our paths don't cross again until after my mission is done. Please, please, Haku. Don't do anything stupid." A tear slid down her cheek. She removed her mask to wipe it away. "Don't leave me."
So how was that? Like the little insight on Mizu's life? Reviews, s'il vous plait! Je vous adore, mes amis!