Normal speech
Thought
Nine-tails/Other big voices
InnerSakura
A/N:
Disclaimer
I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form. This is merely for my, and hopefully everyone else's, enjoyment. Thank you for the support!
Recap:
Just then, a massive burst occurred as someone sprang from the lake. The water rained from the sky and Naruto could see a shadowy figure standing on the lake, but he couldn't tell who.
He swam closer to get a better look but still had trouble making them out through the mist. Finally, he was so close to the guy that he was practically underneath him. He finally had his answer, it was…
The Hatchling's First Mission: Land of Waves
Naruto swam closer in hopes of finding out who it was that had emerged from the lake. He finally had his answer. To his surprise the shadowy figure turned out to be Kakashi, soaked to the bone. He looked down at Naruto and nodded to him, signaling that he had done a good job.
Kakashi: Naruto… that was an excellent plan. You've really grown haven't you?
Naruto proceeded to tell Kakashi of his plan and how the shadow clones were just a distraction. After being repelled by Zabuza, Naruto quickly transformed into a giant shuriken and had his clone throw him to Sasuke. When he caught the shuriken, Sasuke realized the plan and grabbed his own shuriken. The goal was to break Zabuza away from the water prison in hopes of freeing Kakashi.
As they both made their way back to shore, another burst of water shot into the air. This could mean only one thing…
Kakashi: Zabuza…
Zabuza stood on the lake looking even more vicious than before. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that he was pissed…
Zabuza: What a fluke…! I got distracted and lost my grip on the water prison. It won't happen again…
Kakashi: Don't flatter yourself… you weren't distracted, you were forced to let go… Your technique worked on me once, it won't work again. So what's it gonna be?
As the two Jounin stared at each other, Naruto and the others repositioned themselves in order to protect the client…
Zabuza, still with shuriken in hand, gave it a spin and hurled it at the group. Kakashi managed to nullify this attempt by diverting the shuriken's route. Once more the two stood at a stalemate.
Not satisfied with this turn of events, Zabuza made his move. He began to go through a cycle of hand signs as did Kakashi…
Zabuza+Kakashi: "WATER STYLE: WATER DRAGON JUTSU!"
Water from the lake began to take the form of two serpent-like dragons. They twisted and contorted around each other priming for dominance. Zabuza's found an opening and attempted to attack Kakashi, only to be denied by Kakashi's dragon.
The collision caused many powerful tidal waves that nearly washed the genin and the old man deep into the woods. The incredible sight and force of two dueling dragons gave Naruto goosebumps.
Sasuke: So many hand signs and yet, he mirrored them all perfectly. This must be the power of the sharingan…
Sakura: What are they doing? Is that a ninjutsu?!
Naruto: Wow! I've gotta learn how to do that!
In the middle of the attack Zabuza grabbed his sword and went after Kakashi. Kakashi pulled out a kunai and blocked the attack blow for blow until Zabuza stopped.
Zabuza: Something isn't right! His sharingan can comprehend and replicate the enemy's technique. However… both jutsu occurred at the same time. Could he…?
Zabuza dropped out of thought to find that Kakashi was in a mirrored stance of the one he was currently in.
Zabuza: My movements… he's completely…
Kakashi: … reading them.
Kakashi continued mirroring Zabuza which was driving him insane…
Zabuza: What, did he read my mind?! That…
Kakashi: … freaky eye is pissing me off!... Right?
Zabuza: All you're doing is copying me!!! You…
Kakashi: … can't beat me you monkey bastard!
Hearing this, Naruto's ears and tail perked right up. Zabuza was clearly losing it with each passing moment.
Zabuza: Damn you!!! I'll make it so that… you can never open your mouth again!
Suddenly, Zabuza froze in his tracks. He looked as if he had seen a ghost as he stared across the lake at his opponent.
As Kakashi continued his mimicry, Zabuza could swear that he was fighting… himself.
Zabuza: Th-That's not possible!! Is this one of his Genjutsu?!
In an instant he heard Kakashi yell, "WATER EXPLOSION JUTSU!" and was washed ashore, slammed into a tree with a sickening thud, and knocked from his thoughts.
He lay there against the tree, agony evident on his face, at least what you could make out, and couldn't help but wonder what had just happened…
Zabuza: I-Impossible! I'm the one doing the jutsu, and yet…I can't keep up!
Kakashi: It's over! *perched in the tree*
Once again Zabuza was shocked from his thoughts with a couple of kunai piercing his right arm and leg…
Zabuza: How?! Can you see the future?!
Kakashi: Yeah… and this is where your life ends…
Kakashi prepared to deliver the final blow but came to a halt as someone else had beaten him to it. Two needles had lodged themselves in Zabuza's neck and he flopped over.
Everyone was shocked at what had happened. From the shadows stepped a masked figure…
"Hehe… you're right. He's dead." the masked figure stated.
Kakashi checked the body of the now motionless Zabuza to ensure that this statement was correct. Reassured, Kakashi nodded in agreement to the masked figure and his team.
"Thank you very much. I've been searching for a chance to finally kill Zabuza for quite a while." he said.
Kakashi: That mask… you're a Hidden Mist Hunter-nin.
The masked figure merely nodded as some of the genin were unsure of what that was exactly. Seeing this, the figure spoke up…
"When a ninja abandons his or her village they are considered traitors and must be hunted down. It is my duty to hunt them down. I am a member of the Hidden Mist Hunter-nin team."
Kakashi: From his height and voice…he's probably not much older than Naruto, and yet he's a Hunter-nin. He's not any ordinary kid.
With every passing second, Naruto's rage grew more and more until he just couldn't take it anymore…
Naruto: WHAT THE HELL PAL?!!! WHO ARE YOU?!!
Kakashi: Don't worry Naruto, he's not an enemy.
Naruto: That's not what I was asking! Someone as strong as that guy over there, a guy that we struggled against, was just killed so easily by him, a kid not much different than me!
Kakashi: I know how you feel, but… this is just how it is. In this world, there exists people not much older than you… yet stronger than me.
"Your battle is now over," the masked figure said as he approached Zabuza's corpse. "Now I must dispose of this body. Since it seems to be one with many secrets," he continued as he lifted Zabuza and disappeared in a whirlwind.
Seeing that their troubles had now subsided for the moment, Kakashi recovered his eye, putting away his sharingan.
Kakashi: Now we have to get home, so let's get a move on.
Tazuna: Hahaha!!! Thanks a lot guys!! Why don'tcha come over to my house and relax for a while!!
He walked over to Kakashi and patted him on the back for a job well done. However, this sent Kakashi crashing to the ground. Everyone was confused by what had happened. After taking part in a grueling battle and taking blow after blow how could a simple pat on the back put him down…?
Tazuna's house...…
"Are you alright sensei?" Tazuna's daughter Tsunami, a woman with long blue hair of about 29 years, asked.
Kakashi: I just can't move for about a week or so. You don't have to worry about me.
Sakura: What?! The Sharingan is incredible and all, but… if it puts so much stress on your body, I guess you have to think before using it.
Tazuna: It's all good. We defeated that strong of a ninja this time, so there shouldn't be anymore problems for a while.
Sakura: By the way… who was that kid with the mask anyway?
Kakashi: That's the mask worn by the Hidden Mist's Hunter-nin team. Their duty is to dispose of the body without a trace.
Everyone looked on with interest as he continued on…
Kakashi: A ninja's body has within it secrets of village's ninjutsu, information on different chakra types, herbs and other things that will reveal things about the village. For example, if I died, the secrets of the sharingan could be revealed. If you don't be careful, there's the danger that enemy will steal your jutsu. A ninja's body can reveal important information. So, by killing and disposing of Missing-nins who have abandoned their village, Hunter-nins protect the information from getting out. They are specialists who guard their village's secrets. No sound, no smell… that is a ninja's end.
As Kakashi finished, Sakura began to imagine Zabuza going through the process of "disposal" and began to feel a little sick...
In the woods……
The masked hunter-nin took out some tools and began to get to work on Zabuza, "First I'll cut the mouth cloth, drain some blood, and…"
As he neared the body he was interrupted by… Zabuza supposedly rising from the dead.
"Oh! You've already come back to life," he stated as Zabuza sat up and started removing the needles lodged in his neck.
Zabuza: Damn… you sure are rough! *yanking out the needles*
"Oh!! You're one to talk. You shouldn't be so rough yourself, you'll really die pulling them out like that," he replied. Zabuza looked at him angrily…
Zabuza: Just how long do you plan on wearing that stupid mask?
"Oh! I forgot I had it on. It reminds me of the old days… plus it was useful for this act," he said as he took off the mask revealing his "beautifully" handsome face.
Zabuza: If you were going to put me in a momentary state of death, you didn't have to use my neck… You could have aimed for a safer acupuncture point.
"The thing is… I didn't want to scar that beautiful body of yours. You know how you are about that. Besides, the neck doesn't have much muscle. It's easier to hit the acupuncture point there," he responded. "You're lucky you know. If I hadn't saved you, you definitely would have died. If not by that Jounin, then surely by the rest of his team…"
Zabuza: Yeah right. As if some little runts could take me out.
"I don't know, they didn't really seem that weak. The weird one especially worries me," he continued.
Zabuza: … You're as annoying as always.
"You're right," he said with a smile on his face. "You shouldn't be able to move much for about a week… but know you, it might be much sooner," he stated as Zabuza tried to pick himself off the ground, only to plop right back down.
Zabuza: You're so pure and clever… that's what I like about you.
"Hehe, that's because I'm just a kid… Will you be alright… next time?" he continued as the mist began to clear.
Zabuza: Next time I will defeat the sharingan!
Tazuna's house……
Kakashi awoke with a start surprising and nearly scaring Naruto and Sakura to death. They had been trying to sneak a peek under his mask but were startled when he suddenly sat up. Tsunami heard the ruckus and decided to investigate…
Kakashi looked like he was in some kind of trance as he thought over his uneasy feelings.
Kakashi: What is this? Zabuza is dead… What's this feeling? I feel like I'm missing something very important…
Kakashi was deep in thought as he started to resemble the thinking man statue. Seeing him rack his brain on some unknown problem only confused and baffled everyone else.
Naruto: Uh… what's wrong sensei?
Kakashi: Huh? Well… usually when a body is disposed of it is destroyed right there on the spot… How did that masked boy dispose of Zabuza's body?
Sakura: How would we know? He took the body with him…
Kakashi: Yeah… if he needed proof of his work he could have just taken the head. And the weapon that he used to kill him…
Both Sasuke and Kakashi came to a revelation as he noticed that simple needles were used…
Tazuna: What are you guys talking about?
Kakashi: Naruto, can you sense Zabuza's chakra signature?
Naruto: Uh… no, he would have to be within a few hundred meters for me to… Waaaait, you don't mean…
Kakashi: Yeah, most likely… Zabuza is alive!
Sakura and old man Zabuza freaked while Tsunami had no clue as to what they were talking about. Sasuke had no reaction at all and Naruto could feel a smile creep onto his face.
Sakura: What do you mean Kakashi sensei, you checked and said he was dead!!!
Kakashi: Yeah, I did… but that must have been something like a temporary death state. The needle weapon that Hunter-nin used… unless it hits a vital organ, has a low probability of killing your opponent. It's an item that even doctors use, in acupuncture. Hunter-nin know about the body's structure thoroughly, so putting a person into a temporary dead state is probably easy for them. First, he carried off the body of the much heavier Zabuza. Second, he used a weapon that has a low probability of killing. These two points indicate that his real motive was…
Sakura: Not to kill, but save him!
Tazuna: A-Aren't you just thinking about this too much? Hunter-nins are supposed to kill missing-nins…
Kakashi: No… With all the suspicion… we will prepare before it's too late. That's a shinobi rule. Plus, whether Zabuza is dead or alive… there's no chance that Gatou hasn't hired an even stronger shinobi.
Kakashi turned to see a grinning Naruto. It was obvious that he was happy and now excited to have another shot at Zabuza or someone stronger.
Kakashi: Heh… He's actually happy that Zabuza may be alive. That figures…
Sakura: Sensei, what do you mean by "preparing before it's too late"? You can barely move.
Kakashi: Heh… You guys will receive special training.
Sakura: What's a little training supposed to do against a ninja you struggled against even with the sharingan?!
Kakashi: Sakura, who were the ones who saved me when I was struggling? You guys are growing rapidly. Especially Naruto, who's improved the most. But obviously, this is just training until I get better. I don't think that you would be able to defeat him without me. Since he was put into a temporary state of death it should be a while before his body returns to normal, so we train until then.
"Like it'll help," came the snide remark of a little boy.
Tazuna noted that this was his grandson, Inari. He welcomed his grandfather home with a hug and proceeded to belittle the shinobi present saying how they would hopelessly die and how useless the situation was.
Naruto: Hey, Inari!! Listen up! I am a super hero who will one day become an incredible ninja called Hokage!!! I don't know this Gatou guy, but he's nothing compared to me!!
Once again Inari ridiculed Naruto and his ideas, calling him and them stupid kid stuff. He then warned them that they would die if they didn't heed his warnings and left. As soon as he did, Naruto took off after him, hoping to knock some sense into him. What he found on the other hand quickly dismissed those thoughts. Inari was now crying alone over a picture of a man that he called dad. Seeing that the kid was already having a rough day, Naruto decided it best to just let things be…
Training in the woods…
Kakashi: Ok, we will now start the training.
Naruto:YEEEAAH!!!
Sakura instantly punched him in the top of the head, knocking him to the ground…
Sakura: Calm down!! You don't have to be so loud you knucklehead!
Kakashi: Oookay… before that I want to talk to you about the shinobi ability, "Chakra".
He then went into an explanation of what chakra was, how it was used, and why it was so important to a shinobi.
A/N: I didn't really feel like doing all of that, but if you want to know it: Manga-ch.17 pg. 16, Anime episode-10.
Naruto: Thanks for the explanation, I was a little fuzzy on it, but what's the point of that when it's something you can learn with your body.
Sasuke: Naruto's right. We can already use jutsu.
Kakashi simply shook his head and stated that they were not using chakra properly…
Kakashi: Listen… as I stated earlier, to release chakra means to bring out physical and spiritual energy and mix them together within the body. And based on what jutsu you use, the type and amount of chakra that is released will be different. You guys aren't using chakra effectively yet. Even if you release a high amount of chakra… unless you control it properly… the jutsu will be weakened or not work at all. By wasting your energy, you won't be able to fight as long. These kinds of weaknesses will appear, so learn to control it through very tough training.
Sakura: What will we be doing?
Kakashi: Tree climbing…
The genin gave him a look like "you've gotta be kidding me".
Kakashi: This isn't normal tree climbing… You'll climb without using your hands.
Naruto: Sounds fun, but… I'm the only that could possibly do that without using my hands. *raising and wagging his tail*
Kakashi: Uhhh, that's not really what I meant… Here… watch…
He focused his chakra into his feet and began walking right up the nearest tree, crutches and all. He continued until he was standing upside down on a tree limb.
Kakashi: The purpose of this training is first, to teach you how to control chakra… to bring the proper amount to the proper area. This is the most important aspect when using jutsu. This can be difficult even for skilled ninja. Now, gather your chakra in the bottom of your feet and climb up a tree. This is something you can do when you can use chakra well. The amount of chakra needed to climb a tree is small, but it must be exact. Also, it is said that the bottom of the feet is the most difficult area to gather chakra. So basically, if you can learn this control, you should be able to master any ninjutsu… theoretically…
Hearing this caught Naruto's attention and really made him focus…
Kakashi: The second thing is for you to develop the stamina needed to control chakra properly. Depending on the jutsu, controlling your chakra properly… can be very difficult. A ninja will usually be gathering chakra during battle while constantly moving. Those types of situations make controlling chakra even more difficult. That's why, from this tree climbing, you must gain the stamina needed for this proper control. Well… me talking all day won't accomplish anything… This is something you'll have to learn with your bodies. *throwing three kunai at the genin feet*
He then told them to use them to mark how high they make it up the tree. They were to then use that mark as a goal that they must surpass.
Kakashi: You guys won't be able to walk right up the tree at first. So get some momentum and try running up the tree.
The genin gathered chakra to the bottom of their feet, just like their sensei, and charged for their respective tree…
Sasuke and Naruto were jocking for the higher point, but suddenly Sasuke lost control so he marked his place and gently landed on the ground. Naruto was proud of himself for making it farther than Sasuke as he had made it half way up the tree, but he too hit his limit. He tried to continue his ascent but was merely running in the air until he came crashing to the earth…
Sasuke: You idiot. You were supposed to mark the tree before you fell.
Naruto sprang from the ground and was about to rub Sasuke's nose in the fact that he made it higher than he did, but was interrupted by Sakura…
Sakura: This is pretty easy!! *sitting high on a tree limb laughing to herself*
Sasuke: I can't believe it's this hard. Too much chakra and the wood cracks, but too little and you don't stick at all.
Kakashi: Well, there's a surprise. Though he didn't mark the tree he still managed to get a little more than Sasuke. But Sakura…It looks like she is the best by far at controlling chakra right now.
Naruto began to praise Sakura for what she had accomplished, while Sasuke focused more on what he had to do to succeed. Sakura on the other hand began to feel a bit disappointed. Her attempt at impressing Sasuke had just backfired, and Naruto wasn't making it any better with all his sucking up…
Kakashi: Wow, not only does she have good control and stamina… she is the closest to Hokage, unlike a certain somebody. I guess that the Uchiha clan isn't worth much either.
Sakura freaked and almost fell from the tree. She began yelling at Kakashi for his "dirty tricks". She was actually more concerned that it would cause Sasuke to become more upset with her.
Naruto and Sasuke traded looks and once again ran for their trees. Both had reached where Naruto had when he failed to mark the tree. This time they were neck and neck with Sasuke marking a little higher than Naruto. As they lost control Sasuke made his usual graceful landing while Naruto appeared to blast off from the tree, only to crash on the ground.
As he picked himself up he looked at his tree and compared it to Sasuke's. He was sort of disappointed, but he didn't make a big deal out of a couple or so feet. He looked directly at Sasuke and gave a fierce grin…
Naruto: Again!!!...
Gatou's forest hideout…
Zabuza laid there in bed with his partner in crime at his side, when in walks Gatou and a couple of his henchmen.
Gatou: So even you've come back defeated. It looks like the Mist Village's ninja are pretty pathetic. You can't even take out one simple old man… and you call yourself a devil. Ha! Don't make me laugh.
His henchmen then began to unsheathe their swords signaling that their services would no longer be required. Luckily, (for them), they were stopped by Gatou as he approached a bedridden Zabuza.
He reached towards Zabuza but was met with a hard, vice-like grip. It was his partner with a vicious look on his face.
"Don't you dare touch Zabuza-san with your filthy hands," he angrily stated.
Suddenly, the henchmen went to draw their swords only to have them turned on them by the Hunter-nin imposter.
"You shouldn't do that, I'm pissed off right now," he said while holding them at mercy with a crazed look in his eyes. Gatou and his henchmen now had nervous looks in their eyes…
Gatou: One-One more time! If you fail one more time… th-then you won't be welcome here anymore. Remember that!!
He and his henchmen got their things and got out as quickly as they could while trying to keep their composure.
Zabuza: Haku, you didn't have to do that… *hidden kunai under the covers*
Haku: I know… but it's too early to kill Gatou. If we cause a commotion here then they will be after us again. We must be patient.
He then gave a sweet, innocent smile. Zabuza could only agree with him at this point…
Forest training……
Naruto had just fallen to the ground for the umpteenth time that day. Sakura laid in the shade of her tree and took note of the things that had been happening. All three of them were exhausted, but Naruto and Sasuke just wouldn't quit.
Sakura: I'm worn out… What stamina those two have… unfortunately, Naruto isn't improving all that quickly. I'm sure that about now he's getting really frustrated and is ready to start complaining.
Naruto looked up at the marks he had made and looked over at Sakura. Before she knew it he had approached her and wanted to ask her something.
Naruto: Hey Sakura, do you think you could give me some tips. Maybe if you explained how you do it, then I can figure it out too.
Sakura: Uh… sure Naruto…
Kakashi noticed this and couldn't help but notice how Naruto was improving in many ways. The possibilities of what he could be capable of soon began to fill Kakashi's mind…
The next day…
Naruto+Sasuke: AAAAAAAAAARRRGGHH!!!!!
Sasuke marked his tree and began to fall towards the earth. He couldn't help but notice that Naruto had been getting higher up than he was recently since he talked to Sakura. Soon after however, Naruto once again plummeted to the ground, passing up Sasuke and increasing the crater he had made with each and every fall. Just like all of the other times he pulled himself out of his little crater and prepare to give it another go.
When Sasuke landed he looked upward and by his guess he had made it just a few feet below a third his tree while Naruto was about a few feet over a third of his. He had caught up to him so quickly, but he still looked a little disappointed that he had not scaled the entire tree yet.
Naruto: Jeez, I still can't seem to get it just right. I'm doing it exactly how Sakura-chan told me but it's not working. Guess I still need to tweak it a little bit.
Sasuke: Hey, Naruto… Um… well… Wha… What did Sakura tell you?
Though he was surprised by this outcome, Naruto couldn't help but smile goofily. Sasuke seemed to take offense to this and prepared to walk away like nothing had happened. Before he had the chance to Naruto gave in…
Later that day……
It was now dinnertime as everyone sat around the table and got their fair share of food. Naruto and Sasuke had been shoveling food down their gullets like they were in some kind of contest. They both finished their plates and simultaneously asked for more. This caught everyone's attention as the two exchanged death stares. Unfortunately for Sasuke, he couldn't take much more or he'd bust but it would be worth it to show up Naruto. Their bowls were refilled and placed in front of them as they exchanged looks once again.
Naruto: What's the matter Sasuke? You look a little under the weather. Can't take anymore?
Naruto sneered as his rival's face turned green as he looked at the food in front of him. He looked up at a chuckling Naruto and without warning… hurled completely across the table right into Naruto's food and smug face…
Naruto: HEY!!! I WAS GONNA EAT THAT YA JERK!!! *wiping away the vomit*
Sakura: He's more concerned about the food that he didn't get to eat than the fact that he was just thrown up on?! What a weird kid…
Kakashi: It's one thing for you two to compete in your training, but over food, there's no point. Naruto is like a bottomless pit when it comes to food, there's no competition and things like this happen.
Sasuke just sat there for a while as if he were out of it before collapsing out of his chair. Naruto on the other hand was trying to help himself to more food but was stopped by Tsunami who flicked his hand and told him to go wash up. Disappointed by the fact that he was cut off, he reluctantly complied…
When he came out the bathroom, the food had been cleared. Tsunami and Sakura were halfway done with cleaning up when Naruto asked if he could be of any help. At this Inari spoke up and told him that he should just leave because he was wasting his time. Naruto just shrugged it off and was about to head out the door when Sakura made an observation that caught his attention.
Sakura: Hey, why do you have a torn picture on the wall? Inari was staring at it during dinner. It seems like someone purposely removed the person that was in the picture.
Everyone took notice as Tsunami said that it was her husband. A man called the "Hero of the city", Tazuna mentioned. Hearing this, Inari stood from his seat and walked out of the room. Tsunami was livid but the ninja couldn't help but want to pry more.
Tazuna reluctantly proceeded to tell them the tragic story of the country's hero and his ties to the family. He told of how his relationship with Inari began and grew, how he saved the city, and… how he was cruelly put to death in front of everyone by Gatou.
Tazuna: From that day Inari changed… as did Tsunami and the whole the city…
Naruto got up immediately and tried to run out the door only to trip over himself…
Kakashi: If you're thinking of training, take the day off. You've already released too much chakra as it is. Anymore and you could die…
Naruto: I'm going to prove it… I'm going to prove that in this world… Heroes do exist!! *grabbing his staff and leaving out the door*
Do heroes really exist?
Even if they do, what chances does someone like Naruto have to be one?
Next chapter: Strength...