Chapter 16

"Take time with your answer Jonin or your little scout party will be cut short" said Zabuza. "Will you listen to me?"

"Depends on what you are asking Zabuza, Demon of the hidden mist. If it's a date- I demand the best. If it's something more serious…"

"My, how amusing you are Jonin, but it would appear as though your answer will always be no. It is a shame, as I did not wish to shed too much blood today."

Kimura stood in silence, the trio of Genin standing behind him. Zabuza sat looking down at the group, the only sound the faint splashing of the lazy large river close by. Kimura didn't like this. What was a ninja of Zabuza's level doing here? He had a strong feeling Nakasone must be expecting more trouble then he had stated. With the arrival of Zabuza this mission moved beyond a C-level. Much beyond the low C-level the Hokage had given the team.

"What do you want?" called out Kimura.

"One of your group dead." Tomo gulped. Hope it isn't me.

"Can't allow that Zabuza."

"Then it seems I will have to use force."

"Ha, the four of us will beat you no problem!" cried Tomo. "Us three beat six people!" she said, pointing to Osaka and Sakaki. Sakaki didn't appreciate Tomo's outburst this time. Normally it gave her a faint confidence boost- but this time she believed it would be much better to remain quiet, not anger this man. She sensed this man was much stronger then her, Tomo or Osaka. This was not someone a newly passed Genin should be fighting.

Kimura held up his hand, Tomo pausing. He turned to the three girls. "This man is much different to what you have faced. I'd recommend that you stand back. Protect Nakasone."

"Sensei…" started Osaka.

"This one is mine" replied Kimura winking. "It's been a while."

Zabuza looked down upon Kimura. Kimura was worried. This could be a test. He believed he ought to have enough to defeat Zabuza. However the other five would be left open. If Zabuza got past him he doubted any of the Genin could match him. Nakasone wouldn't stand a chance- and Keeler would be out of there as fast as possible. He couldn't allow Zabuza to get past him.

"Tomo, Osaka, Sakaki protect Nakasone. Keeler, I'd stay out of the way."

Tomo watched as the man reached up for his glasses. A chance to see that Sharingan eye thing in action. She knew it wasn't something to see through clothes…now. She had forgotten to check up on what it supposedly did. She was just 'busy' at that time. Or sleeping.

"Kimura sensei…" said Osaka as the man threw his glasses to Tomo, who just about caught them. The Sharingan were in full effect, eyes red.

Zabuza laughed. "So then this is Kimura of the village hidden in the leaves? The outcast of the Uchiha clan who abandoned its legacy. They say that you can replicate a great number of Jutsu performed by enemies within an instant. Some say you know of over one thousand techniques. However I care little for some cheap copier. Some con of a Shinobi."

"Are you just going to spend all day talking?" asked Kimura. "You are the person who challenged us."

Zabuza growled and leapt down from the tree. He and Kimura stood, staring at one another, harnessing mental rather then physical strength. With a faint sliver of noise Zabuza drew his vast sword. He held it out in front on him, Tomo wondering to herself how the man could possibly fight with such a weapon. Kimura held in his hand a simple kunai knife, nothing next to the large sword.

"Kimura sensei, you need a bigger weapon" suggested Osaka.

"It's not the size, but how you use it that matters" remarked Kimura dirtily.

Zabuza slowly backed away from the group. He dug his sword deep into the ground with one powerful move and began muttering, performing hand signs. A faint mist began to appear and suddenly the tall ninja vanished along with his sword. Tomo gasped. How skilled was this man? Was that the height of his powers or just the beginning? Even now, before the battle had even begun, she felt Kimura might not have a chance with this man. He seemed stronger, more willing to kill and with better weapons. Kimura…Kimura was just that strange pervert wasn't he?

Kimura held up his knife and looked into the mist. He will come for me first. If he gets rid of me he'll have an open path to Nakasone and the others. He stood and took in a deep breath. Zabuza Momochi. He had heard the tales told almost in awe as though Zabuza was a legend. Legends were mere myths and for people it'd refer to great people long gone. Kimura would ensure that. He peered into the mist. However in this mist he could easily sneak up on Tomo and the others…strike in the shadow of the thick mist without me ever knowing.

"When you have hunted and killed for as long as I have, you appreciate just how easy it is to kill a man" rang out Zabuza's disembodied voice. "How despite the development of muscles, the harnessing of chakra, speed, a man will still have a heart to strike, a head to decapitate, a throat to slice. Blood to spill."

Tomo gripped her knife hard, trying not to shake, feeling Osaka standing beside her. She tried to calm herself down. The man was trying to get to them, scare them so they'd be easier to stop. She'd have to focus on her task- defending Nakasone. She'd wanted to be a ninja- she knew the risks. Today I fight.

"Zabuza will attack us" muttered Osaka.

"What!?"

"It'd be easier. Easier is better."

Sakaki stood silent. She had numerous fears, felt scared but did not allow thoughts to distract her. She knew she had only one focus- protect Nakasone- and Osaka and Tomo. My friends.

Kimura turned as the mist receded. "Any last requests?" called out Zabuza. The man appeared next to the group, sword held high. Kimura in one quick movement removed a shuriken and threw it towards the man, who disappeared in a splash of water. Kimura could be fast if he wanted to. However Zabuza's attempt seemed lazy…as though he wanted to be seen…

"What the hell is that?" asked Tomo as she was drenched with water.

"A water clone" stated Zabuza as he appeared behind Kimura. "Much like a shadow clone." He gripped his sword as Kimura stood unmoving. Tomo and Osaka watched in horror as the tall man glared at their Sensei. Zabuza was about to strike when he paused. He laughed and obliterated Kimura who disappeared as a puddle of water. "A water clone yourself? You learnt the Jutsu through the mist, I give you credit."

He gasped as Kimura held the knife to his throat. "I can move fast and silently when I want to." Kimura was anxious, this could easily be another water clone, the real Zabuza right behind him. He went to slash the throat when Zabuza gripped his arm and kicked him away. He slowly stepped back as a mist began to form. Kimura stood up. He didn't like what he was about to do.

"Sakaki, get over here before the mist forms! Tomo, Osaka guard Nakasone!"

Tomo nodded and watched as Sakaki, who hesitated momentarily, then ran into the thickening mist. Her long black hair vanished, and now Tomo stood in silence with Osaka, Nakasone trembling beside them. Keeler sat bewildered on the ground, having crawled a short distance from the chubby man to avoid getting caught up in the meat slicing. He called on Sakaki to help him. He ignored us…She was suddenly gripped by fear. It could be a trick, Zabuza posing as Kimura!

Sakaki approached Kimura slowly, concealing the knife held in her hand.

"It's me Sakaki. I need your help."

Tomo watched as the mist began to dissipate, Zabuza apparently bored of playing with them. She saw Kimura and Sakaki standing together. She wondered what they could be planning. And why it didn't involve her or Osaka. Maybe she just wasn't as good as Sakaki…

Zabuza appeared, slowly walking towards Kimura.

"Planning on using one of your students as a human shield?" asked Zabuza. "That's all that those Genin can hope to strive to."

Kimura stood, looking bored. He held up the knife as Zabuza charged, and just about blocked the blow. He seemed slower, possibly tiring due to the use of his eyes. He narrowly blocked another blow, before he was kicked in the side. Zabuza flicked the kunai from his hand and kicked the man backwards.

Kimura landed with a splash in the water. Tomo watched on…Sensei was tiring…he said he was the only one who had a chance. Zabuza stood above Kimura, who was desperately trying to climb out of the water.

"No escape Kimura. Art of the water prison."

A great swirl of water engulfed Kimura, imprisoning him, but somehow not drowning him. Kimura punched and kicked against the water in a futile attempt to escape. Zabuza stood beside the water as a clone of himself appeared.

"Hey I remember this!" called out Osaka, scaring Tomo.

"What? What do you remember?"

"A water clone must remain within a certain distance of the water."

"Well that's very useful" sighed a defeated Nakasone.

"It means if we stay back enough, we are out of his range."

"Stay back? But what about Kimura-sensei?" asked Tomo. "We can't leave him trapped there."

"You heard the man! You can't fight him!" called out Nakasone. Osaka turned to Tomo who nodded.

"Stay here Mr Nakasone. You'll be out of range" said the girl. She and Tomo began to walk forwards, when Keeler suddenly called out to them.

"If you force him to loose contact with the water prison, it'll cease to exist!"

Osaka nodded. "Thank you."

"What? No don't do that! You'll be killed damn it!" called out the man as Tomo and Osaka joined Sakaki.

The three approached the clone, which appeared just as intimidating as the real life Zabuza. It stood watching the three of them, holding a replica of the great weapon, waiting as they slowly approached it. Zabuza turned to Kimura.

"Seems you inherited a group of fools. You may be able to handle my water clones, but mere Genin cannot. They will die. You can just sit there and watch."

"Get out of here!" called out Kimura.

Tomo stood. She'd always heard in the lessons what tests any person hoping to become a ninja would face. She'd never paid much attention, just seeing it as boring stuff. She'd only ever been interested in the practical side. Listening to it wouldn't aid her much now- but she appreciated its meaning. One of their group was trapped and in danger. He may be slightly odd and more then a bit lewd, but he was their sensei and she couldn't leave him. She was too stubborn to just walk away. She'd always been saying she'd become one of the best.

"Here's my chance to prove it."

They needed to rescue Kimura from the water prison. First they needed to get past the clone. She had a feeling she and Sakaki could be fast enough to get past- but they didn't want to leave Osaka behind, or risk being attacked from behind. They needed to get rid of it. She turned to Osaka.

"Do you still have it?"

Osaka nodded and pulled out a larger then usual shuriken. She looked towards the clone. "Shuriken of more then slight pain!"

Tomo sighed. She really shouldn't have let Osaka name the attack. Osaka drew the shuriken back, taking aim. She yelled as she threw the weapon, travelling at least two feet…before smacking into the ground. Of course! One of Osaka's main weaknesses. Sakaki looked across at Osaka shocked.

"I'm not very good at throwing sports. Or any sport" explained Osaka to a confused looking Nakasone, who stood a short distance away.

Tomo saw the flicker in the clones eye. Its creator obviously thought that dispatching of the three of them would be easy. Grr, she'd show him. Perhaps a full out attack, maybe use her stealth. She was glad neither Osaka nor Sakaki would point out she was about as stealthy as an inferno in a fireworks factory. Think, think…As she stood contemplating, Sakaki suddenly starting sprinting. Tomo turned and watched as she leapt over the clone and ran towards Zabuza who drew his sword with his free hand, still using chakra to stand upon the water. Sakaki drew her own knife and sprinted for the man.

"Sakaki! No!" yelled out Tomo as Zabuza slashed out with his sword.