Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but I own this storyline (but this statement was borrowed from another author, I forget who.)
There was a question on Kiba being able to detect Naruto in his female form. The advanced 'Henge' transforms Naruto and Hinata into the opposite sex, fully functional, with all the advantages and disadvantages. So Kiba, Akamaru or even Shino's insects would not be able to tell they were actually male in Naruto's case and female in Hinata's case, they are detected as female (Naruto/Akemi), and male (Hinata/Takara).
Chapter 15 – On to the Wave country…
Naruto found one thing that he really hated being a girl for extended periods of the time, was having a period. He could understand it but he did not like it as he could not predict when it would happen as he changed every so often depending on the mission. Hinata and Keiko would help him with this problem. The good thing was that Naruto had finally overcome the whole Mizuki thing, at least he hoped so.
The 'D' ranked missions flew by and Kikiyo figured they were ready for a 'C' ranked mission. The mission they were given was to make sure that a man got from Konoha to the wave country alive. The man who pulled the contract said that there would be bandits for sure but was not sure if there would be anything else, he paid for an 'A' rank mission if needed.
The team headed out with their new employer going to get to Tazuna the bridge builder in Konoha. The trip to Konoha was fairly uneventful. They met a couple Kumo nin. Naruto and Hinata growled at them as the groups passed each other. Keiko and Kikiyo just chuckled at it. They reached the gates of Konoha and found that Tazuna had already left the village with a Konoha team. The team left from Konoha and headed towards the Wave country as fast as they could. They met up with the Konoha team later in the evening.
Kakashi was worried as he felt the chakra signatures headed towards his team. "Get ready there are more shinobi headed this way. I think I may know them but still be prepared." Kakashi told his group.
Sasuke just nodded as Sakura and Ino yelled, "Okay sensei!"
Kakashi just shook his head. Two loud mouths and stuck up Uchiha. 'Why did the council force me to take them on as students? Sasuke does have potential as do the other two. They could work great as a team but they do not have what it takes to make good shinobi right just yet.'
A redheaded female entered the clearing. She had her hand on her sword and was scanning the clearing. She then smiled and waved at Kakashi and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. 'Naruto?' Kakashi thought.
"Okay you guys can stand down she was from the whirlpool an ally." Kakashi said as he came out into the clearing. Sasuke was smiling as he left the bushes this caused Sakura to frown and Ino to look confused.
The girl that had appeared before walked into the clearing and bowed to Kakashi. "Kakashi-san, I assume that this is your team. I am Akemi Uzumaki and was looking for Tazuna the bridge builder. We were sent from Whirlpool to help with guarding him. The rest of my team will be here momentarily. We are under the direction of our jonin sensei Kikiyo Fenikkusu. It is a pleasure to meet you again. Oh, by the way do you have that present you promised me?" Naruto asked with a big smile. Kakashi put his head in his hand and shook his head. Sasuke eyed Naruto and smiled. This caused Sakura and Ino to become very angry.
'Why do all the guys from Konoha like me Hinata-chan?' Naruto asked Hinata.
'I don't know Naruto-kun maybe you just made your henge too cute.' Hinata replied with a chuckle.
A couple minutes later Kikiyo, Hinata in male form and Keiko entered the clearing.
"Who are these losers Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke asked but kept a watchful eye on Naruto.
The person who came with Naruto and his group entered the clearing just as Tazuna did.
"Tazuna, Kaiba worried about you and sent me to find help for you if you left the wave." He said smiling to Tazuna.
"Ran, Kaiba is dead. Gato killed him." Tazuna said as he lowered his head.
"Kikiyo you understand this is going to be higher than a 'C' ranked mission don't you?" Kakashi asked.
"What do you mean Kakashi? We were told that it would be bandits at best." Kikiyo replied.
"We ran into a couple of mist ninjas the 'Demon Brothers'. My guess is that we are going to get a stronger opponent in our next encounter." Kakashi whispered into Kikiyo's ear.
"Great, we had a couple of chunin against a fresh genin team. The next one will more than likely be a jonin or two, against two genin teams. I don't know if your team is ready but mine is." Kikiyo whispered back.
"Looks like they know each other, do you think they are lovers?" Sakura asked Ino and blushed as she then looked at Sasuke.
Keiko, Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke all roll their eyes.
"Okay kids let's set up camp tonight. We have two clients going to the same location. For Uzu Tazuna is first priority and Ran secondary. Takara stick to them like glue. Akemi you will have point. Keiko you are in back I will back up Takara. Okay setup camp." Kikiyo ordered.
The team broke out the supplies and tents and started to get the camp arranged. Naruto helped setup four tents then headed out to gather firewood. Sasuke had setup his own tent and then followed Naruto. Naruto noticed him following by his scent.
"You appear to be strong. And that is an unusual sword. Why do you also carry a practice sword and a real one?" Sasuke said as leaned against a tree slightly behind Naruto.
"Thank you for the compliment, and the sword was a gift from my husband-to-be. I carry a training sword also because my style is a dual sword style. And if you would kindly not try to look up my skirt I would be greatly appreciative. You wouldn't see anything anyways I wear shorts under my skirt. Who are you anyways?" Naruto turned and asked looking Sasuke right in the eyes.
"I am Sasuke Uchiha." Naruto cringed at the name. "Heir to the Uchiha. You should be my bride, unless I can find that Hinata girl." Sasuke said as his voice trailed off. "If so then you could become my consort."
Naruto immediately recognized the name he had said. 'Hinata'. 'So he is the one who Fugaku fooled Hiashi into signing into a marriage contract. Well not going to happen. He is an arrogant prick. He is not right for her, he knows nothing about her. He doesn't love her. I do.'
'Thank you Naruto-kun. I love you too. So he is the one who we should watch out for. What should we do?' Hinata asked Naruto.
'I don't know. He wants you, but I am only guessing to this, to get away from his fan girl teammates. He offered me to be his wife, and if he could find you then I would be his consort. Nice guy wouldn't you say?' Naruto said to Hinata as he continued to pick up wood. Naruto could feel Hinata's anger rise. "Why would I want to become anything with you?" Naruto asked.
"I am strong and will continue to become stronger with my Sharingan." Sasuke said as he continued to follow Naruto.
'Well that cinches it. I am now officially a piece of meat to him.' Naruto thought, as Hinata and the fox laughed in his mind. "My fiancé has the Byakugan. He is sweet kind and cares for me not what status I would give him."
"You are also heir in your village right?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes…" Naruto answered wearily.
"Then we make a great match, you are beautiful strong. I can tell by the way you carry yourself." Sasuke said as he put a hand on a tree blocking Naruto's way.
"Beauty fades with time, strength fades with age and your welcome is fading faster than either. Now either pick up some wood and leave me alone or just leave me alone. Also if you do not stop I will report you to your sensei." Naruto said angrily.
"Kakashi? He can't do anything. The council will defend my actions."
"Which council? Clan, Konoha or Uzu?" Naruto questioned.
"Doesn't matter, I am the heir to the Uchiha." Sasuke answered arrogantly.
"So they might get a little annoyed if say Uzu and Iwa both said you had breached the alliance and sought retribution upon your clan and Konoha?" Naruto said as he walked back to camp. Naruto heard Kyuubi and Hinata both laughing in his mind.
Back in camp Hinata was in a tent with Kikiyo. "Sensei, Sasuke just made a pass at Naruto. I think Akemi-chan has gotten very annoyed with Konoha males."
"I can understand why. Given what happened with Mizuki-teme, and that Inuzuka kid." Kikiyo suddenly realized what Hinata was saying. "I will talk to Kakashi. This has to stop, or Akemi-chan is going to kill someone or we are going to have a near repeat of before. I will stand for neither." Kikiyo said as she left the tent. She noticed that Ino and Sakura were still working on their tents. 'What is Konoha teaching them? Setting up a camp should take less than a half hour, and tents no more than ten minutes.'
Kikiyo shook her head as she entered Kakashi's tent. "We need to talk and we need to do it now." Kikiyo said sternly to the copy ninja. Kikiyo ran through several hand signs. "Silence seal jutsu."
Kakashi looked around then nodded. "Okay what was so important that we needed to talk in private?"
"Your student is harassing mine." Kikiyo said annoyed.
"Hinata is betrothed to Sasuke after all so it is understandable." Kakashi said calmly.
"Sasuke is annoying Akemi, not Takara. And after what Mizuki did, Akemi is not happy with Konoha males." Kikiyo said as she angered.
"Well, then tell them to drop the henge. They will have too eventually." Kakashi said as if bored.
"You are an ass Kakashi you know that?" Kikiyo said as she barely controlled her anger.
"I have been told that." Kakashi turned and looked directly at Kikiyo. "Look they will eventually have to face the fact that they are not who they say they are. There is a contract for Hinata to marry Sasuke, do you deny that?"
"Who's side are you on? Certainly not your former sensei's. Fugaku falsified that contract. Also the first contract has precedence even if you do not acknowledge fact of what he did." Kikiyo said as she calmed down.
"What do you mean by bringing up my sensei?" Kakashi asked angrily.
"Have you ever looked at him?" Kikiyo replied.
"All I saw was a hyperactive blond that should not be a ninja." Kakashi said.
"You still don't get it do you?" Kikiyo asked as Kakashi shook his head. "Minato was Naruto's father. And if you still want to go down this path I am sure we can find ways to make your life miserable." Kikiyo said as she showed Kakashi an orange book. "Want to play rough? I can play rough. Also you blow Naruto and Hinata's cover and not even your Sharingan will be able to protect you. Sarutobi and Takashi agreed that Naruto has first say in the contracts. He has said he is going through it, and Hinata agrees. Now either rein in the Uchiha or I will."
"Okay but Hiashi knows something is going on." Kakashi said.
"Good maybe he will break the genjutsu and come to his senses. But until then we have a mission to complete. And if Sasuke bothers Akemi again both she and Takara will have my permission to permanently sterilize Sasuke. Do I make myself clear?"
Kakashi nodded as Kikiyo brought down the jutsu.
Kakashi and Kikiyo walked out of the tent to see Naruto walking into camp with an arm load of wood with an annoyed look on his face, followed closely by Sasuke holding some twigs. Kakashi shook his head. "Hey Sasuke, come here for a minute." Sasuke threw the twigs near the fire nearly hitting Sakura and Ino.
Sasuke glanced back at Naruto and then walked over to Kakashi. "Yeah Kakashi, what is it that you want?"
"Sasuke you know she is taken right?" Kakashi asked as Sasuke nodded. "Her fiancé is right over there." He Pointed at Hinata.
Sasuke looked at Hinata's male form and was not impressed. "So what? I could take him no problem."
"That is not the point. You take him and Akemi would castrate you with her sword. So leave them alone. You young man, have a problem with teamwork, now would be a good time to show some and work with the girls and help them with the camp choirs. Kikiyo's team set up their part of the camp quickly and efficiently. We did not. Remember this three mediocre shinobi can beat one good one any day with teamwork. Now go work with your teammates they need your help." Kakashi said as he smiled.
Sasuke walked back to the fire pit and helped Sakura and Ino with preparing the evenings meal.
The next morning the group cleaned up camp and set out. Naruto took the lead while Hinata and Kakashi stayed next to Ran and Tazuna. Kikiyo walked just behind them while Keiko took up the rearguard position. Sasuke, Sakura and Ino walked just ahead of Tazuna and Ran as a group. Kakashi just shook his head.
'Hinata scan ahead I smell something.' Naruto said as he pulled a kunai.
Hinata activated her Byakugan and looked ahead. 'Yes there is a man with a large sword fifty meters ahead and in the bushes.
Naruto threw the kunai to the exact spot where Hinata had said.
Zabuza was surprised that he was spotted fifty meters from the point person. 'How did they find me?' He thought as he performed a substitution leaving a white rabbit.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto did not answer as he got the news from Hinata. 'He used a substitution, there is only a rabbit there now.' Naruto understood as he pulled the kunai and rabbit out of the bushes. "Sensei, white rabbit." Naruto's only commented.
Sakura and Ino ran up to the Naruto and push him aside taking the rabbit and cuddling with it. Naruto just frowned. "What did you think you were doing? Hunting for dinner tonight?" Sakura said angrily.
Naruto scowled at Sakura and then looked at the jonin sensei. 'A white rabbit? They only have that color fur in the winter. So that means it was raised in doors away from the sun. This rabbit was meant for using in a substitution.' Kakashi thought then nodded to Naruto.
Off in the woods observing the group. "Looks like three of them are serious as are the jonin with them." Zabuza said to his masked companions. "Get the others we may need them. Until then I am going to play with them. Haku you stay here and provide backup. Shin you get the others ready."
Both figures answered as one. "Yes Zabuza-sama." One of the figures disappeared.
"Hey slackers guard the targets instead of yapping." Naruto said to the Konoha genin.
Sakura walked up behind Naruto and swung at him. Naruto easily ducked and pulled his practice sword out and slapped her on the knuckles.
"Ouch, that hurt. What did you hit me?" Sakura asked but still angrily.
"You swung at me. Be happy I used my practice sword, or you would be missing your hand. Now guard Tazuna and Ran." Naruto said angrily.
"Sensei, why is she giving orders?" Ino asked disappointed that Sasuke was not speaking.
"She has the right idea so I did not countermand the orders. So do as you're told." Kakashi replied.
Keiko yelled startling the Konoha genin. "Get down!" Keiko hit the dirt taking Ino and Ran with her. Hinata grabbed Tazuna and pulled them him down. Naruto grabbed Sakura and Sasuke and pulled them to the ground. Both jonin were on the ground quickly as a huge sword passed through the area where they had just been standing. If the group had been standing they would all be dead now.
Naruto stood and drew both his swords and sniffed the air. He turned to where the sword was imbedded in a tree. A man was standing on the hilt of the sword. "It's him again." Naruto said as if disappointed.
"Jeez you could give a little warning." Sakura complained as she got up. She then noticed Naruto in a fighting stance with both swords drawn. "What is going on?" Sakura followed Naruto's gaze to where Naruto was looking. "Who is the freak?"
Zabuza was a tall man with black hair, bandaged face, mist headband, no shirt, and gray camouflaged pants. "So we finally meet, Kakashi the copy cat ninja." Zabuza said happily.
"Zabuza, the demon of the mist. You are in the bingo books for attempting a coupe. So how did that go for you?" Kakashi questioned.
"Not so well but, after this job I should be able to return and finish what I started. Now give over the bridge builder." Zabuza demanded.
"Not a chance Zabuza. He is staying with us." Kakashi replied.
"Oh well you were warned." Zabuza said as he disappeared with his sword.
Naruto sniffed the air. "I smell water." He then threw a kunai at Tazuna. It missed by a mere centimeter hitting Zabuza between the eyes as he raised his sword to strike down Tazuna. Zabuza turned into a large blob of water that fell to the ground. "Damn only a Mizu Bunshin." Naruto commented. Hinata picked up the kunai and put it in her pouch.
"Okay let's move, he will try again." Kakashi ordered. As Naruto tightened up his formation and lead the group on.
"I smell more water. We are heading into his element. Hidden Mist jutsu." Naruto commented as a fog rolled in. "Takara?"
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "I do not see him but there is a pond about twenty meters to the north. My guess is that he will ambush us there."
"Good deduction Takara, as we will have to pass by the pond." Kikiyo commented.
"Give up the old man." They heard Zabuza's voice coming from the building fog. "Make it easy on yourselves. Come on a couple of jonin and a group of wet behind the ears genin aren't enough to stop me."
Hinata struck behind Tazuna hitting the Zabuza there in the head, this caused him to become a large blob of water and splash to the ground. "He seems to like Mizu Bunshin." Hinata commented.
The fog continued to thicken. "I see the kids have some skills. But will they be able to deal with me?" Massive killer intent washed over the group Ran, Tazuna, Sakura and Ino all fell to their knees. Sasuke was frozen in fear. Keiko was momentarily stunned.
Naruto and Hinata continued to look around searching for where he would appear next. Kakashi stepped forward and emitted a large amount of killer intent and chakra dispersing the fog. He looked directly at his students. "I will not let anything happen to you. That I promise on my life."
"If only you could have backed it up." Zabuza said as he appeared in between the children and Tazuna. He swung his his massive sword only to be blocked by Naruto with his katana.
"Not today!" Naruto said as he was slowly driven to his knees by Zabuza.
"She is feisty isn't she? Too bad you will have to die today little girl." Zabuza said as he continued to drive his sword down towards Naruto.
Zabuza attack faltered as he looked back to see Kakashi standing behind him with a kunai stabbed into Zabuza's kidneys. "Like I said I will not let them be harmed Zabuza." Kakashi said sternly.
Zabuza was leaking from the wound but it was water. Zabuza suddenly turned into a large blob of water and then splashed to the ground. Kakashi was suddenly split in two as Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and had swung his sword. Everyone gasped except Naruto, Hinata, and Kikiyo. Naruto had immediately thrust his sword into Zabuza through the disintegrating remains of Kakashi. Both Kakashi and Zabuza turned out to be Mizu Bunshin.
"Not bad kid. You did not lose your concentration when it counted. Using your teammate who was dying as a visual shield to make an attack was a good move." Zabuza said as he hit the real Kakashi into the water. Zabuza appeared next to Kakashi and completed several hand signs. "Water prison."
Kakashi knew he was trapped. "Run protect the bridge builder!" Kakashi yelled as several clones appeared near the others.
Kikiyo was fighting two clones. Naruto and Hinata were working through the clones as Keiko threw several shuriken at Zabuza. Zabuza suddenly turned and removed his hand from the water prison as Naruto swung his katana at Zabuza's arm. Naruto was ankle deep in the water and having trouble standing on the water. Zabuza swung his sword and hit Naruto who disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Shadow clone?" Sensing danger Zabuza leapt backwards missing being hit by a kunai swung by Kakashi. "I am impressed brat you were able to sneak up on me and release your sensei. You have my respect." Zabuza commented from behind the bandages on his face, you could almost see a smile.
"I aim to please!" Naruto said with a smile as he blocked the sword of a clone and Hinata killed it with a juken strike.
"Time to end this little charade." Zabuza said as he ran through a series of hand signs. Kakashi copied his movements to a tee. "Water style, Water Dragon Jutsu." Both men yelled at the same time. Giant spouts of water rose and twisted around the two. Finally reaching a height of fifty feet they spouts formed heads and attacked each other. Both 'killed' each other this caused the water tha t made up the jutsu to rain dowm on the combatants.
"You are copying me. Hey stop that! You are just a monkey that is copying me." Both men said as they continued to watch each other.
Zabuza saw an image of himself standing right behind Kakashi as if telling him what he was going to do next. Zabuza ran through another series of hand signs as Kakashi copied them precisely. "You will not win! You cannot win!" Both men said as one.
Kakashi hit the last hand sign as Zabuza faltered. "Water style, Giant Water Vortex!" Kakashi said as a horizontal vortex of water was formed in front of him and surged at Zabuza.
Zabuza and half the huge pond was washed into the trees. Zabuza hit a tree and was stunned. Zabuza was hit in the arms and legs with Kunai. "Can you predict the future?" Zabuza asked as he looked up into the tree at Kakashi.
"Yes, yes I can. And I see your death." Kakashi said as he prepared to throw a kunai.
Zabuza was suddenly hit by two senbon in the neck. His eyes went wide as he collapsed. A ninja wearing a mask appeared on a tree near Kakashi. "Thank you for helping me with killing this wanted criminal. You have my thanks." The ninja jumped down and grabbed Zabuza pulling him up on his shoulder.
Naruto charged as the ninja disappeared in a swirl of leaves. "What do you think you were doing Akemi? That was a hunter nin and he was going to dispose of the body." Kakashi commented angrily.
"No he wasn't." Naruto retorted. "If he was a hunter nin he would have disposed of the body right where it lay. Instead he picked up the body and ran away. Also did you notice what he used to 'kill' Zabuza?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi jumped down and leaned against a tree. "You are right. A true hunter nin would have disposed of the body right here and now. To make sure that the villages secrets would not be revealed. Good catch Akemi…" Kakashi said as his world started to spin and he started to fall.
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A/N: Operation Red eye… I'm not telling. You can keep guessing all you want. :D