Chapter 5

Mifune

1 week later

Naruto had finally gotten water walking down, having finally stopped falling in the cold water, he was ecstatic. "YES!" he shouted jumping on the water. Unfortunately he had not reached the level of control to jump and move normally on water yet. Thus he was met with the cold water once again.

On the sidelines, sitting on a tree, Haku smiled looking at Naruto from the corner of his eye. "Maybe you should practice a little more before you start jumping like that Naruto" he suggested before going back to inspecting the ice-needle he had created.

"Shut up Haku!" Naruto retorted as he climbed back on the shore, grumbling about "stupid water" and how he was going to beat it to death. Sometimes Haku really wondered about the sanity of the blond.

Finally back to where he was originally, in the middle of the lake. Naruto cheered, careful not to jump and fall again. He started walking a little faster before he fell again. Again he swam back to shore and repeated his steps. However this time, Naruto was interrupted by Zabuza's 'untimely' appearance and got distracted, causing him to fall in, again. Swimming back, he glared at Zabuza, who looked back in amusement. "You're a couple years too young to intimidate me with that pitiful excuse of a glare" he said, amused.

Haku jumped down from where was twirling the ice-needle, "So he replied?" Haku asked.

Naruto was confused, who was 'he'?

"Yes, time to head to Iron Country"

Naruto's eyes widened. He had learned about Iron Country, apparently they were the only place that had remained neutral in the last three great shinobi wars and had no ninja but were left alone regardless. They were well respected and the only place that produced strong samurai instead of shinobi.

Their leader was also said to be able to slice a fully-fledged jonin in half before he had even finished his first hand-sign. But they were also rumored not to accept any ninja. Naruto voiced his confusion to Zabuza, expecting an explanation, but was met with a laugh instead.

Taking pity on Naruto, Haku explained the situation to him, "Lord Mifune, the ruler of Iron country and leader of the samurais met and fought Zabuza back before he became the leader. They crossed swords during a misunderstanding on a mission. They were assigned to protect the daimyo of two countries and when they arrived at the designated location, they thought the other was the enemy and crossed swords. Lord Mifune was taught by a samurai that had hatred towards ninja and believed all ninja were barbaric. Thus when he saw Zabuza in an area that was hosting daimyos, he thought he was a 'no good ninja' and attacked. Zabuza thought that Lord Mifune was a hired assassination by a third party and defended himself. They crossed swords but their fight ended when they discovered that neither was an assassin."

"Having learned that the other was not an assassin, they both stopped fighting immediately. As an apology to attacking Zabuza, Lord Mifune told him that anytime Zabuza needed help, Lord Mifune would do all in his power to help. And I'm guessing that Zabuza is calling in that favor now." Haku looked at Zabuza for confirmation.

Zabuza nodded, "Yes, that is true. Besides, seeing how you fight, your unpredictable nature and your natural-born instincts, I have come to the conclusion that you will be one of the best swordsmen, and what better place to start then the land whose forces is comprised mostly of swordsmen?"

Naruto's eyes were wide at the new information. Zabuza had fought the leader of samurai to a draw? The same one who is said to kill jonin without them completing even one hand-sign? Only one word would describe this. "AWESOME" he shouted, jumping and almost hitting his head on the branch Haku was sitting on.

A week later

Three figures clad in a brown cloak were seen traveling the snowy roads of Iron Country. The tallest one had a huge sword on his back and bandages around the lower half of his face, the other two were about the same height. One had blond spikey hair and the other looked female. The female looking one's hand was rapidly twitching towards a pouch on his leg.

"I swear, if another passing guy hits on me again, I'm going to stick this senbon where the sun doesn't shine" Haku muttered darkly.

"Relax Haku, we are here" Zabuza said with a slight smile behind his bandages. Naruto looked down from where his eyes were watching the birds of Iron. He looked forward and saw two samurai in front of them, guarding a gate.

"Halt! This is as far as you get, ninja" one of them spat, hand already on his sword. Haku and Naruto's hands flew towards their pouches, ready to grab a weapon to defend themselves while Zabuza simply put his hand in his cloak and withdrew a scroll. He tossed the scroll towards the other guard.

"Who are you to deny me an invitation from your leader?" he asked in a bored tone.

The two guards' eyes widened as they read the contents. "Our apologies, we were not informed of your arrival" they bowed.

"I will take you to Lord Mifune immediately!" the second one said, "follow me."

They trio followed the samurai guard through the city, drawing curious looks from the inhabitants. Naruto looked around in wonder. "So this is what Iron Country looks like" Soon they arrived at a mansion. Mifune was already there, ready to greet them.

Mifune was a slightly old man with a goatee, slightly long hair at the back of his hair and bandages around his head. He was dressed in purple robes with a sword at his side.

"Zabuza, old friend, it's been so long! I thought you forgot me!" he smiled.

"No Mifune, I remember you, and your offer. I have come to take you up on your offer. I have found a student whom I believe has the potential of being one of the best swordsmen, even better than you." Zabuza said in a flat voice.

Mifune's eyes hardened and he lost his smile. "Let's talk about this inside. Takeshi, back to your post!"

"Yes Lord Mifune!" the samurai bowed and left.

The group went inside the mansion, though huge, had a cosy feeling.

Once inside, they sat on some chairs and Mifune looked at Zabuza. "Now I believe that my old ears have been failing me. I know I did not hear you say that one of these children has the potential to be a greater swordsman than me."

"I did." Was Zabuza's simple answer.

"Impossible!" Mifune shouted "to become a great swordsman, one needs years of discipline, many hours of sweat and an unbreakable will! You should know better Zabuza" Mifune looked at him in disappointment.

"Naruto has a… unique fighting style. He has not had any training, yet he can beat some chunin. He relies more on instinct, and you know how rare natural born instincts are." He looked pointedly at Mifune, who still looked skeptical. "Besides he has an unbreakable will, as he had shown for… How long had you been Orochimaru's experiment Naruto?" Zabuza looked at Naruto.

"Since I can remember, I'm guessing since birth." Naruto answered without hesitation.

Mifune's eyes widened, even he had heard about the rouge ninja Orochimaru and his experiments that can break a grown man in less than a week. And judging by Naruto's height and structure, he must have been only 9-10 years old. "And he doesn't seem insane or bloodthirsty either!" he thought. "Very well, I shall give him the benefit of a doubt, for now. I shall put him through an obstacle course for young samurai; it will test the mind and body. If he passes, I will have a sword made to fit him, and give him beginners training." He conceded. "However, if he fails, you must admit that you are wrong and I was right." Mifune held out his hand.

"Very well" they shook hands, Zabuza looking at Naruto.

AN: right, I have been slightly less busy this week, hence the earlier update (earlier than last time anyways). If anyone has an idea for the obstacle course that would test Naruto, I'm happy to hear you out.

Reviews:

BlackDragonShinigami: Yes, it seems that sometimes reviews don't have to be long and complicated =). And I did say I would reply to all reviews didn't I?

Yagura's sensei: thanks, I'm glad you do, I will finish this story if it's the last thing I do!

Yellow-greenorchid1419: the title of the last chapter was "spars and new jutsu" so I believe it seemed right to base it off more fights and less others.