Disclaimer: For all those lawyers out there with a pole up their asses just as high as Neji, I do not own Naruto, all that I own is this computer. Even the story is owned by the bunny that is running rampant in my head and is making me write this, isn't that coercion?
Chapter 14:
"Oh yes, that's it! Keep it up! Yes! Yes! YES!," exclaimed Hinata. However, instead of the continuation of this scene which involved him, Hinata, Kura (as they now started calling Kyu lately), some whipped cream, strawberries and chocolate, it was disrupted by a quite loud voice screaming "UZUMAKI NAMIKAZE NARUTO!".
Waking up instantly, Naruto jumped up, pulled out a kunai, and proceeded to scan for threats even though he had the place so booby trapped that you had to be S-rank material to even get through alive, and even then you'd probably still have some nasty wounds. However, not sensing anyone near his location, he relaxed slightly only to stiffen once more when he heard the scream again "UZUMAKI NAMIKAZE NARUTO! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
It seemed that in the excitement of meeting and killing Kafu again (this time without the long drawn out fight), completing his weapon, and, of course, the snuggling and petting that happened with Kura (which would make any man forget his worries) he had forgotten to alert Hinata of his departure. Naruto sighed, he could already feel a headache building.
All the while Kura was rolling on the ground laughing after seeing the look on Naruto's face as Hinata continued to berate him. That quickly stopped when Hinata also zeroed in on her. "Don't think I've forgoten about you Kura-chan", Hinata said in a creepy voice that made the ancient demon worried, "after all, you could've just as easily warned me."
After that the bond was quickly filled with a multitude of appologies and promises of making it up to her. Hinata basked in the warmth of her subjects pleas for another 10 minutes before finally forgiving them as they knew she would. However, it was a good lesson and would help to remind them all to notify each other of such things, after all, they were only a thought away from each other.
After having kissed Hinata's ass long enough and completing a light warm up exercise (just 100 of each) Kura, although she would only make herself know if Naruto couldn't handle it, and Naruto once again set off to save Team Farm (what else would you call a team consisted of a mutt, a scarecrow, a duck's ass and it's pet sheep).
It took both of them another 12 hours before they reached Team Farm and what a spectacle it was. The mutt was pissing himself in fear from the little bit of killing intent, the sheep was on the verge fainting yet still screaming about how her Sasuke-kun would kill Zabuza even though Sasuke wasn't doing anything at all. It seemed the few brain cells that he had, had shut down after seeing Kakashi being caught in the water prison. Naruto still couldn't figure out how the fuck Kakashi could be stupid enough to get caught. Well, he did worship the ground duck-ass walked on, so he had probably lost a few marbles. Then again, all the Jōnin had some kind of coping mechanism they used and Kakashi's was to just live in the past.
Sighing, Naruto decided to save their asses, it seemed that without him on the team, no one was there to come up with a plan and as such they probably wouldn't, but maybe, just maybe Kakashi would use his brain for once and just use his element to shock Zabuza. Thinking about it he suddenly got a wicked idea, he might be able to get Kakashi to come around sooner this time, after all he had been one of Naruto's councillors after he had gotten his head out of his ass, Naruto had even set him up on a date. Now he had a chance to speed things up a little. But first he just had to make an entrance, he really couldn't let such a golden opportunity slide.
Kakashi was seriously doubting his views on Sasuke the last few months. It seemed that Sasuke was nothing like what Kakashi thought he would be. He hadn't shown any of qualities of Itachi or Obito who, though they had pride, that pride came from their abilities, not their name. He still couldn't figure out just what Itachi was thinking when he committed that atrocity, but now wasn't the time to be thinking about that after all he was deep deep shit. Not only had he been stupid enough to fight against Zabuza Momochi without making his team run away, he had also started the fight near the water, the main element of Zabuza Momochi. And then he had even followed him onto the water, and gotten caught in this water prison.
That was the position he found himself in now, he could even swear he heard paradise calling for him. He heard the song "Conquest of Paradise"... on a ocarina? However it seemed that he wasn't the only one, Zabuza was also distracted, after all, who in their right mind would play that song on an ocarina, However, thanks to this distraction, his mizu bunshins were dispelled, which, of course, led to the melody being almost drowned out by Sakura screaming how awesome Sasuke was for defeating all those clones.
Kakashi and Zabuza, however paid her no heed, their eyes were riveted on a spot behind them. There, leisurely walking towards the two of them, was Naruto playing a small ocarina while seeming reading a small booklet they both recognised as the Bingo Book. It seemed to be timed perfectly, he had just finished the melody when he looked up, stopped and spotted Kakashi, in his prison, and Zabuza, who was holding said prison. Then Naruto waved "Hi Scarecrow-san, how are you doing? Oh, and is that freaky half mummy guy really Zabuza?" called out Naruto.
Zabuza was about to laugh and ask Kakashi what his village was thinking but before either could even blink, Naruto was hopping around both of them like an overexcited kid in a candy store, poking Zabuza every once in a while.
"Wow, he's real. So mister, are you really the Demon of the Mist?" asked Naruto still hopping around like mad and getting on the nerves of both Kakashi and Zabuza.
But the scary part was that neither of the two Jōnin had seen him move from the spot where he stood, which was a good ten metres away, to themselves in the span of a few moments. However, Zabuza was quickly becoming agitated and Kakashi, not wanting to add another number to the body count was about to scream at Naruto to get the others and run, but before he could, he was cut off by Naruto asking him a simple question, "Say Scarecrow-san, why are you still in that water prison, is it really that comfortable?"
Here was a kid no older than his own genin, known as the class clown, running around the clearly irritated Zabuza, even though he had a bingo book in which it clearly stated that if you were below Jōnin, you were flee on sight. But he didn't run, he even poked said Jōnin and was now completely ignoring him while asking Kakashi the stupidest questions.
Both of them were still perplexed, even more so once he vanished again only to reappear standing were he had been before he had started poking and questioning them. "Ne ne ne, I ask again, why are you still in there?"
The confused look on Kakashi's face told Naruto all he needed to know. So he once again took out his Bingo book, opened it on the page of Zabuza Momochi and started reading. "Zabuza Momochi, aka Demon of the Mist, former member of the legendary Seven Swordsman of the Mist, last known rank: Jōnin. Wanted by Kirigakure, threat level: high A-rank, flee on sight for anyone below Jōnin. Characteristics: carries the Kubikiribōchō, wears bandages around neck and mouth and has a missing nin headband from Kirigakure. Know element: Suiton, , Skills include kenjutsu, silent killing and Suiton ninjutsu. Know associates: the Demon Brothers, Gozu and Meizu, and the late Kafu of the Blood Red Mist."
The 'late' before Kafu did get him a raised eyebrow from Zabuza, who knew Kafu's real strength and wondered who had been strong enough to defeat him. Kakashi on the other hand only knew the reputation that Kafu, an honorary member of the Seven Swordsmen, would have joined them if it hadn't been for the fact that his sword wasn't one of the original seven.
Unknown to Kakashi, Zabuza and probably Kafu seeing as he never did use the special abilities, this sword indeed wasn't one of the 7 original blades that the seven swordsmen used made by Marasume. No this blade in the form of a reverse-edged sabre was much more brilliant, it was one of the eight that Masamune made. There were a lot of students of Masamune who tried to replicate his swords, from these came the Soaring Short Swords, the Raijin no Ken and many others. However he now had one of the original anti-eight, that could match if not supersede the swords of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and the Kusanagi. Seeing as each of the original eight had a special ability, each of the anti-eight also had a special ability, the one he now possessed was the one and only Makkura no Sakabatou. Makkura's property was that of Darkness, all the properties the element Meiton has, this blade is able to duplicate to some extent.
After reading Zabuza's info out of the Bingo book, Naruto carelessly flips a few pages not noticing the looks he got from the two Jōnin, once he found the page he was looking for, Naruto once again started the information.
"Hatake Kakashi, aka the Copy Cat Ninja, rank: Jounin, enlisted by Konoha, threat level: high A-rank, flee on sight for anyone below Jōnin. Characteristics: mask covering half the face, headband over left eye hiding the fabled Sharingan eye, also know as having gravity defying grey hair." Naruto snickered after reading that, he had always thought that Kakashi's hair was unique but to list it as an identifying marker was just too rich. "Know element: Raiton," continued Naruto, stressing the Raiton," Skills: rumoured to have copied over 1000 techniques and has the Sharingan." completed Naruto.
However it seemed that Kakashi still hadn't figured out just what Naruto was doing in giving both his and his enemies information. Naruto on the other hand was seriously considering just making Zabuza release the prison himself but didn't want to give his skills away. It was at this point that Sasuke decided that he wasn't getting enough attention, so he yelled
"Hey you, Zabuza, I, as an Uchiha, demand that you release Kakashi-sensei." looking all smug, really expecting Zabuza to listen. Zabuza turned back towards Kakashi and Naruto,
"Is he serious?"
"Sadly, he his." replied Naruto and Kakashi just nodded while pretending to be sighing but not quite, not really wanting to waste his air suplly.
So turning back towards Sasuke but still keeping an eye on Naruto, Zabuza thusly replied, "Make me kid." At which point Sasuke got enraged and stormed into the water only to splutter back after he fell into the deep-end, not really expecting it to get deeper ,after all, how else could they stand there, right. However it wasn't so and Sasuke sunk before he could even get anywhere near Zabuza. Turning back, even more enraged now, Sasuke started stomping around shouting all the while being ignored by everyone but Sakura.
Back with the important people...
"Leave kid before I decide you're a real threat."
"Wait, you mean I'm not a real threat yet?" whined Naruto playing the tiny kid card, "Unfair, after all the trouble I went through to freak you out, you still don't think I'm a real threat."
"You might not be a real threat but you are getting on my nerves, so get lost."
"Even though I don't really want to play with you, leaving would look kinda bad on my mission report, I can already imagine the old man not to mention that damned council: So tell us Naruto/brat, why did you leave your teammates to die back there?" exclaimed Naruto, still acting like a small child, " Ah heck if I let their precious Uchiha die, the council won't even ask me for my reason, they'd just skin me alive." turning serious once more.
Zabuza just raised his eyebrow in question, however he wasn't really expecting an answer, besides, the longer the kid talked the more time Hatake spent inside the water prison and the sooner his air supply would let out. Finally having enough of Kakashi not figuring out the hints he gave him Naruto yelled "OH come on, you still haven't figured it out? Even if you look like a scarecrow, it doesn't mean you have to be as dumb as one." getting louder and louder." For fuck sake Hatake, your element is lighting, you're in a water prison that Zabuza-san is holding, do I have to draw a picture?"
Not a second later it seemed like both Jōnin had a light bulb moment because at the same time, Kakashi started to focus his chakra and Zabuza released the prison and jumped back a few feet.
"Thanks Naruto, now get out of the way. I'll take care of him." said Kakashi, the thanks only being whispered softly.
"But Kakashi-saaaaan, now that you're out of danger, I wanted to try out this really cool new jutsu. You really have to see this one!" said Naruto back to using his child like persona. Before Kakashi could reply in the negative, Naruto once again seemed to vanish from his spot next to Kakashi and reappear near Zabuza, all the while having an shit-eating grin on his face. He then said one simple word, "BOOM". What followed next was quite a big explosion, Kakashi however, was just as surprised and as such missed his chance to deal some extra damage, it seemed that it wasn't needed. The thought that the boy would use a kamikaze technique like that was shocking... and effective. Zabuza was thrown against a tree, dislocating and possibly breaking his arms thanks to two convenient bulges on the tree's surface. Kakashi shook himself out of his daze, not wanting to miss the chance that Naruto's valiant kamikaze technique gave him.
"Any last words?" asked Kakashi, acknowledging the fact that despite being on different sides of a battle, he still respected the man as a shinobi.
"Yeah, who was that kid? I at least want to know who defeated me, even if it was a kamikaze technique."
"The name's Uzumaki Naruto, genin of Konoha." called Naruto while walking towards the two of them, fishing in his pocket for his ocarina. However he stopped looking for it once he saw the looks on his face. "What?" he all but yelled.
"You're not dead." responded Zabuza still in shock.
"What? Why the hell would I be dead?" and now it was his turn to have a light bulb moment, "Oh right, the whole exploding thing, you didn't really think I would just blow myself up, did you?" however their incredulous looks said it all.
"Hey I'm not dumb enough to go and blow myself up for no good reason, and i do not count rescuing the banshee, the mutt and duck-ass over there a good reason." pointing towards the trio of genin that were approaching. "Maybe I would for Tazuna-san or Hatake over here. Though, if the opponent can defeat Hatake over here, blowing myself up probably wouldn't help much."
Getting over the fact that Naruto was still alive, Kakashi turned back towards Zabuza to give him the killing blow, however he stopped when two senbon hit Zabuza in the neck. A few seconds after the senbon hit, a ninja wearing a hunter-nin mask (and a nice seal on the back of her neck) appeared. Naruto saw the seal but it wasn't one he recognised with only a quick glimpse. He would have to re-examine it later when he sorted the memory, for now he just wanted to survive the encounter because he knew that it was only a matter of moments before Kakashi would pass out.
He returned attention back to the conversation between Haku and Kakashi.
"And now since this body has so many secrets, I must dispose of it." said Haku.
"Of course Hunter-san, but do tell me first, how long have you been hunting him and why not let us finish him?" asked Naruto.
However instead of replying Haku just quickly took Zabuza away using shunshin.
It was at this point that the Farm Trio and Tazuna arrived at the scene. Naruto, used to people following orders quickly, resumed his old role and started giving orders." Okay, let's quickly get to Tazuna's house before anybody else decides it prudent to attack us."
"Hn, what are you doing here dobe. We were doing fine without you. I was just about to make that bastard release sensei." replied Sasuke, arrogant as always, to Naruto's order.
Just as expected, his personal cheerleader followed right on cue. "YEAH! Didn't you see how Sasuke-kun took out all those guys? He was so cool!"
All further discussion were interrupted by Kakashi interrupting, "He's right we sh…" however he never got to finish cause a that point his body finally seized do to stress. Luckily Naruto, already expecting this, got to him before he fell face first onto the ground. Manoeuvring Kakashi so he could lift him easier Naruto hoisted Kakashi onto his back. Naruto did pull Kakashi's hitai-ate back over his eye, a whispered "Thanks" was all Kakashi could utter to which Naruto just nodded.
All the while Kiba had been silent and Naruto hoped that maybe, just maybe this time he would wise up, unfortunately it would later be seen that he only had a bout of temporary wisdom. Though with Kakashi out of commission and who knows what else out there, they quickly followed Naruto's advice, traveling in a triangle formation with Kiba up front, Sasuke and Sakura on the corners boxing in Tazuna and Naruto who was carrying Kakashi.
Luckily they didn't meet any resistance and made it too Tazuna's home within the hour.
During the walk to Tazuna's home, Kakashi seemed to be getting better. When they were nearly halfway Kakashi, still not opening his eyes or moving his body in anyway, spoke to Naruto, "Naruto, once we get to Tazuna's house and I'm a bit rested we're gonna have a talk. In private!" adding the last part a bit more forcefully. Naruto once again just nodded hoping that the others wouldn't make a big deal out of it. However it just wasn't meant to be.
"What, why does the dobe get private lessons with you, you should be teaching someone worthy like me." called out Sasuke.
Naruto could feel Kakashi sigh, it seemed he really didn't want this to happen and the sigh came once more when Sakura followed up with:" Yeah Sasuke-kun should be getting private lessons, at least he would get something out of it. If you teach some dobe like Naruto he wouldn't even understand any of it. Probably the reason his no good parents left him, he was probably an accident between two no good drunks."
After hearing this Naruto went rigid for a few seconds, before he took some calming breaths all the while chanting under his breath:" Must not kill the banshee, must not kill the pinkhaired banshee, must not the sheep…" Thanks to Naruto carrying Kakashi it seemed like he had heard him and was it Naruto's imagination or did Kakashi just chuckle?
Having regained his calm he turned back towards the banshee and the duck's ass and replied while glaring, making them stop and take a step back, "Sasuke, right now, you're worth just the same like most of the genin, meaning cannon fodder. And Sakura, I really don't care that you treat me like dirt, however if you ever insult my parents again, I will kill you but only after you've suffered for a long, long time." After that outburst the rest of the trip everyone remained silent, which Naruto was grateful for.
AN: Okay, I would like to apologize for the long wait. I had my exams so I was kinda busy studying and this story kinda shifted to the back of my priority list. I have a week off so by the end of the week I'll probably have another one up or else certainly by the end of next week.
I do hope that with the extra info on the blade more people will guess what Naruto's main close combat weapon is.
Please review more, reviews keep the bunny happy and if the bunny is happy, he's more peaceful making it easier to write my story. Plus it's nice to know I'm appreciated even if I'm only the hand that the bunny uses to write.
Till next time!