Chapter 4

Naruto yawned as they walked; they were in many ways going to slowly for his personal liking. But then again when you can fly from one place to another in a few minutes no matter the location, it is really no surprise that the current pace seemed so slow. But as it was, Naruto was not about to complain about it, at least not out loud about it. In past missions on other worlds, walking was something he wished he could have done.

But as it was that did not mean he did not wish they could still pick up the pace a bit, mostly because of Sakura's near nonstop questions. They were directed most at their client, Tazuna, but on occasion they would be directed at Naruto's group as there was still very little known about them, even to the Hokage. Naruto sighed and looked over at his two teammates who both shrugged, not sure what to do about the proverbial fountain of questions.

But as they walked along, Naruto's team noticed something odd; it was a large good sized puddle off on the side of the road. It was not in shade either, and with the lack of rain in the recent week, Naruto wondered just how the puddle had remained around so long. Naruto was about to ask about this when he noticed Kakashi, who was to the right of him, shaking his head. Still slightly confused Naruto kept quiet waiting to see what happened. He noticed that as they passed it Kakashi slowed down so he was at the very rear of the group.

Naruto's answer came about ten seconds after they passed the puddle of water. Two ninja rose up out of it, as the puddle faded completely from site showing it was only an illusion to begin with. The two ninja then charged forward to deal with Kakashi first. Naruto like Mavis, heard them coming as soon as they made their move, spinning around at the sound so they could combat the two ninja. Naruto drew his pistol as he went and fired of one shot; the bang from it was rather loud causing nearly everyone, outside Mavis and Holly, to jump in surprise.

The first of their two attacks went down as his leg was hit by the bullet itself. Kakashi at this point spun on the spot and brought his foot up kicking the other into a tree, hard, rendering him unable to fight. Kakashi sighed looking at the two, one out cold the other on the ground holding his leg in pain, as it blood started flowing out from it. He recognized them as the Demon Brothers, hardly real demons, but they were powerful enough as a team to take on any normal Jonin in a fair fight.

"Naruto, while I do thank you for acting quickly, I was letting them attack so I could see who their actual target was," Kakashi said.

"My bad. I normally go with shoot first, and ask questions later approach to battle," Naruto explained, before holstering.

"Yes I noticed," Kakashi said, before checking the two that had attacked them.

"Kakashi-sensei what do you mean their real target?" Sakura asked.

"I wanted to see if they were ninja attacking Ninja, to remove competition, or if they were after Tazuna here. As it is, I will be back soon after I find out what I need to know. Don't move too far while I am gone," Kakashi said dragging away their two attackers.

Naruto shrugged and looked at Tazuna their client. Tazuna looked back, before quickly looking away, back towards where Kakashi had gone. Taking a swig from his jar, Tazuna walked a little ways off the path and leaned against a tree looking thoughtful. Naruto watched him closely; he remembered a few things about connecting pieces of information to get some good ideas about what was going on. With how Tazuna was acting and considering those were rogue ninja, if the lack of a village headband was anything to go by, Naruto was willing to guess they were after Tazuna.

"Tazuna, could you come over here for a second," Naruto asked.

"Sure kid, what do you need," Tazuna asked, walking over.

"Just wondering, but do you think those ninja were after you," Naruto asked.

Tazuna for a half second seemed to freeze up, but he quickly recovered and said, "I doubt it, but it is possible. After all I am building something to help the Wave Nation."

"What do you mean is possible," Naruto asked.

"Gato, the owner of Gato Shipping, has started to become rather greedy in recent weeks. Raising rates for our nation, and if we don't so something soon, we will lose all that we once held dear. We decided that building the bridge was the safest and most peaceful route, as it would mean we would no longer need to send goods by sea any more. We had hoped it would discourage Gato and force him to back off, but if they were after me, then that means Gato is not wanting to let go of Wave so easily," Tazuna said.

"You knew this might happen and only asked for a C-rank mission," Mavis asked, confused.

"No. I asked for a B-rank mission. I knew there was a slight chance, of Gato attacking, but I never figured it would be much more than his basic thugs," Tazuna said.

"Well, I guess there is a good reason my team is on this mission, besides just for look of power," Naruto said, smirking at the others of his team.

"Now Naruto, you should not be happy about a mission rank increase," Holly said.

"I'd rather find out now, rather than in the morning, while at Wave. Finding our client dead," Naruto pointed out.

"Okay, I guess you have a point there, though not the best maybe," Holly admitted.

"Even the Fowl family would agree with finding out problems early is better than finding out when it is too late to make changes for it," Naruto said smiling.

"Okay, I get it," Holly said, rolling her eyes. She knew all too well Artemis Fowl, her one to closest friend would point this same thing out.

Naruto smiled as Mavis looked around and noticed Kakashi coming back. Kakashi was wrapping up a scroll as he went and put it away. Looking at Tazuna he sighed and then spoke, "Tazuna it is as you feared on the mission report. Gato has sent ninja after you."

"I had hoped this would not be the true. But in this case what is your suggestion on what to do," Tazuna asked.

"We continue on, only, Naruto I want your team to take the lead, and my team shall take the rear guard," Kakashi said.

"Can do," Naruto said, smirking as he looked around the ground before saying, "Okay, let's get this show on the road."

Everyone nodded and soon the group was moving again. Kakashi had sealed the brothers into a scroll that would be kept with him till they returned to the Leaf Village. The rest of the trip through the Land of Fire was rather uneventful much to everyone's joy. Even after the boat ride over, thanks to a local fisher no one moved to attack them. They had passed the bridge on the boat ride over that was being built. And while it did not impress Naruto's team as they had seen things built magnitudes bigger. It did impress Kakashi's team, as it was the biggest thing they had ever seen built before.

Soon they were on the island, which was considered the Land of Waves. This part of the trip, while a little dreary thanks to the fog that covered the island, was also uneventful. It was with slight joy they soon reached the inn that Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, owned and ran. It was rather empty thanks to Gato's plans to take over the Land of Waves. This meant there was more than enough room for everyone to stay.

As the day moved on Tsunami's son showed up, with her husband to be. Inari and Kaiza, they were a rather fun group, leading the night to be more than pleasant enough for everyone to enjoy it. Then after picking rooms, with Naruto's team taking only one which they would all be staying in, Tazuna's family and the Genin's went to bed and soon were asleep.

But unlike the others, Naruto's team and Kakashi remained awake, making plans for the days to come. They had a few problems to deal with as well. Naruto had noticed Sasuke eyeing his weapons, and knew that this could possibly lead to confrontation later on if not dealt with quickly. They also had to deal with the fact, Gato's current locations, and his hired ninja assassin, Zabuza Momochi, were currently unknown.

"So how do we deal with them," Naruto asked, after they had discussed once all the details they currently knew of.

"We could just play the waiting game and guard the family," Kakashi said, pointing out.

"As nice as an idea as that is. I normally think a great offense makes a better defense," Holly said.

"Your both right, we need to have both a good defense and offense right now," Mavis said.

"In short we need a group out looking for our targets. And a group guarding this house," Naruto pointed out.

"Well you and I have the recon skills, so Holly it would be better for you to be on guard duty this time," Mavis said thoughtfully.

"But, I am the best sniper and could take out Gato or Zabuza at a range without a problem," Holly said confused.

"Yes, but we need to be actually within the base this time. We need more information than we have now so we need stealth and close combat, while you have stealth. Mavis and I can have stealth that can match your own, and close combat skills that surpass your own," Naruto explained.

"Fine, I guess I can stay here and play sniper, but if I see Zabuza heading towards this house I want to be able to end him, even if we don't have enough information yet," Holly said.

"Fine, as such Mavis and I will be out looking for the base at once," Naruto said, before vanishing with Mavis in a blur of purple smoke that was gone in seconds.

Kakashi looked at Holly and sighed, "I feel like I got the short end of this deal."

Holly rolled her eyes and lay down on the roof drawing her guns and checking them. She spoke as she worked, "Hey, be happy, no fights for us means more time to enjoy ourselves."

Kakashi nodded before bidding Holly good night, leaving the first night shift to her. He would take the second shift, later on. Soon he was asleep as Holly watched over the house. She looked out towards the nation and was reminded of where she had lived for centuries before she had meet Tinkerbell, and her adopted son Naruto. The calm green lands, with the sound of moving water from the ocean; it reminded her so much like Ireland it was slightly scary, yet at the same time refreshing.

She smiled back remember those time once before and after she had met Naruto. She had become quick friends with him, and as such a friend to both the Butler, and Fowl families. Naruto had learned a great deal from the Butler family, a family devoted only to the protection and well being of the Fowl family. Their fighting skills were easily on pair with some of the ninja in this world. But Hermione who had come to visit one day decided that instead of learning only fighting skills, Naruto should also learn a great deal about math and science, even basic common sense, from the Fowl family.

In the end Holly was asked by Tinkerbell if she would want to live with them one time when they made their return trip to Neverland. At first Holly had been against it, as for many years now she had been the guardian of the Fowl family, as a way to repay a debt she owned to Artemis Fowl. Who had been her one time closest friend and love till, he had passed away nearly three hundred years earlier. But Naruto had been the turning point and persuaded her to join them as a family pointing out in Neverland people never aged so she would never lose her family their ever again.

Holly's first few years there were something out of a dream. For her the world she had come from was always slightly populated thanks to the human population. But in Neverland, much like this world, the lands were untouched, clean and pure. Even the magic that filled the world between worlds was purer than any she had ever felt before. It took her a great while before she finally was able to look at the world and not be shocked by the pureness of it.

Holly smiled, but was suddenly brought back to reality as the sound of a twig breaking reached her ears. Thanks to Tsunami's house being built over the water Holly was able to see just what a caused it with a quick glance. It was only a white rabbit. She blinked realizing something was weird about that. Normally rabbits were not white this time of year, and second it was way to light to break a twig like that.

At once Holly was one guard and brought her weapons to bear, while activating her helmet to help see through the night and the fog that would soon be coming in. Naruto was right again, much like Artemis nearly always was. Holly would be more help here, and now she only had one thing to do. Find the human who had broken that twig and shoot him a few times with her gun.

( before you ask