The first moment that Tazuna realized something was wrong was when he noticed Naruto go into what he could only describe as battle mode. His right hand was close to his waist and his left was balled into a light fist at his side, the right making flashes of something quicker than Tazuna could see.
Kakashi on the other hand could see those signs, and easily understood what they meant.
"We're being watched. Orders?"
He was astounded that the boy had noticed something he had not, but he channeled chakra to his nose. It wasn't that well known, but Kakashi was a better tracker than most Inuzuka, despite the fact that he used scent to track just like they did.
Scents raced towards him, smelling each of his genin team first, followed by Tazuna. Strawberries and nasty perfume, which was Sakura. Tomatoes, fire, and tears, that was Sasuke. Finally, a warm, earthy scent, with tones of smoke and steel, which was Naruto. Tazuna was surprising, as Kakashi was expecting a strong Sake smell, but instead he smelled like stone and the sea.
Then he found the foreign smell, the one that just didn't fit. Steel, oil, and water, perfectly blended, originating from a short distance away. He was about to give Naruto orders, when Sasuke threw a kunai at the origin of the smell, and he mentally cursed as the scent vanished.
Both Naruto and Kakashi looked angrily at the Uchiha as he thrashed noisily through the bushes, Sakura seeming to forget her earlier disgust and shame as she cheered him on. Tazuna was not quite sure what was going on, but the fact that Kakashi did something towards the blonde before walking towards the other two didn't reassure him. The fact that Naruto stepped closer to him and muttered "stay close to me," didn't help his nerves any either.
"Aww, it's just a rabbit!" Sakura cooed. If it had been anyone else who scared the little rabbit she would have screamed at them, but people do odd things when they like someone. Kakashi stood behind them, all senses on alert, knowing that Naruto's were as well. He would have to find out just how Naruto found the person.
Naruto meanwhile was analyzing his surroundings, more specifically the lake just a dozen or so yards ahead. 'That lake…it's got a great deal of chakra imbued in it. Someone has been preparing this place for several days…and it's water chakra too…damn fine place for an ambush.' That was right before he heard the sound of a blade spinning in the wind, noticing Kakashi heard it too if his shout of "Get Down!" was anything to go by. He grabbed Tazuna and pulled him to the ground as Kakashi did the same to Sasuke and Sakura.
Naruto and Kakashi watched as a famous blade, the Kubikiribocho, the decapitating carving knife, spun over their heads, thinking identical thoughts. 'Shit…It really is Zabuza!'
Both were upright as soon as the blade passed over them, Naruto standing protectively over the client, ninjato drawn and held in a reverse grip in his right hand, and Kakashi pulling up the other two genin with him.
Tazuna got up slowly, pulled up by the boy, and saw a man standing on the hilt of a massive blade.
Standing at just a bit over six feet, with bulging muscles visible all over his frame, black hair framed by a forehead protector, brown eyes above a mask like Kakashi's made of bandages, the man made an intimidating site. The large amount of killing intent he was radiating didn't help Tazuna or two of the genin either.
Tazuna felt like he was about to pass out, when a hand lightly touched his shoulder. He looked over, seeing Naruto withdrawing his left hand back to his side, before the boy looked at him, icy blue eyes staring at him. A sort of mental connection passed between the two, and Tazuna suddenly relaxed.
Zabuza noticed this while he observed the four, and came to the rather obvious conclusion that the Blonde was more than he seemed. Taking in the four, he had originally discounted the three Genins as threats, but he reevaluated the boy, putting him at moderate threat level, deal with after the jonin. His breath caught in his throat, excitement filling his being as he recognized one Hatake Kakashi. He grinned ferally under his mask, thinking 'This will be a great fight!'
Kakashi on the other hand was cursing whatever Kami he had offended recently. Normally, he would love a chance to fight Zabuza. After all, one did not become an elite jonin without a love for engaging strong opponents. However, one also did not get to become even a chunin by being stupid. Zabuza was one of the former Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, possibly as strong as or even stronger than Kakashi himself. Normally the Sharingan would balance the scales, but his three genin, regardless as to how strong one was, would tip those same scales irrefutably in Zabuza's favor.
"Copy-Nin Kakashi, what an honor! Despite my desire to fight you, I will give you a chance to surrender the bridge builder to me. After all, those genin are no match for me if I can beat you." 'There we go my good deed for the year. I gave the man a clear warning and a chance to survive. Eat that Haku.'
Kakashi sighed, knowing that he couldn't do that, regardless as to how much he wanted to. He cheered up slightly at the fact of the fight, but decided to not go anywhere near as wild as he usually would. After all, he had his cute little genin…well, one cute little genin and two not so cute ones to protect.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Zabuza-san." His eye curved up into a more ominous form of his signature eye-smile as he blasted killing intent. "Although, I guess that I will need to go all out for this fight."
Zabuza shivered in anticipation when Kakashi released his killing intent, happily blasting his own in return. This was what he lived for, one of the only two reasons for his existence.
Kakashi pulled his headband up to rest horizontally over his forehead, revealing a blood-red eye with three black commas slowly circling around the pupil. He heard Sasuke gasp behind him, and Sakura asking "What is that Kakashi-Sensei?" He very nearly fell face first onto the ground. 'Honestly, and this girl bragged about being top kunoichi.' The clans and their bloodlines were covered in the first year of the academy!
Zabuza almost got an erection. Almost. Hey, when you live to fight, and haven't gotten laid in years 'damn brat', things tend to react like that. "The Sharingan. I'm honored to see it so early! Well, let's begin then…Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu!" A thick mist, full of Zabuza's chakra rolled in, blinding the group.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Diamond formation!" The three instantly moved to obey the orders. Kakashi was relieved that they had that much sense. Naruto stood in front of Tazuna, all senses on high alert, waiting for Zabuza to make a move. He died a little inside when he heard Sakura open her big mouth though.
"Sensei, what's the Sharingan?" Kakashi was about to answer her when Naruto spoke up in a harsh tone. "Sakura, shut up. You are in the middle of a goddamn fight! This is not the time to be asking stupid questions, especially when you already know the answer!" Kakashi sighed in relief at that, believing that moment was over. He instantly tensed back up when Zabuza started speaking.
"Eight points. The larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular vein, collarbone, kidney, and heart. Now, which vital organ do you wish to be struck on?" These words were accompanied by renewed killing intent, overwhelming the scant protection afforded to the group by Kakashi's and hit the group hard. Sasuke and Sakura started shaking, Tazuna would have except for whatever Naruto did to him.
Kakashi nearly sighed, but turned slightly and spoke to Sasuke and Sakura. "Sasuke, Sakura." The two looked over at him, still shaking. "Don't worry. I will not let anyone on my team die."
Meanwhile, Naruto was trying to figure out Zabuza's plan. 'Why is he even bothering to speak? The silent killing technique is supposed to be exactly that, silent. The user is supposed to rely upon hearing to find even the…slightest…shit. He knows exactly where we are now.' Naruto smoothed his chakra flow, internally hoping the Kyuubi didn't decide to cause any problems.
Deep inside Naruto, a pair of crimson eyes watched everything that was happening, waiting for the moment its container finally called on it. It needed something to do.
A few moments passed, while Kakashi tried to find Zabuza before he moved. 'Damn mist, how the hell is it distorting the scent?' Kakashi finally found him, only to realize just how close he was. He moved at top speed, praying to get there in time.
Naruto knew Zabuza was behind them as soon as he appeared. He spun around, his ninjato catching the man's massive blade and stopping it cold, before Kakashi appeared and stabbed him. Naruto leapt away, carrying Tazuna away with him from the fight.
Drip…drip…water droplets hit the ground, and the water clone smirked as he saw Kakashi's eyes widen in shock and horror.
Sakura screamed as she watched her sensei get bisected by a massive zanbato. Zabuza however grinned. 'Water clone huh?' "So you managed to copy it even through this mist. I'm impressed." And he swung his blade behind him, whirling around with it, watching as Kakashi blocked it with a kunai, even if his hand was shaking.
Now the missing Nin was getting irritated. This was the second time that someone had blocked his Kubikiribocho in one day, and the genin didn't even flinch at his strength for some reason. Of course, the moment's distraction made him pay, as Kakashi stuck his hand through his throat.
'Another damn water clone…gah!' The real Zabuza kicked Kakashi into the lake, appearing next to him. "I have you now," he stated. "Suiton: Suirou no Jutsu! (Water prison technique) Kakashi only just managed to get out a gasp before he was imprisoned, unable to channel chakra or move much more than his mouth and head.
'Damn, he got caught...' Naruto looked around, trying to find some way to get the jonin free, his blue eyes fixating on the lake. 'What was it I noticed before…Suiton chakra in the water? What was it, what was it…ah, I remember now.'
"Suiton: Mizu Bunshin."A water clone formed in front of the group, and Kakashi yelled at them. "You three take Tazuna and run! He can't move while he's holding this jutsu, and a water clone can only go so far from the original!"
Naruto felt like he was being taught by an idiot. 'If we leave, and he kills you, just how the hell do you expect us to outrun him?' He was about to make his move, but Sasuke charged the water clone. He sighed, but made a mud clone to keep an eye on Tazuna as he strode forward.
Sasuke was persistent enough to keep the water clone busy, even if he couldn't beat it, allowing Naruto to walk up to the water's edge. Both Zabuza and Kakashi looked curiously at him as he picked up a double handful of dirt before sitting down.
'Turn the dirt to a rock, the first step of Earth manipulation.' He opened his hands to reveal a rock about the size of one and a half of his hands. 'Next, raise a barrier under the water.' His hand flashed out, the other one going through three seals as he threw the chakra charged rock at Zabuza, who slapped in down into the water, just like Naruto thought he would. Now I wait, for one single minute.'
Zabuza was confused. "What the heck are you doing Gaki?" He saw the blonde smirk, and then he felt something underneath him. His eyes widened in horror, and he only just managed to jump out of the way before a miniature whirlpool appeared underneath him. Kakashi, standing next to it now, jumped out of the way before he got sucked in.
He looked over at Naruto, along with Zabuza, both stunned and curious. There was no jutsu that could make a miniature whirlpool! Kakashi shook his head, ignoring that for the moment, turning back to Zabuza. It was time to finish this.
~Canon Battle~
Naruto was carrying an unconscious Kakashi to his bed, and, lo and behold, the man awoke as soon as he was in a comfortable place. He started to question Naruto, but the boy cut him off with a question of his own.
"Why are you faking chakra exhaustion?" Kakashi looked at him curiously, but tried to deny it. "Don't bother, I can tell you are not as exhausted as you portray. Earth nature, remember?" Kakashi cursed mentally, he had forgotten that those with strong enough earth natures could tell when someone was hurt or exhausted.
There was a reason the best medics had earth chakra natures.
He sighed heavily before beginning his explanation. "It originally started right after I got my Sharingan. If I spent more than thirty minutes using it I was exhausted. My growing fame wound up in other villages sending assassins after me, and it wasn't long before they found out about my little problem. I decided to use it to my advantage, and once I got better with my Sharingan I kept acting like I was exhausted, despite my chakra increasing enough that it didn't matter. I can't tell you how many people have been caught off guard by the fact that I didn't pass out when I was supposed to."
Naruto nodded before saying "I always thought that a renowned Ninjutsu specialist having only a high chunin level of chakra was suspicious." Kakashi gave a wry chuckle.
"Yes, I actually have low Kage level chakra, but because anyone who finds out dies soon afterwards, well, only the Hokage, Guy, and you know now. Now for you to answer my question. How the hell did you manage to make a whirlpool with a Doton jutsu?" This time it was Naruto who chuckled.
"Tell me Kakashi, how much do you know about water chakra?" The man frowned underneath his mask, noticing a bit of a hole in his knowledge. "I know only the basics, I focused of Katon, Raiton, and Doton seeing as those were my affinities and we were at war with Iwa." Naruto nodded. "Do you know how a whirlpool is naturally formed?" Kakashi shook his head.
"First, a whirlpool is formed when there is an obstruction of currents in a large body of water, more specifically fast moving currents in the ocean. This obstruction can be anything, but it is usually unnatural. With me so far?" The older man nodded.
"Now, did you notice that your water jutsu were both faster to form, as well as more powerful and less chakra consuming?" Another nod. "That is a sign that someone was preparing that battlefield. A body of water, when imbued with a great deal of Suiton chakra, will have that effect on jutsu. Most water jutsu are a bit slow to form, but this was developed to make them almost as fast as lightning jutsu." Kakashi nodded, that much made sense.
"Now, chakra makes things go faster. It is one of the most basic tenants of using chakra. Otherwise Doton jutsus just wouldn't work. We would never be able to make the earth move fast enough without it.
Imbuing a body of water with Suiton chakra makes the currents run faster, a great deal faster. You may not see it on the surface, but that is waters greatest threat. It appears calm and collected on the surface, but underneath the currents will rip you away from your foundations and crush you.
At the deepest part of that lake, my Earth nature helped me learn that there were two currents, meeting at a point right below where Zabuza stood. It was a rather large stroke of luck actually. Using the Iwane Banpu (rock bump) jutsu, I created a prism like shape underneath Zabuza. That jutsu is mainly used on unaware imbeciles to trip them, as the rock is somewhat slow to rise, but it worked just as well in this case."
Kakashi's eye lit up in understanding. "Creating the blockage that impeded the two currents, therefore creating a whirlpool! Brilliant…but why didn't it last all that long?"
Naruto looked at him, showing a great deal of seriousness. "I could have made that whirlpool a great deal bigger, but I didn't. All I needed was that little bit, for a short amount of time. In fact, provided someone can hold their breath, that wouldn't have even killed them. Also, I could only put a small amount of chakra into that rock. I still am learning."
Kakashi let loose an ominous eye smile. "Well then, I'll just have to make sure my clone trains you into the ground so that you can master your Doton Ninjutsu."
AN: Okay, a guest reviewed my story, claiming that there was no council. I implore you to read. I took a rather common idea and turned it into my story. Most stories have the third as a good, if spineless man who rolls over to the council! Second, you reviewed chapter seven. By this point, it's kind of obvious that Danzo does want a powerful Jinchurikki.
As for Cobra0000, well, I have not decided whether or not he will leave the village. I want him too, but then I don't want him too. However, if you do want him to leave the village, all of you please review and specify where you want him to go.
Thank you all for reading.