Chapter: Jigokuen No Taka Aoikassai

"Got ya!" Naruto calls out as out of literally no where he throws a kunai at the bushes. However, when we find that it's nothing but a snow rabbit, he immediately begins to apologize to the out cold thing.

Sakura in the mean time has taken on the duty of scolding him, "What do you think you were doing Naruto?!"

My eyes narrow as I look at the snow rabbit. Snow rabbit...It's not the large zanbatou that's headed right for us that makes my eyes widen. But instead the rather large slab of earth. "Get the hell down!" I reach forward and grab Naruto and Sasuke, with Kakashi pulling down Sakura and Tazuna. While the zanbato imbeds itself in a tree behind us, the large slab of earth crashes against a different tree and almost uproots it just before crumbling to the ground.

"What's this? A bunch of brats protecting the old man? How is it that you lot beat the Demon Brothers?" The man on the zanbato demands.

Kakashi stands, dark eyed narrow, and I follow not too far from him. "Zabuza Momochi; the nukenin also known as Kirigakure no Kijiri," the silver haired man greets the dark haired bandaged man. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing of major importance. Just the life of that old man you've got there," the man answers in turn. "If you'll just step aside and let me take his life, that'd be fine. However I'll have to cut you down if you stand in my way".

"Master," a younger voice speaks up, a low tenor and of male gender. "What about my fight?"

Zabuza looks to the owner of the voice, causing the rest of us to do the same. He is around Kakashi's height, with black hair of different lengths and...Pink eyes. For the most part, his hair is slightly wind swept, and strands from the upper layer stick out here and there stubbornly, with it parted with most of the hair over all to the right side of his head. The back is shorter than the front, with frontal bangs being almost pectoral length and the back stopping where head and neck meet. There's a few strands the same length as his frontal bangs here and there, but they're nothing special. His complexion is pale, like Itachi's or Sasuke's. He wears all black, with a simple black sweater like sleeveless shirt under something of a vest that has a buckle at the bottom hem to close just the bottom, and no zipper; the collar of this thing is wide, but it's of normal height. On his hands are fingerless Anbu gloves, which with the help of elastic stay up on his upper arms. His pants are of the same make as any other shinobi's, as are his black sandals. "What? You actually find one of these guys interesting?"

"Yes master," slowly he lifts up a single arm, and from that arm points a single finger, "That woman, right there". He points at me, his smile one that's challenging and his tone a mocking lilt, "She looks like fun to play with. Can we fight?"

"You're gonna have to, if you want the old man," I tell the young man with a narrowing of my eyes, my tail making its way from around my waist and my wings furling extra close to my back. I don't use them unless needed; nor do I often fly when fighting.

"I'm afraid she's right," Kakashi nods out.

"Who are these guys anyways?!" Naruto speaks up loudly, not at all helping the tension that's only growing thicker by the moment. "Come on Kakashi-sensei! We can take this guy no problem!" Idiot.

"No, Naruto. You stay back with Sasuke and Sakura and protect Tazuna. This man is a nukenin," Kakashi answers, slowly lifting up his hitai-ate. Taking things seriously, are we Kakashi? "This one on the zanbatou is Zabuza Momochi, a former shinobi of the mist and known as the Demon Hidden in the Mist. He's known for his silent killing technique...I don't know the young man though".

I can see a smile spread across Zabuza's lips from under the bandages he keeps his face under, "He is an underling of mine: Guzen Henko". His changes subjects again, "Sharingan no Kakashi, the man famed to have copied over a thousand jutsus using that left eye. What an honor it'll be to fight against it".

Naruto's clueless voice is heard from again, "Shah-reen-gahn?" He sounds out. "What's that?"

Sasuke, of course, is the one to answer. Why shouldn't he? He's from the clan that holds such a dojutsu. "Sharingan is a rare dojutsu that only resides in certain people. Through these eyes the user can instantly see through and comprehend any genjutsu, taijutsu or ninjutsu and reflect the attack back on the attacker. But there's still much more to it. So much more".

"That's right boy," Zabuza speaks in that growing voice of his, "But you've only scratched the surface. The Sharingan can study someone else's technique, and copy it to perfection". It's now that a familiar mist surrounds us, and my eyes narrow. Asshole, taking away even my vision. "As for you, Hatake, as Jonin of Kirigakure, we were given a standing order to take you down on sight. You were in our Bingo Book, calling you as I mentioned: 'Sharingan Kakashi'". And then his eyes trail to me, "It's lucky that you didn't come along during the war; it would have only made Konoha that more powerful. "'Jigokuen no Taka' or just 'Jigokuen Taka'. Cross. No last name, just that. You're famous for your fire and wind jutsus, as well as the combination of the two". He flatters me.

I grin, "I try," is all I can say with such a look on my face. A gust of wind blows, blowing everyone's hair to the side, though my blue hair is effected the most due to its length.

"Enough of this...I need to kill the old man. Now. Guzen, take care of Cross. Do not fail me". It's then that his zanbato is pulled from the tree and the fight begins.

"Kiddies! Maji position! Don't move and stay out of the fights!" I snap just as suddenly a hoard of rocks are sent my way. My eyes narrow as I back around and away from the stones. However as I'm forced to back up too close to the kids for my liking, I growl and decide to get in closer. Guzen grins widely as I come in at him, ducking under and around the stones left over from his Doruki Gaeshi. I go in for a kick to his face, seeing as with this jutsu you've gotta keep your hands planted on the ground or else it falls apart and commands don't work anymore. However, with a flexible body, he spins on those planted hands of his and bends his form away from my foot. I don't let go of my streak, swiftly unsheathing my claws and setting to lashing out at him from all around. He's a flexible young man, though.

"Oh! Almost! Nope! Sorry! Man, I thought you'd be faster!" Is the continuous taunt of his as he contorts his body in different ways to get away from my deadly claws. I growl as he flips away and dig into my shuriken pouch before throwing a few at him, each of them moving at a remarkable pace. He dodges, and but grunts as one of the shuriken cuts his cheek. With a skid to as stop, he brings a finger to his cheek to show that the throwing star is a lot sharper than it looks. "Wind chakra?"

"No," I snap out as I rush at him, my legs pushing me as needed. "They're just simply sharp," I tell him with a grunt of my own. We fall into another bout of taijutsu, with this statement. Dodge dodge, swipe, duck, snap at the hand that reaches for my jaw, kick for his ribs and then down to his collar bone. We scrabble like starved dogs do over something as simple as a meal.

KAKASHI'S POV

I watch lethargically as Naruto and Tazuna work to get me to my feet. I've only just finished beating down Zabuza, and explaining to my students just what a hunter ninja is. But even so Cross is fighting her adversary. I sigh from being slung around Tazuna's shoulders.

"Kakashi-sensei, why's it taking Cross-sensei so long to take down someone who looked weaker than that Zabuza guy that was just killed?" Naruto questions from my side.

"Well," I sigh again, slowly lifting my eye and hazily looking the woman's way. The path that was behind us is gouged up, showing where her claws have taken to the earth. "She's...How should I put it...?...She's...Sadistic. Let's go with that".

"Huh?" Ugh. The boy is too slow for his own good half the time.

Sakura thankfully is smart, "It basically means that she likes to play with her opponent, Naruto. She likes to make them think that they're winning before crushing them," she shivers, "Or, she could simply slowly beat them down. It could go either way".

"In this case," Sasuke speaks up, his dark orbs never leaving the fight- or should I say Cross?- voice as droning as it tends to do, "It's the first one. She's a Jonin and she's strong; there's no way that guy has the chance of taking her down".

"Very good you too," I slowly say. Damn, it's even work for me to talk. "Cross!" I call out once she's taken a hold of Guzen's arm and flung him into a tree. Sadistic indeed. "Finish things up! We need to get going!"

"No fun!" She calls back with a sigh, her tail lashing back and forth. But still I can hear consent in her voice. "I'll use a finishing blow!"

I grunt, "We'd best back up a bit. You three are in for a treat; you're going to see just why Zabuza called her 'Jigokuen no Taka'".

CROSS' POV

"Sorry kiddo," I grin out to the boy, "I think it's time for you to stop for now. Go back to your master, will you?" I grin as I say this, golden orbs narrowing. I'll use my weakest combination, which will keep him alive. I'd love to kill him but the kiddies are here. And while they're gonna see death eventually, I don't want them seeing it too early. This'll just burn him pretty damn good.

"Like hell," Guzen snaps out, panting as he picks himself up from where I threw him. "I can't fail my master!" He sounds like a caged dog. I hate caged dogs. Being a free bird is all what it's about. His hands begin to weave through hand signs.

I don't bother to sheathe my claws as that would take more time. Therefore as we race against one another I grin in my spot. "Aoikassai: Okina Hi Taiho!" There's a deep breath from my lungs, from which a rather impressive ball of almost blue fire rushes at Guzen at an impressive speed. You could say that it looks like an over grown Gokyaku no Jutsu, however it's not made from fire natured chakra nor is it made from one jutsu. To see whether or not I hit the target, my wings take me up to the air, beating against gravity. I watch as just at the last minute, a large earthen wall collides with my beloved Okina Hi Taiho, only to break under the pressure of the jutsu. However when the fire dies away, there is no sight of Guzen; he's gotten himself away from me. I sigh and land, flying the short distance between myself and the others before actually landing as mentioned. "Well," I tell them after brushing back a few of my blue hair, "That was fun". The kiddies seem to be utterly amazed, as their eyes are stuck on the spot of scorched earth where Guzen's wall met my fire. I don't see why they would be...But then again I'm used to sights like that. They're not.

"You...You," Sakura starts, "...That was...".

"Amazing!" Naruto throws his arms into the air, blue eyes wide. Why is he beaten up? Did Kakashi fall on the job or something? "I didn't see all of it but when you threw that guy and then you were like 'Aoi-or-whatever'," it's 'Aoikassai', kiddo, "And then a giant fire ball came from you! And then," he makes an explosion sound, "The fire just destroyed everything!" He's too amazed for his own good.

Sakura takes this moment of silence to question with wide green eyes, "Just...What was that, Cross-sensei?"

"That wasn't a fire jutsu I've ever seen," Sasuke pushes, dark eyes obviously showing his interest.

I rub the back of my head with a sigh. Though before I answer them, I blink and look to Kakashi. He's really warn down. "You over did it again, didn't you?" I scold lightly to the tall man.

Kakashi sighs and tiredly meets my gaze, his dark eye hazed over and his hitai-ate sloppily placed over his Sharingan, "Unlike you I didn't fool around. I did what I had to do, and efficiently".

I roll my eyes, "Just because I like to play doesn't mean I'm not efficient," that doesn't make sense. Still I step forward. As my claws sheathe themselves, my other hand reaches back to pull my braid over my right shoulder. "Here, Tazuna, I'll take him".

The old man raises a brow, "I know you're strong, but can you carry dead weight?"

I grin to him, bearing playful fangs as my tail wags once or twice before finally wrapping around my waist. I think I'll put some poison in that boy next time. I don't think I've really stuck around to see the effects of the poison in my tail, but I figure that it's bad. "I'll be fine. My hips will bear most of his weight. I just need help getting him properly between my wings". That said, I turn around and show him my open back. Seeing as he's bigger than the gap between my wings, I have to unfurl them a bit lest holding him be uncomfortable and bad for my wings' joints. But he's not that big, so therefore as said it's only a bit. Once his arms are slung over my shoulders and his legs are around my hips, I bounce him on my back with my arms under his legs once just to get a better hold. I'm lucky he's not that much bigger than myself. His chin rests over my left shoulder opposite from my braid. Once he's situated I take the lead, "Let's get going you four. Tazuna, how far is your home?"

The old man looks at me with surprised eyes as I hold Kakashi as though I were someone his size. In other words with not much care. I've trained a lot to up my strength when compared to a man of Kakashi's stature. I'm still not as strong as he in brute strength, but I still am stronger than most. "It's not far from here. Follow me".

"Will do," I tell him. "Sakura, when we get there I want you to take a look at the lay of the land; if Tazuna will be so kind as to give you a tour. Sasuke, Naruto, both of you are scuffed up like Kakashi is, so I expect you two to stay at the house with me so that I can patch the three of you up".

"But we're fine Cross-sensei!" Naruto waves his arms this way and that. I see Sasuke nodding his head in reluctant agreement.

"Bull shit," I tell the two casually. "I'm not called Jigokuen no Taka just because of my jutsus you know. It's also because of my eyes. These golden eyes of mine, these eyes like that of a hawk's or a falcon's, can see miles upon miles in front of me as clear as day. And while they cannot see through genjutsu or copy jutsu or anything a dojutsu can do, anywhere I look, these eyes don't miss. Darkness or night time is not an issue for me either. Simple as that". I pause before looking to my right from the corner of my eye, "Sasuke, you have blood on your lips. Naruto: your clothing is a bit torn up. You two have been fighting against someone; a foe. Therefore you stay and get patched up. Sensei's orders".

Naruto groans, "Yes Cross-sensei". Atta boy.

It takes little to no time at all for us to get to Tazuna's place, and after he's had a happy but short reunion with his daughter, as well as an explanation from him to her about us, he leaves with Sakura so that she can report to me what this place is really like. In the mean time, Tsunami- Tazuna's daughter- leads us to one of two spare rooms they have With thanks to the woman both for the rooms as well as the first aid kit, and help from the boys, I place Kakashi down onto the bed and cover him up. I'm seeing no blood on him other than on his hand.

"Alright Kakashi. You first," I tell his tired frame as I sit on the edge of the bed. I look to the boys after taking the first aid kit from Naruto with a nod as thanks. "Find a spot to sit, boys, I'll be with you in a second". That said, I tug Kakashi's arm out from under the covers, and then pull off the fingerless glove to show a calloused hand with a few pale scars here and there. I look over the hand that had come in contact with something rather sharp. "What'd you do to yourself, Kakashi?" I question his dazed form.

"Blocked a windmill shuriken," he tells me sleepily, dark eye hazily focused on me and my actions. While I'm not acting like he's a piece of rice paper, I'm also not just pouring the rubbing alcohol into the wound- even after a while you get used to it being used on you.

I raise a single brow, not even bothering to ask where the hell he got a windmill shuriken when he doesn't even own one. Hell I don't own one. Besides, this is Kakashi we're talking about. And while he's not as unpredictable as Naruto, but it's not unheard of for him to suddenly produce something random out of no where. "I see. Well...I'm not a medical shinobi but I'm pretty sure you'll survive". I tell him. "Get some sleep; I'll find you a pair of walking apparatus and make sure the kids are fine while you're resting". I look out the window. It's getting dark; Tazuna and Sakura should be back soon.

"Thank you, Cross," is a tired thanks from the even more tired man. I'm gonna have to take my other two patients to the other room. And so I just nod and stand before motioning for the boys to follow with one hand while the other carries the kit.

Once in the other room, I look the two boys over..."Alright. Who wants to go first?" I question.

Naruto raises his hand, "I'll go first. That way I can go exploring!"

I can't help but offer the boy a smile, "You can go as far as the tree line, mister. We're still on a mission for one. Two, It's almost seven o' clock. According to Tsunami we'll be having dinner by then. You don't wanna miss a hot meal, do you?" I get a rapid shaking of the head, "Well there you go". My eyes travel to the Uchiha, "Sasuke, I'm gonna ask Naruto to take off his jacket and shirt. You okay with that?"

Sasuke is silent for a moment before turning in his stationary spot, hands buried in his pockets, "Yes".

I nod before letting Naruto do as I mentioned. With a light blush and slightly shaky hands, obviously a bit shy about getting half naked in front of a woman, he unzips his jacket and tosses that onto the floor before the shirt joins it. I can't help but notice that he's a lot better built for a kid his age than I expected him to be. While he's not built like Zabuza obviously was or as much as I figure Kakashi to be, he's definitely got a good start to him. Baby fat is already half way gone by the looks of things, and my sharp eyes can see the makings of a toned four pack going on. If he keeps this up, the kid's gonna be a real looker when he's older. None the less, I inch my way closer to him and purse my lips as my eyes roam his tanned skin. "Hmmm," I intone.

"W-what? Is there something wrong?" The boy questions, voice shaky.

I smile as my eyes continue to roam before I my hands are on his shoulders and I'm turning him around to get a look at his back. "No, nothing wrong. In fact I have to say I'm impressed, Naruto. You're gonna be one hell of a looker when you're older if you keep as hard working as you are now".

"R-really?!" He looks over his shoulder with an innocent blush. As I nod up to him, he beams down at me, "That's awesome!"

His enthusiasm makes me chuckle before I stand to my feet. "You're good to go. Looks like your clothing took the brunt of the damage, lucky you, and the scrapes on your face and hands will be gone in no time". My guess is that the fox deemed them unworthy of his healing. Which I don't blame him. They're just scrapes. "Why don't you go see if Tsunami is done with making food and if Sakura and Tazuna are back?" The boy nods as he gathers up his torso clothing and jogs out of the room happy as a clam. My eyes fall onto the Uchiha boy. "Alright Sasuke, shirt off".

He turns to look at me, eyes dead and emotionless as per usual. "I'm fine," he tells me bluntly.

I sigh. What's up with guys and being unable to admit that they're hurt even a little bit? Naruto does it. Sasuke does it. The Tsu brothers do it. Hell, even Kakashi and Itachi do it unless it's visible that they're hurt. I stand to look down at him, hands on my hips. "Listen. Either you can take off your shirt, or I can tear it off of you".

SASUKE'S POV

I've never heard such casual words sound so alluring before. I gulp from where I stand and meet those beautiful golden orbs of her. Comply? Don't comply and get her to touch you more? I stare at her for a second before my eyes narrow and I scoff. I choose the second one. I want to feel my angel's feather light touch again.

"I said I'm fine, Cross".

CROSS' POV

Fine. He wants to play it that way? I can play it that way. I sigh before placing a hand on his shoulder as I stand behind him. I watch as his eyes move to my hand. Before he knows it, my foot is sweeping under his, and he's falling. With a single unsheathed claw I cut the fabric as he's falling, and then I sheathe the claw again and toss the shirt to the side. "I hope you packed clothing along with shinobi gear or else you're going around shirtless for the rest of the mission". I say this as I look down at Sasuke's literally floored form. He looks at me with wide and surprised eyes. But grunts as he gets up. Or, he would be getting up if it weren't for the fact that I'm now kneeling again and am making him lay down on his back by pressing on his chest gingerly. Why so gentle? Because there's a circular bright blue and purple and black bruise forming on his gut. It's too small to be Zabuza's fist or knee. Leaving it to bee his elbow. Gently I place my hand on the bruise. "Damn". I feel around the tissue as gently as I can, stopping and looking at him every time he twitches or his skin quivers under my own touch. "You're lucky he was just playing with you. The internal bleeding- other than the bruise- is very minor it seems. I don't feel any broken bones. This is your only wound?" I get a nod. "Then you're good to go". I stand from my spot, "Get a shirt on and if dinner is ready tell Tsunami I'll be down momentarily. I'm gonna go make sure that Kakashi is sleeping". That said, I open up the door and offer the boy a light smile before doing as I said I would. Upon entering the other room, I find an actually sleeping Kakashi. I can't help but smile at the sight. Why? I don't know. Probably because the man worked so hard. I sit on the edge of his bed, and lean over to remove his hitai-ate, showing me two closed eyes and silver hair now slightly less gravity defying- but only barely. I feel his forehead for a fever, as I've seen his Sharingan do that to him. Finding he has none, I pull my hand. Or, at least I was going to.

As I pull my hand away, his bandaged one suddenly lashes out and wraps around said hand. However the hold isn't painful. Nor is it a conscience movement as I still see a sleeping frame. When I try to pull my hand from his hold, it tightens. "No," he utters. There's a long pause and then, "Cross". My eyes widen. He's dreaming of me? How sweet; I smile lightly to his sleeping face. I don't bother to fight his hold on my hand, and settle for sitting there for the rest of the night, skipping dinner, and simply watching him sleep. When I get tired, I end up using his chest for a pillow. Hopefully he won't mind