Last time, Naruto and his team had found a possible item of the Uzumaki clan, but needed a key to open it. It was later that they were able to get information on where the key might be by going to Nami no Kuni to find Gato or his target of a bridge builder. It was around that same time that Konoha was sending a certain team to go along with the bridge builder to protect him. How will this play out?

Konoha team

It has been a couple of days since Kakashi and team 7 left Konoha in the protection mission for Tazuna. They were currently traveling to Nami no Kuni on a boat which was the only way to get there. During the boat trip, he can't help but think about what has happened recently with his team.

He 1st thought about his team and how they barely became Konoha genin. He gave them the entire bell test, which they all failed. Of course he gave them a 2nd chance, which Sasuke and Ko were able to get the part of teamwork, which Sakura followed their lead from their act of kindness or whatever. Once he passed them, he worked hard on all of them on improving their teamwork before he can teach them anything to do with ninjutsu.

As he thought about his little genin team, his eyes turned to all of them and thought about each one.

Sakura Haruna was the "Kunoichi of the Year" this year in the ninja academy. For a while now, he notice that Sakura was more into diets and looking good for Sasuke than actually training to become a true kunoichi. Of course, Kakashi knows that she has excellent chakra control as well as great potential in genjutsu, but that's if Sakura can get rid of that fan girl stage of hers, she can be an excellent kunoichi.

Next was Sasuke, who Kakashi knows that he needs a lot of help. What Kakashi meant about help, it was to help Sasuke let go of his revenge thing. He remembers the Uchiha incident very well. After that incident he saw the psychological reports on how Sasuke wants revenge on his brother and became a very broody and solitary person who doesn't want any kind of help from anyone, along with wanting power.

Finally was Ko, which was a special case for. Ko which he knows is Konoha's newest Jinchuriki. He was shocked when the Sandaime told him about Ko, that he is the jinchuriki of sanbi.

Flashback

Kakashi was in the Hokage's office when the third told him about Ko.

"You mean to tell me that Ko is a jinchuriki, just like Naruto… after what happened with Naruto, you actually created another jinchuriki." Stated Kakashi

Kakashi was one of the few that didn't see Naruto as the Kyuubi. In fact, he was one of the few shinobi that look after him when he had the chance. Unfortunately, the day Naruto was killed by the mob of bloodlust and vengeful villagers, he was on a mission. So when he found out that Naruto had been killed and saw how the villagers were completely happy, he couldn't help but think on how this village had somehow lost some of their dignity. In fact, the times that he visits the monument that had the names of all the shinobi that died as heroes for the village. As he stared at it, his always thought, "Obito… I'm sorry I couldn't protect Rin… Sensei… forgives me for not protecting your legacy."

Now, Kakashi was being told that if he was being Ko newest sensei, who is the jinchuriki of the sanbi. The Sandaime has told him the whole story about Ko, who isn't just a jinchuriki but also from one of Danzo's disbanded root program.

"So it was because of the elders that you proceed to make another jinchuriki?" question Kakashi

"Yes… even though I was against this, they were also right about it." Said Sarutobi

They took a moment of silence before the 3rd spoke again.

"Kakashi… the reason I'm not only placing Sasuke as your team, but also Ko since you can train Sasuke on his sharingon when he awakens it, but also keep an eye on Ko since you may be able to handle him if he goes out of control but also see what Danzo has been doing with him."

Kakashi understand on why the Sandaime put Sasuke and Ko under his command.

End Flashback

For the past month, Kakashi over saw Ko's training, but notice that he hasn't been so open about himself. He acted more like one of Danzo's root agents as well as notices him taking in any information about Sasuke.

As he looked upon Ko, he can't help but think that it should be Naruto on his team since unlike Ko, from the times he has seen Naruto, he can tell that Naruto had a lot of drive and determination that many powerful shinobi have, like the Sandaime, Jiraya and his deceased sensei, the Yondaime Hokage.

Kakashi's thought turned from his genin team and his past mistakes, to the mission at hand. After 2 days of leaving Konoha, Kakashi and his team were ambushed by 2 rogue nin. Naturally, he decided to test his genin to see how well they react. He was impressed that both Sasuke and Ko defeated both the rogues without much difficulty, while Sakura was smart enough to guard Tazuna. It wasn't after interrogating Tazuna a bit that he found about Tazuna's lie on the mission request (you all know the story).

After some discussion, Kakashi asked his genin on what course of action they should take. Naturally, Ko decided to go back to the village since he is someone who follows the rules as well as following Danzo's own orders on not wasting his time on trivial things like right or wrong if it wasn't for the village's sake. Sasuke voted on going on with the mission since he got excited on fighting more shinobi to help increase his strength as well as gain more power out of it. Sakura also agreed to continue the mission, even though she was a little scared, she will follow Sasuke anywhere and agree with him on anything like a lost little puppy.

Once they pass the mist that was covering the island of Nami no Kuni, everyone looked at the bridge that Tazuna was building before they reached the shore. When they landed, they quickly followed Tazuna to his house, where his family is waiting for him. As they were making their way, Kakashi was thinking about had happened earlier with the 2 rogue nins, "Last time was chunin… this time there will be no chunin but jounin lv shinobi, high level assassin." Depressed Kakashi thought

It was about 30 minutes after they landed that Ko spotted something and shot a kunai at it. They found a white rabbit out cold, beneath the kunai. Ko suggested that they cook it since rabbit was taste, which Sakura was against since it was cute. As Sakura and Ko were arguing, Kakashi thought it was weird, since it was summer and yet the rabbit had a white cold which meant someone must have taken care of it in a cold area. It was then his shinobi instincts took over.

It was then that Kakashi told everyone to duck as a giant sword was about to slice them apart. They evade it to see the sword struck a tree, where the person who threw it standing on it.

Later

Right now, Kakashi was trapped in a Water style: Water Prison Jutsu. When Zabuza appeared, both Kakashi and Zabuza fought on even ground, before Zabuza trapped him. As Kakashi being trapped in the jutsu, he watched as his students fight against their enemy, the demon of the mist, Zabuza.

After Zabuza imprisoned Kakashi, he created a Water Clone to take care of Tazuna and the genin. Sakura stayed at the sidelines while Ko and Sasuke were trying to beat Zabuza's clone. They continue to fight, even though Kakashi told them to run, but refused since both boys know that without Kakashi, they will be killed instantly. It even got worse when Sasuke started to get more afraid of Zabuza, since Zabuza explained about the graduation test that Mizu once did long ago.

A few more minutes of fighting, both boys were nearly down for the count. Kakashi watched as Sasuke and Ko were about to reach their limits. The clone was near the boys, ready to kill them, while the real Zabuza said, "You know what, I won't consider yourselves as shinobi until you are in my bingo book." Which his clone was ready to slash at them with a clone version of the executioner sword.

All of a sudden, something really fast passes team 7, Tazuna, and Zabuza's clone towards the real Zabuza. The flying object went so fast that it was barely visible, but Zabuza caught it with his only free hand. Everyone looked at him to see that Zabuza has caught an arrow that was aimed at his heart.

"Hm… where did this come from?" He said but then notice on the bow that it had some kind of seal on it. It started to sizzle silently until it sizzled like a sparkler. It was then that Zabuza realized what it was, which he threw it away from him, but it was too late. The arrow was only a 2 feet away from Zabuza before it blew up, creating a powerful 5 m explosion.

The explosion was so great for Zabuza, that he was force to move away from Kakashi, which broke the water prison, but also the lack of concentration also dispelled his water clone. Once Zabuza had gotten himself together, he yelled out, "What was that?"

He then got his answer as team 7 looked behind them to hear the coming footsteps from the mist. There in front of them was a young person, wearing a black mask that only revealed his piercing blue cerulean eyes. On his left, he carried his bow, while his right also prepared the arrow with the bow at hand.

Everyone wondered who this person is, but then heard him say, "Old man…" getting Tazuna's attention, "… are you by chance a bridge builder who is being hunted by Gatou." Asked him

Tazuna nervously said yes since he doesn't know if this kid was also an assassin that Gatou sent to kill him. Everyone was tense as this was happening, but then they were relief when he said, "I guess then this is your lucky day because we were looking for you because you can lead us to our target, Gatou."

Zabuza watched and heard on what the kid said. He then thought, "His target is Gatou… who is this kid and why is he here…? More importantly why is he after Gatou?" Pondered Zabuza

Before he can think of it anymore, he felt someone get behind him. He dodged to see that it was Kakashi, who was back into the fight. Zabuza was starting to get annoyed since he now had this kid to deal with. But just then, he felt another presence calmly walking towards him.

Kakashi also notice this presence. Both of them watch and turned their head to see someone coming from Zabuza' right side. The mist started to clear enough to see a young woman, with long blond hair woman and cat like eyes wearing a Kumo headband on her forehead. She then said, "Zabuza "the Demon"… surrender now or you're going to get a very hard beating."

Team 7 and Tazuna watched on what was going with Kakashi and Zabuza. Their attention then turned to see 2 more people coming out. It was Samui and Omoi. As team 7 and Tazuna was wondering on why Kumo shinobi were here, Naruto was having some mix feeling getting near any Konoha shinobi, since he remembered that a lot of Konoha shinobi, except a few, left him alone or part of the mobs that tried to kill him before.

Zabuza watched cautiously as Kakashi and this kunoichi from Kumo. He was wondering on how to deal with this. Not only was Zabuza thinking about it, Kakashi was also wondering on who this kunoichi is, as well what his genin team going to do with the rest of her team.

Before they can think of anything, Zabuza senses were tingling about something was coming. He turned to the boy wearing the dark mask getting his bow ready to fire at him.

Team 7 was watching when they heard the boy with the bow starting to take aim. They heard the bow being pulled, which Sasuke took note that the bow's string was very tight and strong. It also told him that the person using the bow was strong since the string he was seeing was perfectly straight and tight which would require a lot of strength in order to use it.

Zabuza was about to try and take them down, which Kakashi and Yugito (who they don't know yet) took their defenses. But just before Zabuza strike, he was taken out by senbon needles. Before he even fell onto the water, another shinobi came out of nowhere to catch his body.

Before they can ask on what happened, the newcomer spoke up, "Thank you… I have been following Zabuza for a while now. Thanks to you, I was able to take him out." With a soft smooth tone

Kakashi and Yugito recognized the white mask that the newcomer was wearing that this shinobi was a anbu from Kiri. Also by the sound of the shinobi's voice, that the person was just as young as the genin, maybe a little older. Kakashi asked the Kiri nin to check on Zabuza's body to make sure he was dead. The kiri nin allowed it to see that he was dead since he had no pulse.

Once Kakashi checked, the Kiri nin took Zabuza's body away, but not before thanking Kakashi and others for their distraction.

After the Kiri in left, Kakashi's attention quickly turned to Yugito since he was curious on wondering on why Kumo nin were here. He also checked his genin team to see that the Kumo nin stood aside from team 7 and Tazuna.

Before he can ask, he started to feel the effects of using the sharingon, which he fell onto one knee. He was exhausted, but luckily, Kakashi only used the sharingon for a bit and the battle wasn't long. Kakashi took a breath before jumping towards his team, while Yugito went to her team.

Kakashi was about to kneel again, but Sakura quickly went to his side to help stay up. Once Kakashi was focus, as well as placing his headband to cover his sharingon, he began to ask what he wanted.

"Ok… even though I'm grateful for what just happened, I'm curious on why a Kumo team are here… Even though we have an alliance with each other, I'm still curious on why you are here?"

Yugito walked forward to answer him, "How about we talk this over this guy's home since I can tell that you are exhausted plus being out here in the open can lead to another surprise attack. Are you alright with that? Don't worry, we'll show no hostility towards you or anyone here." Yugito looked at Kakashi, which he agreed.

Once things were settled, everyone decided to go to Tazuna's house since Yugito theory was very plausible.

Till Next time