Team 7 carried out a lot of boring missions, from ploughing fields to chasing cats. Naruto was really pissed off with this. Gohan, was actually glad of this. With these easy missions he had more than enough time to train. Till now he didn't need to show any of his powers. He really liked his new friends, he was happy and for the first time in his life he had friends who were his age.

At the Hokage Tower

"You guys have been doing excellent work" praised Sarutobi "I will see what other mission is left. Hmmm. Let's see"

"I'm sick of these stupid missions old man" complained Naruto loudly "I want an exciting mission. Give us something good".

"Enough. These are the missions that will improve your teamwork" explained the Hokage.

"I think they are ready for the higher ranked mission" Kakashi interjected.

"You can't be serious Kakashi" asked Iruka surprised "They have been a team only for two weeks".

"Very well, if you think your team is ready, I will give you a C-ranked mission". The Hokage turned to one of his aides "Bring me Tazuna-san" and took a drag of smoke from his pipe.

The aide came with an old man, who was holding a bottle in his hand. "This is Tazuna-san. Your next mission will be to escort him".

"Hey, hold it" interrupted Tazuna "You are sending these kids to protect me?" and took a big gulp from his bottle.

This really ticked off Naruto. "I'm going to kill you for that" growled Naruto. But before he could do anything, Kakashi grabbed him "You can't kill the client, you idiot".

"Anyway, my name is Tazuna. I'm a master bridge builder. I want you to get me safely to my home and protect me while I build a bridge there. This bridge is going to change my home land for ever" said Tazuna, and again took a big gulp from his bottle "We will be leaving tomorrow morning".

The Next Day, Just Outside of Konoha Gate

"Yaaah. All right" screamed Naruto turning left and right.

"What are you so excited about?" asked Sakura.

"You see, this is the first time I'm out of the village" answered an excited Naruto.

"Well let's get going" said Kakashi.

Team 7 started walking towards the Land of the Waves, the home town of Tazuna. It was all going along peacefully. Naruto was just too excited to make any noise, Sakura was ogling Sasuke who kept himself oblivious to it and Gohan felt like he was in home walking through the forest.

Kakashi was walking behind everyone in the group, Gohan was in the front with Naruto while Sakura and Sasuke walking on both sides of Tazuna.

Gohan and Naruto were walking way too relaxed and walked by a puddle in the road. Suddenly from that puddle, two Ninjas emerged from that puddle. The two Ninjas had some sort of spiked chain with them, with which they enveloped Kakashi and killed him.

"I was too relaxed to sense them" thought the furious half saiyan "Good thing it was Kakashi sensei at the back. I guess he was prepared for them and did the Substitution Jutsu at the last moment. I guess everything okay for now. But why is Kakashi sensei hiding. He can take them out in moment if needed. He must be hiding to observe something. I will wait and intervene if needed."

The two rogue ninja phased behind Naruto, and prepared to attack him. But before they could do anything, Sasuke jumped up in the air and threw a shruiken and a kunai on to their spiked chain and pinned it to a tree. They detached the chains from themselves and split up. One went for Naruto and the other went towards Tazuna. Gohan phased himself in front of Naruto, preparing to do what was needed. Meanwhile Sakura and Sasuke stood in front of Tazuna, ready to protect him.

The aimed his right hand which had a claw towards Gohan, but before he could do anything Gohan suddenly dropped from his sight. The only thing the rogue ninja felt was a sudden pain in his stomach before he passed out. Meanwhile Kakashi took out the other villain, before he could do anything.

"Good job Gohan and Sasuke. You too Sakura" complimented the Jounin. Turning to the old man "You never mentioned anything about ninjas coming after you in your job request. That makes this job outside of our description and skill level. This makes it at least a B-rank mission."

"I'm sorry, but it is as you say" confessed Tazuna "We are a poor country, we do not have the money to afford a B-rank mission. You see, our country is surrounded by water. The only connection to the main land is through a ship and Gato is the one now controlling all the ships and thus my country. I'm going there to complete a bridge which will connect my homeland and the mainland. This will stop Gato's control over my people."

"There is one question, by Gato do you mean the Gato of the shipping corporation, one of the wealthiest man in the world" asked Kakashi. Tazunna nodded a yes ashamedly.

"That's horrible. I guess we have to help no matter what. That's what my dad would have done" thought Gohan.

"If you decide to drop this mission, I will be certainly killed before I get home" said Tazuna deciding to play the guilt card "and my country will forever be in the hands of Gato"

Gohan looked at Kakashi was hard thinking. But before Kakashi could say anything, Gohan said "Tazuna-san, we will keep going forward, and we make sure that bridge is built before leaving".

"I guess we have no choice. We will finish our mission" said Kakashi

After a day or so

Team 7 continued on with their mission. They were about to reach Tazunna's home. Naruto was miserable for having failed to anything in the previous encounter. Gohan mean while stared to take the mission more seriously and was fully on alert.

As they were walking by, Naruto suddenly through a kunai claiming "I'm sure someone was there"

Kakashi walked through the spot where Naruto's kunai went. He observed a white rabbit there "That is strange. This is a snow rabbit, they should not be white in this time of the year unless they have been kept indoors, for the sole purpose of using it as a substitution"

"Naruto wasn't kidding when he said he felt something. I can sense someone as strong as Kakashi sensei" thought the half saiyan.

"Get Down" screamed Kakashi and everyone ducked just in time to avoid a large sword that went by their heads and struck a tree.

A tall muscular man, with pale skin with black spiky hair appeared on the hilt of the large sword. Most of his face was covered with bandages.

"Well, well if it isn't Zabuza, the demon of the mist" greeted Kakashi "Guys, I want you to stay back from this fight. This guy is on a whole different level from the guys we fought earlier. I want you to protect Tazunna. No matter what, don't interrupt the fight".

"Kakashi of the Sharigan. I'm pleased to meet to you. I never thought that I would get to fight the man who has copied over a 1000 techniques" replied Zabuza.

Kakashi moved the cloth covering his right eye which showed an eye with red pupil with 3 tomoes in it. "I'm honoured to see the sharingan"

"What is that eye of your sensei" asked a confused Naruto.

"That is the sharingan" explained a confused Sasuke " it is a form of Dojutsu which allows one to see through all Taijutsu, Genjutsu and Ninjutsu". "But how does he have it. It only comes in my family, the Uchicha" thought the sole survivor.

"Not only that but it can also copy every technique that the user sees and do it exactly with near perfection" said Zabuza and jumped and landed on the nearby river.

"Wow, he is standing on the water. He must be emitting chakra from his feet" analysed Gohan.

Suddenly it was all foggy. "Everyone be on your guard" shouted Kakashi. The mist grew thicker. No one could see anything in front of them.

Gohan could sense that Zabuza was moving. Kakashi started concentrated his chakra and blew away some of the mist surrounding them. But the killing intent that both these Jounins could not be blown away. Sasuke was being overwhelmed just by that. " Sasuke, don't worry, I won't let anything happen to my team" comforted Kakashi.

Out of nowhere, Zabuza appeared in the middle of them.

"How did this happen?" Gohan asked himself "He is over there. This must be a clone. The energy coming from this is lower than the energy hidden over there".

Kakashi instantaneously phased in front of Zabusa and thrust a knife into his stomach. The clone disappeared and Zabusa phased behind the silver haired jounin and slashed him. Surprisingly, it was a water clone of Kakashi.

"He copied my technique already".

Kakashi phased behind Zabuza and put a kunai to his throat "It's over. You are finished". Kakashi slit his throat, only find that was a clone too!

"You are mine" the real Zabuza reappeared behind Kakashi and swung his sword at him. Kakashi barely managed to duck it, but only to be kicked by Zabusa into the river. Zabuza then again phased behind Kakashi, who floating in the water and used the Water Prison Technique to trap him.

"Now you can't get out from this prison. It is not possible to do it. This is a special jutsu designed just for this" said the rogue ninja and then turned towards Team 7 "Water clone jutsu". A clone of swordsman emeged from the water.

"What are you waiting for? Run. This mission was over the second I got caught. So leave now" screamed Kakashi.

Gohan stepped forward "We are not leaving without you"

"He seems so focused and calm" Kakashi thought.

"Zabuza-san, if you leave us now I will not hurt you. What you are doing is wrong. I don't want to hurt you" warned the half-saiyan knowing well that he could back his words.

"Nice joke kid. You don't really know who I am. I am the demon of the mist. I won't be scared by the threat of small boys like you" bragged the rogue ninja.

"You leave me no choice" replied Gohan and prepared himself. Zabuza's clone charged forwared towards Gohan and lifted his sword preparing for a straight down vertical cut. He was planning on cutting him in half.

"Run Gohan" cried Sakura, almost at verge of tears. She saw Gohan just standing his ground doing nothing.

Gohan waited for Zabusa. Zabusa swung his sword down with all his power, slicing Gohan in half (Gohan used his afterimage technique here).

"NOOO" sobbed everone from Team 7.

But suddenly, the Gohan who stood in front of the clone disappeared "But this isn't the substitution jutsu. There is no substitute here" thought the ninja. Gohan suddenly phased behind the clone and slashed his left hand across it making it disappear.

"What was that Gohan did there. Even my sharingan couldn't see it" thought Kakashi.

Turing towards the real Zabuza, Gohan said "This is your last chance. Leave now".

A/N: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger. But I wanted to put this chapter out and see the reactions. I am finally starting to get some ideas on how to proceed with the story.