Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of the characters, beside the main OC. All credit for creating this amazing series goes to Mr. Kishimoto
EDITED: 26th January 2013
Author's note: Thanks to everyone for reading. I'm really enjoying writing this fic and I'm happy you are also liking it! Now, to answer the points you have made:
1) Akimi's age: she is actually younger than Naruto. She said to the Hokage she was almost eleven, but her birthday is in early march and they are in October in that moment. That makes the difference between Naruto and Akimi around six months.
2) About using "" for speech and '' for thoughts, I know English people use them this way, but here in Italy is different, so I use this «» for speech instead. Does it bother you guys a lot? Cause change it now would it be a lot of work (I've already tons of pages written). [EDITED]
In this chapter, when secret sign language is used, it is delimited by 'Italics'
3) Kage Bunshin: I corrected the part about the simple technique being forbidden (only major reproduction is, because it's dangerous). I only stated the technique is extremely dangerous. (EDITED, CHAP 3) Of course, the Third can't use Kage Bunshin extensively because of his age, but using them in battle is different than using them for paperwork. He simply has to sit for doing that. (although is very boring)
4) EDITED: Kiba is not a clear head, I changed it. Poor Hana, I had forgotten about her! =)
5) Even if Minato and Kushina were named Uzumaki family anyhow, Naruto and Akimi can't know this, so they only assume...
I hope that clears it, if not write me back.
In these chapter there are the first serious fighting scenes. I hope I wrote them decently, I think they are among the most difficult ones to write.
C-RANK MISSION
Journey to wave country
The three genins met in front of the gates two hours later. Kakashi appeared with a puff of smoke, immediately after them.
"You are on time!" Naruto barked, pointing a finger to him. "Impostor." he accused.
"This is a mission, Naruto. I'm taking this seriously." the jōnin crossed his arms. "Show me your equipment."
Shino had a small rucksack, along with some scrolls (he was the teammate of two budding seal users/masters, he was bound to pick up something from them). Kakashi nodded at him in approval. "What about you two?"
"Camping equipment. Extra weapons. Extra sealing equipment. Food for one month. Basic first aid kit. Some books, scrolls and a shogi table." Akimi counted on her fingers.
"Same without the books and shogi table. But I do have a couple of scrolls with me." Naruto said.
"Ah, the pleasure of having seal users with us." Kakashi eye smiled. "Anything else?"
"We had clones check up information on Wave Country." Akimi said. "And Tazuna-san does seem a little shifty."
Kakashi nodded. Kaera had the ability to read people quite well, he knew. "Be extra alert. Do you remember the ANBU signals I taught you?"
He received three "Hai." In answer.
"Good job." the jōnin replied. "Now, this what we are going to do. Naruto, make a dozen of clones. Send them ahead. They are to dispel if they find anything. Kaera, also go with them. But stay close."
"Meow!" "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
"Good. Shino, I want also your Kikaichū to scout ahead. As for formation: Naruto you take point with Akimi. Shino stays beside the client. I'll take the rear."
"Hai, sensei!"
"Oh, there you are." Tazuna, looking even drunker than he was before, stumbled towards them. "Ready to go?"
"Maybe I should make a clone to carry him." Naruto observed. "Cause he doesn't look like he can walk for more than a couple of miles."
Kakashi sighed. "Naruto," he said, sighing, "I shall keep teaching you during this mission. And the first lesson I'm going to give you is this..." he soundly smacked him on the head. "Don't insult the client in front of them. It looks bad."
"Ouch."
The silver haired jōnin smiled. "And now let's go, team, Tazuna-san."
Team 7 and a nervous looking Tazuna were walking around the roads towards the south of Hi no Kuni. The sun was shining, the day was wonderful, and they were walking on a semi deserted road surrounded by high, trees.
"Have you been here before, 'mi-chan?"
Akimi smiled. "I was very little. We started with travelling in the South and I remember seeing the coast near Nami, but we never went there."
Naruto nodded. Then Akimi slowed down. "There is a puddle ahead. Genjutsu. Two chakra signatures." she signaled.
"Mah, the time is very pleasant isn't it?" said Kakashi in that moment. "We can keep going for a lot longer." They felt two Kikaichū land on their hand, showing them that Shino was on the plan as well.
"You are right, sensei!" exclaimed Naruto, getting the message. As the road turned, he saw the small puddle in the middle of the path. 'That's stupid. Even if we didn't have chakra sensors with us, it hasn't rained for days.'
As they passed past the puddle, nothing happened.
"They are going for Kakashi. He is the strongest." Akimi signaled again. "Be ready."
Tazuna passed the puddle as well, followed by Shino. But when Kakashi, who was lazily reading his porn, stepped near it, it happened.
Two men materialized from nothingness, their appearance quite dark and sinister. They wore dark clothes, with a Kiri headband, one decorated with two horns, the other with only one. They had on re-breather, which covered half of their faces, but showed their malicious dark eyes. They each were armed with a metal gauntlet, which could apparently release a chain shuriken. They evidently attacked in tandem.
They had managed to capture Kakashi in their chain, shredding him to pieces. The sight did make the genins freeze for a second.
"One down" one of the enemy shinobi said, the one with two horns. "Four to go."
They made to move towards the client and the frozen genins when Akimi screamed. "Protect the client!" before leaping towards them, her hands moving through hand seals. "Katon: Housenka no jutsu!"
A dozen of small fireballs burst out from her mouth, rushing towards the two men. They easily dodged them, but it was enough of a distraction.
"Fūton: Kaze Kunai!" Naruto screamed. Nothing seemed to happen.
The two nunkenins laughed at keeping their advantage, but stopped when an invisible blade cut their chain in two.
"Shino, retreat with the client. Akimi, support me. And now, let's get to business. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto screamed, making another dozen of blondes appear out of nowhere. "Attack!"
From his place on the tree, Kakashi looked on with approval at his genins. 'Akimi didn't even falter. She has already seen battles... she awoke her teammates, and then distracted the enemy. Naruto can obviously command very well in battlefield. Good, good. But the enemy is interested in Tazuna. Curious.'
The two nins growled. "You'll pay for that, brat!" the one with two horns screamed. He leaped upon the clones, shredding them to pieces with the claw connected to his gauntlet.
"Poison." the true Naruto said. "Be careful."
"Attack from distance." Akimi replied.
Naruto nodded. "Cover me."
Naruto jumped into the trees as the two Kiri ninja cut down the last of his clones.
"Looks like your friend escaped. Too afraid to face true ninja, eh?"
"More like he thought I could take you down myself." Akimi smirked. "Housenka no Jutsu!"
"Same trick again?" the one horned nin ducked the projectiles. "We are from Kiri. We use water, Konoha nin."
"Suiton: Mizurappa!" the two horned man screamed, after taking out a bottle of water. A small bullet of condensed water shot towards Akimi.
"Your mastery over water is imprecise!" the girl shouted. "Katon: Hi no Tate" The shield of fire was hot, blazing and raging. The water clashed over it, creating a dense steam. 'Your cover, Naruto-Kun.'
"Damn brat!" the two horned nin shouted. "Just wait until...!"
"Duck, idiot!" the other nunkenin exclaimed, seeing the shadowy shape of several shuriken coming towards them.
As they did so, two Naruto jumped behind their back.
"NOW, 'mi-chan."
"Fudou no Fūin." Akimi screamed. "Activate."
As the steam faded away, the two paralyzed nunkenins were revealed, a Naruto clone holding a blade at their throats. A cloud of Kikaichū was descending towards them. Kakashi appeared near him, eye smiling. "Well done, team." he then glared at the two nins. "The Demon Brothers, Gōzu and Meizu, two chūnin-level nunkenins from Kiri. Akimi-chan, do you have some chakra suppression seals with you?"
"Yep." the girl came nearer, giving the jōnin two scrolls. "They are too complex for me right now to draw them on simple tags."
"Don't worry. It's already impressive." Kakashi ruffled her hair and proceeded to put the seal on the two nins, activate it, and then bind them to a nearby tree. "Our patrol will find them. But I'm curious, who was your target?"
"As if we would tell you!" the two horned man shouted.
"You will never survive, anyway. Your next opponent will be beyond your level." the other said, more calmly.
"I didn't really want to do this, but... team, leave us."
But then, without any forewarning, the two dropped unconscious. Kakashi checked their pulse. "They are dead. Poison. Well, it looks like they did have some honor after all."
"They died to protect either their employer or their comrades. It's impressive, if not a little sad." Akimi said.
Naruto looked bothered, so the girl took one of his hand, squeezing. Shino was silent, shadowing a flabbergasted Tazuna.
"Mmm." Kakashi said. "Maybe Tazuna-san can enlighten us a little."
"W-What do you m-mean, Kakashi-san?"
Kakashi shrugged. "The two Chūnins were aiming at you. After all, nobody would send two simple chūnin after me and none of my genin has any reason to be hunted. You requested a C-rank mission, Tazuna-san, in which the greatest threat would be a group of bandits. You lied, since you have ninja after you. I advise you now to tell the truth."
Tazuna's shoulder fell. "Yes, yes I lied... and I think you deserve to hear my story. I want you to." he said. "But please, don't blame me. An extremely powerful and terrible man is after me."
"Who?" Kakashi asked, seriously.
"The business man and shipping magnate, Gatō."
"Gatō of the Gatō Shipping Company?" Kakashi asked. "He has business in all the South Seas! He is one of the richest men in this world..."
"His company is only a front. In reality he is a drug dealer and a smuggler. He uses his wealth to hire mercenaries and ninja, and then he takes over companies and even whole countries. He is a very nasty and cruel man. A year ago, he set his sights on my country. He quickly seized power using his money and violence. Now he has Nami in an iron grip! We are basically under an embargo from his ships. Our economy has quickly collapsed... as it is normal as our land is an island. We are extremely poor. We are starving... That is why I could pay only for a C-rank mission! That's all the money all of Wave Country had."
"You could have spoken with Hokage-sama. He is a fair and reasonable man. You could have worked out a deal." Akimi softly said.
"You don't understand, this bridge is our country's only hope! It's the only thing Gatō is afraid of. If I finish it, we will break his monopoly on our transport system. Trade could start again, I... I have to finish it."
"While your motives are commendable, Tazuna-san, you lied about the mission parameters. We are not bounded to help you anymore. We should go back to Konoha and leave you here. However, I'll let my team decide."
"Please, I have a daughter and a grandson! If I died they..."
"Don't." Naruto shouted. "Don't beg. You don't need to, dattebayo. When I became a ninja, it was so that my strength could be used to help others. This Gatō-teme won't know what it him. I say we continue. I'm not about to bolt from my first serious mission!"
Akimi nodded besides him. "You are a filthy drunk, Tazuna-san." she said. The bridge builder sweat dropped. "An extremely filthy drunk. But your courage and spirit is super inspiring. We continue."
"We continue" Shino said, also. He was not a man of many words.
Kakashi looked at three genins. "Are you sure?"
"Hai!"
"My sensei once told me that below courage there is nothing." Kakashi said. "And abadon our duty is not courageous. We continue."
Tazuna bowed to them. "Thank you, thank you!"
"You should not thank us yet." Kakashi darkly said. "Our next foe will be on another level. Be on your guard. We'll take up a new formation. I'll take point. Shino, you take rear. Naruto, Akimi, you are on the sides. Akimi-chan, when will you recover?"
"I'll be fine in a couple of hours."
"If we are attacked before that you are to guard the client while we fight. If our next enemy is too strong, I'll face them. Alone."
"Hai, sensei."
"Let's go."
January, 30th 214 – coast near Nami no Kuni.
There was a thick fog all around. You could barely see past your nose. The rest of the trip had been quiet. Kakashi, however, was not reassured. It would be too easy that way.
"This is technically a B rank mission now. Maybe even A-rank. Stay alert." he said, as they watched Tazuna climb on the small boat. The bridge builder had a friend who was willing to ship them to Nami, bypassing Gatō's patrols.
The genins sharply nodded. They had shown courage in accepting to continue the mission, but they were not so reckless to underestimate the situation. Well, maybe Naruto was – a little.
As they slowly proceeded through the mist, Naruto spoke up, quietly. "I hate this... the fog is making me angsty."
"It's a good thing there is so much. It makes us invisible." the boat owner said. "You don't want Gatō's thugs to find us."
"It's not his thugs that worry us." Akimi murmured. "But his hired missing nins."
"Don't worry, Akimi-chan." Kakashi said, even though the seriousness of the situation was displayed by the fact that he was not reading his porn. "I'll never let my comrades be killed."
The girl nodded at him, but she had a grim face. Naruto supposed she was thinking about her parents and granddad.
"Besides, whoever is going to attack will assume that I defeated the Demon Brothers. They will think of you as a bunch of harmless brats."
Naruto chuckled. "It will be their last mistake... whoa."
They could catch glimpse of massive pillars between the mist.
"This is very impressive, Tazuna-san. The bridge will be truly awe-inspiring once finished." Akimi said.
"Indeed." Shino added, which indicated he was as well surprised.
Tazuna nodded. "This bridge is the hope of Nami. It's the symbol of our dreams."
"Then we'll take extra caution in protecting it and you, Tazuna-san." Kakashi said.
Later, the five were slowly making their ways towards Tazuna's home, in the same compact formation they had formed after the Demon Brothers' attack. The mist had disappeared as they reached Nami and the day was sunny and warm. The road was near the cost, they could even see the ocean from time to time. The air was filled with the typical iodine smell of salt water.
They were approaching a big curve in the road, when Akimi frowned and Naruto suddenly launched a kunai on the side of the road, surprising even Kakashi.
The jōnin moved some brushes, discovering a white furred bunny. He then looked at Akimi, who was signaling casually. "Enemy ahead. High level of chakra."
Kakashi signaled back. "Let me engage. Protect Tazuna. Use clones. Play fool"
"Naruto, you baka!" Akimi shouted. "Why did you scare that poor bunny?"
Naruto made a great act to be sorry, hugging the poor animal and apologizing profusely to it. But Kakashi, who knew him well, noted that he used the small display to create some clones around them.
"Get down!" thundered then Kakashi, hearing at hissing sound, but the kids were already on it, Naruto dragging down Tazuna with him.
A colossal sword sliced the hair where their bodies were seconds before, before embedding its self halfway into a nearby tree. Then, in a blur of motion a tall figure appeared on the wide hilt. He was shirtless, showing off impressive muscles (which was a given, seeing he obviously hurled with ease that massive and heavy sword). He wore baggy grey pants and elbow warmers and his face was covered by bandages. His Hitai-ate was tied above his forehead, and the Kiri symbol was crossed, indicating that he was a missing nin.
"Momochi Zabuza, demon of the Hidden Mist." Kakashi said. "Looks like I really have to get serious."
"Sharingan no Kakashi, the copy nin." Zabuza replied. "No wonder the Demon Brothers were defeated. I'm here for the old man. Give him up and I will let you and your little brats go unharmed."
"I can't let you do that." Kakashi said softly. "Protect Tazuna and stay out of this." he ordered his genins, at the same time signaling them to intervene if there was an opening. He then proceeded to raise his Hitai-ate, revealing a Sharingan eye.
The three genin leaped near Tazuna, Naruto in front of him, Akimi on the right, Shino on his left.
"Using your ace in the sleeve so soon?" Zabuza mocked. "I'm honored. Let me do the same." and he disappeared in a blur, along with his sword. Kakashi found him immediately, followed by Akimi and Shino who had refined their sensor abilities.
Zabuza stood above the water, left arm lifted above his head, right hand forming an half ram seal. "Kirigakure no Jutsu!" A tick veil of mist surrounded them. It was very heavy and made it impossible to see a bloody thing.
"Be alert!" Kakashi thundered. "Zabuza is a master of silent killing. You won't hear him coming."
Then Zabuza unleashed his killing intent and it was harsh and cruel and overwhelmed the kids. No matter how stoic, Shino was still very inexperienced and even Naruto had problems to find his usual confidence under the pressure. Akimi panted a little, seeing flashes of the terrible nights her parents and her grandfather fought their nemesis.
'Kuroken's KI was worse than this.' she noted. 'I can defeat this.' She closed her eyes, as if meditating, trying to find a solution. 'A seal. He won't see me create seals. And he will go for Tazuna.'
"There are eight points that cause certain death: the larynx, liver, lungs, spine, carotid artery, collarbone, kidneys and heart. Which one should I choose?" Zabuza's voice rang out. It was impossible to discern from where he was speaking.
Shino and Naruto seemed paralyzed.
"A dog who barks is a dog that doesn't bite!" spat Akimi. "So stop your theatrics and do attack us, before I die out of sheer boredom."
Kakashi internally laughed. 'Looks like some of Naruto's personality has rubbed off Akimi, but she wouldn't be so reckless if she hadn't a plan...'
Zabuza laughed. "The little girl has spirit. I like her. I might even keep her... ehehehe." he said, from behind them. "Pity it's over!"
He appeared behind them, right in the middle of the defensive formation. Right where Akimi had made her immobilizing seal.
"Fudou no Fūin." she firmly stated. "Activate."
Zabuza stopped on his tracks, his sword lifted above his head. "Such powerful chakra. I can keep him imprisoned for only few seconds." It was enough. Naruto shoved a kunai in his stomach. A cold liquid covered him.
"Mizu Bunshin!" exclaimed Akimi, feeling another attack come. The great cleavage sword was stopped by Kakashi, who appeared in a blur.
"Impressive your genins managed to kill one of my clones. They do have a tenth of my strength."
"They are fine kids." Kakashi said with pride, ducking Zabuza's massive sword as it attempted to cut his head off. "I won't let you touch them."
"I'd like to see you do that." Zabuza jumped back and disappeared in the mist again.
By then, Naruto had regained his bearings. "Fūton: Daitoppa!" he overpowered the jutsu.
The massive burst of wind blew out the mist, leaving a flabbergasted Zabuza. As soon as the Kiri nin was visible again, Kakashi leaped towards him.
"Thinking about it, they do not need babysitting." Kakashi exclaimed, trying to stab him with a kunai.
Zabuza dodged and managed to kick the jōnin in the guts, sending him towards the lake. He jumped after him. Kakashi tried to surface. 'What's this? Why does the water feel so heavy, NO!'
"We'll test your theory, Kakashi!" Zabuza laughed maniacally. "Suiro no Jutsu!"
A dome of water appeared around the jōnin, imprisoning him. However, Zabuza had to hold him in place with both his hands extended. "Let's see how they fare against ten of my clones."
As he spoke ten clones formed from the water, slowly marching towards the three genins, as if mocking them.
"What's the plan?" asked Naruto.
Akimi was thinking. Using fire would only be counterproductive in such a climate. 'Damn, I need other elemental jutsu.' A seal? She could not fool Zabuza twice and they lost the cover of mist. Shuriken clones... possibly. And the Kikaichū. They were a good option. Zabuza didn't know to watch out for bugs. She signaled Shino: 'Sneak bugs on him. Steal chakra.' and to Naruto. 'Buy time.'
"Let's show this fucker what we can do." she said instead. "Shino, protect the client. 'to-kun, let's go wild."
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, making at least fifty clones appear. "Slow them down, guys!"
Zabuza was impressed, but didn't show it. "You think you are ninja, do you? You think you are so good... I see how you show your Hitai-ate with pride, brats. To be true shinobi, you need to survive battles and kill. Ahahahah by the time I was your age, blood soaked my hands already." he wanted to tell his story to intimidated them, but he simply irked Akimi.
"Shut up, fucker. If I wanted to have a conversation I would go to a bar, not to a battlefield." Akimi shouted back. "And what tells you that my hands aren't strained as well? I've met death a long time ago!" she threw a dozen of shuriken at the real one, making one clone intervene to stop them. The clone's eyes widened when he heard a hissing sound. Boom.
'She hid explosive tags with genjutsu!' Zabuza realized, as his clone was destroyed. 'I gotta stop underestimating this genin.'
Kakashi simply smirked in his prison, seeing a black spot on Zabuza hands.
As soon as the explosion detonated, the Shadows Clones leaped. Zabuza was far more skilled that them and he had a huge sword, but Naruto had numbers and wind manipulation on his side. Eventually, the battle royal between clones finished, revealing three Zabuza standing.
"Impressive." the real one said. "But not impressive enough."
"Think it's time to bring out the big guns." Akimi said. "'to-kun, you ready?"
"I was born ready."
Akimi took a scroll from her boot. "Kai." she said, making a medium sized and foldable Fūma Shuriken appear. "Take this!" and she hurled it with unexpected strength and speed.
"Ahaha, you think a Shuriken is enough to stop my clones? You are deluded!"
"And you bask too much in your superiority! Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Fūton: Reppūshō!"
Zabuza's eyes widened again, seeing the Fūma Shuriken duplicate... into at least forty and becoming enhanced by Wind chakra. He immediately had the three clones use their swords as shields, rotating them around.
What he didn't expect was to see another horde of Naruto's jumping after the projectiles. "Damn brats!" Some creepy sounds came, followed by one of the Zabuza jumping back and the other two being sliced by Naruto's wind blades.
The water clone started to make hand signs.
"'to-kun, I'll need lots of fuel."
"Bank on it." Naruto crossed his fingers and created one clone. Shino moved behind them, dragging a scared Tazuna with him.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" A very big dragon head made of water raised and
"Oh, shit!" Akimi exclaimed. "Katon: Hi no Tate!"
"Fūton: Daitoppa!" screamed Naruto and his clone.
"Scatter!" exclaimed Akimi. "It will only slow it down!"
Naruto grabbed Tazuna and jumped on the trees, followed suit by Shino and Akimi.
Luckily, the water clones couldn't use the same amount power of the real one, or things would have been worse, much worse. The shield of fire was indeed obliterated, even though it was powered by two wind jutsu. It did buy enough time for the three genins to escape.
From the threes, Akimi signaled Shino to prepare and launch a final attack to Zabuza. Naruto, in the meantime, passed her two Fūma Shuriken having care not to be seen by their foe.
Zabuza smirked. "You are good, little brats, I'll give you that!"
"Enough." Akimi screamed, jumping down. Naruto followed her. "Let's finish this." she produced another Fūma Shuriken, throwing it at the clone.
"Only one this time? You look exhausted girl!"
"Oh, I think it will be sufficient."
As the water clone stopped the shuriken with ease, he realized there was a second one under it, going towards the original.
'A Kage Shuriken no Jutsu, clever!' "You won't fool me!" Zabuza shouted. But then, to his surprise the two Shuriken transformed in two Naruto.
One blonde easily destroyed the clone while the other hurled two kunai at the real one. Zabuza cursed, knowing he needed to get out of the way. He did so, grudgingly jumping back and setting Kakashi free. But it wasn't over.
A black swarm descended on him.
"What the fuck?" he exclaimed, trying to shove the bugs off. "They are draining my chakra!" he summoned some waves of water to free himself of Kikaichū, but between them and the fight, he was quite tired.
Kakashi smirked. "You made the mistake of underestimate my genin. Alone they are strong, but together they are lethal! And now you face me... and I shall not fall for the same trick twice."
"We'll see." Zabuza shouted, making hand seals.
Kakashi smirked, copying him without problem thanks to the Sharingan.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!"
This time, despite his chakra loss, Zabuza's dragon was much bigger and imposing. But Kakashi had shouted the name of the technique as well. The two twin dragons raised and clashed, hurling water around, just as Zabuza rushed forwards with his sword and Kakashi with a kunai.
The two nins met where the dragons had, even before all the water fell down.
'Something weird is going on... He executed the technique at the same time as me!' Zabuza thought, jumping back. Kakashi did the same without hesitation. Zabuza tried to get at Kakashi's back, but the masked jōnin mirrored him step by step. Zabuza raised his left arm, only to be copied again by Kakashi. He tested it again by lowering his hand, and he saw his foe imitating it with perfect timing. 'My movements, it's like he is flawlessly...'
"Predicting them." Kakashi said, as if completing his thoughts.
'Did he read my mind?' Zabuza thought, looking at the twirling Sharingan of Kakashi. 'Damn, he has...'
"... such an annoying eye, he is fucking pissing me off. Right?" Kakashi smirked.
"All you are doing is copying me —"
"You can't beat me, you monkey bastard." Kakashi finished once again.
Zabuza was easily infuriated by the other nin's soft mockery. His very blood was boiling. 'First his genins, now him!' "I'll make sure you'll never open that mouth again!" he shouted, going through hand seals.
This time, though, Kakashi used a small hypnotic suggestion to make Zabuza think he saw a phantom projection of himself behind the copy nin. That made him falter, allowing Kakashi to finish before him. "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!"
A massive wave of water rose, before crushing down towards Zabuza. As the Demon of the Mist was twirled around, he thought 'Why? Why couldn't I keep up?', then he was hurled violently to the ground. Before he could regain his bearings, kunai embedded themselves in his arms and legs, blocking him.
"How? Can you read the future?"
"Hai." Kakashi said, slowly approaching him "In yours I see death." And he moved a kunai down to slit his throat.
Just then, two senbon flew past him and pierced Zabuza's throat. His head fell down.
"What the hell?" Naruto asked, drawing a kunai as well. Shino and Akimi looked alert, before both looking at a tree on the other side of the lake.
"You are right, he is dead." A voice said from that very direction. A feminine looking figure jumped down. It was hard to understand if he was male or female, but Kakashi thought it was the former. He wore a white mask with the symbol of Kiri on the forehead and a small wave in place of the mouth. He was clad a striped moss-green turtle neck and shin-length pants in the same color, covered by a blue-green short kimono. He had pale white skin and long black hair that was tied up in a white bun save for two strips that framed his face. He looked very young as well.
Kakashi kneeled down and checked Zabuza's pulse. He then fell back in step, getting nearer his team.
"I've hunted Momochi for a very long time." the nin said. "Thank you for slowing him down and giving me a chance to kill him."
"Who are you, shinobi-san?" asked Akimi, approaching them. Her teammates and Tazuna followed suit.
"A hunter-nin from Kiri, am I right?" Kakashi lazily said.
"Correct. Very impressive." he answered.
"How is it possible?" Tazuna asked. "Someone as strong as Zabuza killed by one not older than you."
"Age doesn't mean anything in the shinobi world." lectured Kakashi. "There are shinobi younger than me and stronger than me. Some are probably in front of my very eyes, if they keep growing at this rate." he looked at the hunter nin.
"Thank you for your assistance." the masked hunter nin said. "Farewell." and he disappeared with a small wave of water.
"Mizu Sunshin. How impressive." Akimi said. "You got his chakra signature, Kaera-chan?"
"Meow." the small tiger jumped down from a nearby tree. "Try to find them. Be back in no later than two days."
Kakashi looked at her. "Explain." He felt tired.
"Zabuza wasn't dead. His chakra was still there, if not very weak. The hunter nin was a fake. Besides, he should have burned the body right away. You taught us hunter nin only need to bring back the head as a proof, remember...Oh, here, Kaka-sensei." she gave him a pill. "For your exhaustion."
"Thank you. One of your famous pills, eh?" Kakashi was surprised to feel the exhaustion wash off, but quietly. It wasn't like the rush of energy a soldier pill gave.
"You need to take it easy, anyway." Akimi said. "It only stops you from fainting."
"What do you mean Zabuza isn't dead?" Tazuna asked, worried.
"We'll discuss it later." Kakashi said. "We need to reach your house as soon as possible."
"I'll lead the way."
Half an hour later they arrived on a house that looked like it was surrounded by a moat. It was on a small island in one of the many bays on the coast.
Akimi knocked at the door. A woman in her mid-twenties perked a little and, seeing Tazuna, rushed out. "Father! Are you all right?"
She was of average height, with long black hair, and looked eaten with worry – and perhaps a little thin as well. After all Tazuna said the people of Nami was slowly starving.
"I am. Thanks to these extremely talented shinobi." Tazuna indicated team 7. "This is my daughter, Tsunami."
"Nice to meet you, Tsunami-san." Kakashi eye smiled. "May I ask if there is a place where we can rest? I think I will need a bed very soon."
Tsunami nodded at once. "Follow me."
A few moments later, as Akimi helped Kakashi settle down in the guest room and fussed over him a little. (She did have some mother hen tendencies, if she got attached). Eventually the jōnin brushed her off and told them to rest as well.
"Tomorrow we train." he said. "The fake hunter nin put Zabuza in a death-like state. Senbon are lethal only if they hit some very critical spots. They require a very high accuracy to be useful as a weapon. I think he pierced a certain point in the neck that made Zabuza look dead, which is why I didn't hear his heartbeat. It makes the body shut down."
"It sounds very risky."
"Indeed, Akimi-chan." Kakashi yawned. "Between that and his chakra exhaustion, plus the wounds I gave him, it will be at least a week before he recovers."
"He will come back" Shino said, curtly.
"That's what I fear." Kakashi said.
Akimi looked pensive. "We should take out Gatō. He is the real threat to this country"
"This is not an assassination mission, Akimi." Kakashi said sternly. "We should not overstep our boundaries."
"We are not. Our mission is to protect the bridge builder. If we cut off the head, the rest of the monster will be powerless. If we don't, Gatō could send other missing nins. He has the money to do so."
Kakashi sighed. "For now, we rest. We'll discuss this further tomorrow." he said. "But, Akimi, you should not talk so lightly of killing someone."
"Yeah, someone who has doomed a whole country for his own greed. He will be such a loss to humanity." Akimi sarcastically said.
"'mi-chan, sensei is right." Naruto intervened. "Gatō may not be... very human, but you can't pass judgment on him."
Akimi's shoulder fell. "I'm sorry, you are right."
"His power is in his money. Without it he is harmless." Shino said.
"So we could steal that instead?" Akimi said. "Could work."
"Nah, men like him would never keep all his money in one place. Even if we found a hideout, he'll have many others." Kakashi said. "For now, we can only focus on protecting the bridge. But first, we rest."
January, 31st 214
The next day, Kakashi found himself feeling quite fine, instead of the exhaustion he would expect. Hence, he decided to leave a clone with his students and go guard Tazuna at the bridge.
Shino worked on mastering the last jutsu his father taught him – the Mushi Bunshin. Having a teammate who can pop solid clones out of nowhere continually kind of made him desire to be able to use one as well. Kakashi would later help him to further improve his taijutsu.
In the meantime the jōnin asked Naruto and Akimi if there was something they would like to learn from him.
"I like using Fūma Shuriken." Akimi said. "But is there a way to further improve control of them?"
"Strings, I would say." Kakashi said. "I'm sure you can figure out something, if not, I'll help you in few days. Anything else?"
"I would like to learn some other elemental jutsu, besides Katon. It's kind of my expertise, but here... it's very difficult to use effectively. We are surrounded by water. I always knew it could become a weakness, but since this was supposed to be a C-rank mission..."
"You didn't worry about it. So you want to learn some Doton jutsu?"
"Yes. A defensive and a supplementary Jutsu... I was thinking of the one you used during the bell test maybe?"
Kakashi nodded. "It will be difficult. But I'm sure you can pull it off. Naruto?"
"Maybe I can learn one Water jutsu. I hear Suiton works well with Fūton, in this environment would be very useful. And Kenjutsu."
"Learning Kenjutsu would require too much time, even with your clones. We can start after the mission. We shall focus in teaching you some other elemental jutsu. Suiton, yes... and Katon as well. With your clones you can use collaboration jutsu by yourself combining these elements."
"I know Katon. I've lived with Akimi-chan for two years, sensei."
Kakashi chuckled. "Of course. I should have guessed that. Very well, both of you, we shall start with something simple. Akimi, did you create any clones?"
"Yep. I set my alarm earlier so they would be charged in time for training. Come out."
Eight Akimi clones joined them.
"Good. Now, this trick will teach you how a Doton jutsu feels. You need to hide ropes under the soil. You should get it down fairly quickly. Then, there is Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu. It's the same principles, only it is you who goes underground. It requires the following handseals..."
Kaera found the chakra of the fake hunter nin the morning after she started the hunt. She enjoyed the rush and adrenaline from the chase. They were in a conical house on a tree.
The tiger was appraising it, trying to decide which was the best way to get in and do some recon, when she felt the three men coming. She immediately felt the malice coming from them, especially the short one in the middle, who had on an elegant black suit. The other two were armed and she thought they looked like those thugs that had chased her and nee-chan all those years ago. They probably were rouge samurai.
They were heading towards the house. Kaera decided she needed to see what this was all about.
Zabuza laid in a bed, the "hunter nin" sat beside him.
"So even you have come back defeated." the short man derisively said. The other two were flanking him, probably bodyguards. They didn't look like much, Kaera though. "And you have the courage to come back. Mah, you Kirikagure shinobi really suck. And you call yourself a demon...! Don't make me laugh."
The two bodyguards made to draw their swords. The fake hunter nin tensed. The short man moved forward, stopping his thugs with a hand. "Wait a second. Why are so quiet, uh? Say something already!" he made to touch Zabuza, but was stopped by the fake hunter nin.
The movement had been very quick, Kaera noted. "Don't touch Zabuza-sama with your filthy hands." was the cold command, as he exerted enough pressure to almost break the small man's wrist.
As the two bodyguards were about to draw their swords, the hunter nin disappeared in another burst of speed. The nin took the thug's swords and brought them to their neck, without them even realizing it.
Very fast. Kaera noted. Her nee-chan and nii-chan would probably need to take off their weights.
"You shouldn't try anything stupid. I'm quite angry right now." the hunter nin said, sternly, tossing the weapons aside.
"One more time! You have one more time. If you fail, you won't be welcome here any longer!" the short man shouted, running away. He was clutching his wrist.
"Haku, you didn't have to." Zabuza said, showing he had a kunai hidden under his bandages.
"I know, Zabuza-sama." Haku said with a sweet smile. He looked like a female, but he smelled male, Kaera noted. "But it still too early to kill, Gatō... we may draw the true hunter nin attention. We must resist."
"You are right." Zabuza sighed.
Kaera closed her eyes, trying to focus on the connection with her nee-chan. She wanted new orders. It didn't work. They were too far. The maximum radius had been only a couple of miles. They needed to work on that. Kaera frowned.
She would wait a little while before heading back.
That night, as Akimi and Naruto helped Tsunami preparing dinner, the true Kakashi and Tazuna returned from the bridge construction site. Shino was resting in the sitting room, quietly reading a scroll his father had left him.
"How did it go, Tou-san?" Tsunami asked.
"Well. We didn't get any trouble." Tazuna smiled. "I think we may finish up in a couple of weeks."
"I'm glad to hear this." his daughter replied. "I'm so worried about you."
"Grandfather!" a small voice shouted, as a little kid rushed into the room from the upper floor. "You are back!"
"Ah, Inari." the old man smiled, hugging the kid. "You didn't meet the ninja who escorted me back yet. I owe them my life. They are extremely strong, you know."
The child looked at them strangely. It was almost a glare.
"Inari, say hello to them." Tsunami said, putting her hand on her hips in a threatening manner.
"But Kaa-chan, they are going to die!" Inari stated as a matter of a fact. "Nobody can win against Gatō, he is too strong!"
"Nani?!" Naruto shouted. "Listen here, brat, I don't care about your whining, but know this: I am Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage of Konoha... and if that Gatō gets in my way I will defeat him a thousand times!"
"Baka! You just sound like you want to be a hero... it is so stupid." the kid shouted back. "Heroes don't exist, you are wasting your time!"
"Why, you..."
"Dinner is ready, mina-san." Akimi cut the blonde off, telling him to stop with her gaze. "Help me carrying the dishes, 'to-kun."
Naruto scoffed but did as asked. Inari looked like he was about to go outside, but his mother quickly ordered him to sit down and eat.
'Strange.' Akimi thought.
Naruto wanted to tell off the kid, but when he tried to later that night, he discovered him crying in his room, whispering 'Tou-chan.' Touched, he decided to leave. That and he didn't want Akimi to kick his ass for being insensitive. Akimi had a soft spot for kids...
February, 1st 214
On the second day, Naruto left his clones training and accompanied Tazuna to allow Kakashi to better train Akimi and Shino. He was fine practicing his Suiton jutsu with them.
There, he learned how bad things were.
"May have a word with you, Tazuna?" one of the workers asked.
"Yes, Giichi?"
"I've been thinking about it: I am quitting the construction, I am sorry."
Tazuna looked taken aback. "Why so suddenly? Not you too..."
"I've known you for a long time, my old friend. But if I keep doing this, if I get too involved Gatō will come after me and my family as well..." the man sighed. "You should quit as well, if you die everything will lose meaning."
"I can't do that." Tazuna simply said. "This bridge is our hope." and he walked away. "It's lunch time."
"But..."
"Giichi, you don't have to come anymore." Tazuna fixed his yellow protective helmet.
Naruto really admired the man. He had an impressive courage and will power, with the only downside of enjoying a little too much his sake, but who could really blame him?
"Need a hand, old man?" he asked, shouting.
Tazuna looked at him. "You have to guard me."
"I can create a couple of clones for ya'." Naruto shrugged. "Besides, I really doubt they'll attack us today. If not, sensei would be here instead. Or he would have all of us here."
"Sure thing, then. Go ahead."
"Just tell them what to do." Naruto crossed his fingers. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
Later that day, Akimi joined them. She had run low on chakra, so she had her clones meditate before dispelling. She went there to ask Naruto if he wanted go train with Kakashi, but the blonde shrugged, saying his clones were enough.
Akimi smiled at the clones working with Tazuna and the others, and then played a game of shoji with her teammate.
"You fine, 'mi-chan?"
"I'm afraid, 'to-kun." Akimi sighed. "It has been a long time since I felt such rage... maybe when I discovered about your..." she stopped. "But it was easy to contain it. I love Konoha dearly now and even if I wish to beat some sense into them, I would never... but this Gatō...!" she spat the name.
"You are usually so collected... why does he enrage you so much?"
"Fire is passion. I told you it's one of the most dichotomous elements. Fire destroys, fire cleanses. Fire burns, fire comforts and warms. It's easy to fall to anger... I was taught since I was little to fight injustice. Gatō is... he is the embodiment of all I hate."
"I don't want you to lose yourself in your rage, 'mi-chan. What if you then regret it?"
She nodded. "I'll defend this bridge and the hope it stands for. I will not go on a rampage, I promise. Oh, look. Check."
"I hate you." Naruto exclaimed. She blew a raspberry at him.
Tazuna approached them after a while. "For today, we are finished. I need to stop in town to buy supplies."
As they entered the small town, Naruto and Akimi felt depressed. It was indeed a very poor and miserable sight. The people looked scared and starved. There were children begging on the street and you could literally feel the tension and fear in the air.
They entered a small shop. "Welcome." the owner saluted.
Naruto and Akimi noted there was shortage of food in the place and the prices were very high.
"Tazuna-san, allow me to pay for our rations." the girl said.
"I can't do that, Akimi. You are already helping me despite my lies. It's more than enough."
"Tazuna-san, I'm the last of an old clan. I've way too much money, anyway."
Tazuna just smiled. "Then help the people in town. I can fend for myself."
Akimi nodded. "Yes." she said. She waited until the bridge builder finished tucking all his supplies in his rucksack, and then neared the clerk. "Can you distribute food to people out there, owner-san?"
"I could. But it would be expansive."
Akimi shrugged. "How much?"
"200,000 ryo."
"Here." the girl said, unsealing a scroll. "But do use them for helping the town. If not I'll shove my shurikens up into your rear, owner-san." she smiled sweetly at him.
The man was looking at the amount of money with bulging eyes. "H-H-Hai!"
"Good luck, then." Akimi bowed and exited.
Tazuna was looking at her strangely. "That was..."
"Akimi-chan is a softie." Naruto smiled. "She won't stand for injustice."
As they were nearing the outskirts of the town, Naruto was tugged by a small girl, who looked at him with pleading eyes and holding her hands out.
"Stop, Tazuna-san." Akimi said.
Naruto kneeled in front of the girl. "Right, why don't you go and call your friends?"
She nodded and ran away.
"I've never been happier you are so paranoid, 'mi-chan." the boy said, producing two scrolls. "I'll give them all I have."
"Yeah." Akimi said. "We'll give them mine in a few days."
And under Tazuna's appalled expression, the two genins proceeded to unseal tons of food for the starved children.
"That Gatō better keep out of my bloody way." she said, while they resumed walking. Her eyes were golden from rage, her fist blazing. Naruto was grim as well.
Tazuna looked at them more and more puzzled. 'These two... they will go far.'
That night, Tazuna told them the story of Kaiza.
For all her politeness, Akimi was very curious. So she asked them about the photos around the house, which were tore to hide the face of someone. Inari, Tazuna's grandson, had been staring at them during dinner. The small kid wasn't happy to see the ninja and had a pessimistic attitude. He was hopeless.
"He was my husband." Tsunami said.
"The Hero of the Wave. Kaiza" Tazuna solemnly declared, making Inari bolt from his seat.
"Tou-san!" Tsunami berated. "You know not to say his name in front of Inari."
"What's the story behind this?" Kakashi softly asked.
He told them of how Kaiza had arrived in their lives suddenly, saving Inari from some bullies. Kaiza taught the kid courage and the power of dreams. He married Tsunami and became Inari's father. "We had some flooding problems, a few years back, and the gates were opened. We were going to be submerged... but Kaiza took some rope, swam in the rapids and managed to survive, saving all of us. He became our hero. We couldn't have been prouder. He was the only one to really try and stand up to Gatō."
"What happened?" Akimi asked.
"He was put to death in front of everyone." Tazuna gravely said. "Gatō's thugs beat him to death and then tied him to a cross. As Gatō told everyone Kaiza's crime of being a terrorist against the company, he was executed. Inari watched, crying his father's name. Since then, he changed. He lost hope, as has everyone else. He doesn't believe in heroes anymore."
Naruto rose up, making his chair screech.
"Where are you going?" Kakashi asked.
"I need to work some steam off." Naruto said. "And someone needs to see that heroes still exist."
Akimi smiled. "Pity I don't have his stamina." she stopped, her eyes void for a second.
"Akimi-chan?" Kakashi asked.
"Kaera is back. She found them."
"Has she any intel?"
"The hunter nin is a male. Name's Haku. He is very fast and probably strong as well. He seems to be very attached to Zabuza. Gatō's visited them and gave an ultimatum."
"We'll work on your speed then and how to face someone who is quicker." Kakashi said. "Good work. Tell Kaera-chan to rest now."
February, 2nd 214
Naruto was sleeping soundly in a devastated clearing. He had stayed up well into the night, with clones hurling wind and water jutsu around and him working out relentlessly. Eventually he had collapsed and the mental overload knocked him up.
A very pretty figure in a kimono shook him gently. Naruto bolted awake, hurling a kunai in the general direction he sensed another presence at.
As his daze wore off, he saw the girl, or so he thought. 'She is pretty. Not as much as 'mi-chan, but... something is off. She ducked my kunai' "What are you doing here?" he asked. "And sorry for my reaction."
"I'm sorry as well for waking you up, but I didn't want you to catch a cold." the "girl" replied, with a sweet voice. "You are a shinobi, right?"
"How can you say?" Naruto asked, frowning.
"Your Hitai-ate."
'Of course.' "What's your name?" he asked instead. "And are you a girl or a boy?"
"A boy. Name's Haku." he said, giggling.
'Oh, thank Kami I cleared this up. It could have led to some harsh misunderstanding.'
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. And what are you doing here, Haku? Place is dangerous, as I heard."
"I'm collecting medicinal herbs for my friend who is hurt. He is very precious to me."
"I'll help you then." Naruto said.
While they picked up the herbs, Haku asked: "Why were you here, Naruto-san?"
The blonde scratched his head. "I was training. I need to become stronger."
"Why? You look strong already."
"Not enough. I want to show the people of this place that heroes still exist. I want to protect others... and 'mi-chan."
"'mi-chan?"
"She is my best friend. She is... more like family." Naruto said. "I'd hate to see her hurt. But she is strong as well. Maybe stronger than me..."
Haku smiled sadly at him. "When a person has someone precious they want to protect, that's when they become truly strong."
Naruto thought about it. "You are right."
"You'll go far, Naruto-san. Thanks for your help." and the boy got up and left.
"Mah, that was strange." Naruto scratched his head. "Maybe I did go overboard yesterday, I do feel like shit."
"What did I tell you about cursing?" a clear voice asked.
Naruto raised his head, seeing Akimi on a branch, leaning against the trunk.
"'mi-chan? How long have you been there?"
"Mmm... you are way stronger than me, 'to-kun." she said, jumping down. She gave him a pill. "I came here as soon as Kaera felt Haku's chakra signature. He is the fake hunter-nin."
"Really? He didn't look evil." Naruto said, eating the pill.
"Not at all. He has a kind heart." Akimi frowned. "But he is loyal to Zabuza."
"What info do you have about him?" Naruto said, smiling at her. 'Yeah, 'mi-chan is the prettiest ever.'
"Astonishing speed. Good with senbon. He is likely to have good medicinal knowledge. Water user. Probably around low-jōnin level."
Naruto nodded. "I'll increase the weights."
"You," Akimi said, pointing a finger at him, "are going to rest now. Then, you are watching Tazuna again. And don't do more than one hundred clones for training. Or I'll kick your ass. Come on, let's go." she gave him a hand up.
February, 8th 214
Team 7 had been training for a week. Kakashi taught them the Sunshin that day, warning them not to use it in direct combat. It was a great technique to cover close to mid distances when in haste, though.
They reckoned Zabuza would be likely to make his move soon, since the herbs Haku collected would have boosted his recovery. They were all going to the bridge next day. Akimi said it would be wise to leave some clones to protect Tsunami and Inari. Kakashi nodded.
"Shino, you will protect Tazuna and use your Kikaichū to support Naruto and Akimi. Of course, you lost the element of surprise, but your insects can still be sneaky."
"They can." he said, with a small smirk.
"Akimi, Naruto, you will take Haku. Be careful. Do not hesitate do take off your weights. I'll take Zabuza."
"Be careful as well, sensei. Your Sharingan lost the element of surprise too. I doubt Zabuza will use ninjutsu this time." Akimi said. "I think that..."
"Why do you try so hard?" Inari shouted, interrupting them. "No matter how much you train, how hard you try, you are still no match to Gatō's men! He will kill you. No matter what, the weak will always been killed by the strong."
"I'm glad I'm not weak then." Naruto exclaimed. "I'm not like you!"
"I would hate to be like you! You came here and want to help us, as if I knew what we are going through! You don't know anything about this country, you don't know anything about me! You always act so cheerfully, you don't know a thing about suffering!"
"SHUT UP, BRAT!" Naruto bellowed. "Stop acting like your life is such a tragedy! You still have a home, food and most importantly a mother and a grandfather who love you! I had no one up until I was eleven, I had to fend for myself, with no friends or recognition. I grew up alone, ignored! Don't act like you are the only one who has suffered: there are many people out there who suffered more than me and you put together: Akimi-chan here has lost all her family! She saw them die for kami's sake! But she did not lose hope. That's why we are strong. We keep going. You are a cry baby who only complains and sniffs all day, doing exactly what your father wouldn't want you to do! But at least you did have a father! You are only a WEAK COWARD!" he stopped. "I need some fresh air." And he used Sunshin to disappear with a swirl of leafs.
Inari ran out of the room, crying.
Akimi had closed her eyes, her face strained. Kakashi noticed the flames that had briefly surrounded her clenched fist.
"Was what he said true?" Tsunami asked.
"Every word." Akimi rose. "I need to make sure he doesn't do something stupid."
"You should let him cool off his..."
"Hatake-sensei." the girl hissed. "I hate to sound so conceited, but I am the one who knows Naruto best. Moreover, I really don't think that me killing the grandson of our client would do us any good. Especially since he is a seven year old child. Stupid and annoying, yes... but still." she disappeared with a burst of flames.
"Elemental Sunshin. How classy." Kakashi said.
Shino looked at his sensei. "How many secrets do they have? I never knew Naruto had it so bad."
Kakashi looked sad. "I'm not sure. We can only wait for them to open up to us. But at least they have each other." he got up. "I'll go talk to Inari."
The jōnin found the child sitting on a small pier which gave way to the ocean, his feet hanging on the edge.
"Can I join you?"
Inari looked blankly at him, before moving a little to make room for Kakashi to sit.
"Naruto didn't want to harm you with his words. He is short tempered and doesn't like people who feel sorry with themselves. He is not one to give up and sulk."
"..."
"Besides, your words offended Akimi. She has a very sorrowful past. And Naruto is very protective of her." Kakashi stopped. "Your grandfather told us about your Tou-san. Like you, Naruto grew up without a father – worse, he doesn't even know what a parent is. He is an orphan, for many years hadn't any friends... and for some twisted reasons the majority of the village hates him. He has had worse than even I can imagine."
"He was telling the truth? He is always so happy..."
"He is very strong, Inari. I've never seen him grow sulky or weak. And now he has Akimi to help him. He hides his pain behind a happy mask, but he never gives up. Every time he fell, every time he failed, he kept trying. He never cries. He never complains. He won't give up on his dreams. Naruto can understand you better than anyone." Kakashi smiled.
"Why did he scream at me, then?"
"I told you, he wanted to protect Akimi. She was probably going to lose control and do something she would then regret. Besides, I think Naruto wants you to change. Because deep down he cares for you." Kakashi rose. "I'll let you think about all of this."
"Fūton: Namikadou" Naruto screamed, hurling a devastating whirlwind around.
"Ah, the jutsu is coming down nicely." Akimi said, appearing on a tree. "But it still needs to be refined."
"I can use it in battle, that's the important thing. What about you? Will you start with B-rank jutsu anytime soon?"
"Not on this mission." Akimi jumped down near him. "Want to try together?"
"You bet."
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"
"Fūton: Namikadou!" Naruto screamed. "Oh, shit." The whole clearing was obliterated, along with several trees. The flames rose up, illuminating the two genins.
"Devastating." Akimi said. "It combines the rotating power of wind with the heating power of fire. Magnificent."
"I feel better." Naruto laughed. "Nothing better than destroying something to cool rage off."
Akimi laughed with him. "Stupid brats and their whining."
"I'm fond of him." Naruto said. "I can sympathize with his sorrow, but I hate his attitude."
"Ditto." Akimi kicked the ground. "We should go to sleep. We need to kick some ass tomorrow."
"You'll be fine? I didn't want to shout about your parents at the world."
"Mah, Kakashi wanted to question me since I screamed at Zabuza about my acquaintance with death. I may tell him some of the story."
Naruto put a hand on her shoulder. "I hate to see you sad."
"You always make it better, 'to-kun." Akimi moved and leaned her head on his shoulder. He hugged her and they stayed like that for a very long time, as if nothing else mattered, as if they didn't have to face a potential deadly fight the next day.
JUTSU NOTES
Katon: Housenka no jutsu [Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique]: C rank, offensive, short range, it allows the user to unleash a small volley of fireballs, that can be controlled with chakra.
Fūton: Kaze Kunai: [Wind Release: Wind Kunai] D rank, offensive, medium-long range, it creates a small but quick knife made of sharp wind, the attack results almost invisible, making it very difficult to avoid it.
Kirikagure no Jutsu: [Hiding in the Mist Technique] C rank, supplementary, it creates a tick mist all around the user and the enemies as a cover.
Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu [Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique]: B rank, offensive, medium-long range, it shapes water in a huge dragon, that crash upon the opponent with a great physical force.
Kage Shuriken no Jutsu [Shadow Shuriken Technique]: D rank, supplementary-offensive, it allows the user to hide a second Fūma shuriken in the shadow of the first.
Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu [Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique] A rank, offensive, medium-long range, it creates a huge wave of water that comes crashing down towards the opponent, much like a waterfall
Mushi Bunshin no Jutsu[Insect Clone Technique]: C rank, supplementary, the Aburame clan's member can use their Kikaichū to create a solid replication of themselves.