*click* "Ok. Are you in position?"
*click* "Sakura here. I'm at point C."
*click* "Kanoko, point B."
*click* "Uzumaki Naruto, at position A. Believe it!"
*click* "Go slow Naruto…"
Kanoko was crouching behind a tree; her chakra reaching out to identify the target.
*click* "Ok, squad 7-"
Kanoko felt the target take off at an exceptional rate towards Naruto.
*click* "Target has moved!" Kanoko barked out over the radio.
*click* "Follow it!" Kakashi-sensei commanded.
Kanoko, Sakura, and Naruto all took off in pursuit. The target stopped in a small clearing, while Kanoko and her team stayed hidden behind trees nearby.
*click* "What's its position?"
*click* "5 meters. I'm ready! Just give me the signal!" Naruto whispered over the radio, excited.
*click* "Ok… NOW!"
Naruto and Sakura leaped to control the target, while Kanoko watched from a safe distance, "Hmph, the manner in which Shikamaru whined about this cat, you'd think it came straight from the depths of hell. I'll let Naruto handle this one…"
And just as explained to her by her brother, once Naruto latched on, the cat proceeded to claw is face out.
Naruto screamed, "I hate cats!"
"Hehehe! Stupid cat! It deserves to get squashed!" Naruto cheered watching the infamous cat, Tora, get roughly hugged by her owner.
Once Tora and her owner left, the Hokage looked at the scrolls in front of him, "Congratulations on your mission, now let's see…" The Hokage started listing off several D-ranked missions.
Kakashi stood behind his students, looking bored out of his mind. Sakura was slightly pouting over not being taken seriously, but wasn't going to complain in front of the Hokage. Kanoko just gazed ahead with no expression, understanding the importance of completing D-rank missions at this point in time.
Naruto… However…
"NO! No more! I'm done babysitting!" He said with his forearms forming an "X".
Iruka, upset with Naruto's rudeness to the Hokage, yelled at him about knowing his place as a genin.
After Kakashi whacked Naruto, to prevent him from further embarrassing Kakashi-sensei in front of the Hokage, the Hokage started explaining the ninja ranking system.
Of course, none of them were listening…
"…And so I had this taigatsu ramen today-" Naruto told his team, completely ignoring the Hokage.
"Silence!" The Hokage shouted to the group.
Kakashi looked back at the Hokage with a sheepish look, before scratching the back of his head, "Oh? Sorry…"
Naruto swung back around to face the Third Hokage before yelling, "Stop treating me like you're my grandpa! I'm not some brat anymore! I'm a real ninja now, and I want to go on real ninja missions!"
With that Naruto turned his head upward and crossed his arms.
Kakashi shook his head thinking, "Ahhh… I'm going to hear about this later…"
The Third Hokage just started chuckling, before it turned into a full deep laugh. He leaned back for a second, then gazed over at Kanoko.
"I don't like that look…" Kanoko though, narrowing her eyes.
"Naruto wants us to know that he's no longer a brat. He's a former brat! And he wants a mission. So be it."
Naruto looked up a bit shocked before smiling, "Huh?"
The Hokage continued, "Since you are so determined, I'll give you a C-ranked mission: You'll be bodyguards on a journey."
Kanoko's eyes grew a little at that announcement, "The old fool! What does he think he's doing?! Team 7 isn't ready for a mission like this!"
Naruto's face kept getting brighter, "Really?! YES! Who?! Who?! Is it a princess? Or an important councilman?!"
The Hokage smirked, "Don't be so impatient. Let our visitor in now, please."
Kanoko glared at the door, not at all interested in what was about to walk through.
Once the doors opened, an older man walked in, holding a large jar of what smelled like sake.
"What the…? A bunch of little snot nose brats?" He then proceeded to take a large swig of his drink before finishing, "And you, the little one with the idiotic look on your face. You really think you're going to expect me to think that you're a ninja?"
Naruto laughed and asked, "Who's the little of with the idio-" Naruto stopped when Kanoko and Sakura moved closer to demonstrate: Sakura stood at 4 feet and 11 inches and Kanoko measured at 5 feet even. Naruto finished at a sorry 4 feet and 9 inches.
"WHY YOU! I'm GOING TO DEMOLISH YOU! " Naruto yelled, starting to make a run for him, only to be grabbed by Kakashi-sensei. "You can't harm the client Naruto."
The man looked serious as he told Team 7, "My name is Tazuna: A master bridge builder and I must return to my country. I am building a bridge there that will change our world. And I expect you to get me there safely, even if it costs you your life!"
Kanoko walked through her bedroom door to pack for the trip to the Land of Waves, starting tomorrow morning. She started counting her explosive tags when her brother walked in and flopped on the bed, face first, next to her.
Having become used to her brother's behavior, Kanoko didn't look up from her task.
Her brother shifted until he was sitting up, at which point he gazed over her shoulder and asked, "Are you planning on blowing your team out of the training grounds tomorrow?" Shikamaru had an eyebrow raised at the amount of tags in front of her.
Kanoko didn't turn to her brother and just simply answered, "No. Team 7 has its first C-ranked mission tomorrow in the Land of Waves."
Shikamaru looked at his sister with a small up-turn frown in his eyebrows, "A C-rank mission so soon? Does Tou-san know?"
Kanoko shrugged, "I doubt it. It was a last minute decision by the Hokage."
Shikamaru was even more confused, "Huh? Why would he do that?"
Kanoko just looked at her brother with zero emotion, "Naruto."
"Ah."
Shikamaru laid down again on his side. It was silent again before he asked, "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two weeks. Maybe more."
The room was quiet again. Shikamaru had his eyes closed, trying to take a small nap before his mother started yelling at him about chores, but couldn't get asleep.
"Did you pack your kunai?" He asked, sitting up suddenly and looking into his sister's pack.
Kanoko stared back at him with an unimpressed look, "Hai. Of course."
Shikamaru's face turned slightly red before he jerked his head away mumbling, "Troublesome… I was just asking a question…"
Shikamaru turned his face back around when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His sister was staring at him straight in the eyes.
"Onii-san. It's just a C-rank mission. I'm not so weak to be bested so easily."
Shikamaru looked away, not really trusting her judgement. Kanoko sighed internally before continuing, "I'm going to be ok. I promise."
Kanoko then smiled slightly, although it looked more like a smirk, "I don't have a choice, otherwise, who is going to make sure that your slacking doesn't get you killed one day?"
Shikamaru blushed again, but this time was irritated at his sister for embarrassing him. As if he needed a girl to protect him!
Shikamaru laid back down, not really feeling better about his sister's mission, but trusting her – a little.
"Troublesome girl. Just don't get killed. All your chores would fall to me and that would be a major drag." After that, he fell asleep.
Kanoko shook her head with a smirk before continuing to pack for the journey ahead.
If she was being honest, she didn't have a good feeling about this mission…
"YAAAHOOO!" Naruto shouted jump into the air, once he step outside the village gates.
Sakura clasped her hands on her backpack straps, asking is an annoyed tone, "What's your problem, Naruto?"
Naruto snickered before explaining how this was the first time out of the village.
Kanoko wasn't too surprised to hear that. The only time she had been out of the village (in this body) was with her father. It made sense that if Naruto didn't know anyone with business taking them outside the village that he wouldn't venture past the walls.
"This is really the brat that is going to protect me? Great. Here's to living a short life." Tazuna scoffed before taking another swig of his booze.
Naruto, of course, was offended and went for Tazuna again, "Hey! I'll let you know that I'm going to be Hokage one day! So you should feel honored to be protected by the great Uzumaki Naruto!"
Tazuna raised an eyebrow, "You? Hokage? I'd sooner sprout wings."
Naruto growled, "I'm going to be Hokage one day and then everyone will have to treat me with respect! Believe it!"
Trying to appease the client, Kakashi-sensei said, "I'm a jounin, and I can assure you that we are more than adequate to protect you."
Tazuna just, "Hmph" before walking towards the Land of Waves.
*blip*
Kanoko's attention was suddenly diverted when she felt two chakra signatures.
Team 7 was still just outside the gates, so Kanoko wondered if they were returning ninjas.
Only problem, they stopped moving – right where Team 7 was positioned.
After a few miles, Sakura asked about the Land of Waves and if they had any ninja. Kanoko listened loosely to the conversation. She was very interested in how the lands have changed and who the major powers were, but was also on high alert.
The chakra signatures from earlier were following them.
Kanoko knew that these ninja weren't as clever in their stealth tactics as they believed, so either Kakashi knew about them and had a plan, or… he didn't. In which case, he was useless and this all relied on Kanoko now…
She honestly didn't believe the latter was true, but the concept of taking chances or letting ones guard down had looong since left her.
Of course, when Kakashi reassured Sakura that there would be no ninja fights on a C-ranked mission, she nearly scoffed. She berated her sensei in her head for filling his students with both nonsense and false hope.
Just as Team 7 and Tazuna passed a puddle (which was obviously the ninjas henged), they sprang out for a surprise attack.
Naruto, Sakura, and Kanoko all turned around as they watched, in horror, Kakashi-sensei get caught in their ninjas' chain – and ripped to pieces.
"That IDIOT!" Kanoko thought activating her Chakra Draining Seal, she saw them fly over and run straight for Naruto.
Kanoko quickly ran through a series of hand signs, "Body Replacement Jutsu". Standing in her spot was Naruto, and in his was Kanoko.
The dual ninjas reached out for her, on either side, with the chain they shared following in-between.
Kanoko drew her sword and ducked left, underneath the chain. "Water Style: Water Blade!" She shouted and brought the sword, covered in raging waves, down on the enemy ninja.
Slicing off his arm.
Grabbing the detached arm, she pulled it towards her roughly, bringing the other ninja – attached by the chain – to her.
Kanoko formed a tiger seal, "Water Style: Liquid Bullet!" She yelled, a ball of water shot from her mouth towards the ninja she pulled her way. The ninja detached the chain, evading the hit, and both teleported to the other side of the clearing.
They each took a stance, and then charged separately: One heading for Naruto and the other Tazuna.
Sakura, took a defensive stance in front of Tazuna, "DO something Sakura! You have to do something!" Sakura thought, berated herself while holding a kunai in front of her before yelling, "Stay behind me!" to Tazuna.
"Damnit!" Kanoko hadn't been able to steal any of their chakra, and she used too much with that water style jutsu.
Kanoko quickly got down on her knee and formed, "Bird, Boar, Dog, Dragon, Ox, Tiger, Serpent, Rat, Horse, Monkey, Hare, Ram!" "Shadow Possession Jutsu!" Kanoko spit her shadow, extending it to the enemy ninjas.
It didn't make contact.
Because they were both being held in the air be none other than Kakashi-sensei.
Naruto and Sakura both looked up to Kakashi-sensei with joyful looks.
"Yo!" Was Kakashi's response.
"Are you kidding me? I bust my ass keeping my team and client safe, and this rut comes in and "saves the day" and now he's the hero? Hmph, show off." Kanoko thought, her blood boiling.
Naruto, from his place on the ground, looked over to where Kakashi "died" and saw wood pieces, "Kakashi-sensei… used the replacement jutsu!"
Kakashi started to walk toward Tazuna and Sakura, before turning his head back and telling Naruto, "Naruto, sorry I didn't help you right away. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." Kakashi paused before adding, "I just didn't think you'd freeze up like that."
Naruto looked down at his injured hand - mad at himself for getting scared.
Kanoko got up on her feet and quickly made her to Naruto, but not before meeting Kakashi-sensei's eye and shooting him a nasty look.
Kakashi sweat-dropped before saying, "Good job Kanoko and Sakura."
Sakura started to smile, but when she looked over at Kanoko and saw her disgusted look, she frowned – not wanting to upset Kanoko.
Kanoko grabbed Naruto's hand, taking a look at it closely.
Naruto wasn't paying attention though. He was beating himself up internally for being useless.
Kakashi-sensei then turned to Tazuna, questioning him, "I wanted to see who the ninja were targeting. I thought it was one of us, but funny enough, it was you, Tazuna."
Tazuna looked scared and started to shake before he fell to his knees.
"You have to understand! This bridge means a lot to my country! We are currently being starved, beaten and murdered by a man named Gato! He has taken over all of the docks and ships, so no one can leave either. We need this bridge to survive!" Tazuna was in tears at this point.
Naruto listened closely to Tazuna, completely buying into the story.
"Well, based on the facts, this mission is easily a B-rank and could turn into an A-rank. And lying to us means that we are now beyond the scope of our mission." Kakashi-sensei finished.
Sakura looked back to Kakashi and said, "We're genin, this is too much for us. We have to go back." Kanoko nodded, agree with Sakura, "We also need to take Naruto back to the village. It's likely his wound has been poisoned and none of us have the expertise to remove poisons."
Kakashi looked back at Naruto and lazily said, "I guess you're right. Naruto's hand will likely pose a problem. I guess we have to go back because of Naruto."
"That little shit! He did that purposely! There's no way Naruto is going to back down now." Kanoko thought, getting angrier at her sensei.
Naruto ripped his hand from Kanoko's, surprising her, and bring a kunai down onto it – causing blood to go everywhere.
"WHY am I so DIFFERENT?! Why am I always… AHH!" Naruto said, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Naruto!" Sakura chastised him.
Naruto didn't move, just held his hand and continued, "I worked too hard to get here. Pushing myself. Training alone for hours. Anything to get stronger to reach my dream… I will never back down and let someone else rescue me! I will never run away and I will not lose to Sasuke or Kanoko! Upon this wound, I make this pledge. Believe it." Still not turning around, Naruto says, "Bridge builder, I will complete this mission and protect you, with this kunai knife."
With that, Naruto turns around, kunai still in his hand, impacted in his other and grins painfully, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Sakura and Tazuna just stared at Naruto in shock and awe. Kakashi had a small smile hidden underneath his mask.
Kanoko just stared at Naruto.
One part of her was irritated with Naruto's reckless behavior.
The other part of her however…
He reminded her of someone she used to know…
Kanoko closed her eyes and smirked, "After a speech like that… I guess we have no choice."
Team 7 was currently relaxing on a boat, drifting across the water in the thick mist. Naruto was jumping around and talking loudly, which earned him a punch from Sakura.
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto whined, holding his bruise head.
Sakura stopped glaring at Naruto and turned to Kanoko, who was relaxing with her arms crossed. Kanoko opened one eye to gaze at Sakura and asked, "Yes?"
"Well, I noticed that markings appeared on your arm just after those ninja attacked, but now they're gone again…" Sakura asked while pointing at Kanoko's left arm.
Kakashi-sensei and Naruto were also curious and were watching Kanoko for an answer. Kanoko moved her gaze to Tazuna and then the boat owner, and shrugged, "I'll tell you later."
Naruto's face contorted into a pout, whining loudly, "Whaaa? Why?!"
Sakura shushed him before Kakashi-sensei said, "Ninja arts are meant to be secret from outsiders. Kanoko doesn't want to reveal information that can be used against her in the presence of those she does not trust. It's smart. You should learn from Kanoko, Naruto."
Naruto just glared daggers at Kanoko, thinking, "Yeah right! I'm going to be ten-times better than Kanoko! Believe it!"
After pulling up to shore, the gang walked through a tree covered area, making their way to Tazuna's home.
Naruto, eager to prove himself, was running around throwing kunai at every noise he heard. It was scaring Tazuna and Sakura, and frying Kanoko's nerves: frantically searching for threats each time Naruto jumped at a noise.
After nearly killing a poor snow bunny, Sakura whacked Naruto on the head and started yelling at him.
"It's like being quiet is some kind of mystical concept to them." Kanoko thought annoyed, before she felt a sharp spike in the surrounding chakra.
"EVERYONE! GET DOWN" Kakashi shouted.
A giant sword flew through the air and hit a tree.
Teleporting onto of this sword was a ninja.
A ninja of the Village Hidden in the Mist.
"This is it! My chance to shine! I'm not going to lose out to Kanoko!" Naruto thought, looking back at Kanoko, who had her gaze fixated on the ninja above.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Momochi Zabuza: rouge ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist." Kakashi said calmly, walking up to Zabuza.
"Rouge ninja? Whatever! Nothing's going to stop me!" Naruto thought before running towards Zabuza.
"Idiot, he's going to get himself killed!" Kanoko thought, getting her sword out.
Kakashi-sensei stuck his arm out, blocking Naruto from going further, "Get back. You're in the way."
"What, but-!" Naruto started.
"He's not like those other ninja. He is in a whole 'nother league." Kakashi stopped before continuing, "If he's our opponent, I'm going to need this." Kakashi pulled up his headband and opened his eye.
"The sharingan." Kanoko thought, eyes narrowing.
"What is that?!" Sakura asked. Kanoko looked at Sakura, surprised she didn't know – seeing as Sakura's longtime crush was an Uchiha.
Deciding to answer, she said, "It's the sharingan. A dojutsu kekkei genkai of the Uchiha clan. Not all members possess it, however. But I was unaware non-Uchiha members could use it as well, but I suppose that is why they call him the "copycat ninja"."
Naruto and Sakura looked at Kakashi-sensei in wonder.
"Uchiha? As in Sasuke Uchiha?" Naruto and Sakura thought.
Suddenly Zabuza drawled out, "Kakashi of the Sharingan, huh? Well it's too bad. I'm going to have to kill the old man."
A thick mist came over the area quickly.
Kanoko, Sakura, and Naruto took protective positions around Tazuna.
"So I'll have to eliminate you first Kakashi? Heh, so be it." With that, Zabuza teleported onto the water and started a jutsu, causing more mist to fill the area.
Then he vanished.
Kanoko crouched down from her defensive stance to touch the ground with her pointer and middle finger. She pushed her senses out – attempting to locate the enemy.
"Where is he?!" Naruto cried out.
Kakashi walked in front of Team 7, with his back to Kanoko, and said, "He'll come for me first. Don't worry."
"But who is he?" Sakura asked.
"Zabuza of the Hidden Mist Village: The ex-leader of the village's assassination unit. He is a master of the silent killing technique."
"S-silent?" Naruto stuttered.
Kakashi continued, "It's so fast, you pass from this life without realizing it. The sharingan can't fully neutralize it, so don't lower your guard."
As an added bonus, Kakashi-sensei says, "Well, if we fail, we only lose out lives."
"How can you say that?!" Sakura snaps at Kakashi-sensei.
The mist gets thicker again.
Sakura yells, "Sensei!" as the mist causes Kakashi's image to disappear.
"Oh, look at this. He abandoned us again." Kanoko thought, not impressed. She could still feel him nearby, but the emotional turmoil (which he seems to enjoy putting Naruto and Sakura through) is getting old.
"8 points." Is what Team 7 hears from the mist.
Sakura gasps as he continues, listing all areas of the body that, if hit, would be fatal.
"Which will be my kill point?"
More silence follows until Kakashi moves the mist away from him and Team 7, but at that moment, the killing aura magnifies.
Kanoko looks to Naruto – barely a reaction. Then to Sakura. She's shaking, but holding up.
Kanoko is shocked and impressed by them both. The clash of two powerful jounin is nothing to casually ignore. The killing aura alone should have them both paralyzed, but they're handling it better than she thought.
Kakashi, wanting to calm his students, says, "I'll protect you. I won't allow my comrades to die."
Naruto and Sakura calm at this news.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"He's coming from the left!" Kanoko thought, quickly taking a defensive stance with her sword, awaiting the blow.
"It's over."
.
Before Zabuza and Kanoko's swords clashed, Kakashi-sensei rammed a kunai into his stomach.
.
But.
Instead of blood, there's water pouring out.
"Sensei!" Naruto screams, seeing a clone appear behind Kakashi-sensei.
"Die!" Zabuza yells, ripping his sword through Kakashi.
Naruto and Sakura are shocked, but Kanoko quickly appeases them, "Don't worry. Sensei's alive." Just then, his body turns into water – indicating that Kakashi copied Zabuza's water clone jutsu.
Kakashi then appeared behind him, with a kunai to his throat.
"Now it's over." Kakashi said simply.
"ALRIGHT!" Naruto cheered and even Sakura laughed in joy.
.
Zabuza chuckled, "I won't be defeated by a copycat..."
"…Because I'm not that easy to fool." Suddenly, Zabuza turned into water and was behind Kakashi.
Kakashi and Zabuza traded a few blows before getting kick in the air and into the water. Zabuza followed Kakashi into the water.
"I can't believe Kakashi-sensei got kicked through the air like that!" Sakura thought, shocked and worried.
"SENSEI! THAT'S NOT NORMAL WATER! GET OUT OF THERE!" Kanoko shouted roughly to her sensei.
Kakashi looked up at Kanoko, but it was too late.
"Ha! Fool." Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and ran through a series of hand signs, "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
"No!" Kakashi thought too late.
Zabuza chuckled, "This prison is made of water, but is stronger than steel. Ha! So much for the great Kakashi. I'll finish you off later." Zabuza turned his head to Naruto, Sakura, and Kanoko. "I'll have to take care of your little friends first."
Zabuza made a water clone.
Zabuza's clone turned to them and said, "When you've hovered between life and death so many times that it doesn't faze you, you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly that your profile has been entered into my bingo book, then you may have earned the title ninja."
He started to disappear again, but not before finishing, "To call upstarts like you ninja… is a joke!"
"He disappeared again!" Naruto thought in a panic.
"He's going for Naruto!" Kanoko threw a kunai in Zabuza direction, but Zabuza was still able to kick Naruto, sending him back – his headband failing off of his head.
"Naruto!" Sakura yelled concerned.
As Zabuza landed, he stomped his foot down on Naruto's headband.
Kakashi growled before yelling, "Listen! Get the bridge builder and get out of here! You can't win this fight! He can only fight with his clone, but it can't go too far from his body. Run!"
Kanoko gritted her teeth, "That will only protect us for so long. And I can sense another ninja not too far from here. It's safe to assume that this other ninja, and Zabuza, are comrades." Kanoko looked at Naruto and Sakura, both were shaking.
Taking a deep breath, Kanoko told her teammates, "Our only option is to rescue Kakashi-sensei. Don't be reckless, fall back on your training, and don't panic." Kanoko looked at both of them, "I believe in you. Do you believe in me?"
Naruto and Sakura looked at Kanoko. They took a breath and calmed down slightly, before grinning with confidence.
Naruto laughed and asked, "What's the plan?!"
Kanoko smirked at Naruto, "There's only one person with the right amount of spunk and is unpredictable enough to face this enemy. And that is you, Naruto."
Kanoko looked to Sakura for approval. Sakura nodded with a grin.
"So what's the plan, Uzumaki?" Kanoko asked Naruto.
Naruto's face got even brighter, before running straight for Zabuza.
Sakura's jaw dropped and she put her hands on her head, "Ahhh! Naruto! What are you doing?!"
After Naruto got kicked by Zabuza and flew back to where Kanoko and Sakura stood. Both could see what was now in Naruto's hand: His leaf village headband.
"That reckless little…*sigh*" Kanoko thought, with a small grin.
Naruto's grin grew before saying, "Ok guys! Let's go wild!"
Before they could begin, they were interrupted by Tazuna, "Forget about me! Do what you have to do! Don't hold back! Go ahead and fight to save your sensei!"
"Old man…" Naruto said quietly, looking back at him.
"He's really die for ninjas he barely knows…?" Kanoko thought.
Zabuza started to chuckle before barking out several laughs. When Naruto asked him what was so funny, he started to explain his village's genin selection ritual. Or at least, the ritual until one child, not even at genin age yet, massacred the whole class.
"…And it felt soo good." Zabuza finished, charging towards Kanoko.
Kanoko jumped backwards, evading Zabuza's movements and attacks.
"You're pretty good. You were about to block my attacked earlier too… You must be a sensor. I pretty good one, if you're able to identify me from the chakra infused mist surrounding us."
Kanoko didn't respond. She simply led him over to Naruto.
"Stop right there! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, bringing forth 30 clones, all surrounding Zabuza.
All of them race to attack Zabuza, but were pushed back and popped by Zabuza's sword.
"He's too powerful!" Tazuna yelled in fear.
Kanoko, with her arms crossed, watching the fight, simply said, "Don't worry. You trust us, right?"
Tazuna just gapped at Kanoko before nodding slightly.
"I still have this!" Naruto yelled as he flew through the air, reaching in his backpack.
"Kanoko!" Naruto yelled throwing a large shuriken at Kanoko. Kanoko jumped up and grabbed it.
"Demon Wind Shuriken: Windmill of Shadows!" Kanoko shouted before jumping in the air and throwing it at Zabuza.
The real one.
It flew pass the clone and went for the real Zabuza.
Unfortunately, Zabuza grabbed it, but not before a second one flew his way.
"A second one?!" Zabuza thought.
"The second shuriken's on target and he can't catch this one!" Sakura thought.
.
Zabuza jumped over the shuriken.
"I told you a shuriken wouldn't touch me!" Zabuza barked out.
Kanoko smirked.
*poof*
In the shuriken's place was Naruto. He had henged as the shuriken.
"Take this!" Naruto yelled as he threw his kunai at Zabuza
"What!?" Zabuza thought, ready to pull away.
"YES!" Sakura cheered and even Kanoko had a smirk on her face.
.
*SPLASH*
The water clone, from before, jumped in front of Zabuza – taking the hit.
"NO!" Kakashi thought, panicking for his students.
"What?!" Sakura yelled.
"DAMNIT!" Naruto screamed, falling into the water.
Zabuza chuckled, then laughed, "You forgot about my clone. You're mistake!" Zabuza started running through seals with his free hand.
Kakashi struggled in his cage before yelling, "NARUTO! GET OUT OF THERE!" "I'm so sorry sensei! I'm sorry, I couldn't protect your son!" Kakashi thought, pain running through his gut.
"NARUTO!" Sakura screamed.
"Haha! You're finished!" Zabuza crackled.
Naruto closed his eyes, waiting for the impact.
But it never came.
Just as Zabuza was forming his last seal, his hands stopped moving.
Actually, his whole body stopped moving.
"…Shadow Possession Jutsu, complete." Kanoko said with a slight smirk on her face.
"Impossible!" Zabuza thought, still unable to move.
In the water, Naruto was laughing, "HAHA! We got you! You totally fell for it!"
Without further pause, Kanoko side stepped, making Zabuza lose the hold he had on the water prison jutsu.
Kakashi-sensei was now free to wreak havoc.
.
And boy, did he look pissed.