Lazyfox: *fixing up the wall she crashed through* Magic is going to pay for this *growling softly*
Random: *eating chips* At least I can't be blamed for it this time ^-^
Lazyfox: That's because you were moping around in the emo corner *adds another layer of plaster*
Random: Yea well you were off bragging about college when I'm stuck doing extra crap to graduate this year
Lazyfox: At least your graduating with me ^-^
Random: I know~ So freaking happy to be done with High school
Lazyfox: Me too~! Enough dilly-dawdling lets introduce are new guest speaker~
Random: On it! *hits her Random button* Man I Missed doing that~
Zabuza: Where the hell am I! Who the hell are you bi* %#&?
Lazyfox: *whacks him on the head* For the time being I'm you host so you better be respecting me. Now Zabuza would be so kind as to explain to the readers why you're a bloody psychopath before saying the disclaimer?
Zabuza: What's to explain? I enjoy killing, it amuses me and I think I found my next target to add to my list of victims *draw Kubikiribōchō*
Random: I wouldn't do that if I were you *steps back into safety zone*
Lazyfox: *snaps fingers turning into a half fox/tiger demon* I listen to her if I was you
Zabuza: A woman who can take charge…hmmm very well you have gained a small bit of my respect woman
Lazyfox: *transform back* Thanks~ Will you say the disclaimer now?
Zabuza: Whatever. LazyFoxLover does not own Naruto or any of the charters. Now if you excuse me I have to go kill a bunch of newbie punks *disappears in a shroud of mist*
Lazyfox: Good luck with that~ *foxy grin* Okay lets go see how the fight is going to turn out~
P.S: I have an important question to ask you guys in the closing so please read it because it has an impact on the story later
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting at his desk finishing up some late night paperwork. He was completing his last sheet when he heard scratching on his window office. Putting his pen down he looked towards the sound to see one of Kakashi's summoned dogs holding a scroll and a chain wrapped around two knocked out Mist ninja. He quickly opened the window taking the scroll from the ninja dog as his personal Anbu guards took the two demon brothers off to interrogation with Ibiki. He unrolled the scroll and quickly read the message inside the scroll letting out a sigh as he finished reading as Yugao appeared inside his office.
"The Demon Brothers are secure inside interrogations sir. What did Kakashi-kun tell you in the message sir?" Yugao asked her leader.
Taking a puff out of his pipe Hiruzen gave his head Anbu a level gaze. "He's reported that his escort mission has upgraded and he suspects it might go up again before it's through" he tells her.
"Then he gave you noticed that his team and him are on their way back to the village?" Yugao asked.
"No exactly Cat. It seems he's requested for me not to inform the council about the upgrade in the mission because he does not want to increase the pay raise for his client" Hiruzen elaborated.
Yugao became surprised and a little antsy at this revelation. "He does realize he has a team of Genin with him. I know his skills are exceptional, but Naruko and the others are just kids! There not ready to face the real dangers they'll be in if their fighting ninja from the Mist."
Hiruzen took a moment to analyze her worries while exhaling the smoke from his pipe. "It would seem Kakashi would have to disagree with you. In his report he noted that Sasuke engaged in battle with the Demon Brothers disabling them before they could harm Naruko even managed to injury one of them. Then when one of them was going in to kill Tazuna-san Hinata jumped in ready to defend him with Sasuke backing her up before Kakashi took him out" he tells her.
"What about the other brother? Did Kakashi take care of him too?" she asked surprised by the two Genins performances.
Hiruzen smirked around his pipe at her. "Well, that credit and pleasure belongs to Naruko. Turns out Kakashi faked his death before Sasuke engaged them in battle and put Naruko in a slight state of shock, but when the other brother was coming at her she dented his face in with an enraged fist before Kakashi took out his brother."
"That idiot! Naruko could have stayed in that state of shock and got killed if she wasn't so hot-headed or worse the fox could have taken over" Yugao ranted mentally curing her silver haired lover for being so stupid.
"True, but thankfully the worst did not happen and there all okay with Naruko getting a small gash on her arm. Kakashi believes that his team can handle this mission, but he promised to keep me informed of everything that happens. I trust Kakashi to keep his team safe and I will honor his request and not inform the council of the escalating developments. I can guarantee you won't say anything as well" he tells her.
"Yes sir. You have nothing to fear from me, I just request to be kept in the loop sir" Yugao tells him.
"Of course" he tells her. "Please report back to me when Ibiki has received of who the Demon Brothers were working for."
"Yes sir" Yugao tells him before leaving his office to return to the integration room.
Hiruzen watched her leave before he turned to Kakashi's small pug that was still there. "Thank you for the message Pakkun you can head back and inform Kakashi of my decision" he tells the puppy before he poof away leaving Hiruzen to complete his uncompleted paperwork.
~Team Seven's camping site~
The small band of five sat around the dimly lit fire in the dense forest, so they can stay warm and not give their position away to their enemy thinking about Tazuna's story.
Naruko was checking over her injury applying the needed ointment to keep it clean and make sure that all traces of the poison was gone. Tazuna who sat across from her watched her like a hawk trying to catch any signs of discomfort from the small blond.
"Bra… I mean kid where did you learn that medical stuff and why did you have the vial on you?" he asked letting his curiosity get the better of him and also to ease up the awkward tension hanging around them.
"I learned it from my Grandma before she died. She was an amazing and well respected Medical ninja in not only Konoha, but in a lot of the neighboring countries too" Naruko tells him smiling as she wrapped up her arm. "She taught me that a lot of enemies would use poison to stun each other in the heat of battle, so she told me that a good medical ninja should always be prepared for it. Yesterday when I was preparing for the trip I went through my grandma's old field journals to see what kind of medicine I should pack" she tells him finishing her bandaging.
"But how did you know that antibiotic was the correct concoction to use to eliminate the poison in your system?" Tazuna asked deeply astound by the knowledge the girl had as was her teammates not expecting the blond to be that prepared.
Naruko looked a little sheepish as she scratched her head. "Well, it was actually just a basic neutralizer that slowed down the reaction of the poison. When I sliced my arm opened I kind of drained all the poison out of me, but the injection was just an extra precaution" she tells him.
Tazuna sighed as he rubbed his temple trying to decide if he should scold her for recklessness or laugh at her stroke of luck. "Kid you're something else" he tells her making her giggle at him. "Kid if you don't mind me asking how did your grandmother die?"
Naruko stopped giggling at once as her face looked much older than it should be as with eyes showing immense pain and sorrow. Naruko curled up from where she sat resting her head on her knees as she stared at the flickering flames not answering Tazuna's question. Hinata became worried for Naruko since she became so quiet and moved over to hug her while Kakashi and Sasuke watched over them with concerned gazes. Tazuna on the other hand felt like he had broken a taboo that obviously hurt the girl in a way no child should have been hurt. The look in Naruko's eyes held the look of pain and despair similar to the look he sees in his grandson's eyes these days. Just as he was about to apologize for asking her such a touchy question Naruko spoke up.
"Grandma Kaede was killed back when I was little. I didn't see her die, but my friends and I were the ones that found her" she tells him feeling Hinata hug her tighter which made a sad smile appear glad her timid friend cared so much about her.
Tazuna lowered his head as a silent atonement for the fallen woman before speaking again. "I'm sorry to hear that. No child should have to lose someone like that at such a young age" he tells her speaking from experience.
"Your right, but it happened and I can't change it. At least I know she died loving me and she's in a better place" Naruko tells him before getting up giving them a forceful smile. "Well, we should get to bed if we're going to make it to your village tomorrow" she says wishing them all a good night as she walked to the girl's tent.
Kakashi watched Naruko enter the tent feeling bad for his little sister knowing she never truly healed from Kaede's death and he couldn't blame her. He never felt any closure in the deaths of his love ones either. "Naruko right. We all need to have a full night's rest so we can be ready for any challenge we face tomorrow" he tells them sending Sasuke and Hinata to their tents leaving him to speak with Tazuna. "Do you know who Gato has hired to kill you or is it just random rouges?"
"I'm afraid I don't know who he has hired just that they were experienced ninjas trained in killing" Tazuna tells him. "What I told you this afternoon is all I know."
Kakashi sighed hoping the old bridge builder would have more info for him, but knowing Gato was the man behind these attacks helped a bit even if it wasn't much. "Alright thank you for being honest with me. You should head to bed as well. I can keep watch for the night and don't worry I won't let you die. Wouldn't want to make that daughter and grandson of yours upset now would I?" Kakashi said light heartily smiling under his mask at the old bridge builder.
Tazuna gave a small chuckle as she walked towards his tent. "If you say so Sensei and thank you for staying with the mission."
"Don't thank me, thank Naruko. If she didn't have her medical training and her stubborn will to finish things" he tells him adding a twig to the small fire.
Tazuna gave a nod as he walked into the tent. "You have a point I do need to thank her, but I'll wait to do that when your mission is done" he called over his shoulder.
Kakashi just shook his head staring into the fire keeping his eyes and ears trained on his surrounding ready for anything Gato would throw at them. "If I assume right he'll send a Jounin after us this time so I have to stay on my top game when the time comes" he thought.
Time has passed and the moon was at its highest peck in the sky. The only sounds Kakashi heard were the shallow breathing and snores of his students and clinet as they lay sleeping in their tents until he heard the faint rustling coming from inside the tents. Turning he saw Hinata appear holding a blanket and when he meet her eyes she shifted nervously before approaching him.
"Ummm Ka..Kakashi-sensei I brought you a blanket. I figure you might be a little cold out here even with the fire" she admitted holding the blanket out to her sensei.
"Thank you Hina-chan that's very kind of you" he said gratefully taking the blanket from his shy student who smiled back at him. "How's Naruko? Did you go to sleep?"
"She did. At first she tossed and turned a bit, but she calmed down when I put Rura and Ko beside her. Afterwards she fell into a peaceful sleep" Hinata confessed sitting beside him.
"Rura? She actually brought that over-stuffed Tiger with her on a mission? I understand Ko seeing as he's a chibi sized fox doll, but the tiger really?" he asked looking dumbfounded and a little disturbed by this discover. "I though she out grew her obsession with stuff animals especially that old tiger."
Hinata just giggled at her sensei. "Well, she said she wanted something to remind her of Shikamaru-kun and Kaede-sama. For what I know Rura was the first thing Shikamaru-kun gave her right?"
"Yes it was. He won it for her on her birthday at the festival while Ko and her locket were the last present she received from Kaede-sama" he tells her adding more kindle to the fire.
"I guess she just wanted to have something close to her that belong to the people she loves" Hinata thought staring up into the night sky thinking about her own mother.
Silence followed the two allowing them to enjoy the peace and quiet their surroundings offered them and soon Hinata fell asleep leaning on her sensei's shoulder. Kakashi wanted to move the girl back to her tent, but was afraid to move her in case he caused her to wake up. Lucky for him Sasuke appeared beside them and gently lifted his blue haired teammate off Kakashi's shoulder and carried her back to the girl's tent. He laid her down on her sleeping bag making sure she was covered before moving to Naruko's side covering her back up while placing Rura in-between the girls and Ko in Naruko's arms. He gave a small smile watching them both curl up with the stuff animals before leaving the tent to sit with his sensei.
"Thank you Sasuke for putting Hinata back to bed. I would have, but I was afraid I wake her" Kakashi tells the boy. "You can head back to bed now."
"Forget about it. I was awake when Hinata came out to give you the blanket there's no way I'm getting anymore sleep tonight. Why don't you head to bed I got the rest of the night covered and if someone does try to attack us you'll sense it before I would" Sasuke tells his sensei. "You could use the sleep anyway I think we're in for a tough fight tomorrow."
"Oh you sensed that too huh? I guess your right I do need to get a little sleep, but if anything happens I be out to help you" Kakashi tells him getting up placing Hinata's blanket over the boys shoulders. "Also stay warm Sasuke-kun, don't want you getting sick."
Sasuke just huffed watching his sensei walk inside his tent before watching the moon from where he sat beside the fire. "Tomorrow I'm sure we'll face a stronger enemy then we did today, but will I be ready to face them?" he asked himself before glancing towards the girl's tent steeling his eyes up with determination. "I have to be. I will protect them!"
~The Next Day~
Team Seven and Tazuna packed up their small camp after having a small breakfast. Once they were finished they set back out on their journey towards the Wave Country. The journey turned into a quick and quiet one with the small group not running into any trouble as they reached the shores of the border. There Tazuna talked with a fisherman who seemed to be his acquaintance and soon the two men exchange a few quick words before Tazuna motioned for the Konoha ninjas to board the small boat. With that the fisherman stirred his vessel and passengers into the dense fog surrounding the area as everyone kept quiet until Hinata spotted the outline of something in the distance.
"I see something in the fog?" Hinata reported getting everyone to look in the direction she was pointing. "My goodness! It's huge!"
"That's were our destination lies my dear. You see that's the bridge I'm building and the one Gato wants so desperately to destroy so he can keep the Wave country under his control. Gato keeps the people of my country poor, hungry and afraid so no one will rise against him" he explained clenching his fist and teeth together so as not explode with fury with the thoughts of his suffering country.
Naruko had to do the same thing to keep her anger in check as well. "He's a no good scumbag that's all he is. Man I wish we could find this guy and teach him a lesson" she growled.
"I know you do Naru-chan, but our mission is to protect Tazuna-san. Gato isn't our responsibility even if he is scum of the earth" Kakashi tells her patting her shoulder sharing her desire to make the guy pay for hurting this innocent country.
"We could always classify it as protecting the old man. I mean taking out the guy who's sending out the people to kill him sounds like protection to me" Naruko reasoned getting small smiles of amusement from everyone.
"I'm afraid that's not how it goes Naru-chan though I sometimes wish it was. For now let's just focus on one task at a time and if the situation changes we'll discuss further action" Kakashi tells her patting her head this time.
"Works for me. Hey old man finish your bridge quickly so I can go hunt down that Gato bastard for you" Naruko tells the bridge builder feeling a strong urge to go fighting now.
"Hey keep it down missy! We're hiding in this fog for a reason so keep it down" the fisherman scolded watching the little blond get quiet and embarrassed so he have her an understanding her feelings. "I like enthusiasm kiddo, so I won't fault you for wanting to take Gato down."
Naruko let out a quiet giggle smiling at the fishermen who gave her a tiny one before he turned serious as he rowed the boat into a stone tunnel underneath the bridge.
"This is where we part Tazuna. I wish you all a safe you a journey and that you are successful in your mission" the fisherman tells them as they exited his boat sharing a quick thank you and goodbye before he rowed away.
"Okay where right on the outside of my village so were almost there. Remember I'm counting on you to get me home" Tazuna said cheerily.
"Yes, yes we know Tazuna-san. Shall we get moving then?" Kakashi said taking the lead of the group making sure his team had Tazuna protected on all sides. Sasuke stood on Tazuna left while Naruko and Hinata and Naruko guarded his left and the rear of the group. "If my theory is right Gato won't send out more low class chunins meaning the next opponent we come across will either be a Jounin or someone higher. If we encounter that kind of threat I will have to use my full power. Great, just great" he thought walking deeper into the fog. "Something doesn't feel right about this mist."
Naruko heard something in the bushes and stopped to listen harder. She heard the quick footfalls of a woodland creature, but under the sound of the footsteps she swore she heard a tree branch cracking. "Psss Hinata. Can you use your Byakugan and check the bushes near me" she whispered lightly to her blue haired teammate.
Hinata nodded hiding herself beside Tazuna to keep her movements hidden so as not to alert anyone to what she was doing. She quickly flew through the hand signs to activate her Byakugan. Once activated she quickly scanned the bushes and surrounding area looking for the disturbance that Naruko detected, but saw nothing except for a hare coming their way.
"Naru-chan it's just a hare. Nothing to worry about" she reports to her friend giving her a small smile as she continued to follow there group.
Naruko looked confused swearing she sensed something else, but if Hinata couldn't find anything then she had no reason to doubt her. Seeing that the group had gotten further away from her she quickly jogged to catch up to them.
"Interesting. No wonder the Demon brothers lost to these punks. Kakashi of the Sharingan eye and look they have a member of the Hyuga clan in there group as well, but seeing as she couldn't find me she must not be very experienced with it. That symbol on the back of that boy's shirt means he's from the Uchiha clan which means he could have the Sharingan too like Kakashi. A team of kekkei genkai users huh? This assignment has just gotten a lot more exciting" Zabuza thought hiding in the trees watching the small group of leaf ninjas and bridge builder letting a demonic and twisted smile form underneath his bandaged covered face. "Time for the fun to begin. Let's see what you and your team is made of Kakashi."
Kakashi looked around the area as the mist grew thicker. "This mist isn't normal it's getting too thick. This could only mean the enemy is closing in on us" he thought scanning the area. "Question now. Where are they?"
Zabuza stood on top of the tree branch he was on crouched on before he detached the head cleaver from his back causing the leaves and twigs to rustle and break as he sent the cleaver flying towards the group.
Kakashi catching the rustle gave the one order he could give at the moment. "Everyone get down now!" he yelled watching his team hit the ground as the sword flew over their heads embedding itself in a nearby tree.
Sasuke leaped towards Hinata pulling her to the ground making sure she didn't hit the ground hard. Naruko knocked Tazuna to the ground making sure he was okay. The group looked up as they heard a tree branch break as a tall pale almost gray colored skin man wearing gray camouflaged pants with no shirt and bandages covering most of his face up stood on the hilt of the sword in the tree.
Zabuza leaped after his head cleaver and stood on the handle looking down at the group of five. "It seems you all have been caught in my little trap. Now I'll give you a chance to leave here with your lives or I can add you to my kill list. Leave the bridge builder and leave now that is the only opinion you have to live" he tells them.
Kakashi stared up at the man threatening him and his team recognizing the man from his Anbu ninja bingo book. "Zabuza Momochi the demon of the Hidden Mist Village. Former member of the Seven swordsmen of the Hidden Mist. You were one of the Mist's best ninjas, so have you fallen so far after your failed assassination attempt on the Fourth Mizukage that you have to work for a scum bag like Gato" he said glaring at the assassin.
"I guess I should feel honored that Konoha's Copycat Ninja knows so much about me, but knowing about me won't be enough to take me on even with your Sharingan eye. With my Kubikiribōchō I will add your head to my list of fallen victims" Zabuza says smugly disappearing and reappearing on top of the water were he stood creating a deeper and thicker fog to surround the clearing. "Ninpou Hidden Mist no Jutsu."
"Everyone surround and protect Tazuna! Our opponent is not like the other two we faced, he's skilled in the silent kill and will use this mist to come after you so stay on guard at all times" Kakashi warns them moving headband to his forehead uncovering his scared eye showing a crimson red eye with three black commas inside the pupil .
"IT'S THE SHARINGAN! But how?!" Sasuke thought staring at his sensei in shock. "The Sharingan is present in a select few members of the Uchiha clan. How did Kakashi receive it? Could he be..."
Team seven gathered around Tazuna in a three man protective wall each holding a kunai out in front of them staying on guard.
"It's no use defending you brats. Your fates were sealed the moment I became your opponent" Zabuza mocked disappearing into the mist emitting an immense blood filled killer intent towards the small group.
Tazuna and the kids could fill the blood lust in the air and each one of them felt like they were being suffocated by just the demonic man's aura.
"How to kill a bunch of sitting lambs. There are eight points for me to choose from. Which one should I pick?" Zabuza taunted from inside the mist sending out his blood lust in a powerful wave. "I could go for your liver, maybe your kidneys, or your larynx, but then again I could puncture your lungs, sever your spine, crack open your skulls and smash your brains in, slice open your jugular vein or maybe I could just end you all quickly by ripping your hearts out!"
"This guy's unreal! So much blood lust in just one man it's terrifying. How can Nii-chan fight a guy like this" Naruko thought shaking like a leaf staring at her older brother with overly worried and scared eyes.
Hinata was taking in gasping breaths feeling the overwhelming aura the strongest. "It's so had to breathe. How can we win" she asked herself trembling uncontrollably trying her hardest not to crumble to the ground.
"How can we fight a man like this? It's impossible he'll kill us all! What's the point of fighting a losing fight? I rather just die now than to go through this madness. This overwhelming power it drive you to insanity I can't take it" Sasuke thought hopelessly sweating bullets as he began to tremble under the pressure he killing intent was causing.
"Sasuke..Hinata..Naruko.. Don't worry about a thing. I promise I'm going to protect you guys even if it kills me" Kakashi tells them facing forward before looking back to his scared students giving them a reassuring smile. "I won't ever let my comrades die."
Zabuza let out a blood curdling laugh gaining everyone's attention as they looked around for the assassin before he appeared in the middle of the four man wall. "Sorry Kakashi, but it looks like I win" he sneered swinging his massive head cleaver to decapitate the small four man group.
As Zabuza swung his sword Kakashi appeared pushing everyone out of harm's way as he blocked Zabuza's attack stabbing him in the chest with his Kunai. "The game hasn't even started yet Zabuza so don't get cocky just yet."
Hinata had reactivated her Byakugan and noticed Zabuza's chakra signature was off and deduced it was a clone. "Sensei behind you!" she warned seeing the real Zabuza coming for her sensei from behind.
Hinata's warning came too late and Zabuza was able to cut Kakashi in half, but instead of blood spilling out of him, he burst into water splashing the ground. The real Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza holing a Kunai to his throat. "Don't move."
"Impressive Kakashi. You copied my water clone jutsu in this mist, but just because you can copy my moves don't mean you can execute them better and faster than me. I'm not an easy target to trap" Zabuza mocked appearing behind Kakashi once again catching everyone off guard.
"It's another clone! Nii-chan look out!" Naruko shouted.
"Shit!" Kakashi cursed ducking out of Zabuza's attack as he barely dodged his sword's swing. As Zabuza planted his sword into the ground with his backhand swing he switched hands to brace himself on his sword delivering a powerful kick to Kakashi sending him flying. Wanting to capitalize on Kakashi's momentary vulnerability he charged after the silver haired man intent on slicing in half, but was stopped when he noticed the caltrops in front of him making him miss his chance to cut Kakashi in half as he plopped into the water.
"Clever trick Kakashi, but a foolish one if you think this will be enough to stop me" Zabuza declared flipping over the caltrops as Kakashi resurfaced.
"This water its thick. I feel like it's dragging e down" Kakashi thought trying to escape out of the water.
Hinata saw a mixture of chakra swirling in the water were Kakashi was. "Sensei! The water is layered with his chakra!"
"What?!" Kakashi shouted moving to escape from the water, but Zabuza had appeared above him.
"Too late Kakashi your mine. Suirō no Jutsu" he mocked trapping Kakashi into a sphere of water.
"Kakashi-Sensei/Nii-chan" the group yelled watching the silver haired Jounin get trapped in the spherical water prison.
"What a fool you are Kakashi. Thinking you could use the water to evade me. Ha what a joke. The water is my natural element you were sourly mistaken if you thought you had a pea sized chance of beating me. Now I think I'm going to save you for later Kakashi. I wanna have some fun with you before I kill you so I'll settle for killing off these brats and the old man before dealing with you" Zabuza said smugly creating a new water clone.
Hinata and Sasuke backed away closer to Tazuna shaking trying to form some kind of protection for the old man even when they knew they were fighting a losing fight. Naruko was shaking as well, but out of worry more than fear. "That prism will keep Nii-chan immobile as long as he stays in there. Shika once told me when dealing with a water Ninjutsu specialist I have to find a weak spot, but how can I do that? I'm scared how can I save Nii-chan from a guy like this?"
Zabuza took notice of the children's shaking forms and let out a loud mocking laugh. "What are you kids doing out here huh? Your brats trying to act like ninja please what a joke you all are. Shaking like a bunch of pups left out in the cold. None of you are fit to wear those headbands and the day I recognize any of you brats as a ninja is the day I place you inside my bingo book!" taunted the rouge assassin sending his clone after Naruko.
Naruko saw Zabuza coming, but couldn't even move out of the way as he plunged his fist into her stomach causing a loud cracking sound to echo in the clearing as she gasped and coughed up blood. She skidded back grasping her abdomen before she was thrown off her feet again when Zabuza's water clone kicked her square in the chin knocking her headband off her forehead. Naruko hit the ground rolling coughing and spitting out blood before her face hit the ground as the clone stomped her head into the dirt. Naruko gritted her teeth as she tried to fight off the pain in the process of knocking the clone off her head.
"ZABUZA! Enough leave her alone!" Kakashi demanded banging against his prison wall enraged by having to watch Naruko be attacked in such a vicious manner.
"Ohh does this upset you Kakashi? I think I remember this girl calling you her brother. How touching, but your in no position to make threats Copycat" Zabuza mocked removing his foot from Naruko's skull making the young girl sigh in relief before she choked in air as she was sent flying again by a massive kick to her side making another sickening cracking sound heard as she landed at the teammates feet.
"Naruko-chan!" Hinata cried dropping to her knees at her friend's side. She opened her friend's jacket to check out the damage done and could already see purplish and black bruises forming on her abdomen and side from where she was hit at. "Oh Naruko-chan" she whispered tearfully.
Sasuke gave a low growl seeing the bruises and was ready to charge at Zabuza for what he did to Naruko, but before he could charge in Kakashi yelled out to them.
"Everyone get out of here now! Get Naruko and Tazuna-san away from here! As long as Zabuza has me trapped inside this prison he can't follow you. That goes for his clone too. Our mission is to protect Tazuna-san so I'm ordering you all to escape!" Kakashi ordered knowing this situation was too much for his team to handle and had to make the necessary call to protect them all with his current situation.
"Telling us to run is a waste of time. The moment you were caught that no longer was an opinion for us" Sasuke thought glancing at Hinata who was propping Naruko up into a sitting position. "The only way were going to survive is if we can break you out of that prison. We have to save you in order for us all to survive."
Once he found his resolve Sasuke charged at Zabuza throwing out kunais and Shurikens. Zabuza's clone stood unfazed by the Uchiha boy's sudden attack and simply deflected all of them as Sasuke jumped up aiming to punch the clone in the face. The clone stepped out of range countering Sasuke's attack with his own planting his fist firmly into the boy's cheek. Stumbling back from the force of the blow Sasuke tried to regroup and attack with a high knee, but was deflected again and hit in the sternum by his opponents elbow.
"You fool! Your no match for Zabuza get out of here now all of you!" Kakashi ordered finding this to be unbearable for he was powerless to protect his students.
"Yes Kakashi watch and suffer as I tear them all apart! I'm going to make all you little punks suffer and regret ever putting on those Headbands!" Zabuza taunted laughing demonically as he watched his clone pick Sasuke apart, beating the boy into the ground.
Tazuna could only take so much. He watched Naruko get throttled and looked away in disgust with himself at the bruises lining her small frame. He listened to Hinata's small sobs from watching her friends getting knocked around while holding onto Naruko's beaten form as if asking her what to do. Now he had to watch another child get beaten and broken down by the monster Gato sent out for him. It was just too much for Tazuna to handle and he had to put a stop to it even if it cost him his life. "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Zabuza's clone paused in his attack hearing the bridge builders yell and looked over towards the shaking old man. "What's enough old man?"
"This senseless fighting. Leave these Children alone. I'm your target right? Well here I am finish me off and let these people go" Tazuna tells him stepping forward.
"I see you came to your senses old man, but I don't need to bargain with the likes of you. Everyone here is going to die anyway so why make a fools deal when I can have everything I want" Zabuza mocked savoring the look of despair on Tazuna's face as he went to slice Sasuke in half.
Just as his sword was to connect with the Uchiha's battered body the clone was knocked back by a sudden upper-cut knee to his face. Zabuza's water clone clawed at the ground to halt his movements bring his enraged eyes up to stare at a panting, but determined looking Naruko who was clutching onto her Konoha forehead protector in her bandaged hand.
"Old man don't even think about giving up your life to the likes of this freak. I told you didn't I? I'm going to protect you and help you save your country by taking down that Gato bastard so don't go dying on me just yet" Naruko tells Tazuna keeping her blue eyes locked on Zabuza. "You got that you no-brow looking freak I'm taking you down along with that scumbag you call a boss."
"Really now? How's a no name brat like you going to do that? You can barely stand and you think you can take me down. Brat you got a lot to learn about how this world works, but you won't get live long enough to learn!" he yelled charging at Naruko with his Kubikiribōchō raised for his attack.
Naruko ignored his taunt as she retied her protector to her forehead remembering how she earned this headband from Iruka and the things he told her about being a leaf ninja fueling her desire to win and prove herself as she wiped the blood dripping from her busted lip. "Listen up you freak! I got something for you to put into that bingo book of yours. Its the name of the woman who's going to become Hokage someday! Konoha-style ninja Naruko Uzumaki" Naruko yelled waiting for Zabuza's clone to get closer as she performed her Rat → Snake → Horse → Dog hand seals. "Ninpou Fūton: Shinkūha!" she shouted the moment the clone was above her releasing the built up chakra she gathered catching the clone of guard as the raging winds around her sliced him up.
Zabuza stared at the small girl in surprise not expecting her to have such a powerful jutsu up her sleeve, but he soon noticed the many slashes on her arms and legs realizing she has not fully mastered the technique. "Impressive skill for someone so young, but no matter she is still no threat to me. Seems like I'll get more enjoyment out of these brats then I first thought."
"Naruko.." Kakashi thought watching his little sister acting like a true ninja.
Sasuke glared at his panting teammate who sent him flying with her attack as well. "Baka! The next time you use that technique warn someone before you do it" he scolded taking a stand next to her.
"Sorry teme, but I had to create some distance between us and that guy. I have a plan to save Nii-chan, but I'm going to need your help. Are you okay to fight still?" she asked keeping her eyes on Zabuza and Kakashi.
"Hn like you or that guy would be enough to keep me down" he remarked keeping his eyes locked on their enemy as well. "But to think you were able to come up with a plan in this kind of situation.? Maybe you really are growing up Naruko."
Hinata quickly stepped up on Naruko's right side. "I..I wanna help too. W..We're a team a..aft..after all" she stuttered out refusing to be stay behind while her friends were out to fight and get hurt.
Naruko smiled at her before turning back to Zabuza. "Alright Team Seven lets show this guy what were made of! Time to go wild!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Off in the distance of were the battle was taking place someone stood on top of a tree branch watching the fight. The stranger had a white mask covering their face, but you could tell their eyes were trained onto the battle. "This girl... She seems to have caught my master's attention... As well as mine."
Lazyfox: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Wow I can't believe I'm close to the stories 3 year anniversary~ I hoping I get Chapter 40 on that day, but I will make no promises of that happening because I will most likely be stuck studying for test T^T
Random: How have I manage to live through your abuse for these past three years? It surprises myself really
Lazyfox: That my friend is a mystery to us all :)
Magic: *poofs in mad with Chibi-Obito trying to cheer him up* Can you get to your stupid question already! You bumped off my glorious torture segment to ask them!
Kushina: Excuse me I think you meant to say my torture segment *demon aura surrounds her*
Magic: *backs away a bit* Yea I meant your haha *poofs away*
Minato: Kushina dear I thought we talked about scaring people away
Kushina: You talked about it, but I didn't listen :) I was too busy sharpening my weapons and looking for my brother's Shoop-da-whoop canon~
Minato: *sits in the emo corner* Why do I even try
Lazyfox: ^-^' Hehe they needed their spotlight time. Okay guys time for my really important questions. This maybe really early to ask, but it's an idea that won't get out of my head so I want you as the reviewers to help me decide on it.
Question 1:When it's time for me to do the Chunin exams would you guys be okay with me mixing up the matches opponents or would you all feel it best for me to keep the matches the same as they done in the show and manga?
Question 2: If your okay with me mixing up the matches what characters would you like to see fight each other?
Magic: *Poofs back in* Are you SERIOUS! I gave up my segment for that!
Lazyfox: What? These are really important questions and I want to get a lot of feedback for them before I make my final decision. Besides you know I write some chapter ideas out ahead of time
Magic: Damn you Lazy-Baa-Chan! *poofs away angrily again*
Lazyfox: He'll get over it he just needs to vent out some pent up anger, but yea I really like your opinions so please help me out by sending in some feedback on what you think and if you feel like you want to see a certain fight done a certain way please don't hesitate to send it in. I be happy to read it ^w^ Well, that's all I have to say and I look forward to seeing your guys reviews so until next time...
Everyone: JAA-NEE!