Morning came quickly as everyone woke up and made their way to the dinner table.
"Good morning everyone." Kakamei said as he looked around to see everyone sitting down around the table well, almost everyone.
"So, Naruto didn't come back last night?" Kakamei said.
"Yeah, he's not here. Apparently he was outside all night practicing that tree climbing stuff." Tazuna answered as Kakamei sat down to a plate of food, a bowl of rice, and a cup of tea. He started to eat the food. Sakura sighed at the comment.
"He's probably gone crazy by this point. For all I know, he could be dead by now for using too much chakra." Sakura said as Kakamei sipped on his tea.
"I certainly hope he's okay. A child spending the night in the woods all alone? I don't like that one bit." Tsunami said as Kakamei finished drinking his tea and sat back.
"You have nothing to worry about. Naruto may be somewhat of an idiot but he's also a full fledged shinobi. He can handle himself just fine." Kakashi said. Sasuke was the next to speak up.
"Sakura has a point. That loser is such a loser. He's probably dead somewhere." Sasuke said as he stood up and started to walk away.
"Sasuke, where are you going?" Sakura asked as Sasuke looked back.
"For a walk." He responded as Kakamei smiled and wiped his face.
"Wait up, I'm coming too." Kakamei said as he stood up and walked away from the table.
"Thank for the meal, we'll be back sooner or later." Kakamei said as he and Sasuke walked out of the house.
When they walked out of the house and made it to the woods.
"So, where do you think Naruto is?" Kakamei asked as Sasuke scoffed.
"Why did you even come? I just came for a walk." Sasuke question as Kakamei just continued to walk.
"I came because I wanted to see how far Naruto's gotten up the tree. It would be a real shame if Naruto made it to the top before I did, wouldn't it?" Kakamei said as he looked around.
"Whatever. He's probably at the trees from earlier. He's probably passed out by now." Sasuke said as the two genin continued to walk.
Minutes later they were walking as Kakamei felt a breeze of cold brush past him.
"Hey, Sasuke, did you feel that?" Kakamei asked as Sasuke looked over to teammate.
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke said. Kakamei looked around.
"It got cold all of a sudden." Kakamei responded as Sasuke turned and kept walking.
"You're just losing your mind. Get over it, the training ground is up ahead." Sasuke said as Kakamei shrugged it off.
"It must be these woods. It's the second time it's happened." Kakaei said aloud.
'It's more than that. The masked fighter must be close to me.' Kakamei thought to himself as he kept walking.
As they walked towards Kakamei could see two people sitting in the middle of the woods. One was Naruto, who was sitting on the ground, while the other was a girl who was holding a basket. As they moved closer the girl started to walk towards the two genin. Kakamei found his muscles tensing and his mind starting to go blank.
'What's happening? My body it's…" Kakamei thought as he prepared himself to jump but as he was going to make a quick, sudden movement against the girl. Before he was able to the girl passed.
The girl passed him quickly but, in the instant their paths crossed Kakamei felt an almost death threatening cold take over him before a surge of heat flowed through his body. His muscles untensed, thoughts came rushing into his mind, and unknowingly he took in a breath, something he had failed to do since he came into arm's length of the girl. Kakamei turned as the girl was now out of sight. Kakamei stood there for a second before he heard Naruto's voice.
"Hey, Kakamei, are you okay?" Naruto asked which btoke Kakamei out of his trance. Kakamei regained his composure and turned to his teammates.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine." Kakamei answered as he turned. Before Naruto could insert his rebuttal Sasuke punched him in the head.
"Owww! What did you do that for?!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke looked at his teammate.
"You're such a loser. Did you forget about breakfast?" Sasuke asked as Naruto just laughed like a child and Sasuke turned his head quickly. Kakamei looked on whilel his mind was somewhere else.
'That kid was definitely the masked boy, so why did I freeze up? I know I should have confronted him right then and there. But, for some reason my entire body completely froze up. It was like my body was telling me to not fight him. Then there was that sudden burst of heat going through my body. That feeling contradicted my feelings before. At that moment it felt as if I should have turned and attacked him. That kid… I need to see that kid again.' Kakamei thought. He shook his head violently and looked up into the sky.
'It's over now. I have a feeling I'll see him again when Zabuza shows up so I think I can wait until then.' Kakamei thought as he looked at his teammates.
"Looks like you haven't made too much progress." Kakamei said as he looked at his teammate. Naruto grumbled at the comment as Kakamei smiled at the response.
"And for a second I was scared that you would make it to the top before I did." Kakamei said as Naruto stood up off of the ground.
"Alright! Then let's see who gets to the top first!" Naruto yelled as Kakamei and Sasuke walked to their trees and pulled out their kunai. They walked back a decent distance away and started training.
A Few Hours Later
"NARUTO!" Sakura yelled as her and Kakashi walked into a clearing in the forest.
"Knowing Naruto he could be anywhere. And Sasuke and Kakamei haven't come back either. I wonder where they are." Sakura said as a kunai came flying a her feet. She and Kakashi looked up into the trees to see Naruto lying on a branch.
"Naruto can climb that high by only using his chakra, that's great!" Sakura said as Kakashi looked at his student.
"What do you think? High enough for you guys? It's a long way down isn't it?" Naruto said as he jumped up. Before he could get a really good balance he started to wobble. He fell forward which scared Kakashi and Sakura. Before he was able to fall far off the tree he spun to the bottom of the branch and stood up straight.
"Haha! Just kidding." Naruto said. The boy laughed as Sakura became visibly annoyed.
"We were worried about you Naruto!" Sakura said as Kakashi sighed.
"Ughhh, why do I feel that this is going to end badly?" Kakashi asked himself out loud as Naruto's laughter ceased as his feet popped off the tree branch. Kakashi and Sakura's eyes widened as the genin proceeded to fall to the ground.
"You just had to push it didn't you?! Show off!" Sakura yelled as Naruto continued to fall. Just then there were footsteps running up the tree. Just then Sasuke's hand reached out and grabbed Naruto's ankle.
"You just had to push it didn't you?" Kakamei said as Kakashi and Sakura looked to the left and saw Kakamei sitting on the tree next to Naruto's.
"You really are a total loser aren't you?" Sasuke rhetorically asked as everyone looked to him.
"Wow, Sasuke! You're so cool!" Sakura yelled as Kakashi cracked an eye smile.
"If I'm still sane by the time I finish my training it'll be a miracle." Kakashi said.
In Gatou's hideout Zabuza was sitting down on a sofa as Haku was standing next to him. Zabuza had an apple in hand and as he squished it and let the remains drop on the floor.
"You're recovering quickly." Haku said as Zabuza looked at his hand.
"It won't be too long from now." Zabuza said as he stood up.
"So, what's wrong with you?" Zabuza asked as Haku looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Haku asked. Zabuza scoffed and walked past him and started doing minor stretches.
"Ever since you came from that walk you took earlier you have been acting weird. Did something happen to you?" The rogue ninja asked Haku. Haku was slightly taken back by the question.
"No, nothing is wrong. Maybe resting for so long has dulled your senses." Haku responded as Zabuza looked at the child. He looked carefully as Haku just looked as innocent as ever.
"Whatever, be prepared, it won't be long before we have to battle Kakashi once again." Zabuza uttered as Haku just nodded.
Hours Later in the Forest
Kakamei, Sasuke, and Naruto were all at the top of their trees looking at each other.
"Hey Kakamei, loser, let's go back." Sasuke said as Naruto let out a huge smile and Kakamei nodded.
"Okay!" Naruto yelled.
"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry." Kakamei said as they all made it down the tree. As all three of the enin stood on the ground Naruto nearly fell to the ground as Kakamei ad Naruto wrapped their arms around him.
"Looks like you used all of that chakra." Kakamei said as they started to walk.
"You're such a loser." Sasuke said as Naruto just giggled.
"I made it all the way up the tree but, who made it up there first?" Kakamei asked as they all looked at each other.
"I think that we can all come to the agreement and say that I made it to the top first." Naruto said as Sasuke cracked a slight smile.
"In your dreams. If I let you beat me I wouldn't be able to live with myself." Sasuke said as Kakamei laughed and Naruto started to jump in.
"Hey, calm down, if you don't stop you're going to fall." Kakamei said with a smile on his face. The three argued about what had happened all the way to the bridge builder's home.
Minutes Later
The door to Tazuna's home was opened and the dinner that was going on was halted. The three genin walked in as everyone turned their head to see who had walked in.
"What have you been up to? You look like something the cat dragged in." Tazuna said as Naruto looked up.
"Haha. All three of us made it. All the way to the top." Naruto answered as Kakashi looked up at his students.
"Good, now we move on to something else. Starting tomorrow you are going to bodyguards for the bridge builder." Kakashi said as Naruto became visibly happy as he jumped up and leaned back as Kakamei and Sasuke groaned.
"You are such a loser!" Sasuke exclaimed as Kakamei shook his head.
"I told you this would happen!" Kakamei yelled as almost everyone except Inari started to laugh.
A Couple Minutes Later
Everyone was sitting down at the table with a plate in front of them.
"Only a couple more days and the bridge will be complete and I have all of you to be thankful for that." Tazuna said as his daughter quickly said something afterwards.
"You've all done great but you still have to be careful." Tsunami said as Tazuna went on to ask Kakashi a question that had been bugging him for so long.
"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while now," Tazuna started, " Why did you continue to protect me even though you found out I lied to you." Kakashi crossed his hands and answered.
"Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but under the guidance of a strong leader cowardice cannot survive." Kakashi said as Tsunami and Tazuna were taken aback by what Kakashi had said.
"Huh?" Tsunami asked as Kakashi answered.
"It's a quote from the first Hokage." Kakashi said as the two now understood. Inari looked over to Kakamei then he looked over to Naruto.
He thought back to a memory that he had long remembered of his father, of him saving the entire village. He also saw an image of what happened to him when that same bravery had gotten him tortured and killed. Tears started to roll down his face as he allowed himself to let his emotions take over him.
"But why…" the child let out as Naruto caught on to what he had just said.
"What? What did you just say?" Naruto asked as Inari slammed his hands on the table and stood up.
"All this stupid training is just a waste of time! Gatou's got an entire army and they'll beat you down! They'll destroy you! These cool things you all say, it doesn't amount to anything. No matter what you do the strong always win and the weak always lose!" Inari boasted as everyone fell silent for a second.
'I talk to the kid and he actually learns nothing. Now I don't like the kid no matter what the hell this kid went through, he's a complete wuss. That's the last time I try to help someone like him again.' Kakamei thought to himself as he shook his head before being stopped by an outburst by Naruto.
"Speak for yourself. It won't be like that for me, you got that kid?" Naruto asked as he laid his head back onto the table. Naruto's sentence made Inari even more mad.
"Why don't you stay quiet?! Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country, you're just butting in! You're always laughing and playing around, you don't have any idea what does it feels like to be treated like dirt and suffer!" Inari complained as this triggered something in Naruto angry. He could comprehend what it felt like the most. To be treated differently, discriminated against, mistreated, hatred, suffering, Naruto knew it the best.
"Listen to yourself, whining and complaining like some sorry little victim. It's pathetic! You can drown in your own tears for all I care! You're nothing but a coward." Naruto said as Inari fell silent.
'He listens when Naruto says something but when I have a talk with him he still cries. What a load of bull.' Kakamei thought to himself. Everyone was surprised by Naruto's outburst.
"Naruto! You went too far!" Sakura chastised as Naruto didn't answer, he just raised from his chair, and walked out of the room. Inari sood there as he looked as if he was on the brink of crying once again.
Inari just quickly turned to look at the sea again.
The Next Morning
Morning came slowly as the shinobi and the bridge stood on the outside of the house, talking to Tsunami. Each of them had their own bag on their back.
"Kakashi, are you sure that it's okay for you to go to work today? You're body isn't completely healed, ya' know." Tsunami nagged worryingly as Kakashi just brushed it off.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. However, if you can keep an eye on Naruto that would be great. As usual he's pushed himself too far and will probably be sleeping all day today." Kakashi said as Tsunami nodded. Kakashi then looked over to Kakamei.
"So, you're going to train a little while longer in the forest?" Kakashi asked as Kakamei nodded.
"Yeah, I've been using chakra control well so I'm going to try to get better. I probably won't be long so I'll meet you guys later." Kakamei said as Kakashi simply nodded as the bridge builder turned towards the building sight.
"Alright everyone, let's go." Tazuna said as the group separated. The group following the bridge builder went straight as Kakamei took a left turn and started heading towards the forest.
Minutes Later
Kakamei made it to the forest clearing as he dropped the bag on his back and started doing some stretches. He finished his stretches and started looked at the sky.
"Today will be the day I start trying to use my Kekkei Genkai." Kakamei said started by doing seven hand signs and held his hand palm up. He started to form a fire.
"Now, if I can hold this fire for one minute I can add Wind Release to it." Kakamei said as he held this position for as long as he could.
Thirty seconds later Kakamei was struggling to keep the fire going. After the thirty-six second mark the flame was snuffed out and Kakamei looked at his hand.
"Ha, this is going to be harder than I thought it was going to be." Kakamei said as he did the hand signs once again as he made a flame that was larger in size this time.
This time, instead thirty seconds it was cut down to twenty seconds. His chakra became inconsistent the flame was snuffed once again.
"So, it can't be too large of the chakra will start to fluctuate and then I can't bring back into me. If I can't get through this part how am I going to add wind to it. Well, I only have all day." Kakamei said as he weaved the signs and started once again.
Five Minutes Later
Time flew by faster than expected as Kakamei was starting to get slightly sweaty. He wiped the sweat of of his forehead and looked at his hand.
"This time I'll make it relatively small and try to contain it." Kakamei said as fire formed in the palm of his hand. The flame barely reached out to Kakamei's fingertips. He held it for ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds, forty seconds, fifty seconds, fifty five seconds, sixty.
Kakamei made it to sixty seconds before releasing the fire jutsu. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead.
"I feel accomplished." Kakamei admitted to himself as he cracked a smiled.
"Now U have to add Wind Release to it." Kakamei said as weaved the hands sings once more and the flame that barely caressed his palm appeared. Kakamei looked at his hand.
"Now how am I supposed to add Wind Release onto this?!" Kakamei screamed. He squeezed his hand and opened it to see that the fire was still burning. He looked at his hand surprised.
"What's happening…?" Kakamei said aloud as he looked at his hand.
'Now that I think about it it's been longer than thirty seconds and I don't feel any strain or problem with keeping the fire in tact. But I was having so much trouble holding it just a minute ago.' Kakamei thought as he dispersed the jutsu.
"A Kekkei Genkai is supposed to come to me naturally. Having it is supposed to come easily, so if I clear my mind it should come easily." Kakamei said as he focused and created a flame without weaving any hand signs. He looked at his hand surprised as he raised his other hand.
"Now, if I can create Wind Release…" Kakamei said as he used his chakra to create a spiral of wind spin in his hand.
"Wow, who knew this would be this easy. Now all I have to do is push them together." Kakamei calmly stated as he pushed the two palms into each other. The fire and wind came together. At first Kakamei could see something more than just fire occuring a huge burst of force hit Kakamei and dispelled both jutsu in his hand and sent him flying through the air. He kept flying until his back hit a tree. The genin's body landed on the ground. He looked down at his hands to see black marks on his palms.
"Looks like I can't control my chakra good enough for it." Kakamei said as he jumped off of the ground.
Before he could resume his training he felt a chill run down his spine. It felt like the cold he had felt earlier but much colder. He turned around to face the bridge. He took in a deep breath.
"That's where the rest of my team is, no, that's where the masked ninja is. I have to see that kid. Some force in my body is telling me to find this kid." Kakamei said as he started walking. Before he could get far he could feel the burning sensation he had felt before, when had first been close to the masked ninja.
Before the sensation wasn't as strong, it wasn't as hot. The sense of heat inside of his body at the moment felt as if it was ready for combat. Kakame's thoughts weren't fading like last time but it was as if he couldn't control them though.
'What is this feeling? I feel as if I could do anything right now. I need to meet this masked man. Why do I feel this way when I can sense his presence? Why can I sense his presence more than anyone else's? Coming on this mission wasn't coincidence or luck of the draw. I was meant to come to the Land of Waves, I was meant to meet this masked boy.' Kakamei thought as he we from walking to speed walking. He went from speed walking to running. He went from running to jumping into the trees and jumping from branch to branch.
"I need to hurry… I can feel his presence colliding with mine… just like his used to so long ago…!" Kakamei said as he raced to the bridge.
On the bridge Haku was lying on the ground in front of Zabuza as the rogue ninja stood over the boy, extremely surprised that Haku had just been outsped by a lowly genin.
'Impossible! No one's faster than Haku!' Zabuza mentally screamed as Sasuke's feet landed on the ground.
"You're not that quick. I wonder, what else were you wrong about." Sasuke said as he looked at Zabuza. Kakashi looked fairly happy as he looked at Zabuza.
"You made a big mistake by insulting these ninja and calling them brats. That's sure to bring out Sasuke's attitude. He's the best young fighter of the Hidden Leaf Village. And Sakura here is the sharpest mind." Kakashi boasted as Sakura tried to hide her ego from coming out.
'Hehehe! Cha! Am I bad or what!?' Sakura thought as Kakashi finished.
"And don't forget about Kakamei, the hot headed lion of the Hidden Leaf. Also, last but not least we have Naruto. Our number one hyperactive knucklehead." Kakashi said. Zabuza looked down but didn't look the slightest bit worried. He even started to laugh.
"Haku, if we keep going like this we might end up being the victims." Zabuza said as Haku stood off of the ground and looked at his opponents.
"Zabuza, before we begin once more I must say that the heat from before is coming this way." Haku said as Zabuza just shrugged it off.
"It's probably one of the other brats under Kakashi's wing." Zabuza said as Haku shook his head.
"It's less of a boy and more of a beast. Even I must say that it makes my body freeze, completely cold. That Leaf ninja wasn't far off. The boy is really a hot lion." Haku said. Zabuza looked down at his child apprentice and scoffed.
"Whatever! Haku, kill the kids. That Kakashi is mine." Zabuza said as Haku nodded.
"Yes sir." Haku said as everyone stared each other down.
And that's another Chapter! Don't forget get to Review/Follow/Favorite
