The old geezer was getting on his nerves. Throwing verbal jabs while swilling sake. Who even drinks this early in the morning. That wasn't even the most annoying thing about today! Kakashi sensei had to be flirting with Honoka and she ruined his plan to try and charm Sakura with the amulet. Okay, he admitted that his plan wasn't working until Sakura caught the scent of the flowers within.
Kakashi sensei was explaining some things about the Land of Waves when Naruto sensed something. He sensed two chakra signatures and they were close, but there was nothing that indicated that there was anyone else around. He performed the ram seal and tried focusing his chakra. The signatures became clear, they were in the puddle that they just passed. But how could anyone let alone two people hide in a puddle? The Mind's Eye couldn't be fooled though. He let his left hand fall back down and performed several hand signals that indicated that he sensed two enemy contacts and they were close. Whether Sasuke or Sakura picked up the signals was something he didn't know, but he was certain Kakashi sensei should be able to.
He looked over his shoulder and saw Kakashi sensei send a counter hand signal indicating that the message was received and he sensed them too, but to hold the current course.
Naruto didn't know what to make of that order, but he did as ordered.
Then the chakra signatures flared up, they were on the attack.
They wrapped Kakashi sensei in some kind of spiked chain and pulled hard ripping him apart. Or so it seemed. Naruto still sensed his chakra signature. Then it clicked. A substitution.
Before Naruto could even truly react they were on him.
The whistling of flying shuriken and kunai passed Naruto's head. It was Sasuke, he pinned the chain to a tree. Followed quickly with kicking both in the face like a mule.
The attackers detached the chain and split. Still having not moved, he didn't know what to do. Tracking them was no problem with the mind's eye, but what should he do.
One went to attack Tazuna. Sakura and Sasuke went to intercept him and protect Tazuna. The other went for him.
He felt the metal claws cut into the flesh of hand. Then nothing.
Kakashi sensei had taken both out.
Sakura and Sasuke were surprised that Kakashi sensei was still alive and had come to their rescue.
Kakashi sensei said, "I'm sorry Naruto for not coming to help you sooner. I didn't think you would freeze up like that. Especially since you detected them".
Naruto said nothing, now just kicking himself over his failure.
Kakashi moved towards the others and said, "Excellent work, Sasuke and Sakura".
Kakashi then turned to him and said, "Naruto, don't move around. Those ninja have poison in their claws. We'll have to open up the wound and drain the poison".
Kakashi turned to Tazuna and said, "By the way, Mr. Tazuna. We'll need to talk".
Kakashi sensei led a fairly brief interrogation after tying them up.
The enemy ninja asked, "How did you know about our ambush"?
Kakashi sensei replied, "Honestly, it was pretty easy. A puddle on a clear day when it hasn't rained for weeks? We don't even need to have a sensor to notice that".
Tazuna asked, "Then why leave it to the genin"?
Kakashi sensei said, "I would have learned nothing from them if I had just taken them out. I had to learn who their target actually was. Whether it was us as Leaf ninja or you, the master bridge builder"?
Tazuna asked, "What are you implying"?
Kakashi sensei coldly answered, " When you put in your request, you asked for basic protection against bandits and highwaymen. Not ninja. If we knew ninja were after you, your protection detail would have consisted of four experienced Chunin or three experienced Chunin with a Jonin squad leader. You would have been charged for the price of a B rank mission. I am sure you have your reasons, but lying to us is not acceptable. We are beyond the scope of our mission".
Sakura said, "We're genin, this is too advanced for our level of training. We should go back. Then of course we have Naruto's wound. He needs immediate medical attention".
Kakashi said, "Naruto's hand could be a problem, we probably should go back to the village".
That elicited a growl from him and Naruto drew his kunai and thrust into the wound to drain the poison and blood. This shocked everyone.
Naruto said, "Why am I always so different! I worked so hard to get here, you know. Training from sunup to sundown. Taking on any training no matter how hard it is. I will never run away and I will never lose to Sasuke! Upon this wound, I make this pledge, you know. I, Uzumaki Naruto, make this solemn oath. Bridge Builder, I will protect you and help you complete the construction of your bridge. So don't you guys worry. I'll be fine".
Kakashi sensei said, "Naruto that was really cool and all; taking out the poison like that. But if we don't close and staunch the wound, you'll bleed out and die".
That caused Naruto to panic a bit and jump around like crazy.
Kakashi sensei said, "Give me your hand, Naruto".
Sakura said, "Naruto, you've got a self-abusive personality. It's called masochism".
Kakashi sensei paused looking at his wound and Naruto asked, "Your stare is really scaring me, am I going to be okay, you know"?
Kakashi sensei smiled underneath the mask and replied, "Of course. I am finishing the wrapping now".
Tazuna said with his eyes glistening, "Dam you, kid. Are you really an Uzumaki"?
Naruto said with a confused look across his face, "Yeah. I am the son of Kushina Uzumaki".
Tazuna asked, "Kushina Uzumaki, the granddaughter of Ashina Uzumaki"?
Naruto replied, "Yeah, that's my great-grandfather".
Tazuna took a deep bow, and said, "We, in the land of Waves had heard the Uzumaki clan still lived in the Hidden Leaf and we hopped that we could hire them to help them but we heard that they were all Jonin and we couldn't afford the rate of A rank mission. I thank you with my whole soul for your pledge. It has been decades since the destruction of the Hidden Whirlpool and our land has suffered greatly as without the Hidden Whirlpool and Uzumaki clan, the Land of Waves was open to every sort of criminal imaginable".
Kakashi sensei said, "Well, I guess that settles it. We're going to continue the mission".
Author's Note: So this chapter will be a little shorter given the time jump to their arrival in the Land of Waves. I'm not 100% sold on how I handled Tazuna's gratitude, and the history between the Hidden Whirlpool, Uzumaki Clan, and Land of Waves. I was suggested a theory that had the Hidden Whirlpool actually having been in the Land of Waves and the land was renamed after the village was destroyed. If there are any suggestions to change how I did it, feel free to leave it in the comments/review. I'm a bit buzzed right now since it's Valentine's Day and I am single.