Next chapter, finally gonna get into the Land of Waves. Enjoy!


SWINK OR SWIM


They had been walking for about thirty minutes, and it was agonizingly boring. The most action they encountered on their trek was a rabbit jumping out of a bush. Peculiar but nothing to worry about.

Sasuke sighed internally as he gazed at each one of his team members. First up, Sakura. She was a headstrong girl that for some reason had the most personal vendetta against one Uzumaki Naruto. Sure, he was mean, really really mean, but he didn't deserve that.

Next, Sai. The boy didn't even have a last name for god's sake! Of course, his personality was just as bland as his name. That eternal fake smile never ceased to give him the creeps every time it was flashed in his direction.

Lastly, their team leader and most enigmatic member, Hatake Kakashi. He was a very strong Jonin, probably the strongest of them all. His personality needed some work though, as well as his cordialness. He was late all the time as if it was a chronic illness affecting his sense of time. His personality was very, very strange. He was some sort of mix of Sai and a clown. Humorous at times but was almost completely zoned out.

Coming back to his senses, he heard a rustle in the bush nearest to him and turned to the source, expecting something to hop out. Hop it did. From the bushes came two large men, clad in black with long black hair. They charged toward Kakashi and effortlessly dissected him. "Sensei!" The team echoed concernedly.

Jumping into action, Sasuke and Sai blitzed the taller one, kicking him in the chest before elbowing the man in the head, dazing him severely. Sakura held her own comparatively well, attacking the shorter one with a resounding uppercut before slamming her feet down on the man's genitals, eliciting a horrifying screech that brang him sympathy from all of the men, including his enemies. Hell, even Sai grimaced.

With one last chop to the neck, the man was out cold and groveled at Sakura's feet. It was then that Kakashi made his appearance. "Well, certainly better than I thought..." He trailed, being cut off by his frantic genin.

"B-but how?! Didn't you die?!" Sakura and Sasuke mimicked, equally in shock at the man's seemingly impossible revival.

With a smirk veiled by his facemask, Kakashi brang his thumb backward and pointed toward a log that was badly damaged. "That was a substitution. Did you really think those low-lives would beat me?" He questioned, faking hurt.

"And for you, Tazuna, you have some explaining to do..."


NARUTO AND YUGAO


They had come back from countless meaningless missions and Naruto was starting to get sick of it. Even worse, he was starting to become suspicious of the whereabouts of Team 7. They had taken missions as worthless as him, right? So why weren't they back yet? Surely their sensei wasn't soft enough to let them take breaks after such pitiful missions? Did they get a better mission than him?!

"Yugao-sensei..." Naruto alerted, getting the woman's attention. "How come I have to continue doing these lackluster missions?" He finished with a scowl on his face.

Yugao responded with a tamed look. "I wouldn't say lackluster, Naruto. These missions build the foundation for you as a shinobi, and it also brings the village more prosperity." She completed, subtly smirking at the way Naruto's face soured at that last bit.

"Whatever." He said darkly before continuing on his way towards the Mission Office silently with Yugao in tow. "How come Team 7 gets better missions than us then?" He broke the silence with an inquisition.

"Whatever do you mean?" Yugao asked innocently. She actually did not have any idea of Team 7's whereabouts, how did Naruto come to that conclusion? In response, Naruto scowled before explaining.

"I thought you would have caught on, Yugao-sensei, but whatever." Naruto insulted, making the purple-haired female bristle before calming slightly. "Team 7 is obviously doing a higher level mission because if they were doing grunt work, they would be back by now. Their sensei is definitely not that soft to allow them to rest after such pitiful chores." He concluded. Yugao gained a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Makes sense. If you're so confident, go and ask for one, Naruto." Yugao commanded as they neared the desk. As soon as Hiruzen's face came into view, Naruto walked forward toward the desk and inquired exactly what Yugao had told him to do.

"Give me a C-rank." Naruto said bluntly to the most powerful and wise man in the village, eliciting a sweatdrop from his sensei at how careless he was being. Hiruzen chuckled, much to the ire of Naruto, before speaking.

"You're in luck. It seems that Team 7 has run into some trouble on their mission and needs backup. That's where you come in. Be ready to depart in thirty minutes." He finished, watching in satisfaction as Naruto smirked, satisfied that his skills were going to be tested.

"Right on it, Lord Third." Yugao bowed before leaving the room with Naruto in tow.


TEAM 7


They were scared. No, scratch that. They were in terror. After the dispatching of the so-called demon brothers and Kakashi's miraculous revival that was just a substitution jutsu, he interrogated Tazuna on why he was sought after by two high-level ninjas.

Of course, a civilian such as Tazuna cracked under Kakashi's gaze and spilled all the beans. He said that his country, the Land of Waves, was monopolized by Gato, a business magnate that hid a truly despicable nature deep down. His sob story was not enough for Kakashi and he almost turned back, but his genin team decided to continue on, with even Sai being uncharacteristically generous.

Kakashi had also said that backup was on the way. If there were more fights to be had, it would be with even higher-level ninjas that the genin could not handle. That was bad news. Bad news indeed.

Back to the matter at hand, Kakashi was engaging a ninja known as Zabuza Momochi, or the Demon of the Mist. They supposed his nickname was fitting because he was terrifying. The sheer killing intent exuded by him was enough to make Sai's emotionless face break out into flat-out fear.

"Don't worry, guys! I promise to protect you!" Kakashi shouted from behind the mist, to which a hollow laugh resounded at the statement.

"Kakashi, I never thought you to be the deluded type. No matter, you and all your pathetic genin will join each other in hell!" Zabuza retorted, amusement present on his covered face.

The genin watched, still frozen in fear, as their sensei battled it out with a fearsome opponent. He swung his kunai effortlessly against Zabuza's broadsword. A clang emitted from the two objects colliding.

Jumping backward, the two powerful ninjas began morphing signs. "Water Dragon Jutsu!" The two mimicked, releasing a torrent of water that formed into a dragon. Flying towards their respective targets, the dragons evaporated as they collided.

Kakashi nimbly flickered behind Zabuza's form, ready to strike him down. In a split second, said target rotated and clashed his large sword with the kunai, easily overpowering it and slicing parts of Kakashi's flak jacket.

"Water Prison Jutsu!" Zabuza called, creating a sphere of water that encaptured the momentarily stunned Kakashi. "It seems there is no hope for any of you brats! You better run no, because it's over!"

Affirming his statement, their enigmatic sensei called from the Water Prison. "Run! You're no match for him! Get away while you can!"

"No, sensei!" Sasuke exclaimed, angered at the fact that their sensei, the one who preached to hold their teammates before the mission, was betraying his word. "The team comes first!" Sakura and Sai agreed with a small nod in their sensei's direction.

"How cute!" Zabuza exclaimed, a chortle escaping his bandaged mouth. "I guess there won't be a team after this. Water Clone!" Another copy of Zabuza made completely of water erupted from his body. "Kill them all."

With its orders given, the clone rushed towards the team of frightened yet determined genin. It stopped just short of one inch, leaving no room between itself and Sasuke, who he figured was the strongest of the team. With a swing of his cleaver, the large man aimed to decapitate Sasuke.

Moving as fast as he could, he saved himself, but not his hair as several locks of his hair were trimmed by the broadsword. Aiming to attack back, Sasuke twirled before kicking the copy across the face. The Zabuza clone ducked but was not fast enough to avoid a dropkick from Sakura.

He was sent crashing down, almost dispelled by the force of the kick. "Thanks, Sakura." Sasuke smiled gently towards his partner who nodded before turning to the man, a determined look on her face. Creating a bunshin, Sasuke urged it to speak to Sai.

They had a plan. Sasuke and Sakura were to keep the clone busy while the original Zabuza kept his eyes on the battle. Sai, on the sidelines, would create a tiny animal through the use of his ink and have it distract Zabuza long enough for him to dispel his Water Prison Jutsu.

The bunshin raced forward, intent on carrying out his creator's wishes. The Zabuza clone, unknowing of the clone's motivation but still suspicious, charged after it. Of course, the two other brats got in his way.

"You'll have to get through us!" Sasuke and Sakura exclaimed at the same time. The clone snarled behind his bandages before calling out "Water Dragon Jutsu!" A large dragon, smaller than the one the original Zabuza cast just minutes ago, appeared. It flew right at the two genin. Sadly, they were not fast enough.

The torrent of water ravaged their bodies. Scrapes, cuts, anything, it all occurred. The deadly water dragon had harmed them greatly. As the water died down, both genin were able to be seen, drenched in water, and had scars and cuts trailing their bodies.

They still stood, relentless. They would free their teacher, no matter what!


NARUTO AND YUGAO


"Just a little longer..." Yugao trailed as she and her protege trailed through the forest at breakneck speeds. She heard that Team 7 was in dire condition and needed immediate backup. Of course, she was a little most emotionally invested in the mission due to the fact that her former ANBU captain, Kakashi, was on it.

"Is Hatake Kakashi really struggling?" Naruto asked, incapable of believing that anyone as powerful as the Leaf's most renowned Jonin was having trouble, even if the mission was a higher rank than first believed.

"Sometimes, Naruto, people fail." Yugao concluded, her eyes set in the direction they were moving.

Forward.