Yes! Yes! I finally got to Canon pathway, and I know you folks are hype. As Senko would say, get excited.
Kakashi POV
Why
It was just supposed to be a regular escort mission. Now I am crossing swings with Zabuza Momochi, A powerful Rogue Ninja who killed many shinobi in gruesome ways. Chopping heads off, cleaving apart bodies, or slowly inflicting big slashes across the body with his massive sword.
Yeah, Zabuza was strong. I'd give him that. But he couldn't beat me!
Our two weapons clanged against each other again. My Kunai slid down the edge of the legendary weapon. Kubikiribocho. I used my left hand which was free and directed Zabuza's hand into the mud where it would get stuck for a couple of seconds.
It worked, But Zabuza proved his worth. He gave me a headbut which was completely unexpected. Going further and even spit in my face. I couldn't close my eyes or look away, a lesson I learned from my own Sensei. That didn't mean I wasn't surprised as Zabuza punched me straight in the chest.
It hurt. Zabuza was bigger than me and I was learning his build wasn't for show. However, you don't train with Might Guy and not gain anything to show for it. If Zabuza wanted to use Taijutsu I was all for it.
So I reacted the moment he hit me, a counterblow. Which was followed by me landing multiple blows through his thick guard. I had to push my Sharingan's ability to predict moves which would allow me to not be hit in exchange.
I dropped low only to meet Zabuza's knee. But I caught it and managed to shove it back into the ground. My eyes widened as I sent someone behind me and saw another Zabuza behind me. I gave up on counter-attacking and used Subsuition to evade being cut along my back.
Okay, Maybe he could.
I was watching him the whole time. We were moving so fast that I was sure my Genin couldn't see anything. And through this exchange, I know for sure Zabuza didn't use hand signs. Both his hands were occupied on his handle or punching me.
"Hahaha, spooked?" Zabuza questioned me with a smirk.
"I didn't know you could use jutsu without hand signs." I had figured out what he did. Clever. No doubt about it, Zabuza was powerful.
"And, nothing too impressive. Kakashi of the Sharingan should be able to keep up." He sure had a lot to say. His talk was nothing I hadn't heard before. There was just one problem, I'm not the same man I used to be.
For years I had been slacking on my training doing only the bare minimum just to stay in shape. And boy did I regret it now. Zabuza stood in front of me without an ounce of fear or hesitation.
I used to stand like that.
I was a bit envious of him, I'll say it.
Zabuza was waking something within me, I could feel it. Through my bones, my veins, my chakra point, and my heart. I was feeling good! I was finally knocking the dust off my shoulders that had built up and weighted me down over the years.
"Okay, let's get serious here." I rolled my neck and cracked some of my bones.
"You ready to die?"
"For a long time."
We moved off to engage again. I performed much better, but still not good enough. Zabuza wasn't having any trouble dealing with my attacks. Or at least our Kenjutsu.
I spun around him and readied my arm to swing for his neck. All he did was flatten out his blade and my kunai bounced off. Good thing I had another arm as this one was already halfway to Zabuza's face.
The bandaged man moved his head. The Kubikiribocho straightened and cut me along the chest. There was pain nothing to mind-numbing as I was able to fight past it and jump back.
"Fire Style: FireBall Jutsu!" I released a giant ball of fire toward Zabuza who laughed mockingly and easily cut the ball in half. "Fire Chain Prison!" The two balls split into chains and wrapped around Zabuza's body, coiling around him like a snake strangling its prey.
I cloaked my kunai in lightning and tossed it at Zabuza with pinpoint accuracy.
Only for the man to surprise me by somehow being able to throw up his blade with just his wrist and hand. It blocked my kunai but not without damage. Several cracks spread along the blade and Zabuza broke free seconds later and rushed toward me again.
"Earth Style: Mud Wave Jutsu!" My hands were deep in the dirt turning the ground Zabuza ran on to become mud. But Zabuza was like a mad demon as he rushed through the mud with his bloodlust being visible at this point.
"You've gone soft Kakashi!" Zabuza slashed right through me like I wasn't even there, which was true. It was a Lighting Clone that shocked the man with high waves of electricity. So much so it could kill a man as I charged it with as much potency as the electric chair.
But his screams became mad laughter. My god, this man was a demon! I felt sorry for Hell whenever he died.
We didn't say anything and just started fighting again. I couldn't keep doing this for long though, my stamina was draining and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep fighting this madman.
Like I thought, My stamina became my enemy. Zabuza was also crafty, he lured me into the water and I fell right into his trap. A clone of the man rose from the water and trapped me in a Water Prison.
"You three get out of here! You can't win! Take the client and get as far away as you can!" I yelled to my three Genin who were visibly frightened.
Menma Uzumaki
Satsuki Uchiha
Sakura Haruno
The three students didn't get along very well. But hopefully, they could get along this once and run away together.
"No way Sensei! Never abandon a comrade isn't that what you said!" The spiky-haired blonde shouted back to me. Damn! Why did he have to go and use my words against me?
"I don't run and I don't quit! I'll save you and beat this guy into the ground!" His words were tough as steel, but he wasn't.
Menma was just a boy, with no real talent for being a shinobi besides his strong mind and unwavering determination. He wasn't very smart and often goofed off. Still, Menma was a Shinobi with a bright future ahead of him. I could see it in his eyes.
He believed himself to be the best. Menma had potential and he was hungry. Two deadly combinations that created many monsters around the Shinobi world. I didn't want to be the reason such a hungry young shinobi died, not again. I'd lost many comrades under my lead and I didn't want to add three more.
Menma was important to me. He was my Sensei's legacy and I didn't want that legacy to be wasted.
"Just run, He can't chase you and hold me at the same time!"
"Just sit tight Sensei, we got this!"
No!
He was too charismatic. Satsuki fell into stance and I knew if Naruto fought so would Satsuki. Sakura was the only one who listened as she and Tazuna had moved several feet away from the battle.
Zabuza released a laugh—a slow, demonic, mirthful chuckle. "You think being a Shinobi is fun and games? Just because you wear that headband, you think you're a killer? You ain't shit. When I was your age, I had already killed hundreds."
He was right.
They were young kids who hadn't been through what Zabuza and I had. Though I couldn't say they were innocent. Satsuki watched her whole family die over a thousand times. Menma was an outcast who had been subjected to hatred since he could remember. They both already knew of the stain humans left on the world.
"I don't even know your names. You're not even in my ninja book. When death doesn't phase you and the smell of rotting corpses is refreshing, maybe I'll say you're a ninja." Zabuza released his bloodlust on the three. "Let me show you…what death is."
Zabuza fell into the mist leaving my team surprised. "Oh man, he's gone again!" Menma looked around and strained his eyes. Only for Zabuza's foot to send him flying.
Satsuki looked to be thinking. And I was glad she used that big brain. She was either thinking of ways to retreat or help Menma.
Her actions ended up with Zabuza holding her by the throat in the air. What did she think shuriken and leaping from the sky would do? Satsuki had a lot of growing to do.
Menma called for him. But another Water Clone of Zabuza stood over him. Poor boy, Menma was on the ground trembling in fear. He turned on his hand and looked ready to run.
Only to falter as he fell onto his injured hand. It was the same hand he stabbed himself in to release poison.
"Fool." Zabuza insulted the charging boy who was only screaming and yelling. Like kicking trash from the ground, Zabuza tossed Menma back.
"Listen you eyebrowless freak!" Menma chipped back. It seemed to anger Zabuza as he shook. It was pretty funny as Zabuza indeed didn't have eyebrows. "Put this in your bingo book, the Ninja that will become the Hokage of the Village Hidden In The Leaves. Never backs down!"
Gauh, I just got chills from his words. And so did the others from what I can see. Sakura, who swore Menma was an ugly idiot. But their she was blushing red like a tomato while Satsuki smirked.
"Big talk from such a little man." Zabuza chortled in amusement.
"Zabuza, stop playing games. This is between me and you. I know who you are." I told him.
"Oh, So I was marked in your book too? What a great feeling." Zabuza smiled deathly at me. "Do you know about our graduation exam?"
"And? We had a graduation to!" Menma said. "Not that big a deal!"
"I am from the Hidden Mist Village, also known as the Bloody Mist. For my graduation, I killed all my classmates. Imagine, a young ninja you knew for your entire life. You talked together, ate together, laughed together. Right when things are looking up, it's time to graduate."
I knew his story. "Ten years ago, a young evil approached the school. A boy not even a shinobi. Killed over a hundred other students without hesitation or mercy."
Zabuza just stood there his form now becoming rigid and silent. His toned body was on full display as he laid out all his sins. Everyone was silent and nobody even breathed. The cold howling wind was the only nose that dared speak.
"It felt so-good!" the world gained sound and motion again as Zabuza moved to finish the job.
Menma didn't stand a chance as he was punched away while Sasuke took an elbow to the rib knocking him to the ground. Zabuza delivered another elbow smash to her gut causing Satsuki to scream in pain.
"You're nothing girl." Zabuza stomped his foot onto Satsuki's chest.
"Leave her alone you no eyebrowed rat! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Menma summoned his solo army and surrounded Zabuza who didn't look phased, but I knew he was impressed.
All the clones popped into smoke and left the area covered in white smoke. Until it was dispelled by a gust, no doubt Zabuza swinging that head cleaver around.
Only to be shocked when that wasn't the case. Zabuza hadn't moved, or his clone hadn't moved. The real Zabuza was still holding me captive.
Standing there was a young teen. A kid roughly fifteen if I had to guess. He was just a couple of feet away from Zabuza holding a war fan. Their back was straight and their chin raised high. They peered at Zabuza through jet-black eyes almost identical to Satsuki but yet completely different at the same time. His eyes looked so haunting and deathly as if just holding eye contact with him would suck you into his endless darkness.
I couldn't shake the feeling I was getting from this kid. His eyes shifted to me briefly and he looked disgusted at the sight of me. He turned back to Zabuza and never once looked to be off guard. His hair was a familiar shade of purple, a midnight purple mixed with inky black. Their skin was slightly pale and body layered in muscle through their collared black top.
My god, their chakra was massive! It seemed endless just like Menmas, and their aura was pure power and confidence, unlike anything I had ever seen. What did he think of himself? His presence demanded authority and awe.
I gained a strong sense of fear all of a sudden. The boy stepped forward, closer to Zabuza and me.
"Zabuza." Their voice came out colder than arctic winds. His eyes look completely bored and uninterested.
"And who are you?" Even Zabuza looked shaken, just a bit. I could see and feel his real body tense.
They didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled two katanas from his back. The boy was dressed for war, in all black, and a face carved from stone. It was oddly familiar and it scratched. in the back of my mind.
"You're enemy."
And the rest was just blades doing battle. Sparks lit the area and the occasional sound of a grunt. Zabuza released me and quickly abandoned me. He ran to land and did battle with the boy, easily fending off his attacks.
In just seconds, Zabuza was plastered on the ground with a sword pointed at his neck. He growled in anger and attempted to move. His shoulder was pierced by a blade.
That's when three ice needles rose from inside Zabuza's skin sticking out from his neck. His body went limp and all movements fell to a halt.
End Pov
"That came from inside his skin. Was it planted?" Naruto observed the ice needles. It wasn't Songai since he was back in the village and so was Esdeath. So there was another Yuki alive or something else Naruto didn't know about.
Naruto turned his head to see Kakashi coming back to land. He looked on edge and prepared to fight if he must. Naruto's eyes saw the mismatched eyes looking back. Kakashi possessed a Sharingan, his clan bloodline. And he dare lose? He wanted nothing more than to rip the eye from Kakashi as it didn't belong to him.
"And just what are you doing?!" Menma shouted.
Naruto turned and took in the bright ninja. He wore full orange and blue. His hair was an electric yellow and his eyes a sparking blue. At the moment, his face was twisted into a sneer. "You think you can just come in and take over our fight? Hell no! If you wanna fight I'll give you a fight."
Menma summoned more Shadow Clones and rushed at Naruto intent to give him a fight.
"Menma stop!"
Naruto easily evaded every hit from the army of clones. He sent them to the afterlife with just a quick strike of his blades that moved through the air with little resistance.
Naruto's blades flashed and became nothing but a blur as they cleaved apart Menma's clones. Until they were face to face. It only lasted for a second as Menma was sent flying into a tree.
"I'm not here to fight you, Leaf ninja." Naruto tried, but very small hints of venom escaped.
"Okay, he doesn't like us. Noted." Kakashi was able to pick up on the restrained venom. He had heard the same tone from enemy ninja long ago. That is when Kakashi was able to take a look at his headband.
Mist.
He was from the Mist Village.
Naruto was about to say something but felt that lurking presence made itself known. He looked to Zabuza's body and saw a familiar uniform.
"I am a Mist Hunter Ninja sent with my comrade to capture and eliminate Zabuza." Their voice were soft and feminine.
Kakashi looked at Naruto's face to see if it was true or if he could read anything. But he picked up nothing. Naruto's face was impassive.
Naruto and the hunter ninja shared a conversation with their eyes. A conversation that ended in the hunter ninjas' demise, unfortunately. They just didn't know it yet.
"She's right, You made our job easier. And with that-"
"Lair!"
The shout came from Satsuki. She drew all their attention as her face was a mix of emotions. Anger, sadness, pain, grief, and despair. Until the warning emotions settled into one powerful feeling.
Hate.
"I know you. How could I forget, Naruto Uchiha."
Kakashi now knew who this Mist Shinobi was. Naruto was the son of Naka and Naori Uchiha, a Uchiha prodigy who looked to possess more potential than even Itachi or anyone before him.
Naruto's face displayed just a couple of emotions in a matter of seconds. He looked slightly happy, sad, and guilty.
"I see you're a traitor to the very end huh?! Going even further and deserting the village to join another!" Satsuki yelled in pure hatred no one had ever seen before. "But what am I surprised about? You're nothing but lying scum who abandoned their own blood!"
She rushed at Naruto with a kunai and a freshly awakened Sharingan with one spinning tomoe.
"Satsuki, I'm so sorry." Naruto's voice sounded so heavy and burdened with guilt in his own mind. And his eyes conveyed that message to Satsuki alone.
Naruto grabbed her wrist and twisted it so the kunai would drop from her hand. Naruto leaned in close to whisper into Satsuki's ear. "I'll save you."
The words seemed to ignite her hatred even more as she screamed in his face. Naruto let her go and chopped her in the neck. He watched as her body dropped onto the ground as if she were a puppet losing its strings. He wanted to catch her and gently drop her.
But Kakashi would see he had a weakness and might potentially exploit it. So he remained passive and looked unbothered by her outrage and hate-driven words.
"Satsuki!" Sakura yelled, shaking in front of Tazuna the bridge builder.
Through all of this, Naruto turned to see Zabuza and the Hunter ninja had successfully vanished. On his order that was. The Hunter Ninja was under his genjutsu.
Naruto didn't say anything else and just leaped into the trees.
Satsuki dropped to her knees and smashed the ground beneath her in pure hot anger. Hot tears slid down Satsuki's face and her chakra wafted off her like storm winds.
"That bastard! Who does he think he is?" Menma clenched his fist.
Kakashi watched his two students visibly vent their frustrations. He placed his hand on Menma's head. "There are mysterious people in this world who do things that defy meaning. Out and about, kids your age are even stronger than me."
Right when Menma seemed to accept the answer, he scowled and turned his head. "What are we doing then? How…how could we be so powerless? I trained so hard." Menma's expression fell and they all could feel his depression and helplessness at the situation. "To evade this feeling, it's the entire reason I trained."
Kakashi moved his hand to Menma's shoulder this time. "As Shinobi, the things we come across are never easy." Kakashi paused and raised his voice so all three kids could hear what he had to say. "Save your emotions, your rage, sorrow, and determination for your next enemy." Their sensei finished with an eye smile, reassuring them all would be well.
Sakura watched from a distance, feeling so out of place. Her two teammates seemed to have had hard lives, and even her sensei. While she didn't, her life was a luxury. "I feel so out of place. They are all so driven and determined. They have goals for being shinobi. Satsuki wanted to avenge her clan and retain Uchiha's pride. Menma wanted to become the Hokage. While I, I have nothing."
Tazuna laughed. "Alright, to make up for all the trouble I caused. I'll let you bunk at my house!"
Sakura was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't notice her Sensei walking up to her. "Sakura."
"Huh! Yes, Sensei?!"
"Are you okay?"
Kakashi saw her fidget and Sakura messed with her red dress. "Y-Yeah, I'm okay." In the next second, she was hoisted up and carried by her Sensei.
"I'll carry you the rest of the way." Kakashi said with an eye smile.
"O-Okay." Sakura flushed as she shifted to his back.
"Up you two! Time to move out!" Kakashi ordered his other two students. They gathered themselves and prepared to walk.
"Kakashi-Sensei! I want to be carried too!" Menma yelled like a child jealous of their siblings getting more attention.
"Menma back off! There's only space for me!" Sakura spoke for Kakashi as she yelled at the blonde.
"Tch, We're going to take turns."
"No, we aren't!"
Kakashi looked at the impassive Satsuki. "Gross."
He sweat dropped. His face went back to its aloof expression and Kakashi pondered on what happened. "I've got to report this back to Lord Hokage. Naruto is alive and insanely powerful. He practically embarrassed Zabuza in turn, meaning he could do the same to me. He's a true heir to the Sharingan."
Looking at Satsuki again, Kakashi compared the two. "Even though it was brief. The vast difference between them was like night and day. I could only imagine what must have happened in the Mist."
XXX
Naruto landed on a tree branch. Slowly sunk down to his butt and dragged a hand down his face. A big sigh came from his chest as his heart thrumped in his chest.
"Mission accomplished?"
"Yes."
"Then what's got you so down?" Shisui, their team Sensei asked.
Naruto faltered for a second making his other two teammates worry. "I saw Satsuki, and she's on a team with Kakashi and two other genin."
Instantly, they understood the reason for Naruto's somber mood. Mira, a more mature and understanding young lady. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up.
"Well, There is also good news in knowing she is alive. Although her hating us will definitely make things harder. But If I know anything about you, it's that I know you won't let our sister foster in her hatred for long." Mira was like a fresh ray of sunshine to warm him up again. "I know you'll do all you can to save her."
"And so will we." Jinkusu supported Mira's words as he tossed Naruto a grin.
"So it's best we get this news back to the Mizukage and see what she wants to do about it." Shisui had pulled out a scroll and already began to write a message.
They had all changed, forced to grow up in the brutal war. Or become sheep waiting for the wolf.
Pain changes all. It is not picky, nor does it wait long, it is guaranteed once you begin to breathe.
"You're right, thank you." Naruto hugged Mira who was all too eager to return it.
"Now before you two start to make out. Let's focus up and finish what we came here to do." Shisui said. "We are out here to take Zabuza and spread the word of our borders opening back up."
The Hidden Mist Village was now opening up to the world once more. Rebuilding was done and now they needed to pull in clients and open trade.
"Naruto, where is Zabuza?"
"He was taken by a Mist Hunter Ninja."
That drew question marks on their heads. "But we are the only team sent to trail him." Mira mentioned.
"That's not all, there was also a Yuki clan member who took Zabuza. They were the person who incapacitated Zabuza and left."
"Hm, in just a few minutes all that happened." Shisui pondered on what to do. Until he turned back to face Naruto. "I assume you did something to this Hunter Nin?"
Naruto couldn't help the affronted smirk that came on his face. "I didn't kill them if that's what you're wondering." He said laughing.
"Well, what did you do?" Their Sensei asked again.
"I placed them in a passive genjutsu to recall them if need be." Without even activating his Sharingan and during their brief eye contact, Naruto had placed them in a Genjutsu. "Shall I call them back now?"
Shisui looked to toss the idea over in his head as he thought about what to do. "Yes go ahead, we need to learn what they are doing with Zabuza and why they are impersonating Hunter Ninja."
"Maybe they do so as to make a quick retreat if Zabuza is ever injured. You said he was knocked out by this person, yes?" Upon her boyfriend's nod, Mira started again. "Zabuza's a Rogue Ninja and they are a Hunter Nin. So it makes sense they'd always swoop in when Zabuza is defeated."
"Sounds about right." Jinkusu added. "Look at you using your brain." He poked fun at Mira who in turn pinched his side.
A short while later the Masked Hunter ninja appeared holding Zabuza over their shoulder. They remained silent and seemed to await orders with their head lowered, like a robot awaiting a task to do.
Naruto took off the mask first which revealed the young woman underneath. Their face was gentle and smooth, coffee-brown eyes were currently zoned out.
"Wooooow, she's so pretty!" Mira admired her silky hair and snow queen-like beauty.
"Tell us what you are doing in the Land of Waves." Naruto ordered.
And so Haku began telling the group everything important or minor. Naruto made sure to hear everything no matter how small or insignificant it may be. They learned Zabuza and Haku had been contracted under Gato, the billionaire who wasn't all he claimed himself to be.
"This is actually quite a steal for us. We can take Zabuza back and acquire one of our lost clans while also taking Gato's money." Shisui discerned. "But what to do about the Leaf team?" He asked himself.
"The right thing to do would be just ignore them and leave as our mission was already completed." Mira said. "But."
"Satsuki." Jinkusu muttered.
"Kidnapping her and forcing her back to the village is not the play. We will wait and see what the Mizukage has to say about this topic." Shisui let an authoritative tone linger in as he wanted them to know there was no discussing this matter.
"What can we do for her then?" Naruto was eager to help and they all knew.
They all remained silent and wondered what would be the best option. This wasn't a small matter or something that could be hastily walked over.
Zabuza grunted and drew all their attention in that instant. Their weapons were already drawn and ready to defend themselves if need be. But the Rogue Ninja was not ready to battle and only blinked several times while wrestling to get up.
Zabuza blinked several times and gained motor functions in his brain. What he saw caused his heart to drop to his stomach and blood to run up his body. All three Uchiha were gazing down upon him like he was a rabbit prepped for dinner.