Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but the Gushikan family and a select few is mine.
Chapter 18~ Bridge
As we walked out the gate Naruto got all cheery and pranced around like a child.
I suppose it makes sense, this is his first time out of the village.
"Hey, am I supposed to trust my life to this runt? He's a joke!" Tazuna exclaimed while pointing rather rudely at Naruto.
Kakashi only shrugged his comment off by saying that he himself is a joinin so there is no need to worry.
The comment seemed to strike a nerve in Naruto and I could tell what was coming next.
But surprisingly, he only corrected him with a slight insinuation of beating him up. That made me smile a little harder than I'd like to admit.
I walked over to Naruto and slung an arm around his shoulders.
"Awe! You're starting to act responsibly! I'm definitely claiming all the credit that led up to this moment."
He rolled his eyes at me but didn't deny it so I'm calling it a win.
Tazuna didn't seem swayed though, stating that the day Naruto became Hokage he would sprout wings and fly.
Unfortunately Narutos mildly respectable persona went out the window as he once again tried to start a fight. I only groaned before whacking Naruto in the back of the head.
"And I thought you made progress." I sighed.
Kakashi in his monotone voice lightly reprimanded Naruto.
...
Eyes.
...
I twitched and stiffened before glancing at our surroundings.
Is someone watching us? So close to the gate too.
Not long after that we really started to move and made progress on our relatively short quest.
It was a long dull walk and despite me obviously being super professional, as any young Gushikan should be, I was bored.
"Kakashi Sensei, did you know my mom?"
"Yes, I did."
"So you know she's from the Land of Waves."
"I heard rumors."
"She always told me our family came from there before being purged. But, in class we learned there are no ninja in the Land of Waves."
"That is all true."
"So, how is my ninja family from a place with no ninjas?"
"Simple." Suddenly Tazuna cut in.
"Years ago, during many large wars, we tired to hire ninjas and those ninjas then stayed after the war was over. So for a brief time in history we had a small number of ninjas."
"Where did they come from?" I asked tentatively.
"We hired most of them from Konoha, but a few were from the Village Hidden in Mist. After the war ended, the Mist ninjas stayed and more ninjas began to arrive and take advantage of our home. That sacred the people. We didn't want a military all the time, we were fine. We wanted them to leave. Then some people did some horrible things. Unforgettable and unforgivable things. What you described as the purge."
"I suppose that means my moms family really came from the Mist." I said quietly, trying to remember my moms history.
"Tazuna-San, did you help get rid of the ninjas?"
He didn't say anything for a moment and only stared straight ahead.
"Not exactly, but I didn't try to stop it either. I was more worried about keeping my daughter safe at the time."
I nodded silently.
"I understand, it's all in the past, and not even my past."
A silence stretched across us all as we walked down the path. Then something caught my eye.
A puddle.
At first it didn't click, I was two busy thinking about if it's even possible one of my relatives is still in Waves. But, the moment I was side by side it I unconsciously reached up and brushed my fingers on the hilt of Balence.
The movement was so subtle I wouldn't had even realized I did it if Kakashi hadn't cleared his throat and shot me a glance.
Oh, so there is someone watching us.
I forced myself to pull my hand away from the hilt and to stare straight ahead listening.
It all happens so fast, chains flew out of nowhere and wrapped around Kakashi.
He feinted surprise and a moment later was torn to pieces.
Naruto instantly freaked but I pulled out Balance with my right hand and a kunai in my left. I leaped in front of Tazuna and as much as it hurt to leave Naruto to fight for himself, Tazuna is the priority.
"No no no Takara! Bad girl!" My conscience screamed. "Narutos next!"
My eyes widen as in slow motion the two ninjas made their way toward Naruto.
Thankfully Sasuke was there and pinned their chain to a tree with a shurikan and kunai. He then in a pretty cool move, landed on their gear and broke their chains.
One of the ninja uses the momentum from the break to launch himself at me, the other turn around and heads toward Naruto.
The world moved in slow motion as I activated Akumugan and threw Balance at the same time.
My Katana flew threw the air and sliced into the ninja going after Naruto, making him freeze short of Naruto before crumpling to the ground. The other ninja only slowed down a little after being hit with my genjustu but pushed on.
I pointed my kunai at him so he'd run into it. Before he could do that, Kakashi flew in and caught the guy in the neck.
I noticed he also had Narutos assailant, Balance still sticking out of his abdomen.
"Hi." He said in a very pleased manor.
Naruto freaked the frickity frack out seeing Kakashi alive.
"Sorry I didn't come sooner Naruto I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just didn't think you'd freeze."
My attention was grabbed as I whirled to Narutos side looking for injury.
"Anyway, good job Sasuke, very smooth, I was impressed. You two Takara, that was some good quick thinking and you never stopped protecting the client." I took my attention off Naruto to thank Kakashi and then pull balance out of the ninja and put it in its sheath.
"Hey, you're not hurt right? Scaredy-cat." Sasuke teased.
I gave him a stern glare before crossing my arms.
"Sasuke Uchiha! You do not belittle people, especially your own teammate. Who knows! Next time Naruto might save your butt. Now you better apologize or I will be very put off with you!" I spoke angrily while pulling out disinfectant, ointment, and bandages.
Sasuke looked startled and at first I thought he was ignoring me but after a moment he very grudgingly muttered something that sounded like sorry.
I nodded at him before turning back to Naruto. The scratch was not bad, since I stabbed the guy before he really reached Naruto it was thin and barely bleeding, like one you would get from a cat.
"Wait Takara, don't heal him up. He has poison in him from the claws, we have to open the wound first, and Tazuna? We need to talk." Kakashi spat and turned to an intimidated Tazuna.
"These guys are Chunin from the Mist. They're relentless and hired out without a thought. They'll do anything no matter the cost."
"Why leave it to the genin then?" Tazuna exclaimed.
"Then I wouldn't had known their target, us, ninja after ninja or you, ninja after the master bridge builder. You requested a C rank mission, protection from robbers but it appears there are ninja after you. That makes this a B rank or higher, I'm sure you have your reasons but lying is unacceptable." With every word Kakashi's voice grew louder and more frustrated. An sense of mistrust filled the air.
"Continuing would be against protocol. Not to mention the problem of the poison in Naruto. Inherently this is not my decision, however you have lost a lot of our trust right now. How do we proceed Kakashi?" I looked to Kakashi who was fixating a glare on Tazuna but sighed.
"Naruto is in a delicate situation, we should probably go back."
I sighed, disappointed my first real mission was a bust.
Oh wait.
Naruto just stabbed himself in the hand.
I stared dumbstruck as Naruto basically makes a pledge to be a great ninja who won't run away or be saved again. And, won't lose to Sasuke.
"Uh, Naruto that was really cool and all, how you took out the poison, but if you lose anymore blood, you'll die." Kakashi said.
Naruto and I paled.
I sped over scolding him profusely as I started to smear all of the medicines on it.
"What the heck Naruto! It was barely a scratch and now you've just gone and put a hole in your hand!" I begin to wrap it but as I do, I watch it close, by itself...
Nine tailed fox... My conscience whispers in the back of my head.
I shrug it off and finish his hand before backing off and motioning to my right hand.
"I'm the only one who is allowed to have a hole in their hand on this team, hear me?" I said with a playful grin. Naruto nodded, still looking scared.
"You two Sasuke! I'm the only one who get to be... Hole-ly."
They both give me a dead panned look.
"Aren't you supposed to be the serious one?" Kakashi muttered.
"Hey if Naruto can pledge to never have to be saved again and then immediately put himself in mortal danger, then I think I should be able to make jokes when I come up with them."
We set up camp later that night. I made dinner and had the morning patrol. Sasuke woke me up a little later then he should have but all I could say was thanks. I've gone through some grueling training before but this constant vigilance and moving was tiring.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and after I fed everyone we started off for the day. We reached water soon where we had arranged a boat to pick us up. The mist was strong and almost chocking in the air. Thankfully it's not winter yet or we'd be a lot worse off.
After a while the boat guy turned off the motor and began to push us along with a stick.
I was silent as I tried to find a sound in numbing situation.
"The bridge isn't far now, then it's the Land of Waves." The boat man said in a quiet tone.
I strained my eyes trying to see the bridge but it's dark form became very apparent startlingly quickly.
Naruto yelled out in surprise and the man instantly scolded him, it is dangerous, there are people after us right now.
My conscience giggled. "Soon."
I rubbed my head disturbed. Man what's wrong with me?
"Tazuna-san, before we reach the pier I need to ask you why there are people after you. If you don't answer, then the mission will end when we drop you ashore." Kakashi is serious.
I stare at Tazuna, sure he is a drunkard, but there must be a good reason for all of this.
Tazuna looked stressed as he looked over the water.
"I want to tell you, there is a very short man with a long and deadly shadow who wants me dead."
I tilted my head and furrowed my brow.
"Who?" Kakashi asked simply.
"I'm sure you've heard of him, he's one of the most wealthy in the world, Gato."
My mouth dropped open and my eyes widen.
"Gato?" I sputtered.
"Takara who is this guy?" Naruto asks.
"He is a business tycoon who specializes in transport. He locked down a lot of areas and has a monopoly on none ninja based communities." I said, while staring down Tazuna.
"That's true, but under the surface he is a criminal who sells contraband and drugs, using gangs and ninjas. He took over the Land of Waves with his vast wealth and took over our transport and shipping. Anyone who defies him disappears. He controls our sea, he controls everything. But, when the bridge is finished, it will join us to the land and break his control."
I nodded, "Without you, the bridge can't be built so he is trying to eliminate you through ninjas for hire."
"So why hide it?" Kakashi asked, still tensely angry.
"The Land of Waves is impoverish and can't afford an A or B rank mission."
I nodded again, now it all makes sense.
"If you abandon me, they will kill me before I reach home. But don't feel bad, my grandson will only cry and my daughter will denounce the Village Hidden in the Leaves." He said really laying on the sappy sadness.
He didn't need to try to guilt trip us, but all the same a mission is a mission. I thought as Kakashi agreed to continue the mission.
"We are approaching the shore, we are fortunate no one has noticed us yet." The boat man said.
We finally broke through the fog and arrived at the Land of Waves.
The air smelled like salt and it is very pretty.
We stepped onto the dock and the rude Tazuna reappeared saying we better get him home in one piece.
We walked though the forest and I looked around excitedly.
How many times has mom walked this path before me?
Did she live near here?
I smiled and tried to ingrain this into my mind.
Naruto ran forward suddenly making us all stop, I drew out Balence, only to angrily glare at Naruto moments later. He's only trying to out do Sasuke again.
He threw a shurikan into the forest scaring the heck out of a white bunny rabbit.
"Oh no! I'm sorry little rabbit!" He rubbed the rabbit on his face while I groan. Oh Naruto.
Snow rabbit snow rabbit snow rabbit! My conscience screamed making me wince.
Wait? Why is it white? There should be no snow this time of year. The only reason is if it-
...Stare...
Someone's watching us.
"Kakashi!" I yell as I turn to face him.
He turned to looked at me for only a moment before yelling, "Look out!"
Everyone dove to the ground and a long bladed sword few over our heads and stuck into a tree. Seconds later a ninja jumped onto its handle.
A tense moment passes by as we stared at him.
"Well well, if it isn't Zabuza Momochi, rouge ninja from the Mist."
I stared at him as I mentally flipped through my dads bingo book.
Shit, this dudes the real deal.
Naruto began to run forward but I grabbed him by the back of his backpack making him fall on his butt.
"Takara! You-"
"Shut up Naruto." I said with a deadly serious tone. "This guy is different, he is like Kakashi. You, Sasuke, and I, it's questionable if we could inflict anything on him."
He was silent as he looked up to me and then silently stood up too.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan Eye. Right?" His voice was deep and scratchy. "You have to hand over the old man."
I stepped back and stood in front Tazuna, one hand holding Balence the other one holding a kunai.
"Manji formation, I taught you team work so use it and stay out of this fight!" Kakashi yelled.
He lifted his forehead protector to reveal Sharingan.
"Ah what is that?!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto! Sasuke!" My voice slammed through the pause making them both look at me.
"You heard Kakashi! Manji formation, Now! And Naruto, Sharingan is an eye justu or doujutsu, like Akumugan, that allows you to copy any Jutsu you see. It's only passes though the Uchiha clan, however it seems our teacher has it. This is a discussion for another day though!"
The two moved on the either side of Tazuna and the mist began to build making it hard to see.
"Kakashi, as a person of the assassination unit of the Hidden Mist, we have a standing order to destroy you on sight. You were in our bingo book, it called you "The man who copied over 1,000 jutsu." Kakashi the copy ninja."
I nodded, I had read that two, I started a lot of research on Kakashi the day I was officially a genin. You need to know your teammates after all.
"Enough talk, I need to exterminate the old man, now. (Kakashi stepped forward.) I guess I have to go though you first though, huh Kakashi. So be it."
He body flickered from the tree to standing on the water. I watched him carefully as he began to build up chakra.
"Ninja Art, Hidden Mist Jutsu."
The fog rolled in deep and thick. It was infused with his chakra and was so dense it was hard to think clearly.
He vanished from the lake.
"Great, it's his silent killing technique." I grunted
"What?" Naruto said turning pale.
"It's wicked fast, there's no sound, and hardly detectable." I said trying to keep vigilant.
"Not to mention that Sharingan is weak to it." Kakashi added. "Don't let your guard down."
The mist continued to build up, adding to the tension.
"Eight points" Zabuza voice cut through the silence. I tensed up my shoulders.
"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now which will be my kill point."
I was quiet as I closed my eyes to try to sense Zabuza.
"That eight points thing was cool, we should come up with some sort of gimmick too." My conscience reasoned, I tried to ignore it.
The blood lust wafted through the air and was making everyone twitchy, but when Kakashi activated his I felt Sasuke faultier, like being punched.
My eyes drifted to him, he was shivering. I watched him grip his kunai, like he was-
"Sasuke! Calm down I'll protect you with my life. All of you. I will not allow my comrades to die. Trust me." Kakashi's voice sliced though the air and I felt Sasuke calm down.
"Ya Sasuke! I'm here too, I won't let you get hurt. That's what comrades are for." I said smiling.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Zabuza voice rung out behind me.
A shift in the air, the pressure dropped. I twisted Balence so the blade was facing me and stabbing it backwards past me and into the intruder. Before pulling out and jumping away like everyone.
He was bleeding water from the wound I gave him and then Kakashi finished the blow, turning the clone to water. For a moment I felt relief, but then the mist and water began to swarm together.
Another clone formed behind him, swinging it's sword at Kakashi. Slicing through him, to reveal he was a water clone as well. Thank kami for Sharingan.
A tense moment passed as the real Kakashi put a kunai to Zabuza's throat.
"Now it's over."
Authors note:
Sorry sorry! I'm really trying here I swear!
Someday it will be on time.
Anyways, happy labor day!
Thank you and have a nice day.
~ToL