AN: YO, welcome to another chapter. let me know what you think of the fight scenes. We are encroaching 100 loves! I can not thank everyone enough. have a great Friday!

The wind whipped by as Naruto and Kakashi jumped from tree to tree.

"Senpai, how did the sparrow find us?"

"Ah, that's right, the Hidden leaf sparrows are trained to sense the nearest leaf shinobi using their chakra source registered in the barrier."

"Wait," Naruto tried to process everything he had been told while jumping from branch to branch. "They can sense chakra? Barrier? What barrier?"

"I'll explain but we have to move faster." Naruto grimaced, realizing he had slowed down while trying to process all the information Kakashi gave him. Kakashi blurred through the trees with Naruto blurring until he was tree hopping right next to him.

"You'll learn most of this when you become a Jounin. It's a village secret. The sparrows are a special breed that can sense the chakra coded into a barrier that surrounds the village."

Naruto looked pensive. Did that mean that the village could find you regardless of where you escaped too? Was he always going to be confined to the village whether he was behind the walls of it or not? Naruto peeked sideways at Kakashi. It was hard to notice at first but he looked focused, his book was stashed away and he had a focused look on his face. It reminded him of the encounter with Nadare. Naruto turned forward again, quickly jumping from a branch that was about to break. Kakashi was a scary person when he put his book away.

"When is our chakra coded into the barrier?"

"When you first join the academy, a sample of your chakra is taken during a medical examination. A member of the barrier corps works with the medical professional to extract your chakra to be coded into the village barrier. "

The next branch Naruto jumped to snapped, Naruto overloaded his chakra to leap to a stable tree. He quickly caught up to Kakashi with shock on his face. How long was the barrier around the village? He still planned on leaving the village, he just needed to grow in strength. If his exit could be tracked, they would send teams to hunt him down. Naruto grimaced at the thought, He was the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki after all.

Naruto opened his mouth to ask a billion questions when Kakashi spoke, seemingly to know what he wanted to ask. . "It's a Jounin-level secret. I can't tell you anymore than I already have."

They continued their journey at breakneck speed, from Naruto's studies to graduate early, the map's he studied pointed that they were almost to their destination. They continued silently as Naruto retreated into his thoughts, considering the information Kakashi gave him. Did Kakashi truly believe he could be a trusted Jounin of the Leaf? Did he even want to? To be Hokage was

his dream, but could he let go of the unjust hate the village has thrusted on him? What about justice for Hana? Naruto's head swirled with all the uncertainty and questions he had about his future. He took a breath letting them go for the moment to focus on his mission. Team 7 had been kind to him, he would not let anything happen to them.

Naruto molded wind chakra around his body turning it into a wind blade that cut through the air resistance, Naruto accelerated rapidly as Kakashi watched with a small smile on his face.

Kakashi flashed next to Naruto's branch. "From here on out we are in enemy territory, We are only using Leaf hand signals to communicate."

"Roger."

As they reached closer to their destination, Naruto sensed a few individuals up ahead, concentrating he could feel Sasuke, Sakura, Shin and … was that Aoba!? Naruto had to mentally slap himself to not lose focus on his positive feelings. There were two shinobi, one with a water affinity, another one with water and wind.. Lurking on the edges of the battle. Naruto expanded his senses even further to detect anyone else beyond the battle. Sensing nothing, he turned to Kakashi, using leaf hand signals he relayed the information about the situation.

Kakashi signaled back. Kakashi wanted to know what Naruto could detect from the battle. Naruto and Kakashi stopped on top of a tree a few feet away. Naruto closed his eyes, spreading out his senses to each of the combatants. Sasuke, Sakura and Shin were fighting a water clone, judging by the way the person they were fighting felt more like molded water chakra than a person chakra network. They were losing badly from the way their chakra was cycling through their body too quickly for a Jutsu. It felt like panic. There was a civilian further behind the genin judging by the low chakra capacity. Naruto's eyes flew open when he focused on the Jounin battle.

Aoba's chakra was dangerously low, the missing-nin he was fighting had trapped him in a water prism. The missing-nin was walking on the water, he had saturated his chakra into the lake below him. Naruto quickly relayed everything back to Kakashi who analyzed it in an instant. Kakashi signaled back. He was worried about the shinobi on the edge of the battle. Once he released Aoba, the two of them would be able to handle the Jounin mist-nin. Naruto's job was to

occupy the shinobi on the edge of the field, pushing them back to get them enough space to end the battle. Naruto nodded. At once they broke off into two different directions.

Kakashi immediately entered the battle, throwing a lightning infused kunai that destroyed the water clone. The mist Jounin looked surprised. He surveyed the field only for Kakashi to appear right next to him on the water with a lightning blade. Kakashi swiped at his torso, the mist Jounin lifted the water prism to block the attack, the shock from the electricity traveled up shocking him enough to collapse the Jutus. They all dashed apart creating space.

Aoba was breathing heavily on one knee on the water. He had numerous cuts all over his body. Aoba moved his head with difficulty to give Kakashi a smile. "Kakashi, you have no idea how good it is to see you."

Kakashi picked Aoba up and jumped back to the shoreline. Team 7 felt relief at the sight or their sensei.

"Sensei!"

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Sakura felt a large smile come over his face as the stress of the encounter left her shoulders. Sasuke stood up with singed lips. He had overexerted himself trying to find a way to win. He tried to look aloof but the enemy they were fighting was way beyond him. Shin looked confused, wasn't Kakashi on another mission on another continent? Either way he was ready to continue the fight.

Kakashi looked back at his squad to give them a smile they could barely see from under his mask. "Sakura, Sasuke, Shin. I'm glad you guys are ok."

"Hatake Kakashi, the copy-nin. So those pathetic brats are yours eh?"

Kakashi turned around to regard the Mist Jounin walking on the lake. "Momochi Zabuza, wanted for attempted assassination of the Yondaime Mizukage."

Zabuza grinned savagely, "So you've heard of me."

Kakashi spun a kunai on his finger, "Who hasn't heard of the loser who challenged his Kage and lost brutally."

Zabuza lost his grin as rage enveloped him. "I am the demon of the mist!" He gripped Kubikiribocho tightly as he rushed the leaf shinobi.

Naruto dashed through the trees toward the person hiding. Their chakra flow was normal so Naruto was unconcerned with them detecting him. He was almost at their position when needles came from directly above, below and at him. Naruto, while mid jump toward the needles, sped through hand seals faster than he ever had before, "Wind Style: Blades of the Cyclone!"

Cutting winds spun around Naruto deflecting the needles. Ice slowly started to creep onto his wind. Naruto cursed quickly, ending the Jutsu. It was ice again. Naruto almost rolled his eyes in exasperation. He just left the coldest place on earth, fighting shinobi who specialized in using ice to kill. He suppressed a sigh while spreading his sensory Senjutsu to find his enemy.

There! Naruto exploded off a tree branch body flickering into his opponents view. Naruto threw a kunai at the masked figure, then body flickered to his enemies side, the masked shinobi disappeared from his spot as water needles rained down on Naruto piercing him all over.

*poof*

The masked shinobi perched on a branch on a tall tree, Swiveled their head as they tried to find the blonde leaf shinobi. They felt the air next to them displace right before the blonde flickered into view, throwing two quick punches the masked shinobi slapped aside and pivoted out of, Naruto relentlessly pursued.

Naruto did a front flip into an axe kick off of his branch, the masked shinobi jumped backwards onto the ground dodging the kick. Naruto sped into their guard again, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, Naruto slowly pushed the masked shinobi backwards, they were most likely a ninjutsu specialist, Naruto noted as he slipped under a high kick, spinning into a kick he arched from the left side sending the mask shinobi spinning into a tree.

Naruto threw a bunch of kunai and shuriken, the masked shinobi weaved through hand seals creating an ice mirror that blocked the projectiles, while they slowly stood up. The mirror disappeared after. Naruto had a pensive look on his face thinking about the technique his opponent just used. He resisted the urge to sigh again. He was starting to hate ice jutsu.

Naruto made the ram sign. Molding a lot of chakra, Naruto coated his body in a thick layer of his natural energy store, then he converted the thinnest part of the outer layer into cutting winds of natural chakra. Naruto placed his hand on a tree near him and his hand cut through it immediately. The masked shinobi quickly ran through hand seals as Naruto approached at double speed. The masked shinobi analyzed the blonde Genin, no not genin the blonde's green vest was visible indicating a young Chunin level shinobi. The masked shinobi used the environment to continue to create space. Taijutsu was not their strongest skill.

..This Leaf Shinobi is fast..

The masked shinobi backpedaled, twisting around trees, using them to slow Naruto's rush. Slapping their hands on the ground the masked shinobi yelled, "Secret technique: crystal wonderland!"

The ground instantly turned into ice. Icey tendrils struck at Naruto, hoping to freeze him. He jumped, twisting his body and placing his palm facing up, a burst of wind came from his armor, cutting through the tendrils that slowly reformed. Naruto threw a kunai with an exploding tag toward the masked figure who made one hand signs before blowing out a snowy wind sending the kunai off target.

Naruto landed on a tree a bit away from his opponent and could feel his Jutsu burn through his abundant chakra stores as he continued to maintain the wind nature chakra form. At this rate they would both pass out from exhaustion maintaining high level techniques. He could visibly see the chakra the masked shinobi was feeding into the technique. Naruto let out a sigh as he released the Jutsu, freeing the massive drain on his reserves. Naruto watched his opponent warily. They were far enough to not interfere with the battle. Naruto could feel the Mist Jounin's chakra spasming, while Kakashi's was calm. Good, the battle should not take much longer. The masked shinobi released their ice Jutsu. Two water dragons rose up behind them clashing into an explosion of water.

Naruto darted toward the masked shinobi immediately. He needed to keep them from heading back to the battle. A large Ice mirror appeared, they walked into it, disappearing from the area.

Naruto skidded to a stop where they disappeared. "What the hell was that!?" Naruto stretched out his senses, the masked shinobi was moving at blistering speeds back toward the battle. At his speed, he'll reach it in a few minutes. Naruto molded chakra into his legs, from the bones, to the muscle fibers, to the tendons to the joints. With his legs fully coated he disappears in his faster body flicker, Naruto during his movement felt something call out to him to open his eyes. Most shinobi were unable to move at blistering speeds and be able to see anything but the world in a blur. Naruto pushed his preconceived notions out of his mind, something, either his instincts, the world or Kami herself called out to him. He would do it. Naruto slowly opened his eyes and he smiled, the world seemed frozen moving at a snail's pace. He could sense the slow moving bugs, the wind, the birds and the masked shinobi molding chakra. A mirror was slowly forming, Naruto jumped through tree branches, dodged animals and leaves. He felt so relaxed, he had never seen the world as clearly as he could now. Naruto appeared behind the mask shinobi before their mirror could finish forming. He held out his hand to form a Rasengan, but nothing happened. He abandoned the action, landing a punch to the back of the shinobi's head sending them skidding across the ground next to the Mist Jounin.

Naruto stayed in the tree as time started moving regularly again. He leaned against the trunk of the tree breathing heavily. His legs started shaking as his muscles cramped all the way up to his thighs. "Haha, I have no idea what that was. I've never moved that fast before."

The masked shinobi popped up to their feet quickly. "Zabuza-sama!" The masked shinobi yelled out seeing his crumpled form against a rock. Zabuza grunted, lifting his body to his knees. Kakashi loomed over him with a kunai.

"Your future is death." The masked shinobi threw ninja tools at Kakashi forcing him to jump back. The masked shinobi reached Zabuza, threw him over their shoulder, created another ice mirror that they jumped into and disappeared.

Kakashi put his kunai away, lowered his headband and sighed. He turned toward Naruto's tree.

"Naruto, let's regroup with the others."

Kakashi and Naruto walked across the lake back to Team 7, Aoba and the client. Sakura was bandaging the numerous cuts Aoba had received in the battle when they reached them.

Sakura had a huge smile on her face with relief flooding through her body. Her voice was elated. "Kakashi-sensei! You're here."

Sasuke had quietly picked up his ninja tools that he had used. He was eying Naruto from Kakashi's side, he wasn't sure what it was but he felt stronger already. Sasuke clenched his fist. He was useless in this battle. The Jounin was completely out of his league. Sasuke thought about the water clone with a 1/10 of Zabuza's strength, it completely wrecked him and Shin together. How could he ever get strong enough to kill Itachi if he was this weak!?

Shin walked up with the client. Taking one look at Sasuke he smirked. "Are you moping again broody?" Sasuke ignored him, Shin spent his time trying to rile him up.

Sakura immediately paused in her treatment, turning to glare at Shin. "Shut up Shin! Leave Sasuke alone!"

Shin blew a raspberry at Sakura. "Ahhh, always coming to rescue your Sasuke." Shin mocked

Sakura clenched her fist tightly. She started to march toward Shin.

Kakashi spoke up firmly. They were in enemy territory and now was not the time for their antics.

"That's enough. Form up Team 7." The Genin stiffened at his tone. They regrouped with the client in the center of their formation. Kakashi turned to Aoba. "Why did you take my genin on an A-rank mission?"

Aoba sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose he dug into one of his pouches fishing out the formal mission scroll. He handed it to Kakashi, he opened it and started reading. With each line his frown got deeper and deeper until he closed it back up with a sigh.

"I see. Is it that bad?"

Aoba grimaced, he snuck a look behind himself to see the genin arguing like usual. He faced forward to see Naruto's blue eyes analyzing him deeply. Scary, it reminded me of how the Fourth Hokage would look at him when he was teaching him. Aoba didn't want to say any of this in front of Naruto, he was once his student. A small talented kid, but looking at him now, he could see the mental battle scars that most of Kakashi's kids don't have yet. Aoba let out a sigh. He's a Chunin, he would be one of the first sent to the front.

"Scouts have reported they have sped up the production of their shipyards. It's not a matter of if but when now."

Kakashi looked somber, while Naruto's mind ran a mile for minute trying to deduce what country they could be talking about.

"Aoba-sensei, what country are we going to war with?" Aoba looked at him with a frown. "Don't worry about it for now, just focus on this mission. When you report back to the leaf, they'll debrief you."

Kakashi clapped his hands grabbing everyone's attention before more questions could be asked. "Alright, we've lingered here far enough. Mr. Client?"

The client coughed into his hand straightening himself out to be more presentable. "The name's Tazuna."

"Okay, Tazuna, Do you have a place we can rest for the night?"

Tazuna nodded with a smile. "You can stay at my house. It's the least I can do for risking your lives to protect me. It's this way."

Tazuna led the way to his home as the Leaf Shinobi formed up behind and to his sides to protect him.

Jutsu used:

Secret technique: crystal wonderland

Nature technique: wind rupture