Reattempt of an upload, seems when I upload it it shows normal then after 30 minutes it does the weird upload. Anyways apologies for the issues and delay!

7 Waves

"Do you see the target?" Kakashi's voice crackled over the earpiece radio of the three genin.

"He's heading west at a high rate."

"Get in position, sound off."

"Here," Sasuke's voice crackled.

"Here." Sakura followed.

"Naru?" Kakashi questioned. "Sound off." He sighed heavily with a headshake. "Do you two still have sights on the target?"

"No, we lost it," Sakura informed.

"Let's regroup," Kakashi huffed, leaving his position and entering the clearing and finding the missing Naru leaning against the tree trunk, a chakra tail bubbled from her spine wrapped around a yowling and thrashing brown tabby cat with a red bow on its ear.

"When did you-?" Sakura asked as she appeared.

"You should have said you caught the target." Kakashi piped up.

"It's not a target, it's a fucking cat. It's a stupid waste of time," Naru retorted.

"Then why come on the mission, we could have done it without you." Sasuke sneered, Naru tilted her head and smirked, releasing the chakra freeing the cat that promptly shot towards Sasuke scratching him before darting in the trees.

"Naru!" Sakura whined.

-o0o-

Itachi suppressed a laugh when Team 7 walked in the door, Sasuke holding the yowling cat and fine scratches up and down his arms and cheek.

"Well done team 7, seems Tora is getting better at dodging hm?" Hiruzen smiled.

"Actually he was caught quickly by Naru who then let him go."

"Why did you do that, Naru? Capturing Tora was important from the Daimyo.."

Naru sighed heavily. "Maybe playing chase with a cat isn't worth my time, the others said they could do it without me, so.." She gestured, earning a dirty look from Sakura and Sasuke alike, Kakashi heaved a heavy sigh.

"D-rank missions provide vital lessons and practice for -"

"Genin level genin and we both know I'm not." Naru interrupted, Hiruzen cleared his throat and inclined his head.

"Kakashi, you've had them under your tutelage for a month now, what do you think?"

The jounin arched his brow and glanced at the three. "Their individual skills are growing, but teamwork has not moved, clearly."

"Maybe if we had an actual challenge not chasing some bitc-"

"OH! TORA!" The sickly sweet and very loud voice of the Daimyo's wife interrupted Naru's insult as she grabbed her yowling cat and promptly began to squeeze the life out of it.

"No wonder he ran away," Sakura muttered, Sasuke bobbed his head slightly.

"We're happy to help Lady Shijimi." Hiruzen smiled as she nodded and presented her pay to Iruka, who took up helping the Hokage during the academy breaks and walked out with her cat. "Well, Kakashi, do you think something more challenging could benefit them?"

The jounin inclined his head thinking.

"Hokage-sama, it's strictly forbidden that new genin be sent out of the village, not that I don't think they could handle this." Iruka piped up.

"True Iruka, but team 7 has something special about them. So I'm open to giving them a chance, Itachi you've trained Sasuke and Naru for years, what do you think?" Itachi smirked looking at his little brother who shot him a look silently begging and ordering his brother to help them get something better.

"I think a challenge would be good."

Hiruzen chuckled and shifted through the missions awaiting a team. "Ah, this will do." He straightened the papers. "A C-rank to the Land of Waves, a bridge builder approached Konoha for bodyguards to get him home and protect while he finished the bridge from the usual robbers and highwaymen. Please send the bridge builder in." Hiruzen gestured, and another chunin exited before the doors opened and revealed an older man with a slight stumble to his feet. Gray hair stuck up in all directions resembling someone who rolled out of bed. He wore brown tattered clothes that showed he wasn't the richest man, a pair of small glasses glinted in the light, and the pink tint on his cheeks confirmed he was more than tipsy, especially with the larger bottle of sake that was almost empty.

"What is this?!" He slurred in a loud voice and wobbled as he shot an accusatory finger at the four.

"I requested ninjah! Not a bunch of brats!" He insulted turning his glare at Hiruzen and took another gulp of his drink. "They couldn't kill a fly, much less protect a person!"

"Person?" Naru questioned. "Funny, all I see before me is a crumpled piece of smelly garbage." She insulted the man. "Got a problem? Then go somewhere else."

"Naru.." Itachi hissed, she rolled her eyes.

"I assure you Tazuna, these three had the highest scores in the academy and have been through much that makes them a good fit to protect you, they will have a jounin with them, but I believe in their skills." Hiruzen smiled at the man who scoffed. "Gather supplies and meet Tazuna at the village gates in an hour." Hiruzen stamped the paper and laid it in a different pile, before dismissing them, Itachi stood looking at Hiruzen who gave a small nod releasing the young Uchiha to talk with Sasuke and Naru before they left.

Sakura eyed Tazuna as he gulped from his new bottle of sake, she glanced over to Sasuke who was speaking with his dad in hushed tones.

"I'm fine!" She turned and found Naru glaring at Itachi who was smiling at her and poked her cheek. She smacked his hand with a blush on her cheeks.

'A part of her is still there, at least with Itachi-san…' Sakura noted.

"Alright, we ready?" Kakashi appeared next to Tazuna making him jump and drop the bottle, he whined as it shattered and the liquid soaked up in the dirt, Kakashi smirked and nodded his head to Fugaku and Itachi as they began their journey.

-o0o-

"Which village has ninjas?" Sakura asked, making Naru roll her eyes as she asked questions to Kakashi and Tazuna about the Land of Waves which made Kakashi drone into the basic knowledge of the five great nations and their ninja system and the Kage of the land.

"So, Hokage-sama is really great then!" Sakura chirped while inside voicing her doubts about the old leader.

'No, no he's not.' Naru thought bitterly.

"Hey!" Kakashi scolded, making both girls flinch. "You just doubted your Hokage didn't you?" Sakura rapidly shook her head no, Kakashi broke his stern stance and laughed ruffling her pink hair. "Relax, the chances of us running into anything besides some average robbers are slim to none, we'll be fine."

"I need a break! We've been walking for hours now!" Tazuna griped walking to a boulder and sat down rubbing his feet.

"Maybe if you hadn't drunk your body weight in sake you'd have more energy." Naru insulted under her breath.

"Naru, go scout the perimeter, Sasuke go with her."

"I can do it myself." Naru protested.

"No."

Naru let out a growl and stomped away followed by Sasuke.

"Naru, wait up," She paused, looking at Sasuke. "Listen, I'll admit father told me to watch you and it's clear Kakashi agrees, but I'm not going to." Naru blinked in mild shock. "I don't understand why you can't go anywhere without a tail, but I don't want to do it and I won't do it while we're on missions, okay?" Naru shifted before nodding her head.

"Thanks, Sasuke, you don't know what this means to me." He nodded and walked further into the woods, Naru gave a tiny smile before it fell.

Naru walked just behind Sasuke, she stared at the clan symbol on the back of his shirt, she gnawed her lip in nerves as they continued their mission trek mostly in silence. She glanced to the woods to the side, and a deep frown crossed her face. She eyed the small water puddle and opened her mouth to comment.

"Naru?" She repressed a sneer at Sakura's call.

"What?"

"Can I ask you some questions?"

"No."

"Well, I'm gonna anyway…"

"Why ask then?"

"What happen-"

Kakashi's cry of pain interrupted them, all four whirled around in shock at their sensei, shuriken chains were wrapped around the jounin's arms and neck by two ninjas dressed in black garbs and large claw-like metal gauntlets that produced the chain binding Kakashi at the moment.

"Do it!"

"Yeah!"

Kakashi's eye widened as the chains shifted before tightening and ripping his body apart that fell to the ground with a wet splat. Sakura screamed loudly, closing her eyes to the sight, Naru shook but found herself rooted in place, Sasuke grimaced at the bloody scene.

Naru let out a quivered gasp as both ninjas appeared directly behind her, both letting out menacing laughter at the fear she released.

"Next." They whispered, Naru shivered and turned slowly, tremors visible on her body.

The two raised their bladed gauntlets towards her. Naru stumbled and fell backward with a fearful cry.

She was thrust backward in her mind, the heat of the day turning much, much hotter. Smoke filled her nose and mouth filling her lungs, burning her eyes, and robbing her breath. She cried out gripping her throbbing head over her scarred eye. She whirled around finding herself no longer in the forest but the Kame sweets seating, crackling fire surrounding her, blisters forming on her skin.

"No." She whispered. "Sas…." She began.

"Naru." A chilling voice hissed, she panted turning to watch the mangled body of Akane rise from the flames, limbs twisting in place. She raised her gauntlet hand, blood dripping from the blade tips. "Naru." She called again, stumbling closer as Naru found herself rooted in place. "Naru!" She hissed launching forward the blades coming close, Naru shut her eyes and screamed.

"Naru!" An arm wrapped around her middle and yanked her back and to the side, Naru grunted as she hit the pebbled ground, she snapped her eyes open letting out shuddering breaths, and turned to find Sasuke pinning the chain with shuriken and kunai to the tree and kicking both enemies in the jaw throwing them back.

"Naru! Are you okay!?" Sakura cried out.

"Sasuke.." Naru whispered, he turned giving a reassuring smirk before letting out a tiny grunt as their chains encircled him.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed, the young Uchiha flickered from the danger, and he landed next to Naru.

"You good?" He questioned, Naru nodded standing up slowly, and took in a calming breath. "Sakura to Tazuna, we got this." The girl nodded, running to the quivering man.

Naru sprung up unsheathing her blade blocking the gauntlet that threw sparks. She let out a grunt pushing back and dropping low giving a swipe kick to his ankle throwing him off balance. Naru jumped up bringing her heel down towards her enemy who rolled to the side, his claw launched out smacking Naru to the side. She cried out in pain as she hit the dirt, a grimace on her face at the claw sticking out of her arm. She yanked the blade out and threw it to the side.

Sakura's scream drew Naru's attention, she found Sasuke pinned by one enemy and the other launching towards Sakura and Tazuna. Naru pumped chakra into her feet appearing in front of Sakura, her arms thrown out as red chakra tails launched out five surrounding Tazuna and Sakura and four slammed into the enemy throwing him to the ground. The tails wrapped around the enemy who screamed in pain.

"Naru!" She jolted finding Kakashi standing there, the other in his arms unconscious. "Stop." Naru's lip curled before the chakra dropped him and wisped away.

"Your arm," Sakura whispered, Naru glanced down and shrugged.

Naru moved forward giving a kick to the incapacitated enemy and huffed.

"Who are they?" Sakura questioned.

"If memory serves these two are commonly known as the Demon brothers of the mist, Gouzu, and Meizu, hailing from Kirigakure."

"How did you…?" The one rasped glaring at them from Kakashi's tight grip that immobilized him.

"There shouldn't be a puddle in the middle of the trail when we haven't had rain in a week." Naru supplied, Kakashi bobbed his head in agreement.

"I could have dispatched them instantly, but I would've learned nothing. But watching the battle it wasn't a simple ninja after ninja, they were after you, Tazuna." Kakashi fixed a stern glare at the old man who jolted and looked away. "They went for you, had it not been for my team. I'll summon anbu to come get these two, and while we wait you'll need to do some explaining."

Naru dug through her pack producing a wrap for her still bleeding arm.

"Naru, I just wanna say thank y-"

"I'm gonna stop you there Sakura," Naru looked over at her teammate. "I didn't save you, I was saving our client and you happened to be in front of him, that's it." Naru tied the bandage and sighed. "I have no hesitation to let you or any of you die if it means saving the client. I won't go out of my way to save you, remember that." Sakura gasped as she processed her once friend's comment, Sasuke stared at Naru and Kakashi let out a sigh.

'They have a long way to go…' He thought.

"But Naru we were -"

"Enough, Tazuna, it's your turn. Why would chunin-level rogues come straight for you?" Kakashi questioned, the man shifted and gulped audibly.

"I.. I lied! I needed protection from a bigger threat but… our land is really poor and we couldn't afford a higher mission."

"How big a threat?" Kakashi squinted at him.

"I'm building a bridge to eliminate the grip of a tyrant, if I succeed he loses power, so he's coming for my head by any means."

"This mission is more suited to Chunin, if not Jounin." Kakashi rubbed his head.

"Mr. Tazuna, we're only new genin, this is too advanced for us…" Sakura tried, the man looked down his body shaking.

"I'm sorry for lying, but if I go on alone I'll be killed before I make it to the shore. Please I beg of you!" He bowed at his waist towards Kakashi who gave a tiny fidget.

"Sigh…. I, I don't doubt my teams' skill but I'm responsible for their safety-"

"Why not take a vote? I'm not scared, I've trained hard." Sasuke interrupted, Kakashi sighed looking at Sakura who clearly was not too eager to move on, he looked over to find Naru walking along the trail.

"Naru?"

"Why sit here and ponder, we've gone this far and beat chunin." Naru shrugged.

Kakashi heaved a heavy sigh and nodded. "Alright Tazuna we'll stay, but we treat this like a B-rank mission! If not A-rank. Be on your guard." He warned, Tazuna choked back a sob and nodded, Sasuke turned and followed Naru.

'I got a bad feeling about this….' Kakashi thought, glancing back at the two brothers as cloaked anbu arrived, taking them prisoner.

Once they reached the edge of the Land of Fire to the edge of Kaizoku Sea, a heavy sea fog blocked almost all visibility.

"So now what?" Sasuke asked, kicking a pebble into the water.

"I arranged a ride," Tazuna supplied as the sound of a boat motor echoed before a small boat appeared from the fog.

Team 7 climbed into the small boat and set out across the foggy river, halfway cutting the engine to the boat to avoid detection.

Naru climbed out once they arrived at the dock in Waves waiting patiently as they all followed.

"Remember what I said, this is dangerous and there is a chance we'll run into more threats, keep on your toes," Kakashi warned.

"Just get me home in one piece.." Tazuna muttered.

"Naru, how is your wound?" Sakura asked, Naru replied with a grunt.

The team froze as bushes next to them rustled with movement, Sakura let out a whimper pushing closer to Sasuke.

Naru tracked the sound as it moved towards the bushes behind them, she yanked a kunai out and shot it towards the bush hearing a pained noise and thunk as she hit her hidden target. Sasuke walked cautiously up and peered before giving a small grimace.

"A rabbit, dead hit." He turned back.

"Naru!" Sakura whined.

"It was just a distraction for our stalker." Naru pointed towards the left just as a loud swishing sound with thunks from tree branches snapped as a large blade slammed into the tree and a figure landed on the handle.

The group looked up slowly to the man glaring down from over his shoulder, his eyes bore into them like a starving wolf's about to take down its helpless prey.

"Who is this…?" Sakura's quivering voice whispered.

"Well, well, well what do I have here?" His deepened voice taunted as he turned and continued to assess them.

"Zabuza Momochi, rogue ninja from the village hidden in the Mist, also known as the demon of the mist," Kakashi announced stepping forward and putting himself between his team and client, his eye met Zabuza's and glinted dangerously.

"And you are Kakashi Hatake, also known as the Copy ninja of the Leaves." Zabuza regarded.

"Well, if you're my opponent I'll need this," Kakashi muttered lifting the slanted hatai–ate up revealing his left eye with a singular scar down the middle before it opened revealing a three-tome sharingan. Sasuke cocked his head seeing his clan's dojutsu in his teacher and questions buzzed in his mind, wondering just who their sensei truly was.

"I'm not much for talking, but I'm here for the bridge builder, give him to me and I'll let you leave alive." Zabuza threatened.

"Not a chance!" Sakura cried out before gasping and slapping her hand over her mouth.

"Then I'll just take him by force." Zabuza sprung from the tree and blade as a heavy mist rolled in surrounding them and blinding them to their surroundings.

"Sensei, who is he?"

"An ex-leader of the Hidden Mist assassination group, he's a master of the silent killing technique."

"Silent?" Naru questioned.

"As described, it happens instantly without sound or warning, you pass from life so fast you won't realize you're dead. And my Sharingan can't fully stop it, so keep your guard up."

"Eight points." Zabuza's voice echoed around. "Larynx, spine, liver, jugular, subclavian arteries, kidneys, heart." He called, Naru shivered in fear her heart hammering loudly in her ears. A wave of chakra emitted from Kakashi clearing the mist from them, Sasuke let out an almost inaudible whimper staring at Kakashi.

'I can't breathe, one blink, one gasp will draw him to us, it's …. It's suffocating! If this goes on, I'll go insane, I …. I can't.' He thought and glanced down as his hand turned his drawn kunai towards his own stomach. 'I'd rather die than-'

"Sasuke!" Kakashi barked making the boy jump and let out shaky breaths. "I'll protect you with my life, I promise." He reassured the boy.

"Maybe not." Zabuza appeared between the genin and Tazuna, Kakashi shot back stabbing the rogue before he had a chance to swing, motioning for them to jump back.

"It's over," Kakashi growled.

"Yeah, sensei!" Sakura cheered with a jump, Naru eyed the scene warily not relaxing, the hair on her neck prickled as the shrouded figure of Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi and laughed.

"Not yet." He spun his blade slicing through the jounin who exploded into water at the same time as the first 'Zabuza' dropped into water.

"A water clone as well," Zabuza muttered turning just as Kakashi appeared swinging his blade again but was met by Zabuza's foot throwing the jounin backwards along the ground until he splashed into the water.

'His physical prowess is intense, to kick Kakashi like a doll..' Naru assessed.

Kakashi gasped as he shot up from the water and looked around. 'This water is heavy, almost if-'

"Fool!" Zabuza called appearing behind him flashing through hand signs before Kakashi was lifted from the water in a water sphere.

"Dammit!" He cursed.

"This prison is made of water, but stronger than steel." Zabuza chuckled. "Hard to fight when you can't move, so much for the great Kakashi, I think I'll kill you later, for now, you can watch me kill your brats."He taunted before making one-handed signs before a clone rose from the puddle turning into a clone of the rogue.

"Scatter!" Naru barked before Zabuza's solid arm slammed into the side of her head and threw her to the ground.

"Naru!" Sakura yelped pushing Tazuna back, Sasuke let out a 'tsk'

"Do you think those little headbands make you a true ninja? When you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then you may call yourself ninja, when you've become so deadly that your name arrives in my bingo book, then you may call yourself ninja, but to call upstarts like you ninja is a joke!" He barked, Naru pushed up before the clone shot forward kneeing her in the stomach and knocking her back again. "You're just brats!" Kakashi growled in anger, his body shaking as he watched his kids be attacked.

"Listen to me!" He yelled. "Take the bridge builder and run! You can't win this, the clone can't travel from the caster and he can't follow keeping me! Save yourselves!"

'Run away! Not an option!' Sasuke thought before rushing forward with a yell throwing shuriken and kunai, Zabuza laughed deflecting them with a flick of his blade, Sasuke shot in the air before the clone grabbed him by the throat and slammed him to the ground knocking the wind out of him.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed, Naru stumbled upright wiping blood from her lip.

Naru created a T with her hands summoning ten's of clones sending them charging forward to the clone that released Sasuke to deflect the clones.

Sasuke grunted as Naru dragged him backward to a safe distance. "You're a fucking idiot!" She hissed.

"Hey-"

"He's out of our league solo," She continued.

"Then come up with something together." He countered. 'If my Sharingan was activated I could-'

"NO! I ordered you to run, do as I say!" Kakashi yelled.

"He's right, you're done for." Zabuza taunted again stepping forward, Naru made another clone of herself sending her to Tazuna and Sakura, red chakra built around them, the clone nodded.

"Interesting, your chakra creates a tangible and controllable form. Cute but useless on me."

"Never know until I try." Naru focused drawing red chakra over her arm and rushed forward, chakra built up more and her eyes shifted to blood red, her canines grew as her speed increased and she skidded past the clone raced forward to the original.

'I can get him' Zabuza laughed as another clone appeared, the red chakra shot up exploding the water before it could do anything.

"Naru.." Kakashi whispered as she slashed through clone after clone. Red chakra began to waver as she grew tired. Zabuza created another clone choosing for it to take his place holding Kakashi as he approached the genin being attacked by other clones.

"NARU RUN!" Kakashi screamed, she looked to meet Zabuza's foot throwing her backward into a tree, the chakra exploded from her as she fought to not pass out.

"Naru!" Sakura yelled throwing a barrage of weapons which Zabuza deflected just as he did with Sasuke.

"Fire style: fireball jutsu!" Sasuke yelled throwing a large ball of fire between the rogue and his teammate.

Zabuza heaved a sigh as he waited for the fire to dissipate, Naru took the chance to slip away.

"You are a might impressive I will say, but useless in the end, you will stand no chance against my power, you should have listened when you were told to run." He released a blast of chakra giving the four a vision of pure malice and death.

Naru punched the ground and looked up at Kakashi and then at the bridge builder. "Sakura, take Tazuna and go." She ordered. "My clone will protect you."

"But-"

"Now!" She snarled. "Sasuke go too, or get away from me."

"No, you can't take him on alone, you said it."

"I'm not alone," She stood wiping blood from her mouth and focused, red chakra exploded around her before nine marks glowed before they exploded into smoke that cleared revealing nine figures behind her. One resembling a dragon that looked like a seahorse, a white tiger, a large bird with dramatic plumage, a black tortoise, a golden serpent, what could be described as an angelic priestess with flowing robes, another human figure wearing a black cloak and carrying a scythe, and two figures matching either with a fox staff.

"You want a demon fight, then have at it, they'll rip you to pieces." Naru smiled, the effects of Kyuubi evident. "And I'll thank you because the one who could stop me is stuck." She sneered.

"An illusion trying to be tough," Zabuza commented.

"Come find out."

Zabuza eyed the figures as they raced forward, he dodged and swiped missing over and over.

Sasuke watched in shock as the battle grew larger with the nine figures, he glanced back finding Sakura and Tazuna both in awe of the battle, he looked forward to the captured jounin, he looked back to Naru who nodded agreeing with his plan to free Kakashi to finish the battle.

He slipped through the trees before launching a shuriken out to the clone which caught the blade, Sasuke sprung forward creating another fireball jutsu that enveloped the clone and Kakashi. 'Being stronger than steel, the flames won't touch Kakashi.' The clone groaned as he dripped and wavered, Sasuke threw his body into the clone which disappeared with a splash, and Kakashi dropped into the water with a gasp.

Quickly gathering himself he hefted the Uchiha up and raced to the shore dropping the boy who coughed and caught his breath.

"We have to end his, now," Kakashi commented.

"Hurry the fuck up and use your eye, I can't hold much more.." Naru groaned out, the red chakra wavered as she fell to a knee and the clone disappeared with a pop. "Fuck!"

Zabuza yelled as chakra was sapped from his body by the golden snake and his arm was cut by the scythe of the other. Suddenly four of the animal figures popped into small masked foxes before they popped again and disappeared.

Zabuza struggled to regain his footing knowing that even weakened his opponents were stronger than he was now.

"What's wrong Zabuza, I thought you could handle kids?" Kakashi taunted.

"Screw you," He hissed.

Naru cried out as the chakra evaporated from her body, she collapsed forward unmoving as her allies disappeared.

"Even alone you stand no chance."Kakashi glared at him, his Sharingan spinning. "I see your death, you'll never make it out alive."

A low whistling sounded before three senbon stabbed the jounin's neck, he gasped and gurgled before collapsing face-first into the sand.

"What!?" Sakura yelled from her crouched spot by Naru, Sasuke shot forward his shuriken drawn and thrown to a masked figure in the tree who easily dodged the blade.

"Easy, I am not your enemy."

"Then who are you?" Sasuke growled, Kakashi touched his shoulder.

"An Anbu member from Mist correct?"

"Yes, I have been after Zabuza for months, I took the opportunity when I had it." He chuckled.

"You're young," Kakashi commented. 'Not much older than Sasuke or Naru.' He added mentally.

"Yes, a bit of a protege you could say, thank you again for delivering him to me, I will dispose of him." He said jumping down and hoisting the body up before he disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

"No!" Sasuke yelled and punched the ground.

"Easy,"

"No! Zabuza about killed us and it took all of Naru's strength and he just waltzes up and kills him like that?! It's not fair!"

"No, it's not Sasuke, but it happens, there will always be someone better, smarter, and stronger than you in this world, save your strength and rest. Who knows what will happen next."

"Sensei, Naru is not waking up."

"She's exhausted, Tazuna lead the way home," Kakashi ordered before picking the girl up and holding her.

"R…. right." He took a shaky step, all while mentally praying and thanking Kami for sending this team to him. 'This might turn out okay after all…'