A/N: I'm not feeling great today so I'm sorry if this chapter isn't up to par and on the shorter side. I still wanted to get one out for you all though. Updates might be a little slower come January as I'll be having surgery and might not be able to write for a bit but I will try.

The Assassin of the Mist

"It's so foggy..." Chouko mumbled tucked into a corner of the boat. "How are we supposed to see anything?"

They found themselves on a small, wooden boat with a large sail that was headed towards the Land of Waves. They had already arrived and were traveling by boat, and Chouko couldn't see anything except fog, water, and the occasional bird that flew overhead.

It was a very unnerving feeling.

She didn't like not being able to see.

Chouko was sitting in the back of the boat, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her stomach, and it wasn't because she was seasick, although the gentle waves and rocking of the boat certainly didn't help her state.

"We'll be able to see the bridge in a minute." The man steering the boat said. He looked uneasy. "On the other side of it is the Land of Waves."

"The Land of Waves is just ahead?" Sakura asked.

"That's right." The boatman nodded.

They all stared ahead as the massive bridge came into view, and the closer they got, the more details Chouko could see.

It was huge.

"Oh!" Chouko breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's amazing! It's huge!"

The bridge was massive, and she couldn't believe the work and effort that had to have gone into building it.

"Wow..." Sakura said.

"Whoa, amazing..." Naruto gasped.

"Hey! Keep it down!" The man yelled. "The mist'll keep us hidden, but from this point on, we have to turn off our energies and row. We'd be in big trouble if Gato caught us."

Chouko felt Tazuna's unease. She frowned, watching the older man as he grew pale and sweaty. He was acting very strange, and it didn't seem like a hangover.

Something was definitely wrong.

Could this Gato person be the one after him?

"Mr. Tazuna..." Kakashi turned to him, his voice quiet and serious. "Before we reach the pier I want to ask you something. The men who are after you, I need to know why."

Tazuna stiffened, his expression becoming closed off and guarded.

"If you don't tell us I'm afraid I'll have to end this mission when we drop you ashore."

"I have no choice but to tell you..." Tazuna sighed. "No, I want you to know the truth. As you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow."

"A deadly shadow?" Kakashi asked. "Who is it?"

"You've probably heard of him," Tazuna said. "He's one of the wealthiest men in the world. His name is Gato, the shipping magnate."

Kakashi's eyes widened, and his body went still.

"Gato?" He repeated. "Of Gato Transport?"

"You've heard of him, haven't you?" Tazuna asked.

"Yes, I've heard the name." Kakashi nodded. "He's a business leader. Everyone knows him."

"Who?" Naruto leaned forward, his interest piqued.

"Gato. He's a very powerful tycoon of a famous company, that's true," Tazuna said. "But below the surface, with the same ruthless methods he uses to take over businesses and nations, he sells drugs and contraband using gangs and ninja."

Chouko stiffened at that, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the bridge, trying to see through the mist.

"It was one year ago when Gato first set his sight on the Land of Waves," Tazuna said as they listened quietly. "He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way simply...disappeared."

"How horrible..." Sakura said.

"In an island nation a man who controls the sea controls everything," Tazuna said. "Finance, government, our very lives! But, there's one thing he fears..."

"Fears?" Chouko asked.

"Yes," Tazuna said. "The bridge. When it is complete it will join us to the land and that will break his control, you see? I am the bridge builder."

"So that's it." Sakura nodded. "Since you're in charge of the bridge you're standing in this gangster's way."

"That means those guys we fought in the forest were working for Gato." Sasuke frowned.

Naruto was struggling to understand, his head tilted in confusion.

"Let me get this straight," Naruto said. "We were hired to protect the old guy because he's building a bridge. And, the guys who were after us are working for a big mobster who doesn't want the bridge to be built. So, the mobster wants to kill the old guy, right?"

"Pretty much," Chouko said, looking out over the water.

"I don't understand," Kakashi stared at Tazuna, a serious look on his face. "If you knew he was dangerous, knew he'd send ninja to eliminate you, then why did you hide that from us?"

Tazuna stared straight ahead, his expression hard.

"Because the Land of Waves is a small, impoverished country," Tazuna answered. "Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge, they can't pay for an A or B-ranked mission. It's too expensive. If you end the mission when you drop me ashore...there will be no bridge, they'll assassinate me before I reach home," Tazuna explained. "But don't feel bad about that. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset, he'll cry "Grandad I want my grandad!"."

They stared at him with twitching eyebrows.

"Oh, and my daughter will condemn the ninja of the hidden leaves, blaming you for killing her father and lining her life in sorrow."

Chouko's eyebrow twitched.

"Oh well," Tazuna sighed. "It's not your fault, forget it."

The five of them traded looks and sighed.

"Well, I guess we have no other choice." Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We'll have to keep guarding you."

"Oh, I'm very grateful!"

Chouko glared at his cocky attitude, crossing her arms. She looked into the dog once more feeling uneasy. She couldn't explain it, but something just didn't sit right with her, and it made her very uncomfortable.

She hoped it was just nerves

"We're reaching the shore." The man controlling the boat told them as they began to approach the dock. "Tazuna, we've been very fortunate no one has noticed us so far."

"Nice going." He nodded to him.

Chouko pulled her knees to her chest as they passed underneath a tunnel, her gaze sweeping over the foggy water. Her senses were on high alert, and she felt her chakra stir restlessly. She waited with bated breath as they passed through, but nothing happened. Instead they were greeted by the sight of a village, run down and in desperate need of repair.

One by one they got off the boat and onto the dock.

"Alright, take me to my home, and I mean get me there in one piece," Tazuna demanded.

"Right." Kakashi nodded and took the lead.

Chouko walked next to Sakura, her hands in her pockets as she looked around. It was so different from Konoha, and she couldn't help but take in every detail. The townspeople were walking around, doing their daily business, but they all seemed so...dull. They lacked the vibrancy and energy the citizens of Konoha had, and that didn't sit right with Chouko.

She kept her eyes peeled for anything, her mind going a mile a minute as they walked. She glanced at Kakashi who looked back at her, and she could tell by his expression that he felt the same.

They continued on their way as Chouko's unease grew. She jumped slightly when Naruto suddenly darted ahead of everyone and started looking around wildly. He then grabbed a kunai and launched it into a nearby bush, as they all stared at him.

"Hm. It was just a mouse." Naruto smirked.

Tazuna and Sakura were shaking with anger, the vein in Sakura's forehead bulging. Chouko scolded him for being reckless and making such a scene, but he was not listening.

"Yeah right! Everyone can see through your stupid act! You're so obvious it's embarrassing!" Sakura shouted at him.

"Naruto, those are kunai knives, they are dangerous," Kakashi told him.

"STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME YOU STUFFY LITTLE DWARF!" Tazuna screamed.

"Hey! Is someone hiding over there?" Naruto said looking around, ignoring everyone. "No they're over there! Huh? Over there!" He throws another kunai into yet another bush.

Chouko felt her hair stand up, and she looked around as the others yelled at Naruto for his recklessness. She felt a presence, a chakra, and she tensed, getting into a defensive stance. She glanced around, searching for the source, her hands in front of her, ready for an attack.

But there was nothing.

Nothing that she could see.

She could feel the presence, but it was gone.

"Chouko."

"Huh?" She looked up at Kakashi.

"You alright?"

"Oh...um, yes," She lowered her arms and stepped closer to him.

She looked back in the direction she felt the chakra.

But nothing was there.

Just a dark, foggy road.

Kakashi nodded and walked away. Chouko followed close behind, a frown on her face. She couldn't understand what was going on. That chakra was real, but now it was gone, and she couldn't sense anything.

It was unsettling.

Kakashi stopped and examined the target that Naruto had hit. A rabbit. A snow hare more specifically, with a kunai sticking out of its neck. Chouko eyed it wearily. She ignored Sakura chewing out Naruto and Naruto crying over the rabbit. Her mind was focused on the hare. It was spring, why was it still wearing its winter pelt?

Chouko felt sick.

She felt it again.

That chakra.

The same one from the road.

Suddenly Kakashi grabbed her and yanked her towards him, knocking her to the ground and shielding her with his body as a giant sword went sailing past her, impaling itself into the tree.

They looked up and saw a man standing on the sword, wearing bandage around his face, looking back at them with piercing eyes.

Chouko's blood went cold.

The air was tense, and the sound of a pin hitting the ground would've been deafening.

His chakra was cold, like ice.

Chilling her to the bone.

She swallowed thickly, trying not to tremble.

Kakashi stood up and slowly walked forward speaking to the man.

"Well, well, it's Momochi Zabuza, the rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist," Kakashi said, his voice calm.

Kakashi felt Naruto's chakra flare as he looked at the rogue. He ran forward but was stopped by Kakashi, who held him back.

"You're in the way," Kakashi told him. "Get back."

"But why?!"

"He's not like those other ninja. He's in a whole other league," Kakashi said, pushing him back. "If he's our opponent I'll need this," Kakashi raised his hand to lift his forehead protector and revealed his left eye.

Naruto, Sakura, and Chouko watched with wide eyes.

"Kakashi of the Sharigan eye, did I get that right?" Zabuza said.

Sasuke looked at Kakashi, his eyes narrowed.

"It's too bad, huh? But you'll have to hand over the old man."

Chouko shivered as his gaze fell on them, and her heart began to race. She could sense it. The malicious intent he was directing at them.

"Quick, manji formation! Protect the bridge builder." Kakashi ordered, taking the lead. "And stay out of this fight. I taught you teamwork, now it's time to use it."

Kakashi opened his eye revealing a red eye with three black tomoe.

"I'm ready."

"Well, it looks like I get to see the Sharingan in person," Zabuza said. "This is an honor."

They all looked at his eyes, Naruto and Sakura gasping in surprise, while Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Chouko looked up at Kakashi. His body was tense and his aura was menacing, making her shiver. She had never seen him this way before.

He was dangerous.

"You keep saying sharingan, sharingan! Will someone please tell me what sharingan is!" Naruto yelled.

"Sharingan," Sasuke spoke up. "A rare power. It resides in the eyes," His fists clenched as his eyes narrowed. "The user of this visual jutsu or dojutsu can instantly see and comprehend any genjutsu, taijutsu, and ninjutsu, and reflect the attack back on the attacker. The Sharingan is a special, rare form of dojutsu," Sasuke explained, his voice tight. "However, there's more to the sharingan than that. A lot more."

Chouko stared at Sasuke, his words sinking in.

She remembered the Uchiha.

She remembered them having that dojutsu.

"You got it right boy," Zabuza said, drawing their attention. "The Sharingan can analyze a technique and then, copy it to the smallest detail," He told them. "As for you jonin," He stared at Kakashi. "In the assassination unit of the Hidden Mist, we had a standing order to destroy you on sight. Your profile was in our bingo book. They called you the man who copied over a thousand jutsu. Kakashi, The Copy Ninja."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock.

A thousand techniques?!

The air was tense as the two prepared for battle.

"Wow, that's so cool!" Naruto's voice cut through the tension.

Sasuke was staring daggers at Kakashi.

"Enough talking," Zabuza said. "I need to exterminate the old man. Now."

Tazuna's legs shook, and his knees were buckling. Chouko reached out, steadying him and keeping him standing as they all took formation with kunai drawn around him. Sasuke at the front with Naruto and Sakura on the sides and Chouko at the back.

"So, I'll have to eliminate you first, eh Kakashi?" Zabuza stared at him. "So be it."

In a flash, Zabuza had grabbed his sword, pulled it out of the tree, and was gone. He now stood atop the water's surface, the waves moving around his feet.

"He's standing on the water!" Sakura gasped.

Zabuza stood with two fingers held up in front of his face and another two in the air. Chouko's eyes widened as his chakra increased, the mist around them growing thicker, almost suffocating.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza said, the mist becoming so thick it was like a cloud.

He vanished into the mist.

"He vanished..." Naruto whispered."

"Sensei..." Sakura looked to Kakashi.

"He'll come after me first," Kakashi said.

Chouko could sense his chakra. It was like a beacon, and it was the only thing she could sense in this thick fog.

"Stay alert, and no matter what happens, keep defending the bridge builder."

"But who is he?" Sakura asked.

"Momochi Zabuza," Kakashi answered. "The ex-leader of the Hidden Mist assassination unit. He's a master of the silent killing technique."

"S-Silent?" Naruto gulped.

"As the name suggests, it happens in an instant."

Chouko shivered.

"Without sound or warning of any kind."

The mist was becoming thicker, and she could barely see her teammates anymore.

"It's so fast you pass from this life without realizing what even happened," Kakashi explained. "The Sharingan can't fully neutralize it. So not lower your guard."

They all tensed the tension building.

"Well if we fail we only lose our lives," Kakashi said, his voice becoming darker.

"How can you say that?!" Sakura asked angrily.

The mist was almost impenetrable now, and Chouko could hardly see her hands.

"The mist is getting thicker and thicker," Naruto said.

"The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean," Tazuna looked at Naruto. "The swirling mists are ever present."

Chouko tensed as the mist swallowed Kakashi making him vanish.

"Eight points..."

They froze hearing Zabuza's voice.

"Lyrax, heart, spinal, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidney, heart. Now, which will be my kill point?..."

Chouko was beginning to panic, her hands trembling as she held the kunai tightly, trying to stay calm. Her attention was pulled to Kakashi as he made hand signs and chakra started to surround his body. The blood lust in the air was making her heart race, and she could barely keep her grip on the kunai.

Dread and despair filled Chouko as the thoughts of ending her life came rushing to her, and she had to swallow the bile that rose in her throat. She found her fingers twitching around he kunai as her thoughts grew darker and darker.

"Sasuke, Chouko! Calm down. I'll protect you with my life. All of you."

Chouko was snapped out of her thoughts and back to reality by Kakashi's words. She took a deep breath, her grip on the kunai tightening once more.

Sasuke was sweating staring at Kakashi's back.

"I will not allow my comrades to die," Kakashi looked back with a close-eyed smile. "Trust me."

His words seemed to calm her.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Chouko's eyes widened as Zabuza appeared in front of Tazuna, he lunged at them but Kakashi was quicker and lodged his kunai in Zabuza's stomach, holding him back. but instead of blood water was leaking out, and they all stared at him, surprised.

"Sensei behind you!" Naruto yelled pointing behind Kakashi.

The water clone disappeared as Zabuza swung his sword at Kakashi, whose body ripped in half in an explosion of water leaving Zabuza wide-eyed. Even in the mist Kakashi was able to see through his illusion and copy his technique.

"Don't move," Kakashi held a kunai to Zabuza's neck. "Now it's over."

The relief Chouko felt was brief as she felt a flick of an unfamiliar chakra and turned to look behind her, but there was nothing there. Her gaze went back to Kakashi and Zabuza and she swallowed thickly, her grip on her kunai tightening.

Was it over?

She had a feeling that it was only just beginning.