Chapter 13

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No, Naruto."

"Are we there yet?"

"NO… dobe."

Silence… "Are we th-"

"Naruto, finish that sentence and no amount of shadow clones will save you from the pain you will feel."

Naruto sweatdrops, then promptly shuts his mouth. I breathe out a sigh of relief, thanking whatever deities did exist that I finally had some peace and quiet. Well, as peaceful as I could be when I am on this mission.

We had just gotten off the boat a little bit ago, and we are currently trekking through the forest to where Tazuna's house was. If my memory was correct, Zabuza appeared when we got to a lake. And, if my vision is correct, which it is, then there was a lake just ahead.

Shutting out any other distractions, my mind began to focus on the area around me. I silently activate my sharingan and look around the area discreetly. I could see two chakra signatures, larger than the surrounding wildlife, hiding in the trees ahead. They must be Zabuza and Haku.

I nod once, seemingly to no one, but I knew Kakashi got the message. They are here, and in the same spot. Kakashi doesn't react at all, but the silght tensing of his muscles that even the sharingan could've missed told me otherwise.

We walk in relative silence, and I could guess why. Zabuza's chakra was flaring just a bit, pumping out a little more mist every now and then. Soon, they would be hidden in the chakra-laced mist.

Sakura shudders behind me, then says "This mist is creepy. Is it always like this Tazuna-san?"

Tazuna nods his head once, his bottle put away for once. "It is. The combination of the large lake and the sea often make this place misty. Luckily, it rarely reaches the town."

Sakura just takes this information. Naruto was looking around, slightly nervous but still alert. I smirk, when I hear a sudden shaking in a bush nearby. Before my mind could even register it, a kunai was sent into the bushes.

Naruto runs over, and my eyes widen when I realize what was happening. When Naruto pushes the bush apart and reveals a white bunny, my thoughts were confirmed. Naruto gasps, then grips the bunny tightly in a hug. "OH MY KAMI! I'm sorry little bunny!"

Sakura breaths out a sigh of relief, then says "Naruto, don't do that! You scared me." Naruto just grins sheepishly, dropping the bunny. It promptly jumps away, scared for its life.

I watch with slight amusement, when Kakashi speaks up behind me. "Hmm. White fur? That isn't normal for this time of season."

I nod in agreement, my senses on high alert. Then, an intrusion in my senses, a fast and dangerous intrusion. My eyes widen and I yell "Get down!" I drop down as Kakashi pushes down Tazuna. Naruto and Sakura reflexively follow my orders and drop as well.

A loud whistling sound is heard over us, along with a heavy thunk. I look up and notice the massive cleaver-like sword. As I pick myself up, the wielder of the sword finally appears.

The tall man had no shirt, other than the straps used to hold up his sword's holster. He had on pale blue pants, along with arm and leg guards that were colored like a cow. The defining feature was the half face mask that consisted of nothing more than bandages.

The man chuckles, looking down on all of us. "Well, I'm surprised that you avoided that attack, especially with all the genin" He seems to smile widely at us. "Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan Eye."

I grit my teeth, staring at the man who I needed to incapacitate. "Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Hidden Mist."

Zabuza looks at me, and even with my experience, I knew he was a dangerous opponent. This man, he could gut my like a wish without a second thought. Zabuza smirks, then says "So the brat knows me. I feel honored that such a green ninja does his research."

Zabuza grabs his sword, rips it out of the trunk of the tree it was lodged in, and jumps onto the ground. He plants the sword in the ground, looking at all of us. "Let's avoid the fighting Hatake. It'd be a shame for one of us to die, so let's avoid it."

Kakashi narrows his eyes, a kunai in his hand and in a defensive position. "And what would be the conditions of us avoiding a battle."

Zabuza grins, and picks up his sword. He points at Tazuna with it and says "The bridge builder's life."

Kakashi just huffs, then says "Sorry, but he's my mission. You'll have to go through me to get Tazuna-san."

Zabuza grins, then says "Well, my mission is to kill him. And know, all your lives are forfeit!"

Zabuza jumps back onto the lake, holstering his sword. He falls into a stance, one hand in the half-ram seal, and the other raised above his head, two fingers extended. "Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

Suddenly, the mist already lingering in the air begins to thicken drastically. I jump back to my teammates, and say "Guys! Manji formation!"

Naruto and Sakura nod, and they surround Tazuna, eyeing the area around them. I complete the triangle, looking around rapidly with my eyes.

A chuckling is heard through the mist, making our hair stand on end. "Eight points. Larex, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now, which one will I use to kill you three?"

Naruto grips his kunai tighter, his eyes widen and searching the area. Sakura was shivering, her eyes wide as well, and a frightened expression on her face. I just grit my teeth, forcing down the shivers in my body. Even if I was mentally 18, I still was unnerved by this man's jutsu. He was my first experience of the real world after all.

Some more chuckling reverberates through the area around us. "Oh? This kid, he's managing to keep his fears down. And… hold on."

I suddenly feel a breeze of air, and my eyes snap to it. Suddenly, Zabuza's voice says "This brat has the sharingan? And here I thought the Uchiha were all whipped out."

My eyes focus on the sound, and then widen slightly. I could just barely make out a faint discoloration in the mist, a black and white color. I smirk, gripping my kunai tighter. "Too bad then. I was left alive, and my eyes can still SEE!"

I throw my kunai forwards, watching Zabuza disappear once more. "Impressive brat. You managed to locate me. But now where am I?"

The chuckling once again goes around us, but I can hear something else. With my trained eyes, I smirk, knowing exactly where Zabuza was. I turn and lash out with my kunai. I hear a sickening squelch, making my team's eyes go wide.

Zabuza was there, in the middle of all of us, staring at the kunai. He narrows his eyes at me, then dissipates into water. I pull my kunai back and turn to the mist, when a rush of chakra hits us. Suddenly, the mist is blown away, clearing the area around us.

Kakashi raises himself from his stance and says "Naruto, Sakura! No need to be afraid. As long as I am here, I will protect you with my life." Naruto gulps, then nods. Sakura just looks at Kakashi with wide eyes, then nods, her grip loosening slightly.

More chuckling is heard, and Zabuza says "How cute. But you shouldn't have left your guard down!" Suddenly, a sword slashes through Kakashi, bisecting him. Our eyes go wide only for a second before the Kakashi we saw dissolves into water.

Zabuza's eyes widen in surprise, and he jumps backwards, just as a kunai hits where he once was. Kakashi eyes Zabuza cautiously, then says "Sakura, defend Tazuna-san. Naruto, Sasuke, provide me backup." I nod once, running up to Kakashi's side. Naruto joins us, and our side eyes Zabuza. Kakashi tenses, and then we all three run at Zabuza.

Kakashi begins the fight with a strike at Zabuza with his kunai. Zabuza avoids the hit, jumping back rapidly onto the lake. Kakashi runs after him, but me and Naruto stop. I eye the battle as the two jonin fight each other at high speeds.

Naruto looks around, then says "Damn it! We can't water walk yet, so what do we do?"

My eyes narrow as I see Zabuza bring his blade down, forcing Kakash into the lake somewhat. "For now, wait. We can fight soon." Naruto looks at me with a confused expression, then nods.

Zabuza grunts as he forces Kakashi down more. "Nice try Kakashi, but now I win!" He jumps back, then quickly weaves through some hand signs. Kakashi's eyes widen when he recognizes the technique. He quickly tries to escape the water, but Zabuza pushed him down too much. Zabuza does the last hand sign, then extends his hand. "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"

The water around Kakashi erupts around him, quickly shaping into a sphere of water. Kakashi stares ahead, his eyes wide that he was caught. Zabuza chuckles, then says "Now that you are trapped, I can take care of your little brats."

Zabuza forms the half-ram sign, and a clone forms in front of him. The clone eyes me and Naruto, then runs forwards. My eyes widen, and I yell "Naruto! Get ready!"

The clone reaches us on land, then tries bisecting us. I duck under the swing while Naruto goes over it. Naruto lands on the blade, sticking to it with his feet. Thank Kami we at least finished tree climbing, even if water walking wasn't done yet.

Just as I thought, the clone's focus went to Naruto. I quickly run forwards, slicing through the clone with a kunai. The clone falls to the ground, then dissolves.

Zabuza chuckles and says "Impressive brats you got there Kakashi. The seem to be able to handle their own."

Kakashi just eye smiles, then says "Oh, they aren't done yet." Zabuza looks at Kakashi with a raised, nonexistent eyebrow.

I reach into my kunai pack, pulling out a windmill shuriken from my storage seal. "Naruto, time for our new technique!" Naruto nods, grinning. "Right!"

Me and Naruto had practiced this technique when I remembered what got Kakashi free. We now were able to add a little extra to the technique, thanks to Naruto's wind affinity.

I smirk, setting the shuriken to its four-bladed position. "Demon Wind Shuriken, Windmill of Shadows!"

I bring my air back, feeling Naruto transform behind me, while simultaneously forming a shadow clone in his place. With the real shuriken and the transformed shuriken Naruto in hand, I send them both flying at high speeds.

Zabuza eyes the shuriken, then scoffs. "Easy." He grabs the first shuriken in his free hand. His eyes widen slightly when he sees the second shuriken. "A second shuriken in the shadow of the first? Predicta- what?!"

His surprise came in the form of the shuriken suddenly speeding up greatly. Zabuza's eyes widen in surprise, then he jumps up high. He jumped high enough that his hand exited the sphere of water, freeing Kakashi.

Zabuza eyes me with surprise, saying "Wind Style manipulation?! But the shuriken was already in flight!" I just grin, then point behind him.

Zabuza turns behind himself, and his eyes widen once more. The second shuriken transforms back into Naruto with a poof of smoke. Naruto grits his teeth, channeling wind chakra into his kunai. "Take this!"

He throws the kunai, landing in the lake in the process. The kunai rips through the air, much faster than normal. Zabuza tries dodging, but the kunai was too fast. It cuts a deep gash in his side, making the man grunt in pain.

Zabuza eyes Naruto with fury in his eyes and yells "You little BRAT!" He brings the windmill shuriken back to send it at Naruto, when he suddenly feels a pain in his back.

He turns around shakily to see Kakashi standing there, a kunai lodged into Zabuza's shoulder. "You let your guard down Zabuza." Zabuza barely even registers what just happened before he was sent back onto land with a hard kick to the side.

I jump back to Sakura as Zabuza lands on the ground, obviously in pain. Kakashi grabs Naruto, then runs back to the shore. Naruto quickly runs around Zabuza, but the mist jonin doesn't care. All he could see was the enemy in front of him.

Kakashi begins shifting slowly, forcing Zabuza to follow. Zabuza's eyes were wide with rage when he begins going through hand signs. "I won't be beaten" "just yet Kakashi."

Zabuza's eyes widen when Kakashi finishes his sentence. "No, don't" "do that!"

Zabuza's eyes narrow as he quickens his hand signs. "Damn you Kakashi! I won't be beaten-"

Kakashi finishes his hand signs, then yells "Water Style: Water Vortex jutsu!"

Zabuza stares at Kakashi in shock as the water wave rushes at him. "What?! But that was my jutsu!" Zabuza doesn't get to say any more as the water crashes into him, sending him into a tree.

Kakashi eyes Zabuza carefully as the water recedes. The missing nin looks up at Kakashi with wide and fearful eyes. "W-What? D-Does that eye let you… s-see the future?!"

Kakashi just narrows his eyes, a kunai coming to hand. "Yes. And I see… your death."

Just as Kakashi is about to kill Zabuza, two senbon fly from the trees, striking Zabuza in the neck. The jonin's eyes widen, and then he slumps onto the ground with no movement.

Suddenly, a person appears next to Zabuza. Wearing the fake hunter nin mask and the battle kimono, I knew who this was.

Haku nods her… his? thanks and says "Thank you for fighting Zabuza. I have been after him for a long time."

Naruto narrows his eyes as he sees the new arrival. "Who is he? And how did he take out Zabuza with just two senbon?!"

Kakashi sighs, lowering his headband back into its normal position. "Naruto. In the world of ninja, there are often surprises. One common surprise is ninja younger than you, but stronger than me. Remember that."

Haku looks at us, then says "Thank you for letting me kill Zabuza. Now I will take him and dispose of the body."

I shake my head, saying "Wait. I want to make sure he is dead."

Haku stiffens slightly, then says "Of course." He steps away, and I walk up to Zabuza. I bring my head down, looking for a heartbeat. I have to hand it to Haku, he could certainly make someone seem dead. As I get up, I quickly slip the Hokage's letter into Zabuza's pouch.

I stand up completely, noting that Haku didn't see me slip the letter into the pouch. I turn to Kakashi and nod my head. "He's dead."

Kakashi sighs, then says "Good." Haku just nods, then body flickers away with Zabuza's body. Kakashi slumps slightly, when his eyes widen. "Wait a second."

Sakura looks at Kakashi in confusion. "What is it Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi's eyes narrow as he says "Hunter nin dispose of the body right on the spot to prevent village secrets from becoming known. That hunter nin, he took the body."

Sakura's eyes widen in realization, but Naruto just frowns in confusion. "But what does that mean Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi turns to Naruto, then says "I think Zabuza is still alive."

Naruto's eyes widen in surprise. Kakashi eyes him, then eyes smiles. "Now, can one of you catch me? I am blacking out."

With that, Kakashi begins tilting dangerously. I quickly run forwards and catch Kakashi before he hits the ground. I look at him, then I say "Chakra exhaustion. He just needs rest."

Sakura and Naruto breath out a sigh of relief. Tazuna looks at us all with wide eyes, then he says "Damn, I got lucky with you brats."

I snort, then say "Lucky? Dobe over here made this mission an A-rank!"

Naruto looks at me with anger in his eyes and yells "No I didn't teme!"

I just smirk as we all begin walking to the town. "Of course you did! With your luck as good as it is, you'd have to have something big to balance it out!"

Naruto looks like he is about to retort, when he thinks of something. He sighs in defeat and says "You're probably right teme."

I just laugh at the declaration of Naruto's amazing, yet horrid luck. With that, almost all was right in the world.