Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Brotherhood ❯ Chapter II: Encounter ( Chapter 2 )

Brotherhood

 

Summary: They fought like brothers, they bickered like brothers, and they defended each other as brothers, now they must prove how strong the bond of a brother really is. The brotherhood of Konoha of this generation must persevere and embrace the will of fire.

 

I do not own Naruto® Kishimoto-sama does!

 

A/N: I really did not like writing this chapter. Even though I had it down on notes I deviated from them too much. Well I tried my best for this one. The next should be better, hopefully.

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Chapter II: Encounter

 

 

 

Naruto was awoken by the shaking of his tent. At first he didn't move but when the scent of breakfast reached him he shot out of his sleeping bag like a bullet. Need foood…So hungry. Due to his training the previous night he had opted to skip dinner in favor of trying to comprehend the scroll he had received from the Kyuubi. Now he regretted it as his stomach rumbled, pleading for a delicious morsel to fill it.

 

He quickly changed into his shinobi gear; taking just a few minutes in all. He was just adjusting his hitai-ate on his forehead when Sasuke peered in the tent. With a smug smirk upon his face he greeted his blonde haired teammate. “Hurry up and get your ass in gear dobe-kun, everyone is ready to go except you.” Sasuke said before leaving the blonde in his tent.

 

Kuso! I missed breakfast!! The blonde hurried and packed his `tent'. The `tent' was really just a piece of tarp and a few sticks since he had not been allowed to purchase a real tent at the supply store. Still he was grateful for the fact that the tarp was waterproof and wind resistant.

 

Heading down to the fire pit where the food was, he saw that there was not a scrap to be found. Che, damn pigs…Stealing all the food…Worse than Chouji… Naruto growled in annoyance as he walked to the clearing where he overheard Kakashi explaining how they were going to proceed forward.

 

“All right since we are in two teams we will take two smaller vessels to Wave to arouse less suspicion. My team will protect Tazuna-san on one vessel. Kurenai your team will follow three meters to our port side.” Kakashi explained. Naruto slid in beside Hinata earning a startled “Eep!” from the girl. The blonde put his index finger to his mouth and shushed her as he tried to duck down behind the taller Kiba. She turned back to listen to the jounin. N-Naruto-kun!

 

Kakashi looked around to see if the genin had absorbed the information when saw a tuft of blonde hair sticking out from behind Kiba's huge jacket. Hmm…I guess Naruto has not grasped the concept of escaping detection. In fact none of my three genin have much skill in any of the finer departments of being a shinobi…We are going to have to work on that. “Naruto, since you were late this time you are in charge of keeping Tazuna-san from harm until we reach the port.” Naruto was slightly surprised, he cursed under his breath for being detected. He moved from behind Kiba and glared at the laughing dog wielder.

 

He turned and glared at Kakashi and then turned to Tazuna who was looking down at the ground mumbling something. Shuffling his feet Naruto approached Tazuna and began making hand seals. When he came to the last one he whispered the jutsu under his breath. “Tajuu kage bunshin no jutsu!” Suddenly about twenty-three clones appeared in the clearing startling the unsuspecting genin. Hinata and Sakura shrieked, while Kiba and Kurenai gawked at the sheer number of clones. Both Shino and Sasuke raised an eyebrow and wondered what the blonde was going to do. With a motion of his hand all of the clones dispersed. Some leaping into the trees and others disappearing into the ground until there were no clones left to be seen.

 

“K-Kakashi, you taught the boy that jutsu?” Kurenai asked the stunned jounin. Clearly she had not heard of the boy using such a jutsu and neither did her team. From his data he could barely use a normal bunshin…How could he have mastered a jounin level jutsu with such proficiency and in such a short amount of time?

 

“Hmm…nope.” The silver haired jounin said; his “smiling eye” gave her suspicions that he knew how the boy had learned the jutsu. Then who could have taught it to him? Kurenai was still as confused as before and Kakashi looked as if he was not going to answer her questions.

 

The hell? Why would the dobe make so many clones? How can he make so many clones? From what I remember that was the one jutsu he totally sucked at… Kiba thought as he pondered the strength of this “new Naruto”.

 

“Ne Kakashi-sensei is that enough for now?” Naruto said as he stifled a lazy yawn. He can do more! Kiba screamed inwardly. That was an insane amount of chakra to just dish out for a genin. How could the dead last blonde have so much power?

 

“I think you went a bit overboard but it's good enough.” The boy beamed as he turned to his teammates and tried to start a conversation with them. Hmm…I think I also need to teach them some restraint…Even with his abnormal chakra capacity, he can still run out…eventually...

- -

 

High in the treetops two figures watched the six genin paying attention to the instruction of two jounin. So that is why the demon brothers lost…They lost to Copy Ninja Kakashi… A large man who wore the slashed hitai-ate of Kiri. A very long head cleaver was strapped to his back. Oh what fun…Makes me want to start the bloodbath already. The nin chuckled softly as to not arouse the suspicion of the two jounin below. A small, frail looking boy nudged the Kiri nuke-nin's shoulder. “Ne Zabuza-san, do you want to commence the attack now?” The boy asked; his voice impassive and cold.

 

“Iie, we will wait until the situation favors us…that alright with you…Haku?” Zabuza asked the young boy.

 

“Hai, Zabuza-san.”

- -

 

Twenty minutes had passed and nothing noteworthy had happened. Naruto was getting restless and was fighting the urge to pull out his scroll and start reading up on more of his family's techniques. Crap this is soo boring. I hope we get there soon. Wailed Naruto in his head since Sakura threatened to pound his head in if he so much as made a peep. Suddenly a huge dark figure appeared on the horizon. Is that land? Finally! Naruto's hopes were dashed as it turned out to be a thick cloud of fog.

 

“What is with this super thick fog? I can hardly see my hand in front of my face!” exclaimed Tazuna as he shut off the boats engine. A tall dark skinned who had been operating the boat that Kurenai and her team were traveling in also shut off their boat's engine.

 

“Tazuna-san, we'll have to paddle it out from here.” The man said as they entered the fog.

 

“What, why?” Kiba yelled, forgetting that they were trying to get by undetected. Everyone winced as a loud resounding slap echoed through the fog.

 

“Baka it is to make it easier for us to get to the mainland without getting detected and encountering any enemies.” Kurenai hissed at her student who was then sporting a red handprint upon his left cheek. I am definitely going to have to teach him the necessity of subtle shinobi precautions. Kurenai huffed before peering out into the thick fog.

 

The mist was heavy and cold, Naruto wrapped his arms around himself in an effort to ward off the chill. “Damn I'm freezing…” He mumbled. The mist seemed to lower the normally moderate temperature and a sudden breeze chilled the group to the bone.

 

A sudden passage from the scroll Naruto had read flew through his mind out of boredom. A fairly simple test is able to determine if one has inherited our kekkei genkai. The user must be able to exhibit full control over earth based jutsus and partial adaptability when it comes to water based jutsus. Simply channeling chakra into the environment and molding it to the desired shape should suffice.

 

Wait a minute…I might have a way to get rid of this stupid fog. Determinedly Naruto placed his hands in the seal of the ram and channeled chakra into the air around him. Yosh! Let's do this! Naruto poured his chakra into the atmosphere and the mist seemed to waver a bit before condensing in front of him. The fog thickened in front of him and Naruto began to panic. What is happening? A hand on his shoulder startled him out of his reverie.

 

“Naruto what are you doing?” Sakura asked in a whisper. Naruto's concentration completely shattered and the mist seemed to even out to its former consistency.

 

“N-nothing Sakura-chan.” The blonde whispered back. Naruto formed the seal again and began to channel chakra into the air when a sudden flash of pain in his wrists caused the chakra to explode in his face. He looked down and saw the silver glint of metal sticking out. Nani! Senbon? Naruto's thoughts were cut of as a hail of senbon rained upon him, impaling his arms and part of his back. Naruto yelped in pain as he dove to the floor of the boat. Sakura shrieked as a new wave of senbon rained upon the boat.

 

Shimatta! I wasn't expecting an attack out here… Kakashi leapt off of the boat flashing through a long chain of seals. “Suiton: Suijinheki!” a tall barrier of water surrounded the boat deflecting the many tiny needles. The water's rotation began to pull in the other boat closer.

 

Suddenly Kurenai had an idea. We need to stay close to Kakashi's team. “Shinji, bring us closer to them! We must support them!” Kurenai yelled; Kiba and Hinata paled while Akamaru hid in his master's jacket. Shino remained impassive as ever.

 

“Hai!” the boater fired up the engines and the boat sped off towards the other. The added rotation of the water wall drew them in faster. With skill Shinji shut off the engines and yanked on the lever that brought the boat sideways next to the water barrier.

 

“Kiba, Shino, when the barrier falls link the two boats together, got that?” The two of them nodded in response. “Hinata, protect Shinji and watch team seven's back, I'm counting on you.” With that Kurenai disappeared behind the veil of a genjutsu.

 

Kurenai-sensei is c-counting on m-me? W-what if I a-am to w-weak? W-what i-if I… Her thoughts were cut off when Kiba's shout rang through the mist. “The barrier is falling!” As soon as the water fell back down the two boys brought the boats together and used wires to hold them together.

 

I see, so that was Kurenai-sensei's plan…this platform will give us more room for maneuverability, thus making it easier for us to protect our charges and each other. Shino deduced as he finished linking his end. “Shinji-san, I advise you to duck down please.” The boater nodded and ducked down in the small boat.

 

Kiba finished linking his end and the three of them made a semi-circle around Shinji, with Hinata taking point. Sasuke, who had seen what the other team was doing, instructed Naruto and Sakura what to do. “Oji-san is there any small islands around here that can offer better protection?” Sasuke asked, leaping nimbly away from the senbon that rained from above.

 

“Hai, there is one a few meters away from here.” Tazuna supplied from where he was ducked down.

 

Sensing the urgency in their voice and feeling a rising level of chakra approaching them; Hinata scanned the area and found the land mass a few meters away. “Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, there is a small island twenty meters to port.” Hinata yelled, her timidity forgotten in the midst of battle. Kiba and Naruto manned the engines and steered them towards the island. It was only until they felt a powerful surge of chakra behind them did they realize the danger they were in.

 

As the island neared the boys quickly shut off the engines and rushed everyone off of the boat. “Come on, move it!” Kiba yelled as he shoved the nin onto the land. Shinji and Tazuna huddled together next to a grove of bushes and the six genin made a protective circle around them.

 

They waited those few tense minutes in silence. The air was so tick with tension that it was almost physically tangible. Suddenly a barebacked man with spiky brown hair materialized before them. He had bandages covering his mouth and a giant zanbato strapped to his back. He studied the genin for a moment before walking slowly and deliberately towards them. He spiked his killer intent until he could see the genin trembling under his icy gaze. The six genin closed in tighter around their charges and drew weapons. Naruto began another set of seals until the man's icy gaze was directed exclusively at him. The man drew his zanbato and wordlessly charged the blonde. Naruto drew a kunai but knew it would be useless against a weapon of that size. Why me? Naruto flew through a set of seals and braced himself for the man's blade. Gasps and cries out to him reached his ears before the blade went through him and he erupted in a plume of smoke. He reappeared a few meters behind the man and back flipped to the edge of the island well out of the nin's reach but in front of Tazuna. Everything was silent until the man spoke. “You were the one who was messing with the mist weren't you.” A deep voice that was obviously the man's reverberated out over the clanging of metal that was going on elsewhere out in the mist.

 

Everyone was holding their breath in silence but they knew he was talking to Naruto. “And if I was? What would you do about it?”

 

“Baka! What are you saying “what would you do about it” that guy could skin you alive!” Sakura yelled bonking the blonde over the head. Naruto no baka, trying to get himself killed… The man chuckled darkly and bent down to pick up something on the floor.

 

“All of you are weak pathetic fools that are not even fit to bear the title of shinobi. Yet you prance around as if this were some kind of…game.” He said holding out his arm and letting the thing that he had picked up dangle from his hand. It was a Konoha hitai-ate. “You want this back, well you will have to take it back by force!” The man yelled not even turning to acknowledge them.

 

The gleam of the metal and the abundance of scratches that showed him that it was not just any hitai-ate. It was the hitai-ate that he had received from Iruka-sensei. How the hell did he get it?! No one puts their grubby paws on the hitai-ate that I got from Iruka-sensei! With a ferocious battle cry the blonde charged the nin. Peals of chakra cascaded off of his form illuminating his body in an eerie blue light. “Naruto!” Sakura yelled in a fruitless attempt to stop the blonde. Naruto-kun, kiwotsukete (be careful) Hinata pleaded.

 

“Hmm…I guess this one has a death wish.” The man whipped around with his blade slicing where Naruto was only milliseconds before, in its place was a kage bunshin which erupted in a plume of smoke. “Nani?” he looked around him but couldn't see the blonde. Then he must be…above! Sure enough the blonde was sailing upside down in the air twisting his body he spun flinging a deadly rain of kunai towards the nin. He leapt out of the path of the projectiles giving Naruto enough time to right himself and land.

 

“Oh so you think you can match me huh? Well match this.” He pocketed the hitai-ate and started to fly through a long chain of seals.

 

Sakura noticed what kind of jutsu it was going to be immediately and yelled for her teammate to run. “Sasuke-kun do something! If he completes that jutsu we could ­all die!” she yelled launching volleys of shuriken and kunai at the nin. Said nin only sidestepped each volley and continued making seals.

 

Shimatta, I hope this works. “Katon: Gokakyuu no jutsu!” a huge plume of fire erupted from his mouth and sped towards the man.

 

“Hmm…Nani!” he had to drop the jutsu to leap out of the way of the flames. A deep rut in the earth showed the path of the flames before revealing dark scorched earth.

 

When the smoke cleared there was a great divide between Naruto and Zabuza. “So that one has some skills…” Zabuza turned to Sasuke and the four nin behind him. A small white dog growled at him from behind a savage looking brunette. “Ah, by the looks of it we have a fledgling Inuzuka, by the amount of bugs flitting around me an Aburame, Hyuuga, and three no names. Hmph, Konoha must be getting desperate if they are sending whelps like you out on missions. But enough talk, step aside or die. Those are your choices.”

 

“That or we kick your ass; Akamaru, let's go!” Kiba said tossing a soldier pill to the white dog. The dog ate the pill and his fur turned red. Kiba took one as he charged the nin with Akamaru on his heels. “Juujin bunshin!” he said as Akamaru leapt up upon his shoulders. A cloud of smoke obscured them from view momentarily before the duo burst out as identical copies of Kiba. “Shikakyu no jutsu!” one yelled, crouched down on all fours and leapt off in a burst of speed with the other trailing right behind.

 

“Idiot's going to get killed.” Sasuke said before dashing off to aid his comrade. Sasuke, Kiba and Akamaru brutally assaulted the kiri nuke-nin. It seemed as if they were winning as the nin had little time to dodge their frantic blows. Kiba lunged forward but Zabuza twisted out of the way. Kiba turned to attack again but he realized that he had overextended his reach. Shimatta! Zabuza took advantage of this and whipped his sword around knocking the two genin away. Akamaru's concentration broke and the juujin bunshin fell from the heavy blow.

 

Sasuke sat up immediately only to have a heavy foot force him back down on the floor. The bigger man stomped down on the boy's chest causing him to cry out in pain. He repeatedly stomped down on the boy's chest until blood escaped from his lips and his eyes dulled. With a maniacal grin hidden under his bandages the man raised his zanbato high into the air and then... it began to fall. “This is the end gaki.”

 

Sakura watched on in horror as the blade fell. She didn't know when it happened but her feet had started to move and everything seemed to move in slow motion, I won't let him kill Sasuke-kun. Naruto also lunged forward but he knew he wouldn't make it in time. Faster than she had ever thought possible she closed the distance and was standing directly above Sasuke's prone form.

 

Zabuza hesitated for a moment at the arrival of the pink haired girl but he resumed his downward slash. Oh well killing two birds with one stone… In an act of desperation, Sakura threw up her arms to guard. The heavy blade bore down on her small arms and a stinging pain flared through her arms. Sakura resisted the urge to cry out in pain as a scarlet stream of blood trickled down her arm. The force was unbearable but she didn't give up for fear of what would happen to Sasuke if she were to fail.

 

The pressure was ever building and her arms were quickly being pushed further down. The flow of blood didn't stop and her vision was getting clouded. Must hold on…for…Sasuke-kun… Suddenly a loud snap and a new wave of pain caused Sakura to black out. “Sakura-chan!” Zabuza flung the small girl off of his blade leaving her in a heap next to the fallen Uchiha.

 

Naruto sprung forward and stepped between Zabuza and his fellow Konoha nin. What are you doing? A voice in his head asked. Ignoring it he steeled himself as the nin started walking towards him. Are you trying to get killed? Again he ignored it. Zabuza now stood directly in front of the blonde yet he didn't budge. I will not run, I must protect Sakura-chan and Sasuke-teme. A deep chuckling came from within him. Amusing, you place the lives of those who treat you worse than trash above your own.

 

Kiba was getting scared now, even though the nin wasn't moving closer to him, he was moving towards a fellow leaf nin. Not the best leaf nin but one nonetheless. “Naruto, run!” the dog wielder yelled, but the boy remained defiant and unmovable.

 

Such stubborn determination, it receives my commendation and a little parting…gift. The voice said. Suddenly Naruto felt a little lightheaded and stumbled on his feet. Zabuza took this opportunity to finish the blonde off…or to at least attempt to. He swung his blade and instead of the sound of steel cleaving flesh there was only the sound of blade whistling through air? Nani? The blonde appeared beneath the blade and delivered a fierce uppercut to the nin's jaw.

 

Zabuza staggered back and Naruto, not waiting for him to reorient himself, leapt up and tossed a round of kunai at the nin. The knives landed with a dull thud and Naruto smirked in satisfaction. Got him. It was short lived for the nin suddenly blossomed into a field of frozen spires. Shimatta! Naruto tried to turn himself away but he was unable to in the air.

 

The long, thin spires pierced through his body and came out from the other end. The blonde cried out in pain as the blades painfully receded. Scarlet rivers of blood flowed from the wounds as he was dropped onto the ground. The mist nin turned into a puddle and then a form of the mist nin rose out of the puddle. “Touketsu no sentou (frozen spire)…I didn't think I would need to use it on a mere genin…” Zabuza said, gazing down to the fallen blonde. My eye! Naruto grasped his head where one of the blades pierced. He felt a painful stabbing and burning sensation in his eye and where the multiple blades had pierced. It seemed like the blades were laced with some kind of poison. Kuso. Naruto could feel his consciousness slipping and he was too drained to fight back. The blonde fell to the ground unconscious within a matter of moments.

 

Hinata who had been watching the battle knew that they were in a very bad position. Team seven had been put out of commission and Kiba was in no condition to fight and protect Akamaru at the same time. Even worse was that team seven was completely at the mercy of the mist nin with them being at his feet and all. W-what s-should I do? Her teammate who had seemed to sense her distress placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Hinata… we will get out of this…somehow.” Shino, not really the optimist, said trying to calm his panicking teammate. “That nin is not really the real one. It is just a bunshin so if you used your jyuuken you could take it out. I am going to try and attack him with my kikai bugs but the chance is slim that I would be able to get him without a distraction.”

 

“Can I leave that to you?” The bug user asked. Hinata didn't think she could but gave her teammate a nod anyway.

 

It is just creating a distraction…I think I can manage that. Steeling her resolve she flew through a few seals and activated her kekkei genkai. With a cry of “Byakugan” the blood vessels near her eyes bulged out from the power flowing through them. She then flew through another set of seals. One so basic that just about anyone who knew anything about ninjutsu could recognize it at a glance. “Bunshin no jutsu.” She whispered and four clones poofed into existence next to her. Zabuza's attention shifted from the blonde to her instantly but before her mind could panic Shino spoke up again.

 

“Don't worry, I'll back you up.” He said reassuring her. Hinata nodded once again and then took off, her clones trailing behind.

 

So the Hyuuga is going to try her hand eh? Zabuza plunged his blade into the ground as Hinata approached. I cannot afford to even be touched by her hands. The Hyuuga heiress jabbed an open palm strike to the nin's center which he sidestepped. Zabuza did not wait for the Hyuuga to regain her balance and attempted to backhand the girl. Fortunately for Hinata, or unfortunately for Zabuza, the girl was just a bunshin. Shimatta!

 

Hinata saw her clone disappear in a cloud of ninja smoke. Her stomach knotted in dread but she quickly shook the feeling. Don't worry. It was just one clone. We are in a position to end this. The kiri nin was facing away from Hinata and she took the opportunity to charge him. With a battle cry all her clones rushed in with her trailing closely behind. The real Hinata threw a few kunai and shuriken, hoping that at least one would land a hit. It was not to be for Zabuza suddenly drew his blade and knocked away all of the projectiles. The clones that were caught up in the slash were dispelled in a cloud of smoke. Hinata had leapt back just in time to avoid being gutted by the massive cleaver.

 

Shino was slowly advancing a group of insects towards the kiri nin. Just a little bit more. The small bugs were concealed in the smoke. As soon as the bugs informed him that they were above the target, He gave them the attack order. Now! The bugs dived at the nin and started to drain the bunshin's chakra.

 

Zabuza, feeling the draining of his chakra, immediately went into a panic. “Get them off of me!” He yelled flailing around. The bugs only kept on coming until there was only a puddle of water left on the ground.

 

We have defeated the clone, now to get our comrades out of danger. He flew through a small set of hand seals. “Kikai bunshin no jutsu.” He whispered and suddenly there was a rustling from the sleeves of his shirt. A swarm of insects buzzed forth and came together forming a clone of Shino. “Hinata we need to get team seven into a safe area in case that nin comes back or decides to send more clones.” Shino said and proceeded to take Sasuke to the area next to where Tazuna and Shinji were hiding. Hinata went to where the nin was defeated and picked up Naruto's dropped hitai ate. She then took Sakura to the hiding spot by Tazuna. “Kiba are your wounds manageable?” Shino asked as he approached the dog wielder.

 

“Aa, nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises. Akamaru is in worse condition though.” Kiba said as he cradled the small white puppy in his arms.

 

Hinata approached her crush with hesitation but she reached out to him anyway. Naruto-kun…you got badly injured while protecting your comrades…I wish I could be as brave as you. Suddenly the blonde stirred and Hinata stepped away in surprise. “N-Naruto-kun! A-are you sure you s-should b-be getting up?” the shy timid girl asked as her crush arose from a puddle of blood. She gasped at the sight and immediately drew the injured boy towards her. Her stuttering was forgotten in her worried state.

 

The blonde looked down at his body with his good eye. Che, that kiri nin did a number on me. Speaking of which, where is he? Naruto looked around to see that there were only sounds of combat coming from further in the mist and not near them. “Nee, where is that eyebrow-less freak?” the blonde asked, as suddenly there was a pain in his chest that pulsed every time he breathed.

 

“Don't worry. I'm right here and this time you won't be so lucky to survive. Those jounin are not here to protect you so you will die, here and now.” A voice that suddenly materialized out from further in the mist said.

 

“You!” Naruto placed himself between Hinata and himself as the nin appeared from the mist right in front of him. Shino also stepped up with his clone nearby. Even Kiba leapt up and extended the wall between Tazuna and the kiri nuke-nin.

 

So they all want to die. I'll make it swift and painless. He grasped his blade tightly in his hands and suddenly disappeared.

 

All three genin jumped in surprise. He was so much faster now. Where did he go? Kiba asked himself as he extended his senses outward. Suddenly a foreign chakra from above caused him to look up to the nin descending with his blade poised to attack. “Above!” the dog wielder yelled and it only took a moment for his companions to scatter. The kiri nin landed heavily as he had intended to cleave at least one of them in two.

 

Zabuza leapt out onto the water's surface as he watched the genin regroup. Hmm these genin are a bit better than I thought but this is the end! He flew through a long chain of hand seals. “Suiton: Suiryuudan no jutsu!” he yelled and a huge dragon made of water rose from the water around him.

 

Naruto paled as the dragon started to descend. If the thing hit land then they would all be washed away. He knew for sure that he didn't have the strength to swim back to shore if that happened. I have to prevent that at all costs. He blurred through a quick set of hand seals, ignoring the pain in his hand every time he created a new seal. “Kage bunshin no jutsu!” In a puff of smoke three clones appeared. Hmm I thought I put out enough chakra for at least ten bunshin… He thought, but dismissed the thoughts. “Don't let that thing touch down! We have to destroy it now.” The blonde yelled loudly to his clones. The three gave a thumbs up before moving into action. One of the clones launched kunai at the dragon but it was to no avail. The blades just bounced off as if the dragon had protective armor. The other two started to attach exploding tags to some kunai when a sudden black blur sliced through the dragon.

 

It howled in pain before losing form and exploding into a shower of water. Nani? Zabuza looked around for a figure before he felt a cold steel blade on his neck. “It's over.” An icy voice said from behind him.

 

The kiri nin began to laugh darkly. “So this is how it ends eh Kakashi?” the kiri nin said, still chuckling.

 

“Aa.” Was the only response he received. Suddenly a few needles sliced through the air and embedded themselves in Zabuza's neck. He doubled over and began to sink into the water. Kakashi grabbed the nin before he sank too low. Where the hell did that come from? Kakashi looked around and saw the source of the needles. A young hunter nin stood on the shore. Damn, he couldn't be much older than Naruto…

 

“Thank you for helping me kill Zabuza. I have been tailing him for a while and I appreciate you getting him into a position where I could take him.” The hunter nin said, bowing to Kakashi before approaching him.

 

“Iie, it would have had to be done. After all he was a nuke-nin.” Kakashi handed over Zabuza to the smaller nin and watched as he created a few hand seals.

 

“Arigatou, Kiri is in Konoha's debt for aiding us in retrieving one of our own. You have our gratitude.” The hunter nin said before disappearing in a whirlwind of leaves.

 

Kakashi stood there for a minute and then sighed. He pulled down his hitai ate and stepped forward. A sudden jolt of pain flared through his body and it tensed up in response. Shimatta, chakra depletion… The silver haired jounin pitched forward. Fortunately Kurenai dropped her genjutsu and caught the jounin.

 

“Kakashi, you have overexerted yourself.” The crimson eyed kunoichi said to the man in her arms.

 

“Sumanai (Sorry).” The silver haired jounin croaked out before losing consciousness. Kurenai sighed as she returned to shore. She was greeted by a battered but worried Naruto.

 

“Nee, what happened to Kakashi-sensei?” the blonde asked.

 

“Chakra depletion. But don't worry he should be fine soon.” Kurenai reassured before returning to Tazuna and Shinji. “Tazuna-san, this may take a while longer since we have to treat the wounded. I hope you understand.” The crimson eyed jounin said as she knelt down before the injured Uchiha first.

 

“Take your time. After all you all are risking your lives to protect mine.” The old bridge builder said as he sat down next to the trembling boater.

 

Kurenai used a basic scanning jutsu to check Sasuke for injuries. What she found shocked her. Two broken ribs are all he has now but it seems like the Uchiha doesn't take care of his medical needs. Most of his limbs are healed wrong. It is as if he neglects treatment. I will have to inform the hospital when we return to Konoha. She healed his ribs the best he could with her limited medical knowledge. She bandaged him up and laid him down to rest.

 

She then moved Sakura who was in worse shape than Sasuke. If it was any indication to her, the odd angle at which her arms were bent implied that they were broken and the gashes on her arm led Kurenai to believe that the girl had blocked Zabuza's blade with her forearms alone. Does this team not have any self preservation capabilities? Kurenai set the bones and healed them. They were a bit easier to mend than Sasuke's. Since there were no organs she didn't have to worry about puncturing any internal organs. She cleaned the wound and bandaged up the pink haired kunoichi.

 

The crimson eyed jounin wiped the sweat from her brow as she walked to the only conscious member of team seven. When she approached the blonde he looked up and then looked back down as he was examining some type of scroll. “Naruto-kun, I would like to examine you for injury. Please lay down.” The boy began to sputter in protest but Kurenai would have nothing of it. “I don't know what Kakashi has been teaching you but by now you should know the importance of first aid. On the field like this it could save your life or the life of your teammates.” Kurenai said, her eyes showing an iron will determination to get the boy to comply with her demands.

 

Naruto was about to say something but decided against it. With a pained sigh he lay down, carefully trying to keep the pressure off of the more painful areas. The blonde almost hissed in pain as he lay down on a rock but bit his tongue to prevent the sound from coming out. Kurenai saw this and activated the scanning jutsu once again. What she saw almost gave her a heart attack. Through just about every organ in the boy's body was a puncture hole. Even more surprising than that were the scars from past injuries on various organs and muscles. Some more gruesome looking than anything she had seen or heard of before. Where the hell did scars like these come from? No one should be able to survive wounds like these… She shook the thoughts away from her mind as she concentrated on healing what she could. Suddenly an intense discharge of chakra tossed the kunoichi a few meters back. She landed haphazardly on her back but quickly righted herself.

 

Shino and Hinata came over quickly after seeing their sensei being thrown back from a blast of chakra. “S-sensei daijoubu?” the timid Hyuuga heiress asked. Kurenai waved her away and stood up.

 

“ Hai, it was only chakra discharge. I guess my chakra is unable to heal Naruto-kun.” Kurenai said dejectedly as she packed up her stuff. She looked to the sky as the mist started to clear. Hmm, it is almost noon we should be able to make it to Wave before nightfall. “Alright we are going to continue on. Another hour or two at most and we should be there.” Kurenai said as she hefted the unconscious jounin onto her shoulder.

 

Naruto created a few kage bunshin to scoop up his teammates and transport them to the boat. He was careful to not aggravate their wounds any further. Kiba held Akamaru in his arms as he entered the vessel. Shino traveled with Naruto as the vessel he was on was seriously undermanned if something were to happen.

 

“Alright let's go I'm exhausted.” Naruto said as he felt a sudden wave of dizziness overcome him. He grabbed his head and the side of the boat to steady himself. Unfortunately it was the side that the blades had pierced his eye. Naruto had to; once again, bite his tongue to keep from hissing out in pain. He earned some worried glances from his companions but waved off their concerns. “I'm fine.” Damn that hurt like hell. Naruto tried to open his injured eye but found that he could not. He cursed the kiri nin who did this as they shoved off from the small island.

- -

 

The nin had made it to the mainland without incident. However when they reached the mainland a group of bandits ambushed them. “Kuso, if we get ambushed one more time; I swear I'll lop somebody's head off.” Kiba growled as he forcefully plucked a kunai from one of the downed bandit's back.

 

Hinata was dressing a wound on Shino's shoulder as he had been struck by an arrow. “Well then we should pray that no unlucky soul crosses our path ne?” the bug wielder said earning some loud and colorful curses from his dog wielding companion.

 

Kurenai was extricating Tazuna from being tangled in a mass of vines that he managed to get himself into and Naruto was checking his teammates and sensei for any further injury. The clones had done an outstanding job in protecting them but it left him somewhat drained. He stumbled on his feet and caught himself on a nearby tree.

 

The crimson eyed jounin caught this but did not comment. That boy has overexerted himself as well… Kage bunshin most likely was the culprit. Though it is true that it is a very useful technique; it also has the drawback of using an abhorrent amount of chakra. The fact that Naruto-kun could use it for such an extended period of time is amazing. She thought as she saw the boy shake off his fatigue and return to her.

 

Kiba, Shino, and Hinata also finished and regrouped next to her. “Nee, Tazuna-san how long will it take to get there?” Kiba asked as he cradled, now semiconscious, Akamaru in his arms. The puppy yawned and snuggled further into the dog wielder's jacket.

 

“We should be able to see the gates in a few minutes.” The bridge builder said. Kurenai nodded and followed as the man led them down the path.

- -

 

Naruto was dead on his feet as the Tazuna's house loomed before him. His consciousness was continually slipping and the world swirled before his eyes. Left, right, left, right, left… Was the mantra that Naruto repeated over and over, pushing his body to move forward. Even though team eight was right with him they were not nearly as tired but they were still beat. Suddenly, but not unexpectedly, the blonde pitched forward, unconscious. The clones that were supporting his teammates disappeared in a cloud of ninja smoke and they fell haphazardly to the floor.

 

Kurenai picked up Sakura and Kakashi while Tazuna carried Sasuke and Naruto. Kurenai sighed in both relief and worry. At least Naruto-kun is not putting out chakra towards his clones anymore… But I still have to monitor his chakra levels. No telling if and when they will become unstable. “I think it is about time we rest.” Kurenai said and her team quickly obliged, going into the house and collapsing in the walkway.

 

A young woman with dark hair came into the room and smiled at the sight. Kurenai sighed once again. I think I am also going to have to teach them some manners. She thought. Tazuna turned to her, his eyes gleamed of appreciation. “Arigatou, without your aid, getting back here would not have been possible.” The graying old man said before moving the guys to one of the upper rooms and the girls to one adjacent to it.

 

Kurenai sat down on her futon and faced the wall across from her. “I am just doing my job…Tazuna-san…” she said, more to himself than the old man. He smiled at her and closed the door as he left. Kurenai stared into the darkness for a moment before lying down and letting her consciousness slip away into dark oblivion.

 

- -

So I finally finished another chapter. I really didn't like writing this chapter but I look forward to writing the next. Hope it turns out better than this one did. Please R&R. Constructive criticism is appreciated.