Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Inner Secrets ❯ Mission Time ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: As I've said before, I own nothing!!

 

A/N: My eyes bugged out of their sockets when I saw how many reviews I had. I was gapping so much before I started to do a little victory dance. I really appreciate all the words of praise and criticism and I hope that I will not disappoint any of you. Also, your reviews have inspired me to continuing doing this one instead of swtiching between this and Heading Home. After all this fanfiction has more reviews and less chapters then my other Naruto one. Now without any further ado here is the next chapter which I dedicate to my best friend, the Alaminator. ^^ She is one of my editors, and Karebear who is my other editor. ^^

 

Chapter 3

 

'Well... I've located and freed all the captives, but how the hell should I take that monstrosity out!??!' Naruto silently questioned his companion as he looked on from his position behind a tree at, the massive fortress that was one of the three bases for the Kompku Renpo. All the prisoners had been set free quite some time ago and after much thanks they headed off for home, but not before learning the name of their valiant hero, the Kage-Gesshoku.

 

'I think its time to use one of the techniques I taught you several years ago...' Kyuubi said with a nod.

 

'What? You once told me never to use them if I could be caught performing them.' The blond countered in confusion.

 

'True, but that was only for the sake of your mask, and in this line you are no longer the blond idiot. You are the Kage-Gesshoku, the Shadow Assailant. A man...er... young soon to be teen of great power, skill and soon respect.' The Kyuubi stated and his words earned him a nod of understanding.

 

Naruto stood from his stooped position and moved forwards his hands forming a series of complex seals that no ninja had ever seen before. "Shuchu Suru Enerugi Kosen: 21 Pasento!" He cried in his henge voice as his hands finished the final seal which caused his hands to look as though he was picturing something. As the words left his mouth a blue light shot out from the open handed seal and shot out in a diluted and scattered wave of pure light which annihilated the enemy base in one fell swoop.

 

As the light dispersed he brought his hands down, panting hard. "That... took way... more chakra... then I expected...." He commented in a breathless way as he dropped down to the ground in a sitting position.

 

Before him the impressive hard steel and stone structure no longer stood and, in its place was a massive crater. Even a high percent of the forest around had been utterly destroyed and no rubble remained. Just a smoldering hole still emitting clouds of dust and smoke.

 

'True... but that energy beam only contained twenty-one percent concentrated power. Just imagin what a full powered beam of undiluted light would do to your chakra reserves. That is one of the reasons why I didn't let you try it before.' Kyuubi explained with a proud note in his voice. `I am proud of you Kit.'

 

'Thanks Kyuu-chan, that means a lot.' Naruto said gently as he slowly pushed himself back on his feet. "One down, one to go." He said with a sigh as he gazed up at the full moon over head. "I have plenty of time left... but I will have to use it wisely as there is no way I could just send a destruction beam at the next place. With all the fire power inside the end result could be catatrophique..." He mumbled quietly to himself as he set off once more though this time in pursuit of the Set Base.

 

 

*

 

"Well how have all the Genins faired in their exams?" The Hokage asked the assembled Jounin who stood before his desk. "All who have passed a team please step forward." He ordered kindly and silently took note of the three who did. "Asuma, Kurenai, Kakashi." He said as he nodded to each in turn. "The rest are dismissed.

 

"Now tell me of your teams." He ordered in a kind tone as he took a long but slow puff from his smoke emitting pipe.

 

"My team: Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Choji had, as predicted, worked well together doing what their parents who were before them did. They performed admirably. Ino is tough and skilled with the family jutsu, Choji is well versed in using his clan's jutsu and Shikamaru is extremely lazy but he is a genius and well practiced with shadows. They failed to retrieve any bells though I'm certain they will do well" Asuma concluded.

 

"My team: Hyuuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, and Inuzuka Kiba. Though they each are on opposite ends of the spectrum they have managed to work together. Shino is the quiet but calculative one of the group using his insects to their fullest potential; Kiba and Akamaru are the brash ones that provide the muscles and have an excellent sense of sent which is a given to any of the Inuzuka clan. Hinata is shy and uncertain, though she has the ability of the Byakugan and is trainned fairly well in the family fighting style. They came close to retrieving the bells and I think they will do well." Kurenai finished.

 

"My team: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto. They are unable to work as a team. Sakura is pinning after Sasuke, Sasuke is too obsessed with growing stronger to acheive his vengeance, and Naruto is brash. Sakura has great chakra control; Sasuke has a few powerful ninjutsu and Naruto... Well he's different. Despite their not being able to work as a team, Sasuke nearly managed to get one of the bells while Naruto somehow managed to acquire one." Kakashi summed up and smiled beneith his mask as he was given a look that clearly asked him to elaborate.

 

"I'm not sure how he did as I did not sense nor see it, but he had somehow managed to not only take one of the bells but also attach a rock tied to a string in its place. He said he once did the same thing as a prank to one of the villagers that he wasn't fond of. Also when I told them how pathetic they were he told me straight out the purpose of the exam while also pointing out that his teammates wouldn't have co-operated with him even if he tried." He explained as his eye closed and it curved in a pleased manner.

 

"Strange..." The Hokage mumbled as he absently nibbled on his pipe. "It is a well known fact that Naruto was the lowest scoring student of that class.. So I find it rather odd that he was able to do that while no other, not even the number one rookie, had managed it. Perhaps we will chalk this one up to a fluke for now, but Kakashi; I want you to keep a close eye on him and if you notice anything strange come speak with me." Sarutobi finished and the silver haired Jounin nodded his understanding.

 

"For now you are dismissed." The Third dismissed and the three Jounin nodded before vanishing from the office. 'Naruto.... Just what are you hiding?' He silently asked as he gazed down at his crystal ball while he fought down a yawn. It was really late and he should seriously get to bed soon, but first he had some more paperwork to attend to. Being Hokage was tough.

 

*

 

'What do you think? Will it work?' The blonde asked his counterpart as he warily eyed the Set Base which made the first fortress look like a little girl's doll house. The place was huge, and it was loaded. Hell he could see the gun and chakra induced weapons literally seeping out of every corner. There were even mass kunai launchers that could take out an entire army in one go.

 

'Yes, those two moves in a combination will be highly taxing but they should prevent you from blowing half the Country apart.' The fox responded with a calculative gleam in his crimson eyes.

 

`Alright then…' Naruto added before he closed his eyes and drew all of his own chakra forth as he began an intricate array of hundreds of hand seals that seemed to blur together with the sheer speed it was being performed with.

 

The seal process took a whole minute and had moved through over a thousand different seals, stranger seals than any used in the Hidden Leaf Village, even stranger ones then the likes of which he used in the destruction of the other base.

 

"Kuroppoi Mihon: Kage Domu!!" Naruto cried as brilliant blue eyes snapped open. In less then a heart beat a dark dome stood where the second base once stood. It looked dark and imposing much like a gleaming dome of an impenetrable substance.

 

With a steadying breath Naruto began a whole new set of hand signs while ignoring the sweaty mask that was threatening to fall from his face. "Mizu, Tsuchi, Kaze Sutairu: Hariken Sanbusaku!" He whispered on a silent breath as the attack was focussed to go off inside the barrier he had made.

 

The second jutsu was a powerful one, and he had to use a large chunk of the Kyuubi's power to pull it off. "Mission Complete." Naruto said breathlessly into his communications device.

 

"Well done, let me know when you are ready for mission two." Kyo's voice responded before the link went dead once more.

 

'Naruto... We need a calling card of sorts....' Kyuubi commented as the shadow dome receded to leave in its place a larger crater that looked as though someone had taken a spoon and gouged out the area before setting it under the mercy of a mass-powered blow torch.

 

'A calling card...' He stated with a confused blink.

 

'Yes... Something to let everyone know it was you.... I know! Leave an ice trinket of sorts!' He exclaimed as he smacked his fist loudly against his open palm.

 

'Ice... How about my Kage-Gesshoku symbol in Kanji?' Naruto suggested and his idea was approved with a nod and so the blonde hurriedly performed a simple freezing jutsu in the middle of the place, leaving the same symbol that was on his back there in never-melting ice.

 

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto murmured as he performed the cross hand seal and he sent his clone off to do the same to the other hole in the ground.

 

That was just too easy.

 

*

 

Several months flew by and Naruto never once managed to screw up his mask in front of the villagers nor his team as he had before. He did as was normal and usual for him and soon enough the suspicion of the Jounin, Hokage and his teammates slowly vanished as they all decided to merely chalk it up as a fluke.

 

Naruto had managed to down those two bases on his first secret life mission, though he had yet to go for the third and final base, but word in the underground was that the organisation was out for the blood of the Kage-Gesshoku. Rumour had it that the great Samurai of a leader himself was on the hunt.

 

During the time that passed his second self had become famous. He was well known by all his accomplishments ranging from assassinations to rescues, to rebuilding villages, to demoting powerful but evil business men. All in all he was busy, having met many both friend and foe alike.

 

But now he was sitting on the railing of the bridge tapping an annoyed finger against his perch. "Damn it! Kakashi-sensei should have been here over two hours ago! Where the hell is he?!?!?" The blond finally snapped drawing the brooding Uchiha's and the crushing pink-haired fangirl's attention to him.

 

"Shut up Naruto! I'm sick of your complaining! Why can't you be more like Sasuke-kun?!?!" Sakura screeched her voice filled with high pitched scorn.

 

"Yo!" Kakashi's voice cut through before an all out argument could start, drawing all three of them to look at the silver haired Jounin that had just appeared out of a cloud of smoke. "Sorry I'm late, a Tsunami flooded my apartment and I had to dry everything out." He said in way of excuse as he ran his hand through his wild yet almost lazy looking spiky silver hair.

 

"Liar!!" Naruto and Sakura shouted at the same time.

 

"We have a mission, and its C rank." Kakashi said as he cut to the chase.

 

"C ranked?!?! What are we doing? Assassination, protecting a princess, taking out enemy organizations, stopping a war?!?!" The blond asked as he bounced in a hyper manner on the balls of his feet, an excited grin on his tanned features.

 

"Nothing of the sort. We are going to be escorting a bridge builder to his home and protecting him from bandits and thugs until the completion of the bridge he is building." He explained with a happy quirk to his visible eye.

"Meet at the gates at O'700 hours. Bring weapons, clothes and other such necessities and rations." He said before disappearing in a puff of smoke leaving the three genin behind.

 

'He made us wait that long just for that....' The blond inwardly sighed while he was doing a cheerful dance of sorts for his teammates, though it merely earned him a massive goose egg on his head, courtesy of a certain rabid fangirl.

 

*

 

The blonde sighed as he moved towards the door, it was nearly time for them to meet for the mission. 'Wait a moment Naruto.' Kyuubi called out causing the boy to stop with his hand outstretched for the door handle.

 

'Yeah?' He asked curiously. 'Did I forget something?'

 

'I think you should bring it.' The fox responded with a serious look.

 

'It...? Oh! It!' He exclaimed as his eyebrows rose in realisation of what the Kyuubi had said before he turned around and moved to the area where he kept all his secret life items. 'When am I signing it...?' The blond asked as he pulled out a small scroll that had many complicated symbols all over it.

 

'Soon. Very soon.' The demon answered with a proud note in his voice.

 

'Right.' Naruto thought with a nod as he secured it in his bag, which just happened to have a secret compartment, one filled with all the items that were necessary to be the Kage-Gesshoku. After all, he who was well prepared is likely to live through the darkest of times.

 

Without any further deeds to be done, the genin left his apartment and happily ran towards the main gates. This would be his first C-ranked mission as a Genin of Konoha. He wouldn't fail in this task, he would one day prove his worth. He needed to be prepared, ready and strong for the day that he would become Hokage.

 

He smoothly made his way over the roof tops, cerulean eyes watching the sun rising on the Eastern horizon, a peaceful sereness taking over his soul. 'Konoha is beautiful in the light of the dawning sun...' He thought with a small but true smile as he soaked in the silent, and soon to rise, Village's beauty.

 

With great resolve he pushed his smile into a grin as he leapt down beside his two teammates. "Good morning Sakura-chan!!" He greeted happily, before he sent a foxy smile towards the Uchiha who merely ignored the blond ninja.

 

The pink haired Kunoichi likewise ignored him in favour of doing her second favourite pass time; Sasuke watching. Her first and foremost favourite pass time being Sasuke stalking. One should always bewarry fangirls.

"Yo!" the familiar voice of their Jounin-sensei quirked up behind them causing all three to turn around with shocked expressions.

 

"You're on time...!" Naruto said in a breathless voice that was filled with shock as he silently noted the tall and aging man at his instructors side.

 

"This is Tazuna." Kakashi said in introduction while ignoring the blonde's earlier words. "He is our client. These are the three Genin appointed to your protection: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto." He said while motioning to each in turn.

 

"These brats?" The man grumbled before taking a large gulp from his bottle of sake. "A corpse couldn't be safe in their hands. I mean just look at that midget with the idiotic expression!" He said in anger.

 

"Whose the midget with the...." Naruto trailed off while inwardly cursing the bridge builder with words that would make even a well learned sailor blush. "Hey!" He exclaimed as he noted his teammates beside him, both of which stood taller than him. "Why I ought'ta..." He said as he moved forward to punch the annoying man, though a hand on his pack stopped him.

 

"Now Naruto, we don't attack clients. We protect them." Kakashi chided before slowly removing the grip he had on his small student.

 

"Well, he should be respecting me and not insulting me!" The blonde stated loudly as they exited the gates. "After all, I am Uzumaki Naruto and one day I will be Hokage!" He exclaimed proudly as he leapt up onto a near by rock and struck a good guy pose.

 

"Yeah right! A kid like you..." the bridge builder mumbled absently as the walked on several paces behind the others, occasionally swishing the liquid liquor inside his sake bottle.

 

With an inward roll of his eyes Naruto took up the rear of their group keeping highly alert of any and all threats while happily bounding this way and that to take in the sights of the surrounding path. After all, this was his first time out of the village; in the mask he was wearing anyways...

 

'Kyuubi... We are being watched....' The blond commented to his companion as he happily grabbed a hold of the straps of his bag with both hands. 'Two of them... but Kakashi doesn't seem worried....' He thought with a sigh.

 

'If that puddle isn't obviously off then I am a rabbit.' Kyuubi dead panned as Naruto casually glanced at said puddle, knowing full well that it was a chosen hiding place, but only an idiot wouldn't know that it was a fake.

 

'You'd make a funny looking rabbit....' He commented teasingly as he passed by the puddle seemingly ignoring it while taking note of his teacher falling behind, almost as though he was too preoccupied with that little orange book. 'He's going for rear defence.' The blond thought in approval while pretending to pay no attention to the Jounin.

After the group had passed the puddle by several metres a head slunk out of its watery depths as one shinobi rose from his hideout followed by a second who was connected to the first by a large metal chain, hooked onto both of their clawed glaives. Their ninja bands sporting the infamous symbol of Water Country, though they had a visible slash through them, marking them as nuke-nin.

 

With no sound the two sprung forward and in a flurry of movements they managed to wrap barbed-wire around the Jounin instructor and in one massive heave they sent the bloody remains flying. Causing the three Genin and bridge builder to turn with a look of fear on their faces... well save Sasuke who merely looked on in a brooding manner.

 

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screeched before she drew a kunai and moved to stand in front of the bridge builder. "Tazuna-san I'll protect you!" She said more loudly then necessary hoping to impress the dark haired genin, who payed her no heed in lieu of ninja before them.

 

'Kyuubi... what should I do? Fight? I know Kakai-sensei is just going to watch this from his perch in that tree....' The blond said to his companion while outwardly he looked frozen causing the two missing nin of the Mist to target him with their malicious intentions.

 

In a flurry of movement the two raced forward, poisoned claws poised to attack the immobile blonde, who was about to turn around to face the challenge as the Kyuubi merely shrugged to his questions. He turned half way and brought his hands up to protect himself fully aware of the claw that started to penetrate his hand, though shock took its grip on him as Sasuke came forward and pushed to two back while launching a kunai which trapped their chain to a tree.

 

In a flowing move Sasuke ran forward and in a great feat of acrobatics he spun in the air, dodging the claws aimed for his torso, and landed in a handstand on top of their glaive claws. Using gravity to his advantage he let his lower body fall into a smooth but powerful buck kick, nailing both enemies in the jaw making them fly back as the chain that bound them shattered.

 

Being of Chunin level had its advantages for the two attackers who used the backwards motion to propel them into a run, both heading separate ways. The first charging the target, Tazuna, while the second aimed for who he thought to be the weakest link, Sakura.

 

In a split second, Sasuke raced forward and placed himself between Sakura, the bridge builder and the oncoming ninja. 'I'm sorry Naruto...' He inwardly thought as he pulled his kunai up while lowering into a defensive stance that he had learnt in the academy.

 

Before anyone could blink, the second nuke-nin was punched in the stomach by the silver haired Jounin, effectively knocking him into a black oblivion before he raced forward and similarly knocked out the other with ease.

 

"Naruto, I'm sorry you got hurt. I didn't think you'd freeze up like that." Kakashi said with audible disappointment as he dropped the unconscious figures to the ground before hurriedly binding them in seals and rope that would prevent any and all forms of escape. "I had to do that to learn their intents. After all, we were hired for thugs and bandits, not ninja." he said in a thoughtful manner as he carefully observed their client.

 

"Are you alright... scaredy-cat?" Sasuke said teasingly as he wiped imaginary dust from his hands while casting his blond teammate a smug look, causing the female genin to fall into admiration mood, eyes filled with pulsing hearts.

 

"Oh Sasuke-kun!" She whispered airily causing the Uchiha to wince outwardly, and Naruto to cringe inwardly. Fangirls were creepy.

 

The blond glared darkly at Sasuke before returning his attention to their sensei.

 

"It would seem we should go back, we are not prepared for this. Also Naruto needs medical treatment seeing how those claws contain a deadly poison that must be treated quickly." Kakashi explained as he turned a concerned eye to his Jounin-sensei.

 

His words caused Naruto to freeze and look at the claw marks on his hand, the blood tainted black with what could only be a poison. The Inner Fire on to be exact. 'Damn... I need to drain the poison... I can't go back to the village, that would look bad.' He thought with a sigh as he noted his teacher asked to speak with Tazuna.

 

"The opposition was two Chunin levelled nuke-nin of the Village Hidden in the Mists and they are ninja renowned for their willingness to fight until their goal's end has been accomplished; even at the cost of their own lives. Obviously they were watching and waiting for the perfect chance to strike.

 

"They concealed themselves in a puddle even though the sun is out and we haven't seen rain in many days, meaning there shouldn't be any puddles out." He stated as he silently studied the two bound before him.

 

"If you knew that then why did you allow them to attack you?" Tazuna asked in curiosity, wondering if all ninja were as crazy as the ones he had thus far met.

 

"I could have killed them at any given point... but ... I wanted to find out who their real target was." He said before looking back at the aging man from Wave Country.

 

"What does that mean?" The man questioned almost elusively.

 

"If it was truly you they were after or one of us ninja after all, as I had said, there was no word of shinobi being out to get you. Your request to Hokage-sama was to provide you with an escort that would protect you from average thugs on the road and for the duration of your bridge building..

 

"In any case, this mission is more then just a B-ranked mission. To protect you from simple bandits while you are completing your bridge would be simple, but if you expected a ninja assault, then this mission ought to have been ranked differently and left for an elite shinobi to deal with.

 

"You may have had your reasons, but it is unwise to conceal such important facts as that when asking for help. As this task falls far beyond the boundaries of the job we were assigned." He concluded.

 

His words caused the pink haired girl to frown. "There is no way we are good enough for this mission. We will need an anaesthetic for Naruto's wound before we can even re-open it to drain the poison. We need to return to the village and have a professional look at it." She said fear visible in the sweat beading on her large forehead.

 

"Hmm..." Kakashi said in a contemplative way. "This is complicated...." He mumbled as he looked off at the sky.

 

'No! We can't go back! I know...!' The blond thought in determination.

 

"Do we go back now to make sure Naruto receives proper treatment...?" The Jounin asked himself out loud.

 

*

 

"Failed!?! What do you mean you failed?!?!" A short man raged as he leaned heavily on his highly polished cane, his aged face contorted with rage as he glared at the relaxed man before him through his expensive designer sun glasses.

 

"I payed for the best! It wasn't cheap either and you failed!?!?" He continued as he brought his dominate hand up to point in an angry gesture towards he who had failed him. "I wouldn't have payed for your skills had I realized you to be this weak!"

 

An impassive man looked on from his relaxed position on the couch before he swung his massive broad sword forward in a great swing causing the rich man to widen his eyes in fear and his two goons that were hired body guards to tense up.

 

*

 

With a determined look Naruto drew a clean kunai knife from his weapons pouch and he stabbed himself in his wounded hand before painfully twisting the blade within his skin before pulling it out in a shower of crimson and black tainted blood.

 

The two other genin, Jounin and the bridge builder all looked at the blond with varying degrees of shock on theirs faces.

 

'I'm different! I know that, but still I had not fitting in and being an outcast amongst all those I care for!' The blonde inwardly cried while the fox merely gave his vessel the room to vent properly.

 

"Naruto! Stop! What are you doing??!?!" Sakura yelled.

 

'I've trained long and hard, I've worked for all that I have. I can't be weak, I must be strong even in my mask. I once swore that no one would ever have to save my life again and I'll stick to it! I will not be pushed aside and labelled as weak. I will not be outdone by anyone! I swear it by the pain in my left hand!' He silently vowed before locking intent eyes onto the people watching him with concern.

 

"On this bloodied kunai knife, I pledge.... to protect the old man. Uzumaki Naruto ready and reporting for duty!" He said with a confident smirk on his intense features.

 

*

 

"Stop whining!" A sharp voice cut through the tense air. "With this mighty neck-cleaving blade of mine I will take out the target." He concluded as he glared down his arm towards the man that stood trembling with the tip of his blade to his neck.

 

"A..Are you sure... you want to?" The man asked as his eyes darted between the blade tip towards his throat and the man wielding it. "They do have ninja of tremendous skill... and...since the demon brothers failed their attempt they will likely be on guard for further attempts."

 

"Remember who you are talking to!" The sword holder snarled darkly, his mouth set in a thin line which wasn't seen through the bandages hiding his mouth from view.

 

"I am Momochi Zabuza, the demon of the mist." he explained with a preditorial look in his brown eyes.

 

*

 

"Uh... Naruto that was really cool and all... but if we don't stop the blood flow you might bleed to death." Kakashi said in amusement, pleased with the progress his student was making. He silently approached the frozen, wide-eyed genin.

 

'Oh.. that might have been a little overkill for my mask..' He inwardly said with a giant sweat drop. 'Time to fix that...' "What?!?! I'm too young to die!" He exclaimed woefully as he drastically waved his arms around while going on and on about how he had to live to be Hokage and beat that stupid bastard.

 

"Let me see your hand." Kakashi said in a gentle manner as he pulled out a roll of bandages and began to bind the already mending wound. 'He is alright healing... Could this be because he has the Kyuubi in him...?' He silently thought with a serious expression, though it was only his eye that was visible.

 

"Kakai-sensei...? Am I going to live?" The blond asked his blue eyes searching the man before him. "You have a really serious look." He elaborated as his instructor looked up and locked eyes with him.

 

"You'll be just fine. I was just thinking." He said with a happy quirk to his eye as he stood and turned to regard the other three. "Let's get going. We have a mission to complete."

 

"I have something I need to tell you all." Tazuna stated as he looked down at the ground his empty hand clenched in a fist.

 

 

Many hours later found the group sitting in a small boat as a man lead them across the water through a thick fog.

 

"Wow... This is some seriously thick fog." Sakura said earning her captain obvious points.

 

"We'll be able to see the bridge in just a moment. It is nearly halfway complete." Their guide stated as he looked around the water with weary eyes. "On the other side of it is Nami no Kuni-- the Land of Waves."

 

Silence fell over the group once more before something slowly was coming into view, after a few minutes a massive bridge was revealed towering over them with its immense structure. "Holy! That's huge!!!" The blond genin exclaimed with his eyes wide in shock.

 

"Hey keep it down!" Their guide hissed darkly a look of panic on his weathered features. "This mist may hide us from sight, but that won't stop us from being heard. That is why I have been paddling instead of using this motor." He explained with a cautious glance behind them. "We'd be in deep trouble is Gato found us...."

 

Kakashi frowned in thought as he recalled the conversation they had earlier when Tazuna had revealed much about their current predicament. 'Gato wants him dead so that the bridge will never be completed which would allow him to keep his wealth...

 

'If I remember correctly, he is a multi-billionaire in the field of marine-transport. The man who is supposedly the richest man in the world.' The silver haired Jounin sighed as he looked over at his team. 'We will have to be weary. Gato will send a stronger foe as he is no doubt desperate to stop the completion of the bridge...'

 

"We'll be there soon..." The man stated as they passed through a chanal of sorts before coming out into what looked like a lake with mangroves--evergreens that grew on shore lines-- covering the shores of the land before them. They had arrived.

 

"Thank you." Tazuna whispered to their helper as they docked on a nearby dock, and everyone save the man who was their guide got off leaving the man to leave with several strokes of his oar.

 

The town was in poor shape. The buildings were in dire need of repair and the people wondering the streets were thin with sad expressions on their faces, not even the children's laughter could be heard. It was a tough time.

 

'Kyuubi... I want to help them.' Naruto thought sadly as he watched a small child beg Sakura for some candy which she gladly gave the boy. 'I want them to smile.'

 

They hurriedly moved from the outskirts of the town and onto a tree covered path which was supposed to lead to Tazuna's home.

 

'There's something here.... or more precisely... someone.' Naruto told the Kyuubi as he narrowed his blue eyes and withdrew a kunai. 'Yet... Kakai-sensei doesn't seem to notice...' He fisted the kunai before spinning tot he side. "There!" He shouted as he released the mini blade.

 

The dull thunk of a knife striking wood sounded through the air. 'Substitution...' he thought with a sigh. "I guess it must have been a mouse..." He mumbled to himself as he ran a hand over the back of his neck in a show of mock embarrassment.

 

"You moron!! Are you out of your mind?!?!" Sakura screeched. "There was nothing there!!"

 

"Please don't play around with your weapons. They can be a tad bit dangerous." Kakashi said with a major sweat drop visible as he eyed his young genin.

 

"Don't go scaring us you midget!" Tazuna yelled as he held his hand to his heart. "Stop messing with out heads!" He added as an after thought, clearly not pleased that he had an idiot of a protector who would likely wind up getting him killed.

 

"I think I might have seen someone..." He muttered under his breath ignoring the yelling directed at him. A rustling noise cut through the air and he turned and launched yet another kunai knife, but in the opposite direction.

 

The ninja tool struck the wood of a tree just above the head of a petrified white rabbit. 'Oops... I think I scared one of your relatives...' Naruto teased.

 

'Ha..Ha.. very funny kit...' Kyuubi mumbled with a glare which was directed to a certain blond ninja who he just happened to live inside of.

 

"Oh no!! Poor little bunny!" Naruto cried in shocked as he raced over to the seemingly comatose rabbit. 'Substitution again... obviously. Only an idiot wouldn't realize that white rabbits aren't around this time of year making it an indoor pet of sorts, breed for battle alone....' He thought with a sigh. "Please snap out of it!" He said as he cuddled the soft creature to his chest.

 

'That is a snow hare. It is spring and it should not sport its winter coat. After all the fur of snow hares change colour with the seasons. Winter they are as white as the snow, while in summer they are of darker pelts, ranging from browns to blacks. Meaning that one has been kept as a pet indoors where there is little to no sun shine... This is it!' Kakashi summed up as he glanced of to the side as a bead of sweat formed on his face near his visible eye.

 

In the bushes stood a figure who held a massive broad sword in his hand as he studied the group before him. 'From what I can tell... this group isn't on par with the demon brothers... but their leader is from Konoha and he isn't just any ninja. He is Hatake Kakashi of the Sharingan eye... This will be fun...' Zabuza thought devilishly before he launched his sword towards the group.

 

The blade cut through the air spin dangerously towards the travellers. "Duck!!" Kakashi ordered and was pleased to note that no one had to be told twice as they all hit the dirt to avoid being beheaded by the sharp projectile.

 

It whirled dangerously before coming to a halt as it embedded itself in a thick tree trunk in a spot about half way up the abused tree. Zabuza leapt and landed upon the surface of his blade and looked down at hi prey below.

 

'That guy looks familiar.' Both Kakashi and Naruto thought simultaneously though the other was none the wiser of that fact.

 

"Momochi Zabuza. Traitor ninja to the Land of the Waves." Kakashi said as he moved his hand in front of his blond student to quell his actions as the boy looked ready to pounce. "Don't Naruto." Kakashi stated not wanting the boy to get hurt. "Leave him to me, he is out of your league."

 

'I think I will have to use it for this battle.' He thought with a sigh as he moved his gloved hand up to grasp his forehead protector in a suspense-filled moment. "This may get dirty..." He mumbled putting on a decent show causing everyone to look on in anticipation of the trump card to come.

 

"Copy-cat Kakashi of the Sharingan." Zabuza said in confirmation as the silver haired Jounin revealed the crimson eye with the trademark comas in their depth. "The ninja who has copied over a thousand jutsu." He finished and smirk as he noted the amazed looks on the group below.

 

'The Sharingan... but that is the bloodline of the Uchiha...' Naruto thought with a small frown.

 

'How...? The Mirror Wheel Eye... Could he...?" Sasuke looked on his dark eyes wide with shock at the possibilities that were placed out before him.

 

"Assume the Manji formation." Kakashi ordered his team as he lowered his arm and listened to his team hastening to obey.

 

"It is an honour to see that eye of yours so early into our confrontation." Zabuza chuckled. "But wouldn't it be easier on all for you to simply hand the old man over?" He questioned though he already knew the answer.

 

"Sharingan? What the hell is a Sharingan?" Naruto demanded as he looked pointedly at his sensei even though he knew all the data on said bloodline limit.

 

"Those who have the Sharingan eye," Sasuke began drawing his teammates' and the bridge builders attention to him. "have a mastery of an ocular form of ninjutsu. One that enables them to penetrate and see beyond the reality of illusions or spells. Also those who have the ability can copy any ninjutsu they see save for bloodline ones." Sasuke summed up.

 

"Indeed... When I was still with the Mist, we had a bingo book containing data on all of our known enemies and there was an extensive write up on you. It told of your legendary ability which allowed you mastery over a thousand or so jutsu, earning you the name Kakashi of the Mirror Eye." Zabuza said in approval pleased with the challenger before him. He'd get a good work out with the Jounin as his opponent.

 

'The Sharingan is a rare gift, one that is said to only lie within those of Uchiha blood. Could he possibly be related?' Sasuke silently questioned as he eyed his instructor.

 

"The time for pleasantries has passed. I'm on a tight schedule to finish the old man off." Zabuza smirked as he narrowed his eyes having grown bored of all the talk and no action. "But first it seems I'll have to deal with you Hatake Kakashi."

 

In a swift leap, the demon of the mist jumped from his sword, grabbing its handle in the process, and pulled it from the wood as he landed on top of the water of a near by lake causing everyone to turn their attention towards the nuke-nin of water.

 

"He's standing on water!" Sakura exclaimed her mouth hanging wide while her eyes bugged out of her sockets. "I thought that only happened in movies!" She added after regaining control over her facial features.

 

While Sakura was blathering pointlessly Zabuza rose his right hand to his lips in a silencing motion while putting his left as high as it could go, thumb, index and middle finger in the air. 'Clever bastard.....' Kakashi inwardly winced.

 

'He built up a high concentration of chakra....' Naruto commented with a shrug.

 

"Specialty ninjutsu of Kirigakure." Zabuza murmured as he was engulfed in a thick shroud of mist which covered the playing field.

 

"He's gone!" Naruto yelled as he tensed blue eyes darting each and every way. 'He's in that tree... but.. oh!'

 

'He will come after me first.' Kakashi concluded. 'He is after all Momochi Zabuza of the Kirigakure Assassins Corps. A well known master of the art of silent killing.' He thought silently taking inventory of all things around that could be used as an advantage. "Do not let your guards down, that would be like signing your own death certificate for a one way trip to hell or heaven. I haven't mastered all there is to the Sharingan so all of you stay cautious."

 

"There are eight targets." The voice of Zabuza drifted in to them, seemingly coming from all directions. "Throat, Spinal Column, Lungs, Liver, the Jugular Vein, the Subclavian Artery, Kidney and the Heart. Each vulnerable and lethal points on the average human body. Which should I strike first?" He said in a dark voice which would cause many to flee in terror, though those present merely tensed at the intimidation tactic.

 

Kakashi looked around before dropping into a battle stance allowing the block on his killer intent to vanish. The air seemingly grew thick and the genin could feel the murderousness coming from their teacher in potent waves.

 

'This blood thirst!' Sasuke thought wide eyed. 'It is the intensity of bloodlust, pure un adultered bloodlust from a battle of the elite. If I move or even blink he'd kill me. I can feel it. I can't stand this! I'm going to lose it!! I hate knowing my life is in their hands. Almost wanting to commit suicide just to end the suspense.' Sasuke inwardly spoke, shaken up by such dark feelings.

 

"Sasuke." Kakashi's voice cut through the Uchiha's mind causing him to halt the kunai he had been bringing up as though he was going to use it to end his miserable life. "Calm down." The jounin continued soothingly. "Even if he gets me, I'll still protect you." He added before turning his scared eye towards him. "I will never let my comrades die." He said with his happy smile in place.

 

"I wouldn't bet on that!!" Zabuza cut in as he suddenly appeared behind the Genin and before the bridge builder having passed through their defence formation with ease. "Game over." He shouted as he pulled his sword in a wide arch swing, one that would sever all the genin's torsos from their legs.

 

In a blue of speed, Kakashi of the Mirror Eye, rushed forward his kunai knife in hand. He pushed past his Genin and rammed his weapon into the ninja's stomach, successfully halting the assault that would have likely killed the children had he not made it there in time.

 

A dark chuckle was heard behind the silver haired jounin causing him to turn around just as the man he stabbed turned into water. 'Water clone.' he thought though he was unable to move fast enough as Zabuza brought his blade swipping towards him, successfully cleaving Kakashi in two.

 

"EYAAAAH!!!" Sakura screeched as she brought her clenched fists up to her chest fear visible on her features.

 

'He's a ninja... an elite one at that.... Of course he isn't dead. It's a clone, water style.' Naruto thought with a sigh. For someone who had the highest intellect level in their graduating year she really was an idiot. Just as he thought that the two separate pieces of Kakashi tumbled into water.

 

'A water clone? He was able to copy me in this mist?' Zabuza asked silently as he looked around eyes wide and before he could move he felt a blade being pressed to his neck causing him to freeze up.

 

"Don't move." Kakashi warned as he put a little more pressure on the man's neck, causing a small cut to appear staining a small spot on the bandages around the man's neck and face.

 

"As you said, 'Game over'." Kakashi said while glaring at the nuke-mist-nin.

 

"Awesome!!!" Naruto cheered with a smile ov his face while Sakura started to giggle happily that she wouldn't die in this battle.

 

"...Heh...heh...heh...HEH... You think this is over?" Zabuza asked in clear amusement. "You just don't seem to get it. It will take more then copying my moves to defeat me... a lot more. But I do admit you are good." He concluded as he peered over his shoulder at the man who held the blade to his neck.

 

In a matter of seconds you managed to duplicate my water clone jutsu, then you made said clone say that sappy junk that you would have said yourself. By doing that you insured my focus would be on that clone of yours, while you hide using the Kirigakure technique for hiding in the mist, where you could watch my every move.

 

"Too bad for you." The man before him said. "I am not that easy to fool." A second Zabuza sneered as he appeared behind Kakashi.

 

The ninja of the mirror wheel eye plunged his kunai knife through the clone's neck causing it to splash into a water puddle while he turned around to face the real Zabuza who was bringing his sword in a wide arch horizontal swing towards him.

 

"Zabuza was a water doppelganger too?!?!" Naruto exclaimed as he watched his sensei drop to the ground in a cat like sprawl, successfully evading the sword which continued to swing as it had nothing to halt its momentum. Though as it reached a point behind the mist nin, he jammed it into the ground before bringing his foot up in a powerhouse kick.

 

His foot connected with the jounin's right ribs and sent him flying backwards. Zabuza seeing an opening pulled his sword from the ground and rushed forward only to stop just in the nick of time to avoid stepping on the mikibishi that Kakashi had purposely dropped as he sailed by.

 

With a loud splash, the silver haired jounin crashed into the water head first. "Foolishness!" Zabuza said with an almost happy tone.

 

"Sensei!!" Naruto shouted as he took a half step forward.

 

'How did he get knocked that far?' Sakura asked herself.

 

'His physical abilities are incredible.' Sasuke silently complemented as he squinted his eyes towards the water.

 

'This water is so dense...' Kakashi thought as he resurfaced, his wild hair wet and dangling more then usual.

 

"Gullible fool!" Zabuza said with a smirk as he appeared behind the jounin, standing on the water his hand flying through seals. "Suirou no Jutsu." He said and before Kakashi could even react he was incased in a swirling sphere of water unable to move, though this technique also made Zabuza unable to attack his students as his hand had to be partially inside the sphere.

 

'I thought I could go under water and regroup. That was a tactical error.' the silver haired sensei inwardly cringed at his blunder.

 

"You're trapped and there is no way out. After all, your running around is interfering with my mission, but don't worry, I'll finish you off later once I'm through with the others. Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!" He said as he formed a one-handed seal causing a clone of himself to rise from the water in an eerie way.

 

'I knew he was good but not this good!' Kakashi inwardly exclaimed as his eyes widened at the sight before him.

 

"Pathetic excuses for ninja." The Zabuza clone chuckled as he stepped from the water onto land eyes glaring at the young genin. "You try so hard to fit in, but you aren't worthy to wear those Hitai-Ate. A true ninja is one who has crossed and recrossed the border between the living and the dead.

 

"Clothing and weapons don't make the ninja, you need skills that make you worthy enough to be in my bingo book before you are deemed worthy to be a ninja. We don't call your kind ninja, we call them..." The clone trailed off as he vanished from sight only to reappear before Naruto who he then kicked with such force that his forehead protector fell to the ground in front of the clone's feet.

 

The blond was sent skidding backwards, blood flowing from his mouth from the initial blow and the added impact. He landed in a crumpled heap not even hearing his teammates' concerned words.

 

"Everyone listen carefully!" Kakashi called out from within his prison. "Take Tazuna and run! This is a fight you can not win. If he wants to keep me in this water prison, he can't leave this place, and his water clones can't go beyond a certain distance from his real body or they will fall apart. So get out of here." He ordered as his eyes lingered on his injured student.

 

Naruto slowly sat up, his blond spikes falling in his eyes as he looked up at Zabuza. 'Kyuubi... we fight. I won't break my mask but I'll pull something off that would look believable for a 'dobe' like my mask.' He thought in determination as his eyes moved over from his still bandaged hand to his Hitai-Ate that the mist clone was stepping on.

A determined light shone in the blond's eyes as he shakily stood on his feet, his eyes promising a world of pain for the nuke-nin. With a battle cry he lunged forward ignoring everyone's protests at such a fool hardy action.

 

As he got within range he was launched backwards by a powerful punch sending him in a ruff tumble. "What were you thinking tackling him by yourself?!?! You think you're cool but Genin levelled ninja like us can't take him!" Sakura admonished in a loud screech. "Ehh?" She asked as she noted her teammate slowly getting up.

 

In the blond's hand was his hitai-ate. 'He did that just to get his forehead protector back...?' Kakashi thought with a strange light in his eyes.

 

"Heh, what's life like without eyebrows you freak..?" Naruto asked, his gaze looked on the ground. "I have a new listing for your bingo book. He who will be Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves," He began as he retied his head band back on, " is Uzumaki Naruto! Believe it!" He said as he looked up with a fox-like grin on his features.

 

'Naruto..?' Kakashi leaned forward in his prison.

 

'This kid has guts... and I thought he was just a loud-mouths idiot...' Tazuna thought with respect in his eyes as he looked on at the blond ninja.

 

"Sasuke... listen up. I have a plan." Naruto stated as he looked over his shoulder at his male teammate.

 

"Time to try some teamwork then?" Sasuke said with a chuckle.

 

'Strange... I feel so... This Naruto is so...' Sakura thought as she stared at the blue eyed ninja.

 

"Okay! Let's get to it!" Naruto said with a smirk as he looked back at the Zabuza clone.

 

"Heh... You are pretty sure of yourself." The clone commented. "But do you honestly think you stand a chance against me?"

 

'Damn it!' Kakashi inwardly cursed. "I thought I told you to run! It was over the moment he caught me and you three still have a mission to accomplish so leave!" Kakashi shouted out at them, his voice sounding distorted by the water prison.

 

"Gramps?" Naruto asked as he cutely tilted his head to the side to regard the man.

 

"What? I know I got us all into this mess by lying about the details of this mission and I have lived a long life. I have no right to put you all in danger so go, save your sensei." Tazuna said with a small but honest smile.

 

Sasuke smiled smugly as he looked over at Naruto. "So that settles that. You ready?" He asked the blond all the while smirking.

 

"Apparently you don't care to live long enough to grow old." The clone said with amusement. "You are merely playing ninja, a child's game. When I was your age I had already died my hands with the blood of my foes." The Zabuza clone stated as he looked as he calloused hands, his words causing the young ones to gulp.

 

"...The demon Zabuza..." Kakashi stated.

 

"It would seem my reputation had proceeded me." The real Zabuza said while chuckling.

 

"Long ago, in the Village Hidden in the Mist, also know as the Village of the Bloody Mist... The final stage before becoming a full-fledged ninja was an inhumanly difficult test." Kakashi explained.

 

"So...You have heard of our graduation exercise.." Zabuza commented as he looked at the silver haired Jounin.

 

"Graduation test?" Sakura asked in curiosity, her question causing their enemy to laugh.

 

"It was a kind of killing spree amongst classmates." He said darkly. "Students who were friends, those who ate from the same dish, as undergrads they were divided into pairs and were forced to fight against each other... to the death.

 

"Imagine... Comrades who have lived together, eaten together, lived together, shared each others hopes and dreams..." He concluded with a sadistic smirk that was hidden behind his bandages, but the dark light was visible in his eyes.

 

"Ten years ago, the council of elders in the Mist Village were forced to enact a sweeping reform of their barbaric graduation ritual...because of the appearance the previous year... of a human fiend who made reformation essential." Kakashi began.

 

"What kind of reformation?" Sakura asked nervously. "What did the fiend you spoke of do?"

 

"Without a moment's hesitation, without a single qualm, a boy who hadn't even yet qualified as a ninja butchered over 100 members of that year's graduating class." Their instructor concluded.

 

"Ah yes... The good old times. They were so much fun!" Zabuza said with a demented look in his eyes before he looked over at Naruto and Sasuke focussing his killer intent at the two causing them both to flinch.

 

In a blur the clone raced forward and nail Sasuke in the stomach with his elbow, sending the boy flying only to be stopped mid-flight by a downward fist to his stomach driving him to the ground and winding him. With a cry of pain, blood flew from the Uchiha's mouth as he closed his eyes.

 

"Sasuke!!" Sakura screeched worriedly while Kakashi merely tensed as sweat beaded on his face.

 

"Time to die.." Zabuza clone stated as he placed his foot on the downed boy's stomach and placed pressure on it.

'Sasuke!' "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!!" Naruto yelled as he placed his hands in the cross-like seal.

 

In a puff of ninja smoke that threatened to devour the entire area, a good thirty or so shadow clones appeared all smirking the same smirk, all directed towards Zabuza who looked on in shock.

 

"Doppelgangers eh? And quite a lot of them to.." Zabuza said in approval, maybe this would be a slightly bigger challenge then he had first thought.

 

Every Naruto withdrew a kunai knife as they smirked on at the man before him who removed his foot from his teammate who was slowly drawing himself away from the enemy. "Ready or not!" All of them cried out before they all went airborne landing in a dome of Naruto, successfully encasing the Demon of the Mist's clone inside a pyramid.

 

Chuckling escaped the prison as the clone grabbed his sword and swung it in a complete circle sending every Naruto sailing.

 

'Incredible! Just when I thought they had a chance of downing that monster....' Tazuna thought while silently wondering if they would even survive this encounter.

 

All the Naruto clones burst into smoke as the original removed his back pack from his shoulders and brought it in front of him as he skidded to a halt, his hand inside his bag. 'This should work as long as Sasuke plays along...' Naruto thought as he pulled out a weapon and tossed it over to the Uchiha. "Sasuke!" he shouted, making sure he had the other boy's attention.

 

Sasuke reached up and caught it, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'So that's your plan...' He thought as he opened the weapon up to it full form, revealing it to be a Demon Windmill Shuriken. "Fuuma Shuriken. Windmill of Shadows!" he exclaimed as the brought the weapon up so that it hid all but the top left side of his face.

 

"Shuriken are useless against me." Zabuza stated as he and his clone observed the dark haired boy leap into the air in a graceful spin before launching the weapon in a spinning blow. Though the man was shocked as the weapon veered off to the side of the clone. "At least you have sense to aim for my true body..." Zabuza commented as he watched the approaching weapon.

 

With little to no effort he plucked the oncoming weapon out of thin air with his remaining hand. "Amateur.." He muttered before his eyes widened as he saw a second Fuuma Shuriken headed towards him. "A second hidden in the shadow of the first!" The man exclaimed.

 

With a smile the ninja jumped over the flying weapon as a little girl would her jump rope, causing the weapon to flail off into the distance over the water. "Still an amateur." He said while glaring at the children.

 

'He dodged it...' Sakura thought desperately.

 

"Heh.." Sasuke said with a smirk.

 

A pop behind the man caused him to peer over his shoulder in time to see the weapon engulfed in a puff of smoke revealing the blond ninja who had a kunai in hand. Everyone save Sasuke looked on in shock at this tactic as Naruto launched his kunai towards Zabuza with deadly accuracy.

 

Having no other option, Zabuza pulled his hand from the water prison, successfully dodging the weapon, but at the same time causing his water prison to be released freeing the silver haired Jounin.

 

'That little runt!!'Zabuza thought in rage as he spun around preparing to launch the Shuriken he had in his hand towards the blond who was falling fast to the water.

 

Just as he was about to release it, one of the blades struck something causing blood to fly. It was Kakashi, he had put up his metal plated gloved hand and blocked the attack to protect his student from the deadly blow.

 

Naruto landed with a large splash. 'Damn... if Kakashi hadn't stopped him I'd have had to break my cover if I planned on living...' He inwardly winced as he resurfaced, greedily taking in air.

 

Kakashi slowly brought his face up and glared venomously at his opponent. 'That was too close...' He thought as he knocked the Shuriken from the man's hand, causing it to fly off and disappear into the mist.

 

"Kakashi-sensei!!" Sakura squealed happily.

 

"That was brilliant Naruto. All of you have matured." The silver haired jounin complemented as he looked at the mist ninja who, like himself, was standing on the water.

 

"My Kage Bunshin wasn't meant to take Zabuza down, its purpose was to divert his attention from Sasuke and my true self while I transformed into the second windmill Shuriken. I didn't think that my plan would take him down, but that wasn't my goal. I was aiming to rescue you Kakashi-sensei." The blue eyed fox vessel explained as he bobbed happily in the water.

 

"You made me fly into such a rage that I dropped my jutsu." Zabuza said in an attempt to preserve his ego.

 

"No! You didn't drop it, you were forced to drop it otherwise you's be one arm short and I would still have been freed." Kakashi said. "Just so you know, the same trick won't work twice on me. Your move."

 

Zabuza snarled before he leapt backwards, Kakashi likewise following the action landing the same distance away. The mist nuke-nin began forming seals and Kakashi likewise did the exact same seals at the same time as his enemy. "Suiton Suiryuudan no Jutsu!" They both cried simultaneously as two massive water dragons rose up from the water and began to do battle above and around the two ninja.

 

'We are being watched...' Naruto said as he focussed on staying above the water as massive waves reaped the water into a chaotic state.

 

'I sense it too kit. And I'd say it is the enemy.... perhaps an allie of the Demon of the Mist...?' The fox suggested before once more falling silent.

 

'So many hand seals, katas, performed so quickly and yet Kakashi-sensei had managed to mirror them all at the same instance as Zabuza...' Sasuke thought in amazement as water splashed all around them despite being on land.

 

Zabuza and Kakashi both leapt forward in a clash of weapons as water continued to poor down around them as their dragons likewise clashed, mauling each other to death, figuratively speaking that is.

 

'Something... Isn't right...' Zabuza thought with a frown as he and his adversary continued to parry blows, neither gaining nor losing. A stalemate of sorts. He scowled before pushing back, his battle partner do the same.

 

The two began running in a circle, neither getting closer to the other as they matched their pace. On a spilt second the mist nin and Kakashi slid to a halt and both raised their arms into the seal needed for the mist technique of Kirigakure.

 

Zabuza stared into Kakashi's red eye, watching the spinning comas. 'All my moves and gestures, he sees....'

 

"Through them all." Kakashi finished the ninja's thought out lout for him, causing his eyes to widened.

 

'Is he reading my mind? Curse him! He has..'

 

"That sickeningly evil look in his eyes!" Kakashi finished for him again as he and Zabuza simultaneously moved into the same seal, their dragons having long since destroyed each other.

 

"Feh... You are a pale imitation." Zabuza began.

 

"I'm the original, no mere copycat stands even a ghost of a chance against me!" Kakashi and Zabuza said at the same time in the same tone.

 

"Stop mimicking me like a foolish monkey!!" Zabuza snarled in rage as he began a set of handsels, pissed that the man before him was doing the same. He frozen momentarily as he saw what looked like himself standing beside his enemy. 'It's... me?' He silently asked as his eyes grew wide. 'It must be an illusion!' He thought before a voice cut through.

 

"Suiton Daibakufu no Jutsu!" Kakashi stated as he finished a seal, causing a massive horizontal cyclone to appear before him, moving with great velocity towards the mist nin.

 

'What?!?!?' Zabuza thought in shock. 'He used the very ninjutsu I had planned on using before I could even do it! I can't keep up with him!' All thoughts were smashed to a halt as he was plunged backwards by the raw attack that struck him face on.

 

Meanwhile, Naruto struggled out of the ragging water and onto shore panting heavily. 'Note to self, when Kakashi fights on water against a water using ninja, don't hang around in the water...' he thought with a sigh as he looked on at the destructive path the water was making.

 

The attack slowly died down and the mist ninja was plunged bodily against a study tree, his breath being knocked out of him and before he could even regain his bearings six Kunai were flung at him, each hitting their mark. Two to his shoulders, two to his lower arms and two to his legs.

 

On the weapons impact, Zabuza cried out in pain while Kakashi landed smoothly on a branch in the tree that Zabuza was against.

 

"Can you see the future?" The injured man asked as he peered up at the Copycat ninja who had earned his name well.

 

"Yes!" He answered with a happy quirk to his eyes causing Zabuza to look horrified. "I foresee your death!" Kakashi finished darkly as he pulled out a Kunai, but before he could move two senbon needles impaled the man through the neck causing him to collapse dead.

 

All the genin blinked in shock while Kakashi eyed the young hunter ninja who had just appeared beside the lifeless corpse. "You're predication came true!" The figure said happily. "Thank you for your help. I hope you didn't mind my intrusion, but I wanted the satisfaction on ending Zabuza's life myself." He said with a little bow of his head towards the silver haired ninja who had just jumped down and checked the man's pulse, double checking that he was indeed dead.

 

"Your mask is a familiar one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you a hunter from the Village Hidden in the Mist?" Kakashi inquired as he eyed the boy who had to be even younger than Naruto who was his youngest student.

 

"Correct." The hunter answered in amusement.

 

"A hunter?" Naruto asked allowed, sounding as though he knew nothing of such a person.

 

"As a hunter it is my duty to hunt down and eliminate all rogues and outlaws. You're battle is over for now." He said before pausing to kneel down beside the body, his words suspicious to any who listened closely enough. "I must take my leave, I have remains to dispose of to preserve our secrets." He concluded before vanishing in a swirl of leaves, taking Zabuza's cooling body with him.

'Crap... Zabuza is still alive and he has a pretend hunter on his side...' Naruto inwardly winced. 'After all, Hunters always finish off their targets on sight...' Naruto thought with a sigh knowing that they would have another encounter with the man sometime in the near future.

 

'We'll just have to sigh before that happens...' Kyuubi said with a smirk. 'But for now... I think we had best hurry to out destination...'

 

"Well, we have to continue to escort Zabuza-san." Kakashi said as he pulled his head band back down over his Sharingan eye.

 

Just as the words left his mouth, Kakashi suddenly collapsed to the ground leaving everyone to blink in confusion.

 

"Kakashi-sensei!!"

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Shuchu Suru Enerugi Kosen: 21 Pasento!

Means: Concentrated Energy Ray: 21 Percent

 

Kuroppoi Mihon: Kage Domu!!

Means: Dark Type: Shadow Dome

 

Mizu, Tsuchi, Kaze Sutairu: Hariken Sanbusaku!

Means: Water, Earth, Wind Style: Hurricane Trilogy

 

Special thanks to the following for their comments and critisizims:

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fan

PsychoLeopard

Kiia

KitMiyu

Baka Manuke

inu_kyuubi

Shadow Eclipse

Dark Dragon

 

Any questions you need answered? Anything that isn't cleared up just let me know and I'll try my best to explain it after chapter 4. Thank you much for reading and please review!

Ja!