14 The Wave *part three*

The night past in relative silence, except when a hare set off a trap, but we fell back asleep quickly. The morning sun was bearing down harshly, but we ignored it in favor of finding a fisherman to ferry us. It was pretty difficult to convince someone to take us over the river, I knew what they were scared of, as well as Kakashi now, but the other two genin were suspicious, we managed to calm them down though. A few hundred Ryo later, we were on a boat, cutting through the thick fog that Zabuza created.

"Are we even heading in the right direction?" Sakura asked pensively "I can't even see three feet in front of us..." Tazuna was the first to speak up "Course' we are Gaki, I'd know if we were, I'm sure Choji here knows it to." He said motioning to the fisherman we had hired. He took the chance to say his part "We'll be able to see the bridge any second now." he said simply. Naruto took in a view of the bridge, now he was no architect, but it was a pretty damn good looking bridge. Tazuna did definitely have a lot of skill. "I have to say Tazuna-san, you've got skill in building, even if you don't have skill in self control." he said motioning with his chin to the four empty sake bottles.

Tazuna looked defeated as he mumbles "That wasn't nice...." A voice hissed from behind the group from the fisherman Choji "You all need to be quiet, If you don't keep it down they will hear us and that defeats the purpose of going through the fog." Sasuke harrumphed as he asked sharply "And who are 'They' and why do we need to avoid them?" Sakura wasn't far behind hopping into follow Sasuke's lead. "Yeah, and what was up with those ninjas from earlier, I think you have some explaining to do." Tazuna glanced at Kakashi and the copy-nin nodded. Tazuna let out a deep sigh as he slumped deep into his seat and began explaining "The man who is after me is a short man with a huge shadow, his name is Gato." Kakashi's eyebrows raised as he asked "Gato as in Gato transports and shipping?"

"In the flesh." Tazuna spat out as he took a swig of his drink. "On the surface he portrays himself as a good man of character, but beneath the surface, he is a leader of the criminal underworld. And his trade is death. He uses Ninja and gangs to ruin and take over nations and suck them dry as the people starve. He also uses his army of thugs to enforce his subjugation. Sakura put a hand over her mouth in shock and Sasuke just clicked his tongue in annoyance. "He just showed up around a year ago, he used his wealth and violence to enter our land, and before we could fight back, he owned all our shipping and transport." Tazuna continued. "On an Island nation, the guy that controls the sea is the controller of our very lives. But he fears us, because we are building the bridge to connect us to the mainland.

While the group was discussing all this, Kakashi was thinking about the best strategy, but he couldn't really work around the 'Don't Kill' request. If he fought Zabuza, who he assumed it was, he would be most likely incapacitated, and he doubted his genin could hold off against an army of thugs, minus Naruto, but even he can get overwhelmed.

Kakashi brought himself back to the conversation as he asked Tazuna, "If you knew this was going to happen, why did you lie about the mission. "Before Kakashi could respond, Naruto said from the side "Its kinda obvious. If the country is being starved and without any money circulating, its probably he just couldn't afford it." He said matter of factly, and Tazuna just nodded regretfully. "Your right, gaki. everyone is so poor that even the nobles are going hungry. So me and the other poor villagers were scraping together money to hire some shinobi, but we just didn't have the money for a B rank. It's just too expensive. And no doubt, if you leave once we reach shore, I'll be dead before I reach my home." Tazuna added.

Naruto took a look at Kakashi before saying "You don't have to worry though, were going to keep you safe till you finish this bridge." He said. All the people on the boat looked at him in different emotions as he continued "We understand why you didn't say anything. You had no way of know if we agree to help if you had no money. And since we've already accepted the mission, my shinobi pride won't let me abandon this mission, even if I have to stay alone.

"I guess we could continue." Kakashi started "We could use this extra experience and the land of waves hiring shinobi is important to us." Tazuna was ecstatic at this news. While the group was discussing the make up of Gato's forces they snapped to attention as they made their way under a large archway, passing through it and coming out on the other side to a small inlet lake with a dock on a peninsula. There were several buildings around the bank, and a few sparse trees located around and in the water.

As they got closer to the shore they saw that the buildings were mostly rundown, with rot and green and black mold spreading on the sides of the building. Some of them even looked burnt down, no doubt from the thugs using violence to subjugate the village. The boat made it to the dock and the Konoha ninja plus one master bridge builder got off. After Tazuna and the boatman exchanged farewells the group set off again. For the most part it was silent, Naruto was taking point this time, while Sakura and Sasuke were located on either side of Tazuna. Kakashi was taking up the rear, his book safely stashed away in his pocket due to the seriousness of the situation.

As they continued moving Naruto stopped and looked into a bush that rustled a bit.

"Naruto?" Kakashi asked, looking at his student. "Something wrong?" "… No." Naruto shook his head and continued moving. They stated moving again, with Naruto paying extra attention to their surroundings. As they continued walking Naruto paused and threw a kunai into a bush, startling the other genin and Tazuna.

"What the hell Naruto!" Sakura hissed. "Why do you have to try and scare us like- huh?"

Naruto walked right past Sakura and moved the bush branches aside, only to see a small white rabbit shaking like a leaf with a kunai stuck right above its head. "Naru-baka! Look what you did to this poor rabbit!" Sakura finally yelled, grabbing the rabbit and attempting to sooth its rattled nerves. "Hn. Stop trying to act cool dobe." Sasuke commented, "It only makes you look even more like an idiot." "Shut up teme," Naruto said, not giving Sasuke the chance to respond, the blond turned to look at Kakashi. "Sensei, I could be wrong about this but, isn't a rabbit's fur supposed to be brown this time of year? "Yes, it should," Kakashi said his mind a whirlwind of activity. A white rabbit at this time year means it was raised indoors. That could only mean that someone used it for a…Kawarimi.

Kakashi, who was using chakra to enhance his senses heard a whoosh.

"Get down!" He shouted at the same time. Kakashi grabbed Sasuke and Tazuna, pulling them to the ground, while Naruto did the same with a shocked Sakura.

THUNK!

The group looked up to see a large zanbato stuck in a tree with a man standing on top of it. Said man was shirtless, with two cameo style armbands and pants. His face was half covered in bandages up to his nose and his headband was tilted slightly like Kakashi's, except not covering his eyes, holding up spiky black hair. The symbol of Kiri displayed on the head band with a slash mark running across the center. "Well, well if it isn't Hatake Kakashi." The man said, in his deep gruff voice.

Kakashi stood up and glared at the man. "Momochi Zabuza, The Kiri No Oni. I never would have expected someone like you to be working for scum."

Zabuza shrugged, "It pays, besides it's worth it if I get to fight an opponent like you. You know back when I was in Kiri, you were listed as an A-rank ninja with a kill-on-sight order in our bingo book. Hatake Kakashi, the man who copied over a thousand jutsu." 'Sensei's famous? I never would have guessed' Sakura thought.

"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, why don't you hand over the old man and I'll let you and your genin squad go." Zabuza suggested. "I'm sorry but you know we can't do that." Kakashi glared at the missing-nin. "It wouldn't look very good for Konoha if we just let you have him without even putting up a fight." Zabuza shrugged and raised his nose as he glared down at the two, "Then perish." crouching down to grab onto the hilt of his blade, Zabuza kicked off the tree. He landed on the lake a little ways away, and made a hand sign. "Let's see how well you can do Kakashi, Kirigakure No Jutsu! (Hidden Mist Jutsu)." A thick mist spread across the land, blanketing the already misted area so heavily that no one could see more than a few feet in front of them.

"Triangle formation around Tazuna!" Kakashi ordered his genin squad, they quickly surrounded Tazuna in a frontal triangle formation with Naruto in the front, Sasuke on the left, and Sakura on the right. "Zabuza is a master of the Muon Satsujin Jutsu (Silent Killing Technique), if you're not careful you'll be dead before you even know it. Protect the bridge builder and leave Zabuza to me…" Kakashi turned back towards the lake and began to lift up his head band. "It looks like I'm going to need this."

"Ah! The Sharingan," Zabuza voice came from within the mist, his outlined form barely even visible. "It's an honor to be facing it so soon." How did Kakashi-sensei get that! Sasuke thought in shock. Only members of the Uchiha clan - my clan, can possibly have the Sharingan! Could he… "Still we both know that the Sharingan is useless if you can't even see," The mist began to thicken even more, making Zabuza disappear completely. Damn it, this mist cuts down the Sharingan's effectiveness. Kakashi cursed.

"Eight points…" The voice of Zabuza was like a icy wraith, causing the three genin and Tazuna to freeze as an intense killing intent filled the air. "Liver, lungs, spine, clavicle vein, jugular artery, brain, kidney and the heart. Take a pick, it's a one time special offer..."

This killing intent is unreal! And it makes it even worse with this mist, I can't see and I can barely think straight! The Jinchuriki shook a bit before catching a hold of himself. Taking a deep breath Naruto pushed out his chakra to counter the killing intents effects. He instantly felt a little better, though it was still affecting him some.

'This…this killing intent.' Sasuke thought, struggling to breathe against the killing intent the two Jounin were producing. Is this what a high level battle between two Jounin is like? This suffocating feeling…Sasuke began bringing a kunai to his throat. I don't think I can take much more of it!

"Sasuke! Calm down!" Kakashi said as he noticed the trouble his genin were having. "I won't let any of my students die on me." Sasuke tried to calm himself down, lowering his kunai.

"You're all talk Kakashi." Zabuza appeared right in the midst of the genin and Tazuna. Just as he was about to cleave them all in half with Kubikiri Houcho, however, Kakashi appeared right next to Zabuza and stabbed him in the gut, only for the Zabuza that he had stabbed to turn into water.

"Mizu Bunshin (Water Clone)!" Kakashi exclaimed right before Zabuza appeared behind him and cleaved him in half, causing Sakura to scream. However, much to Zabuza's surprise, Kakashi turned into water as well.

"It's over." Kakashi said as he appeared behind Zabuza and brought a kunai to the other ninja's throat. "I see." Zabuza chuckled as he turned his head to look at the copy ninja. "You created and switched yourself with a Mizu Bunshin when you made your speech didn't you? That eye of yours is quite impressive."

Zabuza swung his sword arm around nearly 180 degrees, forcing Kakashi to duck under the powerful swing. he then spun around and landed a powerful kick on Kakashi's face. Kakashi flew through the air with Zabuza following after him. The silver-haired Jonin threw some kunais as he fell into the water, forcing Zabuza to stop. "Kunai?" Zabuza sneered beneath his mask. "Come on, are you even taking me seriously?!" Kakashi broke the surface of the water and gasped for some air, "There's something wrong with this water…" "Hah! Now I've got you!" Zabuza appeared right next to Kakashi, going through a set of hand seals, "Suiton: Suirou No Jutsu (Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu)!"

Kakashi cursed as he found himself trapped within a water prison. He looked over at his students and began to make orders. "Run! Take the bridge builder and go!"

"Oh they're not getting away Kakashi!" Zabuza cackled as he made a Mizu Bunshin to deal with the genin. "Get out of here!" Kakashi yelled at his students. "This battle was over the moment I got caught!" He can't seriously think we can run does he? Sasuke wondered. Even if we managed to escape now, he would just kill Kakashi and come after us. Sasuke ran towards the Mizu Bunshin in an attempt to surprise it. However as soon as he got in range the Zabuza clone kicked him in the ribs, sending the young raven-haired Genin flying back.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled in shock and fear at seeing her crush hit so easily.

Sasuke gasped out in pain as he landed on the ground and the air was forced from his lungs. He was about to get up when Zabuza appeared next to him and stepped on him, making the raven-haired Genin scream in pain as the Kiri nuke-nin began to grind his foot into Sasuke's ribs.

"You think you're ninja?" Zabuza sneered at the pathetic sight of Sasuke under his foot and screaming in pain. "You aren't worthy of the title of being a shinobi. When you have stained your hands with as much blood as me, then you can be considered ninja. When you-"

"Fuck off!" Zabuza's speech was cut off as a naruto-sized fist glowing orange smashed into the Mizu Bunshin, forcing it to disperse.

"You gonna live? Sasuke-teme?" Naruto asked as he pulled the raven-haired Genin up. "…yes," Sasuke said, only slightly put off that Naruto had just saved him. "Listen I got a plan when I tell you I want you to launch the biggest fireball you can," Naruto said, looking over at Zabuza. "Alright." was all the Uchiha said, seeming more docile than usual. "Just get ready to launch your fireball." Naruto said "Edgy mc' edge!" Naruto jeered at Zabuza "What did you call me you brat!" Zabuza seethed at the blond who dared mock him. "You heard me you eyebrow-less freak!" Naruto shouted with a grin, it seemed Zabuza was sensitive about being insulted. "You little piece of shit! I'll kill you!" Zabuza shouted as his face turned red. He created half a dozen Mizu Bunshin's. The Mizu Bunshin's surged forward, running across the water. "Sasuke, fireball!" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke nodded as he went through some hand seals and sucked in a deep breath."Katon: Goukakyuu No Jutsu!" A large fireball came out of Sasuke's mouth. Before the Mizu Bunshin could jump out of the way, Naruto finished his own hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!" he said as he slammed his hand into the ground. This summoned was special, he needed someone to counter Zabuza, someone with power and skill in fast combat. So he thought deeply of shadows, imagining weakness being cut away. "Answer me, Zed!"

Sucking in his breath, Sasuke blew out a large fireball. The Mizu Bunshin didn't stand a chance as the hailstorm of fire hit them, dispelling them and evaporating the water used. Zabuza cursed as he was forced to release the water prison and drop into the water as the massive firestorm washed over his position. However, he stopped as he watched a plume of smoke other than the one from the fireball cover the battlefield. His eyes widened as he heard next to ear "The merest shade of me... is enough to defeat you." The contempt in the voice wasn't on his mind as he turned on his heel to block a completely black shadow with glowing red eyes. He had a strange gauntlet with what appeared to be a extending two bladed katar. The strike knocked Zabuza flying but before he hit the ground another shadow appeared and threw him to the ground. The shadow then grabbed him by the neck and spoke to him "Only the worthy will survive." he said as he punted Zabuza towards a treeline.

Zabuza was blasted through the air and only stopped when he hit a tree with enough force to knock off the bark. Before anything else could happen several senbon needles were launched at the Kiri nin, hitting him in his neck. Zabuza fell forward with a groan, unmoving A moment later they saw a young person whose gender was hard to tell due to the blue robes that covered his/her form. On the person's face was a mask that Kakashi recognized as a Hunter Ninja mask from Kiri.

Kakashi grunted as limped a few feet away from Zabuza and the Kiri hunter-nin. When the Hunter didn't attack Kakashi went forward and checked his pulse. "He's dead…" He mumbled, turning to look at the hunter ninja. "You're a hunter Ninja from Kiri?" The Hunter Ninja bowed. "I am, I would like to thank you for stalling him for me. I have been after Momochi Zabuza for a long time."

Kakashi sighed as he brought his headband back down over his Sharingan. His genin squad came up behind him a presence could almost be pinpointed, but it seemed to be coming from Naruto's shadow. Looking at the hunter ninja curiously, the hunter ninja disappeared in a swirl of water reappearing next to Zabuza's fallen body. Bending down the hunter ninja picked up Zabuza, pulling the man's arm over his/her shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse me, this body has many secrets, so I need to go and destroy it." "Kakashi-sensei!" Turning around Naruto saw Kakashi fall face first onto the ground, his one visible eye closed. Rushing over to him Naruto placed a hand on his neck.

"He's alive." Naruto said to Sakura who had come up to them. "He's just unconscious, chakra exhaustion."

Sighing Naruto stood and brought his hands in the ram seal, "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"Two clones puffed into existence and lifted Kakashi by the arms and legs.

"Tazuna-san, we need to get to your home now. Think you can lead us there?" asked Naruto.

"Uh…yeah," Tazuna said as he tried to get his bearings. "It's just this way, follow me."

The three Konoha genin followed Tazuna as he led them to his house with the two clones carrying the unconscious Jonin following close behind.

Both Sakura and Sasuke were thinking the same thing. 'Not only did he just summoned a fuckin' shadow that two-shot Zabuza, but he also knows a clone jutsu they hadn't even heard of. Sasuke was pissed and jealous.