106 Fishing in Waters

"Hi, Mei-chan." Kaname waved her hand in a greeting.

"As requested. The Bringer of a Shitstorm, Kaname Uchiha, The Fuckwad, and the company." The man growled out.

"Thank you, Zabuza. Good job." Mei nodded her head, sitting behind the office desk.

"And our deal?"

"Huhuhu, did I ever said that I was against the return of your group of sword-hotheads, Zabuza?"

"*Growl* You used me?!"

Mei shrugged off the accusations, "I just talked about an important request for an escort. You assumed everything else yourself."

"... Fuck!" Zabuza punched a hole in the Mizukage's office wall, "Haku, we are leaving!"

"Yes, Zabuza-sama."

"Don't be so jumpy! I will have a real S-rank mission for you later, Zabuza-chan!" She called out after the man.

"Heh, nice to see you getting used to the station. By the way, we eradicated Gatō's Corporation." Kaname chuckled,

"How did you shackle a mad dog like Zabuza?" The jinchūriki greeted the auburn-haired woman with a question.

"Hello to you too, Utakata-san, you kids as well. I will deal with the problem of sea-routes later." Mei nodded, "Me and Zabuza have symbiotic relations - he has enough strength to become a Kage of any of the smaller villages, we have the same goals, but the people of the Kirigakure are on my side. Zabuza's wants to become a new leader of Seven Ninja Swordsmen and recreate the past splendor of the village he was born in. I'm simply his means to an end." Mei explained, struggling with standing up from the chair.

"Damn… You should start a diet or something. Overweight at your age is prone to give you many problems, Granny." Kaname pointed at Mei's overgrown belly.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." She laughed sarcastically, "Look who is talking... Fatso." the auburn haired-woman shot back.

"Hey, it's my ninth month, Granny! It's just an unexpected surprise. You could say you were pregnant, Mei-chan. So? For how long? And where is Chibi-kun? I guess he is the father."

"It's the fifth month. Ya-kun is the Anbu's Commander - you will meet him later. I thought you would help me with the delivery. I have my own iryōnin, but I want the best."

"Sure, but it puts a dent in my plans. I thought you would be present in Konoha for the finals."

"As I thought - it's my secret mission for Zabuza. You could use one of the strongest shinobi I can come up with out there."

"Him? I can't even imagine how you could persuade Zabuza to go escort some children."

"Easy, Kana-chan. Haku-chan needs her promotion to a chūnin - Konoha is their opportunity to do just that." Mei shrugged, "Taking care of two or three other kids shouldn't be much of a problem."

"Mei-san, is my late Sensei's house still standing? I thought we could use it."

"I sent Ao to tidy it up this morning. He should be finished with it already." The Mizukage nodded her head.

"Heh, you prepared everything. Thanks, Mei-chan."

"You're welcome. Go take a break. The journey must have been tiring for someone so big as you." Mei winked playfully at the group. "We will talk later. I want to know what I will have to deal with in a few months. The ankles are killing me already."

"Oh, you know nothing, Mei-chan. The early contractions are rough - they will start at your sixth month or so, don't even make me start about heartburn, back pain, fatigue, etcetera. Think of everything you had in your first four months tripled." Kaname complained.

"Ugh... Just... Go away before I decide to terminate my pregnancy."

"Heh, glad to be of service." Kaname bowed mockingly.

----

"Hmm, not bad, Utakata. I imagined it's somewhere on the borders of the village, but the house of your master has a beautiful view." Kaname relaxed, leaning on Utakata's arm. Both sat on the terrace overlooking the sea at sunset.

"Maybe it's a corny line, but you're much more beautiful than that, Kana-chan."

"Yeah, it is." Kaname rose her lips and kissed Utakata's cheek, "But there is nothing wrong with being corny."

"*Ehem*!" A manly cough interrupted them.

"Ah, Ao, what's up?" Kaname called out to the blue-haired jōnin.

"Mei-san said you would have a special delivery to send back to Konoha. If it's not a problem, I would like to take and send it with today's batch."

"It's not yet ready, Ao. I need to prepare hundreds, if not thousands, of miniature seals, you know? It will take some time." she waved him off.

"Ugh, but Mei-san..."

"Ao." Utakata stopped him, "Please, we spent two days on a boat. Just let us rest."

"I see... Just one question." His eyes narrowed at the pair, "Are you a danger to my village?"

"Not more than I was for the two years I lived in this country. As for Utakata, yes, he goes all Bijū if someone dares to hurt me."

"Kaname, you know what I'm asking. I saw the darkness you hide inside of you."

"You talked plenty already, Ao. We won't speak about it any further." Utakata rose on his feet, easily surpassing the jōnin's height by the height of his head, "Leave us." he ordered.

"... I will have an Eye on you." Ao walked away.

Kaname extended her hands towards Utakata, "Come back. I miss your comfy shoulder."

"Heh," he pulled her in a princess carry, "You were never clingy so much, Kana-chan. What's up?"

A single tear dropped the side of her cheek, "I'm just tired, but I don't want to fall asleep."

"You're that worried? How much did you sleep last night?"

"Maybe an hour," Kaname replied.

"Kana-chan, you need to sleep more."

"You don't understand. I want to, but each time I do, I have nightmares. I'm all alone, crying in the burned down world atop a mountain of corpses. You, Naruto, my mom, everyone lies dead in the same heap." Kaname trembled in his arms, "It's like a nagging in the back of my head, or maybe soft whispers, saying that's the inevitable future we're all destined with."

Utakata hugged her, "Whatever comes, we will be ready. I'm sure we can work something out, Kana-chan."

"I- I'm not sure. Two weeks ago, I woke up with a kunai in hand. I'm worried that the next time I wake up, it will be with a blade put in your head or in my belly. I don't know what I would do if I let myself do that." Several more tears joined the last one.

"There is nothing you should be worried about. You won't hurt us. Let's make you doze off for some time. I will stand guard at your side, okay?"

"Mhm." Kaname nodded her head.

----

"WHAT?!"

"Don't scream, Haku-chan. I thought that making you pretty would help with our plan." Izumi held a pink dress with frills in her hand.

"First. It's your plan, Izumi-san. And Second. No freaking way I'm getting this monstrosity anywhere near me!"

"But..."

"NO, end of topic!" the teen shouted.

"Muuh." Izumi complained, "Okay, we will talk about it later."

"I hope we won't. Are you not worried about your Koji-san?"

"Nah, not really. Saying that, where did the baka go to, Haku-chan?"

"As Koji-san called it, he is going to test the new generation of Ninja Swordsmen. True, they're still young genins, but each one is a powerful kenjutsu user. Especially Mangetsu-san, Zabuza called him a Second Coming of the Demon of the Mist."

"Now, that's interesting. I love seeing Baka's ass getting handed back to him! Let's go!" Izumi pulled Haku's hand.

The girls entered the training grounds as the air carried the sounds of weapons clashing.

"Ha! Hahaha, you are good, Chōjūrō-kun!" Koji barely deflected a fish-like sword in the hands of a blue-haired child.

"Thank you, Koji-senpai. Let's finish it!" Hiramekarei, Chōjūrō's two-handed grey sword, lighted up in the blue chakra creating a form of an enormous hammer.

"Uh, that looks heavy!" Koji dropped a smoke bomb that exploded the same moment the hammer hit his staff.

"Tsk..." Zabuza was not happy with the outcome. Koji stood behind Chōjūrō with the staff aimed at the boy's head, "Sarutobi wins." he announced.

"You used a cloning technique to distract me. Good fight, Koji-senpai!" the boy bowed his head in gratitude.

"I can't believe you're still a genin, Chōjūrō-kun. There are maybe three or four Konoha genins on your level." Koji patted the blue-haired boy.

"Chōjūrō-chan, borrow me the Hiramekarei. I will show you how to use it properly!" a purple-eyed teen called out.

"Hoo, it seems I'm getting popular. Come." Koji put the staff above his head in a defensive position.

"Mangetsu Hōzuki, nice to meet you."

"Koji Sarutobi, likewise."

"Begin!" Zabuza shouted, starting the duel.

Seeing the grey sword instantly blaze in chakra, Koji propped himself into the air dodging the swipe of the extended blade.

"Huh?" the chakra changed form, turning into a whip that coiled around his weapon. Knowing he did not stand a chance of keeping the pole in his hand, Koji released it, letting the staff fly away towards Mangetsu.

The white-haired young man, while he ran towards Koji, caught the staff mid-air. Mangetsu's hands did a flourish, spinning the two weapons around his body.

Seeing the powerful strike incoming, Koji thought fast, a pillar of earth shot him towards Mangetsu. He caught the swordsman's leading arm with his right hand and took hold of the part of his pole. Turning his left palm around the tip, Koji disjoined the staff into three parts, effectively blocking the sword just a moment before it struck his stomach.

Mangetsu's eyebrows rose in appreciation of the weapon expertise his opponent has shown.

Two young men clashed in a contest of strength.

Then uncountable hours of training with swords have shown its effects. Mangetsu let Koji slowly push his blade down. At the same time, Hiramekarei blazed in blue light, creating a second sword on the other side of the handle. With a quick twist of the hand, the chakra blade stopped beneath Koji's undefended arm, ready to dismember him.

"... I give, good fight, Mangetsu." Koji nodded his head, raising his arms in defeat.

"Not bad... For a shinobi from Konoha." the swordsman laughed back, throwing the legendary sword back to the blue-haired boy.

----

[A week later]

"Good that you are here, Zabuza." Mei greeted the man.

"What is she doing here?" Zabuza pointed at Kaname.

"Kana-chan is a part of the reason I created this mission."

"Hrmph..." he expressed his annoyance, "Speak."

"I want you to go to Konoha as an escort for our genins."

"Fuck you." Zabuza turned around his arm and walked towards the doors.

"What about Haku-chan. Think about her future, Zabuza-chan. She won't go far as a genin."

"I don't care. I taught Haku everything I know, genin or not she will be successful."

"Zabuza." Kaname called out, "There is a chance of Kisame Hoshigaki showing up. A small chance, but Akatsuki will be present."

Zabuza froze at the office doors, "Repeat that."

"Kisame Hoshigaki, I'm pretty sure you are looking for his sword, Samehada."

"... For fuck's sake! I feel like I'm being played by the two of you. What do you want of me?"

"You will take Haku-chan, Mangetsu's little brother, and Chōjūrō-kun to Konoha," Mei explained.

"If Kisame shows up, he is all yours. From what I saw of your fight with Kakashi, you don't stand a chance, but it's your choice."

"*Growl*..."

"Yeah-yeah, I want you to deliver a private message to Hokage." Kaname passed a scroll, "He will know what to do with it."

"Do I look like your private messenger?"

"Want to go to Konoha or not?" Kaname smiled sweetly, flicking the scroll in her hand.

"... I'm getting played like a little girl. If Kisame doesn't show up, you will have something bigger to worry about," he growled back, swiping the message from Kaname.

"Hehe, believe me, you won't be even in the top ten of my worries, Zabuza-chan."

"We shall see." Zabuza shot back, leaving the office.

"You were right, Mei-chan. Zabuza is cute when angry."

"Are you sure it was right to anger him, Kaname-san?"

"Oh, don't worry, Chibi-kun. If it's necessary, I will kick his ass once we meet again."

----

[Konoha - three days later]

"Uchiha... Sasuke." Gaara tasted the black-haired boy's name in front of him, "And you?"

"Hehe, Uzumaki Naruto ~ttebayo."

"AAGH!" Gaara's body bent as a massive headache ignited in his head, "Mother wants you dead, Uzumaki Naruto."

"Yeah? I don't care." Naruto flicked the red-haired boy.

"... We will meet again. Kankuro, Temari, let's go." Three genins with Sunagakure forehead protectors flickered away.

"Hmm, it's getting interesting," Sasuke noted.

"You were so cool, Bro!" Konohamaru laughed out.

"Hehehe, I know, right?" Naruto scratched the back of his head. Turning around, he headbutted a man standing behind him.

"Fuck off, brat." Zabuza growled out.

"KYAAH!" Naruto cried out, hiding behind a smaller boy.

"And... I became disenchanted. You suck, Naruto." Konohamaru called out sadly.

"Huhu, hi, Naruto-kun." Haku waved towards the blonde.

"A-Ah! Haku-chan!"

"Hi, Hinata-chan, Sasuke-kun."

"H-hello." Hinata bowed her head, "A-are you here for the ex-exams?"

"Zip it, I don't have the time to talk to a bunch of kids! Where is your Hokage? I have a message for him from Kaname Uchiha."

"Eh? From Sis? Have you got anything for me, like a gi-?"

"..." Zabuza's glare made Naruto take an audible gulp.

"Hokage is in his office, head towards the Hokage's Mountain." Sasuke interrupted the stare down.

"Hmph." The swordsman left the children and traveled north, deeper into the village.

----

"Zabuza Momochi and a team of genins from Kirigakure are here to meet you, Hokage-sama."

"Thank you, Neko. *Cough* Let him in."

Zabuza entered the office, measuring the frail-looking old man with his sight. He nodded his head in a greeting, seeing Hokage's wise old eyes, measuring him back.

"Welcome in Konoha, Zabuza Momochi. I reckon you came here for the chūnin exams as an escort for the genins?"

"... That's right, Hokage-san. I have a private message for you also."

"Hmm? Hoh, this scroll looks like from Kaname Uchiha."

"Yes, she requested for me to hand it over straight into your hands."

"I see. I can't wait to see what the two have planned out." Hiruzen put the scroll on the desk. Hokage bit his thumb, drawing a droplet of blood, and swiped it atop the seal.

The scroll exploded in a cloud of smoke, exchanging its place with three heavy wooden crates. The desk creaked under the weight and soon disintegrated into wooden shrapnel.

Zabuza's amusement was written on his face as he looked at the twitching Hokage's brow. "And she strikes again. Kaname has a problematic sense of humor, doesn't she?"

"... Haaah." the old man sighed.

"Pfft... Hokage-sama, there is a letter on top." A woman's voice came out of nowhere.

"Hmm..."

'Yo, Jiji. If I know your habits, your desk just got squashed. It means you will have a break for the next two or three hours before they replace it. You don't have to thank me :-).

Those crates contain my little new seals that were created specifically for the exams. Now, about what to do with them. I want to request a small D-rank mission - just book it from my tab. Ask the team three, six, eight, and ten to scatter them around Konoha.

One more thing, if the snake strikes, I want you to stay on the VIP terrace. Jiraya knows of my plan - he will explain to you the rest of it.

Kana-chan.'

Turning the piece of paper, the old man snorted at the picture of Kaname laughing and pulling on Utakata's arm, helping the jinchūriki pull a fish on the other side of his fishing pole.

"Neko, open one of them." he pointed at one of the creates.

Yugao flickered next to Hokage, and using a kunai, she pried open the wooden lid.

"These are... confetti?" Her hand plunged into nail-sized pieces of paper.

"Miniaturization at it's finest, these are Kana-chan's seals." Hokage replied, "Call Asuma, Yūhi, Kakashi, and Guy. I have a sudden request for their teams."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Yugao flickered away.

"As for you, Zabuza-kun. I prepared a guest house for our visitors. Saru will show you the way."

Zabuza nodded his head and followed the man with a monkey-mask.

"Tenzō." Once the swordsman left, Hokage called out the next name.

"Yes, Hokage-sama?" a brown-haired man with a cat-mask kneeled in front of a broken desk.

"Call Jiraya-kun here. He should be somewhere near the Hot Springs. Ah, take care of the desk as well."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama."

----

"How much ssure~ are you sshe~ iss~ not in Konoha?"

"Orochimaru, it's not my first time spying on someone." Black Zetsu shot back.

"It'ss~ not a clone you're spying? Kana-chan iss~ very crafty."

"It's not. White Zetsus can't come to close if they do not want to be caught, but her team and boyfriend are with her in the Water Country. The Nine-Tails jinchūriki is alternately residing within the Hyūga and Uchiha compound."

"What?! And Kana-chan's mother and brother? Where are they?!"

"I did not look for them. Maybe both are hiding somewhere."

"Hoo~. It seemss~ Kana-chan and the old man expect an invassion~. Or maybe they're worried that Kaname iss~ away from home. Did you ssee~ any dissturbing~ movess~ in Konoha?"

"None. Hokage opened all the gates, a multitude of tourists are visiting the village."

"Good, continue the observationss~. I want to know when Kana-chan makess~ a move.

----

"... kata! Wake up!" Kaname screamed, rocking his arm.

"Huh? Wh- What?" Utakata roused out of his sleep.

"I-It's beginning! I think my waTERS BROKE!!"