Chapter 24 The Trick

Naruto snuck off while the others slept. Leaving a few clones behind, he could always say that he was making sure the camp was safe. He walked out to the woods. There he checked his surroundings. Seeing no colors of sound he quickly summoned Xel.

"My lord, I see you have finally summoned me. Listen I have formulated a plan to allow you to use your summons more freely", says Xel.

"What do you mean Xel", asks Naruto.

"It was a plan I formulated, I will explain the details later. First why have you summoned me my lord", asks Xel.

"I was wondering when I could start training with the Eldritch form", asks Naruto.

"Your body is nearing a point where you can safely use the form with help. We will practice with it once we find a spot far away from prying eyes, this spot will not do", says Xel.

"Fine, what is this plan of yours to let me use my summons in front of everyone", asks Naruto.

Xel smiled as he explained his plan. It was ambitious and had to go perfectly to work. Though Naruto hated the plan. It required him to actually manipulate his teammates, but it would be necessary. Naruto headed back to camp dispelling the clones. He started to pack as the others awoke. After a few minutes they headed out.

Naruto looked at the waves and the colors they made as the boat rocked. The whole fact that Wave was an island was the main reason he could not send clones here like he had with the possible locations of the summoning contracts. Looking out into the mist as the driver cut the motor. He began to row the boat. It made sense when Gato had the entire country under his thumb being careful was important for your continued existence. At least that was true for civilians.

The mist began to clear a bit. The bridge came into view. This caused Naruto to chuckle to himself. The bridge was more than half way finished.

"You know for a guy who is so focused on making sure this bridge is not completed he didn't even destroy what was already built. And there is a lot of it built already. Like I said before, Gato is an idiot", says Naruto.

The look of confused realization on the rowers face was priceless as he thought about it, but it quickly returned to his paranoid face he wore before.

"I take back the powerful stupid comment, this is full blown brain damaged", says Sasuke.

"I know right", says Naruto.

"How the hell did Gato get so rich anyway if he won't even attempt to destroy the one thing that will make his hold on the country practically nonexistent", asks Sakura to no one in particular.

Kakashi shrugs.

"Maybe he inherited it", says Kakashi.

"Then he's running his company into the ground he he is this inept", says Naruto.

"Gato is a vile excuse for a human being, still I never thought of it like that", says Tazuna.

"Still he may be an idiot but if he is hiring missing-nins he is dangerous", says Kakashi.

"Stupidity has always been dangerous", says Naruto.

The boat comes to rest at the bank of the island.

"Well this is our stop, enjoy stopping the moron", says the Rower.

He rows away.

"Is it just me or has no one seemed to have realized Gato's stupidity", asks Naruto.

"To be fair the guy has probably destroyed there hope long before the bridge was even thought of", says Sakura.

"Well at least they have an excuse. What's Gato's", asks Naruto.

"Dropped on his head as an infant", says Sakura.

Naruto laughed a bit at that.

"No that would be an improvement", says Naruto.

"Ok enough joking around, we have a job to do. Everyone take point around Tazuna", says Kakashi.

As they got back on track with the mission Naruto begins to wonder what was happening back home. How far along were the clones with the projects. Was Konohamaru still going to the lab. How many ANBU had there memories forcible extracted and altered by Konohamaru. How long until that caused brain damage. When Naruto thought about his progress he began to wonder how long until the clones collected the first of the lost Summoning contracts. A few dispelled every now and again but Naruto knew they were on track. Investigating rumors and the like to find the first batch. If Naruto was thinking to invite any of his peers into the group he would need at least eight contracts before he would even attempt to invite them. Either way at least he knew that things were going according to plan. The contracts may be a bit behind but progress was progress. He had yet to begin building anything other than the labs and foundry to begin with creation. On the bright side he had a few items to study and improve curtsy of the demon brothers. He was already thinking on ways to improve the gauntlets. One of the problems was the chain connected to the other gauntlets, it was an interesting idea but should any one using one side of the gauntlet be incapacitated it basically made the gauntlet a liability. Though there was a mechanism to detach one end from the other it would mess with the point of hooking the two gauntlets together meaning new strategies had to be used due to the new way to use the weapon. Other than that there were ways to improve the weapon. For one thing electrified chain.

As he was thinking about this Naruto began to think over Xel's plan where he would no longer have to hide his summons from everyone. He did not want to have to explain it should he ever need to summon one. He did not like the plan it was manipulative, but it had to be done. He only had to wait for either them to make it to Tazuna's then wait for a moment, or wait for them to be attacked by whoever Gato sent.

As Naruto thought on this he was distracted by a flash of color to his side. Reaching for his side he quickly pulled out a kunai and threw it at the sound. A small shriek of some animal followed by a thump of the kunai imbedding in the tree could be heard.

Naruto's teammates were shocked. Looking to where he threw the kunai. It was imbedded in a white rabbit.

"Naruto what did you do that for. You killed the poor thing", says Sakura.

" It's only a rabbit, but why is it white. It's the middle of spring", says Naruto.

"Get down", screams Kakashi.

As they dive down a massive sword flies overhead like a boomerang and imbeds itself in a tree. Within a moment a man stands on the blades handle.

"Well, Kakashi the copy nin. no wonder the Demon Brothers lost", says the man.

"Zabuza Momochi, Ex-leader of the hidden mist assassination unit", says Kakashi.

Naruto looks at Zabuza.

"As entertaining as it would be to fight you, I'm only here for the old man", says Zabuza.

"Protect the bridge builder, and stay out of the way. This guy is leagues above the other ninja", says Kakashi.

As Naruto quickly makes his way to Tazuna with his team he looks around for a moment. Trying to think of something to do. He creates several shadow clones, several transform into Sakura and Sasuke to further surround Tazuna.

"Shadow Clones Jutsu, not bad for a kid", says Zabuza.

Kakashi reaches slowly for his headband. Lifting it up he looks at Zabuza.

"I'm ready"

Zabuza turns his head to Kakashi. Faster than any could see Zabuza grabs his sword and removes it from the tree. They look around to see where he went. As they do a thick mist appears seemingly from nowhere. It gets thicker and thicker until they cannot even see Kakashi.

"Be careful, Zabuza is a master of the silent killing technique", says Kakashi.

After a moment Zabuza could be heard.

"Eight points. Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now which will be my kill point", says Zabuza.

Naruto idly thought of several other points in the human body that Zabuza failed to mention, but he shook those thoughts from his head. Best not to think of other ways someone can kill you. As this was happening Naruto thought on the concept of a killing tequnique that was silent and got an idea. He quickly cut his finger on the kunai he was holding making sure no one could see him. He put a small bit of blood on one of his clones hands. It left quickly to perform the summon necessary. There was no sound as the clone disappeared. Naruto watched as for only a moment a black shadow quickly flew through the trees. There was no one more silent then a Nightgaunt.

After a moment Naruto saw the faintest color of sound coming from behind him, passing the corner of his eyes, it was so small Naruto almost ignored it, almost. Turning around slowly he looked at a humanoid shape of water standing behind him holing a sword made of water. The figure looked right in Naruto's eye. Then as Naruto blinked suddenly another humanoid shape of water was there with a kunai into the other water clones side.

Another water clone appears behind the figure of water that stabbed the first.

"Die", screams the clone in Zabuza's voice as he slashes at the water clone.

It falls into a puddle of water. Naruto is confused as this happens. He has a hard time telling which clone belongs to who. Kakashi appears behind the figure of water holding a kunai to where it's throat would be.

"Sensei it's a clone to", says Naruto.

Kakashi cuts the clone as the real Zabuza slashes with his sword Kakashi ducks underneath the sword but Zabuza kicks him. Zabuza glares at Naruto for a moment be he charges for Kakashi. Then Zabuza silently is tackled to the side as a shadow tackles him into a nearby forest. No sound other than a grunt from Zabuza is heard. Kakashi jumps forward looking at where Zabuza once was.

"Did anyone see what took him out", asks Kakashi.

Before they can answer they here the sound of Zabuza laughing.

"Hahaha, no, haha, stop tickle ha ha ha, stop tickling me you hahaha you", then the laughing stops.

"What the hell are you", screams Zabuza no longer laughing.

He leaps from the trees sword in hand. His full attention on the spot where he jumped from, he has an almost scared look in his eyes. Then Kakashi appears behind him.

"You should never drop you're guard", says Kakashi.

Zabuza swings his arm behind him. Kakashi quickly jumps backwards as he does. What Kakashi finds interesting is Zabuza would keep shifing his eyes to the spot he once was.

"What was that thing", asks Zabuza as he points his sword to Kakashi.

Then as the words leave his lips a creature stands behind Zabuza. Kakashi's eye widens as he stares at the faceless demonic being that made no sound. Zabuza notices the look in Kakashi's eyes and jumps away. The creatures tail swings where Zabuza once stood. The shadow creature silently flies upward going right for the trees to hide.

Kakashi turns his attention back to Zabuza who turns back to Kakashi.

"I think we have a problem", says Zabuza.

Sasuke and Sakura stand still as they try and process what they just seen. Then Naruto slowly shifts his eyes to a clone. Passing it a few drops of blood from a freshly cut wound, the clone disappears while everyone does not even notice. Naruto smiles as it goes off to summon Xel far off. Naruto watches as Zabuza and Kakashi try to find the creature. Then suddenly it appears before Naruto. Tazuna jumps back and falls to the ground as it does. Sakura and Sasuke ready themselves as the creature stands before them. In it's hands a large scroll. It slowly hands the scroll to Naruto. Naruto pretends to look confused as he reaches for the scroll.

"Naruto stay back", says Kakashi.

Nauto does not even flinch. As if in a trance they watch as Naruto open the scroll. With no one seeing Naruto bites his thumb. He traces over his name with a not bloodied finger and watches as the wound he made disappears with a single drop of blood hitting the page. Naruto shakes his head as if awaken from his trance as The creature disappears with the scroll in hand. He looks to the side slowly and carefully as he sees the Nightgaunt and the scroll to Xel who nods and dispels himself.

"What just happened", asks Naruto.

Everyone stares at him confused. Naruto inwardly frowns. There were no excuses here, he could not lie to himself and claim this was not him manipulating his team but at least he would be able to summon freely, he just hoped he could put this memory behind him.

"Naruto", says Sakura with a tinge of fear in her voice.

"What, what just happened", asks Naruto trying to sound frantic.

They look around for a moment.

"Hey where did Zabuza go", asks Naruto.

Everyone turns, true to Naruto's word Zabuza is gone.

"Forget him, lets get Tazuna home. I'll explain everything later Naruto", says Kakashi.

Naruto frowns a bit. He did not like manipulating people but this was necessary, It was Xels plan anyway and it would allow him to freely summon. They continued on there way. Naruto kept his head to the ground. This was going to be the last time he would ever listen to Xel.

Zabuza quickly jumped from tree to tree. It was not long until a masked ninja jumped alongside him.

"What do we do now Zabuza-sama", asks the masked ninja.

"That kid with the eyes, I'm not sure but I think that was a summoning contract the demon gave him. I was hired to kill an old man, not demons and the copy nin. We go to Gato and we ask for more money, or we leave. Simple as that. If the kid can summon that thing I want to know was much about the summons as possible", says Zabuza.

"Do you want me to watch the boy", asks the masked ninja.

Zabuza only nods.