Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist

Nearing the end of trip I overhear Tazuna informing the others of our real adversary, Gato. A crime lord who has a lot to gain from the bridge never being completed. As our leaders converse with our client I learn that the the Land of Waves is suffering more from lack of resource than I thought resulting in poor and starving people. The situation was perfect for Gato to gain control and even with the bridge I doubt it'd be solved easily, from my perspective the only reason our job isn't to assassinate him is because it'd be A rank which would be too much for Tazuna to afford similar to the situation were in currently with the B rank prices.

After a while we do reach shore and start heading towards our destination, along the way I notice some sort of rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke. It seems like it's mostly the result of the former. Eventually this culminates in the blonde throwing a kunai into the forest causing his team to berate him but he quickly turned around and threw another regardless proclaiming that someone was following us. My dad decides to investigate for some reason only two find a startled white rabbit with a kunai stuck into the tree narrowly missing its head.

Sakura - "Naruto! What have you done?! It's a bunny!"

MC - "Oi shutup" Crouching down to pick up the bunny I turn to Naruto "He's right someone was here, its white hair so it doesn't go outside. It was raised for substitution" I quickly pull out my tanto and keep my eyes peeled but suddenly I hear my dad and Asuma sensei.

Asuma + Kakashi - "Everyone! Get down"

The others drop to the ground but I didn't have time as a huge blade flies towards me, leaning back as far as I can I narrowly avoid the blade watching at it cuts at the edge of my hair. Turning to wear the blade went I see it embedded in a tree with a man I recognize from the bingo book but cant seem to recall the details of. That is until Asuma speaks up.

Asuma - "Zabuza Momochi rouge nin of the hidden mist, we got a real fight in store Kakashi, Team 10 guard Tazuna and dont interfere"

Kakashi - "You guys help team 10, dont involve yourself in the fight" my dad says to his team.

Zabuza - "Kakashi of the sharingan and Asuma Sarutobi of the 12 guardians, give me the bridge builder and you and the brats can go"

Without any response both of the Jonin present move in to fight, while moving my dad moves the headband covering his left eye revealing a blood red eye with the black commas move around his pupil, a sharingan the staple of the Uchiha clan. Asuma leaps in first swinging a left hook with his chakra blades gripped tightly only to have Zabuza dodge and swing his greatsword towards his midsection. Asuma dodges leaping back as my dad comes in with a kunai swinging it towards hitting him in the chest revealing it to be a water clone.

Zabuza - Hidden Mist Jutsu" can be heard all around as a think fog quickly rolls in.

With the fog blocking my vision I can only listen now. I hear the sound of metal hitting metal for a long while before the fog disperses. Lying in the middle of both our teams teachers is Zabuza bloody and battered, it seems like both Jonin were too much for him. At least that what I thought until I notice a third figure on a nearby tree and the senbon in Zabuzas neck. Looking at the mask it seems like a hunter nin, he must be on a job to catch Zabuza. All of this makes sense on paper but something doesn't feel right. I disregard the feeling however as I know my dad knows what he's doing, while thinking this I watch the hunter nin take away Zabuzas corpse.

(A while later)

We're only a few minutes away from Tazunas house and the fight went without a hitch too so I should be happy right now. However I can't get that hunter nin out of my mind, my age at least roughly but they were able to defeat Zabuza so easily. Could I kill him like that? I need to improve faster or I'll never make my father and grandfather proud. I feel disappointed in myself for simply standing there with Team 7 and my teammates, in the next fight I'll prove I'm better and show my dad he should be proud I think while side glancing at him.

Arriving at Tazunas home we meet his Daughter? Tsunami, she seems nice enough at least in our short encounter. My dad decided to quickly sleep apparently he was more chakra depleted than I thought. But before hand he seems to have a conversation with Asuma and judging by their faces it's nothing good. I rack my brain trying to think of what it could be, surely it had to do with the mission. The only thing I could think of is the bad feeling I had with Zabuzas death... "Surely not" I say aloud drawing Shikamaru and Sasukes attention as I grab a book from my bag and quickly thumb through the pages.

The Undertaker squad of the Hidden Mist. I have the little information an average Shinobi could get but I quickly realised the issue. They dispose of the body immediately with exception of proof of kill. Zabuza was alive and I have a feeling he'll be back... I close my book and glance at the rest of the Genin nearby noticing Shikamaru raise a brow meeting my gaze. Do I tell him? Asuma would if we should right? But him knowing could help make a plan... What about Ino, shes distracted with helping the mom cook. Damn I'll tell her later.

I glance at Shikamaru and walk outside and head to a tree that's across from the house, about 20 feet away. I turn and lean my back against it while facing the door and surely enough Shikamaru comes out a few minutes later. He slowly walks up and sits down cross legged on the ground next to me.

MC - "I dont think Zabuzas dead"

Shikamarus head snapped towards me with wide eyes before quickly collecting himself to a more serious face.

Shikamaru - "Why? Are you sure?"

I take the book I had read before and flip to the page about the hunter nin, handing it to him so he can read I elaborate.

MC - "That right there, the senbon also doesn't sit well with me. I had a feeling something was wrong I should've spoke up before" I say still looking at the house.

(Kakashi POV)

Kakashi - "Look outside Asuma" I say drawing his attention outside to his two students. "That book is one of Sakumos info books, he probably realized Zabuzas alive"

Asuma - "You're probably right I saw him looking at us before checking it earlier, I wonder why he didn't tell the others though"

Kakashi - "Its because he realized we know so he's waiting for us, it'll help the mission if they stay calm and that's his first priority even if he says it's his team's wellbeing to make me happy"

Asuma - "Guess I'll have to fix that *sigh* hopefully its slowly changes by itself though"

(MC POV)

After getting my book back I tell Shikamaru not to tell the others and wait for our sensei too. He agrees under the assumption they have a reason not too. Pushing off the tree I notice in one window Asuna was looking our way with a wry smile and in another I ses Sasuke staring at me. He wishes he knew what I found out but he's not on my team why should I help. I my left hand in my pocket and hold an open book as I walk back into the house with Shikamaru.

Once I'm back in the house I go over to a wall across from the kitchen to watch the two people making our dinner when something that raises alarms in my head happens. My dad appears beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulder before telling everyone to gather around. As all the Genin bring their attention to my dad and by proximity me I have an Idea what about to happen. Slowly my dad turns to face me with a face I recognize as mischievous.

Kakashi - "So why don't you tell them what you figured out." he said not as a question but rather telling me to do so.

I stare at him for a minute before sighing in resignation "fine" and turning to the others

MC - "Zabuzas probably not dead"

This provokes a variety of responses from everyone except Shikamaru, my dad, and Asuma.

Kakashi - "Okayyy, now explain it for them" he says with a stupid eye smile.

MC - "Well hunter nin always dispose of the body except for proof of the kill, they used senbon which isnt always lethal and can also cause an effect like a severely weakened pulse if used right, they also carried Zabuza away who's like what 230lbs while the hunter nin was a kid who's probably half that"

Everyone slowly came to grips with what I said. The responses they gave were annoying except Shikamaru and Sauke who both stayed relatively calm when I told them, at least outwardly. The others were far too loud which I hate. Maybe I should talk to the Uchiha more he's not that bad when girls aren't around at least, I'm still the better shinobi however. As I was lost apparently it was decided that each team would spend one day guarding Tazuna and the other training. I haven't trained much with my team yet, we've only trained together a few times but I enjoy it. I get special attention from Asuma since the others are mostly trained by their clans the Nara and Yamanaka respectively.

Naruto begins talking about how the training will be "fun". I dont know if he understands we're training to end people's lives but before I can continue that train of thought were interrupted by a small kid with black hair. Tsunami and Tazuma call him Inari and tell him to be polite to guest, he quickly retorts by saying he doesn't need to because we'll die soon anyway since "nobody can beat Gato and his men" This causes Naruto to go on a tangent about being the Hokage and a Hero.

Inari - 'Hero'? You're dumb! There's no such thing!!"

Before Naruto can say anything I interrupt

MC - "He's right Naruto, you are dumb. We're trained killers not heroes and don't try to be one or you'll do something dumb"

Inari seems to decide he's had enough as he begins to leave before staring at me and giving us a warning to leave or we'd die. Naruto decides to follow after him, giving me no words after my response to his hero comment he quickly heads upstairs after the boy. His lack of comment only cementing my feeling of being correct in my thoughts. I eat the small meal that was prepared for us before giving thanks to Tsunami and Ino in a unenthusiastic voice before heading to where we were told to sleep. Closing my eyes I think of my plans to prove myself by killing Zabuza myself and drifting off to sleep.