The group of seven Konoha ninja stood on the shore overlooking Wave country. The usual fog had lifted, affording them an unobstructed view of the islands. Naruto could just about see the half finished bridge straining towards the mainland.

"Yamanaka-chuunin, Hyuuga-chuunin," Kakashi turned towards the two ninja, "run over the water to Wave, gather intel on our former client Tazuna, as well as anything you can sniff out about Gato."

They nodded, and Kakashi switched his attention towards the four genin.

"We will follow east along the coast, towards the Fire country peninsula that is dividing Wave from the Water country sea. Our aim is to assess the spread of Gato's corporation and its illegal activities."

Naruto and the others nodded.

"In two days time, before sunset, we will meet in Ooari village, located in the Shellfish bay formed by the Hi no Sei peninsula." He motioned to the chuunin. "If you are late, we will assume there was trouble and come to extract you."

"Yes, sir!" was his answer, before the group separated, the chuunin running to the water's edge then continuing over water. Naruto managed a last jealous look over his shoulder, wishing he could walk on water as well, before he had to follow Kakashi.

.

The next few days were tiring. It turned out that Gato's corruption spread farther than Konoha thought, infesting the small settlements on the coast. People lived in fear, but lacked the funds to hire ninja who would take care of the problem.

Naruto and the others approached the problem with grim faces and heavy hearts. They stopped in each village along their way, asking questions and fighting the thugs terrorising the people there. Most of them were wanted criminals and would face civilian courts, and hang for their crimes. It was dirty work, without glory in battle, even if the villagers were grateful and fed them well in recompense.

After freeing one such village from a group of bandits, quite more skilled with various weapons than all others before them, the shaken people showed them a hidden field of poppy. The buildings on the edge of the clearing stored all the things needed to begin an illegal drug operation. That prompted Kakashi to summon a nin-dog, entrusting it with a message to the closest Border Patrol. They would come and take care of the field, destroying the crops, and alerting Konoha that the situation turned much more serious.

That night, Team Seven shared a room in a house belonging to a widow who just lost her last son to the thugs. It was an exhausting day, Team Seven grouped their sleeping mats together after a bath that got rid of blood stains. In the fight, Sasuke had to come to Naruto's defence, after the later was overwhelmed by four bandits. Sasuke killed two of them, while Naruto killed one. The last one sought to flee, only to be caught by Sakura's ninja wire, its strong steel loping his leg clean off. All three were shaken, despite seeing battle before. It had been a 'kill or be killed' situation, but after the fight ended and they laid to rest for the night, Sakura couldn't help but inch her futon towards Naruto's, who was setting to sleep in the middle. Tentatively, she touched his forearm, seeking reassurance. Too exhausted to be startled, Naruto caught her hand in his, lining them in front of his face. He could feel the tremors shaking her.

On his other side, Sasuke laid still, one arm thrown over his eyes. During the fight, they flashed red for a moment, signalling he was close to awakening his Sharingan. Naruto could see how much it drained him. Before he realised it was a bad idea, he stretched his hand over the gap between them, and took Sasuke's free hand in his. Sasuke froze, waiting long seconds, the hand over his eyes squeezing into a fist, skin bleached white.

"Sasuke-kun," whispered Sakura, propping herself on one elbow to peer over Naruto.

"Please," she pleaded.

Another moment and the tension broke, Sasuke turning to his side and gently pressing his forehead to Naruto's shoulder. Naruto waited with bated breath, awed, when soon after Sakura did the same on his other side.

Staring up at the ceiling, Naruto started smiling. This is what a real team was like. A family, closer than blood. His heart swelled, and he vowed to himself. He would protect his team with everything he is, with all the power of a demon. Sakura and Sasuke, they were his.

.

They reached Ooari village on the agreed upon day, the sun's last rays lighting their way. The chuunin actually beat them there, renting rooms in one of the two available inns. The village was quite a bit bigger than all the others they came across, one of many in the Shellfish Bay. It was a profitable little place, Naruto learned.

"I asked the innkeeper," explained Sakura while they were sitting on the pier with their food, feet dangling over the water, "they grow all sorts of sea fruit here, the bay shielding them from high waves and storms. Wave, however, is more of a fishing community, and this whole region is pretty much depended on the sea."

"But they don't have a ninja village, right?" asked Naruto.

"No. This side of the peninsula usually hires Konoha ninja, and the other side hires Kiri-nin, from the Hidden Mist village. Well, technically, the Ooari and surrounding villages belong to the Fire country, except any islands, such as Wave. But the border isn't really enforced by ninja, since no other country fought us for this land. This territory is rich in sea life, but not much else, and the whole Hi no Sei peninsula is overgrown with marshes and rainforests, and its coast is inaccessible due to mangrove forests. No one wants to patrol that."

"Hn, so Gato operates on this side of the peninsula?" asked Sasuke.

"I'm not sure," Sakura shook her head. "He's a shipping mogul, so I think he might have ships that sail around it, to the Water territory."

"Is that where the missing-nin came from? The ones that Gato hires?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"The deep forests of the Hi no Sei peninsula have always been a good hiding place for missing-nin." They all turned around at the voice, to where Kakashi was lounging against one of the logs supporting the pier and forming a low fence.

"When you three have finished eating, come back to the inn. We'll discuss more about Gato and the hired missing-nin then."

The Team Seven watched him as he turned and disappeared between the houses.

"I don't get him at all," said Sakura plaintively. "He was mean, lazy and dismissive as a sensei, now he is super competent and strong, but cold. But the others on the team all respect him. It's like we never see his real face!"

A beat of silence, then Naruto burst in snickers, unable to help himself.

"Naruto! Oi, I was serious!" scolded Sakura, but Naruto could see her fighting a smile. Sasuke was smirking at her, causing her to huff. She took her last bite of food, then stood up.

"Come on you guys. Let's not be late."

"You can't find Tazuna?" Sakura asked, looking bewildered. Kakashi just nodded gravely.

"Tazuna never reached Wave, it would seem," said Yamanaka. "We searched for him, discreetly asking the villagers, but it seemed he never returned. After hiring a rookie genin team in Konoha, they followed the direct route to Wave, but the team soon grew suspicious and confronted their employer. They left him soon after making him confess he was being threatened by Gato and at least three Kiri missing-nin. They terminated the contract on the spot, and left. No one knows what happened to Tazuna after that." He shrugged. "If he was smart, he stayed in Fire country, where the missing-nin don't usually dare to venture. But he might be dead for all we know."

The Hyuuga nodded and took over the report.

"There was no sign of ninja in Wave. That means that they either completed their mission, or left the islands to search for Tazuna on the mainland."

They all looked at Kakashi, who was silent for a while, seeming to weigh their options. Naruto shifter impatiently. He hoped Kakashi would order them to find Tazuna and save him, since the thought of Konoha ninja just leaving a man in danger made him uncomfortable.

"Our first priority is locating Gato and missing-nin. I suggest we split up. Hyuuga-chuunin, you are in charge of Uzumaki-genin, Haruno-genin and Uchiha-genin. Your mission is tracking down Gato. Our reports say he spends his time on his ship, but he hasn't been spotted in Wave and we hadn't seen him along the way to this village. You will tackle the peninsula, keep as close to the sea as the mangrove forests allow."

The Hyuuga straightened up even more. "Yes sir!" he affirmed.

Naruto exchanged looks with his teammates, filled with determination. They would find the villain for sure!

"I will lead the others," continued Kakashi, "and with the help of my nin-dogs we'll try to sniff out the missing-nin. We will only engage them if we can overpower them, but our primary objective is identification and assessment of their skills."

.

They set out early in the morning, running along the shore of Shellfish bay and making their way south.

The further they went, marshlands and thick tropical forests of the peninsula made their search for Gato's ship near impossible. They left small villages and rocky beaches behind, and soon the only way to move through the thick growth was by slashing the vines with kunai and constant use of tree-walking technique.

Hyuuga Kiwamaru started teaching them water-walking technique as soon as he learned they haven't mastered it yet, and they had to learn it quickly, since they had to practice while travelling. Luckily, they had enough practice with chakra control that they all learned it quite quickly, but they still had to fish each other out of the murky water all too often. At their midday stop, Naruto was wet, dirty and hot. The team all huddled together on top of the highest tree, turning their faces to the slightly cooler breeze coming from the North and nibbling on their rations.

It happened so suddenly! The group had to move a bit further from the shore when the mangroves became too thick for them to pass, forcing them go the long way around instead.

Then they were attacked. With no more warning than a loud whoosh, there was a huge wall of water coming their way. It slammed into them and knocked them off their feet, strong currents separating Naruto from his team. When Naruto tumbled to a stop between the twisted roots, he was alone. He could hear the sounds of battle somewhere to his left, and he struggled to get up. Thick mist suddenly filled the woods, dampening the sounds, leaving him disoriented.

Naruto gritted his teeth and ran. Stumbling through the thick growth, he saw a flash of pink. Sakura! He hurried towards her. Before he could reach her, however, a kunai bit into his side. He cried out in pain, turning to find an enemy. There was no one there. No matter. He had to reach Sakura first, check if she is alright. Determined, he tore the weapon from his flesh, gripping it defensively in his hand. A few steps and another kunai came flying towards him. He evaded is just in time, throwing himself at his teammate and dragging her behind a huge root.

"Sakura," he whispered while keeping guard and trying to track the enemy. He could see a gash on the side of her head, bleeding sluggishly.

"Sakura," he tried again, squeezing hard on her arm. She flinched, eyes flying open.

"I got you, Sakura. Shush! There is someone out there," he told her. The faintest of sounds had Naruto diving down, pulling his teammate with him, narrowly avoiding another blade. He pulled her on his back and took running.

Where was Sasuke? Where was Kiwamaru-san?

Faster, faster! Sakura was holding on tight, leaving his hands free. A swish in the fog, and she threw a kunai, while Naruto picked up speed again.

"We need to find the others," she said.

"I know," grunted Naruto, "But I don't know where they are."

"Hide for a moment then double back. We might lose him," advised Sakura, referring to their attacker. Naruto nodded.

A few evasive manoeuvres, and they were running back to where they came from. They could hear battle again soon after. Naruto's sense of direction was shot, he had no idea where they were anymore.

"Set me down," insisted Sakura when they stopped. She slid from his back, then they crawled over the slimy rocks to peer around the tree obscuring them.

Naruto's eyes widened and he could feel Sakura flinch at his side. Sasuke!

He stood surrounded by five ninja in nondescript clothing, bleeding and with Sharingan flashing in his eyes. Most of the ninja were injured, but not fatally, and Sasuke looked exhausted. He stumbled, narrowly evading an attack. Then another. Naruto growled. They were toying with him. Attacking him one after another, like he was prey! Naruto wanted to rush out there, beat them all up until they stopped moving, he was so angry.

A nudge to his side and he snapped his eyes to Sakura. She wasn't looking at him, but pointed with a shaking hand. There was Kiwamaru-san, laying not far away. And he was… His body was positioned all wrong, his dove white clothing painted red. Naruto swallowed. He was definitely… dead.

Naruto wanted to destroy them!

"Stay here," he ground out, holding Sakura in place with a hand on her shoulder.

He was reaching, reaching deep down, where his power was sealed. He reached it, and grabbed it, and pulled.

And then he roared, running at them, tearing at them. He was so angry, mad with it. He could see their blood flying, and didn't care. He was a demon, and they took something of his. He roared again, feeling vicious satisfaction when it stopped them in their tracks, bought him time to reach them. They tried to kill him, but he was fast. He was invincible. Grabbing a hand holding a sword, shattering the wrist. Claws ripping the skin. The sound of thunder in his head, getting worse and worse. Searching, searching for the enemy, to destroy them all!

"Naruto!" screamed a voice.

"Naruto, please!"

He turned around, coming face to face with shocked black eyes. Sasuke!

"Sasuke, you're alright!" he breathed, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, it's all right," said Sasuke, swaying where he stood.

Sakura reached them in that moment, engulfing them both in a hug, crying.

"Sasuke. N-naruto. I-" she hiccuped.

"We need to get out of here," gasped Sasuke, sinking to his knees.

Naruto looked at them, feeling helpless.

"Right," he nodded.

"Kiwamaru-san?" said Sakura, and looking over to the body Naruto understood what she meant. They couldn't leave him there. But-

"I can't carry you all."

"You'll have to. The eyes," said Sasuke firmly.

"What?" asked Naruto.

"Byakugan eyes. We can't leave him, they could steal his eyes."

Naruto shuddered. Right.

He could feel strength leaving him, but he managed to make two shadow clones. One picked up Sasuke, careful with his injuries, while the other set to carry Kiwamaru's body.

Badly shaken, they fled.

Hi no Sei peninsula - Fire Spirit salamander peninsula (after Giant Japanese salamanders, you should google those)

Ooari village - Shellfish village

Kiwamaru - kiwa - edge, extreme