The Tides of Blood

Chapter 4: Journey to Nami no Kuni

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the associated characters.

it had been two weeks since Naruto had become a genin. His progress was nothing to scoff at. He could now move jogging speed with ten kilograms on each leg, which was in the small picture, not that impressive, but in the big picture it was very impressive.

It took him a week to learn his newest Suiton Jutsu. The Suiton: Mizu Shuriken no Jutsu. This Jutsu allowed him to create a small number of Shuriken and even control them slightly.

(Flashback no Jutsu)

Naruto stood in front of the small river on training ground seven. He held the tiger hand seal, while he gathered his chakra and said. "Suiton: Mizu Shuriken no Jutsu(Water Release: Water Shuriken Jutsu.)" suddenly small amounts of water coalesced into the form of a Shuriken, a couple more Shuriken took form before he launched them across the river. He tried to control the water Shuriken, but it was to no avail.

"Maybe if I control one of them?" he asked out loud.

(present time)

Naruto had grown considerably in his Taijutsu. He was now able to incorporate the water-fist into his Taijutsu style. It still required a conscious effort but whenever he used it in the few spars he had against Sasuke and Kakashi, he had sort of disorientated them with the style.

Whenever they moved to attack he would avoid the attacks or absorb the attack by simply stepping and transferring the energy. He would then form his counter-attack, which took them by surprise. Even though Kakashi was just humouring him he was still quite surprised by his students jump in skills since the bell test.

This was why he met up with Naruto one day and taught him a Jutsu.

(Flashback no Jutsu)

(Training ground seven)

"So I hear that you have a water affinity?" asked Kakashi.

"I do, why do you ask, sensei?" Naruto asked.

"Well, I know a few Suiton Ninjutsu. You don't have enough chakra for most of them — I know you are working on that — but I have a useful Jutsu that I can teach you now,"

"A useful one? What Jutsu?" Naruto asked.

"It's a technique that allows you to create a solid clone, using water as the medium," explained Kakashi.

"That could be useful." said Naruto.

"It's called Suiton: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu(Water release: Water Clone Jutsu.) the Jutsu can also be used in preparation for another attack — they have the ability to use Jutsu — the only downside is that they only have a tenth of the creators power," explained Kakashi.

"Could you just put the details in a scroll and I'll learn from there?" asked Naruto. "I'm busy with a Jutsu at the moment, and I like to make any Jutsu that I learn as close to perfect as my current skills will allow."

"That seems fine," said Kakashi, "but we will have to hang out sometime."

"Why?" asked Naruto.

"Well as your sensei I need to build up a rapport with you,"shrugged Kakashi.

"We have enough rapport with all these pathetic D-ranks and teamwork exercises," said Naruto.

"Do you truly not see a reason for teamwork?" he asked seriously.

"Logically I do, but I simply dislike relying on others for what I can do myself. Teamwork is a tool only used when necessary." replied Naruto.

Kakashi sighed. 'He truly is like me.'

(present time)

Speaking of Bunshin, Naruto was able to create Bunshin without hand seals and he had reduced the Kawarimi to only one hand seal. The Ox hand seal.

His chakra level was now at high genin level. His weekly training helped him a lot. The physical training, Ninjutsu training, Genjutsu training and chakra control exercises were helping his chakra along nicely.

His Genjutsu training was going quite well. He had Kakashi place Genjutsu over him and he would be required to detect it and dispel it. It wasn't anything obvious. He would simply slip them in during spars and randomly when he was going home or leaving the mission office.

Naruto's apartment was also littered with a number of young plants that he repeatedly fed chakra to in hopes that they would grow at an exponential rate, so that they would be able identify the yang component in his chakra.

Suffice to say he had not succeeded as of yet, however it did seem that he had developed a small sensitivity for chakra signatures. Nothing special, he just seemed to be able to feel when chakra was being used. Like when Sasuke used Katon: Gōkakyu no Jutsu or when Kakashi used a Kawarimi no Jutsu.

He hadn't learned any of his Genjutsu yet, as he was still busy with his Ninjutsu.

His fuinjutsu hadn't changed much either, since it was required to have perfect handwriting, while you wrote speedily. He was still perfecting his hand writing and the speed in which he wrote.

(Two weeks later.)

(Mission Room)

". . .You have yourchoice of gardening, walking Inuzuka ninken and -" said Sarutobi.

"Respectfully Hokage-sama, I am sick of this," said Naruto with as much killing intent as he could muster. "you are severely wasting resources. We could be put to much better use than these menial tasks. Its like using a kunai to peal potatoes, instead of its true purpose. Killing."

"Kakashi, do you believe they are ready?" asked the Sandaime, barely detecting the killing intent, or simply ignoring it.

Naruto glanced around at his students. Naruto and Sasuke levelled their combined killing intent at the man. "Yes, I do believe they are,"

"Well then, your mission is to escort a master builder to Nami no Kuni," said Hiruzen.

"B-but Hokage-sama! Respectfully, they only left the academy a month ago, surely you not think them competent enough for a C-rank," said Iruka, he was clearly worried.

"Do you have no faith in your students?" asked the Sandaime.

"No! Its just-" he said, but then he faulted.

"You're worried about them? I can understand that," said Hiruzen. "but if they are to grow they cannot be coddled for the rest of their lives. These three in front of me have a lot of raw talent, and I hope to see them grow to be great shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato."

Iruka remained quiet. "Send Tazuna-san in." said the Sandaime.

Soon, a tanned. old man with a conned shaped hat, and a builders physique walked into the office. He scanned around the room, and when he came upon the three genin his eyes burned with anger.

"I paid good money! And all I get are a bunch of whiny brats! That broody one in the corner looks like all his good at is staring his opponent to death, and pinkie? She looks like wind could blow away! And don't get me started and blonde! He looks like a little punk that would run away at the first sign of trouble," he ranted.

"Relax Tazuna-san," said Kakashi stepping in, before his students beat the living daylights out of the man. He already had to hold Sasuke back, and Naruto was holding Sakura back. "my genin are quite competent, and I am Kakashi Hatake, a jonin-level ninja. A C-rank mission seems like a cakewalk especially considering I am on their team, what could a few bandits do to me?"

For some reason this didn't seem to please the man. He took a sudden swig of a bottle of sake — and it smelled of cheap alcohol — that suddenly appeared in his hands.

"We meet up tomorrow at the southern gate. Eight in the morning, don't be late," said Kakashi. "use today to pack your mission gear."

Naruto gave him a blank look. "Shouldn't Hokage-sama be telling you the same thing?"

Iruka and the Sandaime chuckled appreciatively at his expense. "His got you there, Kakashi-kun" said the Sandaime.

"Sorry Hokage-sama, did you say something?" asked Kakashi.

The Sandaime dropped his head to his desk, and the he heard a far way voice shout. "Curse you Kakashi! And your hip attitude."

Naruto had enough of this weirdness and used the Shunshin to get out the office as fast as he could.

When Naruto appeared at home he went through his weapons supply. He would need to restock his whole supply if he wanted to last the entire mission.

Naruto immediately set out for Higurashi weapons store. When he entered the store he could not help but be amazed every time he entered the store. The shop was filled to the brim with weapons of all kinds. From Fuma-Shuriken, to Zanbato.

Naruto browsed the shelves until he found the Shuriken. He picked up a few boxes, each containing medium-grade shuriken and kunai.

He brought it to the front counter where he was surprised to see a girl with brown hair put into twin buns on her head. It gave her sharp resemblance to a panda. She had dark brown eyes as far as he could tell, and an attractive face. Her body was lean, but tightly corded with muscle, most prominently in her forearms.

The girl was reading a magazine, so Naruto set the two boxes down, and went to get a box of explosive tags, storage seals and an extra box each of shuriken and Kunai. Just in case.

When he reached the counter he cleared his throat, when he found her still reading the magazine.

She looked up and a small blush came to her cheeks. 'He is so handsome. Okay, be cool Tenten.'

"Is it your first time here?" she asked.

"No, I've been here before. There was an older man on shift though," said Naruto.

"Oh, that must of been my tousan," she replied. "so, what's the occasion?"

"First C-rank," Naruto replied, with the slightest quirk of his lips.

"Oh, you're a rookie genin! How cute!" she said. "I'm Tenten, by the way."

"Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." he replied, making a face for instant, but then he smoothed his features over — trying not time betray a thing.

"It's nice to meet you Naruto-chan," she said. 'Oh, no I didn't just say that!'

"You as well, Tenten-san," said Naruto, somewhat rigidly. "I have things to do, so could I pay for my things?"

She nodded, and Naruto handed over the cash. Naruto opened one of the boxes and took out a storage scroll. He placed all his purchases on the scroll and sealed it. "Goodbye Tenten-san. It's been... interesting,"

(Southern gate)

(Next day)

Tazuna, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura all stood waiting for their sensei to arrive. Surprisingly it only took forty-five minutes for him to show up. "Sorry I'm late, but a black cat crossed my path-"

"Yes, yes, we've heard it all before. Its now time to go." said Naruto, in annoyance.

"Hai, hai." said Kakashi as he lifted his hands in surrender. Then Kakashi said. "Okay, diamond formation. I'll stay in the back, Sakura on the right, Naruto on the left and Sasuke take point."

"Hai sensei!" they all said as they rearranged their positions.

(A few minutes later)

After a few minutes Sakura grew tired of the silence. "Tazuna-san, does your village not have shinobi?"

"Ooh yes, of course they do! Tazuna just felt that he should risk a journey here alone without the shinobi from his own village," drawled Naruto sarcastically. "use your head for something that's not useless at least once in your life."

Sasuke smirked.

"Now, now there's no need for that," said Kakashi absentmindedly.

Sakura shot him a glare. "Yeah, shut-up Naruto-baka!"

"That's rich!" Naruto replied.

"There was once a shinobi village in Nami no kuni," began Tazuna. "since we were close to Uzu no Kuni, they provided us with military support. So, they had a village outpost and they protected us when in need. In return we would transport goods to them. Although, they left our village during the attack on their village, So, we haven't seen any of their shinobi since then."

'I will have to ask Tazuna about this outpost,' Naruto mused.

"What is Nami like?" asked Sakura curiously.

Tazuna looked to be reluctant, and then a nostalgic look covered it. "Wave is simply beautiful!"

"I cant wait to see it," said Sakura excitedly.

"Me too." said Tazuna softly.

Suddenly Naruto became ramrod. 'Someone is using chakra.' he looked ahead of him and noticed a water puddle. 'We've had no rain for a couple of weeks, there is no way that this is coincidence.'

He looked to Kakashi and then to the puddle and back to Kakashi. Kakashi slightly shook his head and Naruto turned his attention back to the puddle. As soon as Kakashi passed the puddle two shinobi jumped out.

They were connected by a spiked-chain to each of their gauntlets. They both had Kirigakure forehead protectors. The one had a horn coming out of the centre of the forehead protector. The other shinobi had a horn coming out of either side of his forehead both wore camouflage pants, grey ponchos and rebreathers.

The two sprinted around Kakashi and ripped him to shreds. Sending bloody chunks of him flying everywhere. "One down, four to go." said the one brother.

"Kai." Naruto said as he put his hands in snake hand seal.

Naruto instantly felt lighter. The one brother charged at him while the other charged at Sasuke. He threw a wild punch at Naruto,hoping to take him out right there. But Naruto pushed his arm to the side — careful to not touch the gauntlet — and once his opponents guard was open, he punched the man in the gut, completing his attack with a spinning kick to the jaw.

(Sasuke)

Seeing that Naruto had the other ninja handled he threw a kunai at his enemies chain, causing him to snap back from the sudden lack of movement and then the chain snapped. Sasuke was not in the mood to draw this fight out so he quickly flipped through hand seals and said. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu(Fire release: Fireball Jutsu.)" and he unleashed a monstrous ball of flames at the ninja. There was nothing left of ninja except for his rebreather, gauntlet and the smell of burnt flesh. Sasuke wrinkled his nose in distaste.

Even the tree behind the kiri ninja was charred by the intense flames that Sasuke had spewed from his mouth.

(Naruto)

Naruto swiftly swept the enemy ninjas leg, then he jumped into the air and came down with a heel drop as his enemies head reached the ground. Knocking him out.

Naruto looked over at Sasuke and sighed in annoyance. The Uchiha is way too trigger happy.

Suddenly Kakashi jumped down from a tree, looking completely unharmed. This did not surprise Naruto, he knew that Kakashi had used a Jutsu just before he was "Killed".

"Kakashi-sensei? You're okay? But I saw you die." Sakura said, in surprise.

"Kawarimi." Kakashi shrugged.

"Naruto tie the nuke-nin to the tree." ordered Kakashi.

Naruto nodded, before taking some ninja wire out and tying the nuke-ninja securely to the tree. When nobody was looking Naruto pilfered a few of the scrolls that he had in his pouch, it was bound to have something useful.

". . .It seems we have something important to talk about Tazuna-san,"

"W—what do you mean?" asked Tazuna nervously.

"At first I thought those two were after my head, but then after they "Killed" me, they kept going, not even caring that I was unidentifiable. So, clearly they were not after my bounty. This means that they were after you. Now tell me. Why are they after a simple bridge builder?" Kakashi asked.

"You found me out. . .you see this super evil guy has taken over our country, his name is Gato," he began.

"The shipping magnate Gato?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes him, so now Nami is super poor because he is enforcing a whole lot of taxes." said Tazuna. "And he is also controlling our sea routes through his super connected transport industry,"

"That's why you're building a bridge. It will open new trade routes to allow you to trade with other countries and eventually escape his hold on your country," said Naruto.

"Yes, but when he found out what I was doing, he sent thugs after me. I escaped them as I was fleeing the country, but I feared that he might send super strong thugs after me, so I lied to you about the mission rank. I needed protection, but my whole village combined does not have enough for a higher ranked mission." said Tazuna. "But it's fine, my daughter and grandson will be super sad when I die, and they'll hold a grudge against your village, but its okay."

'How can you say no to a guy when he guilt trips you like that.' Kakashi sighed internally. "Its up to my students. These ninja were chunin from kiri, the next opponent is likely to be a jonin. Do you still want to carry on with the mission knowing this?"

"Hai sensei." said Naruto. 'There may be something in the Uzu outpost, and I cant allow a country that was once under my clans protection to simply fall to the hands of a greedy tyrant.' Naruto's eyes were filled with determination.

"Hai!" said Sasuke. if Naruto is going through with it, so am I.

"H-hai." said Sakura. 'if Sasuke-kun is, then so am I.'

"Well then, we carry on with the mission." said Kakashi.

"Thank you! You are all such super ninja!" said Tazuna gratefully. "My country will live, I know it!"

(team 7)

Camp grounds

Team seven and Tazuna set up camp for the night after a few hours more of walking. They had made a fire and ate the food. Tazuna seemed to be leaning more to his sake than his food. But who could blame the man, his country had been through hell.

"Who is going to take the first watch?" asked Kakashi.

"I will," said Naruto.

"Second watch?"Kakashi asked.

"I will" said Sasuke.

"I'll take the third watch, that leaves Sakura-chan with the last watch." said Kakashi.

After everyone went to sleep Tazuna stayed up with Naruto for a while.

"Tazuna-san, where is the Uzu no kuni outpost?" asked Naruto.

"Why do you ask?" asked Tazuna curiously.

"That's right, in our haste we did not introduce ourselves. My name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki," said Naruto.

Tazuna's eyes widened. "I didn't think I would see another. Aren't the Uzumaki supposed to have red hair?"

"It's a common misconception, the Uzumaki clan has three hair colours. Red, silver-white and blonde. The red hair is the most prominent, and they have a easier time of accessing their bloodlines." explained Naruto.

"But I thought the Uzumaki all died? What were your parents names? I may of known them," said Tazuna.

"Not likely, and anyway they're dead, or abandoned me. I'm not sure which, and to be plainly honest I don't care. The survivors of the attack around the time of the second great ninja war, were all scattered around the shinobi nations. Most of them went to a small ninja nations or civilian villages. I do not care for them." said Naruto, his eyes twisted like his namesake.

"Why? Are they not your people?"asked Tazuna, as a man that was fighting for his country, he couldn't understand it.

"You are asking an orphan boy, if he cares about his family? What ever remains of it? No, I do not. I do not know love and I don't know what familial attachment feels like. I barely know friendship. No, the best thing I can provide is revenge against those that struck a village that never did any harm. They struck us out of fear." said Naruto, his blue eyes becoming more stormy as time went by.

Tazuna gazed sadly at Naruto. "The pain of loss is great, but the pain of not ever having anything to lose is worse. Almost like being paralysed and watching as someone takes away all your organs, yet feeling no pain, no attachment, just nothing."

"Will you show me the outpost?" asked Naruto.

"I will." said Tazuna.

"Thank you, Tazuna-san."

(Next day)

Team seven and their client woke up early and began the final stretch of their journey to the shores of Hi no Kuni. They met up with a ferryman that they paid to take them across the water.

"Sakura-san." said Naruto.

"Do you remember that day we got placed in the same team. You did not trust in my skills?" said Naruto.

"Y-yes?" she said hesitantly.

"Do you trust my skills now?" asked Naruto.

"Yes, I think — I mean I do." replied Sakura.

"Good, I don't like you, but I don't dislike you either. We are teammates, and as my teammate, I will protect you. Do you understand?"

"H — Hai." she answered, surprised.

"Sasuke-san, the same goes to you. You cannot die before you fulfil your ambition and neither will I." said Naruto.

"The mist is rather thick around here." commented Sasuke.

"Yes, it is odd." said Kakashi.

Some parts of the mist became clear and Naruto could see the half built bridge. "I see why you're called a super-bridge builder," said Naruto appreciatively. The mission report actually referred to him as a super bridge builder.

"Shh!" said the ferryman. "My motor is off so that Gato and his ilk don't notice our approach, the last thing we need is you rattling off like there's no tomorrow."

Naruto eyed him blankly. "The last thing we need to worry about are Gato's thugs, anyway he wont send them after us, not now anyway,"

(thirty minutes later)

The group of five finally reached the shore, they walked for a while before Naruto heard bushes rustle near him. He threw a kunai at the bushes almost reflexively, and a white, fluffy, snow-hare came hopping out of the bushes.

"Narut-" sakura said.

"Get back! Defensive formation,"said Naruto, overriding whatever Sakura was about to say.

Kakashi was on alert, he knew that Naruto wouldn't react that way for nothing. 'Snow-hare? In the summer? Kawarimi. It must be-' suddenly Kakashi heard whistling through the air.

"Get down!" Kakashi yelled.

Naruto pulled Tazuna down to the ground, at the same time that Sakura, Kakashi and Sasuke hit the deck. And a good thing they did, because a giant zanbatou swung over them like a giant shuriken and imbedded itself in a tree just behind them.

"Kubikiribocho!" yelled Naruto in equal amounts of fear, awe and anger.

And suddenly a rather tall man appeared crouching on the blades handle. He wore a black vest and elbow-length, grey, fingerless gloves with black pinstripes. He wore black ANBU pants that fell just below his knee, they were tucked into grey, shinobi sandals with black pinstripes. His face was covered with white combat wraps over his face, just below his eyes that wrapped around his neck and got looser the closer it was to his chest.

He had dark brown eyes, and dark brown spiky hair, that slanted to the right. He also had a kiri forehead-protector that was slanted upwards on the left side of his head. His village insignia showed his allegiance to Kirigakure. The shinobi had a rather dark skin tone, and was strongly built. He looked more like a samurai — in terms of physical strength — rather than a ninja.

The shinobi pulled his Zanbato out of the tree and jumped with it to the opposite side of the area.

"Zabuza Momochi, the demon of the mist" said Kakashi. "Wanted for the attempted assassination of the Yondaime Mizukage and an attempted rebellion ."

"Sharingan no Kakashi," said zabuza, he gave a malicious grin, even though they couldnt see it, they could feel it. "you are something of a legend back in kiri. All the ANBU want a piece of you. What was the other name? Kōpī-ninja no Kakashi — said to have copied over a thousand jutsu."

'Sharingan?' were sasuke's internal thoughts.

'This is the second time I've heard someone call kakashi-sensei that, maybe he has the sharingan? Or has a jutsu that reproduces its abilities.'

"Step aside and your little greenhorn children won't have to get hurt," said zabuza.

"Sorry no can do Zabuza," said Kakashi. "even though you're the demon of the mist, you dont scare me. Afterall, they only called you that during the times of bloody mist where genin graduates had to kill one another until one remains standing, and that genin was you."

"Yeah, they stopped that little practise not too long ago. ." sighed zabuza. "we may not have the most shinobi, but we had quality shinobi."

"Whatever," kakashi shrugged. "are you going to move so I can complete my mission or. . .will I have to make you?"

"I might not even need the old bridge builder after i kill you. .you have a pretty hefty bounty." said Zabuza.

"He is out your league you three. So, stay back," ordered Kakashi sternly.

Kakashi pulled his forehead-protector upwards, which revealed a red iris with three back tomoe that were centred around a black pupil.

"The sharingan so soon?" said Zabuza, in amusement. "I feel honoured."

'So he does have the sharingan. He isnt an uchiha, I know that for sure. It must be an implant.' naruto thought internally.

'I have to speak to Kakashi about this...' sasuke internally thought

"Looks like I will have to get serious." said zabuza, as his hands formed the tiger hand seal. "Kirigakure no Jutsu."

Suddenly the whole area was smothered by a thick blanket of fog. The fog was so thick that kakashi could barely see his hands in front of his face.

'It looks like this will be a tough one—' were kakashi thoughts, before he felt oppresive degree of killing intent.

The killing intent felt as if it was omnipresent. So, he could not even pinpoint Zabuza. "Eight points. Eight ways that I can kill you. . .Liver, Lungs, spinal cord, Clavicle vein, Jugular, Brain, Heart and Kidneys."

Sasuke was quivering from the magnitude of killing intent he felt. It was bringing back memories of the Uchiha massacre. He reached for his kunai 'If I can just end it here. .'

Naruto reached out with his own quivering hand and stopped his arm from reaching any further.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun, sakura-chan, I will not let my comrades die." said Kakashi, with firm dermination.

Sasuke shook his head and finally got a hold of himself. Naruto let go of his grip on Sasuke's arm, and focussed his attention on what was going on. "It's a pity, I was having fun with these wannabe-ninja." Naruto suddenly felt the usage of chakra behind him.

As he turned around he saw Zabuza, and he was about to decapitate Tazuna, then Kakashi appeared between them and plunged his kunai into Zabuza's heart. And Naruto was filled with pure elation, only for Zabuza to burst into a splash of water.

'Mizu Bunshin?' Kakashi thought.

The copy ninja felt Zabuza's presence close to the middle of the foged area, so he went after him. As he got there he had to block a swing from zabuza, with his kunai. Zabuza then sent a side kick into Kakashi which he had no way of blocking, because of his precarious position. Zabuza grinned, as his foot shot straight through Kakashi, and he was doused with water.

"You already copied my Jutsu? Impressive." said zabuza obviously, impressed with his opposition.

'Kakashi didnt copy that jutsu, he already taught me the jutsu. . .well he did copy it. .just not right now.' were Naruto's thoughts. 'Great deception, Kakashi-sensei.'

Suddenly they both clashed in a display of sparks. Kakashi had a fuma-shuriken in his hands. He and kakashi were pushing their weapons against each other in a competition of strength.

Zabuza went to kick him once more, but kakashi dodged the last second and tried to slash his fuma shuriken across Zabuza's arm, only for the kiri-nin to burst into water.

Zabuza appeared behind him and decapitated Kakashi, who dispelled into a burst of water.

Zabuza soon charged at kakashi once more and swung his sword at him in a swift, overhead strike. Kakashi blocked the attack with three of his kunai held together, in his tight fist. Kakashi then swung his fuma shuriken at Zabuza hoping to catch him off-guard. However quicker than Kakashi could anticipate Zabuza grabbed the center piece of the fuma shuriken, halting the approach of the quad-bladed weapon.

Kakashi growled, then he channelled Raiton chakra into the shuriken. The shuriken glowed blue for an instant, causing Zabuza to spasm violently. Kakashi increased the voltage and Zabuza's eyes widened and he gritted his teeth in pain.

The sharingan user then sent a strong double kick into the Kiri-nin's abdomen, sending him flying into the river behind, he skipped a few times — lime a pebble — before sinking in the water.

Kakashi pursued Zabuza, he was not about to let Kiri-nin escape and regroup. As he reached the water surface, he found something was odd about it. 'This water is dense.'

Zabuza appeared behind him and he was suddenly surrounded by and orb of dense water. "Suiton: Suiro no Jutsu."

Kakashi tried to move, but the water was so heavy that he struggled to move even an inch. The mist had also cleared marginally and allowed the genin and Tazuna to see Kakashi's predicament.

With still one hand stuck in the water prison technique, Zabuza made a half tiger hand seal, and a couple clones seemed to come to form from the water he was standing on. "Now that Kakashi is out of the way, the stupid bridge builder is mine," he then added with a manic grin. "and those little wannabe-genin are going to be bloodstains on my sword."

"Quick run!" yelled Kakashi frantically. "The clones only have a limited range."

"Kakashi-sensei! Do you remember the first lesson you ever taught us?" Asked Naruto as he noticed, the other two were about to leave. "In the ninja world, those that break the rules are trash, that's true, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash. We are not worse than trash. Besides he will just end up catching us and killing us."

Sasuke looked towards Naruto and said. "So, whats the plan?"

"I'll handle Kakashi's situation. Your katon jutsu wont be enough for water that concentrated, or for a someone that advanced. It needs a little misdirection on my part. You handle the clones, they only have a tenth of his total power,"

"Hai," Sasuke answered, before taking off to deal with the clones. "make sure you dont mess up."

(Sasuke)

Sasuke took off speedily towards the clones. When he reached the first one it tried to split him down the middle, but he was not having any of that, so he jumped back. The water clones sword imbedded itself in the ground and Sasuke took that opputunity to run up the blade and kick the kiri-nin Bunshin in the head.

That clone burst into water and Sasuke had to dodge another swing from the water clone.

"Impressive, what a waste to have to snuff out such talent." sneered the Zabuza clone.

Sasuke growled before he jumped into the air and came down with an axe kick into the clones shoulder before he could even lift its sword to defend itself.

Another clone just stepped off the water and it sent a kick into the boy before he could even realise what was happening. While he was on the ground grunting in pain, he could hear the water clones foot-steps as it approached him. He pushed himself off the ground in an effort to get into a defensible position, and as he was about push off his knees to get into a complete vertical position, he noticed Zabuza's feet on the ground just in front of him.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sasuke, heard Sakura's voice scream over the area, and then there was a wet-slick, of metal and liquid meeting.

(Sakura)

(a few minutes ago)

Sakura watched in awe as Sasuke systematically defeated all of that kiri-nins clones. All by himself. But when, the third clone stepped onto land she watched it kick the breathless Sasuke, and he rolled a couple of times from the impact of the kick, before coming to a stop.

She watched the water clone walk over to the downed sasuke. The clone had a bloodthirsty grin, even though she couldnt see it, she knew it was there. 'Come on Sasuke-kun! Get up.'

She sighed in relief when she finally saw him getting up, but it seemed like it was too late. The Zabuza bunshin brought his sword down on Sasuke's head, but she couldnt let that happen, she threw the kunai that she held in her hand at the clone and clenched her eyes."Sasuke-kun!"

The Kunai penetrated the clones head and it dispelled into water, just before the sword could decapitate Sasuke.

She sighed in relief, she couldn't believe that she had saved him.

(Sasuke)

Sasuke looked towards Sakura and nodded his head in thanks. He then looked towards Naruto and watched in awe, at what he was doing.

(Naruto)

When naruto reached the shore of the body of water, he went through three hand seals.

Tiger - Rat - Ox

"Suiton: Fuma Mizu Shuriken no Jutsu(water release: demon wind water Shuriken.)" and suddenly water began to rise from the water surface and coalesce into form. The water took took the form of a demon wind shuriken. Each blade was bout the size of each of Kakashi's arms in length.

Naruto then switched back to the rat hand seal and the shuriken began rotating before it launched off at Zabuza. This justu was one of Naruto's own creation, he used the basics of the mizu bunshin no jutsu and the mizu shuriken jutsu to create it.

As the deadly water shuriken reached zabuza, he ducked, but Naruto's visage took on one of concentration and the shuriken turned slightly on its axis. The shuriken was now spinning vertically instead of horizontally.

Zabuza pressed himself against his water prison, and he just managed to avoid the deadly water shuriken — only barely .

"Nice try gaki!" said Zabuza. "But-"

Zabuza stopped when he noticed Naruto change his hand seal from rat to tiger. "Suiton: Mizu Bunshin."

Suddenly the Mizu fuma shuriken behind zabuza changed form. Each blade became a limb. The top two blades, became arms and the bottom two became legs. Soon a head and body became distinguishable.

Naruto then went through the same hand signs he used for the mizu Fuma Shuriken no jutsu, and so did his clone. "Suiton: Fuma Mizu Shuriken no jutsu(Water release: demon-wind water shuriken technique.)"

Zabuza quickly turned around and saw the clone that took the place of the mizu fuma shuriken.

Surprisingly, a demon-wind shuriken took form from the water below the water clone. It had just landed in water when the fuma mizu shuriken was launched at the kiri-nin.

He then turned to the clones' creator and noticed another shuriken coming from that direction. Seeing only one way to escape, the former member of the seven swordsman of kiri pulled his arm out of the water sphere and jumped away. Just as he jumped away, the Mizu fuma shuriken sailed past him and landed in the water creating two big splashes, and the mizu bunshin in the water dispelled.

"Hmmf! You got lucky." said Zabuza.

"Dont flatter yourself Zabuza," the now freed, Kakashi sneered. "He outsmarted you."

Zabuza paid him no mind as he stood across from him. "Naruto, sasuke, Sakura, Good work! But I will take it from here." Kakashi grinned.

(Naruto)

Naruto jumped away from the river and joined sasuke and sakura.

"Where did you learn that jutsu?" Sasuke asked.

"Which one? The Mizu Bunshin or the Mizu Fuma Shuriken?" Naruto asked.

"Both." Sasuke replied.

"Kakashi-sensei taught me the mizu bunshin," said naruto softly, he didnt want Zabuza to find out. "And I created the Mizu fuma shuriken no jutsu."

"You created it? From scratch?" asked Sasuke, his mouth gaping in surprise.

"No, not from scratch. Its derived from another jutsu." replied Naruto.

Sasuke nodded, still impressed by the fact that he created the jutsu, even if it was based off another.

"Why didnt Kakashi-sensei teach us anything?"asked Sakura, a little angry.

"Because you two didnt ask, nor were you improving on your current skills." said Naruto. "Sasuke still had an ego-trip from graduating as rookie of the year — he still trained, but he was only maintaining his skills — and Sakura you graduated as kunoichi of the year, and you didnt train at all besides at team training and that was half-hearted at best. You had your own ego-trip and so Kakashi-sensei obviously felt that you didnt deserve training, while I have improved from what I was like in the academy, he felt that I earned the jutsu."

(Kakashi vs Zabuza)

(Water surface)

Kakashi and Zabuza went through hand seals, all at the same time until they stopped at bird.

"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu(water release: Giant water vortex jutsu!)"

"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu(water release: giant water vortex jutsu!)"

Suddenly two great arcs of water rose from the water, one on Kakashi's side, and the other on Zabuza's side. They continued rising until they were several metres high and then they came down like a great spiralling waterfall and slammed into one another and created a great shock-wave of water that sent Kakashi and Zabuza a few metres backwards.

(genin team)

"Is this what it means to fight on the level of Jōnin?" asked Naruto in shock.

"What super-ninja! I knew I picked the right team!" Tazuna said while the three genin gave him dry looks.

(Kakashi vs Zabuza)

The two shinobi were breathing heavily after they used the A-rank jutsu. The jutsu took a lot of chakra to fuel it, not to mention that the strain it took to ensure sure that the opposing shinobi's Daibakufu no Jutsu, does not overpower their own.

Kakashi and Zabuza, gave each other no respite, they seemed to be going through the same hand seals once more, except this time it was a longer string of hand seals. Halfway through, Zabuza got annoyed with Kakashi, and he planned to show him, how annoyed.

"What are you-" said Zabuza.

"A monkey or something." Kakashi finished his sentence.

They landed on the bird hand seal, and then called out.

"Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu(Water release: water dragon missile jutsu!)

"Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu(Water release: water dragon missile jutsu!)

Suddenly water began to form in front of the two, although Kakashi's formed faster and a great serpentine dragon of water, complete with amber eyes, took form, and he unleashed the ferocious mythical beast.

It soared through the air, destroying Zabuza's own partly formed water dragon. It then proceeded to hit him with an immense physical force that carried him into an embankment.

Kakashi quickly persued him hoping to end this fight here.

"Do you see the future?" rasped out Zabuza.

"Yes," said Kakashi as he pulled out a kunai. "Your future is death."

As Kakashi was about to bring down the kunai on Zabuza's neck, a needle came flying down from above. He jumped back, and the needle inbedded itself in Zabuza's neck. A masked figure abruptly, and startlingly appeared via shunshin.

This person was about the same height as Naruto and Sasuke. They wore a white ANBU-grade mask, with thin, curved eye holes. The top of the mask had the kirigakure insignia and the mouth had a red wavy design.

The ANBU looking shinobi had black hair that was tied into a tight bun, with two bangs of hair framing the mask. The masked-nin wore what looked to be the standard Kirigakure pinstriped uniform. The shinobi wore a green haori with white trimmings, and a brown sash wrapped around the waist.

"It seems you are right," said the masked shinobi, in a soft voice. "his future is death."

"You're one of Kiri's hunter-nin," commented Kakashi as he walked over to Zabuza and felt his pulse. No pulse. "Well, at least his dead."

"Yes, I must thank you for keeping him here long enough for me to catch him. I've been hunting him for a while now," said the hunter-nin, as he picked up Zabuza, and his blade.

(Naruto)

Naruto saw that the kiri hunter-nin was about to take Zabuza away, and with him his sword, Kubikiribocho. He coud not allow what could be his only chance to take the blade back for his clan, to pass him by.

Naruto palmed his kunai and flung them all at once at the hunter-nin. He sighed in disapointment as he felt the shinobis chakra flare and the hunter-nin disappeared with mizu-shunshin no Jutsu.

(Kakashi)

Kakashi returned to his team, and as he did he collapsed to the ground, his sharingan was still on for all too see. Naruto went over to him and turned him over, when he noticed that his sharingan was still active he pulled his forehead-protector over his eye.

"Tazuna-san! Is your house far from here? My sensei needs to rest," said Naruto.

"It's not too far, follow me," replied Tazuna.

A/N: Thank you so much for all the Alerts and favs and Reviews, it really means the world to me. I'm not happy with his chapter, but I'd rather get it out there. Notes, suggestions, hit me up! I hope you enjoyed.