I Do Not Own Naruto

"Speaking"

"Demons, Jutsu"

"Thinking"

A/N Feeling good. Enjoy.

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"Team," Gai said standing in front of Naruto, Neji, and Tenten, "Due to Unyouthful circumstance, I will not be able to join you on this trip, I have another mission to attend to. Here are your Youthful orders. You are not to tell my Hip Rival of your trip mission, nor are you to tell his team, unfortunately that includes my most Youthful son."

Team Gai nodded, Gai continued, "I received a most Unyouthful note last night. You are to find and eliminate the Unyouthful Gatou at all costs. He has compromised the security of our most Youthful village with his most Unyouthful actions."

More hesitant nods, "Naruto-kun," Gai said, "I want you to lead this Youthful mission in my stead," Naruto nodded, "You have shown to be most Youthful in a hard situation, don't lose your head and keep our Youthful team safe, that is your job as team leader. Head out, you meet Team Seven in an hour."

Team Gai broke to pack for a trip, each heading different directions towards their own home. Taking almost no time, they met at the gate to meet Team Seven in under twenty minutes.

Lee was the first of Team Seven to appear, "Naruto-kun!" He called as he came up to the gate, "Are you just getting ready to leave for a Youthful mission?"

"We are waiting on your team," Neji responded, "We are going on a border patrol, and have been given the order to go with you to wave, and then proceed to our checkpoint."

"What Lavender said," Naruto smiled.

"Extra protection?" Lee asked.

"Since we were headed in the same direction," Tenten pointed out, "The Hokage said that we should travel with you."

"A most Youthful opportunity!" Lee exclaimed, "Naruto-kun we can test our Fires of Youth against each other!"

Naruto smiled and nodded, "In a sense, it will be like Gai-sensei is still with us on this mission."

Soon, Sasuke was seen walking down the road towards the gate, Sakura tailing him, asking him to go out with her.

"No," was all Sasuke said, he froze when he saw Team Gai standing at the gate.

"What are you doing here," Sakura growled.

"We have a border patrol mission," Naruto recited, "We are headed to Wave with you and then on to our checkpoint."

"You know," Tenten said, "It's going to suck explaining this a third time."

"Where's your sensei at?" Sakura asked, Sasuke looked around noting that as well.

"Our sensei is on another mission, as this is simple border patrol," Neji said stoically, "He deemed that it would be deemed safe for us to try a mission on our own."

"What rank is a Border Patrol?" Sasuke asked, trying to gauge the team's level.

"C Rank," Sakura answered for him.

Sasuke looked sideways at her, "How many have you been on?" He asked.

"Now that would be telling," Naruto said with a smirk.

Sasuke growled in annoyance.

An old man with a graying hair and beard holding a sake bottle soon walked up, "What's with the spares?" He asked taking a sip from the bottle.

"I don't feel like explaining this a fourth time," Neji said, "We will wait for your Jounin Sensei first."

"That will be a most Unyouthful wait," Lee said, looking down.

"Kakashi?" Naruto asked.

"Kakashi-sensei," Lee said.

"Now, now," a lazy voice said behind Team Gai, Team Seven's jaws dropped, "I'm not late for everything."

Team Gai turned around to see the silver haired man, his Hiate-ate in it's customary place, "Team Gai, why are you here?"

"Border Patrol," Naruto said, "We are to travel with your team to Wave."

"Where's Gai?" Kakashi looked around, trying to see if Gai was around.

"Gai-sensei was fated for another mission," Neji said.

"You're already doing solo mission?" Kakashi asked lazily, inside his mind was racing.

"It's just Border Patrol, Kakashi-san," Naruto said, "That's one of the most boring missions in the elemental countries."

"Yeah," Kakashi flipped out his orange book, Naruto put a hand on Tenten's shoulder to keep her from attacking him, "Let's head out then."

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Naruto flanked behind Tazuna, the old man, listening as Sakura pelted him with questions. He was able to glean that Wave was extremely poor, the entire area was nearly slums, if the old man's description was accurate. He looked at the bright sun, enjoying the feeling of it on his skin.

As the questions started to get more and more pointless, Naruto finally spoke up, "You know, Sakura-san, a part of being a Ninja is being quiet. You guys are to escort the old man, did it occur that maybe, just maybe, you're alerting someone to where we are? You're not exactly quiet."

Sakura's mouth snapped shut as she glared at him, "What would you know?"

"Having been on several escort missions," Neji spoke quietly, "When you are in dangerous territory, you keep quiet. This is bandit territory here."

Sakura sniffed at him as she huffed.

The trip was made in relative silence, even Lee understood the gravity of what could happen.

Naruto heard someone in the trees, he whispered to Neji, "Neji, Byakugan."

"Byakugan," the veins around Neji's eyes bulged.

"Left, three o'clock," Naruto whispered.

"I can't see them very well," he whispered back, "They're moving away at an incredible speed, Ninja."

Naruto nodded, "Tenten," he whispered to her, "be ready for some action."

Tenten nodded as she flipped open her weapons pouch, Neji tensed, and Naruto rested his hand on his sword.

Kakashi looked back, and was disappointed. Gai's team was ready, having perceived some threat, and his team was blissfully unaware. He shook his head as he stepped over a puddle.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Sakura asked, anger in her voice.

"Nothing," Tenten smiled at her with a feminine giggle, Naruto rolled his eyes at that.

Naruto pushed Sakura and Tazuna down as two people suddenly shot out of the puddle, twin chains wrapped around Kakashi before shredding him to pieces.

Almost as fast it began, it was over. Neji sprang in front of one, incapacitated by a few quick strikes, the other knocked out by a quick blow from the blunt of Naruto's blade as he'd ducked under a kunai that Tenten had flung at him.

Sasuke had stood there frozen, not from the Ninja attacking them, but from Team Gai's reaction time.

"I'm impressed," Kakashi lazed out as he landed in the clearing, "Though I expected more from my team."

Sakura looked down, Lee looked impressed, and Sasuke glared at Team Gai, they'd taken his chance to prove himself. He viewed it as Naruto's fault, he'd never been able to beat Naruto at anything, and he was starting to get desperate.

"Now, Tazuna," Kakashi rounded on the old man, "You have some explaining, Ninja don't attack on this level of mission, you lied."

"Alright," Tazuna held his hands up nervously, "Gatou, has taken over Wave," Team Gai tensed, "We can't take anymore. We need people who can take care of us while we finish the bridge."

"Gatou," Kakashi asked, eyeing Team Gai, "The shipping tycoon?"

"That's his public image," Tazuna said, "He's also a-"

"Crime boss," Kakashi finished, "Team Gai uncovered that fact almost a year ago."

"These brats?" Tazuna pointed Naruto, Tenten, and Neji. Naruto and Tenten smiled while Neji nodded.

"Yes, they were on an escort mission for him, and he betrayed them," Kakashi said, still eyeing Team Gai suspiciously.

"This is A-rank material," Kakashi said, "My team has the right to discontinue this mission right now."

"It would be Unyouthful of us to abandon him," Lee smiled a brilliant smile, giving a thumbs up pose.

"I want to continue," Sasuke said, Sakura nodded after he said that.

"Team Gai?" Kakashi asked.

"As much fun as it sounds," Naruto said, "we cannot. We will continue to Wave before breaking to our checkpoint. If we abandon our mission, that part of our borders will be exposed."

Kakashi nodded, "I understand. Let's continue."

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They made their way along in silence, a heavy mist settled in.

"This mist isn't natural," Neji warned, his Byakugan active, "Be on your guard."

Neji's head swiveled, "Down!"

Everyone hit the dirt as a giant blade whirled above their heads, imbedding itself into a nearby tree.

A man stood atop it, bandages covering the lower half of his face, black hair cut short covered his enough of his Hiate-ate to hide it from view, not that it mattered as Naruto saw stars.

"Momochi Zabuza!" Naruto exclaimed, "One of the seven swordsman!"

The man, Zabuza, cocked an invisible eyebrow at him, "A Genin recognized me, and out in such force, too. Was I expected?"

Zabuza ripped his blade out of the tree, slinging it to his back as he leapt down from his position, he eyed Naruto's sword, "An aspiring swordsman too. Interesting. I'd hate to cut a fellow artist's life short, so please just hand over the old man quietly."

"We can't," came Tenten reply, "As Nukenin, we ask for reason for being in the Land of Fire."

"Oh, Border Patrol," Zabuza mocked, "My reason is the old man, but you already said you wouldn't hand him over."

Zabuza quickly vanished into the mist, "There are eight point. Kidney, Larynx, Heart, Lung, Brain, so many choices. What should I choose?"

Zabuza voice echoed around them, with a small click, Naruto's blade was out, Zabuza's voice echoed, "How about, all of them!"

Three Zabuza's stepped out of the mist a struck at them, Naruto blocked with his blade, Neji ducked under his, and Kakashi appeared behind the third who was in the middle of the group, a kunai in it's gut, water gushing out.

Neji followed up with a strike to the heart, and Naruto slid his sword up, breaking Zabuza's guard as he spun, slicing it in the middle, they both exploded into water.

"Oh, talented little Genin, too," Zabuza's voice chuckled, "Must be, those are at one tenth my original power."

"Stand down," Kakashi ordered, Naruto nodded to his team, they kept at the ready but didn't move forward, "He is too much for us to handle, it is good that you're with us, my team is not prepared to fight a Ninja of Zabuza's caliber."

Sasuke bristled, Sakura looked scared, Lee looked apprehensive but excited.

Naruto watched as Kakashi went in, a short, furious fight later found him trapped in a sphere of water.

Naruto sighed, "Sasuke-san, Lee, I'll need you two, Sakura-san, stay with the old man. Tenten, ranged backup. Neji, you'll take out Mizubushin that get too close. Lee, your with me. Sasuke, what are your talents?"

"Ninjutsu and Taijutsu," Sasuke answered quickly, ready fight.

"Good," Naruto nodded, "Ninjutsu back up, diversions. Everyone, divide and conquer."

Zabuza looked at the team, appreciatively, it had been a long time since he had seen talented Genin. He made up his mind to let them live when they were defeated, he made several more Mizubushin.

"Go!" Naruto shouted his command.

Sasuke leapt into the air, "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Great Fireball Technique)!"

Sasuke breathed out a large fireball, clearing some of the mist, he shot several more in other directions, trying to force any clone he saw move.

Neji shot out as quick as he could, trying to deliver harsh blows, and keep his head. He did as ordered, only attacking clones that got to close to the old man.

Tenten was throwing shuriken and kunai like mad, her aim forcing clones in combat to block or move, often comprimising their position against the opponent. Sakura joined her in that, trying to break the Mizubushin's guard, stopping only when she two kunai left. She stood at the ready if any of the clones got to close.

Lee was back to back with Naruto, fighting off clones that kept coming, "Lee," Naruto said with all seriousness, "Gai-sensei put me in charge of my team in his stead. I give you permission to take them off."

Lee smiled, unstrapping his weights, and moved as a blur around the area, helping everyone one.

Zabuza was surprised, an understatement. These Genin, five of them, were working in decent harmony together, taking out his clones like with some trouble. He felt himself beginning to strain as he made more clones as tried to maintain his sphere.

Zabuza saw Naruto come in low and he kicked him, seeing the odd motion Naruto made with his right hand after he dug his sword into the earth; leaving it in the ground just in front of him. Zabuza's eyes widened seeing something glint as it started to wrap around his leg.

"Shit!" He jumped back; breaking contact with his sphere as the wire closed around empty space.

Kakashi stood up, "Wow," was all he could say as he inspected the Genin. All of them were breathing heavily, sweat dripping down their forms. Most were sporting minor cuts and bruises, and better, all of them were alive.

"Time to finish this Zabuza-san," Kakashi said quietly, lifting his Hiate-ate, revealing a long scar that ran down his face.

Zabuza laughed, "Finally showing me your Sharingan, Kakashi?"

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Gai looked at the Hokage, "Was that wise, Hokage-sama?"

"I believe that Team Gai is ready to try a solo mission," Sarutobi said, "They will be with Kakashi-san, and Gatou is cheap, according to our records, there will be very few Ninja for them to deal with."

"Hai," Gai answered, "If I may enquire, Hokage-sama, why was Gatou's threat level increased?"

"Amongst those receipts, we found several records of his illegal dealings. Gatou was very meticulous about them," Sarutobi pulled out his pipe, "It would appear that he was saving dirt on everyone he made dealings with, so if he got caught, he would have leverage. One of those receipts was a contract with Mizuki to steal the Forbidden Scroll."

"What?" Gai asked incredulously.

"That's not the real problem," Sarutobi lit his pipe, "The person who paid Gatou to get a hold of it was Orochimaru, we also found one of his marks on Mizuki's corpse before it was burned."

"That Unyouthful traitor was with him?" Gai asked looking down.

"I'm afraid that Konoha's security has been compromised, if Orochimaru already has spies here," Sarutobi took a long drag out of his pipe, "We must be cautious during the Chuunin Exams. I believe that he going to make a move then, not only are they being held in Konoha, but also Sasuke will more than likely be participating this year."

"I understand," Gai smiled sadly, "It dampens the Springtime of Youth, knowing that there are such Unyouthful people inside our Youthful village."

"Quite," Sarutobi said, as he fished out papers from his desk, "I believe that Team Gai is ready for the exams this year?"