Alright, I am pointing this out now, if you've been reading this from the start, like, from when I began the story, then reread chapter one and you'll see that I cut Kakashi out of it.

\-/

The Hunters

Ch 4 - The Battle On The Bridge, Chuunin Exams Begin

Zabuza's Hideout

"You've got some kind of guts to show your face around here after being bested by some children!" Gatou said, angered at Zabuza's incompetence.

"I was not expecting a secondary squad of Ninja, I was taken by surprise because I was paying attention to a more powerful opponent, it shall not happen again, Haku, go and find my other apprentice, we are in need of his assistance." Zabuza said, Haku vanishing as she nodded her head. "I will have those ninjas dead soon enough, and when they're gone, you will pay me."

"Just make sure you get them!" Gatou said, leaving with his samurai guards.

'I wonder if those fools realize just how weak they really are.'

-=-

Tazuna's Home, 3 days past the Zabuza encounter

Naruto, Hinata, and Gaara were sitting in Tazuna's living room, Kakashi having insisted that anything that happened could be well handled by his own skills, and that they should just leave. Gaara's response was that he didn't trust someone who has only one skill of his own with the only hope for an entire country, and had said that they would be at his home protecting him until he headed out to the bridge, and would accompany him there to ensure his protection. Team 7, Kakashi not wanting to be outdone, would train just outside the house until they left and accompany them to the bridge.

Tazuna came downstairs ready to get to working on the bridge and they set off to do just that. Konoha Team 7 saw them come outside and Suna Team 9 saw how the training was going. Kakashi was training Sasuke with his own personal weights, Sakura was fawning over Sasuke, and Shino, well, he was nowhere to be found, but they had simply assumed he didn't enjoy the Uchiha pampering and went to go better himself alone. Naruto sent a Kaze Bunshin to go and find him. He had recently perfected the Kaze Bunshin, giving it the special ability of the Kage and Suna Bunshins.

"Hatake, I would suggest that you train your whole team equally, 2 men does not a team make, and 2-man teamwork is nowhere near as effective as four-man teamwork." Gaara said in his monotone-raspy voice, Kakashi raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, Hatake, do you know why we call Baki Sensei?"

"Because he is your elder and deserves your respect, as wella s a more powerful ninja than the 3 of you." Sakura said, giving a textbook answer.

"I asked Hatake, do not speak out of line again, Haruno." Gaara said, Sakura being heavily intimidated by the annoyance in Gaara's voice.

"Her answer was as good as any." Kakashi said, Gaara closing his eyes.

"We call Baki Sensei because he is our teacher, not our better, he gets respect because he earned it, when we became genin he did not test us, he asked us to test him to see if he was the teacher we needed. He earned our respect by treating us as if we were on equal status to him, we give him the acknowledgement he deserves as our teacher, and he gives us the acknowledgement we deserve as his comrades. This is why our alliance is on thin ice, Hatake, Konoha must learn that respect and hatred are to be earned through actions of the respected or hated individual, not of someone tied to that individual, not a clan-name, not jinchuuriki status, the actions of the individual. Suna has learned this, Konoha ignores this, you would do well not to cross us, just because I am not the Shukaku himself does not mean I don't bear his prowess." Gaara explained, Kakashi waving him off.

"Jinchuuriki cannot be trusted, as their demon may have corrupted them, Uchihas are to be respected, as they are inherent of great power." Kakashi said, Sasuke standing with a smug look.

"And people wonder why Konoha is rotting." Hinata said, completely disgusted by Kakashi's arrogance. "I'm glad I'm no longer a holder of the byakugan, I am now clearer of mind than I probably would be with your attitude Hatake."

"Do not speak unless spoken to, girl." Sasuke said, finding a large gash in his chest. He screame dout in pain, Kakashi and Sakura rushing to his side.

"Do not speak unless spoken to, vermin." Naruto said, wiping the blood off of his sword before putting it back in its place on his back.

"What the hell is wrong with you, you loser?!" Sakura shouted, glaring at Naruto.

"He is being a sexist bastard, he is nowhere near Hinata-chan's level, and yet he continually insults her, I won't have it." Naruto said, Sasuke glaring at him as well.

"I could kill that little bitch of yours, I should kill her!" Sasuke said, throwing a kunai at her. He found that kunai in his leg.

"You think you could kill me? You couldn't kill me if you could use your yondaime's Hiraishin, much less kill Itachi." Hinata said, being mildly annoyed at Sasuke's stupidity. "Just shut up, or I'll end your ninja career, one little slice to the achilles tendon and you'll never walk again." Sasuke shut up as Hinata, Naruto, Gaar, and Tazuna all started towards the bridge. Seeing as Tazuna had more competent guards than Konoha Team 7, he was willing to take his time.

-=-

Zabuza's Hideout, 3 Days After The Respect Thing

Haku had returned, a boy about her height carrying a katana at his left side with normal brown hair next to her. He wore normal civilian's clothing. "What do you need, boss?"

"We have an unforeseen obstacle in our mission to take out the bridge-builder, 3 Suna-Nins, they are each stronger than Kakashi, I need you to be able to take them and the arrogant dark-haired Konoha-genin down while Haku takes out the other 2 before helping you out." Zabuza said, the brown-haired boy nodding. "We strike tomorrow."

-=-

The Next Day, On The Bridge

Both Konoha Team 7 and Suna Team 9, minus Naruto and Hinata who were defending Tsunami and Inari, were on the bridge, Baki included. They had anticipated that Zabuza was still alive individually, Kakashi wanted the Suna Team to be in over their heads and die so they could have their credit, and Baki wanted for the Konoha bastards that dared keep information from his comrades to be surprised when they were better prepared for Zabuza's return. Suna Team 9 had anticipated that Zabuza would be attacking today with at least 2 extra high level opponents. The Hunter-Nin, and an additional enemy.

Kakashi was only anticipating the Hunter-Nin, expecting Zabuza to underestimate them and let it be his undoing, but the Suna Team knew that Zabuza was smarter than that. He would bring at least one extra high-rank ninja to handle their team, to help even the odds, however, they knew that he didn't know about Baki, so that would tip the odds in their favor, or even them if he brought 3 high-rank ninjas with him.

A heavy mist rolled in, all the workers having been told that this was their cue to ditch the bridge. Tazuna ran as well, so that he could be sure that he wouldn't get in the way.

-=-

Tazuna's Home, At That Time

"LET HER GO!!!" Inari shouted, lunging at the men who were taking his mother. He had sent Naruto and Hinata away to let him calm down after getting angry about them thinking they could take Gatou down. The one that wasn't holding his mother pulled out his sword with a vile grin.

"Hey, do we need this one? I wanna cut him down." The man said, pulling his sword back.

"Nope, go ahead and take him out." The second one said, the first raising his sword above his head. A chain came out of nowhere and wrapped around the sword, pulling it out of the man's hand. Naruto appeared in between them, cutting the head off of the first one with his sword and stabbing the second one in the back of the head with the tantou.

"Sorry, can't let you do that. And now that they're taken care of, let's get to the bridge." Naruto said, Hinata appearing next to him as they both vanished.

-=-

Back On The Bridge

"Zabuza, I thought you were still alive, but I didn't expect the civilian, why's he here?" Kakashi asked, Zabuza scoffing while Baki looked at him in a bored manner.

"Hatake, that is no civilian, civilians neither wield katanas, or bear the chakra of a hanyou." Baki said, Zabuza raising an eyebrow while Kakashi stared as hard as possible at him.

"And how would you know what a hanyou's chakra felt like? Something about your students your not saying?" Kakashi asked, Baki looking at him while scoffing.

"I have a jinchuuriki and an Oni expert as teammates, Naruto says that a hanyou's chakra feels like the chakra of a demon-possessed jinchuuriki, he explained this after Gaara let Shukaku have control to kill off a few rogue ninja that had tried to kidnap his sister, Temari." Baki said, the "civilian" looking at him with a toothy grin.

"Very good, sir, yes, I am a hanyou, so, your student-

"Comrade." Baki interrupted.

"Comrade, is the jinchuuriki to the Ichibi, well, I am the decendant of the Shichibi no Ryuu when he fell in love in his human form, I shall fight the jinchuuriki, Zabuza-sama." The boy said, Zabuza nodding his head.

"No, you will fight me, I want to see how my power measures up against a hanyou to the third strongest demon out there." Sasuke said, Gaara having no qualms.

"In that case, I will fight the hunter-girl, Haruno, Shino [Shino never did anything to them, why be mean?], please stand back and be on the lookout for further enemies." Gaara said, moving away from the group as Haku did the same, standing opposite him.

"Looks like that leaves Zabuza for the 2 of us, eh Baki?" Kakashi asked, pulling his hitai-ate back into a normal position.

"Looks that way." Baki said, activating the Kaze no Ken no Jutsu [Art of The Blade of Wind]. Naruto and Hinata were waiting in the shadows. They wanted to watch the Uchiha get his ass handed to him, and then appear to save the day. They knew Gaara would be able to hold his own, and so, he was going to be left alone.

{Gaara vs. Haku}

"I am sorry we must settle things this way, but I am loyal to Zabuza-sama, and will do everything in my power to help him reach his goal." Haku said, redaying her senbon. Gaara's cork flew out of his gourd.

"I apologize if I kill you accidentally, hopefully I will be able to keep my head and simply take your consciousness for a few hours, rather than take your life." Gaara said, sand pouring out from around him. "In this instance, I feel that I should be more careful. You attack with speed, whereas I defend with my sand, it shall be interesting seeing who wins this match."

"Indeed."

{Sasuke vs. "Civilian"}

"So, care to tell me the name of the demon-spawn I'm about to kill?" Sasuke asked, his arrogance flaring considerably.

"I am Ryu, I was named after my ancestor, now, let us begin this battle." Ryu said, pulling his katana out, showing it was made up of a shimmering blue metal. "This si the sword made from one scale off of my ancestor's tail, Ryu Kuraitoru [Dragon Scale]."

{Kakashi & Baki vs. Zabuza}

"No one sees my Sharingan twice and lives, this is your end, Zabuza!" Kakashi said, drawing a kunai from his pouch.

"Careful, Hatake, Gaara subdued him last time, we still don't know what all he's capable of." Baki said, Zabuza smirking.

"I am glad that one of you is smart enough to take me seriously, after all, 2 heads are worse than 1 if the heads disagree!"

{Gaara vs. Haku}

Haku threw her senbon at Gaara, Gaara's sand blocking the senbon as Haku threw more, attempting to have enough speed to get around his guard. After running and attacking for a few seconds, she noticed some of Gaara's sand head over to solid ground and start grinding into the ground. Her eyes widened when she realized what he was doing.

"I see you figured out my plan, I am going to grind the earth over their into sand for me to use in my attacks. You have very nearly lost this battle." Gaara said, a huge wave of sand returning to him. "I find you to be a worthy opponent, tell me, what is your name? I wish to know it in case our quarrel should end before one of us dies."

"I am Haku, I will follow Zabuza-sama wherever he leads me, so long as he is your enemy, I am as well." Haku said, Gaara closing his eyes and forming 10 handsigns.

"That is a shame, that one such as you must fight one such as me, your eyes bear the same loneliness mine did before Naruto and Hinata came, let us continue our battle, Haku-san, Reikeibigan." Gaara said, revealing the dark eyes his friends had allowed him to use. "Suna Kata. Kanshisha-Rei Ginji Sosei." His sand took the shape of a woman before details were etched in, color forming other than the color of sand, showing a light-brown-haired woman wearing standard Suna Jounin clothing. She looked similar to an older Temari. "This is Karura, my Okaa-san, thanks to Naruto and Hinata I was able to finally meet her face-to-face, even though she has been defending me through the sand for many years." Karura smiled at Gaara, and turned a hard-gaze at Haku.

"Your attacks have not pierced my defense, and they shall not do so, in this form, my control is increased ten-fold, and even though my spirit is already highly adept in controlling the sand through the Tanuki, I can still increase the speed at which it travels!" Karura raised her arm, the sand launching at Haku 5-times as quickly as before. Haku dodged out of the way, barely escaping its grasp, however, Gaara, having long since dropped his heavy gourd, increasing his speed a good deal, appeared where she was about to land, a sand colored halberd with blue and red vein-like markings along the leangth of the blade itself.

"Shukaku no Yari! [Spear of the Shukaku!]" Gaara said, stabbing at Haku only for Haku to burst into water. Haku reappeared with her hands in a weird symbol, her hands clasped together apart from the two first fingers, both of which extended outward, the middle finger twisted backwards around the forefinger.

"I'm sorry, but it is time to end this, Hijutsu: Makyou Hyoushou! [Hidden Art: Demonic Ice Mirrors!]" Haku said, mirrors forming around the three figures fighting.

"Looks like this just got a whole lot harder, wouldn't you say Musuko?" Karura asked, Gaara looking around at the reflections of Haku staring back at them.

"Indeed."

[Sasuke vs. Ryu]

Sasuke was running from Ryu's devastating attacks. He was far more adept in katon jutsus than he was, and his katon jutsus were all blue, that was what really messed with Sasuke.

"You're lucky I don't have my sharingan yet, otherwise these attacks would be coming back at you." Sasuke said, throwing his kunai and shuriken at Ryu as he ran.

"It wouldn't matter, this power comes from my ancestor, only I can use this power!" Ryu said, a huge wall of blue flame rushing at Sasuke. "You will die the instant you get hit!"

{Kakashi & Baki vs. Zabuza}

Baki had activated his Kaze no Yaiba and was charging at Zabuza, said man pulling out his sword. Kakashi was hanging back preparing a katon jutsu, and launched it off. Baki was directly in the line of fire however. Baki saw his shadow extending and dodged to the side, a huge fireball passing by. Baki turned and glared at Kakashi, who responded by sending another katon jutsu at Zabuza. Baki followed behind it, and when Zabuza dodged it, he lashed out, catching Zabuza's left fore-arm, cutting the apendage off.

"Watch it Hatake!" Baki shouted, lunging back out of the way of another Katon jutsu. "You're fighting water with fire, don't you have any Raiton to pull out of that eye you got?!"

"Raiton is too precise and Chakra-consuming, I could miss. However, if you can hold him still or get one of his legs we're in business." Kakashi said, Baki charging again.

"Finally some progress, back me up with those Katons, if I'm ready for them I have an advantage over him, use the more discreet ones and hide them behind me while I charge!" Baki said, Kakashi using Katon: Housenka as Baki approached Zabuza.

{Gaara & Karura vs. Haku}

"Suna no Ame! (Rain of Sand)" Karura said, raising her arms towards the spaces in between the mirrors. Gaara was wielding the Shukaku no Yari, avoiding the senbon and counter-attacking every chance he got. The sand rose and shot out like tiny bullets at every space Haku could land in, getting lucky enough to have launched the attack as Haku was returning to her mirrors. Haku fell toward the ground, Karura trapping her with the sand, Gaara breathing out a heaving sigh out of exertion.

"Thank you, Okaa-san." Gaara said, the Shukaku no Yari dissolving.

"Anytime, Musuko. Do you think you can hold her from here, or do you want me to stay for awhile?" Karura asked, Gaara sitting in a lotus position.

"I can hold her, but I would like you to stay for awhile anyway. It would be wise to keep an eye on her, and I have never disliked your company." Gaara said, Karura sitting down next to him. "Haku-san, due to the predicament we have found ourselves in, my hopes are that Zabuza-san's quarrel with Tazuna-san is ended before Hatake-san does saomething irreversible. Not to say that I wish for a missing-nin to kill a Konoha-jounin, but I would prefer Zabuza, and by extension you, live to see another day."

"I find that very kind of you, Gaara-san, but I doubt that our quarrel will end quickly enough for that to occur." Haku said, trying to look through the mist to see Zabuza.

{Sasuke vs. Ryu}

"Die, Uchiha! Let me see your blood!" Ryu shouted insanely, slashing wildly, blue flames flying everywhere. Sasuke took advantage of his crazed state and formed a few hand seals, Ryu slashing down on him.

"Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu! (Earth Release: Art of Inner Decapitation)" Sasuke said, vanishing into the ground. Ryu looked around in confusion for a second, coming out of his craze just a second too late. He was pulled under ground, Sasuke popping out in his place. He made 3 handsigns, Ox, Rabbit, and Monkey, thrusting his left arm downward. Lightning formed in his palm, his chakra all going into this last jutsu. He raised his arm, and then brought it down and through Ryu's head. "Chidori!!!"

{Kakashi & Baki vs. Zabuza}

"Doton: Kuchiyose Tsuiga no Jutsu! (Earth Release: Art of the Summoned Tracking Fang)" Kakashi said, slamming his hands into the ground. Splits in the ground rushed out after Zabuza who had his hands full dealing with Baki and his Kaze no Yaiba. Large dogs came up out of the ground, latching onto Zabuza, holding him in place as Baki took out Zabuza's amrs and legs. Baki allowed the Kaze no Yaiba to dissipate, Kakashi relaxing as they had finally managed to stop Zabua's ability to move, much less fight.

Kakashi was about to prepare to finish Zabuza when he heard clapping coming from the other end of the bridge.

{With Naruto & Hinata}

"That's our cue to kill, let's go Hinata-chan." Naruto said, grabbing Hinata's hand and activating his Osoi Toki as she did the same. He drew his sword as Hinata drew a wicked looking knife, seeming to glow an orange-aura.

"After you, Naruto-kun." Hinata said, Naruto and herself charging forward simulatanneously.

{The Bridge as a Whole}

"Well done, you've all worn youselves out and Zabuza is almost dead. One of his little buddies is dead too! Hahahahaha! Now I just have to get rid of you, and I won't have to pay any of you! all these thugs cost less than you did!" Gatou said, his little sunglasses reflecting the mist. They also reflected Naruto and Hinata's blades coming straight at his face.

"Sorry it took so long, we were a little busy eating lunch." Naruto said, flicking Gatou's blood off of his sword. Hinata summoned up her Tantou-Bikou, swirling it over hers and Naruto's heads, taking out about 15 thugs.

"Whoever gets less kills pays for dinner when we get home." Hinata said, attacking all the thugs she could see. Naruto, grumbling about her getting a head-start, starting slashing through thugs as fast as he could. Unfortunately for him, he was suited to single enemy combat, she was suited to multi-enemy combat. Either way, he started using every wind jutsu he knew to try and catch up. He decided now would be a good time to use his modified wind jutsu.

"Hinata-chan, get down!" Naruto shouted, making the handsigns for Fuuton: Daitoppa, adding Rat to the end. "Fuuton: Daitoppa no Setsudanki! (Wind Release: Guillotine of the Great Breakthrough)" Naruto shouted, gripping his sword and spinning rapidly. The Fuuton: Daitoppa took effect, then adding the Setsudanki, thick, howling blades of wind chakra sailing through the air in every direction. Every non-thug was smart enough to get down, all the thugs getting chopped to bits. Hinata stood back up, pouting at Naruto.

"You never said we could use jutsu." Hinata said, sad about losing her own challenge.

"Hahahahaha, don't worry, Hina-chan, I'll pay anyway." Naruto said, Hinata brightening back up as she hugged him. "So what'd you think of my new jutsu?"

"Do you think you could teach it to me?" Hinata asked, smiling sweetly at him.

"You wouldn't be able to do it right, you're a water-type, remember?" Naruto asked, Hinata smirking at him.

"That's what you said about the Kaze Bunshin, remember?" Hinata asked, Naruto sighing.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?" Naruto said, noticing Sasuke pulling himself over to Naruto as best as he could.

"Why, why are you so much stronger than me?! How are you so much better than me?!?!" Sasuke shouted, anger and jealousy showing themselves rather well.

"That would be telling, wouldn't it?" Naruto asked, walking away with Hinata hanging off of his arm. "I have my secrets, I'll tell you one of them. Work hard, never assume that you're better than anyone else, use everything you can as a drive to get stronger. I used my need to protect my love from danger, what is that important to you that Itachi hasn't taken away?"

That last sentence would echo throughout Sasuke's revenge-focused mind for 5 months, straight through to the Chuunin Exams.

The story continues when the Chuunin Exams grow near.