Chapter 6
Ever since Sasuke was little, he looked up to his brother. Itachi was the prodigy of the decade, making ANBU captain at 13 and the clear successor of the clan. He seemed so strong and the prime role model at the time. Sasuke wanted to be him. His brother never gave him the time of day, of course, because who would give their younger brother their time when they're already so successful and even going beyond those limits?
But since that night, Sasuke never wanted to kill him more after he woke up from that damn genjutsu. He’d been filled with guilt and anger and so many questions. Why would Itachi kill his clan? Why would he kill his parents? Why didn’t he kill him? Over time, Kakashi had talked to him, and curved his anger into something more manageable, something he didn’t have to wrestle with and he could just live his life as best as he could. Don’t get him wrong, the bar for ‘best’ isn’t that high, but it was still there.
Sasuke learned and became more open to Kakashi’s advice and training, albeit reluctantly. It was unnerving how much Kakashi knew of the Uchiha techniques, though it made more sense when he said he had an Uchiha on his team. Apparently they weren’t close, but Sasuke doubted it if he knew clan techniques with the sharingan, barring the fact that Kakashi had a 3 tomoe sharingan.
But since then, he’d also heard interesting rumors the more time he spent around Kakashi. He heard of a beast getting locked away. Of ‘the damned nine tailed beast boy’ getting thrown into training. That they’d have a fine ass weapon later on. He never knew what to think of that.
He was hooked in by a Yamanaka – Ino? He didn’t really care about her name – into her plan to find out about the disappearance of a boy their age. Her need to get into business not her own would get her into trouble.
Apparently, Uzumaki Naruto ran away six years ago and evaded the ANBU at age six. In the beginning, he ignored the girl and her persistence, saying it was impossible. Because how would a six year old orphan evade a whole squad of ANBU? It was impossible. No one evaded the ANBU. But then he heard Kakashi talking to some of his friends – which had surprised him because he didn’t think the man could have friends – about the boy. They were saying how there were no traces of the blonde haired boy and how ‘it should be impossible for a kid to escape the village's watch for years’ and how the mercenary ‘Naoki’ had to have kidnapped him since he showed up out of nowhere.
(Though Kakashi ruled it out quickly, saying how it was years after his disappearance.)
He had to believe the girl after that.
So she introduced him to a Nara, Akimichi, Inuzuka, and the heir to the Hyuuga and helped them gather information about the boy. They had a surprising amount of information, despite not even being a genin. They somehow found out about the failed mission of the ANBU, though he was pretty sure it was Yamanaka that found out that information. She had a slightly concerning knack for finding information while the Nara easily pieced information the others brought to him. Akimichi, Izunuka, and Hyuuga were the information grabbers, along with him, since they easily got information as part of large clans high up in the hierarchy.
(The only reason he was here was because Kakashi was on a search team when the kid disappeared.)
Shikamaru had gotten a bingo book when Sasuke talked about ‘Naoki’. The name had come up many times in their ‘research’, it didn’t take a genius to figure out it couldn’t be a coincidence.
Naoki was a S-Rank by the time of his last year in the Academy. From the information in the book, the village’s didn’t know much about the ninja, if he even is one in a registry. No one saw a hitai-ate on him, if they passed him. Though they didn’t have much to work on, as anyone who crossed him didn’t survive to tell.
He was inserted by Kirigakure, who they believed was a child of rogue ninja’s from the village. He had taken out a few high bounty people in the Land of Water and eradicated a few islands from tyrants and took care of many gangs from Doto island and others. They didn’t know his age or where specifically he was from. He’s known for having a frog and toad summons and bearing three kodachi swords. He donned a fox mask and a black coat with a fox imprint. They’d seen a swirl, though it could have been a trick of the eyes as one second it was there and the next it was gone.
Other than that, nothing was really known. He’d taken out many people just using his swords and his partners helped him. He also asked for a huge price, apparently.
Sasuke heard Kakashi talking about the Hokage and one of the sannin once with his friends. He said that Jiraiya, who had the Toad summons, was adamant on not knowing what was going on with Naoki and how ‘the toads don’t tell him shit he ‘doesn’t need to know’ and are being ‘such hard asses’. Then, Sarutobi Asuma asked how Kakashi was coping. Sasuke had left as soon as Sarutobi asked that question.
Now, though, the thought of the missing boy left his mind entirely as he silently gagged at the stench of bad sake wafting off of Tazuna. He shared a significant glance with Sakura before he resumed to look around. The third member of Team 7 was this weirdo who didn’t even so much as grimace at Tazuna’s heavy scent, smiling at absolutely nothing as he strolled in front of the drunken idiot. Sakura and Ino took to the guy quite easily when he was first enrolled in the academy, though he didn’t really care for the fake emotion’s Sai spat out.
Ever since they were assigned to the same team and completed the damned bell excercize, they’d been doing the thing that really should just be called ‘glorified chores’ or ‘torture’ for a few months after their graduation. They’d done enough training and D-ranks that Kakashi finally let them take a C-rank, after Sasuke and Sakura basically begged them after doing the Tora mission again.
(Sasuke had been tempted to just put the poor cat out of his misery, along with the D-rank-that-should-have-been-a-B-rank mission.)
Their first C-rank was a simple escort mission. Take the guy to the Land of Waves then leave. The guy wasn’t any person to be any of a high rank with people actively going after him.
Sasuke was to the right of Tazuna while Sakura was to his left. He’d occasionally drift backwards, but always regretted it when he caught a wisp of the stench. He didn’t know how Kakashi did it, especially with his enhanced wolf stuff from being a Hatake.
Sasuke frowned as he watched a leaf flutter to the ground, landing in a water puddle…that shouldn’t have been there. It hadn’t rained for days on the route they were taking. It’s a simple mission. That’s all it is.
“Hey, Kakashi?” Sasuke murmured, “It hasn’t rained.” He nodded at the receding puddle, hands grabbing a kunai.
Kakashi nodded, “Good job noticing.” Sasuke noticed he and Sai grabbed one as well. Sakura hovered closer to Tazuna when she noticed the rising tension from behind her. She sent a questioning glance at Kakashi and Sasuke but shrugged it off, sighing. She’s probably thinking about how she wants to be hanging off of me, Sasuke thought with a shudder. Luckily, with the Yamanaka actually hanging out with him, she backed off.
But Sakura just didn’t seem to take the hint.
Suddenly, two men sprung out of the puddle, chains wrapping around Kakashi and squeezing. Sasuke jumped away and closer to Tazuna, a shout stuck in his throat as the chains crushed Kakashi’s body.
“Sensei!” Sakura cried, clearly resisting jumping out and towards the jounin when Sasuke shot her a glare.
“This is who you choose to accompany you, Tazuna?” one sneered, “A useless jounin and three kids? Pathetic.”
“Sai!” Sasuke yelled, flinging shuriken out and trapping the chain on the tree. The man cursed and tried to yank it out. Two ink snakes wrapped around him and Sasuke jumped towards the second man. “Sakura – stay with Tazuna!” Sasuke flashed through the hand signs for the great fire ball jutsu and aimed it at the remaining man. The man jumped away and an ink monster jumped behind him. The same snakes as before wrapped around him. Sai walked over to the first man and knocked him out. Sasuke did the same with the second.
They stood there for a moment, breathing even despite knocking out two B-rank chunin and seeing Kakashi die. It was eerily still and everyone held their breath, as if waiting for something. Sasuke didn’t know what they were waiting for, though.
Kakashi can’t be dead, Sasuke though, hands clenching around a kunai. He can’t be dead.
He’d taken Sasuke in when he didn’t need to. He knew it was some sort of redemption for the jounin, but Sasuke didn’t care. Kakashi was there for him and, even if both of them were emotionally constipated, they were both there for each other and showed gratitude in their own, weird and twisted ways.
“My sweet genin did an amazing job.” Sasuke froze as he turned around to stare at Kakashi. He was eye smiling as if he hadn’t died.
“How?” Sakura whispered.
“You! How-” Sasuke glared at him, throwing the kunai at Kakashi, “You died! You just-!”
Kakashi caught the kunai aimed at his shoulder, “Sorry, Sasuke-kun, Sakura-san and Sai-kun.” Sasuke had seen Kakashi’s face – it wasn’t really anything and it was by accident – but since then, Sasuke could see the tell’s of certain emotion. Here, he could discern pride and sheepishness. Sasuke threw another kunai at him, glaring at him before wincing as he grabbed at his wound on his forearm. A pulsing pain shot through him and Sasuke hissed. He faltered on his feet. Kakashi dashed forward and caught him, sniffing the air.
Kakashi cursed, “Poison.” He whipped out a med-kit and soon gauze slathered in the antidote with tape holding it onto the wound. Sasuke shook out his arm, frowning a little before he crossed his arms over his chest. Kakashi turned and stared at the bridge builder.
Sasuke paused, glancing at Tazuna before looking at the knocked out B-ranked chunins. He didn’t remember their names, but he remembered seeing them in Kakashi’s Bingo Book and remembered Kakashi telling him about them. “Wait-” Sasuke turned completely and glared at the man, “You didn’t choose the right mission rank!”
“I-We couldn’t afford a B-rank!” Tazuna quickly explained, cowering under Sasuke’s glare, “We’ve been taken over by a tyrant! Gato doesn’t want the bridge built because he controls us by driving us bankrupt through his shipping monopoly.”
“We could have died!” Sakura yelled, glancing at Kakashi. Sasuke shifted his glare over to Kakashi. He winced and shrugged apologetically.
“Are we gonna continue the mission…sensei?” Sai asked. Sasuke frowned in his direction. Weirdo. He’s always drawing and even more emotionally gone than Kakashi and I combined.
“Good question,” Kakashi hummed, “This is automatically a B-rank because of the B-rank criminals. We should turn back. We aren’t prepared for this type of mission.”
“No!” Tazuna cried, “You can’t. You don’t know what it’s like!”
“We aren’t prepared. We can guard you back to Konoha, but that’s as far as we’ll go.”
“Fine! I’ll continue back and possibly be murdered and leave my daughter and grandson alone to fend for themselves and-”
“It’s not my choice,” Kakashi said, “But if my genin team think they can do it…” he left the unsaid question hanging in the air. The three genin shot each other glances before looking at Tazuna.
“Sensei,” Sakura spoke up meekly. She shot Sasuke a glance before hastily looking away. “I think…I think we should go.”
“I agree,” Sai said.
“It would be a good testament to our skills. We also just took care of two B-rank chunins. Alone. While you acted dead.” Sasuke shot another glare at Kakashi. He only looked away, jerk. “We should go.”
“Ma, Sasuke, it was a test to see if you would be okay under heat and a comrades death,” Kakashi said as if it justified his actions. “But, if you all think we should…We’ll continue going,” Kakashi said, “I’ll send over a letter for reinforcements. This could end up benefiting Konoha if the bridge is built.”
“Thank you!” Tazuna exclaimed.
“It is no problem,” Sai smiled.
Sasuke wanted to hit them both along with Kakashi. Sakura was the more bearable of their group and that was saying something.
This was going to be a long fucking trip.
*****
Shikamaru sighed, trampling through the undergrowth. The Nara clan had a plot of land outside of the gates, so that they may rest their minds and get away. A tunnel led to this plot of land from the main house and was sealed so that only the members of the main house could get in and out – courtesy of the yondaime.
Just a week before Team 7 left for their first C-rank, he’d received a note from someone signed N. It said to meet him there and was allowed to bring two people he trusted the most on Saturday at 10 pm.
It also said that he had news on Uzumaki Naruto and Naoki.
He told Ino and Choji. He was originally against this but somehow Ino convinced both him and Choji to meet the mysterious ‘N’. So, they made plans to meet with this person. It didn’t seem much of a risk, since why would someone want to kill three genin? Of course, they were heirs to their individual clan. But Shikamaru was the only guaranteed person to come, so it didn’t make a lot of sense. It also had to be someone outside of the village, since they would have asked to meet somewhere discreet in the village if they were from Konoha.
The note also said to bring a bowl of Miso ramen from Ichiraku. It kind of countered the last statement, but whatever.
“This is such a drag,” Shikamaru complained as he swatted another mosquito away from him.
“Shut up,” Ino hissed, smacking a branch out of the way. “This is our first real lead!”
“Guys?”
“And? Maybe the guy just wanted to lour us out and kidnap us. Or maybe he just wanted Ichiraku and didn’t want to pay genin to get it for him.”
“Uh, guys?”
“Why would he want to lour us out to kidnap us but ask us to bring Ichiraku?” Ino scoffed.
“Guys.”
“Maybe he just wanted Ichiraku. I don’t know.”
“Guys!”
“What, Choji!” Ino exclaimed.
“Look.” Choji pointed to a clearing. In the clearing, a girl with blue hair, and a black outfit with red string in a design Shikamaru couldn’t pick out, but he felt it might be important. “Is that her?”
“Hi!”
The trio jumped, watching the girl in front of them poof into smoke as the copy of the same girl stood behind them. Well, upside down. She was hanging onto the tree, hands crossed over her chest and hair hanging close to the ground. Blue hair and silver eyes darting across them, a black cloak with a white lining inside. She had three marks on her cheeks, like whiskers. Like Naruto. She also seemed to be their age, maybe a bit older, maybe younger, but not by much. It can’t be a coincidence, Shikamaru thought, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“Who are you?” Shikamaru asked after a moment of silence
The girl didn’t answer, her eyes flickering down to the box in his hands. She beamed, flipping down on the ground and basically bouncing on her feet excitedly as she stared at the box. “Is that Ichiraku?” she asked, hopeful.
“Ye-yeah,” Ino said, clearing her throat. “But…your name?”
The girl paused, looking over the three, “Oh, right. Manners or whatever.” She shrugged, prancing over to the clearing. The trio glanced at each other before following her, albeit warily. “I’m…Yurei!” she exclaimed, hands rising as if she were a child. She certainly acts like it, Shikamaru thought. She lowered them and put them in the grass next to her, fiddling with the grass. But the note was signed with a ‘N’.“I work for Naoki-kun. He’d say with, but I know I work for him. He gives orders and stuff.”
Shikamaru froze, eyes widening slightly. If she worked for Naoki, then they were in trouble. They probably wouldn’t be getting out of this alive if it came down to a fight.
Another part of him also said the N part was solved.
Yurei only laughed, “No need to look so scared! I’m not here to kill you,” she giggled, beaming at them.
“Kidnapping?”
“Nope! But I am here for Ichiraku ramen,” she said, making starry eyes at the box. “My one and only love!” she sighed dramatically, as if a fangirl. Ino snatched the box out of Shikamaru’s hands and Yurei gasped, hands out. “Be careful!” she cried, “It’s a delicate delicacy that needs to be treated with love! Sure I only had it once…but still!”
“You said you had news on Uzumaki Naruto,” Ino said, holding it away from Yurei tauntingly.
“Ino-”
Yurei paused, staring at her before nodding, “Right. Why?”
Ino glared at her, “We want the info.”
“Why?”
“So that we know he’s alright.”
“Why?”
“So - just tell us!” Ino yelled, glaring at Yurei. “Or the ramen gets it!”
“Ino-” Shikamaru sighed. She’s gonna get us killed one day…troublesome.
“Oh right!” Yurei put a fist on her open palm, a strange determined look crossing her face. “You’re the Yamanaka, right? Yamanaka Ino-chan and Nara Shikamaru-kun and Akimichi Choji-kun, right? Boss said you three would come.” She nodded, grinning proudly at herself. She reminded him of a child and was pretty sure she was a child using a henge.
“How’d he know?” Shikamaru asked, frowning.
“The Ino-Shika-Cho formation never fails.” Yurei nodded, as if the statement made sense, “He knows about the formation and knew you three grew up together.” She paused, frowning, “Well, guessed. But still! He’s a great guesser. Anyway, you three are really close because of that. He said you three would trust each other a lot and what not. Very cool, honestly.” She leaned in, as if telling a secret to a group sitting around her. “Between us, I think he’s jealous of you three. He always wanted a relationship like that.”
“Well, between us,” Choji said, “I think he knows a lot more than he should.” Shikamaru found a new appreciation for Choji as he stepped in front of Ino.
Yurei only shrugged, “He’s been around longer than the Bingo Book says. He knows a few things about all the great and cool villages. Especially about their big clans and a lot about Konoha. Even I think it’s creepy how much he knows about Konoha but oh well. I don’t really care how he gets his information. Same way he doesn’t care about my methods.” She smiled and Shikamaru shivered at the unsaid implications. She may act like a child, but she was just as dangerous as the ANBU. “Anyway. Can we talk while I eat my ramen? I told you a lot about Naoki-kun. I can tell you the little I know about Uzumaki Naruto-kun while I eat. I’m starved.”
Ino begrudgingly handed the ramen and Yurei beamed, mumbling about her love and whatnot. “Sit down! It’s awkward that I’m the only one sitting. I feel like I should be standing and that’s not fun when I’m trying to eat the food of the gods.”
Shikamaru sighed and sat down, though he was ready to stand up at a moment's notice. Ino and Choji followed him. “So?” Ino asked impatiently.
“Naru-kun is safe,” Yurei said, opening the box. “Naoki-kun made sure of that. He found him wet and cold and gave him a safe place. He’s currently training, though I only caught glimpses of him. He’s apparently hiding somewhere only, like, two people can access. And the second person hasn’t seen him in there so, yeah.”
Shikamaru let out a breath, sighing, “But he’s okay.”
Yurei nodded, humming happily as she slurped up the ramen, “Other than the bruises and scratches from training, of course.”
“Of course,” Choji nodded, “We just want to make sure he’s alright.”
Yurei grinned, “What great people you are.” She muttered something under her breath before basically inhaling the broth, “Thank you!” Yurei beamed before standing up and stretching with an exaggerated sigh. “Any more questions?”
“I doubt you’ll tell me where Naruto is,” Shikamaru grumbled.
“Nope! Naru-kun doesn’t want to be found right now,” she said, “Naoki does want to keep in contact, though.” She hummed, “If you would like, we can do monthly visits? Well, maybe not monthly monthly, but definitely keep in touch!” She grinned, putting her hands on her hips. “We’ll contact you. We didn’t really put the instructions but…Naoki-kun kinda assumed you’d come since he’s a gambler. Anyway, we’ll send you a letter and give you 48 hours to meet here or give a notice. Only three people at a time. Shikamaru, I think, must come. Since this is the Nara’s land. Anyway! Questions?”
“Will we ever meet Naoki?” Shikamaru asked.
Yurei hummed, “I don’t know! I’ll tell you next time. I didn’t think to ask.”
“Is he going to attack any of the villages?”
“He’s gonna try not to. But he doesn’t know for sure. There might be a few acts against the villages, but nothing fatal. He hopes.”
Shikamaru frowned. So we might have to defend against an S-rank… “Is he a missing nin?”
“Uh-” Yurei shrugged, “Technically? No. Since he was never given a rank and whatnot. But I would say yes. He’s easily stronger than jounin. At least in my opinion.”
“What about you?”
“Uh-” Yurei shrugged, “No?” She grinned, “Anyway. I gave you enough info to digest and I have a ramen to run off. Will you be interested in future meetings?”
Shikamaru glanced at Ino, who nodded, and Choji, who shrugged, before nodding. “Yeah. Sure,” Shikamaru said.
“Great! Don’t worry about people finding out about our meeting. It’s weird but it’s helpful!” Yurei laughed as if she told a really funny joke. “Anyway. Buh bye!”
She was gone in a swirl of wind.
Weirdo.
*****
Sasuke sighed, stretching his hands above his head. An hour ago, he’d wanted to kill everyone for acting like imbeciles.
While that urge was still there, it took the shape of just wanting to slap them upside the head like his mother used to do with Shisui and him when they were acting like idiots while playing hide and seek. He’d punched Kakashi a few times afterwards as well. It’s what he deserved after playing dead like a freaking dog.
Barring the fact that he had dog summons.
Sasue wasn’t sure what Iruka saw in him, but oh well. Iruka might be good for his tardiness and emotional constipation. Gods knows Kakashi needs someone somewhat stable in his life.
His eyes snapped to the left and he threw a kunai at the bush. Sasuke frowned when he approached, readying another kunai as he stalked up. “Sasuke-kun?” Sakura asked tentatively.
He opened the bush, eyes widening slightly when a white rabbit sat there with a kunai between its ears. Well, my aims pretty good, he thought absentmindedly as Sakura cooed and snatched up the rabbit and cuddled it. He scowled and pocketed his kunai. He watched the rabbit and Sakura for a moment before pausing.
The coloring was off.
“Duck!” Kakashi yelled, slamming Tazuna down as the three genin immediately dropped. Sasuke froze as he felt a gust of wind brush over him, brushing his hair as he barely made it down in time. Sasuke looked up wide eyed as a huge sword (A huge kitchen knife, his mind added unhelpfully) embedded itself in the trunk of a tree. A man sat crouched on top of his, arms resting on his knees as his hands dangled in between them. He had his face wrapped like Kakashi had his own mask. He didn’t have a shirt but had a strap going across his body – probably to hold the sword. He had wrist and ankle wraps and weird striped pants.
“Kakashi of the Sharingan,” the man hummed, “What are the odds I would run into you here?”
“Momochi Zabuza, Demon of the Hidden Mist,” Kakashi said, positioning himself in front of the three genin. Sasuke stood up, albeit shakily, and stared at the newcomer. He staggered, eyes widening as the killing intent leaked out of the man – Momochi Zabuza – in waves, so heavy it was a feat to stand alone. Sakura didn’t manage, falling to her knees as a choked sob shook through her body.
Sai, ever the weirdo, just stood there. Like a maniac. Who even was he?
“Get up, Sakura,” Sasuke hissed, grabbing her arm and dragging her towards Tazuna. He shot a glare at the bridge builder though didn’t say anything. Now wasn’t the time to yell at him. Or hit him. He shot a look to Sai before getting a kunai out, holding it in a defensive position. Sai got his paintbrush out, though Sasuke ignored him to focus back on the enemy.
They’d interchanged some responses and Kakashi lifted his hitai-ate, watching him.
Then it all went to hell.
Mist filled the air and he distantly heard Kakashi call out for them to protect Tazuna. They huddled closer but it was proven useless as Zabuza appeared in the middle of them. Sakura shrieked and Sasuke whirled around. He watched in horror as the blade came down in an arc towards Tazuna, but a kunai pierced Zabuza in the stomach.
Water splashed down in front of them as Kakashi stood next to Sasuke. With Zabuza behind him. “Kakashi-”
The sword cut through Kakashi and he, too, dissolved into water. Kakashi stood behind Zabuza. Sasuke heard Sakura let out a small breath, though it turned out to be a cut off scream as another Zabuza stood behind Kakashi.
Kakashi spun around but was kicked into the middle of the lake. He skidded on the water surface and dodged Zabuza’s kick to his gut. “Is that all you got?” Kakashi taunted.
He taunted him.
In the middle of the fight.
Was Sasuke surrounded by imbeciles?
“There’s a lot more where that came from.”
Fuck, he was.
From there, it dissolved into a taijutsu match. Sasuke couldn’t follow them, but he wished he could. The wound from early pounded and he frowned, narrowing his eyes as the kicks and splashes of water.
Until it stopped.
“Hello! Mind if I step in?”
Sasuke froze because who was that? When did the third person show up?
They should have turned around.
The mist disappeared and Sasuke saw Zabuza and Kakashi standing in defensive stances facing a man with a…fox mask?
Naoki?
“Kiki! Don’t just run off!”
“What’d I say about calling me that in front of people?” Naoki hissed, glaring into the forest. A frog jumped out and seemed as if it was…grinning? The frog, multicolored and bright and poisonous, hopped onto the mercenary’s shoulder. Naoki let out a suffering sigh that rivaled the Nara’s.
“Naoki,” Kakashi said, straightening up and suddenly in front of their group.
Naoki blinked, eyes hopping from one person to the next before shrugging. Sasuke felt a cold shiver run down his spine, somehow knowing that the mercenary could go toe to toe with Kakashi and Zabuza fighting him. “Kakashi of the sharingan,” he said before dismissing him completely. “Anyway,” Naoki said, ignoring Kakashi’s insulted look. “I just came here to talk to Zabu-san here!” He turned his attention to Zabuza and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
“No.”
Sasuke got the distinct feeling that Naoki was grinning as he let his chakra run out in waves, “Sorry, Zabu-san. You don’t get a choice. I already have Haku-san with a friend of mine. If you don’t want your sidekick people don’t know about to suffer, I suggest you follow me.”
Sasuke froze, being knocked down to his knees under the pressure filled chakra. It wasn’t comforting like Kakashi did to him after a nightmare, or the tentative touch Sakura gave him. It was overwhelming and emotionless, though grief and anger lapped under the emotionless top. Sai let out a surprised gasp, stumbling as Sakura let out a choked scream.
This was too much.
Kakashi let out a colorful string of curses and let his chakra go out in comforting waves over Sasuke and the others. Sasuke drew in a quick breath before letting it out slowly.
“Aw, the jounin and his genin. So cute,” Naoki cooed. “Take them away. Complete the mission or whatever. I need to converse with the demon over here thinking he can get my blood by glaring at me.”
“He probably could.”
“He’s not an Uchiha scaredy cat like that one over there.” Sasuke froze, feeling Naoki’s cool gaze focus on him. There wasn’t any malicious intent in it though. He raised his gaze, glancing over the fox max before focusing on the frog.
“Kiki! Be nice!”
“I said stop calling me that in front of people!”
Sasuke glared at the fox mask. Scaredy cat? Who does that jerk think he is! Kakashi sent him the no-nonsense-shut-up look and Sasuke’s frown deepened. He looked away though, clenching his kunai.
“Anyway, Zabu-san. Must we go the hard way?” Naoki asked with an animalistic tilt of his head.
Zabuza scoffed, “Disrespectful brat. How old are you anyway?”
“100 years old.” The frog snorted.
“Ki-”
Naoki flicked the frog's head. He sighed and stared at Zabuza.“Come on, Zabu-zabu!”
Zabuza snarled, “Don’t call me that, Kiki.”
Naoki gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “See what you did, Yaya?” He sighed dramatically, “My name is Naoki! Not Kiki. You and your nicknames, Yaya.”
“Oh sorry, we didn’t properly introduce ourselves,” Zabuza drawled, “I usually just call people by what I first hear them by, Kiki.”
“Zabu-zabu.”
“Nana.” Naoki snorted.
“Zaza.”
“Damn it,” Zabuza cursed.
“Kakashi-sensei?” Sasuke asked as they went back and forth with their name calling. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” Kakashi answered honestly, “Two children fighting?”
“We’re getting to know ourselves!” Naoki called cheerfully, “Right, Buza?” Zabuza let out a string of curses, causing Naoki to laugh. “We’ll be going, yes?”
A scream echoed through the forest, causing Zabuza to stare wide eyed around before glaring at Naoki. Sasuke froze, hearing the scream echo in his mind over and over again because who could make a scream that loud? It sounded so painful. “Let Haku go,” Zabuza hissed.
“Only if you come with me!” Naoki exclaimed. “And Haku will be scratch free!”
“That scream didn’t sound ‘scratch free’,” Zabuza snarled, “Let him go.”
“I will.” Naoki nodded, “If you come with me.” Naoki jumped away, landing onto a branch. He leaned on the trunk and tilted his head and Sasuke shivered. Fear seemed to be the dominant emotion to the awe he also felt. The fact that Naoki could do that with just standing there seemed to be a huge testament to his power.
“Fine,” Zabuza sneered, “But Haku better be fine.”
“He’ll be in tip top shape!”
And the two were off.
Well, Shikamaru and Ino would love this.
*****
Naruto didn’t like to look at his team. Sai had taken his place and it was a bit weird to see him as his age. Sakura and Sasuke seemed the same, though Sasuke seemed a little less angry and Sakura seemed a bit more mature, though it might’ve been because of the fear as that was the only emotion he saw on her.
Sai was Sai.
The bastard.
“Naoki-kun!”
“Yurei-san,” he said, smiling when the blue haired girl came into view, “You are dismissed.” He felt the clone disperse, grimacing as a faint pain erupted in his throat.
“Who the hell is this?” Zabuza snapped, “Where the hell is Haku?”
“Right here, Zabuza-san.” Naruto grinned, looking at his captive.
“You’re…not hurt?” Zabuza asked, scanning the boy. His mask was gone, though he still remained in his gear.
“No. I simply screamed,” Haku said, “I remain unhurt.”
“What the hell is this?” Zabuza snapped, “It sounded like…”
“Haku?” Naruto grinned, “It’s my little secret.”
“So, Kiki-”
“Yaya!”
“You want to talk yet?”
Naruto laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, “Right. So, remember what I told you about a while ago?” he said, cocking his head.
“Gato is planning on betraying me,” Zabuza said, “Yeah. What do you want to do?”
“So, I just need you to keep attacking and annoying Tazuna,” Naruto shrugged, “I have a plan. I’ll contact you again or forcefully remove you if need be.”
Zabuza paused, hesitating, and wasn’t that a weird look on him, “And…and Mei?”
When Naruto checked out the Land of Water, he’d found Utakata but Yagura was already dead. Isobu would regrow in a few years and he was planning on protecting him. He planned on sealing him within himself to protect him, just till he made sure Madara and Obito didn’t succeed.
His other clones kept running into shinobi traps, though some made it to Kumo. They’ve been trying to find a moment alone, though Yugito Nii never seemed to be alone and Killer Bee would be fine for a long while. They’ve found where Roshi and Han are and kept weekly updates for him. They’re currently staying just on the border of Iwa and are glad that Naoki reached out to them.
They also started trying to get to know their tailed beasts. Kurama thought it might be only a matter of time until they reached their shared mind plane.
He hasn’t caught any sight of Fu, though.
Tetsuya said, “We actually met up with her a little bit ago after Yagura died,” he said, “She’s looking for you. She’d welcome you and Haku back easily.”
Zabuza nodded, “Okay.” He paused, scanning the three, “So all you need Haku and I to do is pester the shinobi and Tazuna?”
Naruto nodded, “Yep! All I need and ask for,” he grinned.
“Has anyone told you that you’re weird?” Zabuza grunted.
“Ah, whatever,” Naruto shrugged, “I think it gives me character.”
“Uh huh.”
*****
“Pain-sama.”
“Yes?”
“About Naoki…”
He hummed, “We still need to see if he is capable.”
Some grumbling. Some hums of approval.
“Naoki seems to be a capable person. So does his crew. Aren’t the Toads supposed to be loyal to Konohagakure?”
“Yes. But it seems they are helping Naoki. We might get some insight on Konoha.”
“Who would be his partner?”
“He could be a floater?”
“Us, hm.”
“Don’t volunteer us.”
“I think that may be a good idea.”
“With them? Why not with immortal guys?”
“Hidan will test him.”
“Fuck yeah!”
“We will wait and see what he does. For now, he will be on Deidara and Sasori’s team and will be tested by Hidan.”