It Smells Like Home
Wisps of mist surrounded the group as the boat quietly crossed the water, the passengers aboard having a hushed conversation.
“Well… I guess we have no choice but to continue being your bodyguards.” Kakashi spoke softly.
“Was there ever really a doubt?” Amaya slowly lifted herself from where she was resting.
“O-oh! Amaya-chan you’re awake.” Naruto muttered softly.
“Mhm. Just woke up… What happened?” She rubbed her face and stretched.
“We’re almost to the other side. Our goal is to escort Tazuna home and continue to protect him and his family.”
She nodded, the boat docking as they unloaded onto the housing dock that marked the shore. They continued on, taking a land path to get to the community where Tazuna lived.
Naruto ran forward, throwing a kunai.
“There!” he hissed.
“Naruto!”
“Hey now, don’t be playing around with kunai Naruto.” Kakashi spoke, and Tazuna burst with rage behind him.
“Oh come on! Don’t do things like that kid!”
Amaya slowly parted the bushes, to reveal a snow-white rabbit.
“Really! Now look at what you’ve done!” Sakura shouted.
Naruto leapt forward, holding the rabbit as he apologized and Sakura lectured him. Amaya stood, looking puzzled as she stared down the rabbit.
“Get down!” Kakashi shouted.
Without hesitation Amaya had pulled Tazuna to the ground, a whooshing sound coming from overhead as a massive sword firmly planted itself in a tree, a man landing on top of it.
“Ah. Zabuza Momochi, a former Kiri ninja, wanted for assassinating the Mizukage and staging a coup.” Kakashi spoke bluntly, turning to face him.
“Kakashi, the Copycat ninja, user of the Sharingan Eye.” He responded, barely turning his head.
The four genin had gotten into a protection formation around Tazuna, staring the enemy down, Kakashi standing in front of them.
“It looks like if I want to get to them… I’ll have to get through you first.” Zabuza spoke, and the mist thickened.
Zabuza had appeared beside Tazuna, about to swing at Tazuna. Amaya grabbed him, as Kakashi lunged, a kunai firmly planted in his midsection. The water clone dissipated with a splash, leaving Kakashi to whirl around, met with another water clone.
They could only watch on with fear, as their sensei erupted into a pool of water, a commotion coming from nearby as the mist vanished with a burst of energy to reveal Zabuza and Kakashi both a distance away, Kakashi having a kunai to his neck. Zabuza laughed, the close poofing as he appeared, kicking Kakashi into the water.
When Kakashi resurfaced he stood beside him, “Water Prison.” Zabuza spoke, as a bubble of water formed around Kakashi, trapping him in place.
Another water clone appeared, Zabuza holding onto the bubble as the clone moved towards the group.
“Run! Once you get far enough away he won’t be able to use the water clone jutsu any longer since he can’t let go of the water prison.” Kakashi shouted,
Naruto and Sasuke fought. The two worked together against Zabuza’s clone. Sakura stayed to protect Tazuna, and while Amaya was on alert she didn’t seem to be fully there. She watched the fight, but it seemed like her eyes were just following the movement, barely registering it.
Naruto rummaged in his bag, throwing a massive shuriken to Sasuke. He unfurled it, throwing it at Zabuza. It easily went past the clone, heading for his real form. Zabuza easily caught it, but in the shadow was another shuriken. He leapt, dodging it. But the shadow poofed, revealing Naruto- who threw a kunai at him, forcing him to release the water prison, his clone vanishing as well.
Zabuza was filled with rage, moving to use the shuriken to slash at Naruto when the blade was blocked by Kakashi, standing on the water’s surface.
“Good job Sasuke, Naruto. Now I can take it from here.” The two jonin stared each other down.
At the exact same time the two began to move, the same hand signs as the water formed a massive dragon, the two attacking each other.
The water flooded the shore, and moments later an even larger wave happened, the group fighting to remain standing. Amaya paused, an orange blur passing her in the water, and she quickly reached out to grab the soaked and confused Naruto.
“You alright?” She spoke softly.
“Y-yeah…” He began coughing.
Kakashi was about to land the killing blow on the pinned Zabuza, when three senbon lodged themselves into his neck, a boy with a mask appearing.
“Thank you. I’ve been hunting him for some time now.” He spoke, giving a small bow to Kakashi.
“Ah. A tracker from Kirigakure.”
Naruto immediately got into a defensive stance.
“Naruto, do you even know what a tracker is?” Sakura chided.
He paused, as she sighed.
“He tracks down rogue ninja from his home village.”
Kakashi had checked Zabuza’s pulse, confirming his death as the tracker nodded, before the two of them vanished.
“W-why…” Naruto shouted, looking at the spot where Zabuza was, “H-how, he was only a few years older than us… And took down a monster like him.” Naruto hissed.
Kakashi looked at him sadly, ruffling his hair. “There are kids out there younger than you… who are stronger than me.”