Of Guilt-trips, Assassins, and the Sharingan
-Of Guilt-trips, Assassins, and the Sharingan-
"This fog is so thick, you can't see anything." Sakura murmured quietly as the group made their way across the water on a motorboat.
"The bridge isn't far now. Our destination's just ahead, the Land of Waves." The owner of the boat, Kaji, informed quietly as he paddled. He was soon proven correct as the bridges large, barely visible silhouette was seen through the fog as they passed.
"WOAH! It's huge!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, breaking the quiet atmosphere.
"Be quiet! I told you no noise! Why do you think we're traveling like this, huh? Cutting off the engine and rowing, moving through the dense fog so they don't see us?" Kaji scolded gruffly, causing the blond to cover his mouth with both hands.
"Tazuna-san... Before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something." Kakashi began, prompting the rest of Team 7 to turn and stare at the elderly male. There was a moment of silence before he added, "The men who are after you, I need to know why. If you don't tell us I'm afraid I'll have to end this mission when we drop you ashore." The two men had a small, silent stare off before the elder finally answered with a sigh, albeit reluctantly. "I have no choice but to tell you. No. I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow."
'Saa~ Why does everyone have to be so cryptic?' Amaya thought to herself, rolling her eyes slightly.
"A deadly shadow?" Kakashi asked with a raised brow. Tazuna only grunts in agreement. "Hmm... Who is it?" The Jounin asked again.
"You know him. At least I'm sure you've heard his name before, he's one of the wealthiest men in the world. The shipping magnet, Gatō." Tazuna answered, moving his gaze from his feet to stare at the four ninja in front of him. His response surprising Kakashi and causing Amaya to raise a brow while the other three look on confused.
"Huh? Gatō? Of Gatō Transport? He's a business leader, everyone knows him." Kakashi said in disbelief.
"Who? Who? What? What?" Naruto asked curiously, leaning forward on his hands.
"Gatō, is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company that's true. But below the surface, with the same ruthless methods he uses to take over businesses and nations. He sells drugs and contraband, using gangs and ninja. It was one year ago, when Gatō first set his sight on the Land of Waves. He came to the island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way simply disappeared. In an island nation, a man who controls the sea controls everything. Finances; government; our very own lives. But there's one thing he fears, the bridge. When it is complete, it will join us to the land and that will break his control. I am the bridge builder." Tazuna explains while looking at Kakashi.
"So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge, you're standing in this gangsters' way." Sakura mused, cupping her chin with her hand.
"Tch. What a pain." Amaya growls out with narrowed eyes, leaning with her back against the side of the boat. 'Great now I'm starting to sound like Shikamaru...' She thought as her annoyed expression morphed into one of despair.
"That means those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gatō." Sasuke concludes as he looks at his teammates.
"I don't understand. If you knew he was dangerous, knew he would send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?" Kakashi asked seriously, not once moving his gaze from the bridge builder.
"Because the Land of Waves is a small impoverish nation. Even our nobles have little money. The common people who are building the bridge, they can't pay for an A or B ranked mission. It's too expensive." Tazuna explained once again.
"Makes sense..." Amaya agreed, nodding to herself.
Tazuna soon continued. "If you end the mission when you drop me ashore, there will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me before I reach home. But don't feel bad about that! Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset, and he'll cry, "Grandad! I want my grandad!" Oh, and my daughter will condemn the ninja from the Hidden Leaves, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning her father while living her life in sorrow. Oh well, it's not your fault. Forget it." As he said this, he took in the group's facial expressions, which began to waver into different emotions.
'I-is he seriously trying to guilt-trip us into continuing the mission?' Amaya deadpanned before adding with a sweatdrop, 'I hate to say it but it's kinda working...'
"Well... I guess we have no other choice. We'll have to keep guarding you." Kakashi conceded while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oooh! I'm very grateful!" Tazuna replied enthusiastically before turning to the side with a smirk on his face while making a peace sign. 'I win!'
Seeing this causes Amaya to clench her teeth, her eyebrow twitching slightly. 'Why I oughta!... You win this time you old codger!' She thought as her eyes flashed dangerously. Adjusting her position to where she was facing him completely, she began staring at the elder blankly.
Feeling someone's stare, Tazuna turned, only to lock gazes with the brunette sitting directly in front of him. It was a blank stare, but it held a strange, underlying glint that made the bridge builder nervous.
Noticing the man tense up, Kakashi observed him for a moment before he followed Tazuna's gaze to the girl beside him. Giving a low chuckle, he decided to watch on, nothing but amusement glittering in his eye.
Fidgeting in his spot, Tazuna avoided eye contact and tried to ignore the Minamoto's unwavering stare. Which proved to be difficult as the girl wouldn't even blink. 'This kid...' He thought uneasily. Suddenly Kaji's voice broke through the silence, forcing the girl to advert her eyes and allowing Tazuna to let out a mushroom sigh.
"We're approaching the shore... Tazuna, we've been very fortunate. No one has noticed us so far."
"Nice going." The bridge builder replied, nodding to the man in return.
As the boat entered a tunnel, the group began focusing on the oncoming light. Once their eyes adjust, the fog clears, revealing a village. Kaji keeps paddling until they reach the dock.
"That's as far as we go. Good luck." Kaji says as the boat stops, prompting the group to climb out.
"Thank you for your assistance Kaji-san." Amaya says politely, giving the man a small bow to which he nods.
"Right. Thank you for taking such a risk." Tazuna adds with a nod.
"Just be careful." Kaji replies as he starts the boat and leaves.
"Okay, take me to my home. And I mean get me there in one piece." Tazuna orders gruffly as he turns to the group.
'Oh, I'll get you home in one piece alright. You might not be breathing, but in one piece all the same.' Amaya thought darkly as she side glanced at the elder.
"Right." Kakashi replies dully before thinking with a sigh, 'The next ninja they send won't be Chunin. They'll be Jounin, elite ninja with deadly skills.'
***
As they walked down the path, Sasuke moved to where he was beside Naruto, who glared in return. 'I'm not letting Sasuke get all the glory this time! Believe it!' The blond thought to himself before he runs a little ways ahead of the group, causing them to stop and watch in confusion as he looks around the area furiously. Suddenly he throws a kunai into a bush, startling the group behind him.
"Hmph. It was just a mouse." Naruto says coolly as he brings a hand up to his face.
Amaya sweatdrops from her spot between Kakashi and Sasuke as Tazuna and Sakura begin growling to themselves, both trembling furiously.
"Mouse?! Yeah right! Everyone can see through your stupid act, you're so obvious it's embarrassing!" Sakura yelled angrily at the blond, only to be ignored.
"Naruto, those are kunai knives. They're dangerous." Kakashi comments weakly, trying to get the blond to stop misusing his weapons.
"Hmph." Sasuke grunted, watching the scene blankly.
Tazuna's growling only got louder until he finally lost it. "STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME YA SCRUMPY LITTLE DWARF!" He screeched loudly. His insult caused Amaya to snicker into her hand.
The blond ignored his companions and continued to scour the area. "Hey! Is someone hiding over there? No! They're over there! Hey! Hey! Huh."
As Naruto continued to point out different locations, Kakashi turned his head slightly, staring behind him at a spot suspiciously. Which went unnoticed by the group.
"Over there!" Naruto yelled as he threw another kunai into a bush.
"That's it, Naruto!" Sakura growls out as she goes up behind the blond, bonking him harshly on the head.
"Wha-why'd you do that? Someone really is following us, I mean it!" The blond exclaimed as he held his head in pain.
"Yeah right! Quit lying and acting like a dumb kid!" The pinkette snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
As the two continued to squabble, Kakashi walks toward the bush. Pushing it back, he reveals a trembling white rabbit and above it was Naruto's kunai stuck inside a tree right between its ears.
Sakura looks over and gives a slight gasp before yelling, "Naruto! Look what you did!"
"Ahh, a rabbit! Waah!" The blond yelps, running over to gently scoop the animal up and into his arms, cuddling it to his chest as he apologizes repeatedly. "Oh, I'm sorry little rabbit! I'm sorry!"
"All this fuss over a rodent?" Tazuna's asks as he watches the blond.
"Geez Naruto..." Amaya sighs before a smirk appears on her face. "I guess you could say you missed it by a.. hare... Kufufu! ~" As the brunette laughs to herself lightly, her teammates stare at her unamused and slightly annoyed.
"Stop that, Maya-chan! This isn't funny at all!" Naruto whines out as he tries to calm the rabbit.
"It kinda is. ~" The girl replies in a sing-song voice, a bright grin on her face.
'That's a snow rabbit, but the color... They only have white fur during the winter. When the days are short and there's little sunlight... This rabbit was raised indoors away from the light, which could only be for one purpose. A Replacement Technique.' Kakashi muses as he looks around, his eyes locking onto a tree a little ways behind the group. 'So, they're already here?'
Suddenly, a low whistling sound fills the air, making the group look around. Kakashi is the first to spot the culprit.
"Look out!" He orders as he, the four Genin, and Tazuna duck to the ground. Just in time too, seeing as a large sword comes flying out of nearby foliage and embeds itself into the tree behind Naruto. A silhouette of a person follows almost immediately after, using the swords hilt as a perch to stand on.
Looking up, they see a tall muscular man, standing with his back to them. He cranes his head back to look at them, revealing his face for all to see. Well, what little of it they could, seeing as most of it was obscured by bandages. His headband, which was tied sideways around his head, showed he was a ninja from the Hidden Mist.
'That must be...' Kakashi mused to himself, his thoughts trailing off as he observed the enemy. "Well, well. If it isn't Zabuza Momochi, rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist." He acknowledged as he took a few steps forward.
Naruto makes an attempt to move forward at the Jounin's words, however, he didn't get far as Kakashi held out his arm, stopping the blond in his tracks. "You're in the way. Get back." Kakashi ordered, not taking his eyes off Zabuza.
"But why?!" Naruto asked annoyed.
"He's not like those other ninja. He's in a whole other league... If he's our opponent, I'll need this." Kakashi replies, his hand reaching for the headband covering his eye as he adds, "This could be treacherous."
"Kakashi of the Sharingan Eye. Did I get that right?" Zabuza rasped out, causing Sasuke and Amaya's eyes to widen slightly.
"It's too bad, huh? But you'll have to hand over the old man." Zabuza added after a moment of silence, not once breaking eye contact with Kakashi.
As the two talked, the rest of the group remained silent as they tried to process the information that was just given. 'Kakashi of the Sharingan... How is that even possible? Wasn't the Sharingan a Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan?' Amaya mused to herself, mentally ciphering through various amounts of information her father had her learn while studying different clans and bloodline traits. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she moved her gaze to the Uchiha standing next to her. 'He seems to be just as comfused as the rest of us.' Amaya thought as she took in his expression. 'Sensei has some explaining to do. ~' She added in a light tone.
'Sharingan? What is that?' Naruto asked himself as he took in the varying expressions on his companions faces.
'What's he saying? Does he have some special power?' Sakura mused as she observed her teacher closely.
'Sharingan.' Tazuna thought, seeing Kakashi in a new perspective.
"Now quick, Manji Formation! Protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight!" Kakashi ordered.
"Huh?"
"I taught you teamwork, now it's time to use it." Kakashi said as he pushed the headband up, revealing a long vertical scar and a gleaming red orb with three black tomoe surrounding the pupil. "I'm ready!"
'So that's the Sharingan.' Amaya mused to herself, looking back and forth between the two Jounin.
'Ahh, his eye! What is that?!' Naruto asked himself shocked.
'Well, looks like I'll get to see the Sharingan in action. This is an honor.' Zabuza mused as he stared at Kakashi's eye.
Naruto, finally having enough with the constant confusion, breaks the silence. "Everyone keeps saying "Sharingan. Sharingan." Will someone please tell me what Sharingan is?"
"Sharingan. A rare power, it resides in the eyes. The user of this visual jutsu, or Doujutsu, can instantly see and comprehend any Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu, and can reflect the attack back on the attacker. The Sharingan is a special, rare form of Doujutsu. However, there's more to the Sharingan than that. A lot more." Sasuke informed, staring at Kakashi's profile suspiciously.
"You got it right, boy. But you only scratched the surface. The Sharingan can analyze an opponent's technique and then copy it to the smallest detail." Zabuza added to Sasuke's explanation as mist began to fill the clearing. He then continued, "As for you, Jounin, in the Assassination Unit of the Hidden Mist, we had a standing order to kill you on sight. Your profile was in a bingo book, it called you the man who copied over a thousand jutsu, Kakashi the Copy Cat Ninja."
Another moment of silence passes before Zabuza grows impatient. "Enough talking. I need to exterminate the old man. Now!" As he said this, the four Genin moved to surround Tazuna in a defensive position.
Making eye contact with the silver haired Jounin in front of him, the nin continued, "So, I'll have to eliminate you first, aye Kakashi? So be it." Moving quickly, Zabuza pulled his sword free and disappears from sight, only to reappear standing on the nearby lake while performing hand signs.
"He's over there!" Naruto shouts, stating the obvious with Sakura following suit. "Standing on the water!"
'He's building up a huge amount of chakra.' Kakashi thought as he observed Zabuza's form.
'Kirigakure no Jutsu!' Zabuza thought to himself as he performed another hand sign.
"He vanished..." Naruto murmured in disbelief.
"Sensei!" Sakura calls out, looking over to the Jounin with worry.
"He'll come after me first." Kakashi informed, not once turning to look at the group behind him.
"But.. who is he?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Zabuza Momochi. The ex-leader of the Hidden Mist Assassination Unit. He's the master of the Silent Killing Technique."
Amaya's brows raised. 'Assassination Unit? Like the ANBU Black Ops back home?' The brunette thought curiously.
"Silent?" Naruto asked.
"As the name suggests, it happens in an instant. Without sound or warning of any kind. It's so fast you pass from this life without realizing what had happened. The Sharingan cannot fully neutralize it, so don't lower your guard." Kakashi explained before cheerfully adding, "Well, if we fail, we only lose our lives."
"How could you say that?!" Sakura asked angrily as Amaya deadpanned.
Soon enough, the surrounding area was barely visible due to the mist growing thicker by the second. When Naruto commented on this, Tazuna decided to elaborate, "The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean. The swirling mists are ever present." By this point Kakashi couldn't be seen through the mist, making the remaining members of Team 7 tense and nervous.
"Sensei!" Sakura called out worriedly, staring off into the direction Kakashi was last seen.
"Eight points." Zabuza's voice echoed throughout the area, setting the four Genin and Tazuna on edge.
"What's that?!" Naruto asked as he scoured the area, a fruitless effort due to the mist.
"Larynx. Spine. Lung's. Liver. Jugular. Subclavian Artery. Kidney's. Heart. Now, which will be my kill point?" Zabuza casually mused aloud to himself.
"Ah... Is not dying an option? I find that more preferable..." Amaya mumbled rhetorically with a nervous laugh, earning a dark chuckle from the rogue nin.
Kakashi observed the area closely before forming a hand sign. While doing this, some of the mist dispersed, allowing the group to see more clearly.
'What an intense thirst for blood! One shallow breath, one tiny movement of the eye is enough to bring on instant death. If it goes on like this, I'll go insane! The clash of two Jounin with intent to kill, I've never felt anything so chilling. It's as if my own life is being choked off. No... I can't bare it! I'd rather take my own life!' Sasuke thought to himself panicking. His entire body trembling with fear due to the tension in the air.
Amaya glanced to the left to the ravenet beside her, a lump forming in her throat when he began to slowly point his kunai knife towards his stomach.
"Sasuke! Calm down, I'll protect you with my life. All of you. I will not allow my comrades to die!" Kakashi called out, snapping the young Uchiha out of his panicked thoughts and prompting him to look at his teacher.
"Trust me." The Jounin added reassuringly with a closed eye smile.
Hearing Kakashi sound so confident relaxed the boy a bit. However, due to still being slightly on edge, he couldn't help but flinch when he felt a light pressure on his shoulder. As he turned his head, onyx orbs clashed with blue.
"Y-you good?" Amaya asked nervously, not used to seeing the stoic boy show so much emotion in one go. The only reply she got was a low "Hn." and a nod of acknowledgement.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Zabuza's voice cut in, suddenly appearing in the center of the formation with Tazuna. His sudden appearance caused Tazuna and the four children's eyes to widen. "It's over!" He said sinisterly.
However, before he could attack, Kakashi had turned and rushed forward. As he reached the group, the other five moved out of the way quickly. He pulled out a kunai and stabbed Zabuza in the abdomen. The rogue nin then exploded, revealing to be a water clone. The sound of water hitting the ground resonated throughout the clearing.
"Sensei! Behind you!" Naruto warns as Zabuza appears behind the silver haired Jounin.
"DIE!" Zabuza cried out as he swung his sword. Its blade cutting Kakashi completely in half. But instead of blood and gore there was only water. It was also a water clone.
'The Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu, it can't be!' Zabuza thought to himself in disbelief before thinking back to when he performed the hand sign while standing on the water. 'Even in the mist... He saw through my illusion and copied it in an instant!'
Before he realized it, Kakashi had reappeared behind him, holding a kunai to his throat. "Don't move. Now it's over."