Chương 19: Chapter 17

The group was traveling by a small, simple boat. It didn't had a engine so that they wouldn't get noticed. The fact there was a thick mist helped in that department. Tazuna explained the situation the land of waves was in and how the people lived.

The boat reached shore and the leaf nin's disembarked. After a few more hundred meters of walking, Sasuke suddenly threw a Kunai onto some bushes.

Startled Naoko shouted "Hey what did you do that for!!?"

"Shut it dobe, I swear I heard something" said Sasuke.

Mito walked into the bushes only to find a scared White rabbit. "Nice going Sasuke, you almost hit a bunny" she said.

While both Jonins, plus Naruto and Hinata immediately felt something wrong.

Kakashi was thinking A rabbit? But why is it's fur white? They only get that in the winter when there isn't much sun which means it was raised in a dark place...something's wrong here.

'Someone's coming' thought Kushina.

Naruto flared up his senses, while Hinata activated her Byakugan. A few seconds later, she shouted "DUCK!!!" everyone heed her warning and hit the floor. Well except Naoko.

"Oh don't worry that's just Sasuke" said Naoko, as a giant cleaver like blade flew towards them. 'Idiot' thought Naruto as he immediately dashed towards her.

"NARUTO/NII-CHAN!!!" shouted the two Namikaze ladies(except Naoko of course) and their Cyclops of a sensei worriedly. Though what happened next startled them.

*CLANG*

A metal like sound resounded as the sword hit Naruto's hand. To their surprise, his hand was unharmed. On the contrary the part of the blade he touched had a few cracks.

"How?" everyone questioned, as Naoko just stood there stunned. 'Oh that kind of duck' she thought, while Sasuke was glaring daggers at her.

"You can have this back" said Naruto as he threw it back to Zabuza who just flickered in front of him.

"No wonder the Demon brothers were so jumpy, it's because you two are here" said Zabuza as he pointed at Naruto and Hinata.

"Nice to see you too, Zabuza-san" said Hinata as Naruto replied "Yeah, good to see you old man"

"Yeah it's good to see you guys" said Zabuza, then his gaze turned serious and said towards Naruto "They are proceeding with the plan next month, we need your help"

This gave Naruto an uncharacteristic wide eye in surprise for a second as he asked "Their starting already?"

"Yeah, after this job I was supposed to go back, preparations are already in order. They can't wait any longer since 'he' has already caught wind of the rebel bases" said Zabuza.

"I see, then we'll be there" said Naruto as Hinata nodded.

"Uhm, Soch-Naruto what is he talking about?" asked Kushina "And who is he?"

"Hmm? Well this is Zabuza Momochi" said Naruto.

"Wait Zabuza Momochi? Isn't he the infamous "Demon of the Bloody Mist"? asked Mito surprised.

"Yup, that one" said Naruto.

"Hn. Is he strong?" asked Sasuke arrogantly.

"Ex member of the seven swordsman and former commander of the Kiri ANBU Assassination squad. Went rogue after the attempted assassination on the Mizukage Yagura. Now regarded as an A rank missing nin. You tell us Sasuke" replied Kakashi, as Sasuke just snorted. While the others were shocked 'How does Naruto and Hinata know him' they thought.

"Copy ninja Kakashi Hatake" said Zabuza, then turned to the red head and glared "And you must be the Red Death of Konoha" he said then paused for a while and continued with "Pathetic" he snorted.

Zabuza had met a few Uzumaki's back then, he knew their love towards family.

When he heard about Naruto's story, he couldn't help but let out a snort as he thought how the Princess of said clan could abandon her son. Trully pathetic.

Kushina narrowed his eyes at his rude remark, but before she could make a come back. Naoko already voiced "Hey you can't speak to Mom like that!" while Mito just glared at Zabuza. But Zabuza just shrugged it off.

Sighing Kushina said "Then can you tell us what he was referring to, Naruto-kun"

Before Naruto could say anything, Hinata stepped in and said "It's something we can't discuss in the open" she explained as she moved his gaze to the other Gennin, then back to Kushina.

Noticing her gaze, she and Kakashi understood that it wasn't something Gennin's should be involved in. "I see" replied Kushina.

Mito who understood what Hinata was implying also didn't voice her concern, since she knew it was something they weren't suppose to know, not with their current rank that is.

"Anyways, let's escort Tazuna-san to his house first and we'll discuss everything there" said Naruto.

"Good point, then Tazuna-san where is your house?" said Kakashi.

Tazuna felt a little uneasy answering his question, since it's not everyday you guide someone to your home that just a few minutes ago tried to kill you.

"Don't worry Tazuna-san he won't do anything" reassured Hinata as she saw the hesitation from the old man.

"Yeah, don't worry old man. Since Naruto is here I'll cut my contract with Gato" said Zabuza "Heck, I'll even help you"

"A-alright if you really help out, I'll show you the way. It's still a mile away from here" said Tazuna as he started walking, while team 7 plus Zabuza followed.

"Oh yeah where is Haku and the Demon duo-" Naruto couldn't finish as he was suddenly glomped by a green blur. Everyone thought it was an attack and was ready to assist Naruto but at the last second they heard someone shout.

"Naruto-sama!!" said the masked Kunoichi as she hugged Naruto like a crab.

"Hey!!" shouted Mito and Naoko as they saw their Nii-chan getting hugged by another girl. They tried pull her of him, but failed since she was a lot stronger than both of them.

Then Gozu and Meizu appeared.

"Their at it again, Gozu" said Meizu.

"Just look away or will get in trouble, Meizu" replied Gozu, as both of them moved behind Zabuza.

Naruto smiled wryly at Haku's antics, but immediately used substitution to free himself, since he felt a spike of killing intent from behind him.

"Hello Haku-san" said Hinata smiling while a Hanya mask materialized behind her. The twins flinched when they saw her like that, however Haku didn't back down.

"Oh my, why hello to you to Hinata-san" replied Haku as an Oni mask materialize behind her.

Sparks were flying as both girls glared at each other, everyone just smiled wryly at their antics. But then Kakashi coughed once and said "So is she the other person you were referring to?"

"Other person?" asked Naoko.

"Yes Naoko-chan other person" said Kakashi "Didn't you remember Naruto asking the demon brothers if 'They' are here"

"Oh yeah, so is it her Naruto-nii" asked Naoko demandingly.

"Yeah" said Naruto nonchalantly "You already know Zabuza, Gozu and Meizu so allow me to introduce Haku Yuki" said Naruto as he pointed towards the masked Kunoichi.

Haku having been introduced removed her mask and earned a few gasps. 'She's Beautiful' they all thought, even Sasuke who was usually quiet had his eyes widen. She was almost at the level of Hinata. Though the difference was Hinata had a vibe of a mature obedient wife, while Haku had an innocent but dangerous type of aura, like she had been fighting almost everyday.

*Clap clap*

Clapping her hands to get everyone's attention Kushina said "Alright everyone stay alert, we still need to escort Tazuna-san to his house"

Everyone snapped out of their daze and nodded then they all proceeded to Tazuna's house. On the way the twins kept on asking Naruto who the girl was, while the Jounins asked him how he knows Zabuza, Sasuke was being Sasuke, while Naruto just ignored all of them, since he was mediating a quarrel between Hinata and Haku.

'This is gonna be a long mission' thought Naruto.

******

They came up to a house besides a lake as Black haired beauty the same age as Kushina answered the door. Tazuna introduced her as Tsunami, his daughter and the mother of his grandson Inari.

Tsunami welcomed them warmly and offered them food and a place to rest. After eating a good meal. The demon brothers were assigned guard duty.

Kakashi, and Kushina ordered the other Gennin to take a rest. While they questioned Naruto about his involvement with Zabuza. Mito who was smart enough didn't say anything, but Naoko and Sasuke protested. However with a little 'persuasion' from the Red Hot Habanero they begrudgingly followed the orders and went to sleep.

Now, Zabuza, Haku, Hinata, Naruto, Kakashi and Kushina were facing each other.

"Now Naruto, explain" said Kakashi sternly.

"Hmm, where do I begin?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Start with them" said Kushina as she pointed at Zabuza and Haku.

Naruto explained how they met Zabuza and his gang at one of their bounty hunting missions at a village near the edge of Kiri.

They encountered Zabuza and his gang fighting their target Raiga who was the wielder of the twin blades of Kiba, and Mangetsu who was wielding Hiramekarei a flounder shaped sword. From what they heard at a distance it looked like Zabuza was trying to recruit the former swordsmen for the rebellion against Kiri.

Both disagreed for petty reasons, like having taking over the small village and lording over them like Kings. Naruto and Hinata were disgusted by their reasoning since they saw the situation at the village, in one word it was horrible. People were starving, Women were selling themselves as prostitutes, and children were dying on the streets. Much like the current Wave today.

Enraged by their reason, Zabuza attacked without thinking only to be subdued immediately by the two. The demon brothers and Haku tried to rescue Zabuza. But they were to weak and were beaten to a pulp. Mangetsu wanted to teach them a lesson, so he dragged Haku by the hair. Pin her in front of Zabuza and was about to behead her.

Naruto and Hinata snapped at this and charged towards both swordsmen. Long story short, they rescued Zabuza's gang and killed both Raiga and Mangetsu by using a little too much power. Zabuza who had seen a glimpse their power asked Naruto for assistance in the rebellion on Kiri. After hearing about their cause, Naruto promised them his help. Zabuza only needed to get in contact with him when it was time.

Fast forward 11 months and here they are.