The Tale Of Naruto Uzumaki

Chapter 7: Demon Of The Mist

Team 7 is now Journeying to the Land of Waves via boat
Sakura: "This fog's so thick, you can't see anything."
(Naruto is seated at the front of the boat, while the rest of Team 7 sits in the back.)
Boatman: "The bridge isn't far now. Our destination is just ahead-the Land of Waves."
(Naruto stares ahead in awe, his eyes fixed on the massive bridge.)
Naruto: "Whoa... it's huge!"
Boatman: (hisses) "Quiet, boy! I told you-no noise! Why do you think we're traveling like this, huh? Cutting off the engine, rowing silently, slipping through the dense fog? We don't want to be seen."
(The boat glides closer, passing under the shadow of the bridge. The team observes a mix of emotions: Sasuke remains stoic, Naruto unusually quiet, and Sakura deep in thought.)

The Truth About Tazuna's Mission
Kakashi: (serious tone) "Mr. Tazuna, before we reach the pier, I need to ask you something. The men after you... I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm afraid we'll have to end this mission when we drop you ashore."
(Tazuna sighs, looking annoyed but resigned as Team 7 turns their attention to him.)
Tazuna: "I guess I have no choice. You're right-this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who wants me dead... is a very short man who casts a very long and deadly shadow."
Kakashi: "A deadly shadow? Hmm. Who is it?"
Tazuna: "You may have heard of him. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world: the shipping magnate, Gato."
Kakashi: (visibly surprised) "Gato? Of Gato Transport? The business leader? Everyone knows him."
Naruto: (confused) "Who? What? What's this Gato guy about?"
Sakura: (annoyed) "Naruto, you don't know who Gato is?"
Naruto: "Nope! Who's that?"
Sakura: (sighs) "Just listen to Mr. Tazuna. You'll understand."

Tazuna: (grimly)
"Gato is a powerful tycoon, known for his vast wealth and influence. On the surface, he's a respectable businessman, but underneath... he's a ruthless criminal. He uses gangs and rogue ninja to enforce his will, smuggling drugs and contraband."
"It was about a year ago when Gato set his sights on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his wealth to seize control of all our shipping and transport. In an island nation, whoever controls the sea controls everything-our finances, our government, even our lives. Anyone who opposed him simply disappeared."
"But there's one thing Gato fears: the bridge. When it's finished, it'll connect us to the mainland, breaking his stranglehold. That's why he wants me dead-I'm the bridge builder."
Sakura: "Oh, so that's it. Since you're building the bridge, you're standing in this gangster's way."
Sasuke: "Which means those ninja we fought earlier were working for Gato."
Kakashi: (serious tone) "If you knew Gato was this dangerous and would send ninja to kill you, why did you hide this from us?"
Tazuna: (grimaces)
"Because... the Land of Waves is a poor nation. Even the nobles have little money, and the common people-those helping to build this bridge-could never afford an A- or B-rank mission. If you end the mission now, they'll just assassinate me before I reach home."
(His tone becomes melodramatic.)
"But don't feel bad about that, of course! My sweet little grandson will cry, 'Grandpa! I want my grandpa!' And my daughter will curse the Hidden Leaf, blaming you for abandoning her father and leaving her to live a life of sorrow!"
(Team 7 begins to look guilty.)
Kakashi: (sighs) "Well... I suppose we have no choice. We'll keep guarding you."
Tazuna: (smirking internally) "I win."

Arrival at the Shore
Boatman: "We're approaching the shore, Tazuna. We've been lucky no one's noticed us yet."
Tazuna: "Nice work."
(The boat enters a shadowy tunnel illuminated by faint light.)
Naruto: (excitedly) "So cool!"
(Sakura smacks him lightly on the head.)
Sakura: "Naruto, pipe down! Do you want to get us killed?"
(The boat reaches the shore, and Team 7 disembarks into a quiet village shrouded in mist.)
Boatman: "This is as far as I go. Good luck."
Tazuna: "Thank you for taking such a risk."
Boatman: "Just be careful." (He starts the motor and quickly departs, disappearing into the mist.)
Tazuna: "Okay, take me home-in one piece!"
Kakashi: (serious) "Right. But be aware-the next ninja they send after you will be in a whole other league. Jōnin. Elite ninjas with deadly skill."
(Team 7 begins the trek toward Tazuna's home. Naruto walks ahead of Sasuke, but Sasuke soon overtakes him. Naruto glares at Sasuke's back, determined.)
Naruto: (thinking) "I'm not letting Sasuke steal all the glory this time. Believe it! I'll prove myself."
Team 7 walks cautiously along a narrow forest path, with Kakashi leading the group and Tazuna staying close behind him. The mist begins to thin slightly, but the tension in the air remains palpable.)
Naruto: (grumbling) "Man, this is boring. When do we get to fight more bad guys?"
Sasuke: (smirking without looking back) "You sure you're ready for that, scaredy-cat?"
Naruto: (bristling) "What was that, Sasuke?!"
Sakura: (sighing) "Both of you, stop it. This isn't the time to argue."
Kakashi: (calmly but firmly) "Sakura's right. Stay alert. We don't know when or where they might strike."
(Naruto folds his arms, mumbling something unintelligible, but then freezes mid-step. His sharp eyes catch a flicker of movement ahead-a flash of white darting across the path.)
Naruto: "Wait! Did you see that?"
(The group stops as Naruto dashes forward, crouching by a small bush. He reaches in and pulls out a trembling white rabbit.)
Naruto: (grinning triumphantly) "Look, a rabbit! Guess I'm the best tracker here after all."
Sakura: (relieved but annoyed) "Naruto, don't scare me like that! It's just a rabbit."
Kakashi: (his voice suddenly sharp) "Naruto. Put it down."
(Naruto blinks, confused by Kakashi's serious tone, but obeys, placing the rabbit back on the ground. Kakashi's visible eye narrows as he studies the rabbit.)
Kakashi: "Something's not right."
Sakura: (confused) "What do you mean? It's just a cute little-"
Kakashi: (interrupting) "Look at its fur. It's pure white."
Sasuke: (catching on) "A white coat... out of season. This rabbit's been kept indoors. It's a replacement."
(The team tenses as Kakashi's hand moves to the hilt of a kunai.)
Kakashi: "Everyone-get down!"
As the massive sword embeds itself into the tree, the figure of Zabuza Momochi stands atop the hilt. His presence is chilling, and Team 7 feels the weight of his bloodlust.)
Kakashi: (calmly) "Well, well... if it isn't Zabuza Momochi, rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist."
Naruto: (thinking, wide-eyed) "Rogue ninja?"
(Without thinking, Naruto tries to charge at Zabuza, his instincts driving him forward. But before he can take more than a few steps, Kakashi places a firm hand on Naruto's chest, stopping him in his tracks.)
Kakashi: (sternly) "Naruto, you're in the way."
Naruto: (confused) "Why? I can take him!"
Kakashi: (his tone serious) "He's not like those other ninja we've faced. He's in a whole other league."
(Kakashi's expression grows grim as he thinks to himself.)
Kakashi: (thinking) "If Zabuza's our opponent, I'll need to take this seriously from the start."
(Kakashi reaches up and pulls his headband up, revealing his Sharingan eye. The three tomoe spin slowly, reflecting the eerie light of the mist.)
Zabuza: (grinning darkly) "Kakashi of the Sharingan Eye... did I get that right?"
(Sasuke's eyes widen in shock as the name strikes a chord within him.)
Zabuza: (mockingly) "Too bad, but you'll have to hand over the old man. Make it easy for yourselves."
(Team 7 huddles behind Kakashi, their fear evident. Naruto clenches his fists, frustration written all over his face.)
Naruto: (thinking) "Sharingan? What's that?"
Sakura: (thinking, glancing at Kakashi) "What is he saying? Does Kakashi-sensei have some kind of special power?"
Tazuna: (thinking, worried) "Shari...gan?"
Kakashi: (calm but commanding) "Now, quick! Manji formation. Protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight. I taught you teamwork for moments like this. Use it."
(He fully reveals his Sharingan, the three tomoe spinning faster now. Naruto stares in amazement.)
Naruto: (wide-eyed) "His eye... what is that?"
Zabuza: (smirking) "Well, I guess I get to see the Sharingan in action. This is an honor."
Naruto: (gritting his teeth) "Everyone keeps saying 'Sharingan, Sharingan.' What is it?"
Sasuke: (grimly, stepping forward) "Sharingan. A rare power. It resides in the eyes. The users of this dojutsu can instantly comprehend and counter taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. They can even copy and reflect techniques back at their opponent. It's a unique and powerful kekkei genkai... but there's even more to the Sharingan than that."
(Naruto listens, his frustration giving way to understanding.)
Zabuza: (chuckling darkly) "You've got it right, boy. But you've only scratched the surface."
(With a swift movement, Zabuza forms a series of hand seals.)
Zabuza: "Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
(Mist rapidly fills the area, thickening until visibility is reduced to almost nothing. Team 7 struggles to see even a few feet ahead.)
Naruto: (panicking slightly) "The mist... it's getting thicker and thicker!"
Tazuna: (muttering) "The Land of Waves is surrounded by ocean. Swirling mists are ever-present here."
Kakashi: (thinking) "So he's finally making his move."
Zabuza: (his voice echoing eerily in the mist) "As for you, Kakashi... in the assassination unit of the Hidden Mist, we had special orders for you: 'Kill on sight.' Your profile was in the bingo book. An S-rank ninja. The man who copied over a thousand jutsu... Kakashi, the Copy Ninja."
Sakura: (thinking, trembling slightly) "Kakashi-sensei... is such a famous ninja?"
Naruto: (awed) "That's so cool, sensei!"
Sasuke: (thinking, glancing at Kakashi's eye) "The Sharingan... it's exclusive to my clan. How did he get that? Could he be...?"
Zabuza: (breaking the tension with a roar) "Enough talking! I need to exterminate the old man now."
(Team 7 quickly forms up in the Manji formation, shielding Tazuna as Kakashi stands at the front. The mist thickens further, cloaking Zabuza in an impenetrable shroud.)
Kakashi: (thinking, focusing on the mist) "He'll come after me first."
Zabuza: (his voice floating in the mist) "Eight points: legs, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now, which will I target?"
(The killing intent in Zabuza's voice sends shivers down Team 7's spines. Sakura grips her kunai tightly, while Naruto clenches his fists. Sasuke tries to steady his breathing.)
Sasuke: (thinking, panicked) "I feel like I can't breathe. Just one wrong move, and he'll strike... It's suffocating. If this goes on, I'll lose it."
(Sasuke pulls out a kunai, his hand trembling as he struggles to control himself. Kakashi places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.)
Kakashi: (calmly) "Sasuke, calm down. I will protect you with my life. All of you. I won't let my comrades die. Trust me."
(Suddenly, Zabuza appears behind Tazuna, his massive sword raised for the kill.)
Zabuza: "It's over!"
(Kakashi reacts instantly, blocking Zabuza's strike with his kunai. The clash of steel echoes through the mist as Sakura pulls Tazuna to the ground, shielding him.)
Sakura: "Naruto, Sasuke, are you okay?"
Naruto and Sasuke: (in unison) "Yeah!"
(Kakashi's kunai slices through Zabuza, but the rogue ninja's body collapses into a splash of water-a clone.)
Naruto: "Sensei, behind you!"
(Zabuza's real body appears, swinging his sword in a deadly arc. It slices through Kakashi, only for Kakashi to vanish in a burst of water-a clone of his own. The real Kakashi steps out of the mist behind Zabuza, placing a kunai at his neck.)