I am a Dancer (Naruto fanfiction)

16: Inexplicable Dangers

While Team Seven, client Tazuna, and I traveled, I took the time to study everyone else. Sakura had a large ninja pouch around her waist, Sasuke and Naruto had backpacks, Kakashi Sensei had two smaller pouches and multiple pockets, Tazuna had his bedroll secured to a backpack, and I myself had a tough jacket with supplies sewn into the insides.

"So, what have you been up to lately?" I asked Sakura.

"You have no idea," she groaned. I laughed, knowing she was talking about Naruto.

"How's your husband? Did you make any progress? Any romantic dates?"

"Hirano!" She hissed. I laughed and pulled her closer, making her smile.

We traveled for a while when...

"Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura yelled, just as Kakashi Sensei was cut by two ninjas who suddenly appeared. Naruto, frozen in place, became the target. Almost immediately, Sasuke threw himself into action, smoothly throwing shurikens to lock the ninjas' chains, then kicking them in the head.

"Take this!" Sasuke said, knocking the two ninjas out. Sakura pulled me behind her and seized a kunai. "Protect Tazuna! We don't know if there are more of them!"

"Come on," I urged, half pulling, half dragging Naruto to his feet. "It's all good. Stick with the group."

"Oh hey guys!" Kakashi Sensei exclaimed, stepping out from the trees. "Excellent work, Sasuke. Sakura, good job on protecting Hirano and Tazuna. Naruto, if I had known you were goign to freeze in place like that, I would have protected you. I'm sorry."

"Scaredy cat," Sasuke mocked. Naruto grabbed a kunai, and after much contemplation, stabbed himself.

"What." I deadpanned. My mouth dropped at the blood flowing from the boy's hand.

"I swear, I'll never freeze again!" Naruto exclaimed, giving me a good look at his bravery and true heart. Naruto looked so awesome in that moment. Even Sakura looked--aghast?

"Naruto, that's great and all, but kunais have poison in them," Kakashi Sensei, destroying the moment. I smiled, while Sensei's words took a moment to process. Then began screaming his head off.

"NOOOOO!!! I'm going to die!!!"

After treating Naruto and assuring the poor kid he wasn't going to die, we continued our journey. "It's pretty wet around here," I commented, feeling the change in weather. "But it hasn't rained yet--"

"Ahhh!" Naruto randomly threw a kunai at the bushes.

"Naruto! What did you do that for?" Sakura yelled.

"I got something--oh, uh, it's a rabbit." Sakura smacked Naruto's head in an annoyance.

Suddenly, Kakashi Sensei looked up. "Sensei--"

"Duck!" He yelled, causing everyone to drop to the ground, while the sharp wind whistled in my ears.

Smarchk! We looked up to see a large sword wedged into a tree trunk. "Long time no see, Kakashi." A ninja stood on the sword, looking down at us all.

"Zabuza of the Mist."

"Well, I just want the old man. Hand him over and no one gets hurt. Wouldn't want your precious Genin to get hurt, now do we?"

"Guys! Protect Tazuna!" Kakashi Sensei ordered, leaping into action. We watched in awe as Sensei and Zabuza fought viciously...

"Go, Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto cheered.

...until Kakashi got caught in his water prison.

"Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura screamed in terror.

"Guys! Run! GO BACK TO THE VILLAGE!" Kakashi Sensei yelled. "Protect our client!"

Even Sasuke seemed to favor that plan, but not Naruto. "What are you saying, Kakashi Sensei? We're going to get you back!"

"Naruto! He's too strong! Even for me!" Kakashi Sensei yelled back. "Just go! All of you!"

"Now, now. Just hand over the old man and I'll let your Sensei go," Zabuza bargained. "You'll get hurt if you don't do as I say, and I won't hold back."

"What's the plan, guys?" I asked.

"Don't you worry, Hirano!" Naruto yelled, making hand signs. "Just protect Tazuna!" Shadow clones appeared instantly, and soon, a fierce battle started. I watched in amazement as Naruto's clones began making a huge confusing mess. It seems to have distracted Zabuza, because seconds later, when Sasuke threw a large shuriken, it hit Zabuza.

Turns out, Naruto had transformed himself into a shuriken and in midair, let himself make another clone shuriken.

"Wow," I said, admiring the boys successfully freeing Kakashi Sensei. "Your team is amazing, Sakura."

"Right?" I smiled at the note of pride in her voice.