Kyoko Hatake

Chapter 13

-Time Skip-

As we drifted through the mist, I could feel my feet getting cold from the bottom of the boat. Once we had entered the Land of Waves, we had to take a boat to the small islands that inhabit the ocean.

"This mist is so thick... I can hardly see the other people in this tiny boat..."

I thought about the deadly conversation Dad had with Mr. Tazuna.

Apparently Tazuna had lied to us about the rank of the mission. Because the Land of Waves is a poor country, the money for the Ninja service is limited. Mr. Tazuna said that they could only afford to get C ranked protection, as opposed to the proper B or even A rank.

"I know he was deceiving, but I feel bad because he just didn't have the funds for the proper protection..."

And just to put the cherry on top, Mr. Tazuna mentioned another detail.

-Flashback-

3rd person POV

(3 hours previously)

"You're right... this job is most likely outside of your duties... it turns out that a very dangerous man is chasing me." Tazuna said grimly.

"Dangerous man?" Kakashi asked.

The affect of the surrounding area seemed to darken, as Tazuna's look got more and more serious. Naruto, Kye, Sasuke, and Sakura were all standing within earshot, and looked confused.

"You've very likely heard his name... the very wealthy shipping magnate... Gatou..." Tazuna said darkly.

"What!?! Gatou!?! From the Gatou company? He's probably one of the world's wealthiest people!" Kakashi gasped, his single uncovered eye widening.

"Yes... officially, he runs a large shipping company, but in secret, he sells illegal items and uses rogue ninjas to take over competing businesses and countries. He's a nasty man." Tazuna said further.

Tazuna continued to explain that the man named Gatou had his eyes set on the land of waves. With the help of violence and wealth, Gatou quickly took over the country's shipping industry, which the land of waves most relyed on.

The only threat is the completion of the bridge, which would connect the land of waves with the mainland, letting other businesses come in.

"Ohhh... so since you're building the bridge, you're the immediate threat that gate would need to take out..." Kye said slowly.

"Then that means the ninjas were hired by Gatou." Sasuke stated.

"Yes... and the reason I stated before is the main reason why I couldn't just say that beforehand... my country is too poor to pay for better protection." Tazuna said.

"Well if you quit the mission now... I will definelty be killed... but... Don't Worry about it! If i die, my 10 year old grandson will only cry for a few days..." Tazuna expressed lightheartedly.

All five ninjas were silent, but had expressions of annoyance.

"Oh yeah, and my daughter will live a depressing life hating lead village ninjas forever. But it won't be Your fault, not at all!" Tazuna continued to state.

"Well... I guess we have no other choice! We have to protect you until you get back to your county at least...." Kakashi said with a sweat-drop.

-End of Flashback-

Deep in my my thoughts, the boat shifted all of a sudden and I stumbled. I almost forgot we were on the water.

"I can't see anything through this damn fog!" Naruto yelled in my ear.

"Could you have said that any louder." I said sarcastically rubbing my ear.

"Don't worry, we're coming up on the bridge." Tazuna said quietly.

After drifting forward a few more feet, I could vaguely see an outline of a structure.

"Woah it's huge!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hush! Why do you think are hiding in this mist and not using the engine!?! We'll be in deep trouble if Gatou finds us..." The boat driver snapped.

Naruto quickly covered his mouth, but still glared at the driver.

I noticed that dad was lost in thought, and was glancing at Mr. Tazuna.

"Probably thinking about the previous conversation... when I think about it, i have no pity for the old man now..."

The mist cleared, and we came upon some run down docks. We all piled out of the boat and thanked the boat driver.

"Alright! Now get me home safely." Tazuna commanded.

"Don't worry... I've agreed to your terms." Dad sighed. 

We walked along a small path, but Naruto was being wierd and was looking around with over-exaggerated movements. 

"Sheesh... moving around like that, he's gonna attract more enemies quicker." 

"Huh!?! What's That!?!?" Naruto yelled and threw a kunai into a bush. 

"Hey! Stop throwing shuriken around like that! They are dangerous weapons." Dad said with his eye twitching. 

Ignoring him, Naruto gasped and threw another shuriken in my direction. Although I dodged in time, I felt the wind of it. 

"IDIOT! Stop throwing those around like toys! You could've hit me!" I snapped. I was just about ready to punch him. 

A startled squeak came from the direction of the shuriken that Naruto had thrown. Dad walked over and parted the bushes, only to see a completely white rabbit petrified against a tree. 

"Aw! He could've killed that poor rabbit! Wait... why is it white... shouldn't it be brown in this time of year?" 

"OH I"M SO SORRY MR RABBIT!!" Naruto exclaimed and picked the rabbit up. 

I glanced at Dad, and I saw him looking around with his guard up. 

"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Dad suddenly yelled. 

Just then, a huge sword came flying out woods. It whirled above our ducked heads and slammed horizontally into a tree. 

"That sword... it's so cool! I know I shouldn't be thinking this, but it really is the work of a master sword forger..." 

A ninja then appeared standing on the blade like a tree branch. His face was wrapped in bandages, just like a mask and his headband slanted casually on his forehead. The man's skin tone was almost a gray color. The most unusual thing about the man, other than these features, was the fact that he was wearing arm and leg warmers that had a cow hide pattern on them. 

"Heh, those arm bands make him look less indimidating... but it doesn't compeltely defuse the scary look in his eyes.." 

Everyone was frozen in their tracks, well, everyone except Naruto who started to charge the man, but was immeadietly halted by dad. 

"Well well... if it isn't the Hidden Mist's missing ninja... Zabuza Momochi..." Dad said in an unsurprised voice. 

The ninja didn't respond, he just stood there staring at us. 

"Everyone stay back.. he's on a whole different level than the other two..." Dad told us firmly. 

"He will be difficult to defeat, unless I use this..." Dad started to shift his headband. 

"He's going to use it! Maybe I should... no not yet... I need to keep it a secret for as long as possible..."