- 5 days later -
Having taken turns guarding Tazuna as he built the bridge, Kakashi and Naruto managed to expand their knowledge of Fuinjutsu over a short period. Naruto even managed to get through most of the beginner book on Fuinjutsu with the help of his shadow clone reading for him at night, with the only side-effect being a brief headache in the morning.
Sasuke, in the same amount of time, managed to master water walking to an acceptable level. Sakura, having mastered the practice, was then forced to perform the tree walking exercise, followed by a set of workouts and a healthier diet imposed upon her by Kakashi.
Knowing the date of the second fight with Zabuza was drawing near, Kakashi allowed his team to rest from physical workouts. He decided they would follow Tazuna to work as a full squad from here on out, while having Naruto leave a couple of shadow clones behind to protect Inari and Tsunami.
The following morning, Team Seven, alongside Tazuna, arrived in the early morning hours to see all of Tazuna's workers lying on the ground with varying injuries; none appeared to be life-threatening, but it was apparent that they weren't conscious.
Zabuza walked forward from the thin mist shrouding his figure, meeting Kakashi at the center of the bridge.
"You were right to tell me to investigate Gato. He has mercenaries to kill Haku and me, once we were too tired fighting you and your squad."
"So, that's why none of the workers are dead. You want to put on a show and draw him out."
Kakashi immediately understood his intentions.
"What do you get out of this other than revenge for the betrayal?"
Zabuza nodded, pausing to consider how much he should reveal. "As you likely know, Kirigakure has been crippled by internal struggles for years. The 'Bloody Mist' policies have massacred entire bloodline families—anyone born with special abilities was seen as a monster." He let that grim reality sink in before continuing, "My attempt to assassinate the Mizukage failed, forcing me to choose between exile and death. Since then, Haku and I have taken on any mission available to fund a rebellion. It is led by Terumi Mei—she wields two Kekkei Genkai and is far stronger than I. If anyone could put a stop to Yagura, then it's that woman, not that Kiri has many options."
Kakashi considered everything Zabuza said, passively using Observation Haki to determine the truth, and found that he was truthful in everything he revealed.
"Since this is your plan, how do you want to do this?"
Zabuza was briefly surprised before he made a handseal, and his appearance took on a more wounded and tired appearance.
"Simple, but effective against normal mercenaries."
Kakashi, too, transformed to look worn and exhausted, Haku and Team Seven following the example as they waited for an hour.
"They are close, roughly over one hundred, most with chakra levels of civilians, but some have genin reserves. Likely using chakra to enhance their bodies."
Kakashi revealed having sensed the large group entering his Observation range.
"At the speed they're going, they should be here in ten minutes."
Zabuza nodded, standing up before he blinked.
'Ten minutes? His range of sensing is good, and he doesn't appear to be trying all that hard either. Full of mysteries, this one.'
The group got up, lightly sparring and giving the impression of ninja on their last legs, waiting patiently for Gato to arrive.
Pausing when we 'hear' a cane tap the ground, the group turns as if they hadn't noticed the large group until now.
"So much for the 'Demon of the Mist.' You can barely stand," Gato sneered. "Good thing I hired these thugs to finish the job. Your salary is far too high for such poor results." Gato smirked, anticipating fear or rage, but was disappointed when Zabuza remained completely unaffected by his words.
"Tch, whatever. I'm sure I can sell that pink-haired one to some freak for a good price. The masked one, too. Some are into that."
Gato shrugged and wondered to himself how much he'd get out of them before everyone dispelled the transformation, revealing their uninjured selves.
Zabuza stepped up, ready to tear into the crowd as Gato quickly retreated to the back of his hired thugs like a frightened rabbit.
"Allow me."
Kakashi spoke up.
"I've been meaning to try something."
Zabuza stepped aside, curious to see what else Kakashi had up his sleeve.
Kakashi stepped forward, his lone eye locking onto the thugs with chilling intensity. An invisible wave of concentrated will—a cold, silver wave perceptible only to those with dojutsu—slammed into them. The thugs didn't scream; they simply collapsed, falling like puppets with their strings cut.
"What the hell?"
Zabuza murmured, voicing the stunned thought echoing through everyone present—even Gato, who looked on with widened eyes. A wave of pure, unadulterated will had just brushed past them, heavy and intense enough to steal the breath from their lungs, though it hadn't lashed out at them as it had the thugs.
The thugs lay scattered on the ground, their minds having been forced into submission by sheer mental pressure, unconscious and inert. Zabuza felt the lingering, oppressive weight of that aura against his skin, a stark contrast to the casual killing intent he was used to. It wasn't a physical attack, but a crushing force that had snuffed out the consciousness of these lesser men.
"He's all yours."
Kakashi casually gestured to the scared-stiff Gato, breaking him and Zabuza out of their stunned states as Zabuza got a vicious grin on his face as he ran at Gato like a devil, catching up to the short man's sad attempt at running from a ninja and cutting him in half from right shoulder down to his left hip.
Zabuza sneered at the body that hadn't even had the chance to fall yet, kicking it into the ocean and turning to walk back to Haku, noticing Kakashi talking to his genin about something.
Haku and Zabuza watched as Kakashi's squad closed in on the unconscious thugs. The three genin stood over the unconscious thugs, their breath hitching as they looked down at the defenseless men. A heavy hesitation hung in the air—the final barrier of their childhood. Then, with a grim, collective resolve, they drove their kunai home, ending the lives of the men and claiming their first kills.
Kakashi gave his team permission to look away. He moved among the remaining thugs with a cold, practiced efficiency, ending each life with a single, measured swipe of his kunai to the throat.
The three genin grew pale as the scent of iron filled the air and blood began to pool heavily at the edge of the bridge. Despite the rising nausea, they steeled themselves to watch. They chose to face the grim reality now, forcing an early exposure to the gore to ensure they wouldn't falter when their lives truly depended on it.
Kakashi later invaded Gato's stronghold alongside Zabuza, handing a majority of the money to him and taking the money owed to them by Tazuna, and bringing back the rest for the Land of Waves to get back on its feet.
After saying their goodbyes and wishing Zabuza and Haku luck, Team Seven remained for the following week to fulfill their mission of guarding Tazuna. With an influx of funds and the extra hands of Naruto's shadow clones, construction moved much faster, and the bridge was completed in only a week.
As Team Seven walks away while waving at the gathered Villagers, Kakashi hears a soft chime.
*Ding*
The Demon and Angel live another day.
Reward: Understanding of Water Release enhanced
We helped too!
The Great Naruto Bridge is no more; it's now 'The Seventh Path.'
Reward: Slight increase in Fishing Techniques.
Kakashi ignored the second reward, feeling his understanding of water release deepen a decent amount. Not close to the level of Tobirama, but definitely more than most Kiri ninja.
On the way back to the village, Kakashi read the Fuinjutsu book from before, as did Naruto. Sasuke practiced hand seals for a fire jutsu that Kakashi wanted him to learn, and Sakura was made to keep a leaf stuck to her palms as they ran.
After a day and a half of travel, Team Seven checks in at Konoha's gate and reports to the Hokage's office for the mission debriefing.
"An A-Rank."
Hiruzen bit back on his worry, examining the genin with his eyes and internally thankful that he didn't see any of them injured.
"Very well. Did the client end up paying you the required amount?"
Kakashi flashed the scroll, and Hiruzen hummed in confirmation.
"Very well then, congratulations, Team Seven, for completing your first mission outside of these walls, an A-Rank as well, very impressive. You three go rest up."
The three genin bowed and left the office. Hiruzen gestured for Kakashi to explain everything now that the genin were gone. Kakashi went on to explain the brief encounter with the Demon Brothers and his subsequent decision to continue the mission. He detailed their first meeting with
Zabuza and his masked companion, followed by Team Seven's training and their guard shifts. The team's first kills, the plan to eliminate Gato and liberate the people of Wave, concluded with the successful completion of the bridge.
"Very good, Kakashi. Take some time to ensure Sakura and Sasuke are prepared for the upcoming Chunin Exams. Debuting a rookie team that outshines the other villages will be a powerful statement for the Daimyos in attendance during the final round."
Kakashi nodded, mentally mapping out training for the two in his head as the Hokage.
"How did they take their first kills?"
Hiruzen asked, heart heavy as he thought about how many times he's asked this same question to other Jonin senseis over the years.
"Better than I expected. No throwing up or tears. They just needed time to come to terms with it. I think they worked it out."
"Good, good. Glad to see it didn't break their spirits."
Hiruzen took a soft inhale of his tobacco pipe.
"This rebellion Zabuza spoke of..... Do you believe him?"
Hiruzen pondered to himself as he waited for the answer.
"Yes, I believe he was telling the truth."
Hiruzen hummed in thought.
"Suna grows more worrisome by the day. I fear they will resort to desperation if the situation isn't stabilized. I have already asked the Fire Daimyo to intercede with the Wind Daimyo on my behalf, but my efforts were in vain. Their financial state is dire; I attempted to redirect missions back to their village to ease the burden, but I was denied. The Wind Daimyo's neglect has pushed Sunagakure to the brink, and desperate people are prone to dangerous choices."
Hiruzen sighed, the weight of his years etched deeply into his face.
"Then I considered what Zabuza told you regarding the rebellion. The 'Bloody Mist' faction is far too radical for us to ever support, but securing an ally within the rebellion itself is a different matter. If we were to provide financial backing and armaments, Konoha could gain a strategic foothold on the borders of the other nations—provided the rebels emerge victorious."
"Seems like a risk, but one we can minimize by being careful and not openly supporting them."
Kakashi thought to himself for a bit.
"Didn't the Fourth Mizukage use to be a respectable and genuinely kind person? What changed so much for his personality to completely switch?"
Kakashi pondered aloud, trying to steer the topic a certain way.
"Are you trying to imply that the Fourth Mizukage is being used in some way?"
Hiruzen thought it over, but shook his head.
"Not just anyone could control a tailed beast and his host-"
"It happened to the Nine-Tails."
Kakashi reminded, interjecting not impolitely, but firmly.
"That night, the Nine-Tails broke free despite my sensei and his wife being seal masters. There were signs of a struggle and interference. Sharingan in its eye despite the Uchiha being ordered to stay out of the fight. It might be a reach, but what if the one responsible for that night is also playing as the Mizukage behind the scenes? If he could control the Nine-Tails, then the Three-Tails shouldn't be an issue for him."
"Interesting theory, but for now, this is all conjecture," Hiruzen replied, his thoughts drifting to the final conversation he had with Itachi before the boy's departure. He thought of the Akatsuki and the Masked Man—the one he suspected was truly behind the Nine-Tails' attack and the death of his wife, Biwako.
"However, it is a lead that warrants investigation. I will inform Jiraiya and have him observe the situation in Kiri from a distance before he makes discreet contact with Mei Terumī and her resistance. If we offer an alliance—whether in the shadows or otherwise—they may be willing to share what they know."
"Would you like me to assist?"
Hiruzen considered the idea for a moment before shaking his head. While Kakashi was more than strong, stealthy, and skilled enough for the task, Hiruzen needed him to focus entirely on his students. Under any other circumstances, he would have agreed without hesitation; with both Jiraiya and Kakashi on the same team, success would have been all but guaranteed.
"Had it been any other time, I'd have agreed without a second thought, but I'd like you to focus on your team for now."
Hiruzen said while he wrote down an order and summoned a monkey to go find Jiraiya.
"If that's all?"
Hiruzen chuckled, having been lost in his thoughts
"Yes, yes, that's all."
Kakashi bowed and left the office, heading back to his home to rest a bit.
Chapter End -
2.3k word count.
I realize that I didn't specify what happened to the thugs who tried to kidnap Tsunami in the original, but with this version of Naruto's clones..... they got destroyed.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.