"It's time to die Zabuza," Kakashi said and formed some seals so fast that Zabuza couldn't keep up. A masked person watching did see the seals, however, and prepared for Kakashi's move.
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Grand Waterfall Technique)," Kakashi said. The water below him started to spin before rising and forming a spinning funnel that headed straight towards Zabuza.
"What? This can't be!" Zabuza yelled before he was swallowed by the water. The funnel of water continued to spin and move through the forest. Naruto wasted no time as he quickly ran and followed after the spiraling water vortex through the forest while Zabuza was being thrown in different directions inside the water before finally getting slammed into a tree. Zabuza found it difficult to move after the harsh impact into the tree, and being violently spun around added to his disoriented state. A masked person who was in hiding watching the fight the entire time disappeared in a swirling mist.
As Naruto was reaching Zabuza, he pulled out several kunai and threw them into Zabuza's arms and legs.
"Now die!" Naruto said as he extended his right arm and prepared to finish Zabuza off with a soon-to-be-formed Rasengan. Suddenly, two long needles flew through the air and struck Zabuza. He fell down with a shocked expression.
"Hey, you were right. He did die," a masked person said, standing on a tree branch not far from where Zabuza fell. Kakashi appeared next to Zabuza and checked his life signs.
"He really is dead," Kakashi said, then looked at the masked person, who bowed to him.
"I am most appreciative of your defeating Zabuza for me. I really don't think I could have handled him on my own. If you'll excuse me, I'll take the body," said the tracker, earning a wary gaze from Naruto as she picked up the body.
"Wait a minute, let me help get rid of his body," offered Naruto.
"Thank you, but I can handle it from here. Besides, I'd have to kill you if you stumbled upon one of my village's secrets while I dissect him," the tracker replied before quickly disappearing with the body in a swirling mist. Naruto's eyes narrowed, but he made no comment. Kakashi collapsed to the ground before Sasuke and Sakura ran over to him.
"The Sharingan has interesting abilities," Kakashi said. "However, it puts a lot of strain on the body, and it drains a lot of chakra."
Going over to Kakashi, Naruto made two kage bunshins and had them take Kakashi off Sasuke and Sakura's hands.
"By the way, Naruto, where's Tazuna?" Kakashi asked.
"Up there," Naruto said as he pointed up to the top of one of the trees. The group looked up to see a Naruto clone standing on one of the branches with Tazuna on his back, high up in the tree. Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura saw that none of the trees actually had any lower branches for Naruto or his clones to use to climb up.
"How did your kage bunshin get Tazuna and himself up there without any branches near the ground?" Sakura asked.
"A hook and some rope, Sakura," Naruto lied. "Nothing special, really. He held onto my clone as my clone climbed the tree."
What Naruto didn't tell them was that his clone scaled the tree using chakra with Tazuna holding onto him. The clone held onto Tazuna and performed a smokeless shunshin with him and teleported over to Naruto.
"Shunshin no Jutsu…when did you learn that?" Sakura asked.
"Must I be questioned every time I improve?" Naruto remarked. "Rather than questioning me, you ought to be proud and complimenting me. I'm sure you'd have done that if it were Sasuke."
Sakura wanted to give a retort, but Kakashi cut in, "Swopping Tazuna with one of your disguised clones was a nice trick."
"After Zabuza made that mist, I took advantage of our imposed inability to see our surroundings and made two clones. I had one of them henge into Tazuna, while the other one took our client and hid with him high up in the trees while keeping watch over him. That way, we were able to deal with Zabuza without fear of Tazuna getting hit in the crossfire or Zabuza finding another chance to attack Tazuna."
Naruto untied his orange jacket from around his waist and placed it back on normally.
"You really thought that through, Naruto. Excellent job," Kakashi complimented. "In general, you've all done well."
"Thank you, everyone. I would be honored to have you guys stay with me," said Tazuna. Naruto's third kage bunshin popped as the group headed to Tazuna's house to rest and regain the strength that they had lost in the battle.
(Three Hours Later)
The group finally arrived at Tazuna's place, a nice plain house by the riverside. Waiting there was Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, a woman in her thirties with long dark hair and an attractive but stern face.
"Tsunami! I'm so glad to see you. These are the good ninja from Konoha that protected me," Tazuna said, introducing the team from Konoha, each of whom bowed back in response (minus Kakashi, who was still being carried).
"Thank you for helping my father," Tsunami said, smiling. Kakashi, though exhausted, nodded along with Naruto, while the Genin beamed with pride at Tazuna's next words.
"They're really strong, and they didn't even leave when they learned that they will be up against really tough enemies here!" the old man boasted.
"But why did you all decide to continue the mission?" Tsunami asked as Tazuna and the others headed toward the house. "We only had enough for a C-rank, and this must be more than that."
"Forsaking and abandoning those in need is both dishonorable and cowardly. Plus, we wanted a tough mission to strengthen ourselves," Naruto said with a bit of seriousness, then he gave a perverted smile. "And seeing a beautiful young maiden of the ocean's waves like yourself before my eyes is my undeserving reward for accepting such a dangerous mission. Surely someone of your feminine grace can't possibly be any older than twenty-two."
Sasuke and Sakura groaned in annoyance, seeing that Naruto was back to his old perverted antics again.
"Ugh…thank you…I guess," Tsunami could only say with a blush while feeling both faltered and embarrassed that she was being flirted with by someone less than half her age. Tazuna chuckled at his daughter's situation and Naruto's behavior in admiring Tsunami. "I think my daughter is a little too old for you boy."
"No maiden beauty that I'm a foreigner to is ever too old for me to admire and appreciate," Naruto countered. That comment got Tazuna to laugh louder while Tsunami's embarrassment only increased.
"You're shameless Naruto," Sakura scolded with a scowl.
He's dating Hinata who should be with someone better and yet this two-timing pervert flirts with women much older than him! I don't know what she sees in him! "Kakashi-sensei needs a place to rest," Sasuke stated returning the focus back on Kakashi's needs as everyone now entered the house.
"I doubt I'll be able to move properly for a week," Kakashi replied.
"I have two extra rooms for you all," Tazuna said. "The young girl can sleep in one of them, while your sensei and the boys can share the other."
Naruto's two kage bunshin handed Kakashi over to Sasuke and Sakura.
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