(Naruto OC Story) Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“This fog is so thick you could cut it with a kunai. Geez how do you stand it, old man Tazuna?” I sat in the boat with the rest of Team 7 as we sailed across the river to the Land of Waves. I was getting bored so I decided to ask something normal for a change.

“It's always like this in the early morning. You just get used to it I guess, anymore you have to get used to things.” Tazuna gave and hearty sigh.

“Alright, try and keep quiet until we reach the shore. We don't need to be spotted by any enemy ninja.” Kakashi lightly scolded me, and I nodded my understanding.

“The bridge isn't far now. Our destination's just ahead, the Land of Waves.” The boat's oarsman announced. As we rowed forward the bridge and the village slowly became visible through the early morning fog.

“Wooah! It's huge!” Naruto exclaimed excitedly. I whacked him on the top of the head lightly.

“Naruto! Kakashi told us to be quiet until we reach shore, you should really listen.” I sighed as Naruto looked at me and rubbed his head.

“Sorry.” Naruto whispered.

“It's alright, Naruto. Now, Mr. Tazuna, before we reach the pier I want to ask you something.” Kakashi paused and noted how Tazuna only waited for the rest of his statement.

“The men who are after you, I need to know why, If you don't tell us I'm afraid I'll have to end this mission when we drop you ashore.”

“Hrmmm. I have no choice but to tell you, no, I want you to know the truth. Like you said this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a very long and deadly shadow.” Tazuna glared at the sea, as if picturing this man now.

“A long and deadly shadow? Do you mean to say that even though he's short, he has enough power and influence to strike fear into the villagers even when he's not around? In other words if he had to he would hire rogue ninja in order to attack or kill someone to stop a rebellion. He would make a spectacle of them in order to show his strength, and just how much he pays attention. Am I right so far?” I thought about what he said, and even though it was only a few words, if you couple that with what we've already been through, and the fact that Kakashi wants us to be quiet, then it must be pretty big news.

“Yes. You know him, or at least I'm sure you've heard his name before. He is one of the wealthiest men in the world, the shipping magnet, Gato.”

“Huh. Gato, of Gato Transport? He's a business leader, everyone knows him.” Kakashi was perplexed by this news.

“Who, who, what, what.” Naruto sat forward eagerly.

“Naruto, can it please. You weren't even paying attention. Do you even know what he just said?” I sighed calmly.

“Uh, something about a shipping pageant?” Naruto said.

“No, he mentioned a shipping Magnet! Next time listen, then you won't be so confused.” I slid my hand down my face, from my recent facepalm. 'Shipping pageant? Seriously, Naruto! That's what you came up with!'

“Oh. Sorry, Rayne.” Naruto, sighed.

“Don't sweat it. Just try and pay more attention okay?” I didn't look at him when I said it, but I knew he was watching me, waiting for my response.

“Okay. Alright, I won't disappoint you again. Believe It!”

“Damare, baka yaro! If you don't want to disappoint me then keep your voice down.”

Kakashi just looked at us, and we both apologized for being so noisy. After all on a mission, to much noise can get you killed.

“Gato is a very powerful tycoon from a very famous company, that's true. But below the surface, with the same ruthless methods he uses to take over businesses and nations, he sells drugs and contraband using gangs and ninja.” Tazuna pauses as if remembering something dreadful, before deciding to continue speaking. “ It was one year ago when Gato first set his sight on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand his way simply, disappeared. In an island nation, a man who controls the sea, controls everything; Finance, Government, our very lives, but theirs one thing he fears; the bridge. Once it is complete it will join us to the mainland and that will break his control. I am the bridge builder.”

“So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge you're standing in this gangsters way.” Sakura contemplated this deeply. 'Don't hurt yourself now pinky' I though to myself.

“That means, that those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gato.” Sasuke stated in a very concerned manor.

“Hmmm.” Naruto was trying to think of how this all fit together, but he's better at hands on, maybe later he'll be better at the planning portion.

“I don't understand, if you knew he was dangerous, and knew he'd send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?” Kakashi was now just trying to make sense of all the secrecy.

“Because the Land of Waves is a small and impoverished nation.” I stated, while staring at Tazuna.

“Correct, even our Nobles have little money. The common people who are building this bridge, they can't pay for an “A” or a “B” ranked mission. It's to expensive; if you end the mission when you drop me ashore, there will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me before I reach home. But, don't feel bad about that of course my sweet little grandson will be upset, he'll cry “Grandad, I want my Grandad.” Oh, and my daughter will condemn the Ninja of the Hidden Leaves, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning her father, and living her life in sorrow.” Tazuna had a smug look on his face.

“You know, we would have helped you anyway? There was really no need for the guilt trip, old man. Our job is to protect you so you can get this bridge done, we'll do that, no matter what! I promise.” I placed my closed fist over my heart and bowed slightly, or at leas as much as you can while sitting in a moving boat.

“Uh, there's no need to bow. I'm not a Noble.” Tazuna scratched his head as he and the others on the boat surveyed me.

“Regardless, you act like one for wanting to protect you're people, regardless of the fact that had it been any other team assigned this mission, you may have failed. I admire that, and as such I give you my word that I will do my best to make sure you are protected until you're bridge is finished being built.” I removed my fist from over my heart and stared at Tazuna.

“You are a strange one.” Tazuna chuckled and shook his head.

“True, but this strange one is the person who's going to keep you alive, well the rest of Team 7 and myself anyway.” I grinned.
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We sat in silence for what felt like ages until finally the oarsman decided to let us know that we were approaching the shore. We passed under and through a tunnel and into the main village of the Land of Waves. It was a beautiful place, and minus the chaos that you knew was hiding in the shadows, it seemed like a very peaceful place. When we landed we said goodbye to the oarsman and headed off into the woods. Tazuna wanted us to get him home safely.

'The next ninja they send won't be a Chunin, they'll be a Jounin. Elite ninja with deadly skills. Ooah.' Kakashi sighed as he though to himself about the doom that was bound to befall us.

Naruto and Sasuke walked in pace with each other. It seemed neither wanted to let the other one go ahead. Then Naruto raced ahead and looked around, then the next thing we knew he took a kunai and threw it into the bushes, scaring the crap out of a poor bunny rabbit.

“Naruto! Look what you did!” Sakura yelled at Naruto, and this time I could understand it.

“ooah! I'm sorry little rabbit, I'm sorry.” Naruto picked up the rabbit and cuddled it to his chest.

Kakashi and I looked at one another, Naruto may be dense at times, but he is not that dense. There was definitely someone following us, we had to tread carefully from now on.

“Look out!” Kakashi shouted as I was walking forward to tell Naruto to let the rabbit go. I noticed the giant sword that came flying at Tazuna and instantly moved into the line of fire, and sent the sword flying into another tree.

“Where did you get that!” Tazuna was referring to the katana I had in my hands.

“I've always had this with me, you all just never noticed until now. Tazuna stay in between  us, we'll protect you. Trust me.” I readied my weapon as we all formed a tight circle around Tazuna, as a sudden enemy Ninja appeared on top of the sword I had just deflected.

“Well, well. If it isn't Zabuza Momochi, rogue ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist.” Kakashi glared at Zabuza.

“Kakashi of the Sharingan eye, did I get that part right? It's to bad, you'll have to hand over the old man.” Zabuza and Kakashi were having a stare down so I took the opportunity to start having us all move back a little and stay in formation, this way we could get Tazuna out of danger.

“Where do you think you're going?” Zabuza's head snapped up in our direction. We all stopped moving.

“Hold on Zabuza. This fight is between you and me, not them.” Kakashi lifted up the left side of his headband revealing one of his eyes to be the Sharingan.

“Ah, the Sharingan, this is going to be quite interesting.” Zabuza smirked from his spot in the tree.

“Sharingan, Sharingan. Whet the heck is a Sharingan?” Naruto scratched his head, he had no idea. I had forgotten, that not that many people knew about the different Kekkai Genki blood traits.

“Sharingan is a rare power that resides in the eyes, the user of this visual jutsu or dojutsu, can instantly see and comprehend any form of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, or Genjutsu and reflect the attack back on the attacker. The Sharingan is a special rare form of dojutsu, however, there's more to the sharingan then that, a lot more.” Sasuke explained it in great detail, or at least the bit that was important.

“Different clans have different specialty jutsu's, well some also have a rare dojutsu that is a Kekkai Genkai of their family. For the Uchiha it was the Sharingan, just as for the Hyuga it was the Byakugan.” I explained to Naruto as plainly as I could.

“Oh, that makes more sense now.”

“I figured it would.”

“Aright, enough chitchat. It would seem that if I want to get to the old man I'll have to defeat you first, eh Kakashi? So be it.” Zabuza yanked his sword from the tree and jumped over to the water and began storing up chakra.

'He's storing up a mass amount of chakra.' Kakashi thought to himself, as he got ready to fight at any moment.

“Ninja art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!” Zabuza released his jutsu which brought in more mist, basically cloaking him from our sight.

“Stay calm, and don't break formation. Leave Zabuza to Kakashi. We need to focus on protecting Tazuna.” My order snapped everyone back to reality, and out of whatever depression they had started to sink into. “I won't let this guy hurt my comrades, or our client, this I swear to you.”

“Quit being such a show off, Rayne. Besides if he manages to get past Kakashi Sensei we're as good as dead. None of us are strong enough to go up against a Jounin yet.” Sakura sounded both annoyed, and scared.

“Hrmph, think what you like Sakura. You don't know me half as well as you think you do. As I said I will protect you, all of you.” I kept my stance at the ready in case I needed to attack quickly and stilled the beat of my heart, blocking out all other noise and listening for any slight disturbance in the area, a tell tale if you will, of where Zabuza was at.

'She's gathering a minimal amount of chakra, what is she doing?' Sasuke glanced back and looked at me. He noticed my face was focused, it was then that he realized I was trying to single out where Zabuza would be at. That was a very advanced technique, normally only Jounin could do it, because they had been a ninja for longer than most.

'Come on, Reishimaru, let's find this bastard.' I could feel Reishimaru open her eyes and look at me, even though she was inside me.

'Hah, very well then. I don't really like this guy anyway.' Reishimaru opened herself up to me, but only slightly. I didn't need to change in front of anyone. So by doing this she enabled me to better hear, see, and smell my surroundings.

“Eight points; Larynx, Spine, Lungs, Liver, Jugular, Subclavian Artery, Kidney's, Heart. Now, which will be my attack point.” Zabuza, taunted us from the mist.
Kakashi released some chakra in order to disperse some of the mist around us, that's when I noticed Sasuke was clamming up. If I didn't do something, he'd be dead first. I let go of my sword briefly and lightly tapped his cheek and sent a small thread of my chakra into him, calming him down. He looked at me as I drew my hand away and went back to holding onto my sword and scanning the area, he was shocked. The whole time I did that I had not once lost my focus on listening for Zabuza.

“Thank you.” Sasuke said to me, but for what it was worth I heard, although I did not need to reply. He knew I heard him as I inclined my head slightly.

“Good Job, Rayne. Everyone, calm down. I will not allow my comrades to die, I'll protect you with my life. Trust me.” Kakashi turned and smiled at us all.

“I wouldn't be to sure of that.” Zabuza appeared in between us and Tazuna. “Time to die.” Before Kakashi could get there, Zabuza exploded into a shower of water before their eyes. All that was left was my katana sticking out right about where his heart would have been.

“That wasn't the real Zabuza. Don't break formation so easily, Kakashi said he would protect us, and to trust him. So let's do just that.” I calmly turned around and went back to my original position of protecting Tazuna. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were floored with how calm I was at attacking the clone, and the fact that I knew it wasn't the real Zabuza.

“You've got a smart brat there Kakashi. She'd make a great chunin or jounin, to bad she won't live that long. None of them will.” Zabuza continued taunting us from the mist as everyone moved back into formation.

'She was so fast, she even managed to detect that it was a clone, and not the real enemy. The rest of us scattered, and she just turned around in a split second and didn't hesitate to stab the guy.' Sasuke shook his head. “Remind me never to piss you off, okay?”

“Duly noted.” I continued scanning the area for the real Zabuza. 'We're not going to get him. Kakashi's right he'll go after our Sensei before attacking us, because if he can eliminate the guy who can protect us, then we're screwed. Nice call on the clone by the way, Reishimaru.'

'No, problem. You're determined to protect this bridge builder and your friends. I don't see why I wouldn't give you a hand, loyalty is a very rare, and truly precious characteristic in a person.' She rested her head on her hands and stared at me with one of her teal eyes.

The real Zabuza went to attack Kakashi and it looked like it succeeded, until that Kakashi also burst into a shower of water, and the real Kakashi popped up behind him with a Kunai to Zabuza's neck.

“Don't move.” Kakashi's grip on the kunai was steady and firm, no getting away from this if it went south. “Now, it's over.”

'Shit! I knew this was too easy. Thanks, Reishi.' I turned around and faced everyone, but looked at Kakashi when I yelled. “Get out of there! It's a trap!”