"You all did a very good job with your first C-ranked mission," said the Hokage. "Perhaps you will get more in the future, seeing how capable you were."

"That sounds troublesome," said Shikamaru. Suzu was beginning to wonder if he thought everything was troublesome.

Team Ten left the room, leaving Suzu alone with the Hokage.

"What brings you to Konoha?" the Hokage asked.

Suzu had thought this and several other things over during her travel.

"My parents died on a mission," Suzu lied. "They always told me that if anything happened to them I should come here. They said I would be safer."

The Hokage frowned, his face sympathetic. "I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm sure we can find a place for you to stay.
"You're from Kusagakure, correct?" the Hokage asked, scribbling things down in pen on a piece of paper.

"Yes," Suzu said, praying he wouldn't contact the village for verification.

"I see you have a shuriken poach. Are a kunoichi then? Do you have your ID?"

"Um, no," Suzu said, quickly trying to think up these things which she hadn't considered. "I don't have my ID because I... we didn't take the Genin Selection Exam. I left right before we were supposed to take it."

"Hmm," the Hokage replied, thinking this over as he wrote. "Well, I'm afraid we've already taken the Genin Selection Exam for this year, and the teams have been assigned. However, I suppose it would be unfair if you had to wait a year, since you haven't gotten a chance to take it. Well then, I suppose we could make a special exception for you. You can take the exam, and if you pass, you'll be added to one of the new teams that we think you will work best with. There can be one team of four. How does that sound?"

Suzu smiled, excited at the thought of getting to be a kunoichi again. Hopefully for more than a couple of hours this time. "That sounds great! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"

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"You're late again!" Suzu heard someone shout as she made her way to the meeting place she'd been directed to.

"I got lost," another voice replied.

"How do you get lost in your own village?" a third voice—female this time—asked.

"Well, at least I'm not the last one to arrive," said the second voice.

"Yes! You are!" shouted the first. "Again!"

"Um, excuse me," Suzu said, approaching the group of angry strangers. "Is this Team Seven?"

The strangers were silent for a moment, the three who were about her age looking very confused.

"I told you I wasn't the last to arrive," said Kakashi.

"Who are you?" asked Sasuke.

"This is your new teammate," Kakashi explained.

"What?" said the three kids, Sasuke looking far less concerned with this than Sakura and Naruto.

"Why is she joining our team?" asked Sakura, clearly unhappy with the idea of this new girl joining them. "...I mean, the teams were already assigned."

And I don't want this new girl getting between me and Sasuke-kun, she thought to herself.

"Well, she's new to the village and didn't get a chance to take the test to become a genin back in her old village," explained their sensei. "It wouldn't be fair if we didn't give her a chance."

"So that's it?" Naruto asked. "She's a part of the team?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied.

"You're not going to test her or anything?"

"Nope."

"Oh, come on!"

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What in the world is wrong with these people? Suzu wondered after Kakashi had finished introducing himself. I think I've come to a village full of lunatics.

"Well, that leaves you," Kakashi said. "Go ahead."

"Did we really have to do this again?" Naruto asked.

"No, but I'm making you do it again anyway," their sensei replied.

"Um, okay," Suzu said, ready to introduce herself. She had thought over her answers before saying them aloud so that she wouldn't slip up and reveal something she shouldn't. "My name is Suzu." She was mostly used to the name by now. "I like..." She liked Kurotsuchi. She liked Deidara-nii. She liked her grandfather and her aunt and uncle. She liked the way Kurotsuchi always teased their grandfather, angering him, much to Kurotsuchi's delight. She liked her home village of Iwagakure. But she could say none of these things. "...learning new things. I dislike..." having to leave her family and come to Konoha. When the villagers avoided her or treated her awfully. That stupid monster inside of her. That Ojiisama and Jichan had forced her to become its new vessel. "...the truth."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked. "Why would you not like the truth?"

"Because when you're looking for answers, and then you find them, the truth isn't always good enough. Sometimes the truth hurts and you wish it wasn't true. ...That's all."

"Not quite," Kakashi said. "You didn't tell us what you're goal is."

"My goal?" Suzu echoed, the concept coming as somewhat of a surprise to her. She had never had a goal; what goal was there to have in a world where you couldn't do anything because you were despised? Perhaps one may have considered her desire to become a kunoichi a goal, but if that were the case, that goal had already been achieved now that she was a genin. She looked to the sky, as if it might hold the answer. Like a hushed voice coming from the back of her mind was whispering to her, something came to mind.

"Avenge us," she whispered, echoing the words Han had said nearly a decade ago. The memory was now clear as day; vivid, yet it seemed like it happened centuries ago.

"What?" Kakashi said, almost doubting his ears.

"Avenge my people," Suzu said, this time loud enough so that everyone could hear her. "My goal is to avenge my people."

"Who are your people?" Sakura asked, equal parts curious and bewildered.

"Who are your people?" Suzu replied.

"What?" Sakura said, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Exactly," Suzu said, content with having directed Sakura's attention to something else.

Another one? Kakashi thought. Like Sasuke? The Hokage didn't say anything about this. There's a story behind this... something we don't know about?

"Geez, what's with everybody and revenge?" Naruto wondered aloud.

"I didn't say anything about revenge," Suzu said.

"You just said you'd avenge your people," Naruto pointed out. "Whatever that means."

"Avenge; not revenge," Suzu specified.

"There's no difference," said Sakura.

"Isn't there?" Suzu asked. Though it was phrased as a question, her statement seemed to challenge Sakura.

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"Now," said the Hokage after the daimyou's wife had come to retrieve her cat and strangle it in a death grip of a hug, "Kakashi's Team Seven, your next duty is... hmm... babysitting an elder's grandson, shopping in the neighboring village, and helping with the potato digging."

"No, no, no! No thank you!" exclaimed Naruto. "I want to do, you know, a more incredible mission! Find us a better one!"

Wow, Suzu thought incredulously. I wouldn't even talk to Ojiisama like that, let alone a kage I'm not related to... Kuro-chan might, but still.

"You idiot!" shouted Iruka, a chuunin-ranked shinobi of Konoha. "You are just a rookie! Everyone starts off with the simple duties and works their way up!"

"But! But!" Naruto objected. "We keep getting the crappiest possible duties!"

"Be quiet, you," Kakashi ordered.

"Naruto, it seems I have to explain to you what these duties are all about."

"Last night I had pork ramen, so miso soup sounds good for—"

"—Hey! Listen!" shouted the Hokage, interrupting Naruto.

"I apologize," said Kakashi.

"Geez!" Naruto yelled. "All you do is give lectures like that. But you know what? I'm not the trouble-making brat that you still think I am."

"Hokage-sama," said Suzu, ignoring Naruto's outburst. "If D-rank missions are best for genin, then why was Team Asuma sent to escort me from Takigakure? You said it was a C-rank mission; aren't they genin?"

"What?" Naruto exclaimed, now very alert with what was being said. "You mean the Idiot Trio got a C-rank mission! Oh come on, that's no fair!"

"That team has proven themselves capable thus far and have yet to complain," the Hokage explained. Well, except for Nara Shikamaru, on occasion. "But," he continued, "if you want it that much; I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's to protect a certain individual."

"Who? Who?" Naruto pressed. "A daimyou? A princess?"

"Calm down, I'm about to introduce him," said the Hokage. "Hey, will you come in here?"

"What's this?" said the man who entered the room. "They're all a bunch of super brats."

"I've been called a brat before, but never a super brat," Suzu muttered under her breath. "Should I be honored?"

"Especially the shortest one with the super stupid-looking face," said the man. "Are you really a shinobi? Hey?"

"Haha!" Naruto laughed, looking from side-to-side. "Who's the shortest one with the stupid face?" Sasuke was the tallest, Suzu about a centimeter or two taller than Sakura, who was slightly taller than Naruto, making him the shortest. "I'll kill you!" he shouted, being held back by his sensei, who had a tight grip on his collar.

"What's the point in killing the person we're supposed to protect?" Kakashi pointed out. "Idiot!"

"That does seem counter-productive," Suzu agreed.

"I am the super expert bridge builder Tazuna," said the man. "I expect you to provide me super protection until I get back to my country and complete the bridge."

"And where exactly is your country?" asked Suzu, trying to sound as casual as possible.

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"Let's go!" shouted Naruto.

"What are you so excited about?"

"Because I've never left the village before," Naruto explained.

"Hey!" said Tazuna. "Am I really going to be safe with this brat?"

"Well, I am a jounin," Kakashi assured him. "Don't worry."

"Hey, old man!" said Naruto. "Don't mess with shinobi! I'm incredible!"

This guy might be worse than Kuro-chan, Suzu noted with slight annoyance.

"One day I will take on the super elite shinobi title of Hokage! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! Remember it!"

"Hokage is the village's number one shinobi rank, right? I doubt someone like you could become it."

"Shut up!" barked Naruto. "I am prepared to do anything to become Hokage! Once I become Hokage you will acknowledge me!"

"No, I won't, you brat," said Tazuna. "Even if you did become Hokage."

"I'll kill you!" shouted Naruto.

"I said stop, moron," Kakashi interjected.

"Um, Tazuna-san?" Sakura began. "You're from the Land of Waves, right?"

"What about it?" Tazuna said.

"Kakashi-sensei, do they have shinobi in that country, too?" Sakura asked.

"No, not in the Land of Waves," Kakashi said, "but, in most other countries. The culture and customs may be different, but hidden villages exist, and so do shinobi. Like Suzu-san here. She comes from Kusagakure no Sato, right Suzu?"

"Yeah," Suzu lied. "It's not one of the five main shinobi villages, but it's still a hidden village. I've also been to Takigakure."

"Do they have Kages?" Naruto asked.

"No, we don't," Suzu answered, recalling old lessons and what the woman back in Taki had told her. "We have village leaders but not Kages. Kages are only found in the Great Five Shinobi Countries' hidden villages: Iwa-, Konoha-, Suna-, Kumo- and Kiri-gakure."

"Precisely," said Kakashi.

"Wow! Hokage-sama is the best!" Sakura crowed. That lame geezer is this incredible? Sounds fishy...

"You guys just doubted Hokage-sama, didn't you?" said Kakashi. "But don't worry. There won't be any shinobi combat in a C-Rank mission."

"Then we won't come into contact with foreign shinobi?"

"Of course not!" Kakashi said with a laugh, patting Sakura reassuringly on the head.

The group walked past a puddle of water, Kakashi sparing only a glance. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kakashi was wrapped by a kusari, surrounded by two shinobi.

"Huh?"

"What's this?"

"One down," said the shinobi, ripping Kakashi apart with the kusari.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"Two down," he said, landing next to Naruto.

Sasuke threw a kunai, pinning the kusari to a tree, but the shinobi broke off the kusari, lunging at Naruto with his fingers, which were equipped with neko-te.

"Ojisan, get back!" said Sakura, pushing Tazuna out of the way.

Suzu, noticing that one of the shinobi was lunging at Naruto, quickly reached for her hitai-ate and reached under it, pulling out one of many shirai ryu bo shuriken which she had tucked away under it, and threw the shuriken at the shinobi's leg. The blade sank into his lower thigh, followed by a cry of pain. The shinobi stumblied to pick himself up, still managing to land a minor blow on Naruto.

The other shinobi made his way for Sakura; Sasuke quickly jumped in front of her, ready to defend against the shinobi, only to be stopped by Kakashi, who had done Body Replacement Technique only moments before.

"Naruto, I'm sorry I didn't save you immediately," Kakashi apologized. "I got you injured. I didn't think you would freeze like that. You could have gotten hurt a lot worse if Suzu hadn't helped out. Anyway, nice job Sasuke; Sakura and Suzu, too."

"You alright, scaredy cat?" Sasuke jeered, clearly trying (and succeeding) to provoke Naruto.

"Naruto, save it for later," Kakashi said. "Their claws are soaked in poison. We have to remove it quickly.
"We must open the wound and release the poisoned blood from your body. Don't move much. The poison will spread.
"Tazuna-san."

"What is it?" asked the old man.

"I need to talk to you," Kakashi replied. "These look like Kirigakure chuunin. These shinobi are known to continue fighting no matter what."

"How did you read our movements?" asked one of the shinobi.

"On a sunny day like this, when it hasn't rained in days, there's not going to be puddles," Kakashi explained.

"If you knew that, why did you let the brats fight?" asked Tazuna.

"If I had wanted two, I could have killed these two instantly," Kakashi said, "but there was something I needed to find out: who these two were after."

"What do you mean?"

"Meaning, were they after you or one of us," Kakashi elaborated. "We haven't heard that there are shinobi after you. Our mission was to simply protect you from thieves or gangs.
"This has now become at least a B-rank mission. This was supposed to be simple protection until you completed the bridge.
"If it was known that shinobi were after you, this mission would have been set as the more expensive B-rank. I'm sure you had a reason, but it causes problems when you lie about the mission. We are now operating outside of our duties."

"We aren't ready for this mission," Sakura said. "Let's quit! We will need medicine for Naruto's wound. We should go back to the village and take him to a doctor."

"Hmm, this might be too much," their sensei agreed. "I guess we should return to the village to treat Naruto."

Furious, Naruto pulled out a kunai, stabbing his already wounded hand and letting it bleed out.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sakura exclaimed.

"With this kunai," Naruto replied, "I'll protect the old man. We're continuing the mission."

"Naruto, it's good that you are releasing the poison," his sensei said, "but anymore, and you'll die from lack of blood. Seriously."

"No! That's bad!" Naruto said. "I can't die from something like this!"

"Let me see your hand," Kakashi said over Naruto's panicking and Sakura's comments on the stupidity of Naruto's latest action.

"Kakashi-sensei, I don't want to run away," Suzu said. Not this time.

"Um, hey, am I going to be okay?" Naruto asked, noticing the grave expression on Kakashi's face.

"Sensei," said Tazuna, bearing an expression nearly as grave as Kakashi's. "I have to talk to you. It's about this mission. You're right, this job is most likely out of your duties. It turns out that a super dangerous man is after my life."

"A dangerous man? Who?"

"You've probably at least heard his name before," said Tazuna. "The wealthy shipping magnate... a man named Gatou."

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Huh? Gatou? From that Gatou company? He's said to be of the world's few extremely wealthy people."

"Yes," said Tazuna, "officially, he runs a large shipping company, but secretly, he sells drugs and other illegal items, using shinobi and gang members to take over businesses and countries. He's a very nasty man. It was about a year ago when he set his eyes on Land of Waves. Through money and violence, he quickly took control of the country's shipping industry. Gatou now has a monopoly on all business traffic in the country. The only thing he has to fear now is the completion of the bridge."

"I see," said Sakura, "since you're building the bridge, you're in the way."

"So those shinobi were hired by Gatou?" Sasuke guessed.

"Why not tell us that in the first place?" Suzu asked.

"The Land of Waves is poor," Tazuna explained. "Even the daimyou has no money. Of course, we don't have much money either, not enough for the expensive B-rank mission.
"Well, if you quit the mission now, I will definitely be killed, but don't worry about it! If I die, my cute, ten-year-old grandson will only cry for a few days!
"Oh yeah, and my daughter will live a sad life hating Konoha shinobi forever, but it won't be your fault. Not at all!"

Kakashi shrugged, submitting to defeat. "Well, I guess we have no choice. We will protect you at least until you get back to your country."

I win, Tazuna thought.

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"What thick mist. I can't see ahead."

"We should see the bridge soon," said the man rowing the boat. "The Land of Waves is at the base of the bridge."

Squinting, hoping that it would be easier to make out that way, Suzu's eyes widened at the size of the grand bridge.

"Wow!" Naruto exclaimed. "It's huge!"

"Hey, be quiet," the man rowing the boat said. "Why do you think we are hiding in the mist and not using the engine? We'll be in deep trouble if Gatou finds us.
"We'll be there soon. Tazuna, it looks like we've avoided detection so far, but just in case we'll take the route that has vegetation. It will make it harder to spot us."

"Thanks," said Tazuna.

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"This is it for me," said the man on the boat once the last of his passengers had gotten off. "Goodbye and good luck."

"Yeah," said Tazuna. "Super thanks." He then turned back to his escorts. "Okay, get me home safely!"

"Yes, yes," said Kakashi.

"Super safely," Suzu mocked quietly enough so that the old man not to hear.

Walking alongside Sasuke, Naruto looked over to his teammate. Okay, he thought to himself. I'm not going to let him hog the spotlight.

"There!" he shouted, sensing something in the bushes and pulling out a shuriken. However, nothing emerged from the bushes. "Heh, just a rat."

"Stop trying to act cool!" said Sakura.

"In his defense, that rat could have been carrying diseases," Suzu replied before Sakura could continue.

"Hey, please stop using shuriken," Kakashi said. "It's seriously dangerous."

"Hey! Midget! Stop acting like a moron!" exclaimed Tazuna.

"Remember how we went through the mist and were really quiet so we wouldn't attract attention?" Suzu said.

"There!" said Naruto, throwing a shuriken at a bush.

"I said stop!" said Sakura, smacking him on the head.

"Somebody is after us, I swear!" said Naruto.

"Yeah, right!" Sakura replied.

Kakashi walked over to where Naruto had thrown his shuriken, Suzu following, and found a white rabbit lying dead on its back.

"Naruto, what have you done?" shouted Sakura.

"Oh, just a rabbit," said Tazuna.

"Ooooh, why did you have to kill da poor bunny?" Suzu said, staring down sadly at the rabbit.

Naruto picked up the rabbit and held it close, as if this would bring it back. "I didn't mean it, I'm sorry lil' rabbit!"

"Everyone, get down!"

Heeding Kakashi's order, everyone dropped to the ground, barely missing the sharp edge of a massive broadsword.

"Well, well, if it isn't Kirigakure's missing-nin, Momochi Zabuza-kun," Kakashi said. Sensing Naruto was about to make a move, Kakashi put a hand in front of him. "Everybody get back. This one's on a whole other level.
"Against him," Kakashi began, getting ready to shift the position of his forehead protector, "it will be a little tough unless I do this."

"You appear to be Sharingan Kakashi," Zabuza observed. "Sorry, but the old man is mine."

"Surround and protect Tazuna-san," Kakashi instructed the children. "Do not enter the fight. That's the teamwork here."

Risking my life would defeat the whole point of coming to Konoha, Suzu thought to herself. He doesn't have to worry about me running in.

"Zabuza, first," said Kakashi, pulling up his hitai-ate to reveal his left eye, "fight me."

"Ah, I already get to see the famous Sharingan," said Zabuza. "I'm honored."

"Sharingan! Sharingan! What the hell is that?" Naruto shouted.

"Sharingan," Sasuke said. "It is said that some have the ability in their eyes to read and defeat all types of gen-, tai-, and nin-jutsu. The Sharingan is one of the types of eyes that give you this power, but that's not the only ability the Sharingan has."

"Huh?"

"Exactly," Zabuza said with a laugh. "What's even scarier is that you can copy your opponent's techniques once you see them.
"When I was a member of Kirigakure's ANBU, I kept a handbook; it included information on you. And this is what it said: 'The man who has copied over one thousand jutsu, Copy Ninja Kakashi.'
"Now, let's end all the talking. I have to kill that old man, but Kakashi, it seems I have to beat you first."

Suzu held back a groan. Here we go again...