Tazuna can't bear to look at the faces of the three young ninja that he had hired.

The fight had been brutal, more than he had ever anticipated. He had watched helplessly behind an invisible barrier as the two young boys were stabbed and beaten into unconsciousness.

The girl had been momentarily spared before also being targeted. He saw the dark haired mist ninja slice at her eyes– Tazuna kneeled over and vomited all over the ground.

'What have I condemned these children too? What have I done?' He thought to himself when the girl screamed at the top of her lungs and clutched at her face.

The ninja battle had gotten messier after that, resulting in grappling and tussling on the floor. The pink haired girl uncaringly beat down her enemy regardless of what it took. The ninja– who he wasn't quite sure of the gender– lost their composure then, fighting back with the same ferocity.

In the end the pink haired girl was beaten and dragged by the hair to her teammates, where they were held hostage.

Tazuna felt sick, he didn't know if it was because of what he had witnessed or if it was with himself.

Tazuna didn't have the guts to face Gato alone and he hired leaf ninja to protect him. Now brutally beaten. Tazuna felt sick watching the kids struggle but felt an immense gratitude that it 'wasn't him but them'.

And the fact that he felt that way made him even sicker.

–

He watched the young kunoichi and Jonin as they carried the two unconscious boys.

Despite the Jonin and kunoichi's injuries, they still had the strength to continue on their journey without a break and whilst carrying fallen comrades. Tazuna looked away from them in shame.

"We will stay at my house. You can rest here as long as you want. It's the least I can do for the trouble I've caused." Tazuna mutters as he leads them to his home.

–

"Father?" a voice rings out and Tsunami comes around the corner to greet the newcomers.

"I've returned with a few ninja. They'll be the ones watching over us." Tazuna announced as he entered his home, letting all the ninja in.

"Sorry for the intrusion." Sakura called out meekly as she shuffled an unconscious Naruto slightly on her shoulder, blinking up at the woman. Tsunami looked at them startled at their state but nodded.

"Come in. I- do you need something?" She stammered out as she saw the unconscious teenagers.

Kakashi smiled. "Just a place to lay them down while we wait for them to wake up. They are just a little exhausted."

Tsunami nodded. "I can take you to my sons bedroom, you can lay them on his tatami mat." She stated as she ushered them in.

It didn't take long for Naruto to wake up. He had been knocked out due to some well targeted sebon on his chakra points and the shell shock from the explosion. Despite the damage, he recovered quickly with his healing ability. He recovered faster than Sasuke.

"What the... ugh.. What happene— Sakura!" Naruto has groggily woken up and noticed a bandaged Sakura sitting by.

"Naruto! You're up. Thank goodness. Sensei said you two would recover but I was beginning to worry." Sakura exclaimed with relief as she grabbed hold of Naruto's hand.

"What the hell happened? How did we get out of there? Aww geez.. The last thing I remember was being surrounded by the ice walls and then... then an explosion." He groaned and she let out a breathy sigh.

"I kinda used a seal to make the ice explode. I should've been more careful. I - when- I" she couldn't find a way to describe her battle with Haku. It had been a wild surprise attack, she had sprung on the enemy ninja without a plan.

"After you two passed out, I attacked him from behind. I was able to get the jump on him -" She finally said and Naruto smiled.

"Did you get 'em good?" He asked and she chuckled slightly as she thought of Haku who had left covered in blood, their face scratched up and hair pulled and tangled. She let out a shaky sigh.

"Yeah, I got him good. He was so mad. Called me a bitch and everything. I think I might've made my first enemy." She smiled and he grinned as he tried to sit up.

"You think or you know?" He asked. "...I know, told me his name was Haku Yuki, and to remember it because he would never forgive me for what I did to him." She said sheepishly and Naruto laughed, which made her blush.

"I can't believe you made your first enemy ninja before me. I think Sasuke already has one from way back, so he doesn't count. But that makes it like a debut right?" Naruto asks and Sakura sighs. "We nearly died, you know." She lets out a long sigh and leans back on the palm of her hands.

"But we lived, anyway... How's Sasuke?"

____

"Did you deal the final blow on the blond kid?" Zabuza asks Haku once he regains consciousness. Haku blinks a couple of times, processing the question for a moment. He was back in his and Zabuza's hideout.

"You were indisposed and I used the three genin as hostages for your life." Haku stated and Zabuza growled at the response. "So the Uzumaki brat made it out alive?"

Haku didn't reply to that, instead he chose to remain silent. Zabuza collapsed a bit onto himself in defeat and anguish. Brooding a bit before turning his attention over to Haku's appearance.

"Which one of the brats did that to you?" Zabuza huffed with amusement.

There were deep claw marks on his face, a dark bruising on his forehead from where that girl Sakura had attacked him.

He frowned at the question and looked away. "The girl, the pink haired one." he stated and Zabuza chuckled slightly. "She must've taken you by surprise."

Haku huffed and scowled, embarrassed and annoyed at the thought of Sakura.

"Well... Why did you decide to target the blonde kid? He wasn't all that much." Haku tried to change the subject and Zabuza's amused smile vanished.

"You weren't raised in the village so you really don't know." Zabuza answered after a moment. His collapsed and exhausted figure suddenly tensed and he sat up a bit. As if in alarm.

"A while back– around the time of the second shinobi war– there was another village predominately made of one clan, located not far from here." Zabuza began. He pointed his index finger in a direction out a window, glaring out into the horizon from here he sat.

"North east from here, in an island approximately twice the size of the Land of Wave, once were the Uzumaki clan." Zabuza's glare became one of resentment.

"The Uzumaki were seal masters and known for their various Kekkei Genkai. At the time it was believed that if a coalition of three villages attacked them, they could cripple Konoha and win the war through a decisive win." Zabuza dropped the glare and decided to, instead, distract himself by putting his sword on his lap and cleaning it.

"So he was from a clan that was destroyed back in the second war?" Haku asked, but he couldn't seem to understand what made him so dangerous. Or why Zabuza just seemed to just absolutely despise them. He himself was also from a clan that had fallen and that didn't make him that dangerous.

"The Uzumaki clan members are monsters. There's a reason it took 3 villages combined effort to kill them off." Zabuza gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

"Their ability is the use of the dead, revive and use sealing to disrupt chakra. You saw how we had no chance in reaching our target, if we allow that to live it'll just grow stronger." Zabuza started off.

The more that Haku listened to Zabuza describe the Uzumaki clan the more he felt a kinship to them. He had also been seen as a monster that shouldn't be allowed to grow up. As if his existence was evil and that everyone in his clan should be disposed of. He did not voice his thoughts however.

"It's because of them that the bloodline purges started. Most ninja feared that Kekkei Genkai users would become like the Uzumaki and start developing more abilities like them. Of course there's a difference between other clans and those Uzushio bastards. But most couldn't see past that." Zabuza stated and Haku's eyes widened.

"So people were so afraid of them that they started to suspect that other clans were like them?" He asked and Zabuza glanced at him.

"Why wouldn't they? They were strong and powerful, they had multiple abilities and well.... Their seals were their main weapons. When the war ended they didn't find much on the island. The Mist definitely pillaged their land to see how they were able to gain their abilities or at least what they were like." Zabuza pondered out loud. Haku frowned.

They sat in silence for a moment. Zabuza seemingly to recollect his thoughts while Haku processed the information. Zabuza broke the silence once he seemed to know what to say.

"There was some information and if I remember correctly they found a new sealing method for the tailed beast. But seeing how Yagura came out it was probably flawed on purpose. Rumor spread that the seal used made a Uzumaki possess the Mizukage and they were taking revenge."

"Do you think it's true? That they could use a seal to possess people?" Haku asked and Zabuza hummed as he scratched his chin.

"I knew Yagura before he became the Mizukage and had the beast sealed inside him. He was a completely different person. When he rose to the Mizukage position he was still the same, wanting to help our village. But it didn't take long for him to change. After the sealing he was just... someone else. He couldn't be reasoned with, violent, and obsessed with power. The economy started to decline and he really started to hunt down the clans."

"But if they were an Uzumaki, why would they go after the clans with Kekkei Genkai? What kind of revenge would that be?" Haku asked, he wanted to believe that someone who had been hunted down would have mercy on others in the same position as they had been.

"Kekkei Genkai Clans in the mist made the majority of the people fighting back in the second war and the ones that mostly survived. Who wouldn't blame them for their downfall, they were on the war council that decided to attack. That's just the way it ended up being." Zabuza affirmed with a firm nod. Haku was left at a loss for words.

"It's why we have to take our village back from them. We won't allow the Mist to continue to be in danger." Zabuza added. "We will stop the bloodline purges."

Haku looks away and scowls, it didn't make sense to him. Zabuza agreed that the bloodline purges were wrong and unethical, but in the same breath continue to discriminate against the Uzumaki. The entire situation seemed hypocritical to him. Why was the Naruto kid any different from any other Kekkei Genkai user. To Haku it felt like the Uzumaki and Yuki were in the same circumstance.

It was the same ideal of hate and intolerance that started the bloodline purges. The hate stemmed from the Shinobi that grew to fear one clan that started this whole mess. All for the unnecessary blame on a single island near waves country.

"It all couldn't possibly be their fault." Haku stated and Zabuza scowled. "You wouldn't understand, kid. The Uzumaki are the reason why the Mist is in chaos. Trust me, if they had all died like they were supposed to then we wouldn't be missing nin." He sighed and placed a hand on Haku's head.

"You'll understand someday." He says as he sits down and starts to write a letter.

Haku doesn't respond because he just couldn't find the logic behind Zabuza's words.

"I'm going to inform the alliance about the brat, I'm sure Mei will be interested to know about the developments. Uzushiogakure ninja are not something to scoff at and Yagura's resistance can't deal with both Yagura and an unknown. We will drop this job for now." Zabuza stated as he wrapped the letter in a small scroll and placed it on a hawk.

__________

Tazuna makes sure to apologize to the Genin team multiple times to relieve a bit of his guilt. Although they continuously kept reminding him that it was their duty to protect him, he continued apologizing.

By the time Sasuke wakes up he is annoyed at how weak he was. Why couldn't he fight harder and why wasn't he one of the first ones to wake up.

Kakashi made sure to remind the young Uchiha that all three of them had issues dealing with Haku. That it wasn't his fault that he couldn't stand up against the young Kekkei Genkai user.

Sakura was the one to complain the least since she had been the last of the three standing.

Naruto on the other hand was happy that everyone was safe and shocked that he had been singled out so quickly. He had thought that being the Jinchuuriki of Konoha would be the most of his worries but he found out that he was wrong in that aspect.

They were able to guard Tazuna while he built the bridge, Sakura made sure to speak with the builders often and Naruto also made quick friends with them. Sasuke was more stand of ish.

Kakashi was busy recovering, he only had mild chakra exhaustion. He was doing the real look out. He had a feeling that Zabuza would not back down, he was hoping that he would leave Naruto alone. Or that at least he kept the information about him secret.

He regretted allowing Naruto out of the village. He could see why Kushina had stayed in the village and was restricted from leaving. He would've thought that the years would have mellowed out the other villages. Just like how his fathers enemies got over trying to kill him. They still tried but he didn't have to worry about it the way he used to when he was a kid.

Kakashi hid in a tree by the treelines near the bridge and watched his genin team from afar. A tired sigh escaped from his body. How was he supposed to deal with all of this?

_______

Zabuza and Haku were at their base discussing how they would be leaving after Zabuza recovered enough when Gato bursted into the room.

Zabuza had heard the heavy footsteps, but made little effort to stop them from coming in. "You Imbeciles, three kids, you were beaten by three kids! What the hell is my money worth? Is it worth two lazy bastards!" Gato yelled as he pointed at both of them with his cane. His swordsmen beside him looked down at them.

Zabuza frowned. "We are busy, you can come back at a later time." He dismissed the man. Gato stood aghast.

"How DARE you! Do you know who I am? I am your employer! You belong to ME! And you think you can kick me out like it is nothing?!" Gato shrieked in indignation and Zabuza raised a brow.

Zabuza was leaning against the wall by the window, his arms were crossed carefully so that he wouldn't irritate his wounds. He cocked a brow and glanced at Haku before turning his gaze back to Gato.

"You own us?"Zabuza asked cocking a brow.Gato's face turned a bright red at the missing nin's response. "You Mist bastards think this is fu-" He was never able to finish because Kubikiribocho sliced through his neck. The famous decapitator sword easily lopping his head off and the two swordsmen were quickly taken down in the next swing.

"We will unite with Mei Terumi after we attempt to deal with the brat. If the there is one Uzumaki, there is bound to be more."

_____________________

The days had passed quietly, Kakashi wanted to let his guard down but he was still concerned that Zabuza would appear and attempt to kill his team again. The three genin seemed to have calmed down with the days passing. At the moment they were on the last day on the bridge, only a few beams and concrete blocks were missing.

Kakashi had used their down time to train them in dodging. Hopefully they wouldn't need to use any of the skills they were practicing and that they could leave with no further issue. Naruto had been pushing himself to get better. He knew that he was being targeted at this point.

It wasn't something he had ever expected before, he knew that his family was part of the second shinobi war but he never expected for him to receive some backlash from the actions taken back then.

He was currently resting in Tazuna's house, Kakashi was debating whether he should wake him up or let him rest. They hadn't seen Zabuza or Haku since the day they were attacked, but he didn't want to get too comfortable.

"Sensei, if you want I can wake him up. It's probably safer if we are all together." Sakura spoke up. Kakashi glanced at her and sighed. She was right.

"Go get him. We will be leaving now. You two catch up." He looked over at Sasuke and motioned him to follow him.

Sasuke nodded and they both followed Tazuna out of the small house.

Sakura went upstairs and shook Naruto. "Naruto, wake up. We are going to the bridge." She called out as he lazily opened his eyes. "Sakura?" he asked and slowly got up.

"C'mon we have to catch up to sensei. Get dressed and then we can leave. Tsunami and Inari are going to be leaving as well." She stated and walked out of the room.

Naruto yawned and forced himself out of bed. He went to his pack and unsealed some clothes. He made sure to charge the seals on his jacket that made them tear resistant. It wasn't much but it was something that he had learned to do and that would keep him safe in the long run.

He walked out of the room to see Sakura with her arms crossed. "Tsunami and Inari just left. We will meet sensei and Sasuke at the bridge."

"Why did they leave so early?" Naruto yawned tiredly and Sakura chuckled. "Because you were sleeping and Tazuna wants to get the bridge done today. If he finishes then we will go home tomorrow." Sakura smiled.

Naruto nods absentmindedly at that response. He hadn't thought it was possible but he found himself drained after what they had been going through.

It didn't take long for Sakura and Naruto to head to the bridge.

______________________

Soon Tazuna's men finished the bridge and team seven found themselves packing their bags and leaving Wave country.

Kakashi wondered if the hidden mist ninja had been too injured to return, or why they decided to bail. If it was because of their strong response to Naruto's presence there and being an Uzumaki then maybe he wouldn't be too surprised.

Either way he felt relief in finally leaving and with a job well done. (considering this was an A rank mission being carried out by a few wet behind the ears ninja)

Once they arrived back to the village Kakashi directed them to the Hokage tower. 'Might as well let them practice writting a mission incident report. They might've learned how to write mission reports, but they could use practice on missions that are incorrectly ranked.' Kakashi thought to himself.

As they walk up to the drop off section of the mission office Kakashi stepped up the counter.

"Hello how can I help you today?" The ninja at the desk asked and Kakashi eye smiled before saying "I would like the form B-4077 for team 7. We had a bit of an incident on our mission."

"Of course, one moment while I get the form out for you. Also make sure to submit your individual mission reports and include a reference to the incident report in the proper location." the ninja smiled as they handed Kakashi a few papers.

"Thank you, come on kids, we have some practicing to do."

__________

By the time Naruto was tired and ready to take a hot bath and relax.

"I'm home!" He yelled out as he removed his sandals and he immediately heards some yelps of excitement.

"Big Brother!" Tadashi squealed as he turned the corner and immediately ran into Naruto's open arms.

"Dashi!" Naruto exclaimed as he hugged his brother tightly.

"You're home! How was your mission."

Naruto let out a sigh as he smiled. Just remembering what they went through and how scary dealing with an A rank missing nin sent shivers up his spine.

"It could have gone better, but I'm home now and that is all that matters." He grinned as he lifted his brother up and gave him a big squeeze.

"Where's everyone at?" He asked and Tadashi smiled. "In the back porch."

"Let's sneak up on them and surprise the." Naruto smiled childishly as he carried Tadashi through the temple. He made sure to use chakra to quiet his footsteps.

The back door was closed but he could hear them from the doorway. He quietly set Tadashi down and motioned him to be quiet. The boy simply smiled and covered his mouth with his hand.

Naruto quietly held onto the door before slamming it open and yelling "Boo!"

"Ahhh!" "Eek" "Wha-" "Big brother!"

Naruto ws meet with a couple of yelps and he laughed as he watched their shocked faces.

"Hahahahah!" Tadashi laughed behind him. "When did you get back to the village?" Ryuu asked as he got up to hug him. " About 2 hours ago. But we had to stop at the Hokage tower to turn our mission report. What have ya'll been up to since I left?"

"We have going to the academy, What else." Karin grinned and crossed her arms.

"Mom says she is going to try to do the Shinigami ritual for you. She has been studying really hard and she says that once she gets everything fixed she is going to finish the temple masks for your mom and.. Lady?" Fumiko stated, slightly unsure of how to address her birth mother.

"What no way. I can't wait to see it in person. Are you going to be helping her out?" Naruto asked Fumiko and she nodded. "It's like we are shrine maidens. I can't wait. Mom has been teaching me the dance." She giggled as she stood up and moved around showing Naruto the new dance move Mizuko had been teaching her.

Naruto smiled as he watched her. He was okay when it came to dancing but that was because of how he had really good with his coordination.

"Will we all participate in the ceremony?" he asked as he thought about the masks in the temple.

"Well probably as an audience but mom will be the one doing the dance on her own. She's the only one skilled enough to do so." Fumiko stated with a nod.

"How was your mission? You were gone for quite a while. You said it would take a while but we were beginning to worry. Especially mom, she has been anxious." Ryuu stated and Naruto let out a long sigh the mission had been a borderline disaster.

" It was crazy, we ended up seeing a missing ninja, it wasn't too bad! I promise!" Naruto ended up exclaiming as he noticed their shocked faces.

Naruto smiled at them. "Everything turned out to be alright and we even saved a village in the process!" He added thinking of how they helped Tazuna's village.

"Well can you tell us about the missing ninja?" Ryuu asked curiously and Naruto smiled. "Of course!"

_______________

Kakashi had to go speak with the Hokage in private about the entire mission. Despite the fact that he had filed the mission report correctly and followed procedure. The old Kage wouldn't ignore any disruptions in the missions regarding the villages jonchuriki.

He loathed that it happened to be on Naruto's first C rank mission that they encounter a missing nin who had a glaring bias against the Uzumaki.

"Lord Hokage." Kakashi greeted curtly while standing at attention in front of his superior. Hiruzen looked at the jonin with a keen eye as he took a puff of his pipe.

The door promptly shuts behind the jonin and the Hokage ignores the formalities and heads straight to the point.

"So what happened during the mission?" He asked directly.

Kakashi mourns the loss of the small talk for a moment before he replies.

"We encountered Mist Missing nin at the beginning of the mission. I made the executive decision to continue onward despite the fact that there was an issue with the intel provided by the client. Instead of a bridge builder needing protection from bandits, he was being hunted down by a local tycoon in the area who felt he was threatening his profits"

Hiruzen leaned back at the information, eyes squinting accusatory at the jonin.

"And the reason that you proceeded with the mission? Despite having two-" Hiruzen glanced down at the mission report to see the rank of the ninja that they had run into. "B ranked missing ninja. I would like to further understand your thought process during this." Hiruzen stated and Kakashi felt himself sweat drop.

'He's definitely mad.' He thought to himself. Hiruzen had been Kage long enough not to lose his temper at his jonin and chunin's mistakes or Laos of judgement. He was able to keep a calm and steady expression when faced with their acts of stupidity. At this moment one of his elite jonin had made a glaring mistake regarding two of Konoha valuable resources -the last uchiha and the heir of the uzumaki clan- a decision that should have never been made.

"I believe my team was capable of continuing the mission because as previous intel suggests that mist ninja usually do not work in groups or gather in teams after their initial desertion." Kakashi started off stating known facts.

"Team seven is one that deals with ever changing circumstances because they are a offensive team. I believed this would be a good experience when dealing with changing circumstances. The hidden mist brothers were also unaware of Naruto's heritage so I decided to continue onward."

"I see, you do realize that an exercise to practice changing variables outside of the village can be considered putting your team at risk?" Hiruzen stated as he set his pipe down and neatly folded his hands infront of him.

"I do understand that the risk factor went up. But we have had various exercises including changes or practice with dealing with incorrect intel. I believe my team is skilled enough to work through these issues."

"Good enough, yet still being held hostage by an opponent." Hiruzen asked and Kakashi almost whined in exasperation but he kept his composure.

"I will be working closely with them two about maintaining consciousness and rationality against stronger opponents. Despite their mistakes I am sure I can work to remedy their training, in case of situational awareness during battle. I will closely monitor the two boys. As for Sakura, she was able to use her kunoichi skills to successfully confuse and defeat her opponent. They were stronger than her but she was able to hold her own and I will be looking to continuing her training in genjutsu and taijutsu." Kakashi redirect the conversation from the obvious failings of the mission.

"Just her?" Hiruzen asked unimpressed and Kakashi looked more resolute. "Although my students were out matched when dealing with Zabuza Momochi, they were able to work together to keep the client safe. With time I will be able to make them stronger and have them deal with higher ranked opponents. I have accounted for their current flaws and will work tirelessly to correct the mistakes in team work and gaps in their personal training. Although two of them did lose consciousness throughout the battle I am certain that with the proper training we will be able to avoid the same mistakes. As they are my first genin team it has been a bit difficult realizing the gaps that they have compared to my previous teams who were chunin or higher. " Kakashi stated.

Hiruzen leaned back slightly. "Do not make this a habit Kakashi. I expect better results the next time I send you out on a mission. Is-that-understood?" He asked, adding emphasis to his last words.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kakashi gave a short bow and took his dismissal for what it was.

Kakashi's shoulders slumped as he walked out of the Hokage tower. He wasn't annoyed, but instead found himself to be very exhausted. The mission had taken a toll on him mentally. His nerves were still frayed seeing his sensei's son being held hostage.

His others students being held at knife point didn't make the situation any better. He was thinking of ways to better his students training to make up for the lack of skill they had against the Yuki brat.

He hurried out of the tower and was heading straight to Gai's house. If there was someone he could count on it was his friend to get him through a situation. (Not that he would tell him all that happened but he would definitely be able to get a good training schedule created with his friends help.)

Kakashi walked to the training ground and carefully moved through the trees in order not to be seen, he watched as Gai's Hyuga student tried to land a hit on the exuberant jonin.

Gai was quick to notice Kakashi's presence and he gave him a small wave. He sighed as he watched them for a moment. Seeing how Gai gave them training instructions and then went to greet him.

"Rival! What brings you to my teams training grounds? Not trying to spy and steal my AMAZING training techniques ar you?" Gai laughed joyously and playfully. Kakashi sighed and looked away.

"Ah! So hip! Always so level headed!" Gai exclaimed as Kakashi acted as if he was ignoring him.

"So I have to ask, what do you usually do when you deal with a mission gone wrong. I mean with your students? Hypothetically of course." Kakashi asked in a bored tone.

"Hmm, I see you've been stumped by a well known conundrum that plagues all genin sensei!" Gai exclaimed as he rubbed his chin in thought.

"Have you talked to them? Sometimes, even surviving such ordeals leave a scar in the young impressionable minds of our students. We must make sure they know we are here for them regardless of what happened. Mistakes are made, we all fall weak to weakness at times!" He added and Kakashi hummed.

He thought about it. Sakura might've lasted longer than the other two but he could tell that she was clearly traumatized by the situation. Naruto must feel the same way although he was good at hiding it and Sasuke. Kakashi's frown deepen at the thought of his most troubled student.

Sasuke was always going through it -mentally of course- itachi had fucked up his head pretty badly and even he could tell that the kid suffered from multiple necrosis.

"What about their training?" Kakashi asked and Gai laughed. "They would get the training regardless. But how will they dedicate their body and soul into training if their spirits are down!" He states with a resolute nod. Gai glances at Kakashi's somber expression and his smile slowly fades away.

"So, how bad was it?" He asked crossing his arms and Kakashi quickly snapped his head up and looked at Gai.

Kakashi let out a long sigh. "The demon of the hidden mist Zabuza Momochi attacked us. Apparently he's one of those mist type that have some vendetta against the Uzumaki clan. He went after Naruto." Kakashi stated a clear frown on his face visible despite being covered by his mask.

"It's not often you hear about people like that now days." Gai nodded in agreement.

"There were no lasting injuries. I should've called the mission off. I- I overestimated their abilities." Kakashi stated and Gai placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You cannot account for everything. Especially when intel is always changing. You also can't predict every mission your students will be in. We can always do better in avoiding danger, but even the fastest and smartest ninja can't avoid all danger." He stated and Kakashi sighed.

He knew his friend was right. How many times had his missions gone wrong in Anbu, how many times while he was a chunin? Things happened and the Hokage or Minato sensei could predict or stop it all despite their power and all the intel they gathered. Things went wrong and despite knowing this truth it helped hearing his friend remind him of it.

Kakashi gives him a nod and straightens up. "I'll talk with my students." He says resolutely. Gai beamed, "Now that's more like it! Rival it's your students springtime of Youth and you must help nurture it!" He grinned and Kakashi gave a small unnoticeable smile.

Kakashi vanished leaving a small pile of leaves in his places and Gai laughed.

________

The next day team seven met up in their usual training ground. Kakashi wasn't sure how to broach the conversation with his students. Maybe he would give them one on one lessons and try to talk with them there.

Gai made it sound so easy, casually asking his students how they felt about the whole ordeal felt daunting.

It was obvious that they had -feelings- about how everything went down. It was a fast pace situation. Sasuke looked troubled and angry more often than not, Sakura was more reserved, and Naruto was a bit skittish.

It could have also been the nerves of being under threat by a missing ninja, but they hadn't eased up on their way back to the village. So he figured he would have to act as the adult and talk it out with them.

He remembered his talks with Minato, he was a bit embarrassed to think back to them. He had been a awful brat who stone walled his sensei most of the time. Complained about everything even going as far as making list of what could have been done better. (Most of them had been critics on his teammates normal performance). He wondered how Minato dealt with him. He was sure that he wouldn't have been able to deal with the amount of angst and drama he brought.

"Alright team, before we get started in todays training we are going to huddle for some team discussion." Kakashi sighed and clapped his hands together to get his students attention.

The three of them glanced at each other before coming together in front of him. " The last mission went on was a success and disaster that we have to unpack."

Sakura flinched slightly, sasuke frowned and crossed his arms and Naruto looked away slightly.

"I won't say that the behavior we saw in Zabuza is rare or uncommon. It also isn't any of y'all's fault." Kakashi stated as he put his hands in his pocket. "As ninja you will be targeted based on your village affiliation, family name, or acquaintances. As an example, Naruto you were targeted this time around because of your family name, in the future it's likely that Sasuke will deal with the same issue. Sakura you might not have to deal with that because you don't come from a shinobi clan."

Kakashi took a deep breath before looking over at his young pink haired student. "But I don't doubt that being my student will place a target on your back. I have been a ninja for many many years and have my fair share of enemies that would love to get back at me by any means necessary." He added as he turned to the two boys. "That might be the case for you two as well. All of our actions have consequences and as long as you are in this profession you will have to deal with them accordingly. You might not be able to do much but it is something to be aware of."

"This past mission just highlights the danger you guys will be under. Be it for your own reputation or those close to you." Kakashi added.

"Were you also hunted down sensei?" Naruto grumbled as he kicked his feet. Kakashi let out a loud sigh. "Yes, as a matter of fact I almost got killed or targeted because of my late sensei. He was a very strong shinobi who had multiple flee on sight warnings."

"Your sensei?" Sakura perked up as she looked over at him. "The late fourth Hokage was my teacher since I graduated from the academy. I was about 5 or 6 years old when I went into his care." Kakashi stated and his three students perked up.

"So you were the Fourth Hokage's pupil?"Sasuke asked almost excitedly. Kakashi nodded and let out a sigh. "I didn't learn his signature techniques but it was thanks to him that I was able to create the chidori. Just like he helped me become a great shinobi, I will help you do the same."

"Really! Then we can be strong just like you and the fourth Hokage Menato!" Naruto grinned. "It's MINATO, honestly Naruto." Sakura groaned at the blonde hair boy's antics.

"Then you promise you will help me get strong enough to defeat my target?"Sasuke asked and Kakashi looked over at him.

Kakashi thought about how to respond to Sasuke. He could come clean, tell him that he had been training Itachi before the massacre. It was because of his training that Itachi excelled and probably snapped because of his carelessness. But was that something that Sasuke needed to hear right now.

It's not like he could tell his students that he had once been in the anbu either, that was confidential information that was way above their pay grade.

"I'll do you one better. When the time comes, I will help you track him down and defeat him. I have a score to settle with him." Kakashi gave him a close eye smile.

Sasuke frowned. "What could he have possibly done to you?" Sasuke asked while narrowing his eyes.

"I had to get my sharingan from somwhere. My chunin teammate was an Uchiha, and I had a few Uchiha comrades. That's not including the fact that I helped take care of my late teammate's elderly grandmother. Who Itachi sequentially killed." Kakashi stated and Sasuke's face fell.

He nodded and looked down. "Yeah, you can come with me when I go hunt him down." Sasuke says and Kakashi patted his head.

"I just so happen to be good at tracking targets, I have a few friends who are kind of mad at him for similar reasons. Including and not limited to a betrayal of trust. They'll gladly join you in searching for him when the time is right. You can build your own hunting squad for him once you reach special Jonin. But for now let's focus on training." Kakashi added and Sasuke nodded vigorously.

Sasake looked a bit more lively with Kakashi's statement.

In the past Sasuke had always felt bitter about the massacre because it felt like he was the only one mourning. Like if everyone else just moved on with their lives after his entire family and clan died. But to think there were people who had been close with his extended family, even taking care of one of the older aunties. Someone who wanted to find Itachi and make him pay for what he did. It made him feel better. Sharing the burden made him feel lighter. And if what Kakashi-sensei was saying was true then he had an ally to back him up when fighting his... brother.

"If you and Sensei have a similar enemy then I'll help out too. You can always count on me and I'll even get some seals from mom to help you out!" Naruto smiled brightly as he pat Sasuke's back.

"I guess I can help too. I might not be that strong but I will won't let you have to face him alone." Sakura wasn't sure who they were talking about. But an enemy of Sasuke's was an enemy of hers. The guy had to be bad if even Kakashi sensei was after him.

Sasuke looked at his team with wide eyes. "Thank you." he responded barely above a whisper.

"Don't sweat the small stuff Sasuke! You are a part of team seven!" Naruto grinned as he gave him a pat on the back.

Kakashi smiled as he looked down at his students. The chat didn't go how he had expected, but he was glad that his team had come together despite all odds.

_______

As time went on, the village was suddently being flooded by foreign visitors. The chunin exams were well on its way. People from ever nation were coming in with tickets and passports getting ready to join the exams.

The really small villages sent at most one team or a representative to greet the Hokage. The larger villages like sand, water, or rock sent large teams of 4-7 teams, trying to make sure that they over take the spotlight from their former enemy.

Even though Kusa sent a small team, there was a group of ninja wearing large hats and dark attire. They were being led by a stockier man with sharp brown eyes, silky black hair and dark skin. The man's name was Soma Shin'ichi. He was the clan head of the Shin'ichi clan and the one who was leading Kusa's team to the chunin exams in Konoha.

The man looked annoyed at the fact that he had to be the one leading the team here. The only reason he accepted this mission was because the leader of Kusa had gotten tip by the hidden sound village. They claimed that his daughter was being kept in Konoha.

It had been a few years since the fire at the Uzumaki residence in Kusa. He regretted letting Nanami, his only daughter live with her half sibling Mizuko. Because of the bodies that were found charred up in the building it was thought that Mizuko killed her entire family after losing her mind.

Which was expected seeing how Rumi turned out to be a psychopath that nearly demolished all of the important structures in Kusa a few years prior.

But because his daughter suffered alot mentally, he thought he'd let her live with her siblings before starting her ninja training and it had been one of the biggest mistake of his life. He was left with no heir since his older sons were killed a while back on different missions. His legal wife was dead as well because she couldn't handle the deaths very well.

He had taken the opportunity to have a child with the prisoner Rumi because it would at least leave him with an heir without having to remarry. That is until the two women lost their minds and decided to escape.

But if the rumors were true then he would do his best to get his daughter back and drag her back to kusa.

He was well aware of the invasion plans, he would use that as a distraction to get to his daughter. The issue was finding her. He was sure that the hidden sound already had spies set up in the village that had tracked her down. Soon he would meet up with them and get the location and get ready to get her back.

_____

Konoha's Jonin stood in the Hokage tower. Hiruzen was calling out jonin and chunin and asking them about the genin squads that they were leading. He was trying to see who he would send in for the chunin exams.

Iruka Umino was the chunin in charge of writing all of the names down.

"Maito Gai?" The Hokage called out. "Right Here!" The jovial man called out. "Gai, do you recommend your team for the Chunin exams?" Hiruzen asked and the man nodded. "Why yes! I have held them back before and this is a perfect opportunity for them to test their skills." Gai nodded. Iruka quickly jotted down team three on the chunin exam roster.

"Alright, now Kurenai Yuhi?" He moved on and the woman walked up. "Do you recommend your genin team?."

"I, Kurenai Yuhi, nominate team 8 for the leaf village chunin exams." Kurenai spoke up. Iruka looked flustered, but wrote down the team eights names and their shinobi registration numbers.

"Asuma Saratobi." The aged Hokage called out. "Here." The man responded.

"Will Team Ten be nominated for the chunin exams?"

"Yes, Team Ten will be taking the chunin exams this year." Asuma stated as he let out a puff of smoke. Iruka looked incredibly frustrated by the answer, but kept going.

"Kakashi Hatake." Hiruzen continued with the roll call.

"Present." Kakashi sighed as he slouched slightly. He was ready to get out of the meeting.

"Do you nominate team seven for the chunin exams?"

"I, Kakashi Hatake, do not recommend Team Seven for the chunin exams." Kakashi stated and Hiruzen lifted a brow.

"Reasoning?" He quickly inquired.

"They have chunin potential. I believe it is a little to early to show them off. A team like mine should be shown off at a foreign exam." Kakashi shrugged and Hiruzen nodded. "Alright, Iruka note down Kakashi's reasoning." He stated and Iruka eagerly nodded.

Iruka was relieved that at least one of the new jonin instrustors was holding off on sending their students into the exams.

Hiruzen continued to call out on different teams. He would vet the available teams. Since they were the ones hosting it most wanted to take advantage of the home turf.

__________

An older woman made her way through Konoha streets. It was late afternoon, she had recently closed down her store and was making her way to her hotel room.

The woman's name was Sino, a merchant who diligently sold jewelry. She traveled all the way from the land of wind.

But that was not all she did.

She arrived at the lobby and looked around for the meeting place. There were hardly any people around, but she had to be cautious.

All foreign teams were probably under surveillance and the last thing she wanted to do was catch the attention of Anbu or of the guarding teams.

She had already stayed in Konoha various times in the last couple of years. She was someone raised outside of the hidden sand village, but trained in the art of espionage. Her family had been part of a nomadic wind shinobi clan. They received their pay directly from the Kazekages office and had been informants of Suna since the creation of the village.

A sand ninja with a turban and markings on his face was standing at an entryway. She walked towards him and as she walked passed him she used her puppet strings to toss him a small sealing scroll.

From a distance it looked like two passing strangers who never interacted. But that was far from the truth.

Baki, the Jonin sensei of the Kazekage children gripped the scroll in his hand and turned around. He walked back to his assigned room where Gaara, Temari and Kankuro resided.

Authors note.

Sorry for the late chapter, the wait having been around a year long.

My beta reader and I have been planning the next upcoming chapters and have gotten stuck on a couple plot points..

We realized that we needed better understanding on military Etiquette and my beta took one for the team and joined the Army in order to learn more about how things are run. Everyone give her a round of applause !!!

She has been gone for 4 months already— and she's finally gotten time from her superiors to beta read these chapters. She apologizes if they're not to the usual standards of other chapters.

Anyways, I promised a christmas update and I would've posted this sooner if I wasn't writing a Kakashi x Tobirama x Madara secret santa gift.

Rosymalik/lavanderpalace