We were all sitting in a boat, heading toward the land of wave with a mist that was surrounding us.

I was sitting next to Sasuke with Kakashi-sensei who was next to him on the other side of the boat while Sakura was sitting in front of us in the other side as Naruto was in front of the boat while Tazuna was sitting in the back in front of the sailor.

"The mist is so thick. I can't see what's ahead." Sakura said to herself out loud yet quietly.

I shivered a little, feeling a little cold. "Your cold?" Sasuke asked me as he had noticed it. I smile at him. "Only a little but I will be fine." I assure him but he wasn't convince, so he wrap his arm around my shoulder and pull me to his side causing me to blush but smile softly as I felt his warm body heat covering me.

"We should be able to see the bridge soon." The sailor told us. "If we move along the side of the bridge, we'll be at the land of wave."

As I turn my head I notice a shadowing figure that soon revealing a huge unfinished bridge. "IT'S HUGE!" Naruto shout out excitedly.

"Hey, be quiet! We're using this boat and hiding in the mist. That's why I'm rowing instead of using the engine. In other words, if we get caught, we'll be in trouble." He explain to us as Naruto cover his mouth while I look surprised.

"Tazuna..." Kakashi-sensei started, catching his attention. "Before the boat gets to the pier, there's something I need to ask you."

Tazuna look down, his hat covered his eyes. "The identity of the ones who are after you, and the reasons they are after you. Or we can call this mission off when you get to ashore, Tazuna." Kakashi-sensei said seriously.

We all looked at him, waiting for an answer. Tazuna look up with a frown. "It looks like I have to tell you the real story. I mean, I would like for you to hear my story." Tazuna started. "As you said, this mission is most likely out of your job description. An extremely terrible man is after my life." I look at him confused.

"An extremely terrible man?" Kakashi-sensei question him.

"Yes." Tazuna answer him with a nod.

"Who is it?" Kakashi-sensei asked him.

"You should have all at least heard of the name... Marine transportation billionaire Gatoh." I look at Tazuna surprised.

"You mean Gatoh from the Gatoh company?" I said, surprising everyone. "You know him?" Sakura asked me while glare at how close me and Sasuke are to one another.

I shake my head. "No but I have been reading about him. He is one of the richest men in the world. Am I correct." I asked Tazuna.

"Who's that? What?" I sweat dropped at Naruto when I just told him.

"Yes, he is the president of a marine transportation company on the outside... But underground, he uses gangs and ninja to smuggle drugs and contraband goods. He also does nasty jobs like takeovers of other companies and country of the wave. The entered this country using violence and wealth as his shield ad he quickly took over the island's sea traffic and transportation. On an island like the country of the wave, controlling the sea mean ruling over the wealth, politics, and people of this island. And the one thing that Gatoh is afraid of... Is the completion of the bridge that had been under construction for quite some time." Tazuna explain to us as he look at the bridge in hope.

"So because you're the one building the bridge, you became on close axle to him." I assumed.

"Then those ninja were sent by Gatoh." Sasuke said pulling me closer to him as Naruto put a index finger at the side of his head acting like he was thinking causing me to swear drop at how clueless he could be sometime.

"But I don't understand. He's a dangerous man that uses ninjas. Why did you hide the fact when you came to us?" Kakashi-sensei asked Tazuna.

"The country of the wave is a really poor country. Even the feudal lord does not that much money." Tazuna replied to him. "And we do not have much either. We don't have the money to request for an expensive B-rank or above mission."

"If you quite your mission after I land, I'll be killed for sure... While I go home." I look at Tazuna suspiciously. What is he up to? I thought to myself wondering. But there's no need for you to blame yourselves. Only my cute eight year old grandson will cry and cry some more and my daughter will just hold a grudge against Konoha ninja and live a lonely life. But it's not your fault." I giggle mentally as Tazuna was using the guilt-trip on did other causing them to look at each other in conflict.

Kakashi-sensei took a moment to think while scratching his headband. "I guess it can't be helped. We will continue escorting you." Kakashi-sensei said in defeat with an unsure, close eye smile..

"That's good to hear." Tazuna said, faking a surprise expression.

I move back from Sasuke and turn to look at the water as I could see my own reflection despite the mist. I suddenly notice Sasuke watch me. I slowly turn toward him as our faces was close to one another. I lost myself as I stared into his eyes as his eyes soften and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

I blush as he lean his forehead against me, despite that feeling of the mental plate, I couldn't help but smile at how gentled he was as I close my eyes, enjoying the moment.

"Ahem!" I snap my eyes open as I was startled as well as Sasuke as we realize we weren't alone and jump back from one another and turn to did others.

Kakashi-sensei and Tazuna look amuse at us while smiling. Naruto look at me with a teasing smile and I know that he was going to tease me late on. But when I look at Sakura, I flinch at her firing glare at me as I thought I saw her being on fire while I hide my face behind Sasuke's shoulder.

"Tazuna, it looks like we haven't been noticed yet." The sailor told him. "Thanks."

When we finally arrived at shore and one by one we get off the boat but I was having trouble standing until a hand appeared in front of me. I look up to see was Sasuke who handle out his hand to me causing me to smile at him before putting my hand in his, letting him help me out off the boat, ignored that death glance Sakura was sending to me. "Thanks, Sasuke." I said ad he nodded in return.

"This is as far as I go. Later." The sailor said to us. "Sure. Thanks a lot." Tazuna said great fully to him.

"Be careful." The sailor warned ad he started the engine and sail away from us.

"Alright, take me home safely." Tazuna told us. "Okay." Kakashi-sensei said bored as we all begins to walk.

As we were walking Naruto suddenly run ahead of us and look around causing us to stop, watching him curiously.

"There!" Naruto said throwing a kunai which surprised all of us.

"Oh, it just a mouse." Naruto said, trying to act cool causing me to sigh. Oh Naruto. I thought.

"Stop showing off! There was nothing there!" Sakura scolded him angrily while pointing at him.

"Naruto please, don't use your kunai so abusively." I begged him. "And its dangerous in the first place." Kakashi-sensei added.

"HEY, YOU DWARF! DONT SCARE US!" Tazuna yelled angrily at him with tick mark on his head.

Naruto ignored us and continue to look around. "I see someone hiding there. No, is he over there?" Suddenly I sense something and was about to go over and check it out.

"There!" I yelp as I was suddenly pull back as a kunai fly pass me.

"I told you to stop!" Sakura said, punching Naruto's head causing him to groan in pain as he hold his head. "But I really did sense someone." Naruto said trying to defend himself.

"Liar! Cut it out." Sakura demanded him as I lean my head back to see Sasuke. "Naruto, you dobe. You almost hit Nikki on the last one." Sasuke said angrily at him while his grip on my shoulder tighter.

Kakashi-sensei walk over to where the kunai went with Naruto and Sakura following behind him. "Naruto! Look at what you're done!" Sakura told him causing me to title my head slightly to the side, curiously as me and Sasuke walk over.

"Rabbit." Naruto said as we saw him run up to it and apologize to it as he nuzzle his cheek at it.

"EVERYONE, DUCK!" Kakashi-sensei suddenly shout out to us as we all saw along sword, coming spinning toward us. Sasuke quickly pull me down to the ground and cover me as he was on top of me while did other dodged it as well.

We watch as sword pinch it self to a tree with a man that appeared standing on it with his back facing us as we all stood up.

"Oh, my, my, you are Zabuza Momochi, the exiled ninja of the hidden village of the mist." Kakashi-sensei said bored with his hands in his pockets.

I saw Naruto run toward Zabuza but was stop when Kakashi-sensei held out his hand in front of him. "You're in the way. Stand back, everyone." Kakashi-sensei ordered us.

"Why?" Naruto protested.

"He's way different from the guys we met before." Kakashi-sensei told us as he hold his headband. "If he's our enemy... I can't win like this." I look at this back, wondering what he mean by that?

"I'm guessing you are Kakashi the Sharingan user." Zabuza said surprising all of us. What?! Sharingan! But... I thought looking over at Sasuke, who was staring at sensei's back.

"I'm sorry, but I'll need you to hand over the geezer." He said to us.

"Everyone, form the swastikas formation. Protect Tazuna." Kakashi-sensei order us. "Don't join the battle." I gulp in fear as I was worried.

"To not interfere with the battle is teamwork." Kakashi-sensei said lifting up his headband revealing the Sharingan. "Fight me."

"Ooh, I'm honored that I can see the Sharingan that I've heard about." Zabuza said.

"You guys have been saying Sharingan, Sharingan but what is it?" Naruto asked confusing and getting furious.

"Sharingan... The eye creates it, and it is the power that the pupil generates. Ones who use doujutsu are said to have eye powers that can see through all genjutsu, taijutsu, and ninjutsu, and cancel their effects... Sharingan is one of the various types of eyes that those doujutsu users possesses... But that's not the only ability the Sharingan possesses." Sasuke explain it to Naruto.

"Correct. That isn't it. The scary part is that Sharingan can understand how an opponents technique works, and copy it." Zabuza said then suddenly a mist came. "When I was in the hidden village of the mist's assassination squad...your information was listed in the bingo book I carried asking for your capture. It also noted this... The man who copied more than 1,000 techniques, Kakashi the copy ninja." No way, Kakashi-sensei copied that many jutsu. I look at my sensei in amazed.

I look back at Sasuke worried as he was still staring at sensei. I gently took his hand in mine and gently rubbed his knuckle with my thumb, letting he know I'm here for him.

"Let's cut the chit-chat here. I have to kill that geezer right away." Zabuza said as we quickly surround Tazuna with our kunai out as I stood between Sasuke and Naruto, who was in the back while Sasuke was in front as Sakura was standing in other side of Sasuke while Kakashi-sensei was standing in front of us.

"But Kakashi it seems I have to defeat you first." Zabuza said and quickly pull out his sword as he disappeared into the mist surprised all of us.

I sense him at the water. "He's there." Naruto said as we all turn to the water and saw Zabuza standing on the water. "And he's on top of the water!" Sakura said surprised like the rest of us.

"Ninja art. Mist concealment jutsu." I heard him him say as he disappeared in the mist.

"He disappeared." Naruto said to himself.

"Sensei!" Sakura called out worried.

"He'll try to eliminate me first but..." Kakashi-sensei told us causing me look at him with wide eyes.

"What is he." I asked worried.

"Zabuza Momochi. He was in the hidden village of the mist's ANBU, and was known for his silent killing techniques." Kakashi-sensei told us.

"Silent...?" Naruto question.

"Just as the name implies, it's a killing technique that's executed in a flash and carried out in absolute silence... It's possible that you'll be dead before you realize it. And I cannot use my Sharingan to it's fullest potential. So don't let you guard down." I gulp, nervously at what sensei had said.

"But it you fail, you're only going to die." Kakashi-sensei said, trying to lighted the moody. "You're so carefree sensei..." Sakura snapped at him while I sweat drop.

"The mist is getting thicker!" Naruto said surprised. "The country of the wave is surround by the ocean, so a mist often emerges." Tazuna explain to Naruto.

"Eight points." We all gasp as I was startled by Zabuza's voice appeared out of nowhere, from all direction.

"The larynv, spine, lungs, liver, jugular vein collar bone, kidney, and heart. Now, which vital organ do you want to get struck at?" I try to find where it's coming from but I couldn't.

Then Kakashi-sensei build up chakra which causing the mist to cleared out for us to see. I look at Kakashi-sensei in shock as to how strong and powerful his chakra is.

I look over to Sasuke, only to seem him hold his kunai tightly and trembler as I saw him not handling the tensely of the blood lust in did air and relax a little.

I gently put hand over his causing him to snap toward me as I smile at him. "It's okay." I whispered softly to him as the intension in his eyes soften.

"Sasuke." We turn toward sensei surprise. "Don't worry. I'll protect the four of you with my life." Kakashi-sensei told Sasuke as he relax more. "I won't let anyone on my team die." Sensei said, giving him a close eye smile over his shoulder.

"I don't know about that." I gasp as Zabuza appeared in the middle of us. "This is the end." I quickly reacted and push Tazuna away while strike my kunai at Zabuza's stomach, surprising everyone. Water clone! I thought as I did sensei something weird from his chakra.

"NIKKI! BEHIND YOU!" I heard Naruto yelled.

I look behind me and my eyes widened as I saw Zabuza was behind me, as he had his sword pull back and was about to sliced me. "DIE!" He shouted.

As he was bring his sword down toward me, as I quickly use my kunai to block it and added chakra into my hands to help block Zabuza's sword.

I push Zabuza's sword away and back flipped away from his as Kakashi-sensei appeared behind him with a kunai to his neck. "Don't move." He order. "This is the end." Kakashi-sensei finished.

"Good in protecting Tazuna, Nikki." Kakashi-sensei said to me, not taking his eyes off Zabuza but I Saw in his eyes that he was proud.