Zabuza watched as the pieces of sundered children's book came together again. That part didn't surprise him.
What Haku said, now that was a different story altogether.
He'd known a few things about his apprentice, but he apparently hadn't quite realized the depths.
Sakura Haruno wasn't entirely sure about what had happened to her, but as time went on more details seemed to settle themselves into place.
Her skin was smooth, almost slick. It felt like normal skin, but when she willed it with a little chakra it became more like sun-warmed wood. Her chakra seemed to replenish itself faster too, as long as she was standing on the ground or grass.
Strength too, she was physically stronger than she had been.
On the other hand, she was not entirely sure what all of this meant outside of her ninja duties.
"Kakashi-sensei. What exactly IS a 'dryad'?"
"Mah, I wonder."
Sakura made a face. No help from THAT source.
"What the-?" asked Kakashi as he spotted someone ahead of them who was apparently just waiting for them. "Everyone on guard. Keep an eye out for ambushes."
"Why?" asked Sasuke, who nonetheless WAS being more attentive.
"Because that looks like Zabuza Momochi, an expert on silent killing techniques, a bloodthirsty missing-nin," said Kakashi. "That he's waiting in plain sight for us doesn't make any sense."
Sakura crossed off the side of the road and placed a hand against a tree. She tried to focus, to sense her surroundings through that contact.
Nothing.
"Sharingan Kakashi," said Zabuza Momochi as they approached.
"Zabuza Momochi," replied Kakashi. "One of the former Seven Swordsmen Of The Mist. You wanted to meet with me?"
"Obviously," stated Zabuza. "I've been hired to kill that bridge builder behind you. I don't suppose I could convince you to just turn him over? He couldn't possibly have paid enough for your little genin to face me."
"Well, no," admitted Kakashi. "We're going to have to see about increasing payment later. I'm surprised you didn't strike from ambush."
"The tactics are usually very effective, but don't you think it gets old after awhile?" asked Zabuza. "When your target is dead before he even knows you're there - it gets dull."
"Oh, so you're looking for a bit more excitement?" asked Kakashi.
"I'm looking for something different at least," agreed Zabuza. "So now, Kakashi Hatake, I challenge you!"
"I see," said Kakashi, making a gesture to his genin to stay back. "Confident are you?"
"I'll make the challenge this way," said Zabuza, resting his massive sword against one shoulder. "A dance off!"
"Wha?" asked Kakashi.
"Hah, you know me as the crazed killer who slaughtered the entire graduating class of my village's ninja academy," said Zabuza, pointing with his other hand at Kakashi. "You know me as the Sultan of Slaughter who has ended hundreds of lives with my sword! You have NOT heard of my prowess on the dance floor!"
Kakashi considered face-palming. This was not going according to any indication he had of the way ninja battles NORMALLY went. "Yeah, right."
"If I win, you turn over that old man," said Zabuza.
"You haven't eaten anything strange lately, have you?" asked Kakashi.
"Well, we could always do the more typical ninja battle to the death," said Zabuza. "It just seems a pity to kill you in front of your impressionable young genin."
"This is completely..." Kakashi paused. "God of mischief. Got it."
"Kakashi-sensei?" asked Naruto.
"Of course this situation makes no sense, there's a god of mischief involved," said Kakashi. "Next thing you know there's going to be a ninja princess needing to be rescued..."
"If you win, you can take the ninja princess I captured back to your village," said Zabuza.
"What?" asked Kakashi.
"What?" asked Sakura.
"Hn?" asked Sasuke, twitching.
"All right! Princess rescuing! This has just become an AWESOME mission!" cheered Naruto.
"Where did you get a ninja princess?" asked Kakashi.
"There was a god of mischief coming through here a little while ago," said Zabuza. "My apprentice Haku had always had some gender-identity issues and made a wish. The outcome was a bit strange."
"Ancient gods of mischief seem to have that sort of effect," admitted Kakashi.
"It's gone now, which is probably the best for everyone's sanity," added Zabuza.
"Agreed," said Kakashi.
"Are we going to have a fight or not?" asked Sasuke.
"Maybe we could trade Sasuke for the ninja princess?" asked Naruto.
Both Sasuke and Sakura punched Naruto in the head for that.
"So your apprentice is actually this 'ninja princess'?" said Kakashi.
"Yes," said Zabuza. "One with the Hyouton. So, yes, she IS an Ice Princess. She already made that observation."
"Ice techniques?" asked Kakashi, his visible eye widening. That DID make it a distinct advantage to bring back such to the village. "Nonetheless, we can't go with a dance-off."
"Because you would lose," said Zabuza.
"Maybe," said Kakashi. "Instead, how about if we-"
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(Posted Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:44)
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