After the battle of the bridge the surviving men that Gato had hired were taken and placed into a storage building until the proper authorities could take them away for trail. After that and some clean up the entire village was celebrating, after Gato's death it was like an entire weight had been lifted from all their lives. Being in constant fear and poverty had taken its toll on them all and now they had an excuse to celebrate.
All over the village people were laughing and having fun, they were still poor but now with Gato out of the way they could start up their businesses again without giving Gato his cut, which was where most of their profits had gone to.
The genin were also living it up mostly, as everyone saw the Konoha ninja as heroes of the village.
There was one ninja that wasn't celebrating however and that was Zabuza, he wasn't really a party type of guy and was sitting on the house of the bridge builder working on his blade. He had cleaned all the blood and gore off it and now he was sharpening it as he had done countless times.
"What do you want Hatake," Zabuza asked not even looking at his blade.
Kakashi wasn't surprised that Zabuza had sensed him after all the man had been in Mist's version of ANBU.
"Just wondering why you're up here instead of taking part of the celebrations." He said without a care.
"Hn, I tried to kill the old man and they want to throw a party with me? No thanks, besides I'm not a people person." He told Kakashi looking at his work.
Kakashi nodded himself as he looked over the village, a part of him was glad that they had fulfilled the mission as they had. Too many times he had seen too much death and destruction it was a bit nice to finally see the good that could come out of missions like this. He only wished he could see how much better the village would become.
"You're still sending the medics right?" Zabuza had the slight hint of a threat in his words giving Kakashi a reminder of what happened to the last man that tried to screw him over.
"They should be arriving soon enough," Kakashi said honestly. "But the big question is what will you do now?"
That had been something the missing-nin had been thinking about since he got up on the roof. Once Haku was healed he wasn't exactly sure plus there was the problem of hunter ninja showing up while the kid was healing too.
"Honestly...not sure. We'll have to be on the move again as soon as he's ready with the price on my head."
Kakashi nodded again, trying to kill a Kage was a major crime in the ninja world. Normally when a ninja went rogue if they didn't go out on their own they tried to join another village. But for his crime no village would trust him and even if they did, it could mean war with Mist. That village wouldn't stand for anyone helping someone that tried to kill their leader and would go to any lengths for it.
Kakashi had been thinking about this as well, it wasn't like he could just join Konoha. First off the elders on the council would have a fit, plus Konoha was enjoying its peace and war with Mist of all places was something many avoided. It wasn't defeat as more of the bloody cost that deterred war with them, after all there were no other ninja village that turned out more blood thirty ninja then they did.
"So you'll be hunted until you're dead huh," Kakashi said more of a statement than a question.
"Unless I can gather the funds to bring up an army with me, but I was running low before Gato and with him gone it's going to be tough." The Mist nin told the man.
Kakashi was silent a moment before he said something, "What if you were dead?"
"What?"
"Well," Kakashi put his hands into his pockets looking up, "what if I said in my report that you were killed? Word would get out and they would drop the hunt."
Zabuza knew there was more to it than just that, "What's the catch?"
"Well I'll need something from you, you're headband with your blood on it should do. But in order for this to work you'll have to disappear like say...some out of the way village that would hide you." Kakashi smirked as he could see his words reaching the other man. "Plus you'll have to hide your sword and change your looks, thankfully most people I bet don't know you by your face as like me you like to keep it covered."
"Even if I do this, and that's a big if...what the hell am I going to do here?"
Kakashi made an effort of looking like he was thinking hard when he had already had an answer before he even came up here. "Well I doubt all of Gato's men were captured and I think this village could use a man to help protect them. Plus this land has no hidden village so I think a man like yourself can find much work here."
Zabuza went back to his sword to think on that, logically it was the best option. He could get plenty of work but he would have to give up his name and everything that went with it. He closed his eyes thinking hard on that, was there anything really worth keeping of his old life? Ever since that boy's words when Haku had been injured he could feel a change in him. He wasn't sure of what kind of change but he knew he couldn't continue as he had up to this point. Plus Haku needed to rest and running around the known world always trying to be one step ahead wouldn't be good for him.
"I'll...think about it," Zabuza said.
"Sure thing no pressure, but there is one more thing I would like to know. Call it, professional curiosity." Kakashi said.
"What is it?"
"Why did you try and kill the Mizukage of Kirigakure?"
Zabuza wasn't sure if he should say or not, Kirigakure was very secretive. In fact no one knew who the Mizukages were outside of the Mist village and how many there had been. The land like its name was shrouded in secrecy. It was ingrained into all the ninja the importance of this but then again he wasn't a ninja of that village anymore. After some debating he figured there was no harm in it, besides if it pissed off the new Kage then so be it.
"It's because our current Mizukage is an outsider." Zabuza said and he could see the shock on Kakashi's face. An outsider becoming a Kage was unheard of in the ninja world. "He came into the village years ago, he wore a strange mask with only one single eye hole in it. He called himself Izuna at the time but I doubt that's his real name."
Zabuza paused as he remembered those days. "We don't take to intruders very well and we sent out best out after him...he killed them all without an effort. He called out our Kage and the two fought, I don't know where he came from but the truth is, he's better than me. I saw him kill out Kage like it was nothing and he claimed the title. Of course others fought this but they soon died, he promised that under his leadership he could give us true power in the ninja world."
"I for one never accepted him as our leader, and neither did most of the Seven Swordsmen. We tried our hand at defeating him, but we lost. Several of us died that day while the rest fled."
Kakashi took all that in, so far it fit with a few of the reports and stories that Konoha intelligence managed to scrap together. But the fact that someone that powerful had taken over an entire village wasn't good news. He knew that the Hokage and the council would need that kind of information for the future. Kakashi looked over the city and he didn't feel like celebrating anymore after hearing this.
-A few Days Later-
After a few days the bridge had been finished and the entire village had come out to say goodbye to the Konoha ninja. Kakashi and Kurenai had both taken their students aside and told them what was going to happen with Zabuza and Haku and they were asked to swear to never speak the truth. If anyone ever asked them about Zabuza they were to say that Kakashi and Kurenai killed him on the bridge and Haku had died earlier from his injuries.
As the town went to say goodbye to them, Haku was there in a wheelchair. The medic team would be arriving in a few hours so he could finally get his injuries healed. Zabuza was there although it was a surprise to see him, he didn't wear anything over his face and was wearing some civilian clothing he got. He looked more like some large fisherman now and he didn't look too happy about it.
Inari went up to Naruto looking sad so see the older boy leaving, "Will you ever come back?"
"I'll try and visit when I can," Naruto smiled at him. "Besides someone has to look after Haku while I'm gone and I'm trusting you with that, okay?"
Inari looked up with a small smile on his face as he nodded his head.
Haku gave a small laugh at hearing that although he didn't mind. After all he was living in the same home and he got along well with Inari and his family. Haku then exchanged some words with Naruto as well as both boys swore they would keep in touch. Everyone said goodbyes as both teams left on the newly finished bridge.
"So what are you going to call the bridge?" Tsunami asked her father.
He had been thinking about that for a long time actually and after he gave a few ideas (all which were flat out rejected) he came up with something else, "well then how about the Great Konoha Bridge in memory of all of them?"
Zabuza groaned taking Haku back as he heard the agreements although Haku seemed pleased by the name.
About a couple of hours outside of the village the teams were making their way home looking forward to it. Hinata was glad to see her village again as well, she never expected things to get to crazy when they first started this mission but she felt better for doing it. She still felt sick when she thought about the death she had seen. While in the battle she and her teammates had seen the bodies that their sensei had left behind and it had been the first time she had seen death. It got even worse when she had seen Gato's death.
She hadn't eaten dinner after that one but Sakura had seen her and taken her aside for a talk. She was surprised how the two of them were getting closer on the mission although she had always been friends with Sakura and Ino this was the first time she really started to feel close to the other girl. After some talking she had felt a bit better after that.
But now Hinata just wanted to see her family again and she was wondering how things were while she was gone. She was so lost in thought she hadn't noticed something coming out of the bushes and started to follow her a bit.
"Hey Hinata, looks like your old friend is back," Kiba said getting everyone's attention.
Hinata looked around and there behind her was that same little white rabbit from before. Hinata was surprised to see the little rabbit again and knelt down. The rabbit took a few hesitant steps before sniffing her out stretched hands. She giggled feeling it tickle her hand as she slowly reached out to pet the small animal.
"I wonder what it's still doing out here?" Sakura said looking at it.
"Well it's a tame animal used for substitution," Kakashi said remembering the animal from before.
"H-he looks under feed," Hinata said as she noticed it looked thinner and the hair wasn't as nice as last time.
"It's not used to the wild," Kurenai spoke up as she was surprised the animal was still alive. Normally a tame animal thrust into the wild was hunted down much more easily than one born in it.
Hinata found some food and started to feed the small animal, Kurenai sighed as she noticed how Hinata was over the animal. She knew what was coming next and she wasn't sure what to say to it.
"K-Kurenai-sensei..." Hinata started off looking up with pleading eyes to the older woman.
Kurenai wasn't sure she had the heart to say no to the girl, she thought of Hinata almost as family in a way. The girl was so pure and kind that it was hard not to like the small girl, and the fact that Hinata looked up to her only made it worse.
"You'll have to ask your father you know," Kurenai said to her student.
"I will," Hinata smiled at her.
"So you're going to try and keep him?" Sakura said excitedly looking at the cute little thing.
"Why not?" Naruto smiled under his mask, "After all Shino has his bugs and Kiba has Akamaru. So why can't Hinata-chan have an animal herself?"
Hinata blushed a bit as she picked up the rabbit, he seemed lighter than before and she was worried that any longer out in the foods and the animal might have died. Now she only had to worry about what to tell her father.
It was a shorter trip this time on their way back to Konoha the kids were talking excitedly about all the things that had gone on in the mission. Kakashi was actually very proud of the way that they had handled during the mission and from the way Kurenai looked she was pleased as well. When they were a day out of Konoha the weather took a huge turn as a small heat wave seemed to have shown up. It was usually hot in the Fire country as they never even got snow this far south and days like this did happen now and then.
By the time they reached the massive gates of their village they all were sweating.
"Man I'm so glad to be home," Kiba said as he was carrying his large coat by this time and Akamaru was sitting on his head panting. He looked to his two teammates. "How is it you two can keep your coats on in this heat anyway?"
Shino just shrugged, "My family is very good at using our bugs to regulate body temperature." Which was true as the bugs could be used for many different reasons, although another reason was because people tended to be freaked out by all the small flaps in the skin where the insects came out.
Kiba looked to Hinata for her explanation as she blushed holding her pet to her chest a bit closer. She was hot but she also was very shy about her body and just didn't want to take it off.
"Hey dad maybe we should hit the lake or river for some down time?" Naruto spoke up as his black vest as now in his backpack leaving him only in his orange t-shit.
Kakashi nodded, "Sounds like a good idea so far to me."
"Cool!"
"But after we've all rested up and made our reports," Kakashi continued leaving Naruto to hang his head in disappointment. He chuckled at how easy it was to toy with his son at times, then he noticed the tired looks of the others. They all had walked a long distance over the strange heat that suddenly showed up and so maybe he could give them the rest of the day off.
"Well how about you all go, I'm sure myself and Kurenai can make the report that is if she doesn't have anything against the idea?"
"No I'm fine with that," Kurenai said to him.
As everyone made their ways home Hinata nervously went to the Hyuga compound. The rabbit was currently sleeping in her arms and she was worried that her father might not let her keep him. Hinata made it to the front gates when one of the guards told her that she was to report to her father's study as soon as she got home to report on her mission. Hinata had hoped for a chance to hide her rabbit but looked like she might not be able to.
She hoped that she could run into her sister or Neji but as luck would have it she didn't see them, and her room was further away than her father's office and most likely someone would have told him that she was back. She knocked on his door and she heard him to come in, she nervously opened the door and walked in as her father was working on some documents.
"So how did your mission go?" Hiashi asked not looking up at the moment.
"I-it went very well father. I learned a new skill and helped to defend a town from invading mercenaries."
"That's good so far and I would like a copy of the mission report from your sensei whenever she can," Hiashi said as he then looked up. He kept his face neutral with the exception of one of his eyebrows going up slightly. "Hinata, what are you doing with that animal?"
Hinata bit her lower lip, "I-I found him, he was used for a replacement technique. I-I thought that I could take care of him, I'll take full responsibility father and I'll keep him out of the way."
Hiashi didn't really care for pets, mainly because his father had thought that he and his brother shouldn't have them as they were a distraction. But looking at his daughter and how far she was coming around maybe she did deserve a chance. After all he knew that his brother would say that they shouldn't treat their own children like their own father had and they should forge their own paths in parenthood.
But he also didn't want to appear 'weak' as well, since as Clan head he always had people looking at his actions no matter how small at times.
"One month," he said finally after thinking on it. "You have one month to prove you can take care of this animal and if you can't then you must get rid of it. You are also to pay for all the needs of your pet yourself as well."
He figured that this would also be a good way to see how Hinata could handle real responsibility in the end and he wanted to see if she could handle it.
Hinata was both surprised and overjoyed as well. "H-hai, I will father."
"Good, you can go now daughter," he said softly watching her go. When she was gone he let a small smile tug on his lips, it was nice seeing her happy. He knew he was hard on her and Hanabi from time to time but he had to prepare them for Clan life. But his brother had urged him from time to time to lighten up now and again as well.
With that he decided to get back to work and let his daughter deal with her new pet.
Hinata walked into her room happy that her father was going to let her keep her rabbit. She let him down as he went to explore Hinata's room. The young girl started to make a list of all the things she would need, a litter box, a place to keep him, food bowl and water as well, plus anything else she could find when she went to the pet shop in the village later.
She was taken out of her thoughts as a knock on her door and Hanabi opened it up.
"I heard you were back," Hanabi said glad to see that her older sister was well.
"Yes, just got back actually. How have things been while I was gone?"
"It was okay," Hanabi shrugged. "Konohamaru and I played together while you were gone so I wasn't bored."
Hanabi then noticed the bunny and her eyes lit up at it, "Ah so cute! Is he yours?"
Hinata nodded, "Yes father said I could keep him if I took full responsibility."
Hanabi sat down as the rabbit went to her and started to sniff the younger girl. Hanabi giggled as she lightly petted the furry animal. "What's his name?"
Hinata had been thinking about that and she had the perfect name for the white rabbit. "Haku-kun."
-Later-
Kakashi and Kurenai were walking out of the Hokage's office, they had just made their report to the Hokage. They had to give the real version of events but thankfully with the information Kakashi got from what was going on in Mist village he agreed to keep their source a secret. Plus there was no telling how help they could get out of someone of Zabuza's position, the man just knew too much about Kirigakure to go to waste so it would be made official that Zabuza was killed and the ninja's headband to Mist as proof.
With that out of the way both of them were looking forward to some down time.
What they didn't expect was the run into Anko on her way to make her own mission report. The purple haired Kunoichi gave a broad smile at seeing her best friend and Kakashi as well. "Hey guys, so you're al back huh. How did things go?"
Kakashi sighed, "Kind of a long story, but in the end everything worked out at least. So how did things go with you?"
"Oh the usual," Anko told them. "Just had to get close to someone that was dealing in a drug ring that the fire daimyo wanted shut down, in a lethal way of course."
"With your usual flair?" Kurenai asked smirking knowing that Anko wasn't exactly the most subtle of people.
Anko sighed at her question, "I was told to keep it 'low key' so I couldn't have any fun with it. So I went in as a geisha girl, got close and poisoned him with some snake venom. Simple enough mission, but right now all I want is to get this over with and cool off."
"Can't be comfortable in that coat of yours either," Kakashi told her.
"You have no idea," Anko muttered she loved her coat but when the weather got like this it could be really hot for her. But still, it held all her weapons, items and her hide her snakes it was just too good an item to just throw away from the heat. Plus wearing a shirt and ninja mesh did help balance it out.
"Maybe you should join us then," Kurenai told Anko of the idea of tomorrow heading out with both teams to cool off and relax. Kurenai was thinking of using her training grounds as it had a good water source for them all to use.
Anko had to admit that it sounded great plus there was another thing she could use. It would give her a chance to check out Kakashi in a swimsuit and also she could use it to show herself off as well, she had this little number she had been saving for a special occasion. With this she could try and see if she could get Kakashi interested, she had been trying to think of a way to see if he could be and this was the perfect chance.
She also got another idea as well as she looked at her best friend. She knew that there was something with Kurenai and Asuma so why not just help her friend out as well?
"You know that's a good idea, in fact why not we get the other brats in on this. I think Asuma's team is not doing anything." Anko said.
"I guess we could have them," Kakashi said before Kurenai could say anything. "After all Naruto is friends with them as well so it's only fair."
"Good then I'll see you all tomorrow, but now I got to report in," Anko smiled at them as she walked into the office. She couldn't wait until tomorrow and see how things went.
Next up chapter 42: Waterside Fun.