Morning broke over the Land of Waves.
The mist was thinner today.
But the tension?
Thicker than ever.
Naruto stood outside Tazuna's house, yawning.
"…Alright, big day.""
Behind him—
The rest of Team 7 started their morning routine, moving to guard Tazuna on his way to the bridge.
"…Time to move." His mind screamed at him for a second, causing him to halt his advance to the bridge.
His hands flashed into a familiar seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
POOF POOF POOF
Three clones appeared.
Sakura blinked, calling out from a window in the house.
"…What are you doing?"
Naruto grinned.
"I'm gonna scout the bridge, I've got a bad feeling about today. I'm leaving these three here as... insurance."
One clone cracked its knuckles.
"Protect the house."
Another nodded.
"Watch the kid."
The third stretched lazily.
"…And beat up any idiots who show up."
Naruto pointed dramatically.
"Exactly."
Kakashi, watching his cute little genin's interactions, eye smiled.
"…Not a bad call."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto.
"…Hn."
The real Naruto turned toward the forest leading to the bridge.
Bridge Approach
Naruto moved quickly through the trees.
Landing silently on the bridge once he reached his destination.
Eyes scanning.
"…Alright…"
He pulled out a mix of Gravity Sealing Tag Prototype and Minor Gravity Seals.
"…Let's get creative."
One tag—
Placed beneath a loose plank.
Another—
Hidden along a railing support.
Two more—
Stacked subtly near a chokepoint.
Then—
2 Explosive Tags
Carefully placed.
Not obvious.
Not clustered.
"…Man I'm actually thinking ahead…"
The Shinobi Codex chimed.
Tactical Planning Recognized
+1 Intelligence
Naruto grinned.
"…I'm evolving."
Tazuna's House
A loud BANG echoed as the door slammed open.
Three thugs stormed in.
"Gato sends his regards."
Tsunami gasped.
Inari froze.
Then—
Naruto's clones stepped forward.
"…Wrong house."
The thugs laughed.
"…You kids again?"
The first one swung—
WHACK
A clone ducked and swept his legs.
Another clone launched forward—
BAM
Punch to the gut.
The third grabbed a chair—
SMASH
"…Okay that was personal."
The fight was chaotic.
Messy.
But quick.
One thug tried to run—
Only to get kicked through the doorway.
Naruto's clone dusted his hands.
"…We should get paid for this."
Another nodded.
"…Add it to the tab."
Inari stared.
Wide-eyed.
*Ping*
Sub Mission Completed!
Hidden objective: Protect Tazuna's family while Team 7 protects the bridge
Rewards:
+3 Strength
+3 Endurance
+1 Charisma
+5 to Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 3 -> (15/30)
+15 System Points!
The Bridge
Mist rolled in thick. Workers were absent, called off by Tazuna due to a suggestion/order from Kakashi's. Tazuna was still present with Team 7, acting as a crude form of human bait.
Kakashi's voice was calm.
"…Stay sharp."
A figure appeared.
Massive sword resting on his shoulder.
"…Yo."
Zabuza Momochi grinned.
"…Round two."
Beside him—
Haku stood silently.
Mask gleaming.
Sasuke tensed.
Sakura steadied herself.
Kakashi lifted his headband.
"…This time…"
"…we finish it."
The air exploded into motion.
Zabuza rushed forward—
Kakashi met him head-on.
Kunai and executioner blade CLANGED in an intense struggle of strength and finesse
Shockwaves rippled.
Haku vanished.
Sasuke reacted instantly—
"Behind us—!"
Too late.
Senbon flew.
Sakura dodged barely. Sasuke pushed Tazuna to the ground, taking a single senbon to the shoulder for his effort.
"…He's fast!"
Haku's voice echoed softly.
"…You won't win."
Then—
A bright flash followed by a WOOOSH of smoke assaulted the bridge. Firecrackers pulled from out of nowhere set the tone.
A gust of wind cleared the smoke and our blonde knuckleheaded ninja stood there with a clone hovering behind him.
The original's stance was majestic in an effortless way, his torso bent back, knees bent to a high degree, a single arm outstretched pointing at Haku and Zabuza while his clone had his arms crossed, single eyebrow raised.
Everyone on the bridge sweatdropped and thought simultaneously 'Was he sucking in his cheecks or did he always look like that'
"…Miss me?"
*Ping*
+10 Aura, the devils in the details. You might be a bit ahead of your time but style is style!
Sasuke glanced at him.
"…Took you long enough."
Naruto grinned.
"Had to set the stage."
Haku tilted his head.
"…Stage?"
Naruto smirked.
"…Yeah."
"Step one—"
He tossed a kunai past Haku.
It struck a plank—
FWOOM
A Gravity Seal - prototype activated.
The wood beneath Haku suddenly dropped—
Weight intensified.
Haku's footing faltered for just a split second.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"…Now!"
He rushed in—
Kunai slashing.
Haku jumped back, senbon drawed and ready.
Naruto threw a handful of kunai forcing Haku to the side of the bridge.
Another tag—
Triggered.
A section of railing snapped downward under sudden weight plunging to the frigid river below—
Haku jumped toward the more stable middle section of the bridge, agile like a cat he hopped on piece by piece of the railing that had fallen into the water below.
Sakura capitalized instantly—
Launching a precise kick after calculating Haku's trajectory to reach the safety of the bridge,
"…Got you!"
Haku caught the kick...and proceeded to toss Sakura into the water below.
"Narutoooo! This is all your fault!"
A slightly guilty sweatdrop formed on Naruto's forehead as he formed a familiar cross, sending some clones to assist his teammate in reaching the bridges safety.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto.
"…You planned this?"
Naruto grinned.
"…Kinda."
Truthfully?
He absolutely did not expect it to be this chaotic. Didn't Sakura learn how to stick to things for an entire week? Why didn't she think to apply it just now...Oh well, he'd talk to her later.
Zabuza laughed from across the bridge.
"...Your brat's have gotten even more childish."
Kakashi eye smiled, not embarrassed in the slightest.
"...They're full of surprises."
Naruto formed a hand sign.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF
More Clones rushed forward—
Haku's movement patterns remained much more controlled after setting off two tags in succession. She was determined to end this quickly for her master, hopefully without casualties.
Each step—
More restricted.
More controlled.
More dangerous.
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"…Almost…"
Haku leapt—
Landing on another section—
Naruto's eyes widened.
"…Oh that one's primed—"
BOOM
Explosive tag detonated.
Smoke burst outward.
Haku flipped back—
Sliding across the bridge, shin length cloth burned showing scorched skin underneath
For the first time—
Off-balance.
Sasuke smirked slightly. Hand seals flashed rapidly
"Fire style, Fireball Justu!"
A fireball soared towards Haku. Danger screaming in her mind she flashed through unknown signs, placing both palms to the ground as the fireball was a foot away.
A mirror, seemingly made of crystalized ice instantly materialized, a blur shooting from it toward Naruto and Sasuke a moment later.
Both were kicked in the stomach, Haku executing a Jean Claude Van Dam Split kick. The teammates had no recollection of how the pseudo tracker ninja had encroached on their position that fast.
Far behind them—
At the house—
Naruto's clones stood victorious.
One gave Inari a thumbs up.
"…Told you."
Inari stared.
"…They actually fought."
Something shifted in his expression.
Back on the bridge—
The mist thickened.
A dome of mirrors formed around Naruto and Sasuke as they recovered from getting the wind knocked out of them.
The real battle was just beginning.
System notifications for this chapter:
Trap Making Skill Level up to LVL 4! (6/40)
Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 3 -> (25/30)
Academy Taijutsu LVL 3 -> (20/30)
Items used:
3 Gravity Seal - prototypes
3 Minor Gravity Seals
2 Explosive Tags
2 Smoke Pellets
1 Flash bomb