#14 - The Waves: Part 4

The boat they road was small and creaky and a part of Tsubaki wondered if it would capsize half-way across the river. She forced Naruto on one end of the boat and Sasuke on the other, making Kakashi and Tazuna sit opposite each other, to make sure that the balance was spread out completely.

"You know how to swim," Sasuke grumbled, as she glared at him for shifting left and making the boat rock a little.

"That doesn't mean I want to swim," she glared. flinching when Kakashi shifted his leg and the entire boat swayed.

"Who would have thought you would be so scared of a little water," Kakashi teased, dipping his hand into the lake and flicking little droplets of water at Tsubaki.

"Oh shut up, I just... don't like it. The same way you wouldn't like waking up to slugs in your bed," she warned. Kakashi puffed out a breath of laughter, and Tsubaki scowled at his quick dismissal of what she thought had been quite a terrifying suggestion.

They stayed on the boat for a while, weaving through the fallen trees of the misty bog that separated the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire.

"In the past, the Land of Waves used to be a part of the Land of Fire, you know, that's why they don't have a ninja village to this day," Tsubaki mentioned, it was an offhand comment but when she looked, both Sasuke and Naruto were looking at her with questioning interest so she continued.

"Before the 3rd Great Ninja War, the Land of Waves used to be a vassal state of the Land of Fire, but then the war broke out, and the Land of Waves closed its borders and isolated itself, refusing to send or accept support. They didn't want to affiliate with the conflicts that the Land of Fire had brought on." She explained,

"Hah? So they abandoned the Land of Fire?" Naruto roared indignantly. Tsubaki flicked his forehead - it had become something of a habit, every time he said something to stupid she would flick him.

"That's how they made it sound in the Academy's textbook, but I don't think that was the case at all," she said, which drew Kakashi's attention.

"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked,

"Basically, the Land of Waves is already physically separated from the Land of Fire and they were a vassal state, meaning people of the Land of Waves were always seen as being 'below' or 'less than' citizens of the Land of Fire. Which meant there were tensions between the people anyway. So when the war started - and it started with Konoha's fight against Iwagakure by the way - the Land of Waves' nobles saw it as a good opportunity to free their people." She explained.

Both Sasuke and Naruto glanced away, processing the information;

"Does that mean that the Land of Fire was the bad one?" Naruto asked, and Kakashi watched carefully as Tsubaki thought about her answer.

"I wouldn't say so. I mean yeah, the people of the Land of Fire treated the people of the Land of Waves badly - but a lot of that had to do with noble conflicts and propaganda. At the end of the day, it was a conflict between the higher-ups. I don't think it's really of the case of who is bad and who is good." She answered.

"How pragmatic," Kakashi noted.

"What about it?" Tsubaki asked, raising her chin defiantly and Naruto lost his chance to ask what 'propaganda' and 'pragmatic' meant because the bridge had come into view and any other thoughts on their conversation went right out of his head.

"Whoa! It's huge!" Naruto exclaimed, and Tsubaki had to agree, tilting her head all the way back as they floated along the side of the bridge. They were sticking close and the mist would hide the ripples in the water, but Naruto's exclamation was not something that could be muffled.

"Quiet! I told you no noise! Why do you think we're travelling like this in the first place?! Moving through dense fog and cutting off the engine - it's all so they won't notice us!" The skipper snapped, and Tsubaki exchanged glances with Sasuke - were they finally gonna get the full story?

"Tazuna-san, before we reach the peer, I want to ask you something." Kakashi began carefully,

"Who is after you? And why? If you don't tell us, I'm afraid I will have to end this mission once we drop you off to the shore." He declared.

"I suppose I have no choice - but no - I want you to know the truth. As you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one after me is a very short man, who casts a very long and deadly shadow." Tazuna said.

"A deadly shadow?" Naruto gulped.

"Who is it?" Sasuke asked.

"You know him - at least, I'm sure you've heard his name before. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world - the shipping magnet, Gato." He declared.

"Damn, we're screwed." Tsubaki breathed.

"That's really not good for morale," Kakashi told her,

"Of Gato Transport? He's a business leader," Sasuke noted.

"Who? Who?" Naruto spoke up in the background.

"Gato is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company that's true. But below the surface, with the same ruthlessness he uses in business, he sells drugs and contraband using gangs and ninja." Tazuna said, and Tsubaki bit her lip hard.

This was big, bigger than she could wrap her head around. Gato was not only a business tycoon, but he also had a lot of noble backing too - some nobles had made him the exclusive trader for their territory - taking him down would affect thousands of people in many different regions.

And one thing was clear - there was no way he could have achieved everything he had without getting help from the law.

"One year ago, Gato set his sights on the Land of Waves. He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control of our transport and shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way - simply disappeared."

"An island nation like the Land of Waves wouldn't survive something like that," Tsubaki sighed, a little more sympathetic towards the drunk old man than she wanted to admit.

"The one thing that would break his control is the bridge - when it's complete it will open a path for trade through the land and I am the head bridge builder," Tazuna finished.

"So that's it since your the one in charge of the bridge, you're standing in his way," Naruto exclaimed - looks like those tutoring sessions had finally paid off.

"So those guys in the forest were sent by Gato," Sasuke said.

"I don't understand - this bridge is a huge under-taking funded by the Land of Waves Fuedal Lord - if you knew you were going to get attacked by Gato - why didn't you ask for a higher mission rank?" Kakashi asked,

"Isn't it obvious? They need money for that - don't you people read newspapers? The Land of Waves economy has totally crashed - even their Feudal Lord has barely enough money to get by," Tsubaki told him.

"For real?" Naruto asked,

"It was in this gossip magazine I was reading - apparently one his concubines tried to steal from him but found the treasury empty - she ended up selling the story for cash," Tsubaki whispered.

"Newspapers huh?" Sasuke shook his head.

"Hey, it's important to get your information from more than one source," She snapped.

"It's true that this bridge was original to be paid for by the Feudal Lord, but he pulled out his purse last year when Gato took over. Now, this bridge is being funded in secret, by the citizens of the Land of Waves. If you drop me off to the shore and leave, I will be assassinated before I reach home." He declared.

Tsubaki felt that stab of guilt - at least she did until he opened his mouth to continue,

"But don't feel bad about that. Of course, my sweet little grandson will be upset, he'll cry 'Grandad! I want my Grandad! - and my daughter will blame the ninja of Konoha, denouncing you for abandoning her father and she will no doubt live her life in sorrow, cursing you. Ah well, it's not your fault - forget it." He said.

"Okay well, if you insist, I suppose we should just head home." Tsubaki smiled. All three boys on her team gaped at her - even Kakashi? Really?

"What, Gato has connections with Nobles! I don't know about you, but I would rather not jeopardise my future career and remain a genin the rest of my life because I pissed off a cousin of the Feudal Lord of some nation I've never heard of thanks."

"But Tsubaki! He'll die!" Naruto wailed.

"And so will you. Don't you want to be Hokage? You do realise this might have a huge impact on that? Where can you find me a connection-less nobody that can become Hokage? - and don't you want revenge? Do you want to be branded as a criminal and spend 10 years in prison after getting caught up in Gato's revenge scheme instead of getting stronger?" She asked Sasuke.

Both froze in their seats.

"So Kakashi sensei - although morally I understand wanting to continue this mission - can you guarantee that you can take full responsibility if something goes wrong and that if we survive, this won't negatively impact our goals in the future?" She demanded, arms crossed.

"As usual you sure are harsh, Tsubaki - Of course, as your sensei, leader of this team and the only senior ninja present, all responsibility for anything that happens during this mission will fall on me - you have my word." Kakashi agreed.

"In that case, I guess we have no other choice," Tsubaki nodded.

"Wait - does that mean-?" Naruto glanced to Sasuke, who nodded,

"We continue with the mission."

"YES!" Naruto exclaimed which was immediately followed by 5 lots of -

"SSHhhhhhhhhh!"

* * *

It took a while before things began to get lively again - Naruto had somehow become convinced that someone was following them and kept attacking woodland animals - the fact that he had sensed that rabbbit was impressive though.

"Rabbits are adorable and very high in nutritional value. Excellent lunches and pets." Tsubaki commented which got her some odd looks. "It's true, they're low in calories and the way they clean their face is so cute."

"Don't - say those things in the same sentence, you weirdo," Sasuke grumbled, Tsubaki shrugged - it was all true, what was the problem?

"Look out!" Kakashi's yell was all the warning they got but it was just enough time to throw herself out of the path of the sword that came whirling through the clearing, right where her head had been, not seconds ago.

By the time she saw what was actually happening, there was already a man stood on the hilt of the massive sword that had been lodged into the side of the tree - so deep that it could bear his weight.

Tsubaki shivered - that was some monstrous strength that he must have thrown that sword with.

"Well well, if it isn't Momochi Zabuza; Rogue ninja of Kirigakure," Kakashi said, stepping forward - Tsubaki knew he did that to bring all the attention to himself so when Naruto rushed forwards, ready to sprint into battle, Tsubaki grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back - even as Kakashi held out an arm to stop him.

If Gato already knew that the chunin he had sent earlier had been defeated - then this guy would be of higher rank. They had barely survived long enough for Kakashi to rescue them when it came to the chunin. There was no way they would survive fighting someone of higher rank.

"All of you get back - you're in the way," Kakashi said,

"But why!" Naruto wailed.

"He's not like those other ninjas - he's in a whole other league. If he's our opponent..." Kakashi trailed off, raising his hand to the forehead protector, he lifted the side that was always slanted.

Tsubaki had heard of Kakashi before - and she had done her research on him when she found out he would be their sensei so she had known what to expect. She had seen Sharingan's before too - when she was much younger.

But this was nothing like that - it was different somehow, the pattern more complicated, the area around the eye was scarred and the skin puckered like a wound that had never healed properly even the whites of his eyes were blood-shot.

Sharingans had always been somewhat eerie to look at - but they were beautiful too.

There was nothing beautiful about Kakashi's Sharingan.