Zabuza's Team 3

Liver, kidney…He twirled and slashed with a kunai. It hissed through the air, biting deep into imaginary flesh. Carotid. Windpipe. His muscles coiled as he pivoted into a mounted stance and in a whirl of force smashed his foot against the dummy, "Legs, Rib, Head!"

The tree's bark splintered as its centre base exploded. It creaked, groaning as it toppled over onto Zabuza's side, thundering against the soft earth in defeat. "Mmggrrr…nngghhh!" the Demon of the Mist growled, struggling to make a felled tree sufficient satisfaction of his strength, his worth. It wasn't enough, it couldn't be.

A gust of wind cooled the sweat rolling down his chest and arms, he shivered, bridling with anger as he muttered, "Keep the gear…you deserve it…DESERVE?!" He clenched the kunai between his knuckles and flung it through the trunks of two trees. But that too wasn't enough.

Zabuza's fingers twitched around the kunai, his breath shallow. His muscles ached for the real thing—warm blood, not shattered bark. Zabuza wanted—needed to kill something. Someone. Lord Funato was all he could think of. 

Having nothing else in reach to strike he smacked his cheeks, smushed his skull between hardened palms, groaning at the pressure of his abuse. "Gnnragghh!" Zabuza roared, a strangled scream of frustration and crouched, finding his breath again. Slowly.

I'd die before I got a real chance. The Funato clan head enjoyed a privilege of round the clock security, whether from his clan minions or the ANBU detail that unwittingly provided protection while maintaining surveillance for the Fourth Mizukage. Zabuza had too much experience with the weight of their eyes, even now, infrequently he'd feel their weight come upon him.

If he were hoping for a miracle the team watching the traitorous old man would have to be scratched out of the equation. And he'd need to get as much alone time with Lord Funato, however, the man was not a living legend for nothing. Even Zabuza had his doubts.

He'd trained with the old man for a few odd sessions when Zabuza accidentally revealed the depth of his ignorance in the multitude of skills beyond brutality a shinobi could employ. Thanks to the old man, Zabuza had learned his third Elemental Ninjutsu; [Water Release: Hiding in Water], a technique that complemented his arsenal in a manner he couldn't have achieved on his own…at least not without months of spying.

His prideful accomplishment was not even the tip of the iceberg to the lethality that selfish old noble could bring to bear. Someone had already tried and failed to assassinate the man and he'd come out nearly unscathed. Lord Funato was simply too big a target to chew, Zabuza would have to satiate his thirst some other way. 

I need a mission. An A-rank preferably. Zabuza hadn't gone on one that didn't devolve or actively involve a combat situation. The Daimyo's war had provided Zabuza with the perfect outlet and a scale of measurement in the form of that Hozuki, but despite all the promises, all the teeth-gritting, kowtowing efforts to get close to the Mizukage—even tolerating and using that Hozuki—nothing had changed.

It's all gone. I have nothing, I'm back to nothing. Zabuza didn't understand why it was his fault the Mizukage changed his mind about the games that would win the island but Lord Funato had no use for his 'murder intensive' brain and he regretted spending a dime of money and time preparing Zabuza. The Demon had no use and was cast aside. Just like Sandaime, they're all the same. Even Yagura!

The Fourth Mizukage hadn't so much as acknowledged his presence, his eyes were shut or looking elsewhere the entire time Zabuza existed uselessly beside Lord Funato. It was only the fact that Yagura seemed just as bored and disengaged from everything else that Zabuza decided to think differently about the man, or at least try. Maybe I just…

"Maybe nothing!" Zabuza yelled, thrusting a low kick out at the tree stump, bashing and mashing like it was a face. What more could he offer? What else could he do now, where would he go? Back to those slum Jounin-Chuunin four-man teams? Back to trying for the Chuunin exams? What would set him-!

"I see you're free," a voice, Mangetsu's, uttered above him. 

He craned his neck at the blue dawning sky. A second sunny day was in the works, but in the trees was the slimy Hozuki boy and a man he'd seen lingering around the Mizukage just about everywhere. The Byakugan Killer.

"Put on some gear, Demon, we're teaming up for this one."

****

The last time Zabuza set foot in the Mizukage's office he was the only Genin among a sea of Chuunin and Jounin drafted for the Daimyo's war. He stood beside the Legendary Swordsmen and was even assigned under one. This time the Mizukage's spacious, previously well furnished office was under siege by piles of paperwork and the copies of himself that roamed about doing them. 

The first and perhaps original sat behind his desk and the Hozuki player, the shogi winner and the very same woman rumoured to be flirting with the Fourth Mizukage some six or seven months ago was hung over his shoulder, hair draped over the side as she whispered and pointed at something they both seemed to find more interesting than the motley assembly of shinobi before them.

There was Ao, the Byakugan Killer standing at attention on Zabuza's left hand and right after him was the last pick they made after Zabuza himself, a creature the Demon had rarely seen out in public much less heard of taking on missions. The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata. 

Zabuza suppressed a smile. He felt almost as much excitement seeing the Jinchuriki in person as he did when he first met Yagura. There was something about them, Jinchuriki, they inspired a fascination everyone, not just Zabuza, felt and that led to a myriad of conflicted and misunderstood emotions…all ending in the safe, reliable tactic of ostracization. Whether it was on purpose or not, Zabuza recognized it and couldn't help get excited to see what version of mad the Jinchuriki was currently experiencing.

He could be as mad as I am. Utakata hadn't murdered as many as he had but Zabuza could hope. Right beside the Jinchuriki was Mangetsu, the Hozuki boy remained as annoying to perceive as ever, but Zabuza was free of his attention as his eyes lingered closely at the interaction between the Mizukage and his clanswoman. Sister? No, definitely some kind of close cousin.

There was a familiar fire behind his look but Zabuza couldn't be sure whether it was protective or competitive.

Rina Hozuki finally peeled away from the Mizukage with a note in her hand. She scribbled the contents on a green board that was taking up much of the previous furniture space in the office. She filled in a table of what seemed like logistics and population census information with new numbers before dusting her hands of chalk and taking her place between Utakata and Mangetsu, pushing Zabuza further to the side as his rank determined.

All four continued to stand there in silence for another two minutes before the Mizukage or at least the one sitting behind the desk looked up at them and flashed a smile, "I believe each of you are mature enough to know the full truth of your gathering here today, your accomplishments, more than your ranks, speak to your strength of mind and heart."

Zabuza couldn't help but narrow his eyes in suspicion as the Mizukage continued, "There will be a lot of movement between our main isle, Yureisen and Midoriwara in the coming months and perhaps even year, I cannot predict how long it will take for the Funato and Hozuki clans to accomplish their tasks, however, yours is to safeguard their paths and report any and every suspicious and likely foreign infiltrator."

Yagura leaned forward, his eyes darkening, "Rina, you have had the most successful encounters against said infiltrators, Utakata, your abilities are largely unknown and will prove useful against Kumo-nin, not to mention, you need the practice. Zabuza, your honest…brutality represents exactly the attitude Kirigakure has for uninvited guests. With Ao as your team lead, I expect this newly christened Team 3 to intercept saboteurs and menaces against our village."

"Sir, what about Mangetsu, I thought he would be…" Ao trailed off but Zabuza knew what he wanted to say, what he wanted to complain about.

Is it too much responsibility taking care of two monsters, Byakugan Killer? Mangetsu himself looked disappointed not to be called into the team but Zabuza didn't care much else about it, it was just another day of being used, his talent for 'honest brutality' would be put to use one way or another. He should have known he wouldn't be idle for long, Lord Funato's support or not. 

"Mm, yes, I originally wanted him to be a part of team 3, almost signed the paperwork too but I believe it'll be best to hold onto my apprentice a tad longer." Yagura smiled sheepishly at Mangetsu, "You'd like that would you, yes?"

The Hozuki-boy straightened as much as his limited height would allow, "Yes sir!"

Tch! The perfect soldier. Zabuza battled to keep the scorned look off his features but without his face bandages he doubted he was doing a very fine job because the Hozuki-girl looked at him with a reserved disgust and express doubt. At least she isn't afraid, maybe she's as good as her cousin.

"Good to hear, nevertheless, you'll be working against the same tasks as your fellows. Kumogakure has slighted us and until I say otherwise, everyone given a similar task is to remain on high alert, expect a third response from their forces but always act as a team." Yagura regarded them as a whole, his eyes lingered the longest on the Jinchuriki and it seemed like he communicated something entirely secret in those moments of eye contact alone. "Team 3, dismissed."

Zabuza chorused with his new team, ""Sir!"" and walked out of the Mizukage's office, leaving behind the Hozuki-boy who didn't bother looking away from his master. 

Outside the Byakugan Killer addressed them, "Alright you three, we'd better get over with introductions and skip to establishing team roles. Come, I know a place we can start."

Zabuza would groan at the thought of team meetings and hangouts, but for once he accepted he had no choice but to eat whatever scrap and slob was left out for him. He was stronger than the Hozuki-girl, he was certain. She didn't exude half the combat competence her eight-year old cousin did wearing the same vest but Zabuza had heard countless times from weak Chuunin like her that what made one a Chuunin wasn't entirely combat effectiveness.

Perhaps there's something to be respected, she obviously had Yagura's favour but like her annoying cousin, that favouritism might just be nepotism in disguise. Zabuza's other team mate, Utakata, the Jinchuriki of Turtle Island. He knew for certain shared a bond with the Mizukage who was also a Jinchuriki, but that didn't mean Utakata was stronger than Zabuza. To find out where the Jinchuriki stood he'd have to fight him.

My time will come. He thought, fist balled and fury quenched for the moment as he walked out with his first ever Jounin lead.