P.O.V - Team 7
Kakashi and the Genin of Team 7 were currently on their C-Rank turned B to A Rank Mission escorting the Bridge Builder Tazuna of Wave Country.
After encountering and killing the Demon Brothers of Kiri, Gōzu and Meizu, with Kakashi sending a message via Summoning Dog, they were currently on a boat being transported slowly through the foggy waters by an old friend of Tazuna who also, like everyone else of the Land of Waves, wants Gato gone, so he decided to risk it and help Tazuna and his escort.
Kakashi and the rest of Team 7 were on high alert and were paying attention to their surroundings, with Kakashi using his enhanced senses to keep watch on the water below them, as it was likely from the intel they gathered that they were going to fight Zabuza Momochi himself, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, and like all of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kiri were, he was highly skilled in manipulating Water Release so Kakashi was ready if the water around them started moving strangely.
Tazuna as a civilian didn't understand the level of danger he was in, as he only knows that Ninja were powerful, but he doesn't understand who the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were, so although he was nervous and was drinking his alcohol like it wasn't bad for his liver, he was ultimately still somewhat relaxed as he saw the strength of the Ninja he hired.
Originally, he didn't think much of the 'kids' he payed for protecting him, as he was expecting some strong 'super' Ninja's that were adults, and instead, the Chunin at the admission desk handed him these brats with a scarecrow for a babysitter to him, assuring that they were good enough for a C-Rank with 'at most' bandits. Tazuna couldn't help but almost wince at the words 'at most' as he knows that there probably wouldn't be just 'bandits' coming after him, but he ultimately didn't say anything and just let it be, after all, what they didn't know couldn't hurt them, right?
Wrong. Not even 30 minutes after he left Konoha with the escort, did they get attacked by enemy Ninja's, Tazuna almost had a heart attack and thought with certainty that he was going to die after seeing the Jonin who he thought would at least bring him comfort get torn to pieces by those chains used by those masked freaks!
Tazuna literally dropped his bottle and thought that it was over, and all of his effort and dreams for helping his people would die in the Land of Fire, not even his own country, but he saw that the Genin that were escorting him didn't even flinch when they clearly saw that their leader just got turned into minced meat, but launched into an assault against the foreign enemies, with the one who looked like an absolute idiot wearing orange clothing of all things absolutely decimating the one of the left… he swore he could hear the enemies bones break from where he was, and that was the scary part because he called said 'idiot' one when he met him...
Tazuna then barely stopped himself from passing out when Jonin who he thought got killed appeared suddenly behind him with what he thought was the scariest eye smile he thought he could see from the expression Kakashi gave him.
Tazuna swore he would never lie to Ninja's again after the amount of interrogation Kakashi put him through, but he was ultimately grateful that the Ninja's continued to help him complete his bridge after explaining what was going on, and promising that he would make an alliance with Konoha and the Land of Fire if they managed to defeat Gato...
So with confidence, Tazuna felt like he could see the day Gato was gone and that his grandson Inari would smile once more.
After a few more minutes, Tazuna's bridge came into view of the group of 6 (including the boatman), mesmerising the foreign Shinobi as they haven't seen such a magnificent bridge in their short lives so far… Kakashi even decided to comment:
"Got to say… that is a very nice bridge, looks sturdy as well…" he said, and Tazuna broke into a smile at the Shinobi giving his wonderful creation an honest compliment, and decided to reply in kind:
"You bet! This bridge is the Hope of our country, if this is completed and is connected to the main land, we will be free of Gato's control!" he spoke with bright passion, Kakashi just gave a small nod with his patented eye smile while returning to paying attention to the waters below.
Sasuke didn't comment, but gave a small nod as he can see the determination in the old drunks eyes… Sakura was a bit nervous as while she has ultimately been getting better, she knew that a tough fight was up against them due to the Demon Brothers they fought against earlier, so the old mans passion was a bit of a comforter in the fog for her...
Naruto just gave a big grin with a thumbs up to the old man, silently going back to admiring the bridge, forgetting to pay attention to his surroundings...
A few minutes later the boatman who has been silent since they have traversed suddenly spoke quietly to the group of five before him:
"Alright, we are here at shore… this is as far as I can take you Tazuna, I'm already risking a lot by helping you, so you better complete that bridge. Otherwise I will make you regret it!" spoke the old man with a bit of steel, and Tazuna just gave a hearty laugh and spoke with a smile to his friend:
"Isamu, don't worry... Gato won't get me and i've brought these powerful Ninja to protect me! Also I can assure you, nothing will happen to you, Gato hasn't been paying attention to this area for a while so he won't know what you have done for me… anyways, thank you once again... lets getgoing…" finished Tazuna, giving Isamu a hug before addressing his escorts to follow him.
Once they left the boat, they waved Isamu off, and made their way through the forest onto the gravel pathway, heading into the Land of Waves. Team Seven then moved into a classic close diamond formation, with Sasuke in front, Sakura and Naruto either side of Tazuna and Kakashi in the rear for support.
Suddenly Sasuke stopped, whipped out a Kunai and flung it into the bushes on his left. Everyone tensed and was ready for a confrontation, with Sasuke pulling out another Kunai, holding it in reverse grip and moved slowly towards the bushes that he sensed something off from earlier.
Carefully he moved away the leaves to reveal a Snow White rabbit shivering in fear from the sharp object that came dangerously close to penetrating its skull. Sasuke frowned as he felt that something was off about this and picked up the rabbit, showing it to everyone...
Everyone but Sakura who started fretting over the poor creature and Tazuna frowned at the rabbit, with Kakashi thinking:
'A Snow White rabbit in the middle of Summer? Its fur should brown, unless it was raised in dark places… that must mean…' Kakashi suddenly shouted:
"EVERYONE GET DOWN!!"
*VWOOM*
*CRASH*
Team 7 hit the ground, with Sasuke being the closest to Tazuna tackled him to the ground just in time to dodge a massive rotating shadow that soared over the group and lodged itself deep within the tree behind them, nearly cleaving it in two.
Everyone looked up and noticed that the rotating shadow was actually a massive Zanbatō in the shape of a Butchers Knife… suddenly though a humanoid flickered into existence onto the handle of the massive weapon.
He was a well-built man, wearing a sleeveless, dark grey-blue jumpsuit that fits close to his body, built for mobility and combat. The suit ends just above his ankles, where white bandages wrap tightly around his lower legs and continue down to his standard open-toed shinobi sandals. His forearms are similarly wrapped in white bandages, offering light protection and grip, while his upper arms remain bare, exposing his muscular build.
His hands are wrapped with more bandages, leaving his fingers free for handling his massive Zanbatō, Kubikiribōchō (Decapitating Carving Knife) one of Kirigakure's Legendary Seven Ninja Swords. Moving upward, his neck is completely covered in more of the same white bandages, which continue up and over the lower half of his face, concealing his mouth, nose, and jaw. Only his sharp eyes and forehead remain visible, giving him a cold and intimidating expression.
Tied across his head is the Kirigakure forehead protector, worn diagonally rather than straight across, adding to his fierce appearance. Finally, his spiky black hair juts out from behind the headband, completing his rough and dangerous look.
This man was Zabuza Momochi, one of the Former Members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure, the Demon of the Bloody Mist.
Zabuza looked over the group of Shinobi before him and stopped on the leading Jonin of the team and gave a gruff sneered laugh that sounded like grated steel in the foggy mist:
"Hatake Kakashi, also known as The Copy Ninja and the man to have copied over a thousand Jutsu… no wonder the Demon Brother's didn't succeed in killing the old drunk… Hand over the old man and i'll let you and your Genin leave alive!" Shouted the Rogue Shinobi while glaring down on the group like they were already corpses in his eyes...
Kakashi didn't flinch and slowly stood up and replied:
"Momochi Zabuza, so the intel was correct… though, it wasn't like we weren't expecting you due to the Demon Brother's… everyone stand back, he isn't someone you can deal with yet, i'll deal with him…" Spoke Kakashi glaring at the Rogue Shinobi, then he raised his hand and moved his slanted Hitai-ate up revealing his now unsealed Sharingan, having just activated it...
Zabuza, seeing the infamous Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan couldn't help but comment:
"The Sharingan, so early? I feel honoured…" he said and he quickly jumped off of his Zanbatō, ripping it out of the tree mid-air with immense physical strength, while landing on a nearby lake. Zabuza looked up and moved his left hand forward and formed it into a half Ram-Seal and spoke:
"Hidden Mist Jutsu…"