Chapter 26

In a hideout in the trees, Zabuza laid in rest. His ally watched over him as he healed from his run in with Hatake Kakashi. He had done the best he could but he would need to go back outside to get more herbs to speed up the healing. As they spoke, three people entered the room. It was a short man in a business suit who was flanked by two would-be swordsmen. The short man looked at the two with a mocking smirk.

"So the fearful Kirigakure no Kijin (Demon of the Mist) comes back a failure? Perhaps your reputation is exaggerated." Gatō mocked. Zabuza said nothing and ignored the man. He sneered and walked up to the bed. "Hey Zabuza, I'm talking to you." He reached out to poke him when he was held by a strong grip. Gatō turned to the teenager who had him in a vice grip.

"You will not touch Zabuza-sama with your filthy hands." The boy warned.

"Argh, my… wrist…" Gatō groaned. His two bodyguards reached for their swords but were suddenly facing their weapons as Zabuza's partner had them at their necks.

'So fast!' they both thought.

"You don't want to mess with me. I'm in a very bad mood." He growled.

"Haku, that's enough." Zabuza ordered. Haku calmed down and reappeared at his master. Gatō growled at the boy but made no moves to do anything.

"Just get the job done Zabuza!" he shouted before leaving to get his hand fixed. His guards followed him after getting their weapons. Alone, Zabuza turned toward Haku.

"You didn't need to do that Haku." Zabuza said as he motioned to the kunai he held under the covers.

"I know but he is scum. I do not think we can trust him." Haku said.

"Right now, we don't have a choice. We will cross that bridge when we reach it. Now, continue telling me about what you learned about Kakashi and his brats." Zabuza ordered.

"Yes Zabuza-sama." Haku said and continued his report.

XXX

Sakura said down at the bottom of her tree, tired from all the work she had been doing. She didn't have the stamina that Sasuke or Naruto had. She looked to see that Sasuke had gotten a little higher than before and he was increasing his height with every go. Naruto was doing something much different than what they were doing. He was doing pull-ups with just his fingertips. He also had a pretty big boulder attached to his feet. He was doing this with his chakra and he didn't look all that winded. It was at this point that Sakura came to a realization. She realized how strong Naruto really was.

She still thought that he was rude, crass and idiotic but if it wasn't of him, they wouldn't have done nearly as well as they did against Zabuza. Sure, she didn't do anything but guard Tazuna but he thought of the plan that saved Kakashi and he took out that remaining clone that Zabuza created. Maybe, he wasn't the idiot that she thought that he was and maybe, he could help her get stronger. They didn't really get along but that didn't mean that Naruto wouldn't help her if she asked.

Gathering her courage and swallowing her pride, she made her way over to Naruto.

"Hey Naruto," Sakura called out. Naruto stopped his exercise and looked down at Sakura. She took a deep breath and faced him. "I was wondering if you can help me increase my chakra pool?" The request shocked Naruto that he lost his control of the boulder and his grip. He fell to the ground in a heap and grunted as he hit the ground. Kakashi who was watching the whole exchange couldn't help but smile at his team. He could see that Sakura was taking the first step in becoming a true kunoichi. It must have been hard for her when she asked Naruto of all people to help her. Maybe they would become a perfect team after all.

"What the hell?! I ask you for help and you think that I'm on some type of medication?!" Sakura roared.

"I'm just saying that because you never really were interested in becoming strong. To tell you the truth, I thought that you were taking something as you really weren't that strong to beginning with." Naruto answered honestly.

"Shānnarō!" Sakura exclaimed and bashed Naruto in the head. Then again, they could use a little bit more work.

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