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They left the Demon Brothers tied to the tree. Some of the genin were still shook, and Tazuna was evading Kakashi's questions as they continued forward. After a while, Sakura spoke.
Sakura~Sasuke, Ann, Ravi, how did you guys keep cool so well? None of you guys looked afraid.
Sasuke~You heard what happened to my clan. That didn't compare to it.
Ravi~Sparring with Ann and always tinkering with explosives just gives you a different lens of what’s scary. We can pull back if you ever wanted to join us sometime. Right, Ann?
Ann~Yeah. It’s easy to do when you’re always doing it.
Naruto~Eh? What do you mean? Are you even stronger than we already thought?
Ann only shrugged and rubbed her eye.
Sakura~Are you okay? Did you get injured too?
Ann~No. Tired. Meizu pissed me off…
Kakashi~Who’s Meizu? Are you talking about that Mist nin?
All eyes turned to Ann. She continued as if nothing was wrong.
Ann~He looks like a Meizu. He called me a brat. s**t. He got me worked up. I'm tired and can't focus well.
Sasuke~You ARE a brat.
She punched him, only enough to make a point.
Ann~You guys are allowed to say it. He wasn’t.
Kakashi~We probably should take a proper break to eat. Ann, I know how you are with sleep. Will 30 minutes be enough?
Ann nodded and they went off the trail to rest.
When they got settled, Ann was the last to remove her bag and let it drop instead of setting it down. It thunked with a rattling clink.
Sakura~What kind of arsenal are you carrying in there???
Ann shrugged~Enough.
She settled next to Kakashi and leaned against him, arms crossed.
Kakashi~Why me?
Ann~Reliable alarm.
Naruto~You’re just gonna sleep the whole break? You're not hungry?
Ann~I need more sleep than food right now. I have some rations for later anyway. I've trained worse. Good night.
She turned and fell asleep sitting up.
Tazuna~She still naps?
Kakashi~It's better that way. You four, have you noticed anything different about Ann?
Ravi~She hasn't picked on Naruto since we left the village.
Naruto~Huh…you're right. She hasn't threatened to take my ramen either.
Sakura~She feels kinda distant too.
Tazuna~Do you guys do this to each other or only her?
Kakashi~Depends on the day. Sasuke?
Sasuke~She's been more compliant with your instructions.
Ravi~You’re right. That is a big one.
Tazuna~I thought following orders was what ninjas do.
Kakashi~Ninjas do. Ann can slip in and out of roles easily though. I'm concerned she's been in it this whole time. She's usually sassier than this.
Naruto~Ravi, give it back!
Ravi~Give what back?
Naruto~You took my ramen! Sensei! Ravi won't give it back. Help!
Kakashi sighed~Consider if you really want me to help or if this is just a show. One option will result in waking Ann.
Naruto and Ravi quietly groaned. She handed the ramen pack back and they went back to eating.
Tazuna~Why is waking that one bad?
Sakura~Ann values her sleep. Like maybe more than her weapons. Waking up grumpy is an understatement.
Their break was soon over and they traveled on without issue.

As they traveled, Kakashi kept his eye on Ann and tried to get more information from Tazuna about who would be targeting him. By the second morning, they got to the edge of the mainland and got on a boat to cross the waters to get to the Land of Waves. The trip was mostly silent and quite tense from it as well.
Sakura~This mist is so thick...I can't see anything. Is it always like this?
Ann~It's because of all the water. Better anyway considering we're smuggling the bridge builder.
Rower~It won’t be for much longer.
Ann turned to him.
Ann~Do we need more cover? Will the mist go away before we dock?
Rower~Huh? No, I meant that we will be docking soon.
Kakashi~Good questions, Ann, but were you asking for clarification or because you had a solution? I wonder how much of this is her work if at all…
Ann~Yes. The lack of chakra in this mist feels weird. Hard to believe that this is naturally occurring.
Kakashi sighed at her lack of answer. A few minutes passed and the bridge soon came into view.
Naruto~The bridge is huge!
Ann immediately hit him, shushing him as well, almost hissing.
Rower~Hey, keep it down. We’re trying to remain unseen. Why do you think we’re not using the engine?
Kakashi~So, Tazuna, before we reach the pier, I need to know. Why were those ninjas after you? If you don’t tell us, I’ll have to end the mission once we get on shore.
Tazuna~Right, of course…Like you said earlier, this is beyond the scope of your mission. The one who’s after me is a very powerful and terrifying man, one with a deadly shadow.
Kakashi~Who is this man?
Tazuna~You’ve likely heard of his name. The shipping magnate Gato.
Kakashi~The same Gato of Gato Transport Company? Everybody knows him as a business leader.
Tazuna~That might be so, but he runs a deep underground ring, dealing with drugs and other contraband. He employs gangs, thugs, and even ninja. He used his wealth and power to take control of the sea routes for trade, the government, and the people. Then there’s me, the bridge builder, the only one who can disrupt his control by joining our island to the mainland.
Sakura~Makes sense. Get rid of the person who stands in the way.
Sasuke~That means those ninja we fought works for Gato.
Ann~Why would Zabuza need to work for him? What’s happened since I left you?
Ann shifted in her seat, and Ravi placed a hand on her.
Ann~I’m fine. Thanks.
Kakashi~If you knew all this, Tazuna, then why didn’t you tell us that ninja would be after you?
Tazuna~Our country is poor. Even the nobles don’t have anything. So of course, paying for the proper classification is too expensive. If you end the mission when we get to shore, I’ll surely be assassinated before I even get home.
He sighed, then spoke too cheerily.
Tazuna~Oh, don't worry. My grandson will only cry for a few days and my daughter will only hate the Leaf while grieving for me for the rest of her life.
The team quietly groaned. Sasuke and Naruto had to hold Ann and Ravi back.
Ann and Ravi~Sensei, can’t we hit him? Just this once?
Kakashi~No, girls. *sigh* Welp, I guess we'll have to continue guarding you. I do have to request you not emotionally guilt the genin again.
Tazuna dismissively agreed as the boat moved along.

Eventually they docked. They got their things situated and continued on into the woods to take Tazuna home. As they walked, Kakashi mused about the next escalation from the enemy. Then Ann tapped him.
Kakashi~Yes?
Ann quietly~We’re being followed...
Naruto suddenly ran ahead and threw a kunai. The act made Ann flinch into pulling out a short sword, and then Kakashi flinched to Ann’s movement, thinking he'd get hurt reflexively. After taking a moment to assess, she yelled at him.
Ann~Naruto, cut it out!
Ravi~It’s dangerous to throw knives blindly and you're wasting weapons like that!
Tazuna~You’re gonna end up doing ME in with a heart attack at this rate!
Ann and Kakashi looked to the other side as Naruto happened to have thrown another kunai in the same direction.
Sakura~You were just yelled at to not throw any more kunai and you do it anyway?!
Naruto~But there really was something in the bushes!
Ravi sighed and looked in the bushes with Kakashi
Ravi~You almost killed an innocent bunny!
Naruto~Oh no! I’m so sorry!
He hugged it, petting its head.
Kakashi~It's a snow rabbit…It must be an indoor pet considering its white coat. Ann had detected the enemy so soon. What kind of training has she gone through? There’s no way she could have taught herself, right?
Ann huffed as she sheathed her sword, then she noticed the markings on the rabbit. She shoved Naruto away from cuddling it to inspect its face.
Ann~Usa-chan? You’re still alive?
Sasuke~You recognize this rabbit?
Kakashi saw Ann’s ear twitch.
Kakashi~Get down!
A sword flew over their heads just as they dropped to the ground. The rabbit hopped away to safety while everyone looked up to see where the weapon went. Ann had to stop herself from calling out to Zabuza when she saw him standing on his blade.
Ann~I didn’t expect you to be here already. I was hoping it’d be anyone else. Where’s Haku?
Zabuza~No wonder the twins failed when they didn’t report back to me. Not only is Kakashi here, but so is Ann. You look even more like your mother, brat.
They stood again, tensely watching the Mist nin in case he made the first move. Instead, Naruto tried running forward but Ann yanked him back by his bag.
Naruto~What's the big idea?!
Ann~You're a fool, Naruto. He's a jounin, the same as Kakashi. On top of that he's a member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and master of the art of silent assassination. There's no way you can take him straight on
Naruto~Then why do you speak as if you could?!
Ann~Being knowledgeable is not the same as capability. I never said I could. I'm just saying he has credibility.
Kakashi~What Ann has said about this man is true.
Zabuza~And yet neither of you can name me.
Ann~I can name you. You're a ******** piece of s**t sellout.
Zabuza turned slightly to glare at her more directly without being obvious. The team all eyed her.
Kakashi~That almost sounded too personal… I'll take him on. I need you five to focus on protecting the bridge builder.
He lifted his headband. Zabuza chuckled.
Zabuza~So, I get to see the Sharingan, eh, Kakashi? I'm honored
Ravi~Do you know what Sharingan is, Ann?
Ann~Only that it's a kekkei genkai like your fire manipulation.
Sasuke~It's a power that resides in the eyes and can copy any technique. There's far more to it than that though.
Zabuza~You know, Kakashi, back when I was in the Mist's ANBU, we had orders to kill you on sight.
Ann~You were an Abyssal?
Zabuza~Let's get on with this. I’ll get rid of you first Kakashi. Then that old man. He's past his expiration.
He moved from the tree to the water's surface. He summoned a thick mist and then disappeared in it.

Ravi~Ann, how do you guys know this same jutsu?
Ann cringed and was then knocked forward.
Sakura~How'd you just fall?
Ann~I lost balance...Yup, Zabi's mad at me...The others shouldn't know I let him do that on purpose.
Kakashi~Be careful, Ann. For all you know, he's already injured you. Like you said, he's a master of the silent killing technique. Now that I think on it, Ann has had that uncanny skill since the academy…
Ann~I'm not bleeding. I'm okay.
Naruto~There's no way this mist is getting thicker!
Ann~There's chakra in this mist. He can control the density by how much chakra is put out. If he wasn't trying to kill us, this would be calming.
Kakashi~Ann, it's clear that you know a lot, and that will give you the advantage to protect Tazuna. Stand your ground with the group and do not interfere.
Sakura~What kind of commands is he giving her? That almost sounds like he trusts she could take him on too.
Ann~Fine...but know I don't agree.
Sasuke~It's so intense right now...The amount of chakra flaring…It's too much!
His hands started shaking.
Kakashi~You never agree with me, Ann. Sasuke, keep it together. None of you will die today. I promise.
Zabuza~Let's see how well you can keep that promise to your brats. It's only too easy to kill them. The eight vital points would be the quickest. The larynx, jugular vein, subclavian artery, spine…
Ann spoke with him, naming the remaining points with the same cadence and order.
Ann and Zabuza~Lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart.
Before any of them could question her, he appeared between the genins and Tazuna. Ann was already moving before Kakashi arrived. She yanked Tazuna out of the way and then stabbed Zabuza with her short sword. His body was leaking water, clearly a clone.
Kakashi~You weren't supposed to interfere.
Ann~You implied that I couldn't attack him if it meant leaving the bridge builder.
She threw a kunai past Kakashi, only for it to be deflected by Zabuza's sword swing. The man swung again, slicing them in half, but the three collapsed into water. Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza with a kunai to his throat, and Ann was already stabbing him again.
Zabuza~Some brat you are.
Ann~I'd take that as a compliment, if you were actually real.
Kakashi sliced through the clone then ducked from another swing of the sword before being kicked. Zabuza immediately went to pursue him.
Ann was knocked to the ground again by Zabuza through that. Naruto helped pull her up.
Ann~God damn it…That stupid piece of s**t…
Sasuke~He knocked you down again, huh?
Ann~You know?
Sasuke~You're no klutz during a fight. Something's up.
Ravi~Ann? You're not hiding something right?
Ann~Not on purpose…Sensei jumped in the water huh?
Naruto~Yeah…Why?
******** idiot…He's going against a water ninja. Why did he do that?

Zabuza had trapped Kakashi in a water prison then summoned a water clone
Zabuza~You brats are not ninjas. None of you have killed or survived enough to be considered one.
Sakura~Wow...Your taunts sound almost like his, Ann.
Naruto~Who are you to say we're not ninjas?!
Zabuza charged in towards Naruto and immediately smacked him down, knocking off his headband.
Kakashi~Guys, run! Zabuza can't go after you, and the clone can only go so far. Save the bridge builder!
Sasuke~We can't do that. The only way we can survive is if we free Kakashi sensei.
Without waiting for anyone else's input, he ran off to try to fight the clone. However, the clone grabbed him and threw him back to the group.
They watched Naruto turn to get up, then he ran in towards Zabuza too.
Ann~Why are the men so stupid?! You should have waited!
Ravi~Do you have a plan?
Naruto was thrown back to them too. He staggered to stand.
Sakura~Wait, in his hand. Naruto grabbed his headband back?
He tied his headband back on.
Naruto~Hey, Sasuke, listen up. I have a plan.
Zabuza~Even with a plan, you’ll only half-a** it.
Kakashi~You guys need to run! This fight was lost the moment I got caught. This mission isn’t about bravado! Take the bridge builder and get the hell out!
Ravi~Hey, old man, can you run?
Tazuna~Well…This is all happening because of my desire to live. I want you kids to do what you need to do to free your sensei!
Ann~That’s all I need. Someone only needs to say go.
The clone chuckled.
Z. Clone~Even if you continue "playing" ninja, you won't stand a chance. Even at your age my hands were dyed red with blood.
Ann’s head twitched slightly, and then she started to scratch her hand.
Sakura~A-Ann? Do you know what he’s talking about?
Ann nodded, teeth clenched. She remembered what Zabuza told her, but he seemed to regret those actions. This clone was almost proud of the act.
Ann~Remember how I said the other day the Mist is blood thirsty? Their graduation isn’t like ours. In the Mist, the graduates are pitted against their own friends…to the death. And Zabuza…he…
Naruto~What could be worse than killing your friends?
Z. Clone chuckled~I killed every single graduating person. I wasn’t even a part of that year's exam. And it felt good.
Ann’s breath caught, and she made a deep scratch on herself. She looked down and saw the marks.
Ann~I’m going to snap at this rate…H-has Zabuza always been like this? He can’t…He said though…

Zabuza~Hopefully Ann can keep it together. She’s older now, but that stress tick is still present.
Kakashi was watching Zabuza, and with Sharingan activated, he could see the subtle fluctuations as Zabuza was quietly worrying about Ann.
Kakashi~Maybe I could use that against him. What’s wrong, Zabuza? You seem worried.
Zabuza~On the contrary. I’m disappointed that they’ll die by my clones. I’d rather do the job myself.
Kakashi~You’re quick to dismiss them. They can get quite spunky when given the green light.
Zabuza~And yet you told them to run.
Kakashi~They haven’t stared death in the face before. I didn’t expect them to find the courage so fast. Or for you to keep talking.
Zabuza~Keeping you in the prison and sustaining the clone is low maintenance. Talking won’t hinder my victory.
Kakashi~Arrogant. I wish I could do something more. But like he said, this prison is stronger than steel.
Kakashi looked back to the genin when he saw Zabuza shift. They had just thrown a shuriken that Zabuza caught with his free hand.
Zabuza~You stupid brats. I told you a shuriken was nothing.
He jumped over the incoming secondary shuriken. While watching the second over his shoulder, he saw it poof into Naruto throwing a kunai at him. He was forced to release the prison to avoid the weapon, but he was still cut by it as it flew into his water clone.
Zabuza~You stupid ******** brat!
He spun the shuriken in his hand and went to attack Naruto, but he was blocked.
Zabuza~I told you to stay away, brat.
Ann~I should have been more reckless. It would have saved sensei some time.
She had used her short sword to block the shuriken. Kakashi was standing behind her, and he noticed that she didn’t struggle to hold back the attack.
Kakashi~Ann! I knew she was always holding back, but how can she hold her own against him? I still hold back against her.
Ann~If he throws me down once more, I swear on my family's name that I'll behave for the rest of the mission.
Zabuza’s face scrunched at the mention of family name, which didn’t go unnoticed by Kakashi.
Kakashi~Watch out!
Ann~I know what I’m doing!
Zabuza folded the shuriken and tried to press it down on her. Ann pushed back, but ended up throwing away her blade while parrying the shuriken into the air.
They tried punching each other, but they mirrored each other and caught the other’s punch.
Ann~Mom will kill you.
Zabuza~I'll risk it. I've already done her a favor.
Kakashi~This is interesting…The way they speak to each other is almost casual…Like they know each other…
Ann pulled him forward to headbutt him, then they jumped away. Both of them were making handsigns, and the chakra build up worried Kakashi.
Kakashi~Wait, they’re making the same handsigns. What jutsu could they both know?
Ann and Zabuza~Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu.
Ann's dragon was fairly large, but when Zabuza's formed it was easily twice the size. The larger of the two bit the other, but Ann forced the jutsu to hold.
Zabuza~You'll pass out before destroying my dragon. You don't have enough chakra for it.
Ann~Well ******** you too, Zabuza!
She charged at him, summoning some water clones. He made quick work of them and held Ann in the air. In the background, Zabuza also made his dragon pin hers down. He glared at her, feeling her lack of chakra.
Zabuza~Dispel it now, brat. You’re running out of chakra.
Ann~Make me. You won't hit me anyway
Blood began to trickle from her nose, so he threw her back to shore as her dragon disappeared. Kakashi stepped forward.
Kakashi~Why do you keep sparing her? You could have killed her at least three times already.
Zabuza~It'd be a pity to see her die from chakra exhaustion or drowning. This way I can do it myself.
He stopped Kakashi's charge and stared him down.
Kakashi~Ann may be the worst brat I have ever known, but she does have her moments like the rest of my team.

Back on shore Ravi and Sakura came to Ann while Sasuke stayed with Tazuna.
Sakura~She's bleeding.
Ann~Chakra and…the rocks…
She struggled to get up.
Ravi~That dragon sure took a lot…I'm surprised you lasted this long without passing out
Ann~I might…Tell me how…it goes…
The two helped her up and half dragged and half carried her back to Sasuke and Tazuna. Ann had blacked out before she registered the build up of chakra for the Vortex Jutsu.