Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Together, Ann and Zabuza killed Gato. They turned to the thugs right after, and a path was cleared for the demon duo. Zabuza dropped the kunai from his mouth as they started walking back.
Zabuza~I thought you hated me.
Ann~I'd regret leaving it like that…This is our last time together after all.
Zabuza~Not entirely true.
She held his limp hand while dragging his sword in the other. After a few steps he dropped to his knees bringing her down too
Zabuza~It's not perfect, but this is a nice end…I can finally rest.
Ann~Yeah…Rest sounds good…
They fell together, seemingly dead.

On the other side, Sasuke and Ravi regained consciousness, causing Sakura to call out to inform the others. The thugs reminded the group of their presence and made them know they were going to pillage the town. They were confident until Inari showed up with the townspeople. Inspired, Naruto and Kakashi both used the Shadow Clone Jutsu to fake their numbers and successfully scared the thugs away.

While everyone was celebrating, Kakashi walked to where Zabuza and Ann fell.
Zabuza~Guess you won…
Kakashi~Yeah…
Zabuza~Can you do me a favor?
Kakashi~What is it?
Zabuza~Can you take us to him? I want us together one last time…
Kakashi~Sure.
He pulled down his headband to cover his sharingan once more and proceeded to pull out the weapons from their backs.
Kakashi~I’m surprised she didn’t die. Some of these are deep.
Zabuza~I blocked what I could. She’ll be okay though.
Kakashi nodded and laid Ann on top of him before carrying the two back.
Zabuza~Take it easy when you interrogate her. She might run off.
Kakashi~Heh, like that hasn't already happened.
Zabuza scoffed too and smiled. It faded when it started to snow.
Ann stirred awake. She sniffled.
Ann~Haku's crying…He doesn't want you to leave me alone…
Kakashi laid them down, and helped Ann sit next to them
Ann~Thanks, sensei…
Kakashi~Of course, Ann. Take your time.
He walked back to the team, keeping his back to them.

Ravi~Ann isn't too hurt right?
Kakashi~She’ll have some scars, but it's no big deal.
Naruto~I wish we didn't need to fight them…We could have been friends.
Ann came to them, their headbands in one hand, and a necklace in the other.
Sakura~Where'd the necklace come from?
Ann~Zabuza was wearing it. At least now I have something from my parents…Kakashi, I feel…faint…
He caught her as she fell again and picked her up.

Later that night, Ann woke in her room, with Ravi nearby.
Ann~Ravi?…
Ravi~Oh good, you're finally awake. Dinner isn't ready yet.
She helped Ann sit up carefully.
Ann~How long have I been passed out?
Ravi~Only a few hours. Sakura and I helped sensei stitch you up and clean you. Your cuts weren't too bad but the punctures are pretty deep. I'm surprised you're up actually.
Ann~Where's my bag and necklace?
Ravi~You're wearing your necklace. I'll grab your bag.
Ann felt her neck to feel the locket. Ravi handed her the bag. She dug through her stuff until she pulled a worn wrapped rectangle.
Ravi~I guess it's time to explain, huh?
Ann nodded and they went down.

Downstairs, Ann sat down and placed the rectangle and locket on the table.
Kakashi~So you'll explain everything?
Ann~Everything I know that Zabuza's told me. He didn't want anyone to use me, so there's still a lot I don't know. Which fact do you want to start with?
Kakashi~Let's start with Zabuza. Who is he to you?
Ann unwrapped the frame and pushed it out on the table. Everyone took a moment to study it, then looked back at her. Ravi being the only one not surprised.
Sakura~H-he's not your father, right?
Naruto~No, that's not right. You said your mom is his sister earlier. That'd be ingest if that was it.
Kakashi~Wrong word, Naruto. Zabuza is your uncle.
Ann nodded.
Ann~I was about five in this picture. There's a small town on the mainland that we lived near.
Tsunami~But how was it that he had to raise you?
Ann~Sensei, you might know my mom. She traveled to the Leaf at some point and you're pretty well known.
Kakashi~Pretty well known?
She opened the locket and placed it on the frame. They all gasped to find that an older version of Ann with long hair carrying a baby on one side of the locket, and she looked nearly identical to Zabuza.
Tazuna~That's …That's Ane!
Ann looked away, smiling a bit.
Ann~I'm told she has a reputation
Ravi~That doesn't answer the question.
Ann~Right, right. She told Zabuza to babysit me. She was KIA'd so Zabuza was left to raise me until sending me to the Leaf.
Sasuke~What about your father?
Ann~Zabuza only said his name was Auron. And that I looked like him sometimes.
Kakashi~Anything else you've never told me?
Ann~Lord Hokage sent us on this mission for me to have a chance to see Zabuza and Haku again
Kakashi~That explains why you got excited for a C mission
Ann~Yeah. I'm really tired, guys.
She nodded off and fell asleep.
Sasuke~She passed out again…
Naruto~I bet she'll sleep for the next three days.
Ravi~Nah, I give it two days.
They made their wagers. Kakashi sighed at them as he put the locket back around her neck and put the picture in her arms. He took her bow and handed it to Tazuna
Kakashi~Can you tell what kind of material this is made of?
The bridge builder turned it around a few times and rubbed the material between his fingers.
Tazuna~This is really old…at least 10 years…The clip looks to be made of silver!
Inari~How could someone afford that?!
Tazuna~I guess that's Ane for you.
Kakashi took it back to put in her hair again.
Sasuke~So if her mother was funded enough to get that, why is there so much secrecy?
Tsunami~Alright guys, dinner. I've already made a plate for Ann.

As everyone ate, Kakashi was able to wake Ann long enough to feed her before carrying her off to bed.
Sakura~So, you have heard of Ann’s mother. Just how powerful was she?
Tsunami~When I was a girl, there actually was a legend about the woman. She was born on the full moon during the winter solstice, and when she was old enough to speak, she was left in the woods to train for about a year or two. When she came back, she was appointed chuunin and was paired with her future husband on a team. He was the only man aside from her father to not be afraid of her.
Sakura~Aren't legends supposed to sound unreal? And I thought Zabuza was from the Mist. That would mean she is too, right?
Ravi~Yeah, but the good stories always make their way around.
Naruto~I'd believe that. Apparently Zabuza trained Ann since she was three. Ann's told us before she's been training since she could remember.
Ravi~Ann has crazy strength, crazy endurance to last over five hours of training, crazy chakra control, and can hold her own against Kakashi sensei.
Inari~How is that special?
Sakura~She's been able to do that since we were five. I'm pretty sure sensei was still holding back though.
Tsunami~Anyways, the legend ends that she died mysteriously and her husband disappeared too
The blond scoffed and crossed his arms.
Naruto~some father he is.
Tazuna~There's a special story about him too.
Sasuke~How does it go?
Kakashi~It's getting late, and your bedtime story just ended. Tazuna, you can tell them more tomorrow.
The genins groaned but finished up before following Kakashi upstairs.