(A/N: Play music for more effect!)

Sasuke realized, yet again, that he didn't actually know anything about his pink-haired teammate. It was like she was raised to grow up and be a killing machine.

They walked in to the outskirts of the village, more aware than they were before.

Naruto was so alert that, when he heard a rustle in the bushes nearby, he threw a kunai, almost killing a rabbit. A white rabbit.

An amateur mistake, Sakura thought, Our soon-to-be attacker used a rabbit that had obviously been kept indoors as a decoy. She glanced at Kakashi, who was seemingly still reading his book. His hands are clenched around the pornographic book he is holding. And he has not turned a page in the last minute.

"DUCK!" Their sensei yelled at them to avoid the giant blade coming from behind to cut them into halves. Sakura grabbed Tazuna, and shoved him to the ground harshly and stood back up, holding a single kunai that held the sword in its place.

"S-Sakura-chan?" Naruto stared openly in wonder and awe for the second time that day. Why is it that I'm the only one that isn't doing anything? I'm the weakest one here!

"Impressive little girl," a deep, raspy voice said from above. "Not too many people can do what you are."

"I train with one of the best masters of Gōken, the Iron Fist technique. I must be able to block his attacks without even trying," Sakura said in her monotonous tone, still holding her kunai up to the blade.

"I see." The sword moved away, and Sakura still hadn't relaxed. "You're well-trained." It seems I've found Haku a worthy opponent.

"I am aware." Her response was completely factual, seeing how she had trained with Maito Gai.

A man with wrappings all along his face jumped down, the sword that came at them earlier now strapped in his back. He must be exceptionally strong in order to wield it, much less have accuracy, Sakura analyzed. He wore a sideways hitai-ate, cow-spotted patterned arm and leg warmers, light blue pants with thin black lines, and standard sandals. He trains a lot.

"Staring at my eight pack, kid?" The man chuckled.

"No. Your abdominal muscles only form six 'packs', Pedophile #2," Sakura replied smoothly, looking elsewhere as if she were bored.

"Zabuza Momochi," their grey-haired sensei mused, loud enough for the swordsman to hear. "One of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. You've seemed to have influenced a student of mine," he commented dryly.

"Oh, what's this? Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan Eye, I see. I didn't see you there. The little girl really surprised me."

The last jab made Kakashi's visible eye twitch.

Sharingan?! Sasuke looked to his sensei. The Sharingan belongs exclusively to my clan, the Uchiha! Does that mean...?

"Sharingan? What's that!" Naruto yelled, reverting back to his loud self. He looked from Sakura to his sensei, than the assassin to Sasuke.

"Looks like it's time to use it..." Kakashi lifted up his hitai-ate to reveal a red iris, with three black tomoes.

"So soon? Kakashi, you must want this to be over quickly! If that's what you want..." Zabuza made a hand sign and walked backwards into the thick mist.

"Sharingan: a rare kekkei genkai exclusive to the Uchiha bloodline passed down from generation to generation. It can predict any sort of movement, whether it be taijutsu, ninjutsu, or genjutsu, and is capable of copying it without flaw," Sakura quoted from a book she had read.

How is it she knows so much?! Sasuke glared at the pinkette.

"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidney, heart..." Naruto stared in horror as his teammate recited the list with the assassin.

"Manji formation, you three," Kakashi shouted at the genin. They all complied, kunai ready.

"Ohoho, looks like this girl really knows her stuff! Digging into the jugular of that fool from earlier, classic! Doesn't it feel so good when their blood runs down your face as theirs are forever frozen in a silent scream?"

Sakura shut her eyes, and shook her head slightly. Why is it I am now getting distracted?

"Sakura! Stay calm, I'll protect you with my life!" Their sensei looked at his students and smiled, his eyes closed. That buffoon, I am not frightened. I was clearing my head, she thought to herself.

Orochimaru's voice rang clear in her head: "One day, you will appreciate the only way to feel truly alive—murder!"

"Aw, I see one little genin's hands still shaking! How cute," Zabuza said in a faux pitiful voice.

Sasuke looked around wildly. I can sense the bloodlust coming from this man, even worse than when Sakura—It's like if I even do much as move an eyelid, he can detect my movement, and—! Unknowingly, he had positioned his kunai in front of his chest until Sakura grabbed his wrist.

"Do not fret. We will support each other," she said, although her comforting words didn't reach her facial expression, like usual.

Sasuke nodded jerkily, and pulled his wrist away quickly. Sakura couldn't help but feel annoyed at the foreign sensation when he pulled away from her.

"I think you should...because when I'm done, you're gonna—"

"Enough. Let's fight," the grey-haired man said, stepping forward and away from his team and charge. "Stay with Tazuna," he instructed the boys.

Naruto stood frozen, wondering how calm Sakura and Kakashi were, but nonetheless, supposedly ready for an attack.

Out of nowhere, the sword reappeared, and Kakashi shoved everyone away and blocked the attack. Sweat poured down his face in concentration. "Sorry, Kakashi," a voice said from behind him, kunai held up to his face. "It's over."

Kakashi froze, his eyes wide. "KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Naruto yelled in fear, cowering behind Sakura.

"He has tricks up his sleeves," she said, patting his head hard.

Zabuza grinned from behind his thin mask and cut, the smile disappearing from his face. There's no way—!

"Sorry, Zabuza! It's over." A smiling Kakashi held a kunai to the man's neck, mimicking the previous position. He slashed through his neck as well, and Zabuza melted into a puddle. The jōnin stepped back.

"The Sharingan!" The assassin bit spitefully from somewhere else. "You copied my water clone!"

"I did," Kakashi agreed, nodding. "And now, it's my turn."

What will happen next?

What will go differently in the Mission to the Waves?

Will Sasuke ever find out about Sakura's past?!