Plans to be Made (Zabuza)

[Haku]

Haku sat quietly humming at the table with a small knife in hand. His hair was down today and he wore only the shirt and pants of his normal outfit. The jacket was on his bed with the mask and hair ornaments. While they worked for Gato they had been given a place to stay in his complex in the woods and were protected as long as they stayed quiet in the general area. Haku was currently in the large room that served as their apartments for the time being. There were two beds, a table, and a couch in the room as well as a hearth at one end of the room. It was a Unitarian sort of room as nothing but a few flowers conveyed a sense of beauty to it. Even they had properties that caused Haku to pick them up and take them home. He kept them alive just because he liked the look of them however.

On the table before him were some herbs he had gathered recently. Haku was preparing these for later use and some would be dried for that purpose. He had recently gotten back from his jaunt in Wind country. There were some promising students there it seemed. Haku tended to judge others by himself and always judged them kindly. The strange boy Gaara and the girl had interested Haku and intrigued him. He hoped that they would succeed in their goals whatever they were. They would be a pair to watch out for and if the mission for Gato went well he might just have to pay Suna a formal visit under his new alias of course. Haku could risk the grandiose dreams for the future for a present interest in those two. It would not be a wise thing on Haku’s part.

Gradually Haku turned his thoughts to the present mission which they had received a month ago. It hadn’t started yet as there target had gone to ground hiding in a hidden village by all accounts. If your prey did not come out of its hole immediately, then all you did to do is wait until it did. After all the bridge builder would have to return eventually if he wanted to finish the bridge. Haku thought of their target as a faceless being without a name. It made it easier for him to entertain the thought causing the man suffering although he tried not to think about that. Haku didn’t really like the thought of killing any one, but if commanded he would do so or die himself. This was his own personal promise; it was one he made when Zabuza took him in. He did not state this out loud but it was the thought behind his statement on the hill overlooking Kiri. He would do what ever Zabuza wanted because he was his tool. If he could not do what was asked of him… He would be considered broken and a broken weapon is useless. Haku didn’t want to fail in Zabuza’s eyes. Haku’s face was blank as he worked on one of the plants. He carefully took the leaves off it after taking it from his basket which was set on the table to the left of himself. He was in intense concentration.

“What to do next?" He spoke in a polite tone and with a slight bow of his head to show admiration and deference to Zabuza. He respected the man for his power and still felt a sense of awe when he thought that this man wanted him to serve him. He had been nothing and now he was a tool. Haku was content to be His Weapon. He hoped that he meant more to Zabuza then that but one could never tell with him.

[Zabuza Momochi]

”Is Haku back yet?” Zabuza mumbled off to one of the guards that Gato had provided for their hideout. Personally, Zabuza hated Gato’s guts, and his guards were not really worth that much. He could cleave any of their heads off and not even break a sweat. Still, his ‘employer’ wanted them there, so Zabuza just deal with it. They made great meat-shields after all. The guard replied in the affirmative, and Zabuza stood up from the chair he was leaning in.

”Good, he spent way too much time in his recon in the Wind Country.” he said, pushing the guard out of the way as he exited the room.

Haku had always been a good weapon, ever since he had taken the boy off the streets and began to train him. The boy’s speed was unmatched, and at silent kills he was just as good as he was. In fact, it wouldn’t have surprised Zabuza at all if the boy would one day surpass his own skills as a shinobi. For now, however, he was still in charge, and the ‘bond’ Haku had for him meant there was never really any fear of Haku betraying him. According to Haku, his entire purpose was dedicated to helping him accomplish his goals. Deadly and overwhelmingly loyal; the perfect tool.

Which of course was why Zabuza had sent the boy to scout instead of the others. If they had found the bridge builder, and for some reason he was protected by shinobi or had money, they would be either killed or maybe bribed off. Haku, well, he wouldn’t care about the money at all, and so far Haku was undefeated. Unless the bridgebuilder had a Jounin or something on his side, Zabuza had little fear of Haku failing. Of course, the man was a dirt poor local of the Wave Country; there was no way he could afford a Jounin as a bodyguard. Still, Zabuza knew never to underestimate the enemy, and therefore was prepared to deal with any help the man could receive from the shinobi villages. All they had to do now was track down which one it was.

Upon entering the room that Haku was in, Zabuza made his way over to the couch and leisurely sat down on it. Glancing around, he saw how simple the room, but he had much worse in his past so it didn’t bother him. The only thing he was concerned about was what Haku had learned. He had heard Haku asking him “what to do next,” so of course Zabuza answered. However, since he had a little bit more respect for Haku than the rest of the trash that Gato had given him to work with, Zabuza sounded a little more content with him than the guard earlier.

”Well, first off, I want a report on what you had learned from your trip to Wind Country. After that we’ll decide what to do next.”

Zabuza didn’t have too much planned really. If the bridgebuiler was there, the job was simple; eliminate him. If not, they would have to try and track him down. Zabuza, of course, wasn’t a lazy bum, so while Haku was away he had done some research of his own. There were some older leads that suggested he was heading towards Hidden Leaf, which wouldn’t be surprising. That village was the softest of them all, though Zabuza grudgingly accepted the fact their Kage was probably the most powerful, and they had some big-name shinobi in their village as well. His Bingo Book probably had more Leaf Village nin than any other country; a lot of people wanted them dead. At least if their target went there, he could score some extra money by turning in one of those bounties.

[/blockquote]

[Haku]

Haku took a minute to collect his thoughts and then began his tale of how his mission went. "I have learned much in Wind country.First is that they have frequent wind storms in the desert region. They had such a storm while i was entering the country, i had to sit it out in a shelter. There i met two genin from Suna. A male and female, the male was there before me and the female got lost she said and wandered in. It's the Male Genin that i wish to tell you about becuase he was unique in many ways. He had a killers eyes, he had seen blood and shed it and had no qualms about threatening death to the female should she 'get in his way'. The threat was not an empty one i was sure." He then proceeded to describe the boy as he saw him on the sand that first night.

" The boy who's name i learned is Gaara carried a very unique weapon. It appeared to be a stone gourd, containing chakra laced sand. The contents of the gourd took some time to ascertain for i had to challenge him to a game of trading blows for him to show me what was in the gourd without him knowing it. His hair is blood red and he appears to lack sleep to such an extent that he has permant bags under his eyes. Though the gourd must be heavy he has no trouble moving around as though he is used to the weight. His speed suffers, he doesn't dodge he simply stand there and uses sand as a sheild." Haku carfully cut the herb he was working with. he liked to keep his hands busy while talking though it wasn't strictly nesscary. He recalled the girl too but decide not to relate her abilties unless asked about them.He felt she was more raw then the other genin buit had potential all the same.

"The boy used sand like i use water and is very skilled with it.Do you know of a clan of sand wieders in Wind? perhaps a Kekei Genkai? If there is such a clan then they could be trouble if there is just this Child then he is one to watch i think." He kept his eyes on his workand then thought about the actual mission."i htold the boy that i was hunting in suna but that i didn't want him to in advertantly scarying up my prey. It wasn't a complete lie and i was dressed as a hunter nin so i couldn't deny the postion easily without drawing more suspision. He didn't question me further." He took a deep breath and then relayed why he said anything at all. " He had cuaght me in a trap he move the sand around my ankles he would have broken them easily if i had refused to answer him.In the desert i was at his mercy, i couldn't kill him i only had my senbon and the girl had exposioves." Haku was ashamed to admit his failing to zabuza but did it anyway he wouldn't with hold anything from him.

"i searched Suna under the cover of night and did not find our prey. he is not in wind."He had looked every where and listened for traces of the Bridgebuilder. Haku had found none. There were of course other places he could be hiding but know he would need the protection of one of the great shinobi nations.

[Zabuza Momochi]

Once Haku began to talk, Zabuza could sense that he was going to be talking for a while. Getting comfortable, Zabuza loosened up in his chair and listened quietly. Haku had apparently met up with a girl and a boy in the Wind Country. Like Haku said, the boy drew his interest; killer eyes with no qualms about bloodshed. That would have to be someone to investigate once they were done with this job for Gato. He could make a possible recruitment for his little troupe. Probably not as good as Haku was, but it sounded like he had potential. Zabuza nodded to Haku to go on.

When Haku mentioned the name Gaara, Zabuza dug in his memory to think if he had heard the name. He hadn’t, so he just listened as Haku talked. The boy used sand as a weapon, kept in a gourd on his back. Said sand had chakra laced in it; so the boy was a user of sand. That was interesting. Was it due to a kekkei genkai? Zabuza hadn’t heard of anyone using sand before. His system was odd as well; no dodging, just standing there and using sand as a shield? That would require superhuman perception to avoid most attacks. Definitely an interesting boy to look at when they had the chance.

Haku soon asked if he knew about any clans or kekkei genkai that used sand in Suna. Zabuza nodded a no before he spoke out.

”If there is one, it would be news to me. As for a kekkei genkai, it’s a possibility, but if that’s the case then there is a good chance he is like you; without a clan. After all, if he has these killer eyes as you claim then there’s a good chance he might have killed them off, no?” Zabuza said, grinning underneath his mask as he recalled his own ‘killings’ as a kid.

Zabuza listened as Haku continued on about the match, and how he lost it. Zabuza scowled a little bit to hear how his prized weapon lost a battle, even knowing that the conditions weren’t in his favor. They would have to train on how to maximize water use, whether it was sweat, tears, or even blood if needed. There was water everywhere; you just had to be clever about where you found it. The other thing that ruined his mood was being told their target wasn’t in Suna. Since he wasn’t in Waves or Mist, and not in Suna, then Zabuza had a pretty good feeling where he was; Konoha. It was about the only place close enough that he could travel back to Waves without a problem. Konoha was also home to some of the best ninja too. Besides, the rumors pointed that way. Still, their target would have to come back eventually; if they waited for their pray they would find him soon enough.

”Well, what a disappointment. Still, this boy you mentioned sounds of great interest. Once we are done here, maybe we’ll take a trip to Suna. You can also work on not getting beaten by sand while you’re at it.”

[/blockquote]

[Haku]

Haku bowed his head not looking at Zabuza. He had suspected his less then favourable report would bring such a reacton. Haku was ashamed of the fact that he had let Gaara's sand abilities get the better of him. It would not happen a second time He was be beginning to think of ways to increase his ice useage in areas where water was not always present on the surface. he was detremaned to continue to prove his usefulness. The challage presented by wind country would not be wasted on Haku. He was not one to back down if things got alittle hard.

"It will be worked on,Sir. In the earily morning of that day a second round with the boy Gaara took place in which i faired better. If it had been any other person i believe i could have beat him. That sand he uses cuaght everything i threw at him and i mean everything. It was not faster then me but it was fast. It circled around him. I used my mirrors to really test this sands ability to protect Gaara. it was quite impressive."

He had mentioned this incident only in agreement with Zabuza thought that they might look into the boy later. Haku was pleased that Zabuza agreed with his acessment of the situtation. It made him feel a little better about the whole thing. Even if he had lost to the sand genin, he had found out informantion.

"Do you have any other places you wish me to investagate?Or i look inward to the country, internal problemsaround here and atempt to guage when he shall return by that?" Haku got up the nerve to look over at Zabuza and take in his mood which only made him shrink in his seat more. He still worked from his basket and had a growin pile of workable healing plants off to the side.

[Zabuza Momochi]

The sand moved almost as fast than Haku? There was not something normal about that sand, or that boy if he could do that. It even protected against his mirrors? Considering no one else had survived that technique, something was definitely up. No normal human reflex should be capable of creating such defensive; it was too perfect. The only thing right off the back Zabuza could think of capable of such a thing was Byakugan or Sharingan, neither which were around in Suna (or around period for the later, minus about three people). If they weren’t on a mission right now he would investigate it further, but till this bridgebuilder was eliminated they couldn’t. Maybe send some random minion off to look into it further, but that was all they could do.

”He defended against your mirrors? That’s impressive, to impressive. There is a good chance there is more to this boy than meets the eye, but we don’t have the time to deal with him now.” Zabuza mumbled to Haku as messed with whatever it was that he was messing with. When Haku spoke up, asking if there was anything else he wanted him to do. Since Suna didn’t work out, he had a good idea what he was going to do. Sending the Demon Brothers to Konoha should deal with the bridgebuilder if he was there; Zabuza needed Haku closer. After all, should the bridgebuilder receive adequate protection and the Demon Brothers fail, Haku would be more valuable staying here.

”For now, I’m going to send the Demon Brothers to Konoha. That village will more likely than not accept a request for bodyguards; they’re rather soft when it comes to such things. Meanwhile, you can explore the local area yourself and see if there is anything going on, maybe some kind of communication made between them and the target.” Zabuza replied, shifting a little bit till his sword was upright as he held it by the hilt. Glancing over at Haku, he saw all the plants that the boy was messing with. He had to admit Haku had picked up a decent skill in medicinal herbs, which was handy and cheaper than buying medicine. Of course, he also made sure Haku kept up with making poisons to make his needles more deadly.

[/blockquote]

[Haku]

"Of course Zabuza." This was in response to the indecation that they couldn't deal the mystery that was gaara now but would at a later date if all went as expected. That had been all that Haku hoped for on that end any way. On to more important matters at present. His orders were to stay in wave... how upsetting.

"Of course Zabuza." He planned to explore the local area of course but also to watch the roads and water transport. This was an island after all and the bridge wasn't finished yet. His pink outfit would come in handy on the coming days as would his new alias which he intended to keep for later use. Who knows when he would need it again. It had served him well in suna ande might serve him just as well in other places. " I will begin work tomarrow on a counter to Sand Jutsu and start my rounds in the local area the day after."

Haku managed to hide is frown of disappiontment. He knew better then protest openly that he had wanted to see if he could scare the bridge builder out of hiding where ever he had holed up. It was the demon brother turn i supose he thought with an inward sigh. Only fair i guess. He didnt have to like it though. Haku dicided to quietly watch when the brothers went out. He was planning on fallowing them anyway. Haku wanted to see the bridge builder and how they did for himself. If nesscary he could finish the job before it ever got back here. He would deal with the consquences as they came up. Haku was sure he could handle the blow out if Zabuza caught him at it and even if he couldn't he deserved it for getting cuaght.