Well, here's chapter four and the start of the Wave Arc, which most of us know by heart. Although it's a start, I hope to continue doing justice, and I still haven't fully thought of the harem, so suggestions are recommended. Although, for those that are wondering what other Castlevania references I'll use, it'll show up in the story. On a side note, should I start naming the chapters like Castlevania stages or in a similar manner?

Disclaimer: I don't own Castlevania or Naruto. If I owned Castlevania, I might be rich, and if I owned Naruto, then Hinata would not be Naruto's wife because of Nana Mizuki and Naruto would have been less of a bad parent.

~Chapter 4~

It was another day in Konoha as Genin were going about their missions, and that included three particular Genin as they were looking for something.

"Glyph here, I have yet to locate the target." Naruto said as he looked around for the elusive target that his team was to capture. A dangerous monster that was wondering the streets of Konoha.

"This is Jutsu, and I have yet to locate the target." Sasuke said as he kept his eyes peeled for the same monster. It was truly a hunt and he was eager to prove himself by capturing the target, but part of him wondered if he could deal with such a horrifying beast that supposedly cheated death so many times.

"Scarecrow here, and I'm still searching." Kakashi spoke into his comm device as he scouted around for the monster, but was more focused on a single thing, "How come I have the lame code name? I'm not that much of a scarecrow am I?"

"Aria here." Sakura spoke as she was also scouting for the monster, "The reason is you were late when we decided to make codenames and didn't give an input. I have yet to, wait." Sakura noticed something as she was speaking and spotted the monster in question. "I found the target. Permission to capture?"

"Does it have the ribbon?" Kakashi asked as they had to make sure it was the right monster that they were pursuing.

"Affirmative. It's on the correct ear as well." Sakura said, and she was nervous about actually pursuing it, as it was a legendary beast and on her own may not have the time to fire off one of her spells.

"Permission to capture granted." Kakashi said, but Naruto then cut on the comms.

"Sakura, can use that spell and lure it to me? I've got an idea on how to catch it." Sakura got the idea of what Naruto was planning.

"Sure thing. I'll be silent for a while." Sakura said before anyone can interrupt as there was some chanting and then silence.

The beast was taking a nap in the sun as it celebrated its freedom from that giant. Something that it had always desired, but then something caught it's nose. A female scent as the ribboned beast noticed something. A female cat, a pretty one at that. She was walking around without a care in the world, and was unique. Soft pink fur and green eyes as she started to lightly play around, and looked him in the eye. It was an invitation to him, and it would be rude to ignore a lady's invitation. The beast approached trying to seduce the young thing, but never noticed until it was too late that it was a trap, as suddenly the beast was trapped in what seemed to be amber colored ice, and the female suddenly turned into a female of the giant's species. Tora was captured.

"Ooh, my sweet precious wittle Tora-chan. Mommy's so happy you're back." Madame Shijimi said as she crushed Tora the cat in a suffocating hug as all three started thinking of the inhumane treatment, or would have if they hadn't heard about it from the others. Good thing Naruto recently gained a useful capturing Glyph called Torpor, which freezes the captured target in a suspended animation. Shijimi left as Hiruzen looked over the various missions.

"Well, it seems as if you managed to catch Tora far more easily then the others." The Sandaime said as he wondered what mission they would have next.

"Well, it was good that Naruto had a Glyph that could freeze the target. It can be useful when trying to bring in enemy shinobi alive for interrogation." Kakashi admitted as Sasuke just got more curious about magic in general.

"Well, as the missions available stand there is walking the dogs of the Inuzuka kennel." Naruto gulped as he remembered getting the short end of the stick with that and was led by a large dog into a minefield. "Babysitting counsel member Shikinami's child." This time Sakura felt annoyed as the two year old decided to be the biggest brat you can think of for Sakura, but seemed to be an angel for Naruto and Sasuke. "Waitering at the beef bowl shop." Sasuke had a glare as he remembered the ridiculous amount of orders and the need to smile, which didn't succeed.

"No! No more chores old man!" Naruto said, and that was when Sakura smacked his head once with a book.

"Naruto, please show some more respect to Lord Hokage." Sakura said as she faced the Hokage. "I understand Naruto-kun's sentiment though. We have been doing nothing but chores that any civilian can do. It doesn't give me a chance to test my magical skills if I can't really apply them."

"Lord Hokage, I believe we are ready for a higher ranking mission." Sasuke said as he seemed to start opening up a bit. Sakura wasn't trying to get his attention for some stupid reason like he was the last Uchiha and Naruto tried to be friendly, but was willing to respect his space and desire to be alone. It was sort of refreshing in a manner for him.

"I understand that you want a higher ranking mission, but you are still newly minted genin." Iruka said as he started going into lecture mode as the current assistant to the Hokage. "As I'm sure you know missions are based on the difficulty of the mission itself and the dangers it entails. D-Ranked missions are given to newly minted genin as a means of getting better used to the team and to build teamwork. So please be patient and soon enough you may be awarded with a C-Rank mission."

Iruka finished his lecture, only to twitch his eyebrow as he was ignored by the three who seemed to be more interested in talking about random things, right now it was Naruto talking about the difference in cup ramen and ramen eaten at Ichiraku's stand. Iruka almost popped a vein as he then added, "are you three listening to me?"

"Look Iruka-sensei, we aren't little kids anymore. We're ninja, warriors of the village, and we can handle something more then walking dogs and catching that demon cat." Naruto said, and Hiruzen was curious if Naruto was being honest. The blonde wasn't the type to just lie, but there was a difference between lying and doing more then what you are capable of.

"Kakashi, do you believe your team is ready for a C-Rank mission?" Hiruzen asked, stunning Iruka and Kakashi just thinking about it for a bit.

"Hmm, I suppose it wouldn't hurt too much to get their feet wet. We can't keep them safe forever." Kakashi did have a point that they couldn't stay as genin or ninja without doing something a bit more dangerous until they proved themselves. Hiruzen admitted that Kakashi did have a point, and agreed.

"Very well, send in Tazuna." With that order an older gentleman stepped, and he looked like he was the type to drink. He took one look at the three young ninja and was not impressed.

"This is the team of ninja that are supposed to guard me? A girly-girl, a guy with a duck's ass for a head, and a blonde idiot? I paid for Ninja not brats." All three already had a glare set for Tazuna, and all three agreed he was a jerk. Naruto really wanted to lay into him, but decided to try his grandmother's cold demeanor approach.

"Sir, I can assure that my associates and I are capable of defending you. My grandmother has trained me in the arts of war and clan secrets that I will not sure. My associates include the top ranking ninja, with myself being ranked the second, and the top Kunoichi who is also a skilled magician." Naruto said with the cold professionalism that his grandmother had when her own emotions were sacrificed to Dominus.

"And if they aren't as prepared as I believe they are, then I am jounin. So are you quite protected Tazuna-san." Kakashi said as the man just took a swig and introduced himself.

"Ah well, I'm Tazuna the super construction man, and your job is to protect me on the way home and a certain project there." The team were given the time to leave, and they left for home to prepare.

The next day, which was already unusual as Kakashi was on time for once, was a bright and sunny day as Team 7 had met with the client at the village gates. Naruto was about to step out of the gates as he looked up, "This is the first time I'll have ever left the village."

"Same here." Sakura added as she was also a bit nervous at the fact that she too would leave the village for the first time. "I just hope we can return to the village." Sasuke said nothing on his part as it was also his first time, but voicing it felt unneeded. He had other things to think about then the first step outside of Konoha directly.

"Great, brats so green that they hadn't left home." Tazuna was already starting to not be a liked client, as he had yet to say anything that wasn't him bragging about his skills in construction or a complaint about the team assigned. However the moment had passed, and Naruto and Sakura made one final check on their gear, including some medicinal potions made from Alchemy and knowledge of herbs, which was provided from Ino due to her family having a botany store.

As the team had left, it was in relative silence as they kept the lookout for possible threats, most likely of which was bandits, when, in an oddly surprisingly manner, Sasuke was the one that spoke up. "Sensei, do you know anything about magic? It doesn't seem that much different from ninjutsu from what I have seen."

Tazuna rolled his eyes at the claim as magic was just a source of fiction, something to scare the kids into behaving or to sell dreams. Kakashi, knowing first hand about magic from Sakura and Naruto's demonstration, knew differently, but he did answer, "I don't have any personal knowledge, so why not ask Naruto or would Sakura like to explain as I am curious as well."

Naruto and Sakura shared a look for a bit, but it was Sakura that beamed as she was the better scholar of the two. That was when she started her explanation of magic, "As you know, when using Ninjutsu, it combines spiritual energy generated from a chemical aura that flows through a spiritual blood vessel in the body."

"I know that, when you combine it with physical energy it creates chakra, but what is the difference?" Sasuke interrupted a bit, but it didn't bother Sakura that much as anyone that was hearing about it for the first time would be sure to ask something like that.

"I was getting to that. While chakra is made of combining physical and spiritual energy, there is more then one kind of energy. Magicians first have to learn to subconsciously draw in a different kind of energy, Nature energy. Nature energy is the energy found in nature itself from the raw elements combining and competing with each other to make the world itself. To use magic we must draw in Nature energy and combine it with Spiritual energy and release it as a spell through a gesture, symbol, or word." Sakura finished her explanation, and that was when Kakashi noticed something about Sakura's lecture, and it was the fact that magic used natural energy.

"From the sound of it, magic has similarities to Senjutsu., but how does it not destroy anyone?" Kakashi asked as Sakura already had the answer to the question ready.

"The reason is that our bodies can only handle two energies at the same time. Sage techniques are more problematic because they require a perfect harmony of three energies at one time: physical, spiritual, and natural. Magicians and ninja who use magic are trained to use two of the energies at any given time, though we house all three." Sasuke did understand a bit of Sakura's lecture and that it would make sense on why the magic would have natural effects, but that was when Naruto felt something was off.

The thing that set him off was an innocent looking puddle. Normally a puddle would not have set anyone off, and to Tazuna it didn't. Kakashi was subtle, but was aware that the puddle wasn't normal. It was when they got close that the puddle turned into two men, each armed with a gauntlet and a chain that connected the two.

"One down." Said one of the two ninja as Naruto used his Secare Glyph to summon a pair of single handed long swords, thicker and more designed for slashing then the thrusts of the rapier Glyph of Confodore. Sasuke was also ready preparing a jutsu as Sakura opened her book, the Tome of Arms Vol 1, and from the pages summoned a long sword as well and moved in front of Tazuna as Naruto managed to use the swords to prevent one of the ninja from harming the client, and Sasuke had finished his Katon: Great Fireball jutsu causing the man to jump closer to try and strike Naruto from behind.

"Ice Fang!" Sakura called out as she managed to finish her aria and unleashed a chain of magic seals that thrust large icicles to impale the two ninja, getting the attacker to back off and unlock the chain so Sasuke could engage. Naruto was holding his own as he mixed a bit of fencing with the two swords to parry the claw and go for a slashing blow. Before Naruto or his opponent could make any significant strike, Kakashi appeared, but not just one, two appeared to knock the enemy out.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura said as she noticed the masked jounin knocking the enemy out, and she was happy as she wasn't sure what else she could do at the time to really help.

"Yes, and I'm glad to see that you three can handle yourselves." Kakashi said as he looked at the two individuals and noted who they were. "It seems we ran into Meizuki and Gozuki rogue ninja of Kiri, but I doubt they were here for any of us, unless you have something to say about it Tazuna."

"W-what!?" Tazuna was shocked that he would be accused of bringing rogue or missing ninja to them. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"What do you mean sensei?" Naruto asked as he wasn't sure what Kakashi was going on about. He saw, just as the others, the logs with fake blood on them, but for what purpose did Kakashi fall for the trap?

"I wanted to see who the target of this attack was. I ruled Sakura out as her lineage is of a minor ninja family that is more civilian then ninja, and that is counting that she is one of the few individuals in Konoha that can use magic. With this in mind, I counted three possible targets. One is Naruto, if certain rumors were to find their way outside, and because his clan has a large amount of knowledge in the Ecclesia Library. The other was Sasuke as he is the last Uchiha and possesses a bloodline limit that would warrant capture, but their movements suggest that they were after the third target, which was our client Tazuna. That is suspicious that ninja are targeting you, considering you needed protection from bandits and not chuunin."

"S-so? Maybe they were wanting to kill and rob us? We live in dangerous times that we need shinobi to protect ordinary people like me." Tazuna attempted to argue, but Kakashi wasn't so sure about the argument. The jounin made it clear as to why he didn't buy the argument.

"While you do have a point, it is a doubtful one. After all, rogue ninja like these two tend to live as mercenaries for hire. With that in mind, they didn't act like they were just out to rob us, otherwise they would have let us pass right by them without an attempt at an attack." Kakashi was right and Team 7 was considering it. It was more likely that they would have just attacked indiscriminately and take what they could get, but instead they purposely attempted to speed past Naruto and Sasuke and attack Tazuna.

"Kakashi-sensei does have a point." Sasuke said as he didn't like being played for a potential fool. Naruto and Sakura were in the same boat of agreement as Naruto added, "So Tazuna, should you tell us the truth, or do we need to interrogate you? I'm sure Sakura-chan has a spell that could force the truth out of you, or a curse."

"I'm sure I can think of something. I have heard of a potion called Veritaserum that forces a compulsion upon the drinker to speak the truth." Sakura said with a scary looking grin as she then added to her statement, "I'm sure there's a spell among my books that could have the same effect."

That was getting Tazuna nervous, and chances are if they didn't get the information from him, then they would get it from the prisoners that they just caught. It was a tough choice, but he might as well come clean. "Alright, I admit it. They were most likely after me. You see, the reason is because Wave is currently being lorded over by a man by the name of Gatou."

"Gatou?" Naruto asked, as he didn't know who the man was, and it was clear that Sakura had an idea of what he was talking about.

"The shipping merchant?" Sakura asked as the nod from Tazuna confirmed it, but the older man still decided to explain further.

"Yes, he is a shipping merchant, but that is only a front for his real business. He's a black market tycoon that is known for slave trading, human trafficking, and other illegal goods. He's also known for imposing high prices on my country, and even the Daimyo has become poor." That made sense, but there were some thoughts that didn't quite fill up.

"Why didn't you just use other more reputable shipping firms?" Sakura asked as she was curious as to why stay and use Gatou's instead of using someone else? It was a good question, but the answer was not one she would have liked.

"Because we have no choice. Gatou's ruthless and has harassed other shipping businesses into selling their branches to him. Not just the company branches, but the customers into using his businesses only. So we only have one choice, and as an island nation imports are the only way to get most of the things we want or need." Tazuna explained and it made further sense as to why the people of Wave Country were in the situation they were in: they were forced to. "That's why I need to get home and finish the bridge. A direct land connection could allow us to leave and bring in new products on our own and bypass Gatou's prices, which could be described as his taxes."

"Also, what about Gatou taking control of the bridge?" Sasuke asked bringing up a good point.

"Well, we have thought about that and considered smuggling certain things in. If we can start growing our economy again, we can start to make our own businesses or get out of Gatou's thumb." Tazuna explained and he knew it wasn't perfect, but there are ways around Gatou that the business tyrant didn't think or know about.

"I will admit you had thought about it, and the story is sad, there is one thing that is still present. That is the fact that you lied." Kakashi said as he looked Tazuna in the eye and made it clear that misinformation would not be tolerated. "That is a terrible thing as bad information is worse then no information, and that would get these kids killed. I have enough experience in missions that I could better adapt and cope with the situation, but these three are fresh academy students. That means we have the right to abort this mission."

It seemed heartless, but Kakashi had a point that lying on missions to get cheaper pay put everyone at risk, not just the ninja but the clients as well, and if the client escaped based on the deaths of the ninja, then the trust would be destroyed and more demands would be made or the client would be blacklisted from ever using that village's services. Ninja villages were a miniature army and the strength required ninja to be capable, even in times of relative.

"I understand. I did lie about it and all, and you should go back, leaving me to die." Tazuna said as he seemed to give up, seemed was the word as he was now playing on the emotions. "I mean my country will continue to slowly wither and die, not your fault when I am dead and can't finish the bridge, my daughter will cry before being sold off as a slave to who knows where and my grandson will curse Konoha until his death, which may be sooner then later because of how bad it is, but I understand."

'Is this guy for real?' Kakashi thought as Tazuna really laid it on them, and basically placed blame for his death on them for abandoning. Kakashi was about to tell Tazuna off when Naruto decided to intervene.

"Kakashi-sensei, if I may, how about we request backup and continue the mission?" Naruto suggested and it seemed like something Kakashi considered.

"Oh, and why is that?" He asked wanting to hear the reasoning as well, and Naruto had one in his head.

"If we abandon the mission outright, it may cause other clients to lose faith in our village, and if we sent backup it would cost more; yet it would also give us more manpower to handle future challenges."

"I don't think we need another team." Sasuke said as he wanted to continue on, if only to see how far he can go and become stronger from the mission itself. "We should go on. We're strong enough."

"I'm not doubting our strength Sasuke. I am considering that the next foe is stronger, and adding some extra manpower allows us more opportunities to attack." Naruto reasoned back and then looked at Sakura. "What do you think Sakura-chan?"

"Um, I don't think we should continue as we are." Sakura said seeing Tazuna looked defeated at the pinkette's words. "Which is why we should probably get backup before moving on."

"I don't have the money to pay for another team!" Tazuna said as Naruto already had a reply ready for the construction man.

"Then I'm sure the Hokage will come up with a plan to let you pay the rest of the money over time without draining what you need to survive. Unless you want us to just leave you here?" Naruto was not really planning on leaving the man and mission incomplete. It was a bad thing to let your first mission be a failure because of a lie, and it would look better if they completed a mission.

"Hmm, very well. I'll send word for backup and explain the situation." Kakashi said as he pulled out a map and pointed to a town. "We'll rest here for backup and use the bounty to pay for the expenses."

Hiruzen was looking over reports and finishing up some paperwork, and oh how he hated it. The only thing he had yet to figure out was how the Yondaime was able to get all the paperwork done and still have time to have a social life with Kushina. It was soon after when one of Kakashi's summon dogs had come up with a scroll.

"Sorry to bother you Hokage, but I got a message from Kakashi." The summon dog, Pakkun, said as he left the scroll and poofed back to the summon realm he came from. Hiruzen took the scroll and read it and that was when Team 10 came walking in as Asuma was about to call out.

"Yo pops, Team 10 here for another mission." Asuma then noticed something was not quite right. "Something wrong?"

"I am afraid that I do have a difficult mission for you, as you have made yourselves available." Hiruzen said with the gravest of voices. "I just received word from Kakashi that the client whose mission he accepted was inaccurate and of a higher rating. He has requested backup and you are to be that backup if you choose to accept."

"We accept!" Ino said almost immediately as Chouji and Shikamaru weren't sure what just happened.

"Troublesome, you don't have the authority to take a mission. Asuma has that right." Shikamaru said as Asuma knew this wouldn't be an easy decision. Then he came to a decision.

"So, do you understand your mission Zabuza?" A sinister and upset man said as he looked at another individual, a large heavyset man with bandages on his face.

"Just kill the bridge builder, I can see that if your information is correct, then Meizuki and Gouzuki have failed and I have to do this myself." Zabuza Momochi said as he got up from the seat and headed to the door before saying one last thing, "You better have my pay ready."

"Of course, but you'll get it only after you kill Tazuna, I don't care how you do it just do it!" Gatou said as Zabuza exited his office. Gatou just kept his frown up as he then spoke to another individual. "And are you sure you could do the job faster?"

"Of course, after all I have powers from forces behind normal comprehension." Another man said with his face obscured by a hood. "After all, I can control the powers of death. I have already shown you proof of that."

Gatou remembered that this man had strange powers that turned a corpse into a disposable soldier under his command. "If you do, then I'll consider listening to what you have to say."

"Of course, after all." The man said with an almost sinister smile, "We both want to receive the blessings of the dark lord."