Ghost Stalker Chronicles
Paths of a Ninja
Chapter 1: Silent Hunters
The story of Naruto the Ghost Stalker is, with this new installment and beyond, continued.
To summarize the story so far: (Youtube: Naruto's Main Theme Reloaded)
Naruto was rescued from a band of particularly nasty and bitter villagers, who couldn't forget their pain and anger against the nine tailed fox that Naruto has sealed within him, by a foreign dignitary. This dignitary turned out to be a Kage of a nation that has no land to call its own. Impressed by Naruto's resolve and forgiving heart, as well as angered by what he has to endure from his own home village, the Kage, named Yokai, takes Naruto for a training journey with the permission of the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The two leaders had become friends to the point where the Sandaime (3rd) Hokage felt he could entrust Naruto's training and growth to him. After returning from said journey, Naruto was immediately introduced to the Shinobi Academy, which was just starting a fresh batch of students at the time he returned.
Things were going good for Naruto, but along the way he had to deal with two dangerous situations. The first being Itachi's betrayal of the village, through his massacring of his very own clan. Only his friend Sasuke and his mother survived, partly due to Naruto's intervention since he was visiting at the time it occurred.
However, their fight was very uneven, in Itachi's favor, and Itachi gained the upper hand through the use of his genjutsu abilities his special eye, the Sharingan, possesses. But through an intervention of Kami, Yokai's people's god, Itachi's Genjutsu attack was thwarted and had to escape before the guards arrived. Kami, whom Naruto has a mostly good and light-hearted relationship with but is also a tad shaky due to disagreement and some trust issues, enlightened Naruto as to the mysterious goings-on with Itachi. Naruto is stumped further with the news that Sasuke's mother survived a seemingly fatal stab through the chest, but is in a genjutsu-induced coma.
The second situation was the kidnapping of classmate and friend Hinata Hyuuga. Through some vague directions given by Kami, Naruto stumbled across a dignitary from Kumogakure no Sato (Hidden Cloud Village) sneaking around the village, quietly breaking into and kidnapping the Hyuuga heiress right from her own bedroom. Deciding to intervene, Naruto chases the, now hostile, dignitary through the village before using a couple of recently learned jutsus to both warn Hinata's father and stealthily catch up to the fleeing shinobi and tackle him, thus freeing Hinata from his clutches. He then used his sensei's (Yokai) secret jutsu to remain unseen as he battled the more skilled opponent.
But he prevailed through scare-tactics and striking while concealed by his camouflage jutsu. Hinata's father then came and was about to kill the abductor while he was still out cold when Naruto stopped him, telling him that it was something the Hokage should ultimately decide upon. It turned out to be a particularly good advice since, after Hiashi learned who the man was, killing him would have brought untold troubles to not only his clan, but possibly also the village.
In neither of these tremendously trying events, though he was an unofficial hero due to both instances already, could he reap the benefits of his victories and gain respect in the eyes of the public, both had to remain secret in order to uphold order and public imagery. But he gained immense recognition from the Hyuuga clan head, and even Naruto knew the value of that.
As Sasuke recovered from his ordeal, things were becoming somewhat strained between them. Though not to the point they were approaching becoming unfriendly. Sasuke's trauma was still haunting him and it affected him and his view of many things, his attitude towards friends in general being one of the signs. But the fact his mother was still alive and, theoretically, saveable was a significant boon for his mental balance.
As the Academy progressed, Naruto and Sasuke implemented a plan to get rid of or help their female classmates (depending on who you asked). Said girls had taken a great... liking to the two boys and they wanted them to focus on becoming effective kunoichi (female ninja) first and foremost, rather than a pretty face and a love interest first.
And so, when the final exams came around, all students passed. Or rather, all the "main" students, those being the students hailing from major clans as well as Sakura, a friend of Ino Yamanaka (Yamanaka being a major clan by the way).
All except Naruto.
Due to a rule regarding a certain jutsu which Naruto was unable to perform, Naruto was believed to be slacking too much and didn't get a passing grade. When his friends awaited his arrival, with a headband to signify his success, they were shocked to eventually learn that he had failed and was nowhere to be found. At first it appeared that Naruto had simply deserted them in shame, but as they made a concerted effort to find him and comfort him, they found something entirely different.
Naruto had been asked by Mizuki, their secondary teacher, to steal an important scroll in order to get a passing grade, since it was a ninja's task to sometimes do such things. But Naruto wasn't fooled by the man. Instead, he had set up an elaborate trap for him, but due to the unforeseen interference from the main teacher, Iruka, things turned much more complicated... and deadly.
When Mizuki arrived, Naruto had to save his teacher from a vicious fuma shuriken attack, a shuriken the size of a medium sized knight's shield. Taking the blow for his teacher, Naruto was unable to move due to his injuries. His former secondary teacher then cruelly took the opportunity to finally tell Naruto the reason he was so persecuted and hated by his own village.
He revealed that he was the Jinchuriki (Power of Human Sacrifice, essentially a living prison) of the nine tailed demon fox that had attacked the village at the day of his birth. The Hokage at the time, Yondaime (4th) Hokage, battled it and ultimately defeated it, not through martial might, but by sealing the beast within little Naruto.
But the way Mizuki told it, Naruto would be the new nine tailed fox, rather than its cage. However, Kami came to Naruto's aid and told him the truth, consoled him and finally empowered him to fight his former teacher evenly once he had removed the shuriken and healed from the wound through Kurama's, the nine tailed fox's, stored energy.
Once defeated, the Hokage showed up and had Mizuki taken into custody while also promoting Naruto to Tokubetso Genin (Special Genin) due to his skills. However, the night would not end on a completely positive note for Naruto. For Naruto's entire class had followed him and witnessed pretty much everything. Making the wrong assumption that his friends now hated him for being what he was, he ran away before they could correct him.
But the next morning it was all sorted out, as well as him and his entire circle of Academy friends were going to end up as one big group under three different senseis; Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi (Hiruzen's son). In addition, a new shinobi force branch has been founded by Naruto's sensei Yokai, wherein ninjas who want to specialize in stealth, sabotage and assassination had the option to join, even if it as only part time. Kiba, Sasuke and Shino decided to join, but only Shino did so full time.
Behind closed doors, there are some disagreements regarding this new approach to how Genin should be molded into their future Chunin, Jonin and Hokage. However, the group continues to perform well in their training and simulations. And one day, their first assignments come along. The group is divided into three groups, with one sensei each.
Kakashi, along with Sasuke and Kiba, are on their way to eliminate a bandit camp.
Kurenai, Sakura and Ino are escorting a trade caravan carrying valuable cargo.
Asuma, Hinata, Shikamaru and Chouji are on their way with a bridge builder to protect him from, what he originally claimed was bandit attacks. But things turned out to be more hazardous than advertized. Two enemy shinobi from Kiri, though they didn't attack, were discovered. But they fled once they realized that they werr discovered way beforehand through Hinata's ocular bloodline, the Byakugan. Since it was common knowledge that it allows any with the bloodline to see through just about anything as well as enable them to see the overall status of anyone else's body, they knew they had noway to hide. So they refrained from attacking and once the team had passed them harmlessly, they took off.
Asuma had noticed the entire thing and was instantly mad at the client. However, after a thorough explanation from the man, they were inclined to feel at least some sympathy for him. Asuma left the decision of whether or not to continue up to the Genin. Tazuna feared they would leave him high and dry.
However, Hinata's heart went out to Tazuna and his people, not to mention her admiration and love for Naruto, who she knew would never back down from helping those in need, compelled her to continue with the mission. The others were at first taken aback by her declaration but eventually they agreed with her. And here is where the story resumes.
(Youtube: Naruto's Main Theme Reloaded END)
Tazuna and his escorts had resumed their journey about a day and a half ago. It was mostly spent in companionable silence, with a few pleasant conversations occurring occasionally when they felt secure enough with their surroundings. They had reached the shore of the Land of Fire that was directly across from the region of Nami (Wave). It was very foggy and one could not see even fifteen meters ahead clearly. Despite this, there was a faint sound of splashing coming from ahead of them, indicating a boat with someone using oars or some other propelling instrument was approaching.
"Ah, just on time." Tazuna spoke quietly, but obviously pleased. "This is the meeting place, and the time of the day, where someone is to meet us to provide a way in without being noticed by any of Gato's goons."
"How did you know it would be foggy enough this morning that we could utilize the cover it would bring?" Asuma asked.
"I didn't, but fog is pretty common around here, a common joke around here is that we're a mini-Hidden Mist village. That ought to tell you how common fog is in Nami."
"Even so, it's somewhat of a risk." Shikamaru noted.
"Not as much as you might think. Pirates, who are the main patrolling force Gato has on the waterways, have become lax in their duties since being employed to stick around and be the menace they are. They are seldom patrolling this early in the morning. The risk is there, but should worse come to worst, that was what I hired you to deal with anyway, wasn't it?" Tazuna said.
"I see, but what will Gato do if his sea-faring cronies get beaten by us?" Shikamaru queried.
"He is already aware of our presence, he wont do more than we already suspect he will. The Pirates can only report that we're here, basically." Asuma replied for Tazuna, who nodded in grim agreement.
It was a moment after their conversation ended that the small fishing boat arrived. The man on board was pleased to see them, but couldn't bring himself to show more beyond a slight rising of one end of his lips.
"I see you got the help we are sorely in need of, Tazuna. But couldn't you have managed something better than a trio of kids and a lone adult?" He inquired with a scrutinizing look towards the ninja.
"I know what you mean, Ryou. But I have a good feeling regarding these people. They are ninja after all, and as I have been told, they are all about surprises." Tazuna defended, though he didn't say so overly passionate. He had yet to see just how well they could fight.
Asuma smiled a little at the defense. 'Looks like our loyalty to our client has garnered us some support in response.' He then looked neutral as he pondered on. 'Still, if there's to be any considerable hope for these people, we need to be able to meet our opponents evenly. And that's just something I can't say for certain we'll be able to. I hope the Hokage sends those reinforcements quickly.'
"If you say so, Tazuna..." Ryou replied, not convinced. "All aboard. During the whole trip to the other shore, please keep it quiet or we'll needlessly risk alerting the patrols."
"Understood, we'll maintain silence or speak in whispers." Asuma both acknowledged and order his charges at the same time.
The voyage across was undertaken in silence, as requested. Though there were audible gasps of amazement once they were within visual range of the bridge, or at least its shadowy silhouette in the fog which still left little to the imagination of the sheer size of the unfinished bridge.
'Oh my!' Thought Hinata.
'The amount of work to make that. The drag...' Shikamaru thought, horrified by the amount of work behind this impressive building.
'I think it would even hold dad's expanded body.' Chouji thought, thoroughly impressed.
'A most suitable gift for the Daimyo.' Thought Asuma, who recalled his time serving as one of The Twelve Shinobi Guardians, assigned to protect the Daimyo of Fire. During that time, he grew to respect and even like the Daimyo. While he was somewhat of an air-head, he was a fair man and had his people's best interest at heart.
They landed without incident on the other side. After bidding farewell to the now somewhat relieved fisherman, they resumed their journey on foot. Hinata was ordered to regularly and frequently scan their surroundings for any hostiles or traps, Shikamaru was ordered to come up with a handful of initial defense/attack strategies based on current knowledge in case of an attack, Chouji was ordered to keep an eye out at all times and be ready for anything and to not snack at all for this last stretch of their journey. He complied but wasn't happy to not eat, he really hoped their destination would be close.
After only a minute of walking along, Hinata called for a halt.
"T-there's a mist u-up ahead." She said worriedly.
"So? Like Tazuna-ossan said, Nami is known to have it rather often." Shikamaru commented, not seeing the issue but remained on the alert nevertheless.
"T-this one was s-shinobi made, c-chakra is spread all throughout it, making it m-much harder for me to get any sort of v-visual on a-anyone or anything in it."
"Can you get any visual at all, even if it is unclear?" Asuma inquired.
"I-I believe I c-can, but it will be a c-cloudy blur at best as opposed to a clear, d-defined form."
"Then keep at it, Hinata. You two," He indicated the two boys. "Keep on alert and be ready to react at a split second's notice. Shikamaru, this is the work of a Mist ninja, or rather a nuke-nin from there. Probably Jonin level." Asuma concluded to his strategic planning partner.
Shikamaru nodded. "In all likelihood he will personally oversee this ambush and you'll have to deal with him. No doubt he will sic his underlings on the rest of us. I can probably shadow-bind one of them, perhaps both but I wouldn't count on it happening simultaneously. Once that is done, Chouji can knock him out while Hinata handles the remaining guy, she's got the agility to at least buy time till we can help her. But, your clan is feared for a good reason, Hinata. I believe you can get hits in without help. Once you manage that, you can take him down easily."
"That's all assuming the two we saw before are the only subordinates this guys' got. Be ready for additional enemies just in case." Asuma pointed out.
"Granted, but there can be only one more, and in that case Chouji will have to deal with that guy while I hold the one I capture."
"Why only one more?" Tazuna asked, a bad feeling sinking in his gut.
"Because if there's more, we're in trouble. But if we underestimate the, possible, additional guy, then we are also in a troublesome situation."
"You sound certain of how good the two known guys are?" Tazuna asked, trying to not think of how bad this situation was looking.
"They refrained from combat before for a reason." Asuma asserted "My guess is they are at Chunin level, but I have no idea exactly where that would be compared to us. Most likely worse than ours though, since the Hidden Mist hasn't been in touch with the rest of the world due to its civil war, and in times of war, promotions are made when in reality they wouldn't be in peace times. This results in sub-par qualities of their ninja ranks. Missing nin is also a problem during war times, as they take the chance to desert and make a living as mercenaries instead of listening to higher authorities, or simply to get away from 'The Bloody Mist' as Mist has been nicknamed for some time now."
"So what you're saying is that these rogue Chunin, if they are that, could be no better than your Genin?" Tazuna asked, somewhat hopeful.
"Could be, but that's no reason to relax even an iota." Asuma confirmed. "Well, we've got a course of action and are just wasting time standing here. Let's go!" He then commanded.
Asuma took the lead and walked straight into the obscuring fog. He was followed by a frantically thinking and alert Shikamaru, a tense and worried Chouji and a scared but prepared Hinata. She kept her Byakugan active and searching for any indication of activity within the fog. Tazuna was in the middle of their formation, as was the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) in escort missions. He was a walking wreck, yearning to take a calming sip, or a hundred, from his sake bottle. However, Asuma had strictly forbidden it due to safety reasons. The smell and the small noise it would make could hinder their own ability to detect their enemies.
Hinata suddenly gasped quietly, but Asuma heard. "What is it, Hinata?"
"I... I thought I saw a s-shape, but it's g-gone now." She replied, not completely reassured that it was nothing. Asuma was far from that himself.
"How far was that shape?"
"A-about fifty meters just up ahead, b-by the road."
"Keep looking, it may have been one of our opponents using a shunshin to switch positions. The rest of you, be ready to react within a blink."
They walked a bit further, Hinata then saw that in place of the possible enemy was an unclear, but unmistakable outline of a rabbit.
"I-it was here, but now there's a r-rabbit here."
'A rabbit wouldn't tread upon that spot for some time due to the lingering smell of man.' Asuma noted to himself. 'It was most likely not a shunshin (Body Flicker), but a kawarimi (Bodily Replacement) then.'
"Hinata, I believe an attack is imminent, watch for..." But he was interrupted by the girl he was addressing.
"INCOMING, DUCK!" She shouted, while hitting the dirt, the team and Tazuna following suit immediately after the warning was given.
And none too soon, for passing overhead a mere half-second after going prone, a massive object passed overhead. Said object had an unnervingly sharp tone to its aerial trip, giving away its nature as a sword without even having a proper look at the thing.
'The size, the method of attack. I have a strong suspicion as to who we're up against here.' Asuma thought grimly.
A second after dodging the sword, they heard it striking a tree and remained there. As they were getting back on their feet, a man with a mask covering his mouth and nose had jumped and landed upon the handle of the sword, squatting upon it as he faced the group. The man was glaring at them fiercely, his mask hiding the vicious grin he was sporting.
"Well, well, well. Lookie what we've got here." He said sinisterly. "Asuma Sarutobi and his trio of dead Genin." He then glanced at Tazuna. "And the bridge builder."
"I see my suspicions were spot on, Zabuza Momochi; 'Demon of the Bloody Mist'". Asuma stated as he produced his trench-knives from his leg-bag. The Genin were already surrounding the bridge builder, tense as harp strings, awaiting any attack coming their way.
"Hmhmhmhmhmhm." Zabuza chuckled darkly. "What made you suspect me?"
"Few missing nin would be of high enough rank to produce a mist as big as this one, not to mention be of high enough rank to order other missing Chunin around. A critical detail was your sword, only two missing nin have a sword that size. You and Kisame Hoshigaki. Since you threw it, that indicated that it was meant to cut, as opposed to shaving like Kisame's sword, Samehada. You don't throw a shaving sword. Thus it could have only been you."
Zabuza clapped mockingly. "Bravo, Leaf. Though I am both impressed and perturbed you could know so much about the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist. How did you come across that information? Mist has been closed to outsiders for quite some time."
"I didn't acquire the info personally, but I do know that it wasn't easy for those that did." Asuma said, trying to buy some time to assess as much as he could before engaging in inevitable combat.
"Hmhmhmhmhmhm." Zabuza chuckled his intimidating chuckle again. "I have no doubt that is true." He then jump the short distance to the ground and easily dislodged his sword from the tree. "And equally true is that in a short while, you will all be dead before me."
He then blasted the area with his murderous intent. It was a massive intent, underlining his great experience and strength as a ninja, as well as his lethality and his confidence in his ability to carry out said intent.
The Genin were shaking and sweating like crazy, they could see their own deaths before their eyes at the hand of this nin. Hinata had it worst, she was on her knees and embracing herself as she shivered and tears of fear fell from her eyes. Chouji was about to hurl his recently consumed food and Shikamaru was standing, but barely so.
He tried to occupy his thoughts with strategies to counter what he saw in his intent-induced hallucinations. Asuma had drilled it into him to divert his mind onto practical and useful thoughts even under harsh pressure of opponents' killer intents. It helped to keep him collected and combat ready. Sadly, besides Sasuke, Shino and Naruto, there were no others who managed to handle larger pressures, yet.
Asuma returned fire with his own intent. While it in itself didn't calm his charges down, it did take away the edge of Zabuza's and allowed the Genin to recollect themselves, but they were in a poorer state than before the encounter still.
"You talk big, Zabuza." Asuma said. "But words have not won a battle of blades and strength."
"Unless they're words used for JUTSU!" Zabuza shouted as he swung the blade as if it was nothing more than a baseball-bat. Asuma deflected the strikes.
'As I thought, he is tremendously strong. He would have to be in order to properly wield that sword. Parrying or contesting his strength is out of the question. I have to be faster. Dodging and deflecting his attacks.' Asuma analyzed his situation.
"Hahahaha! What's the matter, Asuma!? Can't keep up with me!?" Zabuza mocked as he relished the fight.
"Don't worry about me!" He grunted as he deflected another strike. "I've got more than what it takes to keep you on your toes!"
"Is that a fact, smokestack!?" Zabuza said as he made a downward swipe that struck the ground as it missed the dodging Leaf nin.
'Can't get away from that term even out here it seems.' Asuma briefly lamented. "Sure is! How about THIS for example?!"
At the moment he shouted it, he had deflected another swipe, but the noise of clashing metal was distinctly different. Zabuza jump back a bit and examined his sword. It now had some nasty cuts into the blade where Asuma had deflected it.
'Interesting.' Zabuza thought as he regarded the trench-knives in Asuma's hands. 'I only know of one thing that could cut my sword like that. Wind chakra applied to a weapon. Like that Sand shinobi from last year, he made a dent as well before he died.'
"So, you're a wind element user, Asuma. You've just made this fight more interesting." Zabuza lightly praised.
"So happy to accommodate you." He sarcastically replied.
"It would be a shame if I didn't bring something more to the table myself, wouldn't it?" The swordsman commented forebodingly.
'Shit! Something's going to happen!' Asuma realized. "All of you, be on your guard!" he commanded. He didn't have to, since they were on the alert, but it helped him ease his own mind minutely.
As soon as his cautionary order had been given, the two Chunin from before emerged from the mist. But Hinata had seen their blurred silhouettes before they arrived and alerted her teammates of their impending attack.
For Shikamaru, the mist was something of a blessing and a curse at the same time. He couldn't get far with his shadow in order to capture one of the two enemies' shadow. Which meant that he would have to get close before giving it a shot, something which wasn't recommended for obvious reasons.
However, if he timed it right and was quick about it, he could snare one shadow before the owner would have time to react.
With that plan in mind, he prepared himself for close-combat.
Chouji wasn't much of a kunai fighter, he preferred to fight with his bare hands. However, he was made aware by the enemy he was facing that they were blade users. Claw-like blades to be exact. And any hand-to-hand combat would bring large risks of him being cut severly, not to mentioned poisoned as Hinata discovered that they were coated with some dangerous liquid.
As he was doing his best to dodge and fight back, he resolved himself to find some form of weapon to augment his style if he survived and got back home.
Hinata was doing the best out of them. Her rigorous training in the Hyuuga fighting art of Juuken (Gentle Fist) made her quick and agile. So the hostile Chunin found he couldn't land a hit on the, supposedly, defenseless little girl he decided to attack. On top of that, he discovered that the little defenseless girl... had teeth.
Hinata, just as Shikamaru predicted, was able to strike her foe. But that was only once, on his shoulder. Not enough to incapacitate it, but it sure made it harder to use it for combat. It was enough to even the scales between her and her enemy.
'Good, they're doing fine for now. They might even win their battle.' Asuma observed with relief while still clashing with Zabuza. Said man suddenly addressed him with malice.
"So tell me, Asuma! Have you ever had the pleasure of having a first class seat to an execution?"
A sideways swipe was dodged, but before Asuma could try to counter he was kicked by Zabuza, who apparently had used the swipe as a diversion for a real attack. It struck him in the jaw and he stumbled and was disoriented for a brief moment. A moment upon which Zabuza capitalized.
Performing a low-sweeping leg kick, Zabuza made Asuma fall helplessly on his back. Before Asuma could roll away or do anything at all, Zabuza's blade was at his throat.
"Whether you have or not, I will give you a bloody show right now." Zabuza said darkly before using his foot to flip Asuma over onto his belly. He then placed a foot on his back as well as kept the blade at his neck. Asuma was about to perform a kawarimi, but Zabuza had created a water clone. It had taken his hands and restrained them with rope.
'Shit! I'm totally at his mercy.'
For the first time, he was truly convinced he and his team were all about to die. He watched with despair as the clone casually approached the battle taking place in front of him. He tried to give a warning, but Zabuza put a stop to that with his other foot on his head, making him fill his mouth with dirt.
Shikamaru had managed to finally get behind Chouji's opponent and ensnare his shadow, allowing Chouji to defeat him just as Shikamaru released the shadow to avoid receiving the same damage.
Hinata had finally managed to strike additional tenketsu on her own foe, from that point it was a matter of little time before she ended the fight with some final strikes, neutralizing the second aggressor.
Tazuna, during all of this, was frozen in place and scared out of his mind. But the victory his bodyguards had just won calmed him and brought hope back. However it was about to go from bad to worse.
The team had just realized their victory when they saw Zabuza's clone, not that they knew that at the moment, Zabuza and Asuma were concealed in the mist and they didn't hear a peep from them.
"Zabuza? Did he kill Asuma-sensei?" Chouji asked, terrified. Hinata activated her eyes and saw clearly enough to tell the other two;
"N-no, he's s-subdued by another Z-Zabuza."
"Mendokuse!" (Troublesome) "This means this is either a clone or the real thing we're facing here."
"What do we do?" Chouji asked, trembling but ready to act at the blink of an eye.
"We do the best we can and hope for the best, there's nothing else to it." Shikamaru said. There truly wasn't much they could do. He doubted he could ensnare him with a shadow. He had yet to successfully ensnare the Jonin senseis in a true combat practice where they did not cut any slack. He was getting closer to managing it, but he was far enough to know that this guy would evade it easily.
"Hmhmhmhmhm." The clone chuckled. "I have to commend you for defeating my Chunin underlings, brats. Normally I wouldn't acknowledge fledglings like yourselves as ninjas. But, you might have a small amount of ninja blood running through you after all."
Twirling and flipping about his sword fancily to show off and intimidate, the clone continued. "As a courtesy, from ninja to ninja, I will honor you by killing you like I would kill another ninja. I'll kill you by slicing you right open without you seeing me coming. Get ready to experience my Silent Killing technique, it will be your last experience in this world."
As the clone finished, he back up into the mist, disappearing.
(Youtube: Mark of the Ninja OST-10 Ninja Intensity)
"Hinata! Keep track of him!" Shikamaru ordered, taking command, as was their established chain if Asuma was unavailable for any reason.
"I-I'm trying, but he k-keeps switching p-positions so fast that it is all b-becoming a blur." She said, her desperation in her voice clearly heard.
"Hear that Asuma?" The real Zabuza spoke lowly to his captive. "If you had any misgivings about Mist ninjas' abilities, this is proof that the Hidden mist excel in both stealth and open combat, doesn't it? Your mission is about to fail and all of you will die. At least it will all be nice and quick."
After a few moments, the clone had shunshined so fast and left enough chakra residue that Hinata's Byakugan was useless. It was then they heard the clone speak from an undetermined location.
"Eight points: heart, kidneys, larynx, liver, lungs, brain, spine, jugular. Which one to strike, I wonder? Which will be the kill point for the four of you?"
That more than unnerved everyone in the group, they were frightened as they never had been before. Tazuna was ready to faint and let himself get killed while unconscious. The trio of Genin were desperate to find and fight the clone, if only to stop the feeling of dread mounting by the second.
Then, suddenly, a sound of someone exhaling slowly yet loudly penetrated the silence. The sound came from everywhere. Zabuza and his clone knew that one wasn't part of their MO in Silent Killing, both narrowed their eyes as they realized another ninja had entered the battle.
The sound of a blade striking a body was heard, followed by a splashing sound. Zabuza immediately surmised his clone had been destroyed by this new combatant. To manage that in this mist and against one of his clones, though weaker than the original, was nothing to sneer at.
Asuma regained a spark of hope that things could turn out alright after all, but he was still very much worried for their situation.
Tazuna was uncertain of what was going on, but he was certain that the one that was projecting his voice and breathing everywhere like that was equally frightening to him.
Hinata, Chouji and Shikamaru were overjoyed at the reinforcements, whom they also knew very well. Only one guy fought in this manner. It was confirmed beyond all doubt when a voice spoke from everywhere at once.
"Oi, no-brows." It began. Zabuza frowned and growled lowly at the insult.
'Naruto!' Hinata thought with joy, affection and relief. The other two were of very similar mindset, sans a particular aspect.
"Have you ever danced with a ghost stalker in the pale mist?" Naruto finished, making his voice sound eery.
'This kid ain't half-bad at this.' Zabuza thought with an impressed smirk. 'It's been awhile since I've battled anyone of a similar style to mine. I think I will indulge the brat.' He decided with a hidden grin. "Never had the pleasure, care to lead Ghost Stalker-san?"
"De-lighted to, Mist Demon." Naruto replied from the mist.
Zabuza created a clone that held Asuma in place while he personally went on the hunt for this "Ghost Stalker", vanishing into the mist.
And so the battle between two silent hunters began.
(Youtube: Mark of the Ninja OST-10 Ninja Intensity END)