Naruto: Squad 7
Episode 2: The dangerous currents in the Land of Waves
-Sasuke P.O.V-
The Ramen shop was nice, I haven't had food that good in a while. I didn't talk much, Naruto talked forever and loudly. He mentioned his hand band was gifted to him by iruka, and that he's a close friend. WIth how hard he was on Naruto I'm surprised by that…. But tough love I guess...Sakura talked a bit, and while it was more thoughtful and casual than Naruto's screeching, but something bugged me…
Something Kakashi said.
Once we were done for the night, Naruto went home and sakura was on her way home to…
"Hey Sakura, can I ask you something?" I inquired
"O-Oh! Sure Sasuke!" she blushed, She couldn't exactly meet my eyes. I knew she had a crush, and I dunno… I'm not good at social stuff so… I'm just going to ignore it for now…
"What did Kakashi mean by you can mimic the Jutsu you've seen?" I inquire softly…
I watch her jolt a little, she probably wasn't expecting that question… "Oh um… well… I've always been good at memory, So I've memorized the hand signs from scrolls and books… So when you and kakashi did the fireball jutsu, I remembered the order of hand signs, and well… did it. And I read a book on jutsu's, and remembered the headhunter jutsu and its hand signs…
To say a little part of me was utterly pissed off, is an exaggeration… I worked so hard to even do that jutsu let alone learn it. But she learned it significantly faster… But Sakura isn't like naruto and I, she must have some crazy control over her chakra…
I took a breath "Can you show me?" I needed to see for myself.
She looked embarrassed, probably nervous that I'm even giving her the time of day. "Uh sure, I'm still pretty tired, but I think I can do it. We're nearby this training yard that I go to sometimes…" She said pointing ahead, offering to show me the way.
I oblige and after a quiet walk we appear at the training area where we would practice for the academy.
"So… Do you want me to try the fire ball jutsu?" She inquires
I nod and step out of the way, but at an angle I can watch her hands
She takes a breath and focuses, I noticed she seemed less winded.
Serpent
Ram
Monkey
Boar
Horse
Tiger
Her hands move as fast as my own, I heard an echo in my head, the instinct of saying 'Fire style! Fireball Jutsu!'
She performed the blazing jutsu, fire chakra heating up the area and burning the grass.
It was impressive, a near perfect mimic of my own jutsu. Something that took me long to learn...
She finished and looked at me, expecting me to congratulate her… I wanted to say something nice, but my own anxiety just wanted me to leave.
"What else do you know? Did you learn any on your own?" I inquire instinctively...This was awkward, I can't help it… But maybe she will be a good teammate and not useless like I had thought.
"There's a taijutsu enhancement I picked up for self defense… but I'm not very good at Taijutsu to begin with." She said embarrassingly.
I motion for her to show me anyway…
She did an earth hand sign and punched the ground "Earth style! Rock knuckles!" She exclaimed before pulling back, her right fist had basically chakra infused brass knuckles made of rock. Its simple, but interesting…
"What else? Can you show me the head hunter? Unless its to much." I said, maybe that came off as insulting, I didn't intend it to… However that is sorta just how I am, on the outside I look broody and mean, and saying things in the way I intend is hard... But on the inside, talking to people and being in the same room with multiple people just fills me with anxiety… let alone trying to make friends with anyone…
She signs and takes another deep breath, She did it a little slower as she's going off pure memory and not the visual aid of me doing it beforehand.
She did the correct earth signs and disappeared beneath the earth….
A moment later, and she popped out of the ground, mere inches from my body. I expected her to move somewhere else, I did not expect her to come up just in front of me… Her pink hair settling back down from bouncing, her teal green eyes staring back at me and the light blush she has.
I jolted and let out a small bead of sweat, I can't tell if it was my social anxiety from being this close to her? Or something else entirely…
Whatever the case, I take a step back and sigh, she didn't look tired this time. But she had performed a jutsu that takes a lot of chakra and then two earth style… She must have quite a bit of chakra…
"I hate to ask if you're winded… but, Sensei mentioned genjutsu? Is it true you put a Jonin under genjutsu?" This would have surprised me the most.
"I did." She answered, I could tell she wasn't lying, though she did grow a solemn expression when mentioning it "I've practiced it, just about everyday since I was a little girl…" She admits…
I tilt my head "Why is that?" Seems odd, but I'm sure she has her reasons
Her expression grew grave, looking around as if she were scared of something…
"What are you looking at?" I inquire, getting nervous that she knows something I don't
"Its Ino…" She responded?
That blonde girl who thinks I'm hot? I mean, I dunno where she's getting that from but, why would she need to put ino under genjutsu?
Suddenly I heard it "Sakura! Sasuke? Where are you! You two better not be kissing!" I turned to see the girl in question, walking into the training area. "Cus ill be pissed, you ugly cow…" She spat under her breath.
She was a few meters away but looking around as if she didn't see us… then it clicked
"She's under the genjutsu right now? When did you do that?" I ask, a little scared, if Sakura was this skilled then… who knows what else she could do it on.
"She was following us since the Ramen shop… She passed by and saw the three of us, but hoped you and I would have split down the road, not go here together… she's got a hardcore crush on you."
"Yeah… a lot of people do… but why did you put her under?" More importantly, How did I not see her! Am I slipping?
"Cus… she'd have been mad if she found us together…" Sakura looks like she's about to burst into tears "She bullies me cus I got feelings for you… We used to be friends, but I was mean to her as a kid, and its just been this long war… a war that she won… and now, even when I regret what I did…. She still hurts me. So I use this Genjutsu to hide, and let her hurt the other me…" She says, literally on the verge…
"Sakura…" Was all I could say, I can't deal with emotional stuff, I got my own baggage, I have no idea what to do here! She clearly isn't weak, she just performed three jutsu while still concentrating on a genjutsu! Its insane!
"Ino is definitely easier to concentrate on than Kakashi… maybe cus I've done it so much." She admits… Answering my question…
"Let's get out of here … there's something else I want to tell you before I head home… I don't want to do it with ino here… even if she can't see me." I reply.
"Ugh, I hope that bitch isn't trying to seduce him! I'll kill her!" Ino basically shrieked, venom in her voice
I scoff and take sakura by the hand "Let's go back to the area kakashi tested us." I said, dragging her back faster
Once there I had to ask "Have you dropped the genjutsu?"
She nodded "I don't have a lot of range."
I let go of her hand and look out at the water with the moon shining down… "I talked about justice before… against the man who killed and brought dishonor onto my clan… But it isn't that noble… I want revenge, I want to become an Avenger!" I said… Remembering how I was… crying… like she was about to be… "I remember that day… I was crying… just like you wanted to… and those tears gave me motivation. The motivation to come here and do this… The motivation that burns like a fire, that created my fire ball jutsu… And from what I've seen, I'm willing to share in that fire with you." I said, more than I've talked in a long time… but something about how Sakura feels… I relate to…
She looks at me, sorrow and understanding in her eyes… Not pity, we both don't want that, but understanding… "I understand. I'd ask… but I know what its like not wanting to talk about it yet."
I nod as well, I'm glad she understands…
"Now let's head home. Your parents are probably worried…" I said walking toward home, before we part ways I say… "Hey, don't worry to much about the taijutsu aspect. Naruto and I got that covered, you just put em under a genjutsu and we'll knock their heads together. You know… like a team…"
I don't know where I was getting this sudden… extrovertedness… But Sakura understood my pain to a degree, and I understand hers. They're both very different… But pain is still pain…
She says goodnight and I head home.
-Sometime later-
After some rather mundane missions, Naruto whined our way to a C rank mission somehow…
It was to escort this old drunk bridge builder named Tazuna… Seemed simple enough…
Course that's what we would think…
Kakashi Sensei was explaining the importance of the nations, the shinobi, and the Kage's.
"... These are the 5 shadows that reign over thousands of Ninja" He concluded… Ill be honest I wasn't paying attention to all of it. But I got the gist of it…
Sakura gasped happily "Yeah! I read about The hokages in our history book! They seem so powerful!" She says, I could tell she was kinda lying… Cus like me she doubted what she read…
I mean, when we saw him he seemed so old and past his prime…
"Hey! You all just doubted lord Hokage didn't you? That's what you were thinking?!" Kakashi interrupted our thoughts
The other two shook and nodded No in a frantic way, I just stayed perfectly still and looked like he wasn't talking to me
Secretly I was just as freaked out…
"Well anyway, there are no ninja battles in a C rank mission. So, you can relax…" Kakashi says, patting Sakura's head.
"Phew… I don't think I'm ready to fight something real just yet." Sakura said in relief.
Despite my own need for battle, I got to agree with Sakura, a bit of experience and training in the real world would ease us into it. Not that I don't think I'm ready, I'm just not overestimating myself like I did against Kakashi…
Time passes and we cross a bridge, the day was rather nice… that puddle seems strange though… It hasn't rained in a while…
Suddenly two people behind us yelled in attack, One launched himself over at us, they were connected by a chain!
They were so fast, they got their chains around Kakashi! Ripping him to shreds!
Everyone was surprised, "Kakashi sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, Immediately, I notice Sakura put a hand sign… Her genjutsu!
I only hope that she did it to tazuna to..
However, I was to focused on that and Kakashi that they zipped behind Naruto… Who froze up inexplicably.
My instincts kicked into gear as they prepared to attack Naruto…
I leaped into the air and Threw a shuriken, sending their chain into a tree, I pinned it to said tree with a Kunai… they seemed surprise that one of us was putting up a resistance…
"I can't get loose" I hear one of them say as I land on both of their gauntlets… I grab their wrists and kick both of them in the head as hard as I can…
Their chains detach and they dash around me, one of them at Naruto, and one at… seemingly nothing...
I knew Sakura did it to herself and Tazuna! They're seeing an illusion!
I Rush for the one rushing Naruto, I attempt to sweep kick the man… but of course in a blink of an eye, Kakashi blitzed the both of them… making a dramatic entrance as he does so… What a show off… I'm surprised the assailants didn't know he used the replacement jutsu...
"Hi" he said smoothly
"Kakashi!" Sakura said in relief…
"Naruto, Sorry I didn't help you right away, I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just didn't expect you to freeze up like that…" Kakashi said, moving over to Sakura, Tazuna and I…
"Good job sasuke, Very smooth. And you to sakura, your timing on that genjutsu, and the split second decision to have it also hide you and Tazuna was excellent."
"Thank you sensei!" Sakura smiled. I could tell she was a little shaken…
I may be looking cool and calm, but that was a rush…
"You ok, Naruto? You're not hurt are you?" That might have come off as Sarcastic, I'm not to good at expressing concern… I mean, I don't want the loser to die…
He must have taken it as sarcasm cus he got mad real quick
"Naruto, don't move, these ninja have poison in their claws. We need to take it out of you quickly…" Kakashi said.
I didn't even notice him get cut…
He gasps and grunts in nervousness as he stares at the claw mark…
"By the way Mr. Tazuna…" Kakashi starts
"Yeah what?" The old man replies
"We need to talk…" Kakashi simply says.
We tie them both around a tree as Kakashi begins to explain "They're Chunin from the village hidden in the mist. Their specialty is relentless attack… No matter the cost."
"How did you know about our ambush?" One of them asks
"A puddle, on a clear day, when it hasn't rained in weeks…" He said
"Then why did you leave it to the Genin to fight?" Tazuna explains.
"Cus I needed information, their target…" He glared at Tazuna "And what they were after…"
"Hey what are you getting at?" The drunkard replies.
"I wanted to know if they were attacking us, Ninja on Ninja… Or they were attacking you? The master bridge builder… when you put in your request, you asked for standard protection from robbers and Highwaymen. You didn't say there were ninja looking for you, hunting you down…" Sensei said seriously. "If we knew this, It would be a B rank mission or higher, our task was simply to simply get you to your destination, and protect you while you finished building your bridge… If we knew we would be fielding attacks from enemy ninja, we would have staffed differently and charged for the cost of a B mission. You have your reasons, But lying to us is not acceptable. We are now on the scope of this mission" Kakashi finishes
"We should treat Narutos wound as soon as possible, mission or no mission." Sakura says, rightly concerned. "Theres doctors in our village."
"Right, Naruto's hand could become a problem, we should probably head back." Kakashi concured.
Naruto growled and gritted his teeth…
THEN THE IDIOT STABS HIS HAND! Cus that'll help!
"Why am I so different." He starts through gritted teeth "Why am I always- graahhh!" He exclaims
"Naruto! Why did you do that-" Sakura starts
"I worked so hard to get here, Training alone for hours! Anything to get stronger… to reach my dream… I will never back down again, and let someone else rescue me… I will never run away, and I will not lose to Sasuke…" He speaks
Why is he calling out me? Cus I rescued him? I mean, good speech, but I'm just better… Somethings are fact… and some people freeze… We just need more experience.
"Upon this wound, i make this pledge. Believe it." He declares "Bridge builder, I will complete this mission, and protect you with this Kunai knife." He said, turning around, draining the poisoned blood as he smirks in pain. "Don't worry Ill be fine."
"Naruto that was really cool how you took the poison out and all, but if you lose anymore blood, you're going to die." Kakashi notes
Naruto freaks out as Kakashi moves over to him "good idea to stop the bleeding now, Seriously…"
Naruto freaks out more "No! I can't die yet! God Dang it!"
Man… What a drama queen...
"Gimme your hand…" Kakashi said
Kakashi just stares for a minute before he just wrapped it up.
-Sometime later-
We find ourselves in a boat of thick fog, heading to the land of waves
"The fog is so dense…" Sakura sighs
"Were not far, the bridge is coming up soon." The boat man says
"Woah its huge!" Naruto says excitedly
"Wha- quiet! Why do you think I cut the engine! No noise!" the boat man scolds as he whisper yells. "Were moving through the dense fog so they don't see us."
"Mr Tazuna…" Kakashi silently scolds for lying before.. "Before we reach the pier, I want to ask you something. Who are after you? I'm afraid if you don't tell us Ill end this mission when we get you dropped off at the shore." Kakashi states plainly.
Tazuna explains that, a man named Gato, a famous businessman who also sells drugs and contraband, he is also choking the life out of Tazunas village by taking their transport and shipping, anyone who would stand up or stand out would be murdered. But he fears this bridge Tazuna is making, because if it gets finished, the villagers will have a way to make money on their own and not depend on Gato anymore. Breaking his control…
"Since you're building said bridge to mess up Gatos plans, there's a price on your head." Sakura said thoughtfully
"That means those guys in the forest were probably paid by Gato to go kill you for it… right?" I asked, just to clarify.
"Why did you hide this from the beginning?" Kakashi asked
"Were a poor and impoverished nation… The common people can't pay for an A or B rank mission. IF you end the mission when we get to shore and drop me off… They'll kill me before I reach home and see my family again." Tazuna said "But don't feel bad, my grandson will probably cry for me 'grandad I want my grandad!'" he acted… Ok now I want to kill him for trying to guilt trip us
Eventually his guilt tripping worked "Well I guess we have no other choice… we'll have to keep guarding you."
"Ohh I'm very grateful" the old man said sarcastically…
I wanna punch him.
We go through a tunnel and come out onto a rather beautiful Island village, build partially on the water.
We get let off and I look up to notice the bridge in the distance.
"Alright, get me there to my home, in one piece preferably." He said
"Right" Kakashi said.
We're walking along and Naruto runs ahead and goes "Over there!" and throws a Kunai…
But it was just a bunny…
Everyone was mad and thought he was just playing…
Sakura bats him over the head "Will you knock that off! Were all on edge and actually got to look out for things!"
"But someone is following us I mean it!" He says before going over to the bunny and making sure its ok…
I watch Naruto being dumb for a little bit, Until...
"Look out!" Kakashi warned
A huge hulking sword whirls from the tree as he says so…
It collides with another tree as everyone ducks…
A man lands on the handle….
Another mist assassin… this one looked tougher…
"Well if it isn't Zabuza Momochi, The rogue ninja from the Village hidden in the mist." Kakashi said.
Naruto tried to run at him, But kakashi stopped him "Get back. He's in a whole other league… If he's our opponent, I'll need this…" He said reaching up for his headband, he began to move it up…
And my heart stopped as Zabuza spoke….
"Kakashi of the Sharingan eye, did I get that right?"
A sharingan! No way, He isn't an Uchiha? I'm the last one!
"It's to bad, but you'll have to hand over the old man." Zabuza said in his low and gruff tone.
Before I can think any further, Kakashi calls out "quick! Mangi formation! Protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight. Use teamwork like I taught you…"
He lifted the head band… Its true! His eye… but just one… how… I dont… I can barely think because my heart is in my ears!
"Well looks like I get to see the sharingan in action, this is an honor." Zabuza says…
"Everyone keeps saying that word, But I don't know what it means!" Naruto says confused…
I take a breath and focus… "a rare power in the eyes… A visual jutsu, or dojutsu, can easily comprehend taijutsu and ninjutsu and reflect the attack on the attacker… Its rare… and only used by my clan… The Uchiha… There's more to it than that… a whole lot more…"
"You're right boy, but it can also analyze the opponents jutsu and copy it to the smallest detail…" Zabuza clarifies… A heavy mist rolls in "As for you Jonin, in the assassination unit of the hidden mist, we have a standing order to destroy you on sight. Your file is in our bingo book… They call you the man who copied over a thousand jutsu… Kakashi… The Copy ninja." Zabuza continues.
In a way Sakura is like that… But hers is just memory and ingenuity and skill… If Kakashi is a copy ninja, then Sakura could possibly get so good and become a pseudo copy ninja…
"Enough talking, I need to kill the old man… Now…"
As the three of us, move to the formation Kakashi was talking about, I whisper to Sakura "Think you could get him under you're genjutsu?"
"Not while I'm in his line of sight." She whispers back "I mean I can try right now, But he might notice… and then I just wasted chakra for nothing.
"Good point." I reply back
"So I'll have to kill you first. SO be it kakashi…"
"He's over there! Standing on the water!" Naruto exclaimed.
He's building up a lot of chakra… when suddenly, he vanishes…
"He'll come after me first, keep your eyes out." Kakashi
"Who is he?" Sakura asks for clarity…
"Zabuza Momochi, the ex leader of the hidden mist assassination unit. He's a master of the silent killing technique." Kakashi explains "It happens without sound or warning of any kind. Its so fast you die without realizing it… My sharingan has a hard time neutralizing it… so don't lower your guard."
"The mist is getting thicker, its so hard to see…" naruto groans…
"8 points. Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, juglar, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart… Now which will be my kill point." we heard him speak from the mist.
"Man… where is he!" Sakura says…
Kakashi clears a bit of the mist with an oppressive amount of Chakra, I shook, I could feel his bloodlust… if it goes on like this i might go insane…
"Sasuke! Calm down, I'll protect all of you with my life. I will not allow my comrades to die…" he smiles "Trust me."
"I wouldn't be so sure…" and before any of us realized, Zabuza was between us all… "Its over…"
And in what feels like an instant, Kakashi had his blade in… a clone of water…
"Sensei! Behind you!" Naruto said
"Die!"
Zabuza swings and cuts through another water clone of kakashi…
Two counters from jonin level fighters, back to back…
I noticed something to my left… Sakura was practicing a hand sign… Tiger…
Is she copying Zabuzas water clone?!
If that works, and she pulls it off correctly… We could have an upperhand….
Kakashi held a knife to Zabuzas neck, "you're finished"
Zabuza chuckles "You're technique is just a crass imitation, I'll never be defeated by a copy cat ninja like you. But you sure are full of surprises. You copied my water clone when you said you'd protect them. Nice try." But another zabuza appears behind him, and the one in front of kakashi turns to water…
Zabuza swings and Kakashi ducks, But zabuza kicks him away… Zabuza had tried to rush after him, but at some point Kakashi had laid down makibishi spikes…
Zabuza laughed and dived into the water…
I looked around, All I could notice was Sakura still practicing, I had to focus on more than just my area to compensate for her trying to figure out the water clone technique…
Kakashi rose out of the water… Zabuza rushed behind him!
He made several hand signs, I could see that next to me sakura gasped, her calculating eyes noticed them… and memorized them…
"Water style! Water prison jutsu!" Zabuza finished and put his palm out, trapping our teacher in a ball of water.
"This prison is made of water, and stronger than steel" I heard him say… "Its hard to fight when you can't move… So much for the great Kakashi… I'll finish you off later, but first… you're little friends… Water clone Jutsu!" He exclaimed as a clone of water rose out of the water.
"You think wearing a headband that makes you a ninja… when you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then you may be called a ninja! When you've become so deadly your profile has been entered in my bingo book, then you may have earned the title Ninja… But to call you upstarts a joke…" the clone then vanished
"He disappeared again- Gah!" Naruto says before the clone reappears and kicks naruto to the ground stepping on his head band…
"You're Just brats... " He growls
"Naruto!" Sakura says concerned…
"Listen! Get the bridge builder and run! You can't win this fight!" Kakashi exclaimed from his aquatic prison "he's using all his power to keep me in this prison, so he can only fight you with his water clone, but the clone can't go far from his real body! If you get away from him, he can't follow!" Kakashi explained further "Now run!"
Run away? Not an option, that became unthinkable the moment you got caught. No matter how fast we run and no matter how far we go he'll track us down and kill us…
He could get around our Mangi defense formation in an instant… in the end… if we're on our own… were finished… our only chance is to free you Kakashi…
"We got to do it… Follow my lead!" I exclaim and rush forward.
"Right!" Seems sakura agrees with me… I smirk as she takes up a defensive position around Tazuna, and raises the tiger symbol "Water style! Water Clone Jutsu!" She yelled
And a water clone rose from the moisture of Kakashi and Zabuzas previous water clones.
Kakashi's eyes go wide, as does Zabuza's… "What! How!"
"I mean you showed it to me more than once!" Sakura exclaimed with a knowing smirk
I rushed and chucked many shuriken at Zabuza, but he batted them away with his sword, I leaped into the air as Sakura's clone rushes… He catches me by the neck "to easy!"
But Sakura's clone throws Kunai… Forcing him to dodge and drop me rather than throw me like he meant to...
The main Zabuza looks to Kakashi "Is that your prodigy? A Genius who can copy Jutsu with some time? Ha! Two imitators can't ever beat the real thing!" He exclaims
"Dang…" Naruto said, as Zabuza approaches… He looks pretty scared for a moment before he grits his teeth from the hand pain…
He takes a deep breath… there was contemplation on his face for a brief moment… before he looks mad and rushes Zabuza "Ahhh!"
"No naruto!" Sakura says as she sends her clone after him… but she's too slow as Naruto gets knocked away…
But before Sakura could Scold him, Naruto rises up with his head band in hand… "the head band" Sakura said "Of course its important to him… Its irukas…" She said to me
I smiled, they were close… Now naruto is motivated not to freeze
Naruto grunts from the pain "Hey you… The freak with no eyebrows… put this in your bingo book. The ninja that will become Hokage of the village hidden in the leaves… He never backs down. His name is Naruto Uzamaki!" he exclaimed retying his headband…
"Alright you two… can you hear me?" Naruto says to the both of us…
"Yeah we hear you." I say as Sakura and her clone nod.
"I got a plan." Naruto smirks
Now he's got a plan… This guy I swear…
"So youre finally thinking about teamwork…"
"Lets go wild guys."
Sakura smirks and takes a deep breath… Behind Zabuza, the real one… two more Sakura clones form from the lake and spring from the water…
"What!" Zabuza jumps, but they weren't just heading for him, they were heading for land… To aid us…
SHe has a lot of chakra, and enough control to figure it out on the go… And just when I thought she couldn't spend anymore chakra…
All of them yell "Earth style!" They punch the ground and say "Earth Knuckle Jutsu!" Three sakura's raise their fists with Rock brass knuckles… She isn't as proficient at it as naruto and I, according to her, but she's willing to try… Perhaps it was Naruto's words, it inspired her… I can't help but listen to him to.
"Let's bring this guy down!" Naruto said
"Big words for such a little man…"
"What are you doing! I thought I told you to run! This fight was over the moment I got caught! Now take off!" Kakashi said from afar "The mission is not to prove how brave you are, it's to protect the bridge builder! Stay on mission!"
"Bridge builder?" Naruto inquires to him
"Well I… this all happened because of me and my desire to live… but I won't stand in your way… Forget about me and do what you got to do! Fight to save your sensei!"
"Hmph, alright you hear that!" I smirk
"Yeah, you ready?" NAruto smirks as well
"Heh, I think we can do both." Sakura says in our shared confidence.
Zabuza's clone laughs… "you really haven't learned anything, still playing your little game. Pretending to be ninja… When I was your age this hand had crushed many opponents…"
It was a little shocking… But I dare not show it… the others looked perturbed…
"Zabuza, the demon." Kakashi said
"Ah SO I was in your book to?" The main Zabuza said
"Long ago in the village hidden in the mist, also known as Blood mist village, before a student could become a ninja, there was one final test." Kakashi started
"Do you know about the Graduation exam?" Zabzua Continued
"What exam?" Naruto interjected, as Zabuza chuckled "Whats the big deal? We had a final test to!"
"Did you have to kill the other students to pass!?" Zabuza asked rhetorically. Imagine young ninja like you, training and eating together. Then the test rolls around and they change the rules, kill or be killed! You cant stop until your opponent stops breathing! They were your friends Shared your dreams... now its him or you…"
"That's so cruel…" Sakura said under her breath… still scared, losing confidence..
"Ten years ago, the graduation test changed… one year prior, a dark evil filled the school with terror… A young boy, not even a ninja, approached the class and killed over 100 other students…" Kakashi explained
"It felt so good!" Zabuza exclaimed happily and evilly
Everyone was shocked and before I knew it, Zabuza's clone had elbowed me in the chest… and as I landed he bashed me in the stomach with his elbow... Blood shot from my mouth…
The Sakura's rushed, all yelling "Sasuke!"
Two raised their fists to punch, but Zabuza kicked straight through them, the third clone jumped back and performed a familiar Jutsu "Fire style! Fireball Jutsu!" A blast of flame encompassed the spot where Zabuza was, but the clone of zabuza had dodged…
Sakura looked stressed and winded… for a second, but she looked upon me and I saw something snap for a second… then she raised her hand again and from the old water clone puddles reformed two water clones… and two more from the late rushed to our aid… 5 total clones without adding the original.. Who wanted to protect Tazuna
I struggled to stand back up, just as naruto said "Let me get in on this Sakura! Shadow clone jutsu!"
A dozen Naruto join the 5 Sakura…
"Here we go!" The Naruto's exclaim
The Naruto's dog pile Zabuza, and the sakura's join in, but Zabuza over powers them both and sends them flying outwards.
Narutos and Sakura's start popping into smoke and water from the force...
"His skills are to powerful, he's too advanced!" Tazuna says
"I'm not giving up, I still got this!" Naruto says as he tosses something at me "Sasuke!"
I catch it, Immediately I see what's going on, its a naruto clone as a Demon wind Shuriken! I spin and obtain the real one I had…
So that was your plan all along Naruto, Not bad…
I unfurl it and exclaim "Demon wind shurkien! Windmill of shadows!"
I leap into the air and throw it as hard as I absolutely can, Throwing a second shuriken hiding in the shadow of the first! Shadow shuriken jutsu!
Sure Zabuza catches the first shuriken, but the second one rockets towards him!
Of course he can't catch something while his hands are occupied… unless...
He then jumps it… just as planned!
"I told you a Shuriken can't touch me!" Zabuza says, not realizing…
That shuriken then pops into a Naruto! And that Naruto throws a Shuriken at the surprised Zabuza!
Zabuza pulls his hand out of the prison to dodge just as the kunai gets a tiny cut under his eye…
Zabuza prepares to throw the demon wind he had caught at Naruto… But Kakashi blocks the weapons with his knuckles… his sharingan eye glaring with the intent to kill…
Sakura smirked "Sensei is free… NIce you two."
SHe should give her self some credit she stopped me from getting my head stomped in… And the three of us worked in tandem with one another… with very little words…
"That was an excellent plan naruto, you've really grown haven't you!" Kakashi said…
"Hahah! I knew we couldn't beat him with my shadow clones, that was just to distract him! While he fought the clones I turned into the demon wind shuriken!" Naruto explained
I mean… Yeah that happened but don't explain it!
Then he proceeds to explain the entire sequence of events!
God damn it!
"Don't brag, we lucked out." I said
"Yeah Naruto...plus we don't want to tell our enemy how we do things." Sakura said
Thank goodness! I'm not the only one
"The whole thing was just a fluke!" Tazuna said in resistance
Maybe… But were one decent team this time around. Jonin or not…
"I got distracted and lost my grip on the water prison…" Zabuza said
"Don't flatter yourself… you were forced to let go.. Not distracted…" Kakashi corrected "you're technique worked on me once, but it wont work again."
Zabuza chuckles and glares...
Kakashi retorts "So? What's it going to be?"
They stare off for an intense minute
"Sakura, can you make a couple more water clones? Lets surround and protect tazuna." I inquire
She thinks and nods, focusing, creating two from puddles, "I dunno how much more I can do this… but I feel less winded than normal…"
I don't know what it is either… Its like she had a block on a chunk of her chakra…
We gathered around and protected tazuna…
Zabuza chuckled and closed the shuriken and pressed into kakashi's hand, they struggled for a second before Kakashi knocked it away…
They leaped away from each other and kakashi witnessed a hand sign from zabzua… the sharingan copied something…
Both land and begin performing…
Ushi
Sara
Oo
Nae
Ee
Tori
Ushi
Uma
Tori
Nae
Tora
Inu
Tora
Mee
Ushi
Hitsuji
Mee
Ee
Hitsuji
Nae
Jin
Sara
Tori
Tatsu
Tori
Ushi
Uma
Hitsuji
Tora
Mee
Nae
Sara
Oo
Ee
Tatsu
Hitsuji
Nae
Ushi
Sara
Tori
Jin
Nae
Ee
Tori
"Water style! Water Dragon Jutsu!" They exclaim as two water dragons burst from the lake, and battle, Naruto washes around as a wave knocks us on shore over…
So many hand signs and he mimicked them all perfectly… I turn to look over to sakura… who looked on, her analytical mind racing… If she could do that… she would easily be the strongest amongst us genin…
Zabuza brought down his blade and Kakashi blocked with a Kunai, they struggle against one another intensely...
They jump back, then they run around each other in circles…
Then Zabuza gets in a pose with one hand over his mouth and one pointed to the air…
Kakashi was directly mirroring his movements… it was almost… Creepy…
"He's not just following, he's moving around at the same time…" Tazuna says…
"How is he doing that… Sasuke? Any idea?" She inquires.
They stare at eachother in contemplation…
Suddenly Kakashi says aloud "Going to do next?"
Is he… reading his mind!? Can the sharingan do that? I've never heard of it doing that!
"It makes you furious doesn't it?" Kakashi said aloud, mimicking another movement from Zabuza…
"Ha! All you're doing is copying me! Like a Monkey!" He says alone, making a handsign… Kakashi mimicks said sign and then they both say together, with Kakashi doing an impression of Zabuza
"You Can't beat me with cheap tricks! I'll Crush you!" They say together…
Zabuza starts chaining together hand signs, "When I finish with you! You'll never open that monkey mouth again!"
Zabuza finishes his hand signs, but stops….
"Water style! Giant Vortex Jutsu!" Kakashi says before Zabuza…
His hesitation costed Zabuza greatly as the water swallows him up… It sends him out of sight, harshly into the forest…
Naruto is harshly washed ashore...
We watch as Zabuza is pushed against a tree by the water, and as it falls around him, Kakashi sends several Kunai knives into his body
"H-How... Can you see the future?" Zabuza looks up at Kakashi…
"Yes. And this is your last battle!" Kakashi says, with a deadly stare
But suddenly, small needle like objects are sent into Zabuza's neck… and there he falls… dead
Much to all of our shock
We turn to see a Masked… individual of indeterminate gender…
"You were right…. This was his last battle" the figure said…
Kakashi runs over and checks the body "No vital signs"
"Thank you, I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time… waiting for this chance to finally take him down."
"By your mask, I see that you're a tracker ninja from the village hidden in the mist." Kakashi says
"Impressive, you're well informed." They say
"Ah! A tracker…" Naruto slides in front of us, ready to fight…
"Naruto that's a good thing. They chase down ninja who abandon their village and steal their secrets. That way their secrets remain secrets." Sakura explains to him
"Thats correct, I'm a member of the elite tracking unite from the village hidden in the mist. It was my duty to stop Zabuza…" The individual explains.
Naruto runs up, gritting his teeth, thinking… in that way that he does "What is this! Who do you think you are!"
Ok… I did not expect that. He's pretty weird.
"Did you hear me?" Naruto says again
"Easy naruto, they're not our enemy." Kakashi says
"Thats not the point, did you see what he did just like that. Zabuza was huge and powerful like some kinda monster! And this kid, who's no bigger than me! Brought down Zabuza with one move! What does that make us? We're just fumbling around… we don't know anything! How can i accept that!"
Kakashi walked up "Even if you don't accept that, still, it did happen…" he puts his hand on Naruto's head "In this world there are kids that are younger than you and stronger than me…" He admits…
"Grnnn" Naruto sighs
I make a noise of disbelief… Kakashi just did something that's insane… I don't know how much raw talent a child could have that would overpower Kakashi…
Maybe its true, hell I think I have a few examples… but after all our hard work… I agree with Naruto to some extent… It feels… disheartening and unsatisfying…
The Masked man whisks down and picks up the dead Zabuza… "Your struggle is over for now… I must deal with the remains, there are many secrets in this body, they must not be allowed to get into the wrong hands." They say before vanishing
Kakashi then covers his head band…
Naruto begins pounding the ground where they had left… "What are we doing here? I can't believe it!"
"Naruto…" Sakura sighs
Kakashi walks up and grabs Naruto's arm "As ninja, the things we encounter are never easy… Save your anger for the next enemy…"
Naruto pants and stops… "Our mission isn't completed yet… We still have to get the bridge builder to his bridge." Kakashi says in finality
"Heh heh! Sorry I caused all this trouble for ya! But you can uh rest at my house when we get to the village." Tazuna chuckles gratefully
"Alright, lets get a move on!" Kakashi says
Sakura removes her water clones as we start walking forward, our teacher jolts and collapses…
We all gasp as he falls to the ground! Unconscious…
"Wha! What happened!" Sakura Cried
"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto exclaimed…
There's only one thing that could have done this… the power exertion of the Sharingan…
Episode end…
(A/N: I know I made up the Rock knuckle Jutsu, But I thought it was cool and I didn't want her already knowing insane jutsu, kinda like kirby she's gotta see it and practice it first. At least until she's older, then crazy shit happens. Also! AM I GOING FOR NARUTO X SAKURA OR SAKURA X SASUKE! OR NEITHER? You'll have to keep reading to find out! :)
Be sure to review and follow and all that jazz! Positive and constructive feedback can only make me better! Cya next time!)