Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun!!!!!
And the pairings have been decided.....
Kagami/Kakashi 9
Sasori/Deidara 4
Neji/Gaara 3
Shika/TenTen 2
Hinata/Haku 3
Sai?
Past Kakashi/Obito 3
So the final results are in!
Jiraya/Tsunade
Kyuu/Pein/Ita/Naru
Kaka/Kaga
Saso/Dei
Neji/Gaa
Shika/Ten
Haku/Hina [Sasuke would have never worked with her as he'll still turn traitor. Sorry to those who wanted that pairing. Maybe I'll be nice and not kill him in the end. Maybe I'll even pair him with someone in the 5th installment.]
Sai? [Yes! Sai is someone who will also be awakened! And as for his pairings... Well, that's a secret.....]
{And the secret pairings}
Zabu/Konan.
Next chapter... if you're nice. I'll tell you everyone's names....
Well their God Names...
Kagami's gaze locked on the below her. Her breathing was a bit harsh and she knew it was uneven. It was only because of her calm attitude that she was able to evade a panic attack. She had been in Mist before and all. However, she still had this useless fear of water. She blamed her father and his damned Chinese water torture… Water based attacks were the worst for her to go against. While it didn't do much damage and she could avoid it, it was a mental thing.
She gulped as her hand clutching at the fabric harsher as a whimper escaped her throat.
"Onee-Chan…" Naruto said slowly.
Sasuke and Sakura watched her with levels of shock and confusion. They had never seen Kagami act like this. She was usually so calm and collected.
Tazuna and the boat man were also watching the scene in interest.
Kagami looked up and blinked in confusion. Naruto was at the front of the boat then what… She moved her gaze along the thing she was clutching at, until her eyes landed on a masked face. A masked face not too far above her own that belonged to a certain grey-haired-bastard. Said bastard eye smiled when he realized he was watching her. One hand was holding his book and the other at her back holding her up. She twitched violently realizing she had climbed into Kakashi's lap and was clinging to him.
In a blink of an eye she was across the small boat and nuzzled into a sweat dropping Naruto's arms.
Kakashi however was crouched over trying to lessen the pain to his jewels.
They all stepped up onto the dock house. Naruto and Kagami were taking the lead, well Kagami pulling Naruto really. She was trying to get away from the open water as fast as she could without running. Sakura and Sasuke followed close behind, while Kakashi stayed back with Tazuna. Tazuna gave his farewells to their guide, before telling Kakashi to get him home safely.
"Yes, yes." Kakashi agreed with a sigh. 'If we get attacked again it will most likely be a Jounin not a Chuunin.' He thought with a sigh.
His gaze drifted back to the fourth member of his team. 'If I'm right and she's Jounin level then we should at least survive. I suppose it will depend on the enemy. I'm a bit relieved she's hidden her skill level now. We could be in serious trouble.' He thought with a frown. Although she was in a hurry to get away from the water…he could tell.
She was tense, her eyes moving rapidly, and she kept a hold on Naruto and near the others. 'At least she knows there could be a serious threat. She's blocking Naruto's movements so I can't tell if he's as cautious or not.
Sakura and Sasuke know we might face another enemy, but a higher leveled one hasn't entered their minds yet.' He thought with a slight grimace. He was worried; however he had faith in his team. And they did want to prove themselves.
There was nothing he could do but hope for the best.
They moved along the area slowly. The caution they all showed causing them to slow their traveling pace. Kagami had once again moved toward the back of the group. While Naruto and Sasuke lead the front. Sakura walked with Tazuna, she had gotten the fell of protecting the old man. She wasn't about to fail now. Kakashi walked behind them. Once again when he had tried to travel with or speak with Kagami he was ignored.
Kagami however suddenly stopped looking off to a bush. The group paused looking back at her, as she slowly made her way to the bush with her hand sneaking into her pouch. Suddenly her hand shot out. Slowly she pulled her arm back showing that she was holding a white rabbit by its ears.
Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna all [anime] fell at the sight. Kakashi's attention however, was brought to the rabbit's fur. His eyes started drifting around the area. Naruto however made his way behind Sakura and Tazuna. She brought it up before her mask starring at it. She sighed before jumping to the left.
Kakashi's eye widened as he recognized the sound. "Everybody get down!" he called out. Naruto grabbed Tazuna pulling him down. Sasuke grabbed Sakura pulling her down. While Kakashi crouched down, his hand already in his kunai pouch. The blade continued spinning until it slammed into a tree almost going all the way through.
Kagami's eyes drifted up landing on the figure standing on the embedded sword. 'Che…He hasn't changed at all. Lack of a shirt seems to be the only difference. And since when doesn't he wear one? Must have been his idea…' She thought with a sweat drop. 'That boy was always calling Zabuza's body beautiful…' She thought with a twitch. 'I really don't understand…' She thought with a slight frown.
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly as he caught sight of the man. 'This guy is… Hmm, I didn't think we would encounter anyone like him…' Kakashi thought with a slight frown. He could feel that Sakura and Sasuke were tense. Sakura was already reaching into her kunai pouch. While Sasuke had crouched slightly, in a stance to attack or jump back.
Oddly enough there was no tension coming from Naruto. Then again, there hadn't been when he fought the Demon brother's either.
Perhaps that's something she taught him. Kakashi's eye drifted slightly toward Kagami. She had merely sidestepped the blade. Moving before he had even heard the blade. The rabbit was wrapped up in her arms. However, her stance was more curious then attentive. And she seemed to be thinking or gathering information somehow.
It went without saying she also knew who their enemy was. Yet another mystery. Then again, she had traveled before joining Kohona. Who knows who she had met or run into? His gaze drifted back toward the man, and he stood up again hands in his pockets.
"Well, well…Hidden Mist's Missing Nin Momochi Zabuza… How nice of you to drop in." he said with an eye smile.
Naruto took his eyes off of Zabuza and closed his eyes. Concentrating he allowed Kyuubi's chakra to fill his senses. He finally pinpointed him. 'Haku…' He thought a small smile crossing his lips.
He deactivated it and opened his eyes to see Kagami was at his side. Tazuna had been jerked to stand at between them and slightly behind her. She could protect him better from the side then front. Naruto couldn't help the glee growing in his eyes. And he could feel her returning smile, before she turned her mask back toward the others.
Sasuke was frowning lightly at he glared up at the man. Something about him. This man was strong. Stronger then the fools they had faced earlier. And also… Kakashi was actually standing up straight. Almost as if he was trying to block them, protect them… 'Just what level is this man. Kakashi said he's a Missing Nin… That means he's like him.' He thought clenching his fists. 'Is he a killer as well?' Sasuke thought with a sneer.
Sakura couldn't help the droplet of sweat that slid down her face. There was something… cruel about this man. Those eyes were cold, empty…almost animal like. They reminded her of Kiba's mother, that day one of the villagers had attacked Naruto and Kiba. She had been filled with so much rage, and even though she never saw it… Kiba's mom returned covered in blood and that air around her… It had been bloodlust. Sakura knew that. And it was the same air around this man. This man could kill them easily…
"Everybody…" Everyone's head snapped up to Kakashi. "Stay back. This one's on a whole different level. He's a Jounin like me. Or at least he was when he became a Missing Nin. He's probably stronger now though." He said deciding to be truthful. Sakura gulped but her eyes steeled as she nodded, moving closer to Tazuna. Sasuke clenched his fist but nodded stepping away from their sensei.
Kakashi reached toward his head band. "Against him…It might be a little tough." He said grabbing the bottom of his headband. "Unless I do this." He declared holding onto the slanted part.
Time…A continuous flow of unchangeable and unexplainable passage. Time is what allows the human mind to comprehend that now is no longer then… Or at least that was how Kagami had explained it. She said there was no such thing as a 'future' on a now and then. However I no, we, have gone past the now to a point it was a then. We have seen a future. However, that future no longer exists, because we are no longer in that now, but in the then now….
Just thinking about it gives me a headache. I have to wonder how she understands things like this. She once told me this… You cannot ask questions like that and expect to understand the answer. To do so you have to be insane. Maybe it's a good thing I, or anyone understand her when she goes on a rant. Aiko kind of does because she's been around her so much, that insanity affect her, although not to the degree of being insane herself.
In that stance she will always be alone, I believe. I think that's why she fears love of any kind. She fears the connection that comes with it. The emotion. The attachment. The thought of being so affected by one person they could destroy you… The affection she does, allows herself to feel is still dethatched in a sense. If Aiko and I were to die she would be saddened that we were gone. However, she would move on, putting it out of mind… She's never really been attached to anything.
That's why Kakashi-Sensei scares her.
He was able to rattle her truths, destroy her world as he died. He told her those words that she hated and feared so damned much, that he destroyed her.
'It's so strange seeing this all over again…' Naruto thought. His eyes were locked on Kakashi as the water prison surrounds him. Naruto couldn't help but glance at Kagami. The rabbit still wrapped in her arms makes a noise as her grip tightens. Time was up. And she had to start waking the others up. Starting with Kakashi.
Naruto winced slightly turning his gaze to the ground. Itachi might not know, and he hadn't remembered…but… Naruto had seen all of Kagami, just as she had seen al of him. It was why his soul always made him feel like becoming a part of her. Basically he was. Every time she merged with a person's soul a piece left with her. It wasn't a very big piece. But they collected until her eyes no longer hurt a person. A copy of their soul was created.
Naruto and Aiko were of the few that had those copies in place. That meant they knew everything about her. And that meant her memories. And Naruto could still hear those words repeating. And he knew how much they destroyed her every time they replayed.
It was going to destroy her again…
Naruto couldn't help but admire Kagami. She had always been so strong. And even now, even though this will destroy her world again… She was willing to do so, for the sake of their future.
He sighed silently bringing his eyes back up to the scene before him.
"You wear those forehead protectors as if they really make you ninjas… You're a bunch of useless children playing ninja. A real ninja is someone who has faced death, brushed up against him, and isn't afraid to laugh in his face. Until I see you're good enough to go down in my handbook, you don't deserve the name no, the title of ninja." Zabuza said.
Sakura and Sasuke jumped when the man vanished again. Naruto brought his eyes up as he felt the man approach.
A half purple gloved hand shot out grabbing the man's foot an inch from Naruto's face. Squeezing the foot shifted before being rendered into water, the rest of the body following along with it.
Zabuza's eye widened slightly before narrowing, while Kakashi's gaze was dragged to Kagami. She had moved standing to the side of Naruto and slightly in front of him. Naruto was standing there with a frown, his eyes moving over the area. Sasuke and Sakura had turned wide eyes to Kagami. A moment later, and the two nodded moving to stand behind and on the other side of Tazuna again.
Kakashi blinked in slight shock the warning that had been on his lips dyeing at his students expressions. Sakura's fright had vanished, and though Sasuke still trembled every few seconds it faded. Kagami softly sit the rabbit down shooing it away, while Naruto slowly grinned, as she stood back up.
"Neh…you make death sound like such a bad thing…" She muttered tilting her head. "I can give you that most people you come across are worthless trash… However, you just threatened my future Hokage. And for that you cannot be forgiven…Judgment will come. And I'm afraid she's not very kind…" Kagami said slowly, and Naruto could imagine the bright smile crossing her lips. "But I think she'll go easy on you. After all, you are the challenge these brats needed." She said ending with a sing song voice.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed at the references to Judgment. 'It can't be… Then again, I can't see the kids face or bangs. But what would Athena be doing with a bunch of brats.' He thought, his hand clenching tighter on the prison in thought of her.
Turning her head slightly she glanced at Naruto. "Don't you have a plan, Otouto-San?" She asked happily.
Naruto's grin grew. "Why of course, Onee-san…" He said. "Hey, Sasuke. You want to help?" He asked.
Sasuke blinked before a smirk spread across his face. "Of course, I'm going to be in on this. I wouldn't miss it." He declared.
Sakura blinked and frowned. "Well what about me!?" She demanded. A second later she remembered the situation and blushed slightly in embarrassment.
Kagami tilted her head. "Why of course you can help Haruno. I'll take care of our client. I have something I need you particularly to do." She said in a sing song voice.
Sakura jumped at hearing Kagami talking to her. She stared at her in surprise for a few moments before smiling slightly. "Alright." She said with a nod.
Zabuza snorted. "What a bunch of arrogant brats." He said with a sneer. "Do you think you could possibly stand a chance?" He asked.
Kakashi stared at the scene in front of him. He was proud of them… and they might stand a chance, but he couldn't let them die. He opened his mouth…
"You open your mouth bastard and I'll sew it shut, burn you're books in front of you and desecrate their names on the stone." Kagami growled out.
Kakashi stared at her with wide shocked disbelieving eyes.
She took in his expression and snorted. "You're so proud of them normally. Let them try before you sell them short. You're as worthless as ever, if you think my Otouto will die so easily. He's going to be my Hokage-Sama one day. And I won't let anyone; even you get in his way." She stated. She shrugged. "And besides I'll protect the client." She said with a shrug.
Tazuna stared at the girl in shock at her words. So far she had been polite even distant. To hear her say something like that, and to the leader the other's follow un-questioningly. He lowered his eyes to the ground with a faint smile and sigh. "Don't worry about me." He said.
Sakura and Sasuke turned back to him, while Naruto watched over his shoulder.
"This is my fault. And I don't desire life so much I would make you run. So fight all you like, brats." He said with a small grin. "I'm sorry you even had to worry about me."
he said.
Sasuke turned with a small sound. "You hear that?" He asked Naruto though his eyes were mainly on Kakashi.
Sakura nodded stepping up on Naruto's other side. "Looks like we got the okay from our client himself. That means it's technically an order…." She said slyly, grinning at her sensei.
Naruto grinned cruelly. "Let's get ready." He declared.
Suddenly Zabuza started laughing. "You'll always be brats…" He muttered lowly. The three jerked their heads toward him. "So you're going to keep playing huh? Fine. When I…was about your age." He said bringing his hands up. "these hands were already dyed red with blood." He said staring at them.
Sasuke, Sakura and Tazuna's eyes widened. Naruto just lowered his head.
Kakashi glanced at the man. "Devil Zabuza…" He muttered.
Zabuza nodded. "I see you've heard a little about it…" He muttered.
"Long ago, in the Hidden Mist village, also called the Blood Mist village…there was a final obstacle in becoming a ninja…" Kakashi said lowly catching the Genin's and Tazuna's attention.
Zabuza turned to him. "Oh, you also know about that Graduation exam?" he asked.
Sakura frowned. "What exam?" She asked.
Zabuza started laughing again.
"Hey, what exam?" Sasuke asked a moment later.
Zabuza continued laughing.
"Fights to the death between the students…"
Zabuza stopped laughing with a jerk. Everyone's head snapped once more to Kagami, whose hand was rested on her mask.
"Academy students…. The ones you trained with, grew up with…ate with… even called friends. They were ultimately pitted against each other. They were to fight until the others were slaughtered…until there was a victor. The final test, was to kill those that had become close. To prove, that you could kill when needed, that the only thing you were loyal to…was the village and the Mizukge… That was the Graduation Exam 10 years ago…" Kagami started trailing off for a moment. "They changed it ten years ago, because the previous year… Something unexpected happened." She explained.
"Unexpected?" Sakura asked.
"A devil appeared. This devil, this boy…wasn't even a ninja and without pause or hesitation… He slaughtered over a hundred of the students. And because of this he gained the name, Devil Zabuza." Kagami said her mask flicking to his direction. "After that they couldn't truth another student to not do the same. And as such it was cancelled. However they still held final fights… It was no longer among a group of students. Merely one on one. That way if one died it wasn't that big of a loss." She said shrugging her shoulders and looking off.
Zabuza stared at her eyes narrowed. "You seem to know quite a bit about Mist…" He muttered.
Naruto grinned up at him. "That's because…Onee-san used to be a Mist Shinobi." He said with a chuckle.
Sasuke and Sakura jerked their head in her direction.
Kagami tilted her head in a thinking position. "I graduated… 11 years ago. 2 years after you're massacre devil." She said slowly.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed. "Is that right?" He asked before vanishing.
Kagami moved to the side pulling Tazuna with her. Sasuke and Naruto gasped in surprise.
Zabuza elbowed Sasuke out of the way then brought his arm down hard slamming Sasuke into the ground. He coughed blood spraying.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Sasuke-Kun!" She called. Kakashi stare at the sight in horror.
Zabuza looked down at the brat stepping on his throat. "Die." He declared.
Sasuke grunted before smirking. Suddenly he imploded into a black substance that was sticky and clung to the missing Nin.
"Success!" Sakura declared, as she brought her hands up. "Kai." She called. Sasuke and Naruto appeared, a moment later.
Sasuke smirked in the air. "Evil wind Shrunkin. Shadow Windmill." He called, throwing it toward the clone.
Zabuza' clone snorted grabbing his sword. "Even now that won't work on me." He declared. However, it moved right past him.
Sakura brought her hands into the tiger seal. "Ignite!" She called. Suddenly the black substance became a burning acid, which destroyed the clone.
"I see. Your aiming for the real me and not my clone… It's still not enough." He called out, grabbing the shrunkin.
Another one appeared directly below it. "One in its shadow?" He asked. It went flying toward his face, but he jumped over it. "Still not enough." He called.
Sasuke smirked while Sakura grinned again, her hands repeating the process. "Ignite!" She called.
Sasuke tossed a Kunai in the air. Before placing his hands in the ram sign.
Zabuza's eyes widened and he tossed the blade away. The blade exploded into the substance again, clinging to his hand and arm, once again becoming a burning acid.
A poof of smoke from the second shrunkin Naruto appeared. He grinned and tossed a kunai in the air making the ram symbol. Another poof and Sasuke appeared, hand at his mouth. "Fire Release." He called. Zabuza jerked his head around with wide eyes. "Great Fireball!"
The fireball flew toward Zabuza, who jumped away as fast as he could his hand releasing the prison.
Ninja wire shot out wrapping around Sasuke's wrist and jerking him back toward dry land where the other two stood pulling him.
Zabuza held his hand for a second before grabbing his sword and dashing toward the three. 'Damned brats!" He thought in rage.
The three looked up and he brought his sword down. To meet the plate on Kakashi's glove.
Kakashi glared at him, before turning toward the three. "Great plan…you guys really have grown up. You too Sakura…" He said with an eye smile.
Naruto grinned at him pulling Sasuke form the water, while Sasuke smirked, and Sakura blushed slightly under the praise.
Zabuza closed his eyes. "Heh, I got distracted and released the prison…." He muttered.
"Wrong." Kakashi stated. "You were forced to release it. Not bad for a bunch of kids playing ninja, huh?" He asked. "I don't fall for the same thing twice… What will you do now?"
Zabuza snorted. "Bah." He hissed and jumped back Kakashi coping him.
Kagami sighed, grabbing Tazuna. "How annoying." She muttered. Reaching out and grabbing Sakura's hair, she jumped back into the trees Sasuke and Naruto coping her.
They all landed. Sakura rubbing her head for a moment before her eyes locked onto the two men below. . 'I can't keep up…' She thought.
Sasuke doing the same and watching them in awe He thought in slight shock. "Is this what it means to be a Jounin?" He muttered lowly.
Naruto stood on his branch watching all of it.
Kagami grunted, pushing Tazuna behind her. "Brace yourselves." She muttered, before the water exploded everywhere.
