Bloody Waters
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Flashback/Past Events
The blade moved without resonance, piercing through the mist as it descended onto the path. The cold, dull gray steel flashed abruptly into existence, making its silent entrance out from the depths of the great oak trees surrounding the dirt road. Around the blade the mist churned, the speed of the projectile forcing the mist to part ways. It shimmered in the air; unseen afterimages burned the sky in its wake.
He could barely track the path of the blade, his keen eyes losing sight in the thick mist. But he didn't worry; Zabuza-sama would have it all taken care of. If he could barely see it, what were the chances of the Konoha nin being able to track the deadly edge of Kubikiri Houcho?
He waited and listened. He held his breath and closed his eyes, ears searching for that scream of pain, a scream filled with complete agony. The scream of torture as a blade pierced through the flesh and tore straight through bone. He listened, waiting for the gurgle of blood and the flopping of a lifeless body to the ground that would follow the scream.
"DUCK"
His eyes flashed open, blue orbs glowing with alarm.
"ARGGH!"
He heard the high-pitched wail come from somewhere inside the mist and the scream that tore from the throat of Zabuza's victim. The buckles and chains attached to his body glinted as he slid through the underbrush. He made no noise, feet carrying him through the foliage with speed and silence born and honed from years of killing.
He lifted his droopy eyelids, azure orbs staring deep into the mist, piercing the heavy layer that surrounded the dirt road. He melted into the shadows; feet taking him farther down the path, figure staying close to the natural cover of the massive trees.
He heard the clash of kunai, the metallic clang muffled in the heavy mist. His muscles rippled under his skintight black shirt as he flicked his wrist. There was no sound as the blade strapped to the underside of his forearm shot out, landing lightly in his tense grasp.
He launched forward, his chakra and superior senses scanning the surroundings. He pushed further into the mist, now aware of the massive chakra signatures farther up the path, toward the lake.
One was Zabuza-sama and the other matching that of the Copy Nin.
He could feel them now; each member of the two teams up ahead. He was approaching rapidly and would descend on them in less than a twenty seconds.
Four.
Each one with the same amount of chakra as an average Genin.
The target: the bridge builder. Deal with him last.
One with a relatively high level of chakra; probably a Jounin. One unconscious. One separated from the pack, stranded farther down the road. He sniffed the air, inhaling the deep, coppery smell that tainted the mist.
One of them was drenched in blood, chakra signature growing weaker with every passing second. This one would likely die. Once Zabuza-sama mauled his victims, they never lived long. If the kid was lucky, he would die a painless death, a product of the poison that laced the razor-sharp edge of the Demon of the Mist's blade.
He analyzed the situation in his mind, his feet taking him soundlessly through the bloody mist. The blade in his hand flipped, fingers reversing the grip as he traveled toward the helpless group of shinobi. Zabuza-sama had done a perfect job of splitting them all up, now all he had to finish the task.
And to think Konohagakure was the strongest of the Great Ninja Villages? Pitiful.
Naruto zoned in on the chakra residue of each ninja, capturing the image of his 'map' and storing it in his mind.
Now, who to kill first?
The blade in his hand glowed, his body subconsciously channeling chakra into the cold steel edge of the dagger. He could feel the adrenaline in him build up, the thrill of the hunt beginning to drown his senses. It took all his self-control to bottle up his urge to kill. The shadows churned.
Naruto faded into the mist.
"What's that Akamaru? You smell something? Wha-"
He twisted the grip around his dagger and sent it flying into the distance, deep into the unseen. Its chakra-imbued blade sizzled at it skimmed through the mist, pure power burning up the air. He heard the voice of the lone Genin again.
"-thing coming this way? What are you talking about? A-"
He heard the blade pierce into flesh, tearing through the body of the kid. He heard a shocked gurgle and splashing liquid. Red tinted the mist as blood sprayed everywhere. There was a soft thump, a bark and then silence.
Naruto closed his eyes, listening for any faint sounds of life. Nothing. It looked like he took out the both of them. He stepped back, blonde tresses whipping through the air as he melted out of sight, body vanishing into the shadows.
His chains jingled.
Naruto re-appeared over the body of the lone Genin and his companion. His stunning sapphire orbs glanced over them coldly, not bothering to check if they were dead. His aim was true. It always was.
He reached down, hand twitching as it pulled the dagger out from the body of the black haired Genin. It slipped out from his chest without a sound, blood coating the dull steel up to the hilt. He played with the blade, eyes still locked on the corpse at his feet. He flipped the dagger up, sheathing it in one smooth motion. Glancing back down at the boy and his dog he closed his eyes, lids sliding over his cerulean blue gaze.
Something was coming.
He tensed, muscles coiling, bunching together. He could feel the presence behind him, the woman that was a Jounin ready to strike. He felt her build up of chakra, felt her fear, her anxiety. He could feel all of her projected emotions. His hand snapped forward, the blade sliding out of the holster on his wrist.
He sprang.
He could feel her surprise, feel her shift through the heavy mist and see her hand finish a seal. It was already too late. His blade flashed into existence, barreling with speed unknown to anything else on the planet. The dagger slapped into her throat, shredding her neck into a thousand fleshy pieces. Blood sprayed into the mist, splashing across the ground.
Naruto watched calmly, body already losing the tension it possessed only a moment before. She was dead, no doubt about it. The force of his throw had shattered her throat and severed her head from her slender neck. He walked toward the downed woman, each step resounding oddly through his ears. Naruto stopped, body tensing again as he looked around. Something was missing. His gazed flickered from the surroundings back to the dead woman.
Gone.
Her body was fading away, bone, flesh and blood replaced by small grains of black ash.
His blue eyes widened.
Darkness consumed Naruto's body and the shadows played, casting their inky color onto the swirling mist.
"Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!"
The two water dragons rose from the depths of the lake, their massive jaws spread wide. They collided, water spraying in all directions as the two attacks cancelled each other out.
He held his blade aloft, massive weapon dripping water from its solid steel edge. His face was expressionless, his bandages hiding the small scars that marred his features. Zabuza's chakra flared. He lunged forward, blade blocking the few kunai flung toward him. He jumped, a testament to his power as his legs propelled him straight off the water and meters into the air.
He met Sharingan Kakashi head on.
He ducked under a wildly thrown punch, reflexes slipping him through the guard of the Copy nin. Zabuza swung his blade around, muscles rippling as he spun the massive, glistening steel weapon through the mist. Kubikiri Houcho bit into the side of his surprised opponent, sinking into his skin, drawing blood in copious amounts.
He kicked, his heel impacting the jaw of the Copy nin, shredding part of that infuriating mask clinging to his face. Beneath his bandages, Zabuza grinned, baring his teeth in triumph.
Stepping back, he disappeared into the mist, withdrawing out of sight.
Zabuza's gaze dissected the surroundings. He could see Kakashi clearly through the heavy mist. His eyes could pick out the blood that soaked through his clothes, the cuts that crisscrossed his body. He could hear his feet pass over the water; hear the rustle of his clothes, the tempo of his breathing.
Zabuza could 'see' everything.
His hand slid down the hilt of Kubikiri Houcho, hand feeling the smooth steel that served as his tool of destruction. He could sense Kakashi's worry and knew it was just a matter of time before the Copy nin would actively seek him out.
He saw the man perform some seals, whipping out a small scroll from the front of his Jounin vest.
A summoning.
He steeled himself, leaping back onto the water and melting into the mist. His hand blurred into action.
"Suiton: Daibakuryuu no Jutsu…"
Zabuza leapt into the air, already sensing the summoned dogs appearing beneath him. The water churned, a vortex forming in the depths. It swirled and twisted, sucking in anything in its way. The four summoned canines emerged right over the whirlpool.
Their deaths were slow and painful.
He stepped calmly back onto the water, his technique already subsiding. He peered through the mist, seeing the look of agitation clear of Kakashi's face. He smirked. The advantage remained his.
"Zabuza! How 'bout we end this now?"
The former Mist Swordsman gripped his blade. There would be nothing to say to the Konoha ninja. There would be no show of bravado, no final flashy ending. There would be none of the antics in the fight, none of the courageous moves that Konoha ninja were so damn fond of.
No. He would kill Kakashi here without hesitation. Without interference. Without time consuming games.
It would end now.
He channeled chakra to his blade, watching as the Copy nin formed a few seals.
One of them would die.
Naruto stumbled back, his head spinning in agony.
The shadows receded.
What. The. Fuck.
His eyes focused on the nin in front of him.
'Genjutsu damn it…'
Long black hair flowed behind her and her delicate fingers released from the seal they were holding. He heard her speak, her soft voice somehow pounding into his throbbing skull.
"So you broke my illusion huh? That's pretty good…you're no ordinary ninja."
His hand snapped, the blade in the holster sliding into the secure grasp of his fingers.
"But you're going to die here…you harmed my students and now you have to pay for it!"
Naruto paid no attention to this empty ultimatum. He lunged forward, the adrenaline in his body fueling his already impressive speed. His blade flashed through the mist.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Justu!"
The flames licked his clothing and he twisted away just in time. His dagger was knocked away.
He saw the young boy dash toward him, two blades poised to strike. Red irises and black tomoe spun.
Everything passed by in an instant.
And then he was on the defensive.
He was caught in a dead lock, one hand holding off the woman's attack while the other was pressed against the blade of the young boy that was threatening to pierce his body. His chakra swirled in agitation around him, threatening to throw both the boy and the woman into the air. But they both hung on, struggling to take him down.
He never sensed the stoic bug user close in on him. He felt the blow before he saw it.
His wrist broke. His defense shattered.
The blade pierced through his heart.
"NARUTO!"
His blue eyes flickered to the sound of the voice. Through blurred vision he could make out a feminine figure.
'Haku…'
The world vanished into darkness.
"Now, witness the power of my…original technique…"
His eyes locked on the chakra gathering in Kakashi's palm, white light lacing around the entirety of his hand.
"CHIDORI!"
Zabuza gazed at the crackling white lightning in slight awe. Visible chakra…so condensed. How was this possible?
He watched it come closer, white light glowing in the mist. His mind screamed to him. Move, it said, move! But his body was despondent.
The lightning neared.
Haku's muffled scream reached his ears.
'Naruto…? What happened…?'
The lightning blade drowned his senses.
His body jerked and blood sprayed into the air.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
'Impossible! He…dodged the Chidori…'
Zabuza vanished in a swirl of mist.
'Naruto…'
His blade slashed through Kakashi's chest, its chakra enhanced edge tearing straight into his flesh.
The light of Chidori died away.
"Witness the power…of my technique now Kakashi…""Suiton: Daibakufu no Justu!"
The massive wave of water crashed over them, the power tossing and whipping around in agitation. With one immense roar, the waterfall of water barreled down toward the Sharingan user. The crystalline liquid snarled and howled, twisting and turning as if alive.
It swept Kakashi up in one smooth motion.
But the ninja vanished in a shower of leaves.
Zabuza's vision exploded in lights. His grip on Kubikiri Houcho slipped. He heard the lightning shriek again. He stumbled.
'Naruto…you better be okay…'
The white light crashed down upon him.
AN: Whew! Heh, so, how'd you like it? Just to answer a few questions from reviewers; this is not a Naruto and Zabuza yaoi fic, so relax okay? There's no NarutoxHaku either. They have more of…a really, really close 'friendship'. In fact… I'm pretty sure there will be no pairing for this story, at least not one that's openly expressed.
Anyways, just want to let you all know that there's only a couple of parts left in this story… Depending on how I feel about it, there will be one or two more chapters to go. It's coming to an end real quick huh? All right then, well, thanks for all the support! Review okay? I'm aiming for fifty or more here…