MOON SAYS: Sorry for the long wait, and from now on whether or not I write the next chapter I will be posting this once a week. HAPPY B-DAY TO ME! I still haven't got passed the 7th chapter, but I am working on it. Hopefully I can something written by Monday. There are ten chapters total, but if I find out that I made a chapter too short, I will tack on the next chapter to it! Tell me what you think? Do you want to see someone die? Someone that probably is going to die? I have to wonder what happened to Iruka and Kakashi...(my mind is on chapter 7).
WORDS: 6, 397
PAGES: 12
ENJOY!
~Hunters~
Chapter 4
Naruto and Sasuke were having trouble, guilty conscious so to speak. They hated that Zabuza and Haku died the first time around and they had always wished that they could have gone back and fixed it to where the two didn't die. It was because of those two that the two Ninja from the future learned a lesson that was the very reason that they were still alive today.
Sasuke had forsaken it; but he had later come to realize the truth in those words that Naruto had shared with him. Haku was right, when you have precious people, and you try to protect them you become stronger. How could Sasuke have doubted it? That was why he had awakened his Sharingan in the first place. The raven wanted to protect Naruto; and so he forced himself to become stronger, strong enough to see and defeat Haku.
"I don't want to kill them or watch them die again." Naruto told them, emotion flowing freely throughout his voice; he wasn't even attempting to hide it.
Sasuke knew the pain his friend was feeling, maybe not the depth of it, but he was knew at least half of it because he was feeling it himself.
Shika had thought about this since their second midnight meeting. A month had passed since their first meeting and he wasn't close to getting an answer. They had to let the people who died, die, but they could change the past all they wanted. What a paradox situation they were in.
If only they could go and ask the one who had sent them back in time…that was it!
Shika's head snapped up and his eyes glued themselves to Sasuke—who looked up a split second later after feeling eyes on him.
"You thought of something?" Naruto asked breathlessly.
Shika nodded. "Sasuke, can you contact her and ask her about this situation? Maybe there is a way around those rules."
Now all eyes were on Sasuke; who lowered his eyes in thought. Before he didn't have to contact her, she was just always here when he needed her. Itachi would know for sure how to contact her, but Sasuke knew he would see him for damn, three months at the most.
Summons would work, but then they would have to answer all those questions before the message could be delivered. The raven could always summon her but that was a bit extreme, even for him. Things had not gotten that desperate yet.
They had two options now. One was to summon a Boss Summon, Gamabunta or Manda, and have them deliver the message. But right now, they didn't have time to convince the Boss Summons that they were from the future.
Sasuke looked up at Naruto, they only had one way.
"We have no choice, but up a fucking Charka barrier now!"
Shika and Neji moved quickly, putting it up in seconds while Sasuke walked over to Naruto.
"I'm sorry, but this is the only way." Sasuke whispered as his eyes changed into the Sharingan. Direct contact with Naruto's eyes, sent both of them into the deepest reaches of the latter's mind.
So, an Uchiha is coming to see me. What do I owe this pleasure to? Kyuubi's voice boomed in the cage he was in.
Sasuke walked right up to the bars, not at all afraid. If there was one thing he knew about Demons, it was that he had perfect immunity from damage and death.
You have her scent all over of your mind, Kyuubi mused quietly, is that why you came to me? You want her?
Sasuke nodded at the Demon's reasoning. I need to get a message to her and you are the closest and quickest way of doing that.
Kyuubi only chuckled; and waited for the amusing Uchiha to continue.
I need you to ask her are there any loopholes to get around the deaths. We don't want to kill or watch Zabuza and Haku die this time. Ask her is there any way to save them?
Kyuubi looked over the humans looking at him thoughtfully. I cannot leave because of this seal.
We will set you free, just like we have done the past couple of times, Naruto replied, speaking for the first time since Sasuke forcibly entered his mind…again.
Kyuubi thought about their words for a moment before asking, how old are you? Their answer determined where she was.
Twelve, they both answered together.
And what makes you think that I won't run away? Or that I won't come back? Kyuubi chuckled. Once I get in the Demon World, what makes you think I won't stay? There are many there that are powerful enough to help me.
Naruto snorted. Because at the strength I am right now, combined with how close we are, you aren't supposed to be able to get far at all. Setting you free, all depends on how our relationship is and how strong I am. Right now, I may be on great terms with my Kyuubi, but you? Naruto pretended to think about it. No, we aren't close at all. There is a time limit after all; so even if you try to run, it will just bring your ass back.
Kyuubi growled and roared, while Naruto smirked. Naruto knew he had won that fight because Kyuubi was throwing a tantrum.
Fine you damn brat; I will do this.
~XX~
Freya was resting; just because in her past—or future, depending on how one looked at it—she was powerful and her body could handle that power, didn't mean her body could now. She and her team had been training their asses off; turning four in a half years of training in three months of training.
The fact that they knew how to do everything was a huge help factor to them. During their first training, learning it all took the most time; but now that they didn't need to learn it, cut down a lot of time. Now all they had to do was train their bodies.
Now, though, her team was resting. Freya and her team were outside, wearing almost nothing, and were lying on the ground. Both females had a tank top that was cut off two inches below their breasts and had on low cut panties. The male had no shirt on at all, the only thing he did have on was a pair of boxers.
Peyowa was lying down straight on his back; with Freya's head on the lower part of his chest, centimeters from stomach and Lezara's head was on the higher section of his chest. Their bodies were curled into him, both on different sides: Lezara on his right and Freya on his left.
The two females' positions mirrored each other. Freya's leg was curled around his left leg, and Lezara's right leg was wrapped around his right. Their left/right hand was on his stomach, while the other arm was between the girl's body and his. His arms were in their hair playing with it.
Freya needed the touch of someone she trusted when she wanted to be still; that meant when she was resting or sleeping. The three had become real close since they had first met. When they were out hunting, there was always one who was out on watch; the two that weren't, were curled up into each other. Every time they actually slept, someone was always holding Freya close.
In that position was how Kyuubi found them; when he found them like that, he remembered growing up with Kiki and how she was the same. He and Shukaku had always been the ones holding her tightly.
"Kyuu-chan," Freya greeted without moving or looking at him, "it is so good to see you after so long. I've missed you terribly."
As I have hime, as have I, Kyuubi answered, longing clear in his voice, the brat and his friend have sent me with a message. They want to know about any loopholes there are concerning those that die, must die.
Freya didn't respond for a few seconds. "Who is it that they want to live? How many?"
The brat showed me his memories when he first returned. I am assuming that there are two and that their names are Zabuza and Haku.
Freya lifted her head and locked eyes with Kyuubi. "It seems that my boys are sensitive, tender hearted, touchy feely fools. No matter, they are good fighters; maybe a little training with me can cure them of that trait."
Are you sure you want that? Kyuubi asked as he looked deeper into her eyes; trying to see why she said that. Even he knew that she needed someone like that; that was one of the reasons why she chose her guys. She needed that in them.
She shrugged, "only time will tell," she said as she turned her glaze to the sky. The cloudy sky had become darker since the last time she looked at it. In a few minutes she knew it was going to rain.
"Mistress," Lezara started, "will you look for a loophole?"
Freya laid her head back down on his chest and waited for him to start stroking her hair again.
"Do they hold a reason why you should do what they want?" Peyowa asked as he started moving his fingers through her hair like he knew she loved.
Freya closed her eyes and was silent for a few seconds. Then as she was about to say something, the rain started coming down. "The both hold something over my head…" she paused as she tried to think of a better way to phrase that; at least the two didn't jump to conclusions and let her finish. "A better way to put that would be: I am holding something over my head for them."
Silence consumed the trio and Demon once again as the rain started pelting them harder and harder. None of them minded, in fact, they actually liked it.
Peyowa waited until his Mistress raised her head and moved it closer to his face before opening his midnight black eyes and looked into her royal purple eyes. Fitting, he supposed, considering who she was.
Lezara saw the same question in her Mistress' eyes that her teammate did; but since it wasn't directed at her, she did not answer it. Usually it wouldn't matter, but this time, she had a feeling that her Mistress wanted it to come from Peyowa's mouth.
He thought about it as he tried to find the answer somewhere in the same eyes that spoke the question to him; sadly he couldn't find it. Instead, he moved his head forward a few centimeters till their foreheads touched.
"Mistress, hime, love, this is entirely up to you. I cannot tell you what to do. Like you tell us, there are sometimes where you can't look for the decision elsewhere; because it isn't going to be found somewhere other than in you." The black haired half-demon told her, "the only questions is where the answer is, here," he pointed to a spot right above her left breast, "or here," he kissed her forehead.
Freya closed her eyes again and laid her head back down on his bare chest. Seconds passed, those seconds turned to minutes, and the minutes turned to hours. Yet no one cared, they were content with the way things were.
When enough time had passed, when she had her answer, Freya opened her eyes and sat up and stretched. As she stretched her low cut tank top rose and her breasts were clearly showing. Even though Lezara and Peyowa were looking at her intently, they did not care one bit about the display of flesh their Mistress was showing.
When she was done stretching, she stood up and took off her tank top and panties while walking over toward the open door to the left of them. Her Hunters followed her, dropping their wet clothes down as well as they walked into the house.
As soon as they were in the house, they all made their way toward the bathroom. It was huge; it had to have been more than fifty foot both ways. It did not take long for the three of them to take a shower, dry off, and go into their bedrooms. It went quicker because they all showered together.
Quickly clothes were found, put on, and they left the house. They made their way out of their compound of the Palace and headed toward the South side.
Freya stopped walking when they came to this ancient looking temple like building. It was a simple building, that only had one room, but it was huge. Freya once took a guess and said it was over two hundred feet width and length combined.
She walked right to the center, with her two Hunters on each of her sides, behind a little. Kyuubi was walking behind them, with at least five feet between them. The two Hunters stopped about halfway toward the middle; while Freya continued on toward the three shadowed shapes sitting in the center of the building.
"Ah, child, welcome!" a young voice said softly.
"It is good to see you once again." A woman's voice greeted kindly.
"It seems you only visit us now when you want something." An old voice crackled humorously.
Freya gave them a warm smile. "Aye, it is good to see you three again, aunties. It does seem that way doesn't it? Sadly, that is the case once again; maybe in better times it will be different."
A snort came from the last one. "Better times? Ha! With you around, there will never be better times."
"Come to think of it," the middle one started. "It doesn't matter whether you are here or not."
"It's never a good time," the first one said, her voice seemed to take on a pouty tone. "You just need to come sooner, way sooner!"
Freya gave a good, loud, healthy, laugh; one that everyone had missed hearing. "A good point from each of you; just like always. I have come to ask a favor. All of you know I have traveled back into the past, something that couldn't have been kept from any of you."
A giggle, chuckle, and cackle were heard in response to her words.
"Two men, who I owe, as all of you know; have come back with me, again something you know; have asked that two people they had come to care for during the short time they had come to know them in their first life, be kept alive this time." Freya explained. "I have come to see if there is a way to keep them alive without upsetting the balance of time."
"I was sad when they died!" the young voice sniffed.
"Yes, it was sad indeed when one who has many looses in their lives loose someone who has taught them something important." the middle voice said sadly.
"It's hard to become attached in the first place, but when you do, and they die soon after you meet, it is hard indeed." the old voice chimed in with a sorrow tone.
Freya bowed her head. "Yes, it is something that all of here know. I propose a trade off, these two lives for the quickened death of others."
"Oooh! I want that stupid banshee girl!" the young voice claimed quickly.
"I would like the four minions and both silver haired ones." the middle voice requested.
"I insist on the snake," the old voice demanded.
Freya bowed, "it shall be down, goodbye aunties!" she said as she started to walk away, and once she got close to the doors she heard three voices.
"Next time you better come back, without wanting something!" an old voice crowed.
"Don't be a stranger, little one," a woman's voice invited.
"Come back soon!" a child's voice called.
~XX~
Kyuubi had come back into the Human World; he noticed that it was still night. So either he had been gone a whole day or time was way different in the worlds. His question as answered by his host not even a few seconds later.
"Wow, that didn't take long. So, what happened? Tell us everything!" Naruto said in his gossip whore voice.
Sasuke hit him on the head in response. "Just tell us the answer, no need to explain to this idiot why you can't tell me every little detail."
For the first time, Kyuubi had respect for an Uchiha. The Demon's only worry now was what he was going to tell him. Should he tell them that these lives would cost eight others? Not that any of them really cared; but he had a feeling a few of those deaths would be disposed of by Freya herself.
"She negotiated for the lives you wanted," Kyuubi said before he let himself disappear.
"Wait! What do you mean negotiated?" Shika called out, but was too late.
Naruto and the others groaned, "we wanted more answers."
"Good look with that," Sasuke snorted. "He told you all he could have."
Naruto looked thoughtful. "Has she bound you in a Jutsu?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "No, and she doesn't have to. Everyone who knows her secrets love her more than enough to keep every last one of them until they die."
"So you love her?" Neji asked softly.
Sasuke sighed. "See, this is why I didn't want to tell any of you. None of you would understand."
"Try us," Naruto encouraged as he sat on the ground.
Sasuke wanted to tell them, but he knew it would bring trouble down on her, more unanswered questions. But he owed them a least a little explanation.
"I found her when I was around six or so; in the forest right outside the Uchiha compound." Sasuke started off his tale with a far off tone in his voice; it was as if he was remembering it. "Not a very good first impression let me tell you."
"What was she doing?" Naruto asked quietly.
"She was trying to kill herself," was the answer; a few of their eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
"She had always been able to see things, things no one should have seen; especially a child. Nikki, her older sister, told me awhile later that she had been seeing things ever since she was a baby. Everyone in the Head Compound—in their Village—would wake to a screaming baby every night; until they stopped trying to get her to go to sleep. After a few months, Nikki put a Jutsu on her that made her grow into a five year old. And until she became five, she didn't grow at all."
Silence.
"How could she have seen things? What kind of things?" Shika questioned.
"War, death, her killing various people she didn't even remember killing. Goes to show you shouldn't go berserk with your father after someone kills your mother." Sasuke shrugged and continued on with the story. "No one knew that she had been trying to kill herself; only Nikki. Nikki had been cleaning up after the attempts for years; she didn't mind after she saw a few seconds of one of her little sister's visions."
Sasuke closed his eyes. "Freya, she never got any of them to work. Something would always stop her. When I saw her, I had observed the trap after I ran and found Itachi. It seemed she was about fifty foot in the air, and every ten foot she had paper bomb, kunai, mini swords, any kind of weapon you can name. Then at the bottom she had earth spikes everywhere where it wouldn't where she landed."
The little Uchiha looked truly old as he told this. "I found her and saw her jump. I screamed and ran for Itachi, who was already running toward me. He picked her up, and carried her back to our compound. After that, for two years the four of us became close. I admit to having a crush on Nikki, but it was never real; just like Freya's crush on Itachi. We were so comfortable with each other, our teamwork was amazing, and we all cared about each other. Freya told us everything about her; and we all were fiercely protective of her."
Naruto saw the look on Sasuke's face; he knew that Sasuke cared about this girl very much. It was as if she held a part of Sasuke that no one could ever touch.
"A month before my clan was killed. My father did a stupid move that started to split us up. He wanted Freya, and he wanted her to marry into the clan. Her mother, the leader of their Village, just brushed it off and said it was up to her daughters. So there we were, all happy with each other, and we had to decide who we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with. Nikki chose Itachi, just like she did before." Sasuke added that last part cryptically.
"Freya never wanted a fiancé; she just wanted friends; she wanted someone that she could just curl up with at night when she couldn't sleep. Not that she wasn't doing that already, but she hated the divide that this was creating; not to mention she was helping Itachi deal with the coup at the time. Something I didn't know; I learned later that she was begging him almost every day to be the one to kill the clan, trying to spare Itachi. She knew that Itachi would be completely ripped apart if he did this."
Naruto put a hand on his friend shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze in silent support.
"She was right, when she told me time after time, that Itachi was never meant to be a Shinobi. My brother was too gentle, too kind hearted, he hated bloodshed. Yet, he destroyed our entire clan to protect me. There were three reasons why he chose to destroy himself. One was that he wanted to protect me, and save me from them; two was because of Freya, they wanted to use her in the battle ahead. Why not? She had the Sharingan, no different than any other Uchiha. And three," he looked directly at Naruto. "They wanted to use the Kyuubi host to wreck havoc on the Village."
"And that could have if they used that damn Sharingan," Naruto cursed.
"That and Freya would have been able to make him do anything of his own free will." Sasuke added bitterly. "The attack went as planned, Itachi killed everyone, but I had gotten home late because she had made damn sure I stayed late to practice throwing kunai. She went home to her Village, finding everyone dead by her sister's hand."
Everyone blinked. "Her sister took out an entire Village? Why?"
"Nikki was helping Itachi clean out all of the Uchiha's so that no one would be able to use the Sharingan to control the Kyuubi. Someone saw her, and alerted her mother. Her mother went after her and Nikki killed them all. When Freya came home, there were still a few alive." Sasuke's eyes closed in pain. "You have no idea how hard it is for her, when she sees blood, to not go into a blood rage. Nikki had to kill the rest of the Village to spare her sister any pain. After that, I have no idea what happened. That is everything Itachi told me."
Naruto grabbed Sasuke by the shoulder and pulled the raven to him. The blonde then held his friend as the Uchiha let go of everything that had happened to him in the past. He wanted to see Freya again, so badly, but he could wait until she came to him.
"Did you love her that much?" Naruto whispered in Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke chuckled. "You're asking me if I loved her like a lover?" the Hokage nodded and Sasuke snorted at his Hokage's absurdity. "Please, no one can tie that woman down. Yes, I love her, but not romantically. If anyone got her to love them like that, I wouldn't know whether I would praise God for a miracle or kill them."
Naruto laughed as his arms tightened around Sasuke. "So, I guess we can save Zabuza and Haku, eh?"
Sasuke pulled away from his friend and his eyes narrowed. "That is what I'm worried about; nothing ever comes without a price with her."
Shika's eyes widened in realization; "that would make sense, it seemed too easy that all we had to do was ask and we got it."
Sasuke looked away from his friends. "I wouldn't put it past her to think she owes me a debt that can't be repaid. No matter how many times I tell her…" Sasuke trailed off before he shook his head to clear it. "It doesn't matter; but if she did what I think she did, the price may become too much to bear."
~XX~
"I think the first time around that battle was much harder." Naruto commented as he and Sasuke were trading blows in the forest near where Haku would be soon. They didn't want to scare him off though, so they created a Charka barrier around them.
Sasuke gave his future Hokage a look of disbelief. "Of course it was you dobe! We were so fucking weak, of course it was harder. Though," the raven smirked, "it was fun secretly zapping Kaka's Charka so he would faint at the end."
Naruto nodded as he dodged his friend's Lightning powered Sword. "Yeah, we had to find a way to get him to let Haku take Zabuza away without that damn water bubble! I mean come on," Naruto whined as his Wind powered Sword almost hit Sasuke; "the battle the first time was way too boring, we had to change it up a little."
Sasuke chuckled as he did connect his Sword with Naruto's body; of course, Naruto got a hit in as well. "Well, I'll bite; it was more interesting this time around. Everything seems to be, you know?"
Naruto nodded as he stepped his game up a notch and launched himself harder and more deadly at Sasuke; who just gave a 'eat shit smirk' and kicked his game to match his Hokage.
~XX~
A few days later, when they were lying down on the ground, exhausted from using too much Charka during their little training session, Haku came.
"You know, dobe, you are an idiot. If someone attacked us now, we would be sitting ducks!" Sasuke groaned as he tried to move and couldn't. Damn his Hokage for wanted to try and fight on their old level; and damn himself for not saying no.
"Ha! Of course you would know about ducks, wouldn't you, duck butt hair!" Naruto laughed as he pointed.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and wished sometimes that his Hokage would just drop that joke; it was really getting old. So he flipped him off and replied, "shut up dobe, it's not like I can't make fun of your spiky hair."
As if on cue, Haku walked into the clearing and tilted his head at the two Leaf Gennin that were lying down on the ground, wait, no they weren't lying down on the ground. They were launching themselves at each other and fighting while rolling on the ground together.
Haku giggled and it stopped the two boys; which just made Haku giggle more. They stopped in a weird position. The blonde had the Sasuke's left leg in the air, and he was sitting on top of him with one of Sasuke's hands fisted into the blonde hair, and the other one around his neck.
Of course they were totally trying to kill each other, but it didn't stop Haku from imagining them as lovers.
Sasuke sighed and just kicked Naruto off of him. "Always trying to get me into a gay position, aren't you dobe?"
Naruto huffed and rolled his eyes. "Why would I try anything? You know you've always wanted me."
Sasuke chuckled and shook his head. "I remember someone else throwing themselves after me…reminds me of a fan girl or two."
Naruto froze, his eyes horrified as he came to realization as well. In response he became so still that he could have been mistaken for a statue. Sasuke just kicked him over and let him lie down on the ground.
The raven looked up at Haku at started talking. "We know who you are Haku."
The girly boy didn't even react; he just waited for Sasuke to continue.
"We don't want to fight, and we know you don't want to either." Sasuke respected Haku even more, seeing how he didn't let any emotions escape. "We have a plan that lets no one die. You know as well as we do, that Zabuza might just loose against Kakashi."
"And he will," Naruto said seriously as he sat up, his eyes on Haku. "Kakashi has summons, and I don't think Zabuza has any. Kakashi will do anything to win that fight, and I don't think Zabuza can handle everything Kakashi's got. But we don't want Zabuza nor you to die."
Haku didn't know what to say or think. How did they know so much about his master and him? How did they know that he didn't like killing? That he would try not to kill them? "What are you proposing?"
Naruto was silent for a moment. "I know a lot of Medic Ninjutsu, I can heal Zabuza. Not only that, once this is over and we all walk away with our lives, I have a business proposition for the two of you in the future. I say that we kill Gato before he kills the two of you, and I can make it where you two can go back to our Village. One where you can do what you want to do. You won't have to kill the Kage, like Zabuza did in Mist."
Haku stood silent for a moment, thinking that he only had two ways out of this. Kill them, well attempt to kill them, he had a feeling that they were above his level; or take them to Zabuza. The boy knew he only had one choice; and they all knew it.
"If I take you to him, how do I know you won't kill him with your Medic Ninjutsu?" Haku questioned his voice emotionless.
"I will make a Seal that will kill me the moment I deviate from anything that would heal him. I know for a fact, that Zabuza knows the Seal."
"How do you know that?" Haku demanded, as far as he knew, his master didn't know Seals.
Naruto smirked. "Your master made it."
~XX~
The battle started, and Naruto did what he had done the first time around. The blonde made damn well sure that Tazuna's daughter and grandson didn't get kidnapped, killed, or worse raped. It didn't take long for Naruto to kill the two thug mercenaries and get to his place on the bridge.
The journey to the bridge was shorter than he remembered it; but he arrived a little late for Sasuke's liking, and he got chewed out because of it too.
Haku just laughed the two of them. "So, what is the plan now?"
Naruto went into Hokage mode. "We will pretend that Sasuke got the Sharingan fighting you. For now, we either wait for Gato and the other men he hired to take the two of you out. We'll kill them, and then we leave the Land of Waves. You and Zabuza know what to do, and you know how to contact us."
Haku nodded, a few moments went by before he realized that he was very bored. Of course, being the kind of person he was, he didn't say anything about it. He didn't have to; Naruto said it for him.
Naruto may have changed from the person he used to be; but there were still some traits left. Some of the traits that lingered Sasuke was sure that Naruto only used as a front, a way to keep people off his back. To those that didn't know him, it worked; but for those that did know him, it didn't.
"I am so bored!" Naruto whined, acting like the child he looked like.
No one responded to his whine, though, because they heard the crackle of lightning—Kakashi was using Chidori already.
Naruto and Sasuke shared a look, a look that held an entire conversation in it. After Naruto accepted Sasuke back, there had been no lies between them; maybe a withholding of information here and there, but it was never important. They trusted no one else more with their lives, secrets, and memories. They were brothers; their bond went deeper than blood. When one woke up from nightmares of the war, the other was there to comfort them.
They knew it would have been perfect if they were lovers…but their love for each other didn't take that turn; too many things had happened between that had destroyed that chance. They were alike in many ways, opposite in many ways; but in one thing they shared absolute similarity. They knew that they were incapable of being loved; they thought they were worth nothing; death and war did that to the strongest.
The look they shared conveyed emotions since buried. The pain of death, the death of someone they cared for; they had buried the pain of their comrades' death during the war deep inside their hearts and mind. Not even Kyuubi could get to it.
They had informed Zabuza of the Chidori and Kakashi's summons. There was a chance that as soon as Kaka summoned his famous Jutsu, that Zabuza would kill him. They had made a deal after all; if Kaka used it, Zabuza had the right to defend himself. They didn't want either of them dead…and just a few days with Zabuza had made them like the older man. To them, he was kind of like Kakashi.
And now, if they didn't act, one of them could die.
Sasuke nodded, and Naruto vanished. During the war, Naruto had lived up to and surpassed his father concerning speed. Naruto didn't even need the special kunai, all he had to do was picture the Seal in his mind, add his Chakra, place it on the person in his mind and he could teleport instantly.
Sasuke was right behind him; the raven took Zabuza and the fox had Kakashi.
Naruto swept Kakashi's legs out from under him; then not even a second later he used his right hand, gripped Kaka's neck and slammed him into the ground; at the same time his left hand channeled Charka in it and canceled the older man's Chidori as their hands collided.
Sasuke pulled Zabuza backwards away from his teammates and pinned the Demon of the Mist's arms behind his back so he couldn't do anything. His Hokage didn't want anyone dying, and neither did he.
"Naruto!" Kakashi growled as he struggled to move, but Naruto had his ass pinned down. The blonde put his knee on Kaka's stomach so the older man couldn't move.
"Shut up," Naruto said with his voice deathly calm. Kaka and Zabuza both did a double take; they had never heard a child talk like that. A child never held power in their voice, not like this; Naruto's voice demanded obedience. And it got it.
"Sasuke, keep hold of him; if Gato thinks we have Zabuza beat; he will go ahead with his plan."
Uchiha nodded and tightened his grip.
"Haku," Naruto called and the boy was by his side in a flash.
Haku took two seconds to look at the situation and nodded. "Do you have to hold him so tight?"
Sasuke smirked and pulled Zabuza's arms into a very uncomfortable position; he received a hiss in response.
"Now, now, Sasuke," Naruto chided, "you don't have to be rough. I'm not the Snake."
Sasuke snorted. "If you were, I'd killed you a long time ago."
Naruto just chuckled. "And you would've gotten your ass kicked; very badly I might add."
Their chitchat was interrupted by a laugh. It seemed Gato was here, and he had taken the bait.
"So the Demon of the Mist really is weak; getting his ass beat by a child, a little boy. I knew I shouldn't have hired you." Gato spat as he took a few steps closer.
"This child is going to kill you," Uchiha told him, his voice emotionless. After he said that he looked at Naruto, who shook his head.
Before anyone could blink, half the mercenaries that were standing behind and around Gato were dead, blood spraying everywhere. Another second later, all were dead but Gato.
Neither Naruto nor Sasuke saw how they died, but they knew they were dead.
"What the fuck?" Gato screamed as he started backing up toward the Konoha shinobi.
"I don't think thank so," a deep male voice said. "You are founded to be a Rogue, you are charged as a Rogue, and your sentenced is death."
Gato suddenly became gulped in flame and was screaming for someone to put fire out. When no one did, he ran and jumped into the Ocean; but he didn't get that far. Two feet from the edge, he collapsed. Then his body became mincemeat by a sword that the male who spoke earlier held. Then he burned the body.
The male was tall, over five foot six, he had the darkest black hair anyone had ever seen; his eyes were the same color. His skirt was black, and the sleeves didn't go past the halfway point between his shoulder and elbow. His arms were white and bare, except for black inked tattoos. His pants were long, tight, and leather. His shoes were half scandal half boot with a boat that stopped at his thigh.
There was a symbol on his left sleeve: it was a circle that had two swords crossed with an infinity sign cutting through them in the middle.
Naruto and Sasuke both noticed that it was one of the Vicis Ninja from the future.
And he was gone as quick as he came; leaving way more questions in the two future Shinobi's heads.
To be continued...
IF you want the answers to the challenge (IT WILL SPOIL THINGS) I will tell you!