I'm finally back with another chapter! I did not get nearly as much work on this as I could have, like, I just didn't work on it most days. So yeah, that's why this took so long. Honestly biweekly might become the usual update schedule because I don't know how I will be able to get a whole chapter done in just a week. Still, I'll try.
Alright, two people (you know who you are) have been bringing up Blake coming to the Naruto world. Look, just because Blake's name is in the preview thing, doesn't necessarily mean that Blake will just happen to come in at a crucial point and save a certain someone. I would never do that! I've never written a happy ending in my life! *Cough* Angels *Cough*
I am inferring nothing.
On with the story!
Tortured Soul Ch.4
As my fingers trace the scar of this frozen bond
AJ is shown walking along the edge of a forest at night, he doesn't have his cloak and touches two scars running down the left side of his face. He looks distant and lonely as he slowly walks along the path and stares at the ground in thought.
Deep within the crevice tearing my broken heart
He shuts his eyes tight as tears fall out of them and he sobs quietly.
My body is wondering on…
All my thoughts evaporate into shapeless dark
He opens his eyes and a few tears continue to fall but now he looks very angry as he grits his teeth and glares up at the camera.
Faded like the past decays in a memory
His eyes turn red and his teeth grow sharp. He turns back to normal as he suddenly snaps his head in the direction of the forest and catches a glimpse of someone that looked like Blake.
Now I search for an illusion
He runs frantically through the forest looking in every direction for her and eventually comes to a small clearing and falls to his knees and cries again. He keeps his mouth shut tight gritting his teeth together, he also keeps his eyes shut tight but once again tears get through.
I will try to wield power over destiny…
In the world that shined for me
White Aura blasted out of him and he stood up and rushed further into the forest still frantically searching.
My memories live on
He thought about teams RWBY and JNPR and the things they had done together.
Forgotten dreams call out
He stopped for a moment and looked around.
To stars that I once wished upon
He smiled as he looked up at the stars through a hole in the canopy of trees, before rushing out again.
Now I see the scenery
He continued to run but now tears ran down his face as he ran.
Distilled inside my mind
That never ending night
Scene of him crying in his sleep.
And days stretch forever
Scene of him walking around the village looking distant.
Though we're far apart, you are still in my heart
He thought about Blake again and ran faster.
And no mere separation
He let out another burst of Aura and went into his second stage where his Aura took the form of see though wings behind him.
Will stop this light from reaching you
Blake was visited by a white light in her dream back on Remnant.
A miracle
AJ jumped out into another clearing and looked at the camera. He started building up Aura into his right hand, so much it was a light show of bright white mist so bright it actually is blinding.
Will finally come true
He charged at the viewer with his lightshow of a punch.
Change scene and camera looks at a Naruto in nine tails mode covered in red chakra.
Camera turns to the Sasuke in his second stage curse mark.
Camera turns again to see AJ glaring at the two before charging at them as we hit the static part of the song they charge at each other and the screen goes black.
Tortured Soul, A multiverse Fanfiction
Flashback
"I could have sworn that if I lost her I would kill myself, but maybe because I didn't see her die, and have no confirmation that she's dead, I haven't killed myself yet… I really don't know."
"Just keep going with the hope that we'll get to go back someday." Neko suggested.
"I have no hope of going back. I'm not going to give myself false hope. I'm just going to keep going like I used to back on Earth… with no purpose." AJ said emotionlessly.
He was sitting near the edge of a cliff, but not just any cliff. This was the one that had the four Hokage's faces carved into it. He looked out at the village far below him, it was a pretty village.
"Ah! There you are!" Speaking of Hokage, there's the third.
The old man stood to AJ's right, and looked out over the village with him. Neko jumped up into his arms and he pet the cat for a minute while he spoke.
"How have you been settling in?" He asked.
"About as well as you would expect." AJ answered, but sensed that The Third wanted him to elaborate. "Kakashi and Iruka have been nice and helpful. Besides the fact that Iruka hates that I don't call him Sensei and Kakashi's training is difficult, as I expected. I absolutely hate this, but the village is generally nice, I suppose."
"If you would be willing, we could delve into your memories and learn more about what you've been through." The Third suggested. "It would help us, help me, understand your situation better, understand you better."
"You know I'm not going to allow that…" AJ deadpanned without turning to the old man.
"I wouldn't expect you to, but I had to ask."
"Sure you did…"
"Is there anything of your world, or the last world you were in, what was it called again?" The Third asked.
"The last world I was in is called Remnant, and I was born on a world called Earth, though it is nothing like this earth." AJ answered.
"Is there anything of either world that you want to talk about?" The Hokage asked.
"No." AJ answered simply.
The Hokage paused for a moment. "If you ever want to talk to me about either world, I am always willing to set aside time for you."
"I don't want to talk about any of it." AJ said.
"You will have to talk about it at some point." The Hokage said, making AJ frown in annoyance. "You must, because otherwise you would forget about the ones you love. You must never forget about them, even if remembering them causes you pain." He said before walking away.
End Flashback
The forest was peaceful and all, but AJ preferred somewhere with noise to occupy his mind. At Tazuna's house, there were seagulls and the sound of the waves. In the forest, the wildlife was scared away by Naruto being a loud and obnoxious brat. At least in the forest he was training, and that tended to occupy his mind, somewhat.
Though, now that AJ thought about it…
"Aaaaaah! *Thud* "Ow!"
Watching Naruto run up the tree has its moments. Sometimes he falls on his head, and that always gets a chuckle out of him.
"I keep telling you, work on your landing strate-"
"I know! I know!" Naruto interrupted in a whining tone before getting up and nursing the bump on the bump on the bump his head. The kid took a few moments to catch his breath before running up the tree again.
"Aaaaah!" *Thud*
AJ chuckled. "Landing strategyyy."
"Shiiiin! I'm gonna hurt you as soon as I get up!" Naruto threatened. He didn't seem very threatening as he clutched his head and writhed on the ground.
"Go ahead, try. I've just been sitting here and watching you this whole time instead of getting actual training done myself, so I could use a workout. You falling on your head is too distracting!" AJ said with a laugh.
"You're a sadist." Neko commented.
"I got it from Ozpin." AJ answered, before looking up in thought. "And Kakashi, now that I think about it."
Naruto stood up and got ready to try and punch AJ.
"How about this? If you can get higher than your highest point on the tree right now, I'll let you hit me once." AJ asked.
Naruto grinned confidently. "Get ready then, cause I'm going to blow my record away!" He then got ready, trying to hide the fact that he had virtually no energy left, and began running up the tree. He made great progress, to AJ's surprise, and just barely made it past his previous record before backflipping back down. "Ha! I did it! I did it!" He turned around and grinned at AJ, before suddenly falling and passing out from exhaustion.
"I knew you would pass out after another run." AJ said to himself before sitting down next to Naruto.
He sat there and stared at the blonde for a bit. The boy was getting some well-earned rest if he was being honest. As much as he hated the boy, he's got a good soul, which is a big plus in AJ's book.
He couldn't help but compare him a bit to Jaune, though Jaune is older and semi-competent. Admittedly, Naruto, in all his stupidity, would certainly have beaten the old Jaune. AJ had helped Pyrrha train Jaune when he could though, so if the two blondes were to fight now… well… it would probably be an even fight…
…probably…
'They both suck at landing though, that is something they definitely have in common. Actually… they both have good souls, so they both have that going for them as well.'
He just sat there for awhile, and with Naruto asleep, the wildlife came back, and soon birds flew near and a few even landed on them. One landed on Neko, who was napping on Naruto's chest, but was scared away when the cat moved. A few deer even got close, but they kept their distance. Even so, AJ couldn't help but smile as he looked at the bird on his hand, on his shoulder, on Naruto's head, the deer. He loved the nature here, and the sounds of it all. That wasn't as much of an option on Remnant, where you had to be in the cities to be safe.
AJ couldn't smile anymore though as he sensed someone come near. He didn't look at them though, he just kept staring at the birds until the person's emotion became curiosity and they started to walk over. Neko's ears perked up and he opened his eyes, AJ slowly turned his head towards the person. It was some woman in a kimono, carrying a basket. 'No, wait, that isn't a woman… looks like one though.'
"Hello there." The 'woman' said.
"Hi." AJ said. 'Sounds kind of like one too.'
Naruto stirred, noticed the "girl", and quickly sat up. "Huh!? Who are you!? I mean… Hi there, where did you come from?" He corrected, blushing.
'Idiot!'
"I'm gathering herbs." The 'woman' answered. "Though I noticed you two here and I just felt that you should know that you'll catch a cold if you just sleep here. I'm sure you were just keeping an eye on him, but still, you need to move him." He said, turning towards AJ who kept frowning at her. "I… don't suppose you would be willing to help me gather herbs? It would help me get done much quicker."
AJ thought about it for a second. "I suppose we have nothing else-"
"Sure!" Naruto cut him off enthusiastically, making AJ glare at him.
And so they found a small clearing filled with small herbal plants on the ground and the three began picking the plants.
"You sure start work early, huh sis?" Naruto asked not long after they began.
"I like it early, its calm." The stranger answered. "But I didn't think I'd find anyone out here, let alone someone sleeping in the woods."
Naruto grinned proudly. "We're training! Well… I'm training." He glared at AJ. "Shin just stood there and watched me fall from the tree."
"I actually did train at first." AJ pointed out smartassly. He sniffed the plant he picked and recoiled. Not a pleasant smell.
The stranger looked surprised, though AJ could sense otherwise. "Training? So are you ninjas? Because I saw the headbands you both are wearing… or are you both just making a fashion statement?"
Naruto blushed at the attention. "You noticed that huh? Alright! Only super cool ninja get to wear these!" He said, pointing at his headband. He then leaned towards the stranger. "I don't really know how Shin got his though."
"I don't even need cat ears to hear you, you idiot!" AJ said angrily, making Naruto recoil away in fear.
The stranger chuckled at their antics. "Super cool ninja? I see. That's very impressive." Naruto chuckled happily. "But… does that mean you're preparing for something dangerous?"
"I'm just developing my skills so I can get stronger." Naruto answered.
"Someday, he might even be one percent of my strength." AJ commented.
"Shut up, Shin!" Naruto yelled.
"You both seem strong already, isn't that enough?" The stranger asked curiously.
"No! I have to get stronger and stronger! I have to keep practicing!" Naruto answered.
AJ was about to comment but he was surprised to feel actual curiosity from the stranger.
"Why is it so important?" He asked.
"So I can become the best ninja in my village!" Naruto answered.
"In your dreams." AJ mumbled.
"And everyone will know who I am and they'll all respect me!" Naruto continued.
"Well you got the first one down. We all know you're an idiot." AJ mumbled.
"There's also a certain someone, a kid, that I have to prove something to!" Naruto finished.
"So are you doing this for that certain person? Or are you doing this for yourself?" The stranger asked, causing both Naruto and AJ to look at 'her' in surprise.
"Huh?" Naruto so eloquently asked, causing the person to chuckle. "Hey! What's so funny!?"
The stranger took a moment to stop chuckling. "Is there… someone precious to you?"
"What are you saying, sis? What do you mean 'precious'?" Naruto asked, not getting it.
Meanwhile AJ had gone silent.
"You see… when someone has something precious that they want to protect… that is when they become genuinely strong."
Naruto hummed in thought.
"I think you know what I'm talking about… don't you, Shin?" The stranger asked.
"…Y-Yes…" AJ said hesitantly, trying not to sound like he was crying, and failing. "I know what you mean, exactly what you mean."
"Yeah, I know what you mean too!" Naruto said.
AJ took a moment to breathe and soon calmed down.
The stranger grabbed his basket and stood up. "I can feel it, you both will get stronger, much stronger. Goodbye. We'll meet again sometime." He said before starting to walk away. "Oh, and by the way…"
AJ couldn't help but grin in anticipation. 'Do it. Please do it.'
"…I'm a boy."
"WHAAAAAAAAT!?"
*Gasping laugh* 'YEEEEEEES! Thank you kind stranger!'
Sasuke walked up to an odd scene. Normally calm or angry Shin rolling on the floor and gasping for air, laughing, and Naruto sitting next to him, looking incredibly shocked and confused.
"Boy, I've seen a lot of weird things in my life, but this one takes the cake!" Naruto exclaimed.
"No, I've seen a lot of weird things in my life!" AJ corrected, sitting up. "You have no idea!"
"Well maybe I would if you would tell me!" Naruto complained. "Oh! Hi Sasu-"*Bang* "Ow! Hey! Why did you hit me!?"
"Hey twerp." Sasuke said, ignoring the question. "Did you both forget about breakfast or something?"
Naruto simply smirked and laughed, creeping out and annoying Sasuke.
"I didn't forget." AJ answered simply.
"Why didn't you tell this loser to come back for breakfast then?" Sasuke asked.
"Because I decided to watch over him while he slept on the floor. Why was he sleeping on the floor? Because he's an idiot and he passed out from exhaustion." AJ said.
"You could have just dragged him back." Sasuke argued before starting to walk away.
AJ stood up and began following him. "Yeah, I could have. Kind of wish I did now."
"Hey! Shin! Wait!" Naruto yelled as he stood up.
"What?" AJ asked, annoyed, as he looked over his shoulder.
"I have a cool idea! Can you help me with it?" Naruto asked.
"Depends. What is it?"
…
"No! I'm not helping you show off!" AJ yelled.
"Come ooooon! Pleeeeease?" Naruto begged.
"No. And if you keep begging I will knock you out." AJ said before walking away.
Apparently Sakura and Kakashi had gone out looking for them as well, so when all of them finally caught up with AJ, who was already back at the house, Kakashi explained that Naruto fell from a tree trying to show off and Sasuke had to save him.
Sasuke and Naruto went out to continue training later at night, while AJ decided to stay at the house and enjoy some food along with the others. Neko liked getting to eat fish while he was here.
"Now they're both late." Sakura noted as Tsunami was passing food around the table. "I wouldn't have expected that from Sasuke."
"They'll be here in a few seconds." AJ commented.
"Wait, you can sense them nearby!?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah. Look at the door." AJ pointed to the door, and Naruto and Sasuke walked in, leaning on each other for support.
"What have you been up to?" Tazuna asked. "You look like something the cat dragged in."
"I take offense to that, I would never drag them in here." Neko said, though only AJ actually heard words, the rest just heard him meow, as usual. That made it odd to everyone else when AJ let out a humored snort.
Naruto looked up at them and smirked proudly. "We did it… we made it all the way to the top."
"Good." Kakashi said with a nod. "Now we move on. Starting tomorrow, you're both body guards for Tazuna."
Naruto smiled. "Alright!" He yelled happily and jumped up, causing both him and Sasuke to fall on their asses.
"Agh! You are such a loser!" Sasuke said angrily, causing everyone else to laugh.
"Should I go with them to make sure they don't mess up?" AJ asked Kakashi.
"Hey!" Naruto whined.
"I think they can handle things by themselves. You could stay here and hold down the fort." Kakashi answered.
"If you say so." AJ said reluctantly. He didn't think Sasuke and Naruto could handle it, but didn't feel it was worth arguing about.
Eventually they all ate their fill and had started stacking the plates together.
"In a few more days, the bridge will be finished." Tazuna stated. "I have you to thank for that." He said, looking at the Leaf Ninja.
"You've all done great, but you've still got to be careful." Tsunami stated worryingly to her father.
Tazuna looked at Kakashi. "I've been meaning to ask you this but I haven't had the chance till now. Why did you stay and protect me even after I lied to bring you here?"
"Those who stray from the path of justice, have no courage. But under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive." Kakashi stated.
"Huh?" Tsunami asked.
"That was a quote, from the First Hokage." Kakashi answered.
"The one who created the Hidden Leaf Village?" AJ asked rhetorically. "Well, he's not wrong."
AJ's emotion sense had been turned off at the moment, but since Neko had decided to fuse with him earlier, he caught the scent of tears and heard one land on the table.
"But why?" Inari asked. You could tell by his voice that he was crying.
"What'd you say?" Naruto asked, raising his head from the table.
Inari slammed his hands on the table. "All this stupid training is just a waste of time! Gato's got a whole army and he'll destroy you! These cool things you all say, the promise you made, they don't mean anything! No matter what you do, the strong always win and the weak always lose!"
AJ sighed. 'I guess he doesn't believe me. I'll show him I wasn't lying though. Someday.'
"Just speak for yourself!" Naruto said, unamused, before setting his head back down on the table. "It won't be like that for me, you got that!?"
"Why don't you be quiet!?" Inari yelled. "Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country, you're just butting in! Always laughing and playing around! You don't know what it's like to suffer and be treated like dirt!"
AJ and Naruto's expressions darkened.
"Listen to yourself whining and complaining, like some sorry little victim." Naruto said. "You can whimper all day for all I care! You're nothing but a coward!" He yelled before getting up and angrily walking away.
"Naruto! You went too far!" Sakura yelled.
"No, Sakura." AJ said, suddenly standing up and glaring at Inari. "He's the one that went too far." He said before walking away as well, heading outside.
He tried his best to limit the amount of trees that he took out his anger on, but quite a few still were felled by his sword or his claws. It was bad enough feeling worthless on Earth, but before he met Yang and Ruby, his time on Remnant was hell. He was treated like dirt and constantly suffered, he was constantly yelled at and even beaten once. Hearing Inari acting like he had it worse was… infuriating. It felt like Naruto had felt the exact same way before he got out of sensing range.
The next morning they found that Naruto had pushed himself too far that night and was likely going to be asleep for quite awhile. With Naruto out, Kakashi decided it was necessary to bring AJ along to the bridge. They all got packed up and were ready to head out.
"Okay, I leave Naruto in your hands." Kakashi said to Tsunami as they all stood outside Tazuna's house. "He's pushed his body to the limit, overdoing it as usual, so he may not be able to move today at all."
"What about you though?" Tsunami asked. "You're still recovering yourself."
"What, do I look wobbly?" Kakashi asked with a chuckle. "I'll be okay."
"Come on, let's go." Tazuna requested and he and the Leaf Ninja set out for the bridge-in-progress.
AJ had been to the bridge once before, but it had made far more progress since then. By now it felt like land was just a stone's throw away. They had made it about half way across when AJ felt unusual emotions at the end of the bridge.
"Oh shit!" AJ exclaimed in distress as he suddenly willed a bow into existence before disappearing.
This caused Kakashi to grow serious and everyone started running towards the end of the bridge. When they got there they say all the workers were wounded, some of them unconscious but most were groaning in agony. AJ, who was now fused with Neko, was looking over them, trying to find out how they were injured. He could sense the ones who caused this, but he didn't want to fight them until Kakashi and the others were here, just in case.
"Shin! What happened!?" Kakashi asked when they arrived.
"They were attacked, obviously. None of the workers are dead though." AJ answered.
"I might as well tell you now." AJ started, when suddenly a mist filled the area around them. Suddenly the land that seemed so close was invisible. "Zabuza's back." He noted.
"Sasuke! Sakura! Get ready!" Kakashi ordered, and quickly surrounded Tazuna. "I knew he was still alive… He just couldn't wait for round two."
AJ chuckled. "Neither could I."
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Zabuza's voice was heard around them. "If I had known you wanted to fight me so badly, I would have come back sooner. I'm more interested in Kakashi though."
AJ heard Sasuke was trembling, but noted that Sasuke wasn't scared, he was excited.
"Pitiful." Zabuza said simply.
"He's coming." AJ said suddenly.
"Sasuke, Shin." Kakashi ordered.
Six Zabuza clones appeared and surrounded them, and in the very next instant, AJ and Sasuke took them all out.
"Oooh. So you could tell they were water clones?" Zabuza asked rhetorically. "That one brat's improving. Looks like you might have two rivals, Haku."
"So it seems."
Zabuza and the boy who was supposedly a Hidden Mist tracker both stepped forward.
'That voice. That scent. There's no doubt about it.' AJ sighed in disappointment. 'So is this what he meant when he said we would meet him again?'
"Well well, so it really was all an act." Kakashi noted. "What a cute little mask."
"Big phony." Sasuke said.
"So all that about being a tracker ninja protecting his village?" Tazuna asked.
"They seem to get along pretty well." AJ noted.
"They've probably been pulling scams like this for a long time." Kakashi added.
"He's got some nerve facing us again after pulling that trick!" Sakura yelled.
"And hiding behind a mask, even now? Who does he think he's fooling?" Kakashi added.
"Well speak for yourself, Sensei." Sakura noted.
If AJ wasn't in his combat state of mind he would have chuckled at that. She does have a point.
"That's it, I'm taking him out." Sasuke said. "Who does he think he's fooling? Hiding behind that mask like some sort of clown."
"Oh Sasuke! You're so cool!" Sakura fangirled.
Even AJ's serious battle mind faltered at that.
""Didn't he/I just say that?"" AJ and Kakashi said.
The masked boy, Haku, started the attack with a strange spinning move. He kept spinning rapidly, making him look like a tornado that slowly approached them. Sasuke and AJ both pulled put two kunai and prepared. Haku's spin abruptly slowed to a crawl as his Senbon needles clashed with Sasuke's kunai. He didn't stop spinning though, and his Senbon that he held in his hands soon bounced off AJ's kunai.
'Is he testing our speed? Really?'
"Sakura, stay back and protect Tazuna!" Kakashi ordered. "Let Shin and Sasuke handle this."
AJ retaliated and swung with his kunai, but Haku proved to be very fast as well and blocked the attack. Soon Sasuke and AJ were both attacking and blocking Haku's Senbon, creating sparks everywhere.
"We just want the bridge builder." Haku said while still attacking and deflecting. "If you just stand down-"
"Not gonna happen!" AJ interrupted.
"You're making a mistake, you won't be able to keep up with my speed." Haku said simply.
"Oh save it!" Sasuke yelled as he swung and actually almost hit Haku, but the attack was deflected as usual.
Haku kicked Sasuke away, but AJ kept up the assault with his kunai knifes. Haku kept blocking with just one hand, and used his other hand to make hand signs. One-handed signs were something AJ had never even heard of, so he tried to break Haku's focus, but he proved very capable of blocking with just one hand.
"Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death!" Haku said before stomping the ground, specifically the puddle they were standing in, causing the water to rise up and take the shape of a large amount of needles. AJ grew frustrated and blew away Haku with a wave of Aura before creating a glyph above him to block the massive amount of needles that descended on him.
"You're not so fast." Sasuke said as he appeared behind Haku as he recovered.
Haku ducked under a kick aimed for his head, so Sasuke slashed at him with a kunai. He leaned away from the attack, so Sasuke threw the knife at him. Haku was just barely able to duck under it, before he had to jump up to avoid a sweeping kick courtesy of AJ, who was behind him. Haku spun in the air to avoid a shuriken that Sasuke threw, before he quickly landed and jumped away from AJ's stab. The Faunus and Sasuke both stood together and attacked. Haku ducked under a swing from Sasuke, then leaned around a stab from AJ, then leaned back from a kunai thrown by Sasuke, then jumped back from AJ trying to claw him. Sasuke kept up and swung for his head, and he was just able to deflect it with a Senbon. He had no time to block the kick in the chest that came from AJ, knocking him back towards Zabuza.
"Wow, you really thought you were the quickest of the three of us?" AJ asked, disappointed. 'Seriously!? Zabuza is shocked!? That Haku guy is nothing!'
"I wonder what else you're wrong about." Sasuke said with a confident smirk.
"You made a big mistake insulting these ninja." Kakashi said. "Calling them brats? That's just guaranteed to bring out Sasuke's attitude, and he's the best young fighter in the Hidden Leaf. Sakura here has the sharpest young mind. Shin, I've taken to calling him 'The Angel of The Leaf'. And last, but not least, our number one, hyperactive, knuckle-head ninja, is Naruto Uzumaki."
'He's not gonna like that he missed this fight.' AJ mentally commented.
Zabuza suddenly started laughing. "Haku, if we keep this up, we're gonna be the victims instead of them, get on with it!"
"Right."
'Why is the air getting cold?'
"I'm sorry it had to come to this." Haku said before making a hand sign.
Suddenly the water sprung up behind them, turning to ice. The ice clumped together till it became a perfect floating mirror. More flawless mirrors appeared around them before they had a chance to react, surrounding them on all sides and above them. Before AJ and Sasuke knew it, they were trapped in a dome of mirrors.
"Crystal Ice Mirrors!" Haku said, before stepping into the mirror. His image suddenly existed in the mirror, as if he became a part of it, then the mirrors reflected his image all around them.
Kakashi ran over to help them, but Zabuza got in the way. Rather than fighting, Zabuza requested that they watch instead of fight. If Kakashi insisted on trying to help the two, then he would only have to fight Zabuza, that would take too long.
"Now we'll begin, and I'll show you what true speed… really is." Haku said.
Suddenly a Senbon flew by from a different direction than the voice had come from, cutting into Sasuke's skin on the way by. Without warning, they were suddenly barraged by needles from all directions, as if every mirror image was throwing needles at them. AJ's Aura was able to withstand the endless needles, but Sasuke had no Aura, and was getting cuts all over him. He was starting to bleed in a lot of different places.
"Just try to help them, and I'll kill the other two in a heartbeat." Zabuza threatened to Kakashi, referring to Sakura and Tazuna.
Sakura had had enough, and jumped up before throwing a kunai all the way over to the dome. Haku partially appeared out of one of the mirrors and caught the kunai before dropping it. Sasuke fell over, unable to stand through all the pain. He was also glad the needles had finally stopped. Suddenly a shuriken flew in and hit Haku right in the mask, stunning him and causing him to fall out of the mirror completely.
'Oh, I guess he won't be completely missing the fight.'
In a massive puff of smoke, Naruto appeared outside the dome in a dramatic pose.
"Naruto Uzumaki… is here!" He yelled. "Yeah! Believe it!"
"I believe that you're an idiot!" AJ yelled angrily. "You could have stayed hidden!"
"Hey! I'm trying to help you, jerk!" Naruto yelled back, quickly dropping his dramatic pose.
"He's right. You really are a loser…" Sasuke managed to say.
"Save your energy." AJ requested to the boy he was trapped with.
"Anyway, you know how the hero comes in at the last minute and kicks butt!? Cause that's what I'm gonna do, right now!" Naruto yelled confidently. "Alright! You're history! Shadow Clone Jut-"
He was cut off when he saw Zabuza throw a couple of shuriken at him. AJ quickly put up a glyph between Naruto and the throwing stars, but was surprised to see Haku throw a few Senbon that stopped the shuriken, making the glyph unnecessary.
"What are doing, Naruto!? Are you crazy!?" Sakura yelled in the distance.
"This is a battle not a talent show!" Kakashi criticized. "Don't let your enemy see you use your Jutsu!"
'You would think that was obvious!'
"The shinobi's art is deception! Always keep your enemy guessing!" Kakashi said. "Even when using a single Jutsu, one must distract their opponent's attention, catch them off balance, and outmaneuver them! You just turn yourself into a human target when you enter a battle like that."
Naruto realized his mistake. "Ah! I'm sorry! I was just trying to rescue everybody!"
"If we get out of this alive, you better learn your lesson." AJ commented. "Seriously, you need so much more training…"
"Haku? What are you doing?" Zabuza asked.
"Zabuza… this boy… let me fight him my own way, please." Haku requested.
"Bring it on!"
"So you want me to leave this to you, that it?" Zabuza asked. "As usual, you're too soft."
"Forgive me."
'He did avoid hitting vital spots with us, for whatever reason. It doesn't matter though.' AJ acted now that Haku was focused on Naruto. 'Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!'
Despite being made of ice, the mirrors gave zero fucks about the massive ball of fire that AJ breathed out.
"Oh come on!" He complained.
"That mask, and your bogus story, you were with Zabuza all along! You think you can get away with a stunt like that!?" Naruto yelled.
"I'm sorry." Haku said, surprising Naruto. "But it's as your sensei said: Deceiving you opponent? Catching them off guard? That is the art of the Shinobi. Please don't take it personally."
Sasuke threw a kunai at Haku from the side, and Haku simply leaned back to avoid it without even turning towards them.
"I may have let you get away with that fireball, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about you two, not for an instant." Haku said, still staring at Naruto. "You won't accept that you've lost!? Fine! Let us finish our fight, to the death!" He said before walking back into his mirrors.
"Hey where are you going!?" Naruto asked.
"It's okay Naruto. We'll have our fight next." Haku said.
'He's going to attack again… Should I just let him? Let him kill me?... I want to see her again… but I never will, will I? Maybe I should just die… Just stop living with no purpose… I… I can't do that… I want to die… but I can't just let this guy kill me… I'll die fighting… someday… but for now… I can't let these kids die.' "Kakashi! Agh!" AJ called out before the barrage of needles began again.
"Don't even think about it, Kakashi." Zabuza threatened.
The barrage stopped for a moment. "Kakashi! I need to do it!" AJ yelled again.
"No! You can't!" Kakashi yelled back.
"If I don't stop holding back we will die in here!" AJ argued. "I get that they need to improve and all, but let me fight for real!"
"Hey! Don't worry Shin! I snuck in here to save you guys!" Naruto whispered, suddenly crouching next to AJ and Sasuke.
"You are not helping right now, you absolute idiot!" AJ yelled. 'Holy shit it is hard not to swear at this brat!'
"I have had it with your mistakes!" Sasuke yelled.
"And I've had it with your guys' attitudes!" Naruto yelled back.
"Kakashi!" AJ yelled again, demanding an answer.
'I can't do something without leaving the bridge builder open, and Sasuke, Naruto, and AJ will die if I don't let him go all out!' Kakashi realized. "Fine! Do it!"
AJ stood up, glared at one of the images on the mirrors, and shot his arms out to either side as Aura came bursting out of him. The force of the Aura made it impossible for Naruto and Sasuke to stand, and even Zabuza and the others felt the power coming from him.
A single tear leaked out of one of his eyes. 'Blake… I miss you… I miss you so much…'
The rush of power came to an abrupt end when a needle went through AJ's neck and he froze. "What?... how did he?..." He lost all control of his body and collapsed.
"Ah! Shin!" Naruto cried out.
"That one was far too dangerous." Haku commented. "Now, you two." And the barrage of needles began again. Not a single needle was aimed at AJ's immobile body, and he was helpless to stop the attacks aimed at the Genin. All he could do was watch as they were cut up more and more. Haku stopped aiming to cut them, and his needles were actually sticking into their bodies.
"We gotta find the real one!" Naruto said.
"Look into every mirror as hard as you like, you'll never find the real one." Haku said.
"Oh yeah!? Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"No! Wait!" Sasuke yelled, but Naruto ignored him and all his clones attacked the mirrors at once. All the clones were taken out almost instantly, creating many a puff of smoke and knocking Naruto back to the ground.
"These mirrors only reflect my image, allowing me to transport myself at light speed." Haku said. "Through my eyes, you appear to be moving in slow motion."
"I couldn't get through, so what?" Naruto said. "I'm not gonna let him stop me! I'm not gonna give up and I'm not gonna lose here, cause I have a dream and no one is going to take it away from me! Someday I will be respected in my village! I will be the greatest Hokage!"
"There's nothing wrong with dreaming about going back, AJ." The Hokage said to him, on another day on the same cliff.
"Yes there is." AJ responded. "It's never going to happen, and I don't need a dream giving me false hopes."
"I keep trying to tell him otherwise, but he won't listen." Neko said in English.
"Maybe your mind doesn't want you to forget about them." The Third wondered.
"I want to forget about it all." AJ said sadly.
"The pain of remembering them is better than forgetting your friends, forgetting everything they did for you." The Third argued. "I said it last month and I will say it again, never forget the ones you love. Please AJ, please don't forget them."
"Third." The Third stopped and looked AJ in the eyes. "Don't ever call me AJ ever again." He demanded and glared at the Hokage.
"I will not respect this wish." The Third said, making AJ's glare become more intense. "I will not allow you to forget about them and everything that represents them. I will not stop calling you AJ just because that reminds you of your time on Remnant and all your friends. I will not let you forget your loved ones, so don't you ever stop dreaming about going back to your loved ones. Don't ever lose hope." With that, the Hokage walked away.
"It was not my desire to be a Shinobi, its painful." Haku said. "I don't want to kill you, but if you advance, I will have no choice. Then I will kill the kindness in my own heart, fully embrace the Shinobi way, and there will be no mercy, not turning back. This bridge will be the battlefield where our dreams collide. Now I must fight for my dream, just as you fight for yours. Please do not blame me. I fight for someone who is precious to me, I live for him, and I face death for him, so that his dream may become reality. That is my dream, and for the sake of that dream, if I must, I will act as a Shinobi, and take your lives!"
"Guys… be careful…" AJ managed to say before passing out.
He opened his eyes to find he was lying on his back, and someone was holding his head up.
"AJ! Come on! Wake up!"
'Who… who's saying that?'
Teary yellow eyes stared down at him.
'Wait…' "B-Blake!?"
"Please get up! You have to! You have to!" Blake cried out.
"Blake… I…" His vision blurred and his eyes closed again.
His eyes soon opened again and he saw Blake was still holding him, she looked over her shoulder, seeing something flying at her. "NO!" She yelled, jumping up and pulling out her katana to block the attack.
Sasuke blocked a Senbon that almost hit AJ in the face before rushing towards Naruto. He moved faster than AJ had ever seen and jumped in front of Naruto, who was down, taking all the hits that were meant for the blonde as well before kicking Haku and knocking him down.
"You always… get in the way, Naruto... It never fails…" Sasuke managed to say. Naruto looked up, and AJ just barely turned his head enough to see that Sasuke had needles sticking out of every point on his body.
"You beat him Sasuke!" Naruto said happily before realizing how many needles were in Sasuke.
Sasuke managed to turn his head slightly and look at Naruto. "You should see the look on your face… you look like a total loser…"
"Wait… why did you… save me? Why did you do it?" Naruto asked slowly, in shock.
"I don't know why… he came after you two and my body… just moved…" Sasuke answered, and he chuckled for some reason. "I… always hated you…"
"Then why!? Why did you save me!?" Naruto asked angrily, managing to stand up despite having needles in him as well. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask you to save me!"
"There… was no time to think… only time… to move…" Sasuke explain before falling back, with Naruto just barely caught him before he hit the ground. "He's… he's still out there… my brother. I promised myself, that I'd stay alive… until… I killed him…" He raised his hand slightly, as if reaching for Naruto. "Naruto… don't let your dream die…"
AJ could sense nothing from him… nothing at all… he was dead.
'No… If I hadn't been such an idiot! I could have saved them! GODDAMN IT! I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAVE THEM!'
"He found…" Haku started. "He found a strength he didn't know he had…"
Anger
"Why, you might ask? Because of a certain person who was precious to him. To save that person, he rushed in, knowing it was a trap." Haku stood up inside one of his mirrors again. "He was a true ninja, worthy of honor."
Rage
"Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle? This is part of what it means to be a ninja."
"Shut up…"
EVIL
A mist suddenly started appearing around Naruto as he rested Sasuke's body on the ground. "You'll pay for this."
Suddenly that mist turned into a dark red chakra that began swirling around him. The chakra tore apart the concrete floor around him as he crouched over his friend's body like a protective animal.
AJ had no control over his body, so all he could do was scream. Scream in absolute, overwhelming, fear.
Naruto looked up at Haku with blood red eyes, and darker, more prominent whisker like birth marks on his cheeks. "I'm gonna kill you."
All the needles were forced out of his body, and all his cuts healed in seconds. His finger nails grew into sharp claws, and his teeth grew longer and sharper. The chakra tornado took the shape of a fox at the top of it, and the creature roared.
Aura started flowing out of AJ's body, not even in his control. It swirled around him, as if trying to create a buffer between him and the evil red chakra.
The red chakra tornado faded away and Naruto began running on all fours at the mirror that Haku was in. Haku threw a trio of Senbon at him, but Naruto simply roared, releasing a wave of red chakra that blew away the needles. Haku quickly moved to another mirror before Naruto reached him. He then appeared on all the mirrors and unleashed Senbon that stabbed Naruto all over his body. Naruto flinched, but soon after shot his arms out to the side like AJ had while releasing a massive burst of chakra that pushed all the needles out of him.
Naruto rushed the mirror that Haku was in before he could react and punched the ice mirror, shattering it. Haku came out of one of the pieces of the mirror, trying to stab Naruto in the back from above, but Naruto spun out of the way without even looking. Haku tried to run back into his mirrors, but Naruto grabbed him by the wrist and cocked his fist back before slamming it into Haku's face, sending him right through one of his mirrors and sending him rolling away. All the other mirrors that were left shattered behind Naruto before he rushed at Haku who slowly stood up.
Haku's mask slowly broke off as he stood there, realizing that he could not beat Naruto. He simply awaited his death as Naruto descended on him…
…and stopped just an inch from hitting him.
He still kept growling for a bit longer, but soon relaxed and his eyes were back to their usual blue.
"So… that guy in the woods, that was you?" Naruto realized.
"Why do you not strike?" Haku asked, looking down at the boy in front of him. "Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade's death by killing me? Or was that vow just empty words?"
Naruto looked back at Sasuke's body before looking at Haku again, and growling as he tried to finish his punch, but couldn't bring himself to do it for a moment before he finally punched Haku, who simply stumbled back.
No longer gripped by fear and pain, AJ focused as hard as he could with his Aura, which was strangely hard to control at the moment. His Aura slowly pushed the needle out of his neck and slowly he began to gain control over his body again.
Haku fell from the punch, coughed up some blood, and stood up again. "No, that won't do. You're still holding back. If that is all the strength you can put into it, you will never keep your vow. Perhaps he didn't mean as much to you as you pretend. To show mercy to those who oppose the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live when you could strike them down… this is not compassion, it is a betrayal of your life's very purpose. For what reason do you exist then? You're of use to no one, your live has no meaning, it is mere existence. Day after day of pain and struggle, signifying nothing."
"Yeah well, speak for yourself!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Are you really that blind little one- I am speaking for myself." Haku explained before smiling. "This day has shown I am no longer any use to Zabuza."
"Why that guy anyway!?" Naruto asked. "To devote your life to a rotten skunk who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'honor'! If he's really the one person that matters to you, man that is the sorriest thing I've ever heard!"
AJ slowly walked up behind Naruto, sword drawn. Haku was talking, but he wasn't hearing it. He was just staring at the back of the clueless blonde's head. His head was filled with conflict and he couldn't hear anything, he couldn't even hear his own thoughts. He might as well have been mindless in that moment, where some strange instinct wanted him to kill, but the real him was trying to get control back. His head finally cleared and his iris', which had started glowing on their own, stopped glowing. He lowered his sword, before taking out a kunai and going to throw it at Haku's head.
"Naruto, if you do not do it, your friend behind you will." Haku said. AJ was finally able to hear again.
"Huh?" Naruto turned around and realized who was behind him. "Shin!? You're okay!" He said happily. AJ ignored him and simply got ready to kill Haku.
"I was not aware you were holding back the whole time we were fighting." Haku commented.
"I hope you don't hate me for that." AJ responded.
"Of course not. You gave the young ones a chance to learn, and when they were in danger, you dropped the act to protect them." Haku said simply. "Whatever power you have is great. You could have destroyed me and Zabuza at any point, couldn't you?"
AJ nodded. "Goodbye."
"Wait! Shin!"
For reasons AJ didn't know, he actually waited. "What?"
"It's alright. I can do it." Naruto explained before turning towards Haku and pulling out a kunai. "You know… if we met in another time and place, I think maybe we could have been friends… This is for Sasuke! Because he also had a dream! HAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Just before Naruto reached him, Haku's eyes widened and he grabbed the blonde's wrist to stop the attack. "Sorry Naruto… change of plans…"
"I won't let you!" AJ yelled as he appeared next to Haku, swung, and hit empty air. "Son of a-" He quickly ran towards Kakashi and Zabuza, where he felt Haku move to. If it wasn't for his emotion sense he would be running blindly through the fog. The fog was starting to lift though.
When he arrived, he saw Kakashi's hand, covered in lighting, stuck in Haku's chest. There was a lot of blood.
"So, my future's all used up huh?" Zabuza asked, laughing. Haku was standing between him and Kakashi. He had taken the hit from Kakashi's Lighting Blade for him. "Wrong again, Kakashi!"
"He saved your worthless life, at the cost of his own." Kakashi said. Haku smiled at him, somehow managing to stand and hold Kakashi's hand in place.
"Well done, Haku." Zabuza said before raising his sword, planning to cut through Haku to get to Kakashi. "I knew I'd found a treasure when I found you, boy! You've not only given me my life, but Kakashi's as well!"
A gloved hand caught Zabuza's blade and stopped it. Zabuza froze in shock while AJ, Aura flowing off of him, looked up and glared at him. "I guess I was wrong, you really don't care at all about Haku." He said, while Zabuza tried and failed to get his sword out of the Faunus boy's grip.
Kakashi quickly jumped back, cradling Haku's body and shutting the boy's eyes. "Shin…" AJ paused, realizing Kakashi was angry. "Step back. Zabuza's mine!"
AJ looked at Kakashi and let out an annoyed "Tch" before letting go of Zabuza' sword and backing off.
"Naruto! Over here!" Sakura yelled. "So you and Sasuke are alright!?"
'Oh… oh no…'
"Um…" Naruto couldn't find the will to say it.
"What's wrong!? Where's Sasuke?" Sakura asked, growing concerned.
"Sakura." AJ said, getting her attention as he walked over to her. "You… you need to just come with me."
"Where are we going?" Sakura asked.
"…To Sasuke…"
Sakura was still for a moment before he eyes widened as she realized what he meant. "No…
"I'd stay focused if I were you, Kakashi!" Zabuza yelled, charging. Kakashi responded with a kick to the face.
"I'll go with you as well, Sakura." Tazuna said. "That way you aren't disobeying your sensei's orders."
Sakura grabbed his arm and began running with AJ over to Sasuke, running right past Naruto who was putting all his focus into holding back his tears. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. There was no denying it once she got to his body, he really was dead. She fell to his side and cupped his cheek.
"His body is cold… this isn't just one of his Genjutsu tricks is it?" Sakura asked.
"I'm… so sorry… I failed to protect him…" AJ barely said above a whisper.
"Go on, you don't need to be brave on my account." Tazuna said. "Go ahead and let your feelings out, Sakura."
"Do it, Sakura. "AJ added. "I can't do that, but its better if you let it out. Go ahead."
"I was the best… aced every test in the academy. The perfect student." Sakura started emotionlessly. "Tazuna, did you know that there are more than one hundred principles of Shinobi conduct? I memorized every single one. I used to love it when they tested us on them, gave me a chance to show how smart I was." Her voice was clearly faltering at this point, and was only faltering more and more. "I remember, so clearly, this one exam. They asked us to explain the 25th principle, I got it right of course." She chuckled humorlessly and her breathe became shaky. "A Shinobi… never shows his feelings… no matter what the circumstances. Feelings are weakness, that only cloud his judgment and weaken his sense of duty." She finally let it out. "Sasuke!"
'Naruto… is overcome with grief… he thinks he failed… he's not the only one. Sasuke… is dead… and Sakura is grieving…
What the fuck is wrong with this world?
They're 12, give or take. They shouldn't have to go through this. Even if this is their choice to do this… on Remnant you were a bit older… you don't see full combat till you're 17… This is wrong, this whole fucking world is wrong. The way of Shinobi is fucked up! I don't want to be here anymore… I would take my Earth over this… Can someone just wipe my memory and send me back? I don't want to remember anything anymore…'
He came out of his own thoughts and saw the girl was still crying, then his eyes widened.
'Shit! I was so deep in thought I didn't notice!' AJ ran towards the end of the bridge, where Kakashi and Zabuza had been battling.
"Now both of your arms are useless, what now?" Kakashi asked, looking at Zabuza who had kunai in both is arms, making them useless. "You can't even make hand signs!"
"Kakashi!" AJ yelled, but he was too late to warn them.
"Did quite a job on ya, didn't he Zabuza? You look like yesterday's sashimi!" Everyone turned and saw a short man in a suit with black spectacles and a cane. "I must say I'm… disappointed."
Oh, and he had an army of men armed with many different kinds of blunt and sharp melee weapons standing behind him.
'So… that must be Gato.' AJ realized.
"Gato? I don't understand. What is all this?" Zabuza asked. "Why are you here, and who are these thugs you've brought with you.
"Well you see there's been a slight change in plan." Gato started, tapping his cane against the ground. "According to the new plan, you die right here on this bridge, Zabuza."
"What!?"
"That's right, you're too expensive, so I've decided to take you off the payroll." Gato explained. "Of course, even these thugs I brought with me cost something, so if you could manage to slaughter a few of them before they take you down, I'd appreciate it. Think you can manage that, 'Demon Ninja of The Mist'?" He said with a laugh. "Look at you, you look about as demonic as a wet kitten." The rest of the thugs laughed at this.
"Well, now that I see who you worked for, I'm surprised that you're surprised he did this to you." AJ commented to Zabuza.
"Well well Kakashi, it would seem our fight is at an end." Zabuza realized. "Since I am no longer in Gato's employ, Tazuna is safe. We have no quarrel."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Kakashi agreed.
" 'Enemy of my enemy' kind of fits this scenario as well." AJ commented.
Gato walked up to Haku's dead body. "That reminds me… You little punk! You grabbed me and nearly broke my arm! I've been meaning to repay you for that!" *Kick* "Heh, I only wish he was alive to feel it."
"GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU SCUM!" Naruto yelled, trying to run past Kakashi and at Gato.
Kakashi grabbed him from behind and held him back. "Stop! Use your head!"
AJ threw a kunai next to Gato's head, and the man flinched a little.
"Hey! Watch it, you!" Gato yelled angrily. AJ glared back strongly at him, eyes glowing, causing Gato to flinch.
"And what about you, Zabuza!?" Naruto yelled at the man in front of him. "You gonna let him do that!?"
"Be quiet you fool! Haku's dead, what does it matter?" Zabuza waved him off without looking back at Naruto.
"What!? You mean you can just stand there and watch him get treated like a dog!? You and Haku were together for years, doesn't that mean anything to you!?" Naruto demanded.
AJ wanted to destroy Gato and all his thugs… but he wanted to know what Zabuza had to say about this first.
"You don't understand the way of the Shinobi. I merely used him, just as Gato used me." Zabuza answered. "Now it's over. His usefulness is at an end. The loss of his strength and skill? Yes, that means something to me. But the boy?... Nothing!"
"If you mean that, you're an even bigger rat than I thought!" Naruto said angrily.
"Okay, that's enough. Calm down Naruto, he's not the enemy, not right now." Kakashi said, resting a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto angrily shook his hand off. "Shut up! Far as I'm concerned, he's enemy number one!" He yelled, pointing at Zabuza's back. "Why you…grr… you ungrateful… After everything he did for you… Haku lived for you! You were the most important thing in the world to him! And he meant nothing to you!? NOTHING AT ALL!? While he was sacrificing everything for you, you really didn't feel anything at all for him!? And if I become stronger… does that mean… that I'll end up being as cold hearted as you are!? He threw his life away! AND FOR WHAT!? FOR YOU AND YOUR DREAM!?" Naruto's emotions got the best of him and tears were leaking out his eyes. "You never let him have a dream of his own, but he didn't care… and you just toss him aside, like he was nothing!? A broken tool… man that's so wrong… that's so wrong!" Zabuza hadn't even tried to respond to anything Naruto said, didn't try to answer a question, didn't try to defend himself, he just let the boy get everything out first.
AJ's eyes widened greatly in shock. 'Oh my god… he's crying.'
"You talk too much…" Zabuza finally said, still not turning around. Tears were freely flowing from his eyes as well. He tilted his head back slightly and looked up at the sky. "You're words cut deep, deeper than any blade. While he fought you, his heart was breaking in two. You see, Haku was always too soft and too kind. He felt pain, sorrow, and now, curse him, I feel them too! And something else… I feel content that this is the way it ends for me… You're right, I should have seen this coming. I did, really, and I did nothing to stop it."
Using only his mouth he was able to rip the bandage like wrapping around his mouth, revealing his sharp teeth. "Well… cat got your tongue?" He asked, turning his head slightly towards Naruto. "Are you so surprised to discover that I'm human? Even Shinobi are human, no matter how hard we try to escape that simple fact, we always fail." He smiled. "Well… at least… I have failed. One of you! Give me a kunai!" AJ slowly walked up to him and handed him a kunai, which Zabuza took and held in his mouth before rushing Gato and his men.
"Ah! That's enough of this! Do it! Take him down now!" Gato ordered while he ran and hid behind his men, who were foolishly confident that they could take down Zabuza.
Zabuza ran through the mob with ease, cutting people with the knife in his mouth, or kicking them down. He was able to flawlessly dodge blades of all shapes and sizes, well, except for the spear that was stabbed into his back. But, he didn't stop there, he kept running through the mob, taking down any that got in his way. Eventually he broke through to the other side, at the edge of the bridge, where Gato had foolishly trapped himself. In that moment of fear, he saw why Zabuza was 'The Demon of The Mist' before Zabuza ran into him and stabbed him with the kunai. That was when a couple more spears were stabbed into his back, making it about six sticking out of him.
"You crazy fool…" Gato said weakly, stepping out of the way. "If you're so eager to join your friend, go ahead. But you're not taking me!... Not this time!"
"I won't be joining Haku." Zabuza corrected. "Where he's gone I cannot follow." He began walking towards Gato, slowly.
"Stay back! Stay back!" Gato foolishly ordered, backing towards the edge.
Zabuza got real close to Gato and leaned forward to look him in the eyes. "No my friend, it's the other place we're going to! You and me both, Gato! I can't think of a more fitting destination for a demon ninja, can you!?" Zabuza asked, smiling evilly. "I'm told there are many demons down there, of all shapes and sizes! Oh yes I should fit right in! You on the other hand, Gato, well I fear you are in for a long and painful eternity!" He swung his head from side to side, slashing Gato multiple times with the kunai that was still in his mouth before one final slash threw Gato off the bridge.
*Splash*
Everyone was dead silent for a moment, then Zabuza turned towards the thugs, who all recoiled in fear and got out of his way. He dropped the kunai and slowly walked towards Haku's body. He didn't make it, however, and fell on his knees. "Haku…" He said weakly before totally collapsing.
Naruto looked away.
"Don't turn away!" Kakashi ordered. "When you live like a warrior, this is how it ends."
Discomfort
'Wait… Sasuke!?'
"Naruto! Shin! Look!" They heard Sakura yell, and the boys turned to see Sakura, Tazuna, and Sasuke all standing. Sasuke even hesitantly waved at them.
'Haku must have aimed to not really kill him!'
"Well well, will wonders never cease." Kakashi commented, smiling under his mask. "Amazing."
AJ sighed in relief. 'I really didn't fail them… Thank you, Haku.'
"Don't go getting too comfortable!" One of the thugs yelled, all of them grinning and wanting to fight.
"This party ain't over yet! Who's gonna pay us now that Gato's gone!?"
"No way we're gonna leave here empty handed, so we'll just have to hit that village and see what they've got for us!"
"Normally that wouldn't be good… but…" Kakashi started.
"Sooo… are you saying I can handle them for you?" AJ asked hopefully.
Kakashi grinned under his mask. "They can safely rebuild whatever you break afterwards… Have fun."
AJ grinned madly at the thugs. "Alright!" He let out a large amount of Aura, making the thugs take a step back.
"So! You're just one guy! You can't stop us!" One of the thugs yelled before they all charged.
AJ smirked, sensing many emotions behind him. Suddenly a crossbow bolt landed between the thugs and him. He looked behind him and saw Inari, armed with a crossbow, and all the other villagers, armed with other weapons as well, farming tools and the like.
"There's one little thing you're forgetting about!" One of the villagers next to Inari and Tsunami started. "Before you set one foot in our village, you'll have to go through all of us!" All the villagers cheered and lifted up their weapons.
"Inari!" Naruto said happily as he looked at the boy at the front of the mob.
Tazuna couldn't help but shed a tear of joy as his grandson and whole village were finally standing up for themselves. Now the thugs were starting to look scared.
"No way I'm letting you guys have all the fun! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled.
"Oh please! You're not gonna have anything left to fight when I'm done with them." AJ said before running so fast he basically teleported right through the mob, leaving feathers everywhere. "HAAAAAH!" He smashed the ground, shooting out a wave of Aura in all directions that knocked all the thugs down or off the bridge and into the water. Naruto and AJ began taking down the rest that were on the bridge while they tried to run onto their boat that was off to the side of the bridge.
A few actually managed to make it, but AJ decided to leave them alone. They had scared them off, that's what mattered. Everyone cheered happily as they were finally safe, save Kakashi. He walked up to Zabuza, who was still on the floor.
"Sounds like it's over." Zabuza commented. AJ walked up to them as well. "Kakashi, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Take me to him." Zabuza answered. "Before I go I need to see him one last time."
"Sure." Kakashi answered.
The cheering soon stopped as everyone saw Kakashi carrying Zabuza, who now had no spears in his back, and AJ walking by his side.
An unusual phenomenon forced everyone to look up at the sky.
"Snow? At this time of year?" One villager said.
"Impossible!" Another exclaimed.
Normally he would have liked snow, but right now it just made AJ sad.
Kakashi gently set Zabuza down next to Haku's body as the snow continued to ever so slowly fall. "Thank you, Kakashi…" Zabuza turned and looked at Haku. "You were always at my side, the least I could do, is to be beside you at the end…" He fought through the pain and slowly moved his hand towards Haku's face. "I know it cannot be, but… I wish I could go… to where you have gone. How I wish I could… join you there. Haku…"
The clouds parted slightly and let a ray of light shine on Haku's face.
Naruto, despite being in tears, spoke. "He told me…*Sniffle* Where he came from it was always snowing. *Sniffle* All the time."
"Of course… his spirit was as pure as the snow." Kakashi realized.
AJ sniffed hard, sucking in his tears as he looked down at Haku and Zabuza. "As… as someone who is part angel… I would like to vouch for Zabuza to go… to heaven. I… I think he's earned it. I might be a bit biased… but I think those two shouldn't… be apart…" He said quietly.
"Maybe he will join him there… who's to say?" Kakashi said just loud enough for AJ to hear.
AJ decided to leave before he started crying, disappearing to anywhere but there.
Eventually he joined up with his team again, as they stood on a cliff, with two cross's stabbed into the ground, and Zabuza's blade resting nearby. There was a beautiful sunset going on at the moment.
"Is that really it, Kakashi sensei?" Sakura asked. "Is that the ninja way? To use and be used by people, like tools?"
Kakashi took a second to think about his answer. "Shinobi are all merely tools in the hands of destiny, no point in wondering whether it's right or wrong, it just is. It's the same in the Village Hidden in The Leaves."
"Well if you ask me, if that's what being a ninja is all about, something's out of whack!" Naruto said.
"Absolutely." AJ commented.
Naruto looked down sadly. "Is that why we go through all this training? Just to end up like them?"
"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi sighed. "Well… it's a question without an answer, and that is something we ninja have to deal with for the rest of our lives. Like Zabuza… and the kid…"
'This world is so wrong… I have to get out of here somehow…'
"Okay!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed, like he had decided something. He looked up at the sunset. "I've just come to a decision! From now on, I'm finding my own ninja way! A way that's straight, and true, and without any regrets! From now on I'm following the way of Naruto!"
AJ smiled. "You know, you may be incredibly annoying, Naruto… but you're not all bad."
He figured Naruto wouldn't really take that as a compliment, but the blonde actually turned and gave him a big smile. The Faunus didn't get why Naruto felt so proud right then.
With no one to get in their way, the bridge was soon finished, and Squad 7 was ready to cross that bridge to head home.
"We could never have finished the bridge without you! I can't tell you how much we're going to miss you!" Tazuna said as he and the whole village stood before the ninja to watch them as they left.
"Do be careful." Tsunami added.
"Thank you, for everything." Kakashi said politely.
"Now now! Don't get all choked up!" Naruto said. "We'll come back and visit real soon!"
Inari was fighting back tears. "You swear you will?"
Aaaand Naruto started tearing up as well. "Of course. You know, Inari, it's okay to cry if you want. There's nothing wrong with that. Go for it!"
"Who says I'm going to cry!?" Inari asked. "Anyway, if it's alright to cry, why don't you go on and cry!?"
"No! You first!" Naruto demanded, sounding like he was straining himself just to not cry. Both of the fools were about to break down. "Forget it!" Naruto yelled, turning away so Inari wouldn't see that he had started crying. There was nothing to be done at that point but to start walking across the bridge, so the Leaf Ninja did just that.
"Shin!" AJ heard Inari yell as they were walking away. He looked over his shoulder at the crying boy, who wiped his tears away from a moment and smiled at him. "Thank you for keeping your promise!" He thanked, waving. AJ smiled slightly and gave a thumbs up back to him before continuing to walk away.
"Haha! As soon as we get back, I'm gonna have Iruka sensei fix me up a whole mess of ramen to celebrate a mission accomplished! Oh! And just wait till I tell Konohamaru about all my adventures! The kid's gonna worship me!"
"Hey?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah?" Naruto said hopefully.
"Not you, Naruto!" Sakura denied. "Sasuke! When we get back you wanna out and do something together?" She asked hopefully.
"I don't think so, thanks." Sasuke answered simply.
"Oh…okay…"
"Sakura! I'd do something with you if you want!" Naruto suggested hopefully.
"Hey!" Sakura lifted him up by his collar and shook him. "That was a private conversation! Beat it!" She yelled, throwing him off the bridge.
AJ glanced over, then decided he didn't care enough to do anything about it and simply kept walking.
FINALLY I'M DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER!
Yeah, AJ has been holding back SO MUCH because Kakashi told him to. The kids will only improve if they fight, so AJ can't go beating everything. With that in mind, it would have been so easy to just have him kick Haku's ass, but I couldn't. I COULD NOT CHANGE THE WAY THAT ENDS. The way Haku and Zabuza die nearly brings me to tears, it makes me sad and it makes me love the bad guys and hope they go the heaven. I couldn't change that! I couldn't! I will, however, be a bit less lenient with other canon scenes, and I will also stop having him hold back as much.
Ads are a pain and I've had to resort to watching the Naruto episodes on Youtube… yeah… not fun…
Well, anyway, hope you found this chapter… satisfactory… I guess. It's hard to make a character be the center of things when he doesn't want to do anything…
Follow, fav, review if you want, just don't flame.
Have a great week everyone!