Sorry this took so long. I got sidetracked by my Naruto/Fairy Tail crossover and other stories for a bit. But the main reason was also that I was having trouble with this chapter. I knew what I wanted to happen before and after the fight but it was the fight itself that was giving me blanks. Now I've come up with something so I can get back to this. But first, review responses.
Pyr00tje: Yes it will. The gauntlet actually is an important part of Naruto's character, as is the 'weapon' I mentioned he has earlier.
nxkris: No Naruto doesn't know Hirashin. Rasengan, I'll just freely admit yes since it's revealed in this chapter.
Anonymous guy called 'Question': Make an AU of my AU? I will say it would seem fun, but in reality I don't think I will. I put effort into making his former teammates seem realistic and to get people to like them but at the same time I didn't want them to become major players. They were always meant right from the get-go to get killed off and cause Naruto's change from happy-go-lucky idiot into the dark-yet-caring person I'm setting him up as. While I love how you and everybody else seem to love Koji and Sakuya, they were never meant to last.
06 – The Power of Experience
"Dream child. Dream of the 'brother' you admired. Dream of the girl you came to love. Dream of the happiness they brought. Of they loneliness they saved you from. And then child, dream… dream of the red moon that took it all away…"
"This looks promising." Haku muttered to herself as she knelt down and plucked an herb from the clearing she was coming up on. Looking around she could see the clearing was filled with different herbs that could be useful to her or her master. With a slight smile she continued her work and gathered them up until she moved further into the clearing and froze. Lying up against a tree, clothes torn and dirtied in various places, was the blonde boy from Konoha. The one who had stolen Zabuza's sword and ruined his fight against Kakashi. The supposed 'Kurai Kitsune' that Zabuza had told her was to be killed if he got in their way again or refused to return Zabuza's prized blade. Haku narrowed her eyes as she slowly stalked up to his prone form to look him over when she froze at the sight of his face. It wasn't the calm he showed during the battle or even the amusement he had shown when arguing to keep the sword. It was twisted in pain as he twitched occasionally in his sleep. It was almost as if he was having a nightmare. But of what, she couldn't possibly know. That was when Zabuza's words came back to her.
"Haku, that blond brat. Stay away from him if you can. Only fight him if you must. He's dangerous and I'm not sure on whether or not you could defeat him." Zabuza ordered as she laid him down in his bed to rest and recover. She frowned slightly at his caution considering normally he would praise her as someone even he would hate to face.
"What's so dangerous about him?" The former swordsman merely sighed as he rested his head back against the pillows before explaining.
"I don't have the full story here Haku. I don't think anybody does outside of Konoha or Iwa, since it was them he rampaged against. You saw those two with him right? Well did you hear me ask if they were new or weak and his reply of both? He had a couple teammates before those two. I don't know what happened since everybody is really tight-lipped on it but the word on the street is that they got killed in front of him and he snapped. Sort of like how you said you did against your father and that mob." Haku flinched slightly when he brought that up before nodding. That pain from losing her mother and then being called a monster from her own father, coupled with the fact her own father was trying to kill her made her lose control of her powers and kill them all before she calmed down to see what she had done. She had then run and shortly after met Zabuza. If this boy had a similar experience, she could only imagine how badly he reacted to kill so many with a smile. She was slightly curious as to how the boy kept moving on since she could only do so after Zabuza found her and took her in. Did he have someone precious to help him through his pain?
"Just avoid fighting him if you can Haku." Zabuza repeated, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I'll try to handle him after dealing with Kakashi and I'll make sure to get my sword back too." Haku merely nodded as she left to gather some of the supplies that would be needed to get her master back to full strength, but her mind kept wandering back to the blond.
"I wonder… What exactly happened to you that you can only show your pain when you sleep?" Haku muttered as she came closer to the boy as he slept. She had wanted to speak with him and see what he was like outside of a combat situation. Maybe get to know him and see how he was dealing with his loss. However she also knew this could be her best shot to take him out for her masters' ambition. He was a threat, and a thief too now that she remembered it. It was obvious the blade wasn't on his person currently, he probably had it sealed away or left it back at the bridge builders' house. She would have to find it. But for now she could do something she'd been thinking about for the past couple days. Slowly her hand reached out to him.
"Get out of here! Run!"
"Koji-nii!"
"Naruto-kun move!"
"Sakuya-chan! NO!"
"NO!" Naruto shouted as he woke with a start. Instinct kicked in as he wasn't alone and he had the girl pinned by her throat in less than a second. His gauntlet covered left pinning her down and slowly choking her as his right was cocked back with a ball of swirling blue chakra. But all Haku noticed were his eyes. They were blood red, no pupil or anything else. It was just as if his sclera was blood red and had overtaken the rest of his eyes. Yet through the dark and violent glare they held, she could see the pain coursing through them. Naruto was about to slam his jutsu into her before the whispers of his darkest day stopped and he realized he wasn't dreaming anymore. His features softened as he actually took stock of what he was doing, pinning a random girl down by her throat and about to use an A-rank jutsu against her for no reason at all. With a gasp he dropped the jutsu and let go of her as he stumbled back, his eyes returning to their normal blue hues shortly after. The girl started coughing and rubbing her throat as Naruto was panting from the adrenaline rush he had woken up with. "Oh Kami, I'm so sorry. I just did all that off instinct, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."
"It's *cough* it's okay. I shouldn't have snuck up on a sleeping ninja." Haku apologized as she rubbed her throat where his metal covered hand had been choking her. After a few seconds she looked up to see Naruto just staring at her with a frown on his face and a look that obviously was guilt. "Really, it's alright."
"I still feel bad about it. I mean, I just attacked you for no reason. Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?" Haku just stayed silent for a moment before looking around the clearing.
"Well I was picking herbs before finding you sleeping here. If you have the time, I wouldn't mind some help getting them all." Naruto just gave a slight smile and nodded as she began to point them out for him to grab. As they worked she figured she'd try and make small talk to learn more about him and his team. Plus since he really seemed truly sorry about attacking her, she figured he'd never suspect her to be an enemy or having ulterior motives. "So, ninja-san, what were you doing out here? It's not exactly good to sleep in the middle of the woods. You could get sick."
Naruto suppressed the urge to snort at that. He couldn't get sick, Kyuubi pumped his immune system up to the level that even poisons couldn't kill him. Slow him down temporarily yes, but never kill him. "I'm here with my sensei and teammates to guard someone as they work. But last night, well I got a little frustrated with the clients' family so I came out here to blow off some steam. Must've fallen asleep afterwards I guess." Naruto answered. Haku merely nodded as she plucked a few more herbs.
"I see. So what happened? If you don't mind that is." She added, actually curious to what could possibly set him off to know to avoid it. Naruto shook his head before responding.
"The clients' grandson said some stuff that he didn't have any right to talk about as if he knew it all. It just got under my skin and I argued a bit before heading out here so I wouldn't snap and attack him."
"I see. But aren't ninja supposed to be in control of their emotions? I mean, that's what I've heard from the few ninja I've met before."
"I know, but this… What he said had really hit close to something I'd rather not talk about." Naruto answered quickly, showing he didn't want to talk about that subject anymore. Haku was slightly discouraged but decided to drop it and turn to something else.
"So you said you're here with your sensei and teammates. What're they like?"
"Sensei is alright, just really lazy when he can get away with it. But my teammates… One's a stuck up prick and the other is a useless fan girl to said prick. I honestly don't want anything to do with them." This actually caught Haku off guard as Zabuza told her Konoha practically beats teamwork into there children's heads. That was partially why Konoha was seen as the strongest, they always worked together and covered each others faults to the point they were a near unstoppable machine if they could actually build up the momentum. It's why Zabuza would always try to separate any Konoha ninjas he came across from their teammates as they would always work together to fight more effectively than most could handle. To hear that this boy wanted nothing to do with his teammates was strange considering everything she knew of his village.
"Why is that? I mean aren't you teammates? Doesn't that mean you're supposed to work together? Be friends?" His response caught the girl even further off guard. He scoffed the moment she said friends.
"They aren't my real team. Don't get me wrong; when needed, I'll work with them without a problem. But outside of those situations they do nothing but get on my nerves. We aren't a real team, just people stuck together due to outside influence and need. My real team…" Naruto's eyes seemed to glaze over as he thought back to them. "My real team died a long time ago." Haku was silent as she gathered up the herbs the two and picked and placed them in her basket to carry before she stood.
"Do you have anything precious to you?" She suddenly asked, catching the boy off guard. "Anybody you care about and would do anything to protect? Because I believe, that when a person has something precious to keep safe, that is when they gain true strength." Naruto smiled as he stood.
"Preaching to the choir there. I've always lived my life to protect others. I know what you mean and agree with it. But it's when you lose the things that are precious to you, that your strength becomes your greatest pain as well." Naruto shook his head before walking off. "It was nice talking with you. And again, I'm sorry about when I woke up." Haku just nodded her head and walked in the opposite direction. After talking with him she could see, the boy had lived like her. He wasn't a bad person, but rather he just seemed to have lost his way after losing those precious to him. Much like she would if Zabuza were to be taken from her. 'I'm truly sorry we must be enemies. I feel that we might have been friends had we met under different circumstances.'
"Ah, Naruto. Welcome back." Kakashi had just stepped out of the house when he saw Naruto walking up from the woods. After taking a look at his slightly disheveled appearance he blocked the frown that wanted to come out. "Are you up to watching over Tazuna again today Naruto?"
"Let me shower and change into clean clothes and I'll be good."
"Okay then. I'll be taking Sasuke and Sakura out again to train them up some more. Send a clone if something happens." He said as the two named genin stepped out behind him. Both saw Naruto and while Sasuke was trying to stare at him curiosity while keeping his aloof and uncaring appearance, Sakura couldn't bring herself to look anywhere near him. Sighing to himself Naruto walked past but as he came by the genin he spoke a little bit and kept walking.
"I neither need nor want your pity because of my life story. Just focus on getting stronger so that you can stop it from happening to you or those you care for." Sasuke and Sakura looked at him in slight shock as he just walked past them into the house. They didn't have to be ninja to tell that he was still mad about what Inari had said last night, it was written all over his face. But they weren't expecting him to say something like that. The two turned to each other silently before Sasuke just shrugged and walked off towards where Kakashi was waiting with Sakura following a moment later after glancing back at the house one last time.
As Naruto came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around himself, heading towards the room his team was staying in, he caught Inari watching him from his door. When Naruto turned and faced him he flinched and closed the door to hide himself. Naruto shook his head and continued on to get dressed and head out. Behind the door though, Inari was thinking about what Kakashi had told him last night.
The boy was sitting at the pier nearby their house just staring out at the water with a few tears coming from his eyes as Kakashi walked up and sat next to him. After a few minutes of silence, the boy asked the question on his mind. "Why?"
"You're going to have to be a bit more specific."
"Why doesn't he cry about it all? Why does he act like nothings wrong?" Kakashi sighed as Inari asked but this was originally why he came out in the first place so he answered him.
"Because he knows crying doesn't solve anything. The last time he cried was at his old teammates' funeral. He hasn't shed a tear since, as if they all just dried up. When he was young, crying just seemed to make the mobs attack him more. When his old team died, crying didn't bring them back. He seemed to figure that crying about his problems just made people dislike him more. It never brought anything positive, so he just stopped doing it. He was like that when we were all a team together too. He never cried, no matter how bad an injury he got or anything like it. And then when his old team died he cried about it for a while, but he saw that it wasn't doing anything so he just stopped." Kakashi turned to find Inari looking up at him and repressed another sigh at how the boy was still crying. "Listen Inari, what you said really got to him. Naruto has had a horrible life for the most part. And the worst part about it in his opinion, is that he knows there are others out there that have had it or do have it worse than he does. He didn't mean to snap at you, but seeing how you are when you live what many would consider a good life just rubbed him the wrong way." The man stood as he turned back to head into the house s Inari turned back to the water. "Make sure not to stay out to late, your mother would be worried sick about you." After hearing the boy mutter and 'okay' Kakashi headed back inside to let the boy think things over.
"Sensei?"
"Yes Sakura?" The two genin were still running up and down trees for training with Kakashi keeping an eye on them while reading his book from a little ways off. Well, Sakura was running up and down. Sasuke was still having trouble reaching the top before falling off and restarting at the bottom.
"Do you think you can help me when we get back to Konoha with something?" Sasuke was resting for a moment and looked to the scarecrow to see him shrug as Sakura was resting up in a branch. She had been getting better at holding the chakra flow while running up and down as she could do it for an hour and a half now before she had to rest. "I don't want to be a weak link to the team." Kakashi gave a smile at her attitude towards bettering herself.
"We'll have to wait and see when we get back to Konoha now won't we? If anything, I can have Naruto train Sasuke in using his new sword and give you some pointers and tricks to use when we get back. I'm proud that you're going to start training harder Sakura." She just nodded as she took another deep breath to fill her lungs before jumping down from the branch and starting her runs up and down the tree again. Sasuke also got back to his runs shortly after. While he was a little miffed that Sakura might be getting one on one time with their sensei, he remembered what Naruto said when they first became a team.
"…Sensei and I were fine on our own but the council was throwing a fit to get him to teach you. The only compromise Hokage-sama could do was to place you on my team. They wanted to just drop me and have him exclusively teach you."
After seeing his Sharingan, Sasuke could easily tell that was why the council fought so hard to make sure Kakashi would be his sensei. As the only other person in Konoha with the Uchiha kekkei genkai, only Kakashi could teach him the subtleties of it that he couldn't learn from anyone other than another user. While he was glad to know people cared about his education that much, after getting to know Naruto and Kakashi, he was not liking how the council seemed to be putting him above everything else. He liked that they wanted to give him the best, but he never wanted to get that at the cost of taking it from another. Killing Itachi was his goal, but he didn't want to be considered as bad as the man to do it and actions like that could build resentment towards him and his clan once he got around to rebuilding it.
Besides, he figured training one on one with Naruto wouldn't be too bad. He didn't have his Sharingan yet so there wasn't anything Kakashi could truly teach him that would be something only he could use. And Naruto said he had a weapon. Since it didn't seem like Kakashi had one then this would probably be something Naruto would be able to help him with better. So let Sakura get her special training from Kakashi, he had another source to make sure he still got strong enough to do what he must.
The days passed without incident for the rest of the week. Naruto would watch over the bridge with Tazuna while also making clones to help build. Thanks to the memory feedback of the clones, they wound up getting better and more competent each day to the point that the old man would simply give them simple orders and they'd get straight to work without having to be taught what to do. Sasuke made it to the top of the tree two days after Naruto's little explosion while Sakura was able to last three hours on the fourth day. Kakashi wasn't going to start them on water walking until they returned though so since Sasuke finished before Sakura he started him on physical exercises to get him stronger to use the Kubikiri upon the return home. For Sakura he merely taught her a concealment genjutsu so that she could hide herself and her allies from her enemies. There wasn't enough time to make her strong enough to be offensive and she knew it as well so he instead gave her a technique to keep her alive longer and help Naruto or Sasuke.
"Alright guys, it's been a week. If the damage done to Zabuza has been treated correctly then this will be around the time he can start showing up to attack so we're all going to the bridge to guard Tazuna. Naruto, leave some clones behind to watch over the house." Kakashi ordered as the three genin were eating breakfast. Naruto silently nodded and created ten clones that then all went off to get into defensive positions around the house while staying out of sight. While Tazuna was a little worried at what Kakashi had said, he felt safe in their hands so was willing to go along with it all without complaint. After eating they all headed to the bridge but what was found upon their arrival was troubling. A thick mist over the bridge with all the men either knocked out or dead. Tazuna wanted to run up to them but Kakashi held his arm out. "Sakura, you guard Tazuna. Sasuke, Naruto; you both handle any helpers Zabuza has. I'll take the man himself."
"Oh, you think the brats are gonna be any good against my apprentice Kakashi?" Slowly the mist cleared up enough for them to see they were surrounded by a group of Zabuza clones. The real Zabuza stepped up further down the bridge with the fake hunter at his side. Across his back was what looked like an ordinary broadsword. "I'm going to take back my sword too Kakashi. Can't believe I had to bring out my old training blade." He muttered at the end as he adjusted the blade on his back.
"Naruto, Sasuke. If you would please." Kakashi calmly spoke and the two boys nodded, Sasuke with a smirk as Naruto's face was a cold glare. The two vanished from sight but then reappeared back to back in front of Kakashi as all the clones dropped into puddles of water.
"Heh, I expected that from the blonde but you've been working the other one pretty hard haven't you? Haku here may have a challenge now." He taunted while on the inside both of them were worried. Zabuza believed he could handle Kakashi if he went at him right and he was sure Haku had a chance against the blonde. Or at the very least could hold him off enough for him to finish off the S-ranked foe he had before he would join in and then they would double team him. But with another of Kakashi's students able to fight, Haku's chances had dropped considerably, but they needed to appear confident to try and throw off their enemies. It was a commonly employed tactic that worked fairly well against the young or the new right away and could through off the more experienced after a bit of effort. Make it appear that nothing is bothering you and that everything is going your way and the enemy will be unnerved by how everything they do 'seems' to be failing and they could lose their cool and mess up. Then you swoop in for the kill and bitch about how close they really came to winning afterwards. If you showed how things unnerved you then the enemy would be quicker to employ the strategy against you. "Well Haku, why don't you go play for a little while so me and Kakashi can have some fun." Zabuza said as he waited for Kakashi to make a move. Haku merely took a few steps forward before vanishing.
"Too slow!" Sasuke shouted as he rushed forward with a kunai and parried a strike from Haku's senbon. The two traded a few blows before Haku jumped back to dodge a flaming fist from Naruto that struck right where she was a second ago. The girl had never really been happier to where a mask as she was frowning and sweating just from being to close to the hit. 'My fight with just the Kurai Kitsune was already going to be difficult. With this boy here, I don't think I could win!' Haku ducked under a kick from Naruto before holding Sasuke's kunai back with a senbon needle. "Give up. You can't take both of us on." Sasuke taunted. While she knew it was true, she didn't let that fact slip and instead replied as if it wasn't bothering her that she was fighting them.
"Oh really? Well I feel as though I have the advantage right now." Sasuke looked confused before she raised up one hand and started using one handed seals for a jutsu. This got Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi to go wide eyed. 'She can use one handed seals?' Was the simultaneous though of all three before Haku stomped the ground to activate her jutsu. "Suiton: Sensatsu Suisho!" (Water Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death) As she did, the water from Zabuza's clones rose up and formed needles that surrounded Naruto and Sasuke before launching themselves at the two at high speeds. Both boys channeled chakra to their legs to dodge and managed to get away without a hit as Haku merely stood up straight and looked them both over. "What's wrong? I thought I couldn't fight both of you at once?"
"You sure we need to do this?"
"Gato doesn't think Zabuza can do it, plus he plans on taking him out afterwards anyways. This is just a little extra insurance incase the guy actually does lose again." Two thugs spoke as they were walking up to Tazuna's home. They didn't bother trying to knock or anything but rather just kicked the door in and walked inside. Tsunami was in the kitchen making lunch for herself and Inari when the door went down and froze, terrified of what they were there for. "That her?"
"Yep. Listen here lady, you're coming with us by order of Gato." Before either man could make a move though they all turned when Inari walked into the room rubbing his eyes.
"What's all the noise kaa-…?" The words died in his throat as he saw the thugs staring at him.
"Do we need both of them?"
"Nope."
"Good, I wanted someone to test my new sword on." Both men smirked as one walked over and was about to draw his sword to kill the boy when Tsunami shouted at them.
"Touch him and I'll bite my tongue off! He's just a little boy, leave him out of this!" Both men scoffed at her when one came up and grabbed her.
"You're lucky kid. You can thank mommy for saving you're worthless life."
"Or he can cover his eyes, because he won't want to see this." Both men froze before the one near Tsunami found his hand ripped off her and stabbed with a kunai, a Naruto clone standing in front of him and glaring at him. Before the man could react Naruto struck him in the head with another kunai killing him as his partner growled at him.
"You little shit! You think I'm going to let you get away with that?" Before he could make a move though he was gripped from behind and had his head violently twisted, breaking his neck. The Naruto clone behind him merely looked down at his body with a cold glare.
"I hate killing, but you bastards just couldn't leave well enough alone could you?" He muttered before turning to see Tsunami hugging Inari close. "Do the two of you know of any other safe places you could go until all this is over? If they came here then that means that Zabuza is attacking at the bridge." When Tsunami nodded he sighed. "Good, we'll escort you there before dispelling. Boss is gonna need every bit of chakra he can get to fight."
"Damn. You okay Sasuke?" Naruto asked as he stopped moving. Sasuke was right behind him panting but otherwise okay so he nodded his head in reply. After Haku had revealed she could use one-handed signs, the fight had taken a small turn for the worse. Small in that, Haku knew Sasuke was weaker than Naruto and started targeting him so that he would have to devote his energy towards protecting him rather than blowing the fake hunter away. After a particularly close call with another water needle attack, Haku activated a jutsu that surrounded them in a dome of ice mirrors, showing that the boy had a kekkei genkai. He then entered the mirrors and was now too fast for Sasuke to see and Naruto was having difficulties keeping up himself. Especially since the girl continued to focus mainly on Sasuke. "If there was ever a time for you to get your eyes, now is it!" Naruto growled as he looked from mirror to mirror trying to find where Haku would strike from next. Since her image was reflected in all of them though, he was only making it so that he had the slightest of warnings of when she would attack.
"Just stop protecting him and I'm sure you could stand against me Kurai Kitsune. He seems to be nothing but dead weight to you anyways." Haku taunted. She sounded confident but on the inside she was cursing her luck and barely holding out. While Naruto couldn't reach her since he was too busy protecting Sasuke, he had been tossing kunai in her direction and getting extremely close. The boy was used to high speed combat, and if he could divert his full focus to her she would've already lost and she damn well knew it.
"Dead weight? I'm an Uchiha! I'm the best there is!" Sasuke shouted as he ran through hand-signs for a jutsu. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" He shouted as he launched a fireball at one of the mirrors. However he was shocked to see that the mirror hadn't melted in the slightest.
"These mirrors are made from my bloodline, the Hyoton. (Ice Release) They're reinforced by my chakra so that they can withstand fire. A weak jutsu such as that wouldn't be able to harm them." Haku explained as she readied senbon in both hands and even raised them up to make a showing of it. "As I said, dead weight." She taunted again before needles were launched out at high speeds from every direction. Sasuke didn't even get to see what happened before Naruto shoved him to the ground and started deflecting them with a kunai in his right and his gauntlet with his left.
"Sasuke, what did I tell you? A name means shit if you can't back it up! And right now, you can't so don't fall for her taunts and get sloppy damn it!" Naruto shouted as he blocked the last needle. Sasuke stood up scowling but didn't say anything. Naruto was the only reason he wasn't beaten yet and he hated it. But he still couldn't handle any shots to his pride like being called dead weight, that's why he reacted so poorly. "The only other fire jutsu you know is that multi one from a week ago right? Meaning that one you just shot was your strongest right?" Naruto asked and Sasuke nodded. "Alright then, I think I have a plan. Launch another one, but this time; aim at me."
"What? Why would I shoot at you?" Sasuke asked in shock. Secretly he would love nothing more than to beat the boy for all the hell he had already put him through, but he recognized that that could happen later. Right now they had to work together.
"My Hitsume is about as strong as your Gokakyu but if that couldn't do it then I know mine won't either. I have a couple other fire jutsu but none of them would work in this situation. That's why I'm going to use the full power of my gauntlet." Naruto explained though Sasuke was still lost. "Listen, I'm honestly a wind element. Meaning fire jutsu are extremely hard for me and will always be my weakest jutsu. The Kiba no Makai was a gift and it helps me get around that since just by channeling chakra into it I can create and manipulate fire. If you launched a full power fireball at me I could then use my gauntlet to enhance its power and redirect it to the mirrors." Seeing his plan Sasuke nodded and was about to gather the chakra for the attack when another barrage of needles flew out. Sasuke brought out a couple kunai and stood back to back with Naruto as they began deflecting them.
"If you believe I'll just let you use an attack that has you so confident, then you're sorely mistaken. Zabuza-sama ordered me to take care of the two of you, and I will not fail."
"Tch, another Mizu Bunshin. When are you going to stop copying my moves and actually fight Kakashi?" Zabuza called out as he cut through another clone in the mist he had created. The two had started up shortly after Haku trapped his two students in his ice mirrors and had mostly been attacking clones of the other as they tried to catch them off guard. Zabuza would attack what seemed to be the real Kakashi just for him to substitute with a water clone at the very last second and then retaliate just for Zabuza to do the exact same. The Kiri nin hefted up his broadsword on his shoulder as he had his eyes closed and went about locating his foe through hearing. This was what he felt was a mistake in the first battle; he tried to go against Kakashi's Sharingan head on. A retarded strategy even if the man wasn't a true-blooded Uchiha. You never go against those eyes straight on unless you know you're vastly superior. Kakashi was S-ranked and he was A, even without the eye charging head on was a stupid idea. Kakashi used to be A-ranked like himself. However after the incident that spawned the Kurai Kitsune he apparently had upped his own training and soon pushed through the boundaries of the top level, joining the few legends in their world as an S-ranked threat. Zabuza though, had not believed the hype and ended up paying for it in their first fight. Now he knew better, and still he knew he was only holding out because his stealth was better and because the man couldn't see through his mist. If he lost either advantage then he was most likely done for, especially since he was using a crappy sword and not his Kubikiri.
"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!" Kakashi shouted as multiple small fireballs flew out of the mist at Zabuza. Rolling out of the way Zabuza used a Shunshin to get near Kakashi and swung his sword down. Rather than cut through a clone this time though, he was parried by a kunai. "You know, if you still had your real sword I might not have tried this Zabuza." It was then Kakashi noticed due to their close proximity that the man had both of his eyes closed. "Oh? You've been fighting based on hearing alone? That's pretty good."
"Spare me the compliments. If I opened my eyes you'd catch me in a genjutsu and that would be the end of it."
"True, but not all genjutsu are sight oriented you know." He replied getting the man to gasp and jump back as Kakashi whistled. Thinking he might've been caught Zabuza froze and went to pulse his chakra for a release when he was bit down hard on all his limbs by various dogs, all with vests and Konoha headbands on.
"What the? What kind of genjutsu is this?" Zabuza shouted out as he opened his eyes to see the dogs holding him in place. Kakashi just chuckled getting the man to look at him.
"Not a genjutsu, I lied. I summoned those dogs during our little game of hide-and-seek in the mist quietly. They've been waiting for the opportune moment to pounce this entire time."
"But how could they track me when they couldn't see me?" Kakashi just flicked at his nose making Zabuza feel stupid that he didn't notice it.
"When you're eyes don't work, just follow your nose. These are my specially trained ninja hounds, only an Inuzuka hound could possibly match them. It's over for you Zabuza."
"Damn it! We need an opening!" Naruto shouted as he deflected more needles away from him and Sasuke. Things were starting to get out of hand. Haku had been upping her needle barrage with each passing run and Naruto was starting to lag behind. He and Sasuke had a plan they were sure they could use to win but couldn't get the opening to use it. While Naruto was sure he could simply outlast anything the fake hunter tried, he was confident that Sasuke couldn't and could possibly die. Despite his dislike of the Uchiha, it was something Naruto would never allow to happen. "I can't keep guarding you like this. Not when she's upping her speed to levels that would take me going all out."
"You've been holding back?" Sasuke asked incredulously as he pulled a senbon out of his arm. This bit of information really got on the boy's nerves because if Naruto had been holding back, then why didn't he stop and simply destroy his opponent?
"My full power can't be used when allies are nearby. It's too destructive and I don't have that much control over it. You might get killed in the backlash." So that was why. Well Sasuke was torn between hating how Naruto seemed to be casually dismissing his strength and slight happiness at how he refused to risk harming his teammate. Seeing Haku ready another attack, he shoved the thoughts to the side and focused on keeping himself safe so that Naruto wouldn't have to.
'Come on focus! I'm not going to rely on Naruto to protect me! I can do this. I just need to see her and then I can counter.' Sasuke thought as he kept his eyes focused on the mirrors. With a slight twitch the senbon started flying and while Naruto was deflecting them with ease, Sasuke was barely holding them back and even saw the blond blocking a few that were coming a his blind spots. 'Come on focus!' He kept straining his eyes as he blocked more of Haku's attack as he slowly came to see a small shadow moving from mirror to mirror. 'Focus…' The next barrage came and Sasuke was staring to do a little better as the shadow seemed to gain a human shape. 'Almost…' Sasuke suddenly tossed his kunai at one of the mirrors as the needles stopped, just as the shadow seemed to jump into it. Naruto smirked over at his comrade as the raven haired boy pulled out another kunai.
"Finally starting to see things, aren't you?" Sasuke just smirked back at him. Haku however was having different thoughts.
'He's starting to catch onto me like the other one. I need to end this now before it's too late.' Preparing more senbon in between her fingers for an assault Haku quickly leapt out of the mirrors and started launching pinpoint strikes at her enemies' nerves. However it was not to be as Naruto was still able to block every strike coming for him and Sasuke was able to as well, though with some effort. Again, just as Haku returned to her mirrors a kunai bounced off it. This time though it was far closer to actually hitting her and she knew it. Looking up at the boys she gasped at seeing Sasuke. "Your eyes…"
Sasuke looked confused as Naruto looked over and grinned. "Well well well… Someone finally caught up." Seeing Sasuke was still confused he pointed to the kunai in his hand so he could see his reflection. A grin matching Naruto's broke out upon seeing the red eyes with one tomoe in the left and two in the right.
"Sharingan." He whispered as he looked back up and smirked towards the blond as he got into a ready stance. "What d'ya say we use that plan of yours now?"
"I say it's about damn time!" Naruto shouted back as another barrage of needles came from the mirrors. Now that he had the Sharingan, Naruto didn't bother to protect Sasuke but rather deflected all the needles aimed at him. It wasn't needed anyways as Sasuke blocked them all himself before turning to Naruto and running through hand signs as fast as he could.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" He shouted as he launched a large fireball towards his teammate. Naruto grinned and charged chakra into the gauntlet on his fist before seemingly reaching out and grabbing the fire. With a large yell his chakra output spiked noticeably as he seemed to raise the fireball above his head, his eyes closed in focus with a bit of sweat rolling down his face.
"This is stronger than last time Sasuke. You really have improved. But now I'm gonna show you, just why I'm a B-rank ninja!" The fire in his hands flared before growing larger and turning a light blue as the flames intensified. Sasuke watched in awe as Haku was in her mirrors staring in shock. 'I can't let that hit me! I'll be finished!' She thought as she began to launch senbon at the blond as fast as she could. Sasuke saw and was about to move when Naruto shouted. "Duck! Now!" Sasuke hit the ground as Naruto spun around and began to swing the fire around himself, melting the senbon before they could hit. Even after the threat of the needles was gone he didn't stop but rather kept spinning, spreading the blue fire into a ring around himself. "Take this!" Naruto suddenly stopped spinning and pulled his gauntlet out of the fire before reaching back and punching the ring directly in front of him. The result was instant. The ring expanded and blasted all the mirrors, barely going over Sasuke's head as he felt the heat from the jutsu across his back. The mirrors when hit shattered on impact. Realizing she wouldn't be able to recover her technique Haku cut the chakra to it and leapt out of a shard only to see Naruto in her face before she could react. He quickly punched her in the stomach, getting her to fold over his face, before he delivered multiple punches to her chest and finished his barrage with a spinning kick to her face that sent her rolling along the ground.
"So strong…" Sasuke muttered as he stood up. He could easily see, especially now that he had his bloodline, Naruto was far more powerful than a genin. In fact, he'd say he should be a jonin with the strength he had. So why was he still at the lowest rank in the system? Why hadn't he been promoted yet? Sasuke watched as Naruto walked up to the false hunter before shaking his head and walking over himself. That was a problem for another time. "So what're we gonna do with her?" Naruto shrugged his shoulders before looking over to where they heard sounds of chirping birds. The mist began to clear and they saw Kakashi dash forward with a hand of lightning and stab Zabuza in the chest.
"Don't know, but for now we'll tie her up. With Zabuza gone, things should be simple now." Naruto said as he reached into his pouch and pulled out some metal wire and tied the girl up so that she couldn't move. That was when they heard the tapping, like wood hitting concrete. The pace was recognizable as a walking stick. Everyone turned to the noise to see a short man in a business suit walking up the unfinished side of the bridge.
"Oi Zabuza, I see you fucked up yet again huh?" He sneered before actually seeing Kakashi pull his hand out of Zabuza's chest. "Oh my, you truly did fuck up haven't you?" He mocked as Zabuza weakly turned his head to the man.
"Gato…" He muttered before facing Kakashi again. "Take… take care of… Haku for me."
"We'll try our best Zabuza." Kakashi promised as the Kiri nin closed his eyes and collapsed. Kakashi turned to face Gato as the mist finally cleared up showing that he had hundreds of bandits behind him, all looking at the ninja with grins and sneers.
"Ha, so much for the 'Demon of the Mist'. More like kitten. Now you, ninja! Stand aside and let me kill the bridge builder and you'll be allowed to live." Gato ordered. Kakashi calmly walked up to Sasuke and Naruto, seeing they had defeated and tied up their opponent before nodding.
"Good job you two." He said, clearly ignoring the business man, much to his irritation and rage. "How are your two on injuries and chakra?"
"I'm good sensei, you know why." Naruto muttered as he kept a cold glare on Gato and his thugs. Sasuke just shrugged.
"A little numb in my arms from the chicks senbon but otherwise I'm alright. Oh and I woke up my Sharingan too." He said as he smirked at the older man. Kakashi nodded and gave and eye smile.
"Congratulations Sasuke. When we get home, I'll help you out with that."
"HEY DON'T IGNORE ME!" Gato shouted, turning the Uchiha and Hatake's attention back to the short man. "I said move aside! Or do you want to die?"
"Tazuna's bridge is the hope for this country. We're not about to let you stop him. Today, you fall Gato." Kakashi calmly declared. Gato snarled before waving his arm forward to get the men to charge at the three.
"Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique) With a large blast of smoke the bandits froze because when it cleared was an army of the blond boy all glaring at him the way the original was just a few seconds ago. Even Gato was scared stiff. "I'm gonna give all of you one chance." Naruto spoke. "Leave Gato and this country for good, or die here and now." The bandits barely took anytime to think as they started to run back to the ships they had to bring them there. A few even tripped over themselves and were slightly trampled before struggling to their feet and running away. Yet all of them had left Gato, gave him a wide birth in fact, as they ran. Said business man had fallen on his ass and was staring up at the army the boy had summoned in fear as the original calmly walked forward.
"Wait!" Gato cried out as the boy kept his slow walk forward. "I'll give you whatever you want! Money! Land! Women! Power! I'll give you anything! Just leave me be!" He cowered as Naruto stopped in front of him. He waited with baited breath before Naruto struck him hard in the head knocking him unconscious. He quickly tied the man up before dispelling his clones and walking back.
"You couldn't give me what I want." He muttered as he rejoined Sasuke and Kakashi. The elder merely nodded his head as Sasuke looked impassive at the display. Inwardly he was both awed and jealous. Mainly at how Naruto had made so many Kage Bunshin with such ease. He was also fully expecting the blond to just kill Gato and be done with it, but apparently Naruto had different plans. The three, plus two captives, calmly walked over to a seemingly empty portion of the bridge before the air seemed to shimmer and Tazuna and Sakura appeared.
"Good work keeping Tazuna hidden with your genjutsu Sakura." Kakashi complimented before facing said bridge builder. He had picked up the hunter and was holding her under his arm as Naruto had Gato over his shoulder. Sasuke merely had his hands in his pockets as he looked on impassively. "Tazuna, Nami's troubles are over. Naruto." HE told before turning to his student as the blond merely dropped the man at Tazuna's feet. The old drunk's face went wide with shock before he smiled back at the ninja.
"Thank you, for everything. You've saved our country." He bowed to them getting Sakura and Kakashi to look a little sheepish while Sasuke merely smirked. Naruto though had a look of detachment as he picked Gato back up.
"Let's just head back to the house. I'm tired from today and I just want to sleep." He muttered before walking away. Tazuna just looked at him as Kakashi sighed but started to follow with the rest walking up shortly after.
Omake – A True Team!
"Where is that guy? Seriously, I kinda figured yesterday was a one-time thing!" Koji shouted out as he was pacing back and forth with his arms crossed. Sakuya was leaning against a wooden stump in the training ground, catching up on some missed sleep as Naruto just sat nearby petting Kairi and watching Koji pace. "Ya think you or Sakuya could prank him again? Maybe get him to stop being late by it?"
"I don't think it'll work twice Koji. Plus, I don't want to waste possible supplies cause he said we gotta test." Naruto replied before Kairi barked. Koji turned around to see Kakashi walking up with an eye-smile and a wave.
"Hello."
"You're three hours late you fucking ass!" Koji shouted, waking Sakuya up from her sleep. She stretched for a second before standing with a yawn as Naruto also stood up, setting Koji's partner down for her to run back by him.
"Well you see, a black cat crossed my path so I had to take the long way around to ward off bad luck." All three children knew this was a lie somehow, but he continued as if nothing was wrong. "Now, for your test."
"What is it?" Sakuya asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two bells. He showed them the items before tying them to his waist.
"This is the test my sensei put me through, and his sensei before him. You have to do everything in your power to get a bell by midday. The one who doesn't get a bell, will be tied to the stump and go without lunch as well as be sent back to the academy." This got one to widen his eyes in fear of failing, one to narrow his eyes, and the final to simply looked confused.
"But there's only two bells. It's like you're purposely setting someone up to fail!" Sakuya stated and Kakashi nodded.
"I am, and your point is?" When none of them had an answer he looked from face to face and nodded. "Alright then, start!" He called out. In an instant Koji threw down a smoke bomb. When it cleared, all three were gone. "Huh, I kinda expected one to straight out attack me. Guess they know the purpose of hiding. Well, I'll give them five minutes before I actively search for them." He muttered to himself as he looked around.
"Let me go Koji! I need a bell! I'm not going back to the Academy!" Naruto shouted before the older boy smacked him in the head and shushed him.
"Something's not right with this test." He muttered as Sakuya nodded in agreement next to him. "My tou-san never said anything about a three man team. It's always three genin and a jonin. Always. So why would he purposely fail one of us? It doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, I mean, he can't do that can he? He has to either pass or fail all of us together, not only one." She added which is when Koji's eyes widened before he face palmed.
"Of course, together. Man I'm an idiot." He dropped his hand and grinned. "It's gotta be a test of teamwork. The bells are meant to drive us apart so we fail no matter what. But if we work together, than we can get them and prove we're ready to be ninja. I can't believe I didn't realize it. Teamwork is the first thing an Inuzuka is taught since we work with our ninken from young ages." Naruto looked confused as Sakuya nodded her head in agreement.
"But what if you're wrong? What if we get the bells but he still fails one of us?" Naruto asked the elder boy. Koji just shrugged.
"Then I'll give you my bell. I'm Rookie of the Year. Another semester at the Academy wouldn't hurt much." The blond seemed satisfied with this so he nodded as Koji started to think of a plan. He would suggest something and then Sakuya or Naruto would add their opinion. Both showed surprising ingenuity that Koji guessed was from their shared love of pranking before they all agreed on a final plan.
"Okay, waiting time is up. Time for me to start hunting them." Kakashi muttered to himself as he walked out to the woods surrounding the clearing and looked around. He didn't make it very far before he activated a trip wire that launched kunai at him. Showing his skill as a jonin, he dodged each with ease. He even managed to catch one by the ring and swing it on his finger lazily. "You're gonna have to do better than that kids." He called out while walking before activating another trap. This time he chose to deflect the kunai, though he noticed a couple weren't even aiming at him but rather they shot past him and activated other traps that continued to launch more kunai at him. Since he was stuck defending he couldn't close his eyes fast enough when Sakuya jumped out and launched a few flash bombs directly at his face. As he was blinded he heard more kunai being thrown and dodged just to here something run past him, narrowly missing him as he used a Shunshin (Body Flicker) to get some distance. 'Okay, that was a good try. Was that all her or did the others help?'
"We win sensei!" Naruto called out as he looked confused before looking down to see that the bells were gone. The three walked out with Koji smirking as he and a grinning Naruto held a bell with Sakuya smiling along with them.
"That… that was fast." Kakashi remarked before shaking his head. "I take it the kunai I dodged after the flash was aimed at the bells?"
"And the figure that almost hit you before you ran off was Kairi jumping for the bells. Had to make it convincing you know." Koji added on as Kakashi nodded. While he took it easy on them, he was still surprised to see that they had gotten the bells so quickly.
"Alright, that was a great plan. But now it seems that Sakuya will be going back to the Academy." Kakashi said, hoping to see if they actually knew the true purpose of the test.
"No she won't." He was surprised to see Koji toss her his bell. "We realized this is supposed to be a test of teamwork, but if you really wanna be an ass and fail one of us then I agreed to take the fall since I'm the one who brought us together and risked failing." He was then surprised to see half a bell thrown at him and turned to see Naruto had broken his bell in half.
"No way, I was gonna charge in like an idiot if not for you. Plus, sensei never said we needed a full bell. A broken one should work right?" He grinned as he held out his half towards their sensei who looked from face to face with a stern expression.
"Is that your final answer?" All three nodded so he smiled. "Congratulations, you all pass. Koji was right; it was a test on teamwork. And at the same time, Naruto came up with a way to pass all of you within the rules too. He's right; I never specified that the bells had to be whole." Said boy grinned as he rubbed the back of his head. "Alright you three, take the rest of the day off and meet back here tomorrow for training and missions. Ja ne!" He ordered as he disappeared in another Shunshin. As soon as he was gone Koji turned to his teammates with a grin.
"That was awesome. And thanks for the save attempt Chibi."
"I'm not a chibi!" They both laughed at his shouting about Koji's nickname for him before Sakuya walked up and knelt down.
"Hey calm down now. We're all a team so we've gotta get along right?" She asked with a slight smile getting the boy to grin and nod. "Good, so I'll see you tomorrow, Koji… Chibi-kun." She added at the end getting Koji to start laughing as Naruto started ranting and chasing after her as she laughed. Kakashi watched from the trees with a grin of his own. He was gonna like his team.
A longer than regular chapter but I figured it would be best to make up for all the time I spent on other stories by giving out something bigger as an apology. Anyways, next chapter is the return to Konoha and a few small interactions before starting up the Chunin Exams, which I have almost fully planned out. A couple more Omakes will happen of time with Naruto's old team, including a very youthful encounter. Read, review and favorite please!