I just want to say that i'm sorry for the wait. I know its been a long time. I'll just say that my job took up most of my time and then there was family problems. yet I do present you with a very long chapter. hopefully that makes you less mad at me.
I do want to say that I finely got a lap top. I know, I may be behind in that area. lol but i'm getting use to this and i'm not us to windows 8. so most of the story may have some grammar problems. i'm sorry if there are.
also, to everyone following this story it makes me happy to know. I get that warm feeling in my stomach. lol. I hope you all had a good holiday, may that be what it was and have a wonderful new year.
I hope you like the chapter and it was worth your wait.
Chapter 6
After over hearing Sakura and Inari talk they quickly walked back to the room they slept in thinking about her words and her actions up until now. They wondered who the boy lost that made him angry and Sakura responses to the boy. More or less they knew Sakura was a private person, calm and non violent. Yet on this mission they have seen her calmness slip away and a less composed show up. What was it about this mission that changed her? It wasn't until those two rogues showed up and they decided to continue that brought this change. What was she scared of if she didn't fear this 'Gatoh' guy? Was it the assassin? Was that why she had no more room to fear a stranger as she put it? What or more like who is this 'devil' that she has seen? What did they do to her?
Naruto who was laying on his back staring at the ceiling let out a sigh. "The more I think about what she said and her behavior lately. I feel like I don't really know Sakura-chan." He said sadly. Friendship is so important to him and learning that his second best friend hasn't been very open with him is distressing.
Sasuke who was sitting against the wall face out towards in the room looked over at Naruto. Damn, here we go again. "You still know her the best out of all of us." he spoke.
"Do I? Because I'm starting to think I don't."
"It probably has something to do with her pass dobe."
"I know that teme but it's not just that. The more I think about it what do I really know about the present? Sure I know what her favorite food is, favorite color, that she use to be really shy but now quieter and some other little things but it's the bigger things I don't know. Like, I never meet her parents. What do they look like? Who does she resemble more? How does she act around them? Where do they live? Why did she stop being friends with Ino? When did she start being friends with Choji and Shikamaru? Who else is she friends with that I don't know? Why is she acting different now? Things like that."
Sasuke watched on in silent as his friend pulled at his hair. These were matters he didn't think Naruto actually wondered, he usually just shrugs things off and moves on but how much was he really pondering things in silent's? Guess the idiot was less then an idiot he thought.
"Why are you asking me these things and not her?"
"I'm not asking you, I'm just saying and she won't answer them. I've tried going to her house but she said I couldn't, that her parents don't like visitors. You know she doesn't want to talk about what happen with Ino. This is so frustrating!"
Sasuke let out a sigh. What was he suppose to do? He didn't like a brooding Naruto; he was supposed to be happy and hyper while he got to sit back. That's how things go. "So what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know."
He groaned. "Here are the facts; she has secrets that probably mean she's not ready to tell you. So are you going to stop being her friend or what?"
Naruto sat up leaning on his hands. "What no, I'm not going to do that. That's mean. It's just…that I don't want so many secrets between us."
"She'll tell you when she's ready."
Team seven found them selves in a small clearing an hour later being promised to train for the coming battle. They weren't to far from the house encase they needed to get there fast for any reason. Kakashi-sensei stood with crutches to help him stand.
"Alright, training starts now. We will review Chakra. It's the basic source of power. Understand Chakra is important."
"We know that." Sasuke piped up.
"Yep, learned about it long ago." Naruto said with a nod.
"Good then you can tell us about it." Kakashi said.
Naruto gulped. "Right..so um..Chakra…"
Kakashi gave a sigh, he thought as much. "Sakura please review it for us."
"Chakra is the elementary life force ninja's use in jutsu's. Source of all his power. It has two forms, a physical form and spiritual form. They both must be drawn out and work together to use a jutsu. Then hand signs to release the Chakra."
"Gah, isn't it more important to get the jutsu right? What's with all the complicated words?"
"Naruto's right, we are already using it in our jutsu's." Sasuke said.
"No you've barely touched the service of mastering this. So far you've just been guessing on how much to use and hoped that it was enough. You're wasting Chakra that way and with no balance it's all worthless. The jutsu won't work or it will just be a joke. You are wasting energy that way and you won't to able to fight, just a target."
"So how do we change that?" Naruto asked.
"You must train so hard that it becomes second nature. To achieve this goal you must be able to put your life on the line."
"How do you want us to do that?" Sakura asked with a small space before the word us that she hoped no one noticed. She kind of already knew this.
"Climb a tree of course." Kakashi said so calmly
"WHAT! Is this a joke?" Naruto asked shocked.
"No, there's just one rule. No hands." He put his hands together and drew chakra to his feet. Walking to a tree he put his foot on the bark and started to walk up it with no hands and with his crutches. The sight was so shocking to the boys yet Sakura found it a bit funny that she had to hold back a laugh. Once he was on a branch upside down he spoke again. "You get the point now. You must focus the chakra to the sole of your feet for balance."
Sobered up Sakura asked a question. "How is this going to help us with Zabuza?"
"The soles of your feet are the hardest to balance both Spiritual and physical chakra too. Enhanced ninjas can have a hard time mastering it. If you can do this then you can master any jutsu…Theatrical of course. The second point is; is to maintain your chakra. In battle it is hard to focus the right balance. This must become second nature as well or it will be fatal. You need to learn this better through training." He ended his speech and threw each a kunai that landed in front of there feet. "Use those to mark the highest point of the tree you reached. With out your hands and then try to get past that. First take a running start to the tree until you get use to it. Go when you're ready."
They picked up the kunai's and picked a tree they would use.
"This is going to be easy, believe it." Naruto said. He closed his eyes and focused chakra to the bottom of his feet. Once he felt he got the right amount he started off toward the tree. One step. Two step. And he fell right onto his back in pain. "Ow!"
When Sasuke had thought the amount of chakra to his feet was right he started for the tree as well. He got half way to the lowest branch which was really high before he put too much into his next step making a foot print into the bark. Before he fell back he marked his spot and landed on his feet on the ground. Harder then I thought. To much and you get repelled and not enough you fall back like Naruto.
Kakashi watched them after they tried, still in the spot he stood upside down on the tree. Well that was what I expected from them. And now...
Sakura was standing upside down on the branch looking down on the boys who didn't have as much luck as her. Yet it wasn't luck since she knew how to do this already.
"It seems the female of our team has best chakra control, not that I expected any less." Kakashi said and quiet proud of her.
Naruto had thought it was cool and said a form of congratulation and Sasuke wasn't happy that a girl bet him. Sakura smiled at the positive attention and showing off a bit she ran along the branch. At the end of it she jumped towards the next closest branch to land on. As she was in the air her hood fell back revealing the smile that lit her face. Her arms went back and her one leg was in front as her other leg was behind her body in an upside down V shape. She loved that feeling being free in the air with the wind in her face. As she landed on the branch she took a moment pause and took off again doing the same thing two more time before stopping at the tree Kakashi-sensei was on. She felt renewed by the motion. Like a cold drink on a hot day. That free, weightless moment takes over and you forget the trouble in life for a second. Which it had.
A fake cough was heard before Kakashi spoke. "Well it seems you learn quickly or perhaps learned this before?" he directed his question to Sakura.
She gave a small blush of embarrassment by the looks her team mates were giving her. She put her hood back up hoping to hide it. "Hai Sensei. I have." She spoke softly.
"Hmmm… well, while the boys are working on this, I'll have you do something else." he decided.
Kakashi-sensei stood before the deck that leads onto a small river as he had instructed Sakura how to walk on water five minutes ago. He would have demonstrated for her yet she wouldn't let him saying he needed to rest, so she was going on his words. She was smart so he didn't think she did not understand.
As he was waiting for her to try the lesson as he thought about earlier in the day. When he went to get the boys for there lesson he happened to over hear some of their conversation. Basically they were worried about the pinkette and on Naruto's part a bit miffed with his friendship with the girl. It seemed with his unconsciousness she took on a leader roll that annoyed Sasuke and didn't bother Naruto. Hearing this didn't bother him either, glad to know they weren't lost with out his guidance. Sakura was really showing her worth on the team and as a kunoichi during this mission.
This led him to his own observations of the girl. Way back when he got their file reports he didn't think much about this team, an Uchiha who was expected great things from, a boy who pulls pranks that showed that he obviously wanted attention but also needed to grow up and a girl from a small clan that didn't seem extraordinary in his eyes. In his first meeting with them they did look like an odd bunch but each one sparked an interest. The Uchiha wanted to branch away from the famous clan, Naruto wanted to be the Hokage to a village that detested him and a girl that held hate behind a mask that may be struggling to live beyond it. In the test he gave them to see if they were worthy to train it was her that put the clues together and got the team to pass. His first team. She trained hard; he knew she studied hard too. She worked on her flows and was improving in ways the boys weren't.
During the beginning of this mission he sensed her transformation. As they left the village she shared more about herself, seemed more relaxed the farther they got away from it and then there was the point she tensed up. Minutes later they were attacked and she knew it was coming unlike the boys. Thinking about the fight with Zabuza, he did wonder how she knew of him, of his technique because even though she whispered it as he spoke he did hear her. And she got a hit on him and knew it was a clone right away. How did she know he wondered. Then as it was led to believe Zabuza was killed he was aware of her demeanor, she seem to repel at Naruto's anger and cringe into herself. Yet he didn't have time to worry about his students emotions on the matter at the time since they needed to get away from the spot and then he pass out from using to much chakra.
When he woke feeling sore he knew that someone else was in the room. He was surprise to see that Sakura was in there and it seemed too have slept there all night. Giving it a thought he figured it was because she was the teams medic and was doing her job. Then he noticed she didn't look to be sleeping peacefully. Her body switched at times and her breathing wasn't slow. A bad dream he figured. It wasn't long after that she made a pained nose before she woke up hasty looking around fearfully. She hadn't noticed he was awake and he didn't say anything for wanting to see what happened. She calmed down and stared at the floor in thought. She wasn't hiding her facial expressions so he got to see her face crunch up in distaste, fear, and a flinch was soon followed and then annoyance. Soon she seemed too calm down and he made his presents known. When she came back from getting him a drink she was kind enough to turn away and he noticed she didn't even try to get a look at his face. It pleased him that she respected his wished on the matter and it amused him a bit that she frowned at seeing him sitting up when she told him not too. He also found it amusing that she tripped Naruto the way she did. Sakura was usually more collected.
A movement before him brought him back to the present to notice that Sakura had still not done what she was told. "Sakura," he called out. "Do you need me to explain it again?" he walked closer to her a bit concern.
"No sensei, I was just thinking." She explained.
He was now behind her off to the side a bit. "Then what is wrong?"
She gave a small sigh. "I don't sense anyone besides Naruto and Sasuke for miles, right?" she silently asked him if that was all that he sensed as well.
He blinked and was confused but sensed there surrounding as well. Only Naruto and Sasuke. "Yes, I can only tell those two are close by." He answered her. She knows how to sense for chakra? It's not something you learn in the academy. "Sakura, have you had a sensei before me? And I'm not talking about Iruka." He asked. He heard her inhale sharply through her nose, held it and slowly let it out.
"H-hai….in my old village." She answered quietly.
This explained how she already knew how to use her chakra to walk up a tree. She was good at times on hiding her emotions like a shinobi should. She's also not sickened by the sight of blood as he has observed like most newbie's are. She also is intelligent on matters that they don't teach in the academy, he thought it was just her reading and coming across them but perhaps it's because of this person that was teaching her the ways of being a ninja.
But, didn't she say her old village tormented her? If her old village didn't like her then why would this person teach her? By her answer she doesn't seem happy about telling him or maybe it's remembering the person.
"Did this person teach you how to walk on water with your chakra?" he asked. What did this ninja teach you? He silently wondered.
"No, he didn't."
Ah, so it was a male. "Okay…how about this. If we come across a lesson I'm teaching you kids and it's something you already know, just tell me and I'll find something else for you to do. As for now, I like to see you try molding your chakra to stand on top of the water."
She gave a sigh and pulled down her hood reviling a pout. She muttered 'I don't want to get wet.' That amused Kakashi making him smile under his mask.
Sakura took off her weapon pouch not wanting to loss her weapons in the water. Then she took off her jacket that landed on the deck with a sturdy thug. The noise confused Kakashi yet his attention was on the younger girl and not in a perverted way. Though he noticed she wore a sleeveless fishnet shirt with a black cloth that covers her chest but what his attention was more on was her right arm. Bandages wrapped around the whole arm except her shoulder.
She must have sensed or known he would be looking at her arm because she held it closer and looked at him. He wanted to know what lay under the bandages because the thought that someone wounding her so bad to scar infuriated him. It was bad enough that she was wounded emotionally already. She was his student and he has come to care for all three of them already. What a team he had.
"Sakura, who did that?" he asked in a concern voice. Did it happen in her old village or Konoha? He needed to know. If it happened back home he could happily beat up the person that dared hurt his student. All he knew was it didn't happen on his time.
She stepped away from him and walked toward the edge of the deck. "It's in the past and I need to focus on this lesson. "
He gave a sigh, very aware she didn't answer him.
Sakura and Tazuna walked through the sad excuse for a market after he worked on the bridge. While the boys trained all day with improving their chakra control she watched over the bridge builder in the morning then later that day work on waking on water. So far she hasn't completed the task but she was close. It seemed to motivate the boys more on learning to walk up the tree to get to where she was. She also made Kakashi-sensei stay with her while she trained. Two reasons for that was to make sure he actually rested and for her own comfort knowing someone was somewhat paying attention if they were attacked. Not that she will tell anyone this but she secretly found it nice having him around, she saw it a form of bonding. They may not be talking but with just his presents she was feeling more welcome to him.
He was weirdly attached to his orange book but as long as he was resting she didn't care what he was doing. On one of her breaks for sat close to him and pulled a towel she borrowed to dry herself off so she wasn't sitting there trying to catch a cold. He didn't seem to pay her any attention and she was once again curious about what he was reading. So she kindly asked.
"What kind of books do you like to read sensei?" perhaps if he answered this she would have an idea on what type of book he always carried with him. Maybe it was a strategy book or comedy. He did always show up late with lame excuses so he must have some kind of humor right?
He gave a cough and didn't seem to know how to answer. It took a couple minutes but he looked to have found an answer. "Mature themes." He gave.
She thought about it, it seemed doable since he did have a serious side of him. But that answer was just so… "You can be really vague." She spoke out loud.
He gave a chuckle at her statement. "So can you."
She gave a huff of air because it was true. They sat in silence for a few minutes, one listening to nature and the other reading.
"I like mystery and romance books." Sakura spoke out of the blue as she over looked the river and trees.
Kakashi looked away from his book in mild surprise that she shared. "Oh." He said in a lazy way so she knew he heard.
"I like to solve puzzles and if you pay enough attention you learn how to leave clues you only wish to leave behind. Or I'm just thinking too much into it and it's really just the writer leaving clue he wants the readers to know." She said with a shrug at the end.
Kakashi blinked at her statement. She got up to go train some more before he could say something about what she said.
"We're almost there kid, just around this corner." Tazuna spoke cutting off the memory she was thinking about.
Looking around she couldn't help but feel bad for these people who lived here. There were adults sitting with signs around their necks asking for work, that they would do anything for money and the children were dirty and hungry. Most sat down trying to save their energy while others played with anything they could. It was a very painful sight to see. It only made Sakura feel even more determined to complete this mission the more seconds passed by.
As they walked into the store they got what they could since there wasn't much to begin with, mostly vegetables and very little meat. They paid and left to go back to the cabin. A couple blocks down Sakura heard painful crying somewhere close.
She stopped, trying to pin point the spot. "Hold on Tazuna."
He stopped and asked why they stopped, seeing her looking around he became alarmed thinking they were about to be attacked. She had him follow her until they came upon a small child bruised and showing cuts.
Tazuna felt pity for the child, it was nothing he hadn't seen before but nothing he could do about it. He was about to ask why the stopped when Sakura spoke up.
"Hello little one." She said in a kind calm voice.
The little boy looked up through his tears in fear that this person would hurt him. He had dark brown hair pass his ears and light brown eyes.
"I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?" Sakura asked.
The boy looked less scared of her now. "Taiju. Are you really not going to hurt me?" he asked in a small voice.
"No I'm not Taiju. That's a really nice name. I wanted to make you feel better. Can I see your injuries?" she spoke with him gently and calmly so he wouldn't be scared of her. To trust her.
He gave a smile at how nice she was being but confused on how she was going to help him feel better. None the less he stuck out his one arm for her to look at. There were bruises and cuts.
While holding his arm with her left hand she used her right hand to gather healing chakra and started to remove the cuts and bruises. She heard a gasp from the little boy at the amazement. Once she was done with his arm she moved to the other, both his legs and lastly to his little cute face.
The boy had tears in his eyes as he thanked her and asked how she was able to do that.
"I'm a medic, it's my job to help those who need it." She answered.
"What's your name miss? My mama told me that it's not nice to not thank someone."
"You can call me Saki."
"Thank you Saki-onee-san." He gave her a quick hug and took off to somewhere while yelling goodbye.
She stood up with a smile on her face. It felt good to help someone.
Tazuna spoke up from his stop behind her. "That was really nice of you to help him out."
"Its part of my job Mr. Tazuna. Once you finish building the bridge these people will be a lot better off." She turned around to face him now. "I see why you did what you did. I can promise you that you will get the bridge down."
Tazuna could see how determined Sakura was in her voice and eyes. It made him feel even more hopeful that he would get it done, for his country. It made him feel better that the girl was truly on his side now, he wasn't quiet sure how she felt since he knew how much she disliked him lying but she continued on anyways. He gave a grunt like noise to her.
They continued on there way when they heard a loud noise and yelling before some men came out of a bar. They stopped not wanting to walk right into it. Punches and kicks were made until two out of four of the men were down for the count. The two remain men laughed and gave high fives for there victory. A third man walked out of the bar wearing ninja gear. He had light brown hair cute short and cream like skin. Two vertical scares ran down his face on the side.
"We're not here to cause trouble you two, were on business." He lectured the two men that won the fight.
"Oh, get the stick out of your ass Yuuji. We already did business. Its time to relax and have fun before returning home." One of the men spoke already feeling the alcohol in his system.
"Yeah, so have a drink with us." The other man said.
"No, you two already had enough. We are returning to the motel for the day and leaving in the morning." The ninja like man spoke with a glare. The two men complained by listened anyways.
Tazuna was just watching the men in mild annoyance. Someone had to clean that up and rebuild and he knew it wasn't going to be those men. He let out a sigh and was going to continue on yet to his surprise he was pulled the way they came from and down an alley as quickly as Sakura could pull him with out dropping his bag. Once in the alley they stopped and he saw that Sakura want to the end of it and looked back where they came from.
"You mind telling me what that was about?" he asked in his gruff way.
On the inside Sakura was freaking out while she was trying to stay calm on the outside. When the client tried to get closer to the end of the alley she hissed for him to stay back while she looked to see what those three men were doing and which way they were going to go. To her horror they were making there way toward them. Coming up with a plan she quickly and quietly told Tazuna to sit down and look relaxes while she turned herself into a small black cat. The time it took for the strange men to get to the alley and pass it felt like years went by. Once Sakura felt it was safe she turned back into herself and looked out seeing them turn a corner away from them. Giving a sigh she somewhat relax and turn to Tazuna.
"It's safe. Let's get back to the house fast."
Ten minutes later they were on the path to the house when Tazuna felt ready to ask what that was back there. "You mind telling me what that was about?" he asked again. Honestly he thought he was about to be killed and the only defense he had was a pink hair little girl.
"They were dangerous men, I thought laying low would cover us and it did." She spoke in a clipped voice. 'Kami, I can't believe that worked.' She thought.
"So they were Gatoh's men? How did you know?" he asked
"There not."
He gave a confused look at her even though she was looking ahead. "Look girl you just gave me a heart attack back there. The least you can do is answer my question."
She tightened her jaw in frustration at the situation, not only was she shaken up about what happened but she had the old man on her back. Everything in her body told her to run, run as fast as she can and when she reaches her point of no more to go beyond it and keep running until she felt safe again. She kept her mouth shut the whole way until they saw the house in view.
"You can go inside now. I'm going to go get some meat for dinner." She spoke in a calm voice.
He mumbled and continued on while she jumped into the closes tree. She did wait until he got in the house before going off to hunt. With the way the boys are eating and how many there are of them, there wasn't enough to eat. So she thought she could bring back some animal they could have.
An hour later she arrived back at the house with a dead boar for dinner. While she was away she had checked up on how the boys were doing in there training and noticed that they were doing much better then the first day. They were tired and sweaty but kept on going.
As she neared the door it opened and Kakashi-sensei walked out. She stopped in her spot wondering what he was going to say.
"I see you caught something good." He said in his usually lazy way.
"It's the least I can do since we are taking up more of their food and space." She answered.
"That's nice of you. You can take that inside but come back out. There's something we need to talk about."
With dread Sakura took the boar inside the house for Tsunami to cook for dinner and walked back out on the deck. Kakashi stood a few feet from where he was before looking out at the water. She slinked up to his side and sat down with her feet hanging over. They stood/sat there in silence listening to the water moving in the afternoon with some birds over head.
For some reason she felt like she was about to get yelled at from a parent for doing something wrong. This may actually be the first time Kakashi-sensei was mad at her. How could she not be in some kind of trouble, she scared the poor man, hell she was really scared too but at least she knew why.
Taking a breath she spoke softly. "How much trouble am I in?"
"Hmm, in trouble?" he asked.
"Because of what happened in town."
"And what may that of been?" he asked.
Confused, she spoke. "I'm sure Tazuna told you what happened."
He sighed. "Yes he did. So tell me why you felt the need to hide from these men."
Sakura brought her legs up to be in front of her so she could hug them and put her chin on her knees. Silence stretched out into minutes creating a somber air. Once she was ready to speak, the words just flowed out into the air. "I knew one of the men. He lived in my old village and one of the ones that…hurt me. So of course I didn't want him to see me and I didn't want to bring Tazuna into it. I guess it wasn't the best plan but I panicked. I was scared he would know it was me and if he…he would of…if…if…" she couldn't continue on anymore as she trembled in her spot and tears ran down her face. Fighting off the panic she felt.
Kakashi knelt down and laid his hand on her shoulder for comfort. How it pained him to see her like this. He gave a mental sigh, the more he saw the effects her old village had on her the more he…he felt hot anger towards these people. If he ever had a mission to go to this village he didn't know if he be able too, he would feel the need to beat every single one of them. No wonder her mother wanted her out of that village. Yet she was too late in ways. The scare was deep already. Mentally and physically it seemed as he thought of the bandage on her arm. What could these people have against a small child? He was going to have a talk with the Hokage when he got back. See if there is anything else he can find out.
As three fourths of team seven stood on the bridges with there client the mist started to thicken alerting them that their opponent has finely come.
"Sasuke, Sakura get ready!" Kakashi instructed them. So we where right.
They stood close together waiting to see where they would show first. They listened, they watch and in a split second Zabuza surrounded them on all sides.
"I see you still have the brats. And still shaken I see." He gave a laugh.
"I shake in…excitement." Sasuke explained with a smirk. He quickly cut all the Zabuza's to show that they were just water clones.
"I see you have improved. You may have an opponent Haku." Zabuza said showing there spot feet's away from the group. Not that he was trying to hide.
Haku took a step, then another step and began to spin so fast it looked like a small tornado coming there way. Sasuke got in front and with his kunai faced off with the masked preteen who was holding a needle. One of the same ones the kid used to fake Zabuzas death with.
As they held each other at bay and Haku talked about not wanting to kill Sasuke, how he already had a higher hand in this fight. With only one hand he made hand seals making ice needles form from the water on the bridge surprising everyone else but his partner.
As the needles rain down on Sasuke, he moved out of the way avoiding them. The fight between them was short lived as Sasuke got the upper hand pushing Haku back much to Zabuza's displeasure.
"Maybe you shouldn't call these kids brats. Sasuke is the best young fighter in Konoha and Sakura here is the most intelligent. Naruto is the number one knuckle headed hyper ninja." Kakahsi said.
"Che, really Sensei you should know better then to help the enemy in anyway." Sakura huffed. Now don't get her wrong she was pleased to have the praise but now was not the time.
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry."
Zabuza lifted a no eyebrow at the scene. Shaking his had lightly he got back to business. "No playing around or we will be swimming with the fishes." (ha-ha I couldn't help myself.)
Haku stood back up and soon chakra seeped out of his body. Leaving the Konoha ninjas and client wondering what was going to happen. "Secret jutsu: crystal ice mirrors."
Water flowed up into a rectangle form Hardening into ice or as the name says, crystals around Sasuke. As the jutsu was complete Haku stepped into the thin crystal. As he was settled inside his image showed on all the crystals like a mirror.
The fight just turned into the enemies hand.
Kakashi tried to get to Sasuke but was stopped by Zabuza. Before the two older ninja's fight could begin Kakashi told Sakura to guard the client and not to go to far.
Sakura stood in front of the client feeling helpless as they all watch Sasuke being attacked inside the dome. He wasn't going to last much longer by the looks of it. As the medic of the team she knew it was her job to stay in the back ground and heal those who needed it once it was safe. She knew that's what she was to do yet she didn't want to sit back and watch this until his death. They may not always get along or friends, hell she didn't know about that but he was her team mate. Someone's friend, brother and family. How could she live with knowing she just stood back doing nothing?
At the point Sasuke's kunai flew out of his hand and landed by her feet. A sign she took it as. Grabbing it she wonders what she should do because she had to come up with something quick.
"Tazuna? I can't just stand here and do nothing, you understand?" she spoke quietly to the man behind her.
The elder man grunted at her. He didn't want to be the reason for that brat to have died either. Watching didn't settle well with him but he knew there was nothing he could do up against these ninja's.
With the grunt she tightened her hold on the weapon and took off running for her teammate even when her sensei told her not too. At a break between the mirrors she called out for her team mate and throw the kunai to him. Yet Haku stuck half his body out of the mirror and caught the weapon to Sakura's displeasure.
I should have known but at least I bought Sasuke some time. Sakura thought.
Seconds after the failed attempt something wheezed pass and hit Haku's mask leaving a scratch. It was soon revealed by a loud voice that Naruto had joined the fight. And because this was Naruto a lecture was given even though they were in the middle of something important.
With Naruto now with his team he joined Sasuke in fighting Haku while Sakura went back to the client and Kakashi fought Zabuza.
Although sadly they couldn't put whatever plan that was forming in there heads because Naruto wasn't thinking when he went into the dome sneaking up on Sasuke. Some how that was going to save his friend. As Haku continued his attacks the mist surrounding the bridge grew thicker again.
Sakura once again focused on her surrounds waiting to see if Zabuza was going to show up. She could hear fighting going on yet they didn't seen to close for comfort. She didn't know if that was good or a bad thing that she couldn't see her other team mates fighting. On one hand she would be able to see if they were winning but on the other hand she could be watching them failing but even then at least she would know right?
"I'm going to die here." She heard Tazuna mumble.
"Over my dead body." Sakura mumbled too.
"That may very well be." Tazuna had heard and spoke lightly.
"You're going to live and finish this bridge Tazuna because so many people depend on it. You're a sign of hope for your people and as long as that hope is around, people will not give up."
Tazuna was surprised at her words. "You're a wise kid."
"Maybe." She allowed. While more minutes went buy the more she felt tense with dread. She believed that Kakashi-sensei would do fine. He wouldn't hold back this time. For her other team mates she was very worried for. They may have been training for this fight but the boy with the mask had more experience then them. He already had blood on his hands, she was sure. Sasuke was already hurt before Naruto showed up. With the way Naruto was she was worried if they would survive. They may be stubborn but did that mean they had was it took to win? She really should have more faith in her team mates but she couldn't help but be worried.
Yet she had to make sure the client was taken care of, if she left him and one of the enemy got to him not only would they have failed their mission but to everyone that depended on this man. But what could she do? If she didn't have to protect him then she could help Sasuke and Naruto…That's it! I just have to remove him from the situation. But where would he go? She thought. Giving it some thought for a few minutes she had her plan.
Talking quietly to address the older man. "Tazuna I have a plan."
Sakura returned in a wind of leaves from where she took the elder client to safety. The area was still covered in mist yet with her ability to sense the chakra around her, she knew that her sensei was off to the left fighting Zabuza and to the right she sense three chakra signatures.
Now being able to join the fight with out worrying about the old man she made her way towards her teammates. Hoping they didn't know she was there since she covered her chakra signature, she walked closer. While she was away she took the time to prepare the bombs knowing she may not have the time to make it at the scene. Peeking inside the dome she noticed that her teammates were worse for wear. They had bruises and cuts and dozens of needles were on the ground.
Despite what she saw she was glad they were alive at least but she wasn't sure for how long. Within a minute she had several paper bombs on three of the mirror like ice. She also had an idea what the boys plan way. Luckily the boys were keeping the enemy from noticing she was there and they didn't seem to know she was there as well which keeps her cover perfect.
As she was working on the forth mirror she noticed Naruto was very close to the edge. Enough that he saw her. His eyes widened in surprise and he was about to say something when something or Haku she should say whizzed pass destroying Naruto's clone.
-inside the dome-
The real naruto landed close to Sasuke struggling to get back up. Every one of the clones Naruto made, their knowledge flooded the real Naruto's mind and he knew that Sakura was right out side the dome.
"Sa-ku-ra." He mumbled as he slowly got off the ground.
Sasuke barely heard what Naruto said yet he did. As he panted for breath he wondered what his blond friend meant by that. "Can you do that again? I almost had him." He spoke. This time his fire technique grazed Haku's pants. Awakening his Sharigan was perfect timing yet he was already tiring.
"Yeah I can." He was wobbly on his feet but standing. He made ten clones this time and started off for the exit points of the dome. This time he knew to keep his mouth shut or Haku would know what Sakura was up too.
This time he was so damn close to the exit yet they were pushed back once again but needles raining down on them. By this point they were looking less like people and more like porky pines.
With needles covering his body Naruto could barely move and needles once again rained down leaving him to only wait for the pain to come again. Yet Sasuke seeing that Naruto couldn't get up at the moment pick up on the needles on the ground and used to deflect as much as he could for himself and Naruto. Once the attack of over with he was panting even more knowing he wouldn't be able to go on much longer.
"I see you can't go on much longer. You should have just handed over the bridge builder. Then you would have been able to live another day." Haku told them.
Within second an explosion went off shattering five of the ice mirrors. Much to Sakura displeasure Haku wasn't in any of those five. She wanted to be able to take out more of the mirror but it looked like the boys were too tired to fight some more. She took what she could and set them off.
As the smoke was starting to clear she ran inside through the door way she made towards her team mates. Naruto was still on the ground but Sasuke was just barely standing up. Seeing there condition she had to get them out of the crystal dome before Haku made more trapping them all inside.
"Get out now!" she shouted at them. Since Naruto was on the ground and in a less defensive spot she went to him first grabbing a hold of his collar pulling him up onto his feet. Pulling chakra to her arms she used the boost in strength and threw him out of the dome the way she came in from. He gave a shout of surprise and rolled into safely once he hit the ground. Knowing that Naruto was safe she ran towards Sasuke who wasn't that far awhile.
"What are you doing?!" Sasuke asked surprised and not completely getting her plan. "You're going to get trapped in here. And what about the client?" he asked quickly.
Haku seeing what was going on tried to seal the remaining Genin inside. As more mirror crystal began to form Sakura pulled Sasuke off the ground by his arm.
Sakura knowing that time was about up looked him in the eyes pulling him a couple feet away. "The client is safe and I know." She told him quickly. She threw him the same way and right before the mirrors form completely he made it onto the other side. Safe.
Now she was trapped inside.
"That was very noble of you but you have no chance of defeating me. And once I kill you I will go after the other two." Haku said.
Seeing Haku's image in all the mirrors she just picked one to talk to. "If you wanted to kill them you would have by now instead of playing around or is that how you like to do it. Wear them down and then strike?" she asked.
"I don't like to kill but I have a person I must protect. If killing those who try to take my reason to live away then I must kill." Haku explained easily. "It seems you would understand that. You put your self in harms way to save your comrades."
"Don't put me on the same page as you! I'm not a killer!" Sakura yelled in anger.
Sakura what are you doing? You're losing your head. Inner said.
I'm nothing like him! She cried out in her mind.
"Stop talking and fight me." Sakura said to Haku. She didn't want to hear anymore on the subject.
"If you insist to die today then very well."
Haku began to teleport from one mirror to the next in a blur waiting to strict.
Sakura pulled out kunai after kunai throwing them around the dome never hitting Haku. With her last one she kept in her hand waiting for the attack. After what felt like forever needles started to rain down from everywhere as she deflected them and dodge out of the way. She knew it was the same game he played with Naruto and Sasuke with. Hoping to tire her out before giving the final blow.
This went on for a long time and she was starting to tire and when she started to slow down more needles started to hit her body. Once the air was needle free she took the time to catch her breath.
"So instead of playing the same game why don't you actually attack me?" she asked. "Or is it you feel safer hiding in your mirror?" she smirked at that.
After a minute of nothing she was wondering why he wasn't attacking in some form.
"Very well then." He spoke and walked out of his mirror in front of her.
Good. Now that he's out hopefully my plan will work. She thought. When she saw that he wasn't going to be the first one to attack she attacked first. Running at him with her kunai he disappeared to only come at her from the side. She barely had time to block his needle weapon with her own. He was still fast but not as fast as earlier. He also tired himself with Naruto and Sasuke and then with her.
They began a taijutsu match and with controlling chakra to her feet she was able to go faster being able to match with his speed. Punch-kick-punch-kick-blocks were made, more were thrown. As time went on more of Haku's hits were landing on Sakura. She was able to get a few hits in but she was taking more then giving. Growing tired and sore from being hit Haku found an opening and kicked Sakura in the stomach hard enough throwing her into one of the mirrors leaving a crack. As her back hit the mirror a pained noise left her throat as did blood. As she landed on the ground on all four needles attacked her back, arms and legs.
"Sakura!" Naruto's and Sasuke's voice rang out seeing that she was in pain.
"Stay back!" she yelled as loud as she could.
Haku who wasn't standing very far from her spoke. "I didn't want to kill you but you leave me no choice. Your team mates are forcing my hand as we speak."
Sakura was on her knees and palms at this point. The needles made her joints and muscles stiff. With the chakra she used to get the client away and to make her self move faster, she used a lot more then she liked. She may have had perfect control with it but her source wasn't a lot.
Haku went at her with speed and kicked her in the stomach making her fly to the side and land harshly on the ground. Making most of the needles to bit deeper into her skin.
'Ow, that hurt.' she thought as she spit up the blood that pooled into her mouth.
Sakura, you are never this careless. It's like you want to die.
'It wouldn't be a bad way would it." Sakura thought.
As Haku was about to make a move something or someone ran into the dome confronting him. Looking up she saw that it was Sasuke. He had a Kunai in hand to aid him in his fight. The two fought for a while yet Sasuke was thrown back. Seeing her chance she decided to put her plan into action.
Inner was agreeable with the plan. She felt chakra flood her system and with a fast speed she ran to Haku who by the looks of it was going to attack Sasuke. Appearing in front of him to his surprise (maybe, he did have a mask on). She with all her strength used her right hand to punch his sternum probably cracking ribs if not breaking them and her left hand punch him in the face. A crack was heard as he was flown threw the air hitting one of the mirrors making a huge crack in it.
She panted as Haku fell to the ground struggling to breath. Not waiting any more time she ran over to Sasuke who was now standing and grab a hold of his arm. "Time to go." She said. Before he could say anything they started to disappear and right before they were gone she whispered, "Kai." All the kunai's she had thrown earlier in the fight had bombs attached to them and was set off.
From there new spot they watched the mirrors shatter and smoke felled the area. She was half bent over catching her breath feeling weak from the fight. She didn't see any movement in the smoke.
"So-pant-did I get him?" she asked and looked over at Sasuke. He was watching very closely. It was then that she noticed something different about his eyes. They were red.
Still watching the area he asked a question. "Was that your plan the whole time?"
"More or less." She answered.
He sent her a quick glare at that. "Don't ever throw me like that again." He stated.
She rolled her eyes. "You're both alive aren't you." She deadpanned.
He gave a scuff.
"You're welcomed." She said.
A couple minutes went by as the smoke started to clear. Naruto was heading over to them worried.
"You two okay? I think you got him. Didn't stand a chance with your bombs Sakura-chan." He said happily and gave a laugh at the end.
Standing up straight she gave him a smile. He didn't look as beat up now.
"Dobe." Sasuke said and with a blink his red eyes turned back to black. The smoke was just about cleared up. Then warning alarms went off in Sakura's head. Out of no where Haku had her and Sasuke surrounded and just as fast they were bombarded with needles from every direction.
As they contacted her body she let out a cry of pain. Next to her she heard Sasuke make a noise as well. Pain was everywhere and as she looked down at her self she saw that needles covered most of her front body. Her body was already starting to feel numb and the feeling of falling was soon known. Hitting the ground wasn't as painful as she thought it would be.
'Am I dying? He must have hit a vital point. I feel so numb now.' Her mind struggled with the thought. She thought she heard voices but she couldn't make out the words.
Miles away from the bridge Tazuna sat on a rocky surface. He was feeling really bored and worried. It felt like hours when the little ninja girl brought him to this small cave. One moment they were on the bridge in mist and the next they were out side this cave. He didn't know how she did it but she did. She quickly told him to hid inside, made a clone of herself and said that when they won they be back for him.
Looking over at the girls clone he noticed she looked calm standing half in and half out looking around. For a while now he was tempted to strike up a conversation to make time go by faster but he also didn't want to distract her either. He let out another sigh and looked into the cave. Wasn't much to see really since it was dark the farther in. He completely forgot this little cave was here. 'I think tsunami was still a little girl when we found it.' He thought.
"Think your plans going to work?" he asked as quietly as he could minutes later. The clone didn't seem to react to his question.
"Hopefully." She said after half a minute.
He gave a nod. "Do you know what is going on at the bridge?"
"No. I have no knowledge. I only know what happened before I was created." She stated. "Though if I disappear, the real Sakura will know what happened here."
He gave another nod. A few minutes went by in silence as he thought about what she said. "What would make you disappear? Aren't you here to make sure that I'm safe?" he asked. He didn't know too much about ninja's.
The clone sat down leaning more into the cave then before. "Your right but if something where to happen to the real Sakura then I would disappear. For example would be if she ran out of chakra or if she died." she explained
"And if you disappear what am I suppose to do?" he asked worried. For himself and for the real Sakura.
She gave it some thought before she spoke. "If that happens then wait here until my team mates find you."
He blinked at her request. Or maybe it was an order. He would just have to wait here until someone found him. Either it be her team or the enemy. "You have a lot of faith in your team."
She looked over and him and gave a small smile. "It may not look like it but I'm fond of them."
Tazuna gave a nod and looked out of the cave. He may be old but he wasn't blind.
Puff.
He blinked at the noise and looked over to the cone to see what her reaction was. Yet what he saw was a cloud of smoke clearing up. No clone in sight.
'Oh no…' he thought and looked out toward the way he thinks the bridge is at. "This can't be good."
okay. I just want to say that i'm not good with fight scene. and that may have made sakura look less smart. well from what she should be anyways.
again, sorry for any errors in this. I did a quick scan of it. please let me know what you think. was it worth the wait? I hope so.
what did you think of the fight? because i'm really thinking it wasn't good. please tell me what you think.