Naruto: Champion of Avalon

By Quick-n-Popular

Chapter Seven: A C-Class Mission to Remember, Part Three

Suffice it to say, when Naruto came back in, in the early morning, carrying a tied up teen girl over his shoulder; to say the other occupants of Tazuna's home were surprised would have been an understatement. However, Naruto motioned for them to keep their questions on hold as he walked up the stairs and placed the unconscious girl in one of the guest rooms and then quietly walked out, sliding the paper door closed as he left. Turning around, he was faced with his team and his senseis looking at him, questioningly.

"Naruto," Yugao began, "Why is there a girl tied up and knocked out in that room?"

Naruto sighed as he leaned against the door. "She's the 'hunter Nin' that supposedly disposed of Zabuza. I met her a few hours ago trying to pass herself off as a civilian gathering herbs."

His team had wide eyes at the revelation of the fact that the monstrous swordsman was still alive and that Naruto had uncovered his accomplice. Hayate and Yugao, though, showed no visible signs of surprise. Hayate merely chuckled.

"You're something else kid. You held your own against Zabuza, fairly well, and have managed to subdue his apprentice as well." Mirth left his face it became serious. "However, I have to ask, why you decided to take her captive instead of killing her."

"Are you asking as to what my motives were in sparing her life?" Naruto asked, seeing Hayate nod he got up from his position and turned towards the door. He sighed tiredly before turning back to the anxious group. "All I can say is is that she's more like me than you could possibly imagine."

It became relatively quiet after that statement, although it soon ended by Yugao closing her eyes and then opening them and looking at Naruto, cautiously.

"Naruto," Yugao began, "It's admirable that you decided NOT to take her life; however she's still a possible threat not only to us but to our client who she and Zabuza have been contracted to be taken out by Gatou. You do realize the threat you have caused by bringing her back here alive."

Naruto nodded, "I have, trust me. However, her loyalties lie only with Zabuza, not Gatou. If by some way, Zabuza could be convinced to drop this job then the two of them would stop their pursuit of Tazuna." Naruto sighed, "Most likely, though, I think we'll have to end his life in the end."

Both Hayate and Yugao nodded, agreeing with Naruto's summarization.

Lee, though, didn't understand. "Forgive me Hayate-sensei, but I don't understand. If Zabuza could be convinced to stop, why would we still need to kill him?"

Tenten sighed, "Lee, it's not that simple. He's a nuke-nin, a deserter, and worse, a killer with no remorse. Who knows how many he'll kill if we let him go."

Lee nodded and soon got a glint in his eye; holding up a fist he shouted, "Yosh! It'd ruin the flames of this land if we allow him to go on with his un-youthful ways!"

Naruto remained silent, turned, and walked away, leaving his confused teammates with their senseis.

"What's up with Naruto?" Tenten asked, confused.

Yugao sighed, "You remember what Naruto told you of his life and the problem he had to deal with." She watch both Genins nod. "Well, I think Naruto, no matter how much he wants to; he can't forget the memories when he still had that problem, physically."

"But what does that have to do with Naruto, now? He seemed saddened by this whole, 'we'll need to kill Zabuza, in the end', talk. What does it have to do with his past?" Lee asked.

Hayate sighed, "It's because he can relate to the girl, that's why. Remember what he told us? 'She's more like me than you could possibly imagine.' I'm not sure as to what they have in common but," Hayate then moved off from the wall he was leaning against and proceeded to go after his blonde-haired student. "Something happened to where Naruto felt it was necessary to spare her life. Doing even that much, it's safe to assume that Naruto has some reservations of taking the life of her master, despite the fact that he knows that's where the road will ultimately go."

Naruto walked to the bridge from the house. He didn't really want to explain himself anymore than he already had; he knew that Lee and Tenten probably had more questions for him about what transpired out in the woods. However, he really didn't want to talk about it as a lot of it was discussion as well and he felt as if he shouldn't betray Haku's confession of her past to any of his team members….yet. Though, he felt he'll have to soon.

Damn, he sighed to himself, Can things get anymore complicated?

Naruto soon arrived to the construction on the bridge, Tazuna seemed to be barking orders to some stragglers on the job, impressively since Naruto didn't think the old drunk had it in him, based on his demeanor on their journey here from Konoha. Naruto continued watching the bridge builder in a new light until a fog began rolling in.

Hayate was going at a relatively easy pace before he heard the yells and screams coming from where the bridge was being built. Pumping charka into his legs, he dashed madly towards the bridge where he knew, instinctly, that it was where Naruto had headed when he left the group back at the house. A certain smell hit his nose and his eyes widened and he soon came to a complete stop as he was greeted with the sight of the bridge. Well, a partial sight as the bridge was condensed in a thick, familiar, fog. However, what could be seen stopped him shortly before he picked his speed back up and headed towards the bridge, which was littered with disfigured bodies of the workers….

Naruto breathed hard as he felt another slash come at him from behind once again. His strength still paled in comparison to Zabuza's. When the Demon of the Mist arrived, he didn't say much, rather he slashed through nearly all the workers on the bridge before Naruto could thwart his taking of another life. The blonde Genin had made several Kage bunshins take Zabuza and those who were still alive and those who were wounded, back to the village to receive medical attention; another to reach his teammates and inform them of the attack. Naruto felt guilty for the innocent men and women who were helping Tazuna make this bridge of his a reality, fall to the cold and grizzly blade of Zabuza's before Naruto could be there to help them. However, one of the first things in the Academy that Iruka-sensei had taught was 'As a ninja, you'll see many deaths of people who shouldn't have died. There will always be death. However, there are those you can save and that is part of what you'll do as a Konoha Shinobi.'

There will always be death in this line of work Naruto thought to himself as he parried another stab from Zabuza. Nevertheless, save as many as you can, yourself as well, and then mourn with everybody afterwards. Right now, you're in the fight to preserve life itself from death's hands...from Zabuza's hands….and that's why you have to kill him. Naruto grimaced mentally while he cringed physically from the blows Zabuza was attacking him with, relentlessly.

For a man who had been literally beaten to within an inch of his life, Naruto was astounded by the sheer stigma this man possessed in his heavily bandaged form.

"Better pay attention, baka!" Zabuza yelled as he swung Kubikiri Houcho within inches of Naruto's exposed left shoulder.

Naruto's eyes shifted when the body of his sensei came into view with his katana parrying Zabuza's zanpaktou. However, despite his sensei's presence now added, Naruto continued his attempts to strike at Zabuza. Neither student nor teacher talked to one another as them began their assault on Zabuza, which seemed to not faze him in the least. Ascertaining the situation, Zabuza must have taken an abundance of soldier and chakra pills to help circumvent the injuries he was still recovering from their last encounter. Despite his handicaps, he was still able to produce the very fog that made him a formidable enemy as it concealed him. After nearly an hour of his assaults under this thick veil, Naruto felt he had enough.

"Hakai no kaze haro!" Pushing enough chakra into the jutsu he managed to, not only push away the fog/mist jutsu, but also expelled almost all of the Mizu Bunshins that Zabuza had been using in this fight. When it was all cleared, Zabuza, the real one, was about to reach at Hayate's back. Naruto threw multiples of his throwing weapons in different order at Zabuza, catching him in the joints of his left knee, thus making him grunt out in pain as he soon put pressure onto the leg, causing him to halt in his assault on Hayate. Naruto wasted any more time as he brought out Byakuya and Tsuki, running head long to Zabuza, the black and white Kukris pair held tightly in his hands arched back behind him. As soon as Naruto reached Zabuza, he came to a skidding to a halt as he had to nearly fall down to his knees avoiding Zabuza's swing of his massive zanpaktou overhead. Using one hand to steady himself and to bring back momentum, Naruto used the other to attack Zabuza's legs. He managed to catch a break when Tsuki's tip tore through the muscle of Zabuza's thigh. However, it was a short achievement as Zabuza kicked out with his uninjured leg sending Naruto spiraling across the ground, his vision and hearing distorted. Naruto coughed violently but, shakily, got back up, once more, his breathing taken in huge amounts. Sweat protruded heavily from his brow and became intrusive to his vision as it puddled up against his eyebrows before going into his eyes. Naruto was sore all over, his arms felt non-existent at times. Naruto's "rest" was up as quick as it had begun. Zabuza, appearing behind him, swung his sword down upon the tired blonde's head. Naruto's mind was forced to snap into focus and his arms went into a mode of their own as they curved and swung horizontally with both of his blade aimed at the exposed front of his enemy. Naruto watched expectantly, at first, felt satisfaction as he pierced through Zabuza's abdominal wall; skewering the Demon of the Bloody Mist's stomach and large intestine. It was replaced by the mind-numbing pain and coldness that suddenly went through him. Looking, he was now aware of Zabuza's own blade going through his collarbone, threatening to go clean through and take his entire arm off. Naruto's vision started blurring, due to the pain, however before Zabuza could complete the rough amputation, he was body-checked by Yugao who arrived on the scene, Tenten and Lee in tow. Thank Kami and all for his sudden reprieve, Naruto had difficulty taking out Excalibur but after he was able to, rasped out the jutsu to heal himself. Relief and energy took over him, as he was able to stand back up on his feet again with no trouble. Naruto observed what was happening since Yugao and the others suddenly arrived. Hayate and Yugao were in a fierce battle against Zabuza, who was clutching at his injured abdomen and seemed to be struggling in his stance against the two Leaf Jounins. Tenten and Lee were occupied with the two mizu bunshins that Zabuza had obviously tried to use against Yugao after she thwarted his attempt in cleaving Naruto into two. Watching both fights, Naruto was trying to decide who to assist when he suddenly became aware of the spectators on the bridge ahead of the two battles. Before he could do anything a familiar person appeared next to him.

-Forty-five minutes earlier-

Zabuza-sama might still need me if he's going to be fighting all four of them. Haku hoped to herself as she released the final, infernal, knot on the chakra-suspending rope that had her tied down. When she had first came to her last thoughts were of what that boy Naruto told her after he defeated her with relative ease.

"We're more alike than you can possibly know. Haku-chan."

The smile he gave and the words alone caused heat to rush up in Haku's face. She didn't know why she was feeling this way about those words…or the boy who said them. However they still had a profound effect on her, which confused her as she knew he was the enemy, right? Trying to rid herself of the image of the boy who had beaten her she concentrated on her stealth to make it out of the room and down the stairs leading towards the exit. Unfortunately, she could not detect a direct source of water to create her mirrors and escape expeditiously. Thus she had to use all her knowledge and resources to stealthily make haste and get back to her master. Her escape was halted when she heard the sounds of struggling outside of the house, then cries, and then someone shouting. Peeking around the corner to the stairwell, she saw one of Naruto's senseis, along with his two teammates, confronting a person she recognized as one of Gatou's samurai thugs, who was holding a woman hostage with his sword touching her throat. A little boy was yelling for the man to release his mother while the Leaf-nins seemed to be waiting for something. Haku watched with emotionless eyes. She wasn't a fool as to who their employer was and the unscrupulous ways he does his business, however, death had become such a constant in her life since she took her father's life. She'd be hypocritical to call herself anything innocent. However, no matter how much she tried to bury her feelings, they seemed to bubble back to the surface every now and then, which was the reason she felt sadness for the scene being played out in front of her and, like every other time, she had to wrestle her feelings to the ground lest she do something foolish like try to rescue that woman. Zabuza had taught her a long time ago:

'In the Shinobi World, feeling the need to save anyone who can't save themselves is foolish. There's too many of them and it will only weaken you to the point where an enemy will exploit it and it'll be your undoing.'

By his teaching, did she shed herself of the emotions he felt were inconsequential in the becoming of a shinobi. Still, moments like these, which Zabuza referred sourly as the 'moments of humanity' where she felt vulnerable and slightly questioning between what she was taught and what she felt. Haku was snapped out her mental self-evaluation as the scene before her changed as a clone of the purple-haired sensei tapped the samurai on the shoulder causing him to turn his head away from the group. The Weapons Mistress-in-training then lodged two throwing knives into the man's jugular causing him to release both the woman and his weapon as he clutched his fatal wound gurgling as he died bleeding out. After the group made sure the woman and son were safe, they then left quickly, most likely to the bridge where Haku guessed Zabuza was fighting the remaining two, Naruto and his other sensei. That's where she needed to go. She found her method of escape seeing a running faucet in the kitchen area. Making her one-handed signs, a rectangular panel of ice that was a clear mirror gave her the exit she was wanting. Soon, she found herself out in the wilderness and she repeated her method of making quick travel until she arrived at the scene of the fighting. However, it seemed to have stopped when she arrived and as she looked about she could see why. Gatou, the walking scab of flesh, strutted out arrogantly amongst his samurai cronies as he sneered at everything around him as if it were an ant compared to him in his oh so glory. His sights soon came upon Zabuza, who Haku could see was bleeding profusely from the abdomen, various wounds on his arms, and legs especially from his left knee in particular.

"Zabuza!" Gatou shouted, "Look at you, you're not a 'demon'at all! More like some has-been ninja."

Haku could see zabuza's eyes narrow dangerously at Gatou.

It didn't seem to effect the imp as he sneered all the more in triumph. "Good thing I decided not to pay you in the first place. You're a lost cause and a wasteful investment!"

We weren't even going to be paid?! Haku thought angrily as she mirrored only a fraction of the bloodlust that her master was practically pouring out of every pore of his body directed at Gatou. Again, Gatou acted as if none of this was happening.

"Kill the men, take the women. A bonus for the one that puts the 'Demon of the Bloody Mist' out of his misery."

The samurai showed the same arrogant smirks that their employer had.

Haku was a moment away from making a mirror to place her next to her master, when she saw him turning and….talking to one of the leaf nins. She couldn't hear what was being said but as soon as it ended she saw the male sensei of the Konoha group toss a kunai which was caught in Zabuza's mouth. Zabuza then turned and ran like a rampaging bull straight into the horde of samurai, straight for Gatou.

Haku immediately realized what her master was doing and she began the efforts for the jutsu so she could get there and be with him, to help him. However, she was stopped by someone. She didn't notice, as soon her eyes met with the scene of her precious person falling to ground his whole body riddled with multiple swords and weapons protruding from his body…

To be continued……

Chapter Eight: Healing

A/N: Apologies for updating late. I won't make excuses as I have put some things ahead of updating my stories. Sorry.

A/N: Well, like I said, this is the last of the "Wave arc" and the next chapter will move on in the groups return to Konoha and where the healing will commence and the begin of the Chunnin Exams. As with this arc, I'm going to put an entirely different spin than what I've read before and what happens in the canon.

Until next time.

Q-n-P