Zabuza Returns

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I only own my OC. (Female OC)

Summary: "Death, it's a funny thing really. There are people that fear the cold harsh whisper of death, while others welcome it like an old friend. Whenever I ever thought of someone dying, I always felt scared. I thought I was scared of dying, until I actually died."

Note: All information that I have I have gotten from Narutopedia, I hope I do not offend people by getting some information wrong! And if I do, I apologise in advance.

Also the Shīringu is mine alone, it belongs to me!

NARUTO

It had been a week since that incident. The atmosphere between me and Sakura has increased. She seemed to be slightly scared of me now, but still tried to act better than me. Kakashi had noticed the tension and asked what happened. Sakura had lied to his face saying that I attacked her for no reason. I then explained what happened. Kakashi then made sure to keep us two apart.

The boys were just as determined to beat each other and stayed out late at night nearly every night to train. I had also been training with that C-rank seal, and I am glad to say that I have finished it. I decided to take a break and get ready for the fight with Zabuza.

It was late at night. This time I was at the house eating dinner. Sasuke and Naruto were training as per usual. I sat at the dinner table looking at the door; I knew that they were going to appear soon with good news. They really had grown within that week.

Sakura sighed, "They're late. And not even Naruto, Sasuke-kun too." I look at her with a cold look; I don't think I could forgive her. In the anime, she was a nightmare, and in reality she was worse. Imagine Umbridge with pink hair, green eyes and an obsession for a certain boy, and then times that by ten, and you would get Sakura.

That's when the door decided to open. I peak a glance and saw Sasuke walking in with Naruto, Naruto's arm was around Sasuke's shoulder. They were both supporting each other's weight.

"What happened to you guys? You're really muddy and really wiped out." Tazuna asks.

Naruto lifts his head and grins, "We both climbed up to the top."

Kakashi nods at them, "Good. Naruto, Sasuke, you'll start guarding Tazuna next time."

Naruto grins and so does Sasuke, well his version of a grin. Naruto cheers. "Got it!" He jumps, but forgets that he is exhausted and falls down, taking Sasuke down with him.

"You idiot." Sasuke sighs in exhaustion.

I stand up and deicide to check them, "You're both just exhausted, a good night's rest should do you both good." I say after checking them.

Naruto grins, "Thanks!"

Sasuke just nods at me.

I hold out my hand to both of them, "Come on." I say looking at them expectantly. They both look my hands and lifted themselves up off the floor. I felt a glare on my back; I forced myself to calm down. I would not make a scene; I will not make a scene.

After the meal was finished, Tazuna began to speak, "In just a teeny little while the bridge will be complete. It's thanks to you guys."

Tsunami looks at her father, "Even so, don't let your guard down."

Tazuna looks at us seriously, "I've really wanted to ask you for a long time now. Why are you still here even though I lied about the mission?"

Kakashi placed his arms on the table, "To see what is right without doing it bespeaks an absence of courage. Like master, like man."

Tsunami and Tazuna looked confused, even I looked confused!

"It's a teaching of the late Hokage." Kakashi says looking at them. I inwardly tense, Minato... if only I had entered this series a lot earlier, maybe I could have stopped his death along with Kushina's. I sneakily look at Naruto, I knew he wasn't aware that the fourth Hokage was his dad, but Kakashi did. I wonder what Kakashi felt looking at his mentor's son.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Inari start to cry. His tears hit the table, leaving marks. "Why?" Inari mumbles.

We all look up, even Naruto who was semi-unconscious, "What is it?" Naruto asks the younger boy.

Inari slams his hand on the table and stands up, "Why do you desperately work so hard until you get like that?! There's no way you'd be a match for Gato's men even if you train! No matter what cool things you say or how much effort you make, the weak always lose out against the truly strong!"

"Shut up, I'm not like you." Naruto says resting his head on the table.

"Shut up! Looking at you makes me sick! Sticking your nose in even though you know nothing of this land! I'm not like you who's always acting frivolous not knowing one thing about pain!" Inari cries with tears running down his face.

Naruto tenses and so do I.

"Shut your mouth you little brat!" I scream.

Everything stops. Inari stops crying, Naruto look up and looks at me, along with everyone else.

"You think we don't know pain?! You think Naruto doesn't know pain?! Well you're wrong! Before you throw accusations get to know the person!" I scream at him, my body screaming in rage. I try and calm myself down, but it doesn't work, my shaking gets worse. I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder, but I didn't care who it was. I stand up and storm off, I needed to cool off some steam otherwise I would kill that brat.

When I was gone, Naruto continues, "So you're just going to cry all day like the lead in a tragedy? An idiot like you can just cry forever! You cry-baby!" Naruto looks up and glares at Inari.

Inari looks alarmed looking shocked.

"Naruto! That's a bit harsh!" Sakura hisses to Naruto.

"I'm going to go find Akemi-chan." Naruto mumbles before walking away.

NARUTO

3rd person POV

Inari sat there on the porch looking out at the sea. He had already wiped his tears away and now sat hugging his legs to his chest.

"Got a minute?" Kakashi says walking out on the porch. Inari silently nods his head; Kakashi takes the invitation and sits down beside him.

"Naruto and Akemi didn't mean any harm with what they said," Kakashi began also looking out to the sea. "He's just uncouth."

Inari doesn't say anything. Kakashi sighed, "We heard the story about your father from Tazuna. Like you, Naruto never had a father as a young child. Actually, he doesn't know either of his parents. Not only that, he didn't have a single friend."

This time, Inari looks up, "What?"

"However," Kakashi says with a smile under his mask, "I've never seen him sulk be timid or cry. He's always eager, waiting to be acknowledged by someone. If it's for the sake of that 'dream' he always risks his life. He's probably tired of crying."

Inari looks down at the floor.

Kakashi continues, "He knows the true meaning of the word strong. Like your father. Naruto may understand your feelings the most."

Inari looks a bit shocked and turns to the copy ninja.

"What Naruto said earlier," Kakashi says turning to face Inari, "There is no mistaking that he's told himself that over and over again."

"And what about Akemi?" Inari asks quietly looking down again.

Kakashi was silent for a moment. "Akemi is a difficult person to understand."

"How?" Inari nearly demanded.

"Not much is known about her. She mainly keeps to herself and doesn't let many people in. But I've noticed that once she lets you in, she will defend her precious people." Kakashi says with a thoughtful look. Even he didn't know much about Akemi, his own student. He could easily figure out the rest of the team, even the aloof Uchiha. But Akemi was different. To others, she was polite and was always smiling. With her enemies she was a force to be dealt with, and to her friends she was the most loyal and kind hearted person.

However, what he had noticed about Akemi was that she was looking over her shoulder more. When he first met her, she was dead relaxed. But now, she was cautious and looked to be having trouble letting people in.

"I asked the Hokage about her." Kakashi admits looking at the full moon.

Inari looks surprised, "The Hokage?"

Kakashi nods, "Yes. Akemi also grew up without her parents; they were killed in an accident."

Inari bit his lip.

"What I've also noticed about Akemi," Kakashi says, "Is that she doubts herself. She won't let anyone see it, but she does. The Hokage told me how hard it was for her and how she felt that she didn't fit in. That's why she connects with Naruto."

"She seems to get on with everyone but that pink haired girl." Inari mumbles.

Kakashi nods, "That is true, but that's because Akemi believes that Sakura takes for granted the life she has."

Inari and Kakashi both stare out at the sea. Unknown to both of them that someone was listening to the conversation and slipped away.

NARUTO

1st person POV

Morning had come. Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke and I were going to guard Tazuna at the bridge. Naruto was still asleep; he was completely dissolved of chakra and needed more time to recover. I had kept in mind that this was when Zabuza was going to attack, and kept my Sais that the ready.

When we arrived at the bridge, we were welcomed to a sight were everyone unconscious on the floor, or even dead. Knowing Zabuza they would be dead, but if Haku had anything to do with it, then they were unconscious.

"W-what the heck is this?!" Tazuna shouts in shock.

I walk forward to the closest one and feel for his pulse, "He's alive, luckily." I say looking up.

"What is going on? What's happened?!" Tazuna yells.

That's when mist started to form around the bridge. I looked around frantically, trying to find Zabuza and Haku just in case. I slowly walked back until I reached the team; I pulled out my Sais and went on full alert.

"Sasuke, Akemi, Sakura, they're coming!" Kakashi warned also getting into position. I stood at the back of Tazuna, Kakashi in the front and Sasuke and Sakura at either side. They each had a kunai in their hands.

"Looks like you were right sensei." I say looking around. The mist was starting to get too thick to see with normal eyes, I would probably have to use the Shīringu.

"Say, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura says getting her teachers attention, "This is the Hidden Mist Jutsu, right?"

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Kakashi," Zabuza's voice echoed through the mist like last time, "I see you still have those brats with you as always."

Sasuke began to tremble; I looked at him in slight worry but said nothing.

"He's still trembling, poor thing," Zabuza's voice taunts.

Suddenly, six water clones appears in front of us. Sasuke smirked, making the Water Clone look at Sasuke with confusion on his face. "I'm trembling with excitement." Sasuke says looking ready to battle.

"Do it, Sasuke, Akemi." Kakashi says looking pleased at his students. Sasuke and I smirk and attack all six Water Clones, effectively killing them. Once we were done, I looked around trying to see where Zabuza was.

"Well well, so they can see Water Clones. The brats have grown." Zabuza says, his voice purposely taunting.

I use my Shīringu, they were right in front of us, "Kakashi-sensei, they're in front of us." I inform him while pointing. Kakashi nods at me and looks on the direction I was pointing at. I then quickly deactivate it hoping no one saw.

"Maybe a rival or two have emerged for Haku." Zabuza says looking bored.

"So it seems." Haku answers back.

Kakashi sighs, never looking away from Zabuza and Haku, "It seems my predication was right on the money."

"What prediction?" Tazuna asks looking confused and tense.

"That little mask." Kakashi says.

Sakura's jaw dropped.

"I knew it, hn." Sasuke says with a suspicious look.

"No you didn't." I say back to him. Sasuke whips round and glares at me, which I return with a glare.

"So the Elite Shinobi of the Hidden Mist thing was a bald faced lie!" Tazuna says with a serious look.

Kakashi nods his head, "No matter how you look at him, he's got to be a comrade of Zabuza, standing with him and all."

Sakura frowned, "How dare he show up like that after what he did!"

"I hate brats who think they're cool." Kakashi says.

"He's better than you, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura shoots back.

"That's a lie." I deny.

Kakashi pats my head, "Thank you Akemi."

I smile and turn back to look at Haku, "I'll fight him." I volunteer.

Sasuke glares at me and then looks back to Haku, "No I will. I hate brats who think they're cool."

I scoff, "You are a brat who thinks they're cool." Again queue Sasuke's death glare.

"Sasuke-kun, you are so cool!" Sakura cheers.

My eye twitches at her fangirling, really of all time to fangirl; she chooses when we have an opponent that could potentially kill us.

"...Didn't I just say that?" Kakashi asks in a dejected tone.

I nod and pat Kakashi's back. "You did sensei; you're cooler than Sasuke."

Kakashi nods at me, but soon turns more serious again.

"They're an impressive youth," Haku says speaking to Zabuza, "Even those Water Clones have 1/10th of strength of their original. To think they did that well."

Zabuza grins under his wrappings, "However, you made the pre-emptive move. Go."

"Hai." Haku says and then disappears. He turns into a hurricane and spins towards Sasuke and I, I get my Sais ready as Haku got nearer.

A thought come to me, if I got in the way and battled Haku, Sasuke would most likely not develop his Sharingan. If I stop him getting his Sharingan, will it stop his quest for power or indulge it? I bit my lip at the thought. But Sasuke could then develop it later, like in the Chunin exams, but Orochimaru may not become interested in him anymore if he doesn't have the Sharingan...

"You go Sasuke." I say to him. Sasuke looks at me in surprise.

"Really?" Sasuke asks.

I nod, "But I'm intervening if you can't handle him." I smirk at the end to show him that I was joking, almost. I would intervene, but not now.

Sasuke smirks back, "You won't need to."

Sasuke jumps in and meets Haku. Haku was using his senbon needle to block Sasuke's kunai. The power struggle between them was nearly equal.

Kakashi turns to me and Sakura, "Akemi, Sakura surround Tazuna and don't move away from me. Let Sasuke handle him." We both nod and guard him. I knew that I would move away from anyway, I would need to help protect Sasuke and Naruto when he arrives.

NARUTO

Throughout the whole fight between Haku and Sasuke, I have been watching their movements carefully. Sasuke was able to see Haku's speed due to him starting to develop his Sharingan. Haku was not aiming to hurt Sasuke, but to immobilise him. Haku didn't want to kill anyone making my heart ache for him.

When Sasuke knocked Haku back, Zabuza looked shocked, "He defeated Haku in speed." Zabuza says looking between Sasuke and Haku.

"Well I can't have you insulting my team," Kakashi says with a relaxed and almost smug look, "Sasuke and Akemi are the number one rookies of Konohagakure."

I almost blushed at the compliment, but I kept a stoic face.

"And Sakura is out sharpest."

I nearly rolled my eyes; she would be, if she didn't fawn over Sasuke.

"And the other one is the number one hyperactive, knucklehead ninja, Naruto Uzumaki." Kakashi finishes with a hint of pride.

Zabuza began to laugh, "Haku, do you know what this means? At this rate you'll be defeated by your intended victim."

Haku stands up, "Yes." Chakra began to flow from Haku's body, which even without my Shīringu I could see clearly.

"What?" Sasuke says confused of what Haku is going.

"It's unfortunate," Haku says.

I look around and rub my arms trying to generate warmth. Haku was affecting the air making it really cold. Haku made a hand seal and ice mirrors started to appear. This would mean that I would soon need to intervene.

"What is it? What's that Jutsu?" Kakashi asked perplexed.

I wanted to shout that it was Haku's Kekkei Genkai, but I withheld myself.

Haku stepped into the mirror, and his image appeared all over the mirrors.

Sasuke looked around completely shocked, "Are these mirror? What in the world?"

Kakashi cursed and was about to step in, he ran over to the mirrors. But he never made it. Zabuza appeared in front of him, blocking his path. "I'm your opponent, aren't I?" Zabuza taunts with a smirk under his wrappings.

Kakashi glared at him.

"Since that Jutsu has appeared, he's done for." Zabuza says.

Back with Sasuke and Haku, Sasuke was still looking around. Haku called out, "Now then I'll start." Sasuke had no idea where the voice was coming from, it sounded like it was coming from all directions.

"I shall show you my true speed." Haku says throwing the senbon needles in his hand. Each needle coming from different directions hitting him and making him cry out in pain. The needles attack was constant; it was like they were raining down on him.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi shouts in worry.

"If you make a move, I'll kill those three!" Zabuza threatens referring to me, Sakura and Tazuna.

I smirk from my position. I had laid a trap; I was going to put my new sealing jutsu to use. I had sent Clones to lay down four tags around Tazuna. I place the fifth tag in front of Tazuna. Sakura looks at me, "What are you doing, Akemi?"

"I'm making a barrier." I whisper to her.

Sakura looks at me in confusion, "Why?"

I didn't answer her; I whisper to her so Zabuza couldn't hear, "If you need to break it, destroy the four seals around the barrier at the same time, got it?"

Sakura nods.

"Now I can go help Sasuke." I say activating the seal, "Gofū Kekkai no Jutsu." I whisper the Jutsu and watch as a barrier appeared around Sakura and Tazuna, I jumped out in time. Once the barrier was done I smirked at Zabuza who was glaring holes into me with anger.

"Good thinking, Akemi." Kakashi compliments.

I smirk and rush over to Sasuke. Zabuza tried to intercept me and cut me down with his sword, but Kakashi blocked it, "Go Akemi!" He says not looking at me.

"You don't need to tell me twice." I say as I run to Sasuke.

I arrive just in time. A shuriken hit Haku in the mask, knocking him out of the mirror and making a scratch on Haku's mask. A puff of smoke not too far away appeared, revealing Naruto. I reached Sasuke and immediately started to heal him of any wounds; they were small ones and took seconds to heal.

I helped Sasuke up, "Thanks." I heard him mumble, I didn't really pay attention to him though.

Haku stood up, "The number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja."

"Naruto Uzumaki is finally here!" Naruto announces.

I laugh despite the situation, "Took you long enough to get here, Naruto-kun."

Naruto grins, "The hero of a story generally appears in this kind of situation and takes out the enemy in no time!"

Zabuza turned to look at Naruto, "That brat eh."

Naruto makes the hand seal, but I shout, "Naruto, get out of the way!" Zabuza had thrown shuriken at Naruto and was heading straight for him. I move to Naruto quickly, but I knew we would never make it away in time. I cover Naruto and wait for the pain.

"Akemi! Naruto!"

But it never came.

I look up and saw the shuriken were on the floor near us, with senbon needles as well. Of course! How could I be so forgetful! Haku intercepts them making everyone gasp.

"They're saved." Sakura breathes a sigh of relief.

"To think the enemy attacks would cancel each other out. That was super lucky," Tazuna says also looking relieved.

"What the hell are you doing Naruto?!" Sakura shouts at him.

"What kind of idiot would attempt to cast a Jutsu directly in front of an opponent?!" Kakashi also yells at Naruto.

Naruto backs away slightly looking sheepish.

"And you!" Kakashi shouts pointing at me.

"What did I do?" I shout at him incredulously.

"You put yourself in harm's way!" Kakashi scolded me.

I brush it off; I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant the people I cared for were safe.

Zabuza turned to Haku, "Haku, what's the idea?"

"Zabuza leave this kid to me." Haku pleads with him, "Please let me fight this battle my way."

Naruto looks miffed, "What did you say?"

"Don't Naruto-kun." I lightly scold him.

"So you mean no interfering Haku," Zabuza says with some understanding, "You are naive, as usual."

Haku bows his head slightly, "I'm sorry."

Naruto points at Haku, "As for me, I'll take you out first!"

"Be careful Naruto-kun." I say to him.

Naruto nods, "That mask, you were Zabuza's comrade after all, weren't you?! You've got the nerve to deceive us!"

"We've kind of covered this already Naruto-kun." I whisper to him. Naruto looks at me with a sheepish look.

Haku bows his head, "I'm sorry."

Naruto looks at Haku with confusion.

Haku continues to speak, "But, your sensei also said it, didn't he? Things like deceiving and catching one off guard is a Shinobi's duty. Please don't take it personally."

I couldn't actually fault him on that, he was right...

Sasuke takes the distraction to his advantage; from the mirror dome he throws a kunai, hoping to hit him. But Haku moves his head slightly, causing the kunai to miss completely. Sasuke made a noise of shock, he couldn't believe that Haku was able to dodge that, he wasn't even paying attention.

Naruto looks to where the direction of the kunai came from and saw Sasuke, "Sasuke?" Naruto mumbles in confusion.

"I haven't forgotten about you." Haku says not even looking in Sasuke's direction.

Sasuke grit his teeth.

Haku looks at Sasuke, "I would rather you had just gone down quietly. But it looks like it won't work that way. Fine, I'll put an end to it first." Haku walks back to his mirrors and steps back inside them. I watch with fascination. It looked like Haku was stepping into water the way the Crystal Ice Mirrors rippled.

Sasuke looked around when the image of Haku appeared, but they all stayed in one mirror. Sasuke got ready to throw a kunai, taking his eye of Haku for a second.

"I'm over here." Haku calls with senbon needles in his hand.

Sasuke tenses, he looks back to the mirror he was in originally to see that he was gone. He looked behind him and saw Haku was now behind him. Haku's image appeared all over the mirrors now, all having senbon needles in his hand.

The on slaughter continued. Senbon needles were thrown like a storm, reopening all the wounds that I had closed. Sasuke grit his teeth to stop himself from screaming, he was thrown back onto the floor, finding it difficult to stand up.

"Sasuke!" Sakura and Naruto shout together. I just look around; I couldn't seem to figure it out. I knew it was a Kekkei Genkai, but every one of them had its faults. From the anime I knew the ice was resistant to fire, but what would work?

Suddenly, Naruto disappeared from my side and appeared by Sasuke's, "Yo, I came to save you." Naruto whispers with a happy look.

When Sasuke sees him, he does a double take.

"You okay Sasuke?" Naruto asks with a grin on his face.

Both Kakashi and Sakura twitch.

"You idiot! If you're a Shinobi you'll move more cautiously!" Sasuke hisses at the blonde.

"What's with you?! I came to the rescue you know!" Naruto shouts.

"I had it you dobe." Sasuke hissed at Naruto.

"Shut up teme!" Naruto shouts at him.

"Akemi!" Sasuke shouts getting my attention.

I look at Sasuke through a gap between mirrors, "Hai!" I say back to him.

"Attack the mirrors from the outside!" Sasuke shouts to me.

I sweat drop, he just told Haku what I was doing. This probably wasn't going to go well. I look at the mirrors. In the anime, Sasuke hit the inside of the mirrors with fire, but what about the outside? Could it be weak?

I make the tiger hand seal, "Katon: Karyūdan." I breathe fire out of my mouth sending a fireball to the mirror surface. When the fire dispersed I noticed some markings, I was right! The outside was weaker than the inside!

"No way..." Zabuza mumbles as he watched me make a mark on Haku's mirror.

Kakashi smirked under his mask.

"It worked!" I cheer throwing my hands in the air.

"Alright, Akemi-chan!" Naruto cheers.

"Sasuke, aim for this mirror!" I shout to him as I point to the marked mirror. Sasuke made the hand seals and also breathed fire onto the mirrors, but he didn't have that much luck. Both Naruto and Sasuke were knocked back to the floor with wounds created by senbon needles. I went to do the same Jutsu, but I felt someone grab my arm. I look down and saw Haku's hand was out of the mirror and was gripping my arm in a vice grip.

"Akemi! /Akemi-chan!" Both Sasuke and Naruto shout as Haku pulled me into the mirror.

While passing through the mirror, it felt cold. It almost felt like I was in water and I couldn't breathe, but at the same time, I was in pain. I felt very sharp stinging pain all over me; Haku was hitting me with senbon needles. I was thrown out of the mirrors, landing on the same side as Naruto and Sasuke. I land on the floor, shivering.

Both Naruto and Sasuke kneel before me, "Akemi-chan! What's wrong?!" Naruto shouts shaking me.

I sit up still shivering, "That was so cold." I say shivering still, the coldness never leaving my bones. With the help of Naruto and Sasuke, I am able to stand up, I take a couple of deep breath and calm myself and my mind became clearer.

I look at myself, I wasn't harmed that much, a couple of wounds, but I looked better than Naruto and Sasuke.

"What did you do to her?!" Sasuke demands.

"I took her inside the mirrors." Haku answered simply.

I didn't know he could do that...

"Well don't do it again." I say standing up on my own, the shivering had subsided. I think it was the shock of going through the mirrors.

Naruto began to look around, "Where's the real body?!"

"It's useless for you to even attempt following with your eyes. I will absolutely not be caught." Haku says, his voice echoing.

I wonder if my Shīringu would work. I activate it and look around, no it didn't. Haku's chakra was distributed evenly. It looks like my Kekkei Genkai can't be used to figure out other people's Kekkei Genkai, which to be honest is fair. I deactivate it since it was useless.

Naruto scoffed, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Don't!" Sasuke shouts. But he was too late; Naruto had already made loads of Shadow Clones and went to attack the mirrors.

"I'll find out which the real body is by hitting them all!" Naruto shouts determination flashing in his eyes.

As quick as lightning, all Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu's got destroyed and Naruto was thrown back on the floor. I kneel down beside him, "Naruto-kun, are you okay?" I ask checking for any serious wounds, again, there weren't any.

"This is a teleportation Jutsu that uses mirrors that can reflect only my image." Haku says from the mirrors. "Watching you from the speed I move, it almost seems as if you aren't moving at all."

Kakashi gasped from where he was, "I knew it he's using a Kekkei Genkai."

Zabuza laughs at his realisation.

Sakura turns to look at her sensei, "What's a Kekkei Genkai?"

"It's the same type of my Sharingan," Kakashi explains, "Deep blood ties, linage of paranormal individuals. It is a type of jutsu that is passed on only through those traits."

"What does that mean?" Sakura asks.

"That it's impossible for even me to copy that Jutsu. And there's no way to destroy that Jutsu, either!" Kakashi finishes looking grim.

Naruto began to shake, I look at him. Naruto was shaking in rage. "I can't die here yet. I have a dream that I must turn into a reality. To have my strength recognised by everyone in the village and become Hokage."

"If I can, I don't want to kill you guys, and I don't want to get killed by you guys. But if you guys are going to come at me, I'll kill my feelings with a sword and completely become a Shinobi. I, for the sake of my dream, and you for the sake of your dreams, please don't hold it against me. I want to protect the person dear to me." Haku says from the mirrors. I look at him with a saddened look. His past was very sad, but as the same time really interesting.

"What do you work for?" I ask Haku.

Haku looks in my direction, "I work for the sake of that person. I fight for that person. I want to make that person's dream a reality. That's my dream."

"It's Zabuza, isn't it?" I state, even if I already know the answer.

Haku nods, "For the sake of the dream, I will completely become a Shinobi and kill you guys." Haku holds up the senbon needles and looks ready to attack.

Both Naruto and Sasuke grin, "Bring it on."

"Sasuke-kun! Naruto! Akemi! Don't lose to that guy!" Sakura shouts over.

I roll my eyes, "Oh yeah, because your words of encouragement will help us win now."

"Stop it Sakura, don't goad them." Kakashi scolds.

I felt Sakura glare at me making me smirk.

"Even if there was a chance that we could break that technique, they won't be able to defeat that boy." Kakashi says with a serious look.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asks feeling nervous due to Kakashi's tone.

Zabuza began to laugh again.

"They don't have the mentality to kill their feelings," Kakashi explains. "And kill another person. That boy knows the agony of being a Shinobi. He's different from Naruto, Sasuke and Akemi."

"Exactly," Zabuza says, "No real Shinobi will come out of a peace-addicted village like yours, because they are not able to learn the most important 'experience of killing.'"

"Then what are we going to do, sensei?!" Sakura shouts feeling scared.

Kakashi placed his hand on his Hitaiate, "I'm sorry. But I'm going to have to finish this in an instant."

Zabuza looked amused, "The Sharingan again? Such an unimaginative guy." Zabuza charges at Kakashi with a kunai and goes to stab him in the eye, where his Sharingan is. But Kakashi's hand intercepted, causing blood to fall from the wound.

"You might call me 'an unimaginative guy' but you are afraid of the Sharingan after all Zabuza." Kakashi says his eye never leaving Zabuza's.

Zabuza laughed again, "The secret techniques of a Shinobi aren't something you show your opponent so many times."

"Be appreciative," Kakashi says, "You're the only person who had had the chance to see it twice, and there will not be a third time."

"Even if you are able to defeat me, you can't defeat Haku." Zabuza says looking amused.

"What?" Sakura whispers looking over to where Haku was.

"Since he was a kid, I have been painstakingly teaching him," Zabuza says, "the battle techniques of the ninja. All of my techniques, on top of that, he's been polishing his own skills as well. As a result, no matter how unbelievably difficult his predicament, he has been extremely successful. He has no 'heart' and has abandoned the notion of 'life'. He is a fighting machine known as a Shinobi."

Zabuza smirked, "Not only that, his Jutsu surpasses mine. The terrifying ability of the Kekkei Genkai, in other words, I have acquired a sophisticated tool. Unlike the scrap you are carrying around." Zabuza pulls out the kunai in Kakashi hands.

Back with me, Naruto and Sasuke, we were still looking around. Naruto stands up and says, "I'm not one to be afraid just because I failed once! I'll do it as many times as it takes! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

I follow his example and send my own Shadow Clone, but wisely kept my real body on the ground. And just like last time, all of our Clones were destroyed by Haku in seconds. That's when I saw Haku; he was out of the mirrors and threw a storm full if needles at me and Sasuke. I raised my arms to cover my face, heart and eyes. The stinging burn of the senbon needles scratching me burnt making me hiss in pain. But even in all this pain, I noticed that Haku wasn't aiming for vitals.

The real Naruto fell in a heap on the floor and I and Sasuke were kneeling.

Naruto stands up, "What the hell is it?!"

Sasuke stood back up; he was looking intently up in the air. He was going to get his Sharingan! Finally!

"One more try." Naruto says, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" This time I didn't join in, I was saving my chakra for healing or Jutsus I needed to do. Naruto had a nearly endless supply, so it didn't matter to him. Sasuke kicked water into the air and looked closely.

"Don't you understand that it's useless?" Haku says destroying all of Naruto's Shadow Clones, and also sending senbon needles in mine and Sasuke direction. I hiss at the pain but I refused to scream. This time, all three of us landed on the floor.

Back with Zabuza and Kakashi, Zabuza was laughing again, "Just because a bunch of scrap got together doesn't mean that they can defeat Haku. He is the best tool."

"There's nothing more boring than a stranger bragging." Kakashi says lifting his Hitaiate revealing his Sharingan, "It's about time I make my move."

"Now wait, as long as we're talking, let me brag about another thing." Zabuza laughs.

Kakashi raises his eye brow, "Hm?"

"In the battle before, I just didn't let you defeat me like a fool. Haku was hiding in the corner and was observing part of the battle. Haku is quite smart and with his ability to analyse he is able to plan a counterattack after a technique just once. I've been anxious to copy your line." Zabuza says looking smug.

Tazuna and Sakura looked a bit scared.

"'I'll tell you know, but the same Jutsu won't work on me twice.'" Zabuza repeats looking a bit happy. Zabuza then made the hand deal to make the mist cover the field.

Kakashi doesn't look at Sakura, but tries to look to for Zabuza, "Sakura, guard Tazuna."

Sakura nods and rushes to Tazuna's side.

Back in the ice mirror dome, Naruto charged at the mirrors again with his Shadow Clones.

"You don't learn do you?" Haku says leaving his mirrors, not noticing that Sasuke was making the hand seals. Before Haku could get rid of the Shadow Clones, he had to evade as a ball of fire was about to hit him. Haku ducked in time and then returned to destroying the Shadow Clones. Sasuke did the same thing again and this time Sasuke burnt the side of his pants, not that Haku noticed. Naruto fell to the ground harder. I checked over him, he was completely fine.

In felt really useless, what was I even here for?! I couldn't do anything because my Shīringu doesn't work.

"Darn! We were so close!" Naruto grits his teeth.

"Naruto, Akemi, can you still move?" Sasuke asks us.

I nod my head, "Yeah."

"Of course! I'm totally fine!" Naruto says.

The mirrors flash, Sasuke makes the hand seals, "Naruto, Akemi run!"

"What?" Naruto says.

"Go and attack from the outside!" Sasuke says, "Akemi did it and proved that the ice is weaker."

"All right!" I and Naruto say together. Both I and Naruto run for the exit.

"You won't be able to!" Haku says and hit both of us back. I grunt when I hit the floor. I got up along with Naruto and run again.

"I'm not going to lose!" Naruto shouts in determination.

Sasuke sees Haku leave his mirrors and go to attack us, while Haku was distracted; Sasuke sent a fireball towards him. But Haku easily evaded him and sent a senbon needle at him. Haku appeared in front of us and kicked up both back. I grunt as I hit the floor again, I was becoming well aquatinted with the floor.

Haku returned to his mirrors.

Naruto stands up, "Darn!"

Sasuke pulls out the senbon and I stand up too. "That was good just now." Sasuke says.

I and Naruto look at him, "What's good?" I ask.

"We're doing it one more time!" Sasuke says standing up.

Naruto nods his head, "All right!"

All three of us ran for an exit, Haku speaks, "This won't go as you've planned." Haku leaves his mirror and goes to throw senbons, "First I'll start with you!" Haku threw multiple senbon needles at Sasuke making him cry out in pain. I stop running and look, "Sasuke!" I shout.

A storm of needles hit me and Naruto, and this time I did scream slightly in pain. Haku was aiming to hurt us now, he was getting tired. Suddenly, I felt more pain explode in me, I scream shrilly.

"Akemi! /Akemi-chan!" Sasuke and Naruto shout.

Even Haku stopped firing senbon needles and looked.

I groan in pain, my barrier, my seal around Tazuna was just hit; I didn't know it was so painful! I take deep breathes and felt myself start to shake.

"Akemi-chan, what's wrong?" Naruto shouts.

Haku nods his head, as if he had just realised it, "You made a barrier around Tazuna didn't you? And now Zabuza is trying to get through the barrier, hurting you."

"Disperse the barrier!" Sasuke shouts at me.

I shake my head, "I can't! Only Sakura can!"

Sasuke girt his teeth and cursed under his breath. Slowly, the pain ebbed away and I was able to stand up on my own