"Remind me why I have to stay here and do boring tactics." Naruto sighed. His teammates were out learning cool Jutsu and fighting techniques while he was here learning dumb tactics.
"Because, my little Genin, I have to build upon what you already know," Kakashi began. "Besides, I know you're already pretty good at this."
The duo was sitting in front of a shogi board while Naruto's clones and the bridge builders were working on well... the bridge.
"What do you mean?" Naruto questioned while scratching his chin. "Last time I checked, I've never played shogi or been taught tactics before. I skipped that part in the academy."
"Don't act like you didn't come up with that plan during the fight with Zabuza. How did you do it?" Kakashi declared, moving a piece on the board. "Your turn."
Naruto looked at Kakashi with his chest pumped in a goofy manner and a grin on his face. "I forgot I made that awesome plan! I bet I can already take Hokage-Jiji's hat. "
Kakashi raised a brow at his student's behavior. Naruto calmed down and moved a piece.
"Anyways, while you were stuck in the water prison, I made two clones and henged them to look like me and Ino. The blood was just a few berries that I crushed on their heads."
"You think you're awesome, huh? Checkmate."
Naruto looked at the board astonishingly. "How?"
Kakashi pointed to a piece that was left open. "I already told you, that's the king. You charged everyone you had towards my soldiers and left the king wide open for capture," Kakashi pointed to another piece one panel left of the king. "With the all of your soldiers preoccupied, one of my pawns was able to slip past your offense and slay your king."
Naruto stared at the pieces and analyzed his strategy. "This is the third time he beat me! Maybe, just maybe, if I can get my generals at the head of the fight and my knights at each side, I can establish an ambush with my promoted bishop, which I can easily hide, and capture his king."
The white-haired cyclops reset the pieces on the board and observed Naruto's ready determination. "He's come up with a plan already."
"Are you ready Naruto?" he asked. Kakashi expected Naruto to bust out a grin and yell. This time, however, the blond didn't even spare Kakashi a glance or a smile. He just said yes and they started the game.
Over the course of the game, Kakashi was outmatched by Naruto's quick thinking and unpredictability. When you thought you had him, he would slick his way out with a surprise attack or an ambush. The Sensei was barely able to keep up.
Naruto moved a piece on the board and looked at Kakashi with a smirk on his face. Kakashi dismissed it and captured Naruto's knight. The blond, however, stretched his arm all the way over to where Kakashi's king remained.
What Kakashi failed to notice was that Naruto's promoted bishop made it over to his king. Naruto grinned and said "Check." before capturing his king. Kakashi thought back to the ambushes against his soldiers.
"Every one of those ambushes you did had the promoted bishop, didn't it?"
Naruto nodded happily. "Every ambush I did, I would move the bishop one piece to get closer to your king. You didn't notice because-"
"I was focusing on destroying your offense and failed to realize the defensive pressure you were using on me."
Naruto nodded once again and started to dance. "I won against Kakashi-sensei!"
The Jonin gave Naruto an eye smile and an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Naruto, after all, you're still learning."
At the very least, the Genin was disoriented. He took Kakashi's king, which meant he won, right? Naruto loosened his grip on Kakashi's king piece, read the kanji, and almost flipped over.
"It says pawn! Which means your king is-"
"In the crossfire, I know." Kakashi finished, pointing at his king in between a knight and general. Naruto looked over to his side and saw a piece near his king that had the kanji for Lance.
But his lance was already captured.
He watched as Kakashi moved his hand to the piece and captured his king. "Check," he said. Naruto stared at the board with bewilderment. He trembled and pointed a finger at Kakashi's amused face.
"You're a cheater!" Naruto pouted. Kakashi got up from his crouched position and patted Naruto on the back.
"It's okay Naruto, take this as a learning experience for real combat. Think of the king as a shinobi using henge. He or she is our main target. The pawn that they are using is also using a henge."
Kakashi proceeded to grab the two pieces. "The part where you screwed up was analyzing the situation. Instead of reading the kanji before attacking, you went straight ahead and captured someone that wasn't planned to be captured. In real life, you have to use the data that you have of the target. Everything you know about the person must be tested for confirmation before you do anything crazy."
Naruto scratched his chin and nodded during the lecture, soaking up what he could. "How would I check for this stuff'?" he questioned.
Kakashi put the king piece down. "Let's say, for instance, that the info told you that the subject had a knack for biting his lip. You could easily confirm a fake or not with info like this. A less obvious piece of info is something like a faint scar on his palm. To check for scars and injuries, you would need some kind of plan to make then expose that area. Any more questions?"
Naruto nodded affirmative and asked, "Could we play again already, I'm itching to try out a new strategy."
The white-haired Jonin gave an eye smile and the duo was right back at it.
-In the forest near Tazuna's house-
CLANG!
The sound of metal striking metal was heard. The sound of panting and struggling was also largely evident.
On one side of the large green field was Ino, a kunai in her right hand. Scratches and bruises were all over her body and blood trickled down her left leg.
"This guy is too good. I've tried everything but I haven't even been able to touch him. What makes this harder is that this is a kunai only battle. Good thing is, these are blunt."
On the other side was Kakashi, well a clone of Kakashi. He too also held a kunai in his hand. The clone was spotless and gazed expressionless at Ino.
"Again." the clone said. Ino held the kunai to her face and waited for the clone to attack. She grits her teeth feeling the pain of moving her limbs. "Damn it! This is gonna hurt!"
The two stood there for a good 10 seconds before Ino realized the clone wasn't on the offensive.
"Are you serious, now this is really gonna hurt!"
Dashing forward, she made sure to keep the kunai in front of her face. The clone dashed forward as well, meeting her in the middle of the field.
Like the many times before, they clashed in a kunai stalemate. Kakashi gained the upper hand, however, with his strength and knocked the kunai out of Ino's hand.
Seeing the situation she was in, Ino flipped back a few feet away from the clone and took out a second kunai. She gripped it tightly and now had to come up with a new plan.
"I tried to be fierce and strong like Zoro but that obviously doesn't work with the LITTLE muscle I have. I can try an elegant approach like Tashigi but I'm not all that flexible. The worst approach is precise and quiet as Ms. Cat Anbu. So, elegant it is."
Ino charged towards the Jonin clone. The clone did the same.
"Now!" Ino thought.
At the last second, Ino flipped over Kakashi and landed behind him. She charged, once again, with the kunai in a position to kill.
The clone turned around quickly, one step further than Ino thought, and simply hit Ino's wrist with the handle of his kunai. Ino felt the pain rip through her body but remained standing. She jumped backward to create some space between them and miraculously landed where her last kunai was skidded off to.
She glanced at the kunai and started to think. "If I did that same strategy again, except with a second kunai, he wouldn't have had time to hit my other wrist before I could stab him. Or maybe if I-"
"We don't have all day." interrupted the Kakashi clone. Ino quickly grabbed the second kunai and surveyed the field around her. "There's definitely enough space for it."
Ino sighed, closed her eyes and tensed up her body. Opening her eyes again, the clone was surprised to see the anger and determination in them. Before he could prepare, she dashed towards him with one kunai protecting her abdomen and one protecting her face.
She made it over to the clone and slashed at his face. He blocked it and dropped down to the ground to dodge the stab for his abdomen.
He was about to retaliate but watched as Ino flip back a few yards from him. The clone was barely able to get up before being charged at again by Ino. He braced himself and watched the purple blur get to him.
Right in front of Kakashi, Ino skidded to a halt and spun around the clone with her arm outstretched. The kunai in her hand was poised to strike Kakashi in the back. Just as the tip of the knife touched his flak jacket, the clone came back to its senses and tried to stab Ino in the abdomen.
Ino realized this just in time to barely dodge the strike, jumping to the left. "I really thought that was gonna work too!"
The clone gave a look of approval and shunshined a few yards away from Ino. He put his kunai in his pouch and gestured for Ino to do the same. "Let's take a break. I know little medical ninjutsu so this might take some time."
Ino sighed and put her weapon away. "Finally, no more torture."
She ached with every step she took as she approached Kakashi. The light blond-haired Genin laid down on the ground before Kakashi, waiting for treatment. The clone knelt down and nursed Ino's wounds with a faint green light from his hands.
The clone and Ino didn't say a word for a few minutes.
"This clone doesn't say much, unlike the original." Ino mused. What the clone did remind her of Kakashi was his focus during a situation.
To break the tension, she decided to ask some questions.
"So, is there anything you want to correct me on?"
The clone didn't bat an eyelid and monotonously said, "Your taijutsu needs lots of work. You had a great strategy but you were kinda slow and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Jonin. Other than that, using two kunai's was efficient and original."
Ino smiled slightly. Her strategy was great. A Jonin said her strategy was great! Ino's eyes brightened up and joy and determination filled her soul. The clone raised a brow and smiled underneath the mask.
"She's all dirty and hurt but doesn't even care. Ino finally realizes what it means to be a kunoichi."
-In another part of the forest-
Raiton: Rakurai no Jutsu!
Outof Sasuke's hand came a small bolt of lightning, akin to the size of a fireball from the technique, Katon: Endan. The attack hit a tree and created a small crater into it.
The second clone watched from a distance as Sasuke practiced the technique he gave him. In the few hours they were out here, Sasuke managed to practice fighting with his Sharingan and master a D-rank lightning jutsu. At this point, Sasuke was practicing his aim and it was going pretty well. His prodigy side showed and it was mesmerizing to gaze at.
Deciding to stop him to work on something else, Kakashi 2 put a hand on the slightly exhausted Uchiha's shoulders.
"Good job, I got another jutsu for you to learn. It's a D r-"
"I want a C-rank."
Kakashi 2 sighed. He tried to be nice with the kid but now he's pissing him off. He calmed down and spoke to Sasuke calmly.
"Look Sasuke, I'm the Jonin and my orders are final. I can let you make a suggestion sometimes but I said your gonna learn this D-rank and that's final."
"No."
That's it. This kid is infuriating and Kakashi 2 was gonna fix that. He grabbed the kid by his blue collar and watched as Sasuke smirked.
"Listen here, you little brooding bitch, I said I'm the Jonin and your gonna respect me and my judgment! You don't have to like me but as your superior and your teacher, I teach you what I deem necessary. Take that stick out of your ass before I have to beat it out!"
That little smirk didn't fade, however, and it angered Kakashi 2 even more. He cocked his fist back and drove it into Sasuke's face. Sasuke was forcefully ripped out of Kakashi's grip and skidded away onto the ground.
"That's for leaving yesterday to train when I deliberately told everyone to stay put!"
Sasuke got up quickly, looking angry as he nursed the bruise that sat on his cheek. "That hurt like a bitch! If he can hit like that then I better stand down."
Kakashi 2 sighed again. "Just for that display of disobedience, I'm cutting training short today. If you want proper training, then don't act like a spoiled brat. Let's go."
The clone took the lead and Sasuke followed loosely behind, deep in his thoughts. "My whole life, things were handed to me. I wanted a jutsu, I would get it. Anything I needed and everything I wanted I didn't have to work for."
A frown appeared on Sasuke's face. "Then my family got massacred and my brother was the traitor. I was still allowed to live on the compound and I didn't have to pay rent. The council provided me with clothes and food to eat but not what I needed most. A family."
"The Sasuke everyone knew died and was replaced with a cold-hearted avenger. I shut out everyone and didn't allow friends to drag me down. After all, everyone was too stupid and weak. I can't lie that Naruto is more tolerable than before in the academy and way stronger too. Ino seems more like a kunoichi than before too. Maybe...No, I have to avenge them. No matter what."
The duo made it to the house and the clone dispelled. Sasuke sat on the couch, letting Tsunami perform first-aid on his injuries. A few minutes later, Ino came in a little banged up. She barely acknowledged him, only stopping to say hi and headed to her room.
A half-hour later and Naruto, Kakashi and Tazuna made it back. Naruto raised a brow at Sasuke's condition and Kakashi didn't look surprised. Tazuna was too drunk to care.
"What happened to you teme?"
"None of your business dobe."
Naruto shrugged it off, which Sasuke didn't expect, and went to his room. Tsunami was done patching him up and sent him to his room to rest.
-Ino's room-
"Maybe if I hold it like this."
Ever since she got here, Ino's been working on, what she dubbed, her, 'two kunai style'. It wasn't as deadly as a sword but could get the job done. The style was inspired by Zoro's Nitoryu and Ittoryu.
Currently, she held both the kunai in vice grip. A scroll was taped to her wall, following the katas on it. Following through, she sliced down and slashed left. Ino then formed an x with her arms and slashed again.
She holstered her kunai and wiped a sweat off her head. "This is harder than I thought. Following katas without a teacher is impossible."
She grabbed the scroll off the wall and shoved it into her backpack. "I don't need this damn scroll. It's for swords and these are kunai. I'll just have to make up my own moves!"
Ino took out her kunai once again. She held it in vice-grip and slashed ferociously at the air repeatedly. This went on until Tsunami called them for lunch.
-Kitchen-
Everyone in the house sat to eat. Naruto awaited the food with his mouth watering fountains. Tsunami finally placed his food on his plate and Naruto started devouring at inhumane rates. Tsunami and her family looked at Naruto with shock. Team 7 just stared at him and continued with their foods.
"More, please!" Naruto asked with an empty plate and a full mouth. Tsunami sweat dropped and gave him some more. Inari glared at Naruto the whole time, not even picking up his fork to eat. "Why are they even here. Everything their doing is for nothing. Mom's just givin em food for no reason!"
Naruto patted his stomach. "I'm stuffed," he said before excusing himself from the table. "See ya later!" He just about put his hand on the doorknob of the house when Inari called out to him.
"Hey, Naruto, why are you even here!?"
Naruto turned around, confusion plastered on his face.
"For a missio-"
"Gato is gonna kill you guys, just like he did to Kaiza! Gato and his men are too strong, he'll crush you like bugs!"
Tsunami was panicking, looking from Team 7 to her dad and Inari. "Inari I know its hard but why did you have to bring them into this. I miss Kaiza too but somethings you just keep to yourself."
Unexpectedly, Naruto grabbed Inari by his shirt and lifted him to his eye level. "Look at my eyes, does it look like I'm gonna back down! Gato's men can suck it if they think that Shinobi like me and my team are too weak. Kakashi by himself could kill Gato and his army in 10 seconds!"
And it was true, the fire, the passion, it all showed in Naruto's eyes.
Kakashi ordered Naruto to put the kid down and Naruto obliged. He walked back to the exit and walked out onto the town. Ino excused herself from the table and also walked out. Sasuke remained behind and locked himself in his room.
-Two weeks and 3 days later-
Over the half month, team 7 has been training their butts off. From Naruto to Ino, the Genin were sent home with multiple bruises and cuts that, except for Naruto, lasted for days at a time. But the results were very good.
Sasuke's attitude dialed down a lot. He was quieter and didn't spike his pride everywhere. Kakashi was able to beat respect and obedience into the kid's brain. His skills as a Shinobi also took a leap, with him having learned 5 D-rank jutsu and 2 C-rank and becoming better at Taijutsu. Sasuke could now fight a lot better with his Sharingan activated. His tactics in fighting somewhat improved but he still didn't get the concept of teamwork.
Naruto was still his loud self but was less obnoxious and knew when to shut up. His skills in shogi were a lot better and his information gathering was almost there. Kakashi mostly trained his Taijutsu to fix all the holes the academy didn't bother to fix. Kakashi got him started on some jutsu but Naruto did master Fuuton: Bouseki Tate no Kaze, a D-rank wind jutsuand Fuuton: Yadama Henshin Bakuha, another D-rank jutsu wind jutsu. In between his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu training, Naruto trained his aim with his guns. He worked so hard on it that he had to buy multiple magazines. No one questioned his guns, choosing not to anger him anymore.
Ino had the biggest improvement. Her resolve to become a better Kunoichi increased each time she stepped on the field. Her Taijutsu took a massive leap, as she was faster, stronger and more adept at fighting. She originally tried to buy a sword in the town but even the money they all used combined couldn't buy her the weapon. So instead, she worked nonstop on her two kunai style, choosing to fight in using only the two kunai unless Kakashi told her not to. Ino did manage to master a D-rank water jutsu called Suiton: Mizutamari no Jutsu.
Kakashi had them also master tree walking and water walking. Although they had started the exercise back in Konoha, he still made them perfect it. The training helped them a lot and it caused a more efficient and worthy team.
The team stood on the bridge, waiting for Zabuza and whoever saved him. The bridge builders had gone home early, leaving an unfinished bridge and a barely vacant soon-to-be battlefield.
Suddenly, the mist became thicker, denser and most importantly, bloodthirsty. The killing intent was spread all across the battlefield as the team readied their weapons. Sasuke and Kakashi's Sharingan blazing crimson, Ino with her kunai, and Naruto with his guns.
Sasuke moved his head to the left. He grit his teeth, seeing right through the mist to see a bunch of senbons heading for Naruto.
"Naruto, left, senbon, heads up!"
Naruto quickly holstered his guns, turned and ran through hand seals.
Fuuton: Yadama Henshin Bakuha!
Taking a big puff of air, Naruto let out a gust of wind that sent the incoming senbon back to their owner. Zabuza's sword nearly cut off Sasuke's head but he was able to duck in time. This time, senbon came from the right and Kakashi immediatley alerted Naruto.
Naruto did the same thing again and awaited further instruction.
"Stop trying! Let me kill the old man already and nobody will be hurt...too much." Said the voice of Zabuza. Kakashi looked everywhere for the direction of the voice but the mist made it sound like it came from everywhere.
CLANG!
Zabuza appeared from nowhere and clashed with Kakashi, sword to kunai. The Genin reacted quickly, Sasuke and Ino threw a few kunai, which Zabuza easily dodged and Naruto was about to shoot him.
That was before a block of ice slammed into him and sent him flying a few yards back.
"Naruto!" Ino cried. Sasuke was trying to look through the mist to see who did it but the person concealed their presence and chakra.
Kakashi summoned a shadow clone to deal with Zabuza and gave orders to his Genin. "Help Naruto and deal with his accomplice! D-"
Zabuza stabbed the clone and made his way over to Kakashi, which cut Kakashi's orders short. Ino and Sasuke quickly ran over to Naruto and helped him up. They formed a triangle formation and kept their senses alert.
A figure appeared from the mist. It looked like a hunter-nin, mask and all, maybe a girl. The outfit wasn't going to fool the Genin, however, and they readied themselves.
With a burst of speed, the fake hunter-nin charged at Sasuke, senbon drawn. She took a kick at Sasuke's skull but having seen it through his Sharingan, Sasuke ducked and sweep kicked the nin.
In mid-air, the nin maneuvered their body to roll away from Sasuke. She got up and charged Sasuke again. The nin slashed at Sasuke but was blocked by Ino's kunai.
"Don't forget about us!" Ino yelled, overpowering the fake hunter-nin. She slashed down at the nin but the strike was dodged. The fake hunter-nin was ready to slash Ino with a senbon before a loud pop noise rang out and pain ripped through her body as she knelt down.
Naruto stood a few feet away, his gun stretched in the nin's direction and emitting some smoke. "Ino just told you not to forget about us, damn it!" Naruto barked before blowing the smoke away.
He didn't have good accuracy yet but was able to get the person in the shoulder. It wasn't lethal but did enough to get her down for a few seconds. Sasuke took these few seconds to deliver a kick to the nin's mask, destroying it in the process. The nin skidded away a few feet and got up quickly.
Naruto took a good look at the face and was shocked. "Haku!? What the hell are you doing?!"
The now identified Haku said nothing as she grimaced in pain. The blood from her wound, however, stopped gushing and it looked like it was healing.
Sasuke was the first to question Naruto. "How do you know her?"
Naruto lowered his gun and spoke. "First of all, Haku is a boy. Second, when Inari said all that bullcrap, I went to the forest to vent. Then Haku came from the forest and started talking to me, said he was gathering herbs for a friend who was hurt. Then he started talking bullcrap about how life is not worth being happy and crap. I wasn't trying to hear it so I got up and left mid-conversation."
Sasuke and Ino nodded. Sasuke looked back at Haku and tensed. How...
"Guys, his wound is closing! He's got a healing factor of some sort!"
Haku threw a volley of senbon at the team. Reacting quickly, Naruto threw his own volley of shuriken and rushed through hand seals.
Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!
The shuriken multiplied to hundreds and easily destroyed Haku's senbon, making their way to Haku. Zabuza's apprentice jumped in the air to avoid the shuriken but failed to notice the Uchiha performing hand seals.
Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!
Sasuke launched several small balls of fire towards Haku. Said nin ran through hand seals of his own.
Makyō Hyōshō!
An ice mirror formed in front of Haku and the fireballs impacted it. Team 7 widened their eyes when they saw the mirror stood unscathed and the fireballs dissipated.
"My ice mirrors are invincible. Nothing can destroy it or even crack it!" Haku said boastfully.
Team 7 didn't have time to linger as Haku landed. Ino ran ahead and stabbed at Haku. He dodged and punched Ino in the gut. Ino fell to her knees and gasped for air but recovered quickly and sliced the surprised Haku in the shin. Ino then rejoined her team, panting a little.
Looking towards Naruto, Haku saw him grab for his gun. He quickly formed an Ice mirror and the bullet bounced off into the woods.
"That weapon is fast at launching those small pieces of metal. If I want to win I have to use it."Haku thought, dodging a swing from Sasuke. He started to weave through hand seals but was interrupted by a kick to his temple.
Problem is, Sasuke backed off a second ago, so who hit him? He had everyone in his sights and the Jonin was fighting Zabuza.
Haku landed roughly on the ground. Looking up, he saw Naruto towering over him. "Naruto' dispelled in a cloud of smoke. "Oh, Naruto's the blond with shadow clones!"
Zabuza's warning ringed in his head. "Look out for the blond with the shadow clones."
Now he saw why.
Raiton: Rakurai no Jutsu!
A small lightning bolt made its way over to Haku. Haku rolled away as the bolt hit his previous position. He got up quickly and ran towards the group of Genin. Sasuke engaged Haku in a Taijutsu battle, aiming an uppercut to his chin. Haku narrowly dodged and kneed Sasuke in the stomach.
The Uchiha fought through the pain and threw a kunai before flipping back to his team. Ino and Naruto took charge, Naruto with his guns holstered, choosing to use his fists.
Naruto took the lead, smashing a fist into Haku's face and an uppercut to his chin. He followed up with a knee to his stomach and a kick to his temple.
"So fast!" Haku thought. He didn't let up though, gathering his bearings and sweep kicking Naruto and then launching a block of ice at his stomach, sending Naruto back to where Sasuke was.
Having forgotten about Ino, Haku saw the light-haired blond rush towards him. He was set to give her a punch to her face but Ino cleverly slid under Haku's legs.
Uknowingly to Haku, Sasuke made his way over there too. Ino slashed her kunai at Haku's back, cutting the cloth on her back and opening a wound on his back. Seeing Ino's strategy, Sasuke gave the distracted nin a punch to the face. Haku flew back, getting up and hissing in pain. He looked angry, very angry.
"That's it, I'm done with you people! I tried to be nice but Zabuza and I need to kill Tazuna, so just die already!"
Makyō Hyōshō!
This time instead of just one mirror, multiple mirrors manifested and surrounded Naruto, Sasuke, Ino, and Haku.
Not wasting any time, Naruto leaped at Haku only to catch thin air as the ice user walked into the mirror. Naruto growled and watched as Haku appeared in every mirror, twenty-one to be exact.
Naruto growled. "Haku why are you doing this!?"
Haku laughed. "Because I'm a monster, Naruto-kun. I was the death of someone I loved. Because I was and still am a monster."
-Flashback-
A middle-aged woman knelt down in front of a small Haku. She had the same features as him, which was weird because Haku is a boy. She looked very stressed.
"Haku, we have to leave." Said the woman. They stood in a kitchen with a hole in the ground that seemed like an escape route.
"Why okaa-san?" Haku said innocently
The sound of a door breaking down boomed. A mob of people entered the house yelling, "Find her!", "Find him!", "Get these monsters out of our village!"
The door to the kitchen was barricaded with wood so they didn't have much time. Haku seemed scared and his eyes widened.
"Please Haku, hurry!" Said his distressed mother. She pushed him down the stairs of the escape route.
BANG!
The door to the kitchen was almost off its hinges.
"Okaa-san come on!"
"Run Haku, I'll catch up!"
So, he ran. His mother closed the trap door and put her head down.
"I don't have time to get in. My one and only child-"
BANG!
"There she is!"
"I love you."
-End Flashback-
"When I realized my mother wasn't coming, I ran back up to the house and saw a slit in her throat. I laid there, crying till I fell to sleep. Zabuza found me there and took me in as if I was his own, so I won't lose!"
Haku drew four senbon, and when I say Haku, I mean all of them drew four senbon.
"Haku, I'm so sorry you had to go through that, I know some people who've lost someone or even people precious to them! I'm an orphan, so... I-I wouldn't know." Naruto said, his eyes softening. He put his head down and Sasuke looked at Haku with a sense of similarity.
"Well, I'm sorry Naruto-kun, but this is for Zabuza, the only one who ever was truly capable of protecting me."
And the barrage began.
Kakashi threw a kunai towards Zabuza and raced after him. Catching him off guard, Kakashi gave a good punch to his face and drove a kunai through his shoulder.
"Ack!"
He leaped back and panted heavily. He wasn't doing too hot either, he had a non-lethal stab wound in his ribs and his chakra was almost gone.
"Your brats are... as good as dead... Kakashi." Zabuza said tiredly, coughing in between. "Haku's using his strongest technique. It's unbreakable."
"I have no doubt that my Genin can handle this."
"You look tired Kakashi," Zabuza started. "but so am I so let's just finish this already."
Kakashi smirked. "I couldn't have said it better."
Zabuza dashed towards Kakashi and thrusted his sword. Kakashi ducked underneath the blade and sweep kicked Zabuza. Before Zabuza could hit the ground, Kakashi gave him a kick to the face that sent him flying.
The Zabuza that was sent flying turned into a puddle of water.
Kakashi grimaced as his Sharingan saw the fist he was about to take to the face. He skidded into the bridge, leaving a Kakashi sized imprint. He got up slowly and took out a kunai. Kakashi surrounded the blade with lightning and charged Zabuza.
Team 7 was in a very tight spot. No space meant no place to escape Haku's nonstop barrage of senbons.
"You'll die here. Zabuza will be proud of me."
Another senbon. Another, another, another, another.
"It's just raining fricking senbons!"
Every jutsu they tried didn't work and even when Naruto blew the senbon back a new batch would follow suit, leaving no room for him to complete the hand signs. Ino and Sasuke blocked as many as they could with their kunai and jutsu but they're chakra ran out already and the kunai could only block so many.
Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!
Sasuke fired off his signature jutsu at a barrage of senbon. However, he was struck in the back with a senbon. Sasuke fell to the ground, unable to feel anything but his mouth.
"Sasuke!" The blonds yelled in unison. They ran over to him, Ino trying to get the senbon out and Naruto blasting away any senbon.
"No one can defeat me. Everyone will die."
"I'm okay, just get the senbon out of my back."
Futon: Kyouzuu no Jutsu!
Naruto blasted away some senbon but one slipped through the cracks.
"It's okay Sau- Ack!"
Naruto turned around to see what all the commotion was about and saw a senbon in Ino's neck and her body motionless. His heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened as he knelt down. He checked for a pulse on her wrist. Then her neck. No pulse.
Sasuke was starting to get feeling back in his body. He slowly got up and saw Ino. "What's the big idea! What happened!"
Tears went down Naruto's face. "Ino's dead! She's gone!" he cried.
Sasuke grit his teeth growled and turned towards the mirrors. "You bastard!"
Haku stopped throwing senbon to observe the scene. "Oh, I killed your comrade. Oh well, that's life. Never get too attached." he said with a smile. He drew a senbon.
"Oooo, this is my poison coated senbon. Whoops, I dropped it."
A volley of senbon fell down towards Sasuke and Naruto. The blond prepared the go through hand signs but was stopped by the horrific scene before him.
Sasuke had taken the brunt of the attack. He stood there shaking, a bunch of senbon everywhere on his body and turned to Naruto. His Sharingan deactivated and all he said was "My body just moved." before falling to the ground.
At this point, Naruto could barely stand. Hundreds of emotions ran through him at once. Sadness, anger, loneliness and many, many more. His blond hair covered his eyes and he got up ever so slowly.
He pointed at a mirror and put his head up. Naruto's eyes weren't blue anymore. They were crimson red and a slit as a pupil.
"You,' Naruto started, a red shroud of chakra forming over his body. "Are FUCKING DEAD!" He finished, getting on all fours as one tail formed.
Haku almost passed out from the killing intent. He could barely breathe.
Naruto roared, releasing lots of power. He took out his guns, which were also surrounded by the red chakra, and rapid fired off into the mirrors. The bullets' color turned from gold to dark red. One by one, the mirrors gave out until Haku was in the last one.
Naruto roared once more, letting out a bullet that struck Haku in the chest, also shattering the mirror in the process. Haku fell to the ground, coughing up blood.
Kakashi felt killing intent that he hadn't felt since... Oh no.
"My students are in trouble!"
Zabuza gasped for air. "Where the hell is that coming from!"
"Just shut up and finish this," Kakashi said. He rushed through hand seals and put his hand down as blue electricity flowed freely on his hand. "Lightning Blade!"
Naruto jumped onto Haku's body, his feral features giving off an intense mood. "Here I thought, we could be friends! But no," Naruto said as he gave Haku and punch to the face. "You had to be a little bitch about it!"
He continuously punched Haku, each punch stronger than the last for every time he thought about his teammates. Naruto finally got up and then lifted Haku by his neck. "Any last words!"
Haku glanced further behind Naruto before smirking. "Sorry, Naruto-Kun"
A pillar of ice slammed into Naruto but melted on impact with his chakra shield. The impact was enough to make him let go of Haku.
Haku didn't even bat an eyelid at Naruto and ran straight past him.
Kakashi made it to Zabuza and swung his arm towards his abdomen. Blood splattered everywhere but Zabuza didn't feel pain.
Kakashi looked into Zabuza's eyes and saw no signs of him wavering into death. He did impale something though.
He looked down to see Haku. His hand was through Haku, not Zabuza. Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Shit, the kid took his place which means..."
Naruto was about to run after Haku but he was already out of sight so he settled on mourning his teammates instead. He walked on all fours to his deceased teammates' bodies.
He wanted to talk to them again. Kami knew that wasn't going to happen. He put his hands on the bodies and watched as his red chakra transferred to them.
"What the hell!"
The senbon floated out of their body and landed on the ground next to them. He could see all the wounds that were open on their body close.
"Whats happening!"
Naruto gasped when he saw Sasuke's finger move.
And Ino wriggled her nose!
Naruto smiled. "The Kyuubi is actually doing good. What iron-"
The world went dark and he fell to the ground.
Kakashi took his hand out the kid and observed as the kid fell to the ground.
"Hey!"
It came from the bridge. Kakashi took a glance towards the bridge, Zabuza also looking back. The bounty hunter scowled.
There was an army of thugs on the bridge with a midget in the front.
"Is that-"
"It's Gato!"
"I see you didn't get the job done, Momochi." Gato said with a smug smile. "I'll make this quick. Men, attack!"
Zabuza looked to Kakashi. "Mind helping me get this done?"
The white-haired cyclops hesitated for a second before nodding. Needless to say, it was a massacre.
With the remaining chakra he had, Kakashi took out half the thugs with a fireball and Zabuza just cut down every single one that attacked him.
One of them did manage to stab Zabuza in the back while he was off guard and that thug's waist and up wasn't attached to his legs after Zabuza was done with him.
Gato stared at the scene with his mouth hanging open. Horror was plastered across his face. "I better run! Shit, what have I done!?"
Zabuza was done.
"Actually, not yet."
He walked up to Gato and held him by his neck. "You're lucky I'm dying or I would have tortured you till you died."
The sound of metal cutting flesh and blood was heard. Zabuza dropped Gus sword and Gato's head. He walked over to Haku's body, laid there, and closed his eyes.
"The least I could do after working you this hard is to die by your side. I always said you were a tool. I wish I could tell you that you were my son."
Kakashi frowned in sadness watching Zabuza die by his apprentice's side. But there were bigger matters to attend to.
The Genin.
He ran as fast as his body could take him. He finally reached over to his team and smiled. They were all cuddled up, sleeping.
"I'll admit, that was one hell of a battle. They deserve a rest. But there still is that mysterious spike of the Kyuubi's chakra. I'll ask him about it later."
He put Naruto and Sasuke over his shoulders and held Ino in his arms. "I have no more chakra, guess I'll have to run. Screw me."
Kakashi and co eventually made it to Tazuna's house. It took several days for the Genin to get back in ninja training. Not because they were injured but to let them relax and calm their minds.
When he had questioned Naruto about the chakra and why his teammates didn't have any injuries, it was answered. The answer wasn't what he was expecting. Naruto told him he used the Kyuubi's chakra to destroy Haku's mirrors, shoot him in the chest and literally almost destroy his face. Then he somehow healed his teammates with the Kuubi's chakra before passing out. "What a coincidence, the Kyuubi saving people."
Naruto wasn't sad or traumatized for almost killing Haku. He told Kakashi, "If my teammates are hurt, the person who did it deserves no mercy from me, especially if they don't say sorry."
Currently, they stood in front of the town they had just saved. The people had gathered to thank them and wish them good luck on their journey back to Konoha.
"Thank you so very much!" One villager yelled. A random villager made his way to the front of the crowd with a sheathed blade in his hand.
Ino gasped. "It's Yuha, that's the guy who was selling the swords!"
Yuha nodded and knelt down on one knee, presenting the sword to Ino. The rest of team 7 raised a brow. The sheath was pure white and the hilt was black. From what she could tell, it was a Katana.
"Please accept this a gift from our small town."
She happily nodded and took the sword. Ino unsheathed the sword and glowed up. Sure, it was a regular Katana but to her, the glint of the steel blade made her happy inside. "This is the first step to becoming just like them!"
Then another villager stepped up to the team, it was Nizami from the weapons shop. "Hello, I'm Nizami of the weapons shop. Naruto knows me pretty well. I came to give him some magazines for his guns and I am truly thankful for you guys saving our town."
Naruto grinned and thanked Nizami before taking the magazines. Nizami reached into his back pocket and turned towards Sasuke. "And for you, Naruto requested I made a special kunai for you."
Sasuke was appalled. He looked at Naruto and the blonde gave him a thumbs up with his famous grin.
He turned back to Nizami and held out his hand. When Sasuke saw the kunai, he almost said than you.
The metal was dark blue and the hilt was covered with pure white tape. Written on the tape, in red, was Sasuke's initals.
Sasuke nodded to the weapons shop keeper and muttered a quick "thanks" while putting the kunai in his holsters.
Kakashi smiled at Naruto's kindness. "Maybe Sasuke'll finally warm up to em."
"Sorry, Nizami, was it? We gotta go."
Naruto gave a quick thank you to Nizami and him and his team were off.
Hey guys, NS here, I hope you enjoyed. Just so you know, this is 7000+ words you just read. If you have any criticism, please review, follow, favorite, whatever you think is necessary. NS OUT
