Chapter 9
Naruto grimaced in his sleep, with his dreams only at the edge of his mind but bothering him none the less. If he were to wake he'd find that his eyes were burning as they had before. The boy began to toss and turn in his bed, grunting as if in pain. He was in danger of waking up his team with the noise when his movement suddenly stopped.
Naruto opened his eyes and looked around him, instantly he was alert upon realising he was in an unfamiliar place. He looked around the immediate vicinity, which was comprised of a dark corridor. Though he was uncertain as to how he had woken standing on his feet, he was grateful due to the half inch of suspicious looking liquid on the ground. Though the ceiling was not high, it was surprisingly difficult to make out in the gloom. The faint light that existed seemed to come from the pipes running along the walls for as far as he could see. The pipes seemed to be as grimy and dark as everything else, yet the light seemed to come from their direction. Naruto approached a pipe and put his ear near to it, only to be met with silence. The blond boy began to stretch out his senses; including his hearing, sight and even his sense of smell.
Things began to look clearer with his heightened sense, but nothing more was revealed aside from more hallway. Surprisingly there was almost no smell even with his sense of smell at its peak, his hearing however picked up something. Naruto heard deep and long breaths that suggested whatever was taking them was large. There was also an occasional scratching noise that he could make out, and he had to wonder what was further along the corridor.
Naruto made his way cautiously down the length of the dark corridor, but it felt like he wasn't progressing as it looked all the same. There were side corridors at regular intervals, leading from the larger corridor, but the sounds were not coming from any of them. After about five minutes he saw the corridor turn, leaving him no other option than to go right when he got to that point. With an equal sense of foreboding and determination, Naruto made slow splashing steps towards the bend.
Turning the corner, Naruto unexpectedly found himself in a huge room that only increased his worry. Despite more light and his enhanced eyesight, the blond boy could not make out the distant ceiling. At the other end of the room there was a large set of bars, which looked decidedly ominous. Each one was square and as wide as his body, the gap between them just a little wider than their width. They rose from the floor up into the dark heights of the ceiling, the full length hidden from his eyes. On the middle two bars there was a small piece of paper, on which was written the kanj for 'seal'. Naruto, not scared but aware something unusual was going on, spun around to check on his escape route. He turned only to find that behind him was nothingness, not even a wall, and he tried to look into the distance. The blond boy couldn't even make out an edge to the room. It looked as if he was trapped here for the time being.
Scratch. Scratch.
Naruto's head spun around once more to the bars, noticing as he did that an actual source of light was visible, and he moved closer. As the boy moved closer the light didn't seem any nearer, even as he was right in front of the bars.
SNAP!
A huge set of saliva drenched teeth closed with a resounding noise, just the other side of the bars, and in reflex Naruto jumped back away from the bars. He watched as the giant teeth seemed to grow a muzzle and then a huge set of red glowing eyes, narrowed and angry looking. The rest of a house sized head appeared in his field of vision, before a body to match became visible also. An animal that looked poised to pounce upon him stood before him, nine tails swaying angrily behind it. Each appendage was the size of the Hokage tower and the fluffy fur on them did little to detract from their menacing presence.
Naruto's face showed nothing. "Kyuubi." The blond realised where he was.
The large fox watched as the blond boy flared his chakra and tore towards the bars. The boy didn't slow down as he passed through them.
Naruto charged chakra into his fist and ploughed it straight into the side of the nine tailed demons face, managing to cause the muzzle to shift a few inches.
A huge tail slammed into the blond with rib shattering force, pinning him against one of the bars.
The monsters eyes were evil looking and hateful as they narrowed slightly.
"YOU HAVE GOT A PAIR ON YOU."
Naruto was surprised that the demons body language and expression gave off an evil aura yet its voice seemed oddly neutral, though it seemed to ripple with intensity.
Naruto felt the weight crushing his chest, but his arms had been left free and the gasping blond charged chakra to both of his hands. Forming chakra blades he sliced at the fox's tail, cutting through swathes of glowing red fur and eventually into flesh. He didn't take time to think how he and the fox had seemingly corporeal bodies in here, or how he could use chakra.
The blue-eyed Genin used chakra to stick to the bar as the tail was pulled back reflexively, but as he watched the tail healed in a mere second. Another tail rushed forwards just as the blond finally released the chakra grip he had been holding, making him slide just beneath it before he hit the ground running.
Naruto ran towards the main body of the Kyuubi and jaws snapped at him as he moved, but the boy dodged to the left and rolled. Quickly jumping back up, he continued to run with obvious purpose. Reaching the creature's underbelly the blond forced chakra into and out of his feet and shot high into the air, landing on the leg of the creature. He ran up the limb and then jumped off again, doing half a somersault backwards. He slashed at the animal's stomach mid-flight, but even though the blades sliced it was only a minor injury to the beast. The creature's stomach was less sensitive than the tails apparently.
The demon's container didn't even feel the paw that hit him, slamming him across the cage and into the floor. The wind left Naruto's lungs as he heard his bones crack and he began to feel dizzy. It was then that it occurred to him in a detached manner, that he did not know how he had a body in his own mind or how it was able to take damage. Kyuubi's head moved across the distance in moments, its large head just above the blond and its razor sharp teeth inches from Naruto's head. In a single bite the creature could consume him whole. As he lay in a prone position, saliva dripped from one of the long canines and dripped onto his chest.
Naruto looked into the demon's eyes and found that there was only malevolence therein. The colossal mouth was formed into a snarl and it looked certain he was going to die.
WHACK!
Kyuubi did nothing for a moment, surprised that the blond had punched it square in the nose.
Naruto watched the massive jaws as they flashed open and shot downward. The last thing he saw was the endless darkness that the mouth led to.
Naruto woke up in cold sweat and looked around, noticing in the moonlight that he hadn't woken anyone up. He knew that it had been more than a simple dream, the details too clear and memorable. He'd met the infamous Kyuubi and predictably they had not got along.
Naruto took deep relaxing breaths as he assured himself that everything was fine, just as he had done so many times before. He created a gentle breeze around his body, evaporating the sweat and soothing his mind. Soon he fell asleep and the breeze died down. There was no sign that he'd woken up at all.
Naruto sat cross-legged on the ground in the forest that evening, not meditating but deep thought.
After a pleasantly non-eventful first day guarding Tazuna on the bridge the team had decided to get straight to training, taking some snacks with them for their evening meal. Naruto had left his teammates with his sensei some distance away in the woods, far enough to hide most of the loud noises he would most likely be making.
Naruto's mind was focused on one thing, a technique that he hadn't seen in its complete form. Kakashi, in one of his more inquisitive moments, had shown him the incomplete version to see what the boy would make of it. The silver-haired Jounin knew the principles behind it and had explained what he knew about it in detail. Naruto had a knack for creating and mastering jutsu, so he had hoped the blond would be able to combine both these traits to re-create one technique in particular. Progress had been slow without a real demonstration to work from, even with all the clones that the boy could use to speed up his training. In the end it had been put aside in favour of training in other areas and with different techniques, but it had always been Naruto's intention to master it one day. Now the fox-boy decided that day would be sooner rather than later.
Naruto stood up. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" With a puff of smoke there was a hundred Naruto's and they got to work with a determined air.
Kurenai stood in front of Hinata and Ino, back to full health thanks to a full night's sleep and a restful day. "What I'm going to show you both now is the key to mastering almost any jutsu you care to name…..tree climbing."
"Excuse me?" Ino wasn't sure she had heard right. Over the day the she had made an effort to put her feelings about her father to the back of her mind. She needed to focus on their mission and did not intend to let her teammates down.
Hinata looked confused but politely remained silent, trusting Kurenai to teach them what they needed to know. She was already beginning to see the older kunoichi as a mother figure, something she had been lacking for some years.
"Let me show you." Kurenai formed her hands into the ram seal and pushed chakra into her feet as she approached the tree in front of her, putting one leg on and then the other. The Jounin sensei proceeded to defy gravity and walk vertically up the tree. The Jounin walked down again and saw that her two kunoichi Genin looked impressed.
"K-Kurenai sensei…we're going t-to learn t-that?" Hinata would have paled had her skin not already been so fair.
Kurenai nodded. "Yes. This exercise will help increase your stamina and your chakra control, the foundations of performing jutsu of any kind."
Ino looked at Hinata, who smiled back nervously, and then back at the tree Kurenai had walked up. "Come on Hinata, the trees won't climb themselves."
Just like that any anxiousness the two felt evaporated, Hinata encouraged by Ino's example and Ino strengthened by having to lead Hinata by example. The two began to train while Kurenai watched with a smile on her face.
After several hours of training Naruto was lying on his back exhausted, looking at the starlit sky. He was already eating one of his bars and, despite its already pleasant taste, he tried to imagine the taste of ramen instead.
Despite his tired and ramen-less state, Naruto smiled. He'd made real progress that evening. He'd learnt a lot in the last year and his chakra control had improved enough to be a real help him. The trees in the small clearing showed the damage from his much improved, but still imperfect, technique.
Naruto felt a little re-energised from his snack and slowly got himself up, heading back to where his teammates were training.
During his fifteen minute walk he looked at the sky and realised the hour was later than he thought, it must have fast been approaching midnight. It being so late, he was surprised to find his team still where he had left them.
Kurenai was amusingly enough sitting back against a tree, asleep, yet the red-eyed woman was surprisingly graceful even as such. Naruto was under no illusions however, at the first sign of danger she would be wide awake and set for battle. Hinata was lying on the ground but she was not asleep, her winded breaths were just visible in the cool night air. It showed how tired she was that she didn't even notice her teammate's arrival. Ino was still on her feet, though only just, and staggered up to the tree as she made the ram seal. Naruto could tell from where he was standing that there was not enough chakra in her feet to make it up the tree, but Ino was too tired realise this. The blond girl put a foot on the tree and tried to lift the other foot, but the first couldn't support even her meagre weight and she slipped. Lucky for Ino, Naruto had the foresight to move towards his teammate and get ready to catch her, which he did.
Ino looked up at her teammate's face and gave a vague sort of smile, before proceeding to fall asleep. Naruto had to hold in his laughter at the sight.
By this point Hinata had realised that her male teammate was back and she managed to sit up. She managed a small smile as Naruto approached her and put her other teammate beside her.
"You've been training hard I see." Naruto's voice showed his approval.
Hinata was still breathing hard. "I-Ino, she's a s-slave driver." The pearl-eyed girl covered her mouth, unable to believe what she said about her teammate. She was just so tired and she ached.
"She does seem particularly driven." Naruto had not seen Ino so motivated before. "I have to admit I'm impressed by both of you, you've obviously only just stopped doing the exercise yourself."
Hinata had lain on the ground only moments before the time she guessed Naruto had arrived. "I think she's trying to take her mind off of….." She left the rest unsaid.
Naruto frowned under his mask, unsure if there was anything to say to the sleeping girl to ease her mind. In a way the issue with her father was nothing to do with him, it was the fact that the image she had of her father had been shattered that was the problem. At least from his point of view. "I guess it's good to focus on something else, better than trying to keep it all inside."
Hinata nodded, having spoken briefly to Kurenai when Ino had gone to answer the call of nature earlier. The two of them had been forced to agree on the same thing.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto managed to perform the technique quietly enough not to wake the two sleeping females. Hinata had been caught by surprise as she had begun to stare at the clear star filled sky.
"Umm Naruto-kun, w-what are you d-doing?" Hinata already had a startling idea.
Naruto's eyes showed his mischievous smile. "Helping my teammates after a hard days training." The three clones proceeded to pick up one of the three women, each with skilful care. Kurenai's eyes flickered open in reflex, but her subconscious was satisfied with her current circumstances and sent her right back to sleep.
Hinata was blushing slightly as she was carried and wished she was asleep like her teammate and sensei. It still came as a surprise that Naruto was so warm and kind once you got to know him properly, a far cry from his former apathetic behaviour.
Naruto and his little group headed back to the Tazuna residence.
It promised to be an interesting week. Naruto had already sent some clones to scout the town, henged so they were not recognised, and he'd found that Gatou had left town for a few days. The blond would have to wait for him to return, but he had not forgotten his self appointed task.
(Four days later)
A lone figure crept around in the shadows in the dank grey alleys, jumping from one dark corner to the next. The only sound was the movement of the air as the individual moved and the heavy rain falling from the gloomy sky. The high wall proved no obstacle and the figure was up and over in a matter of seconds, no one the wiser.
Naruto stood in the shadows of the wall, watching the guards pace back and forth lazily. He ignored the raindrops falling on his head, which made his hair hang down. He could tell some of the guards were inebriated, too confident in themselves as they moved. The men were large and looked powerfully built, but the blond knew he could overpower any of them without even using chakra. His dark outfit showed its true purpose, in so much that it hid it, and Naruto moved unseen across the courtyard into the large building. Even without his senses heightened he could hear music, the sounds of a party coming from within the four story mansion.
The fox-boy moved to the darkest part of the wall and proceeded to scale it using chakra. He made his way to the first floor window and looked in. The room contained even more of Gatou's men, lounging around and drinking, talking about Kami knew what. Naruto didn't care and continued up past the party. This time he continued to the top floor and headed towards the largest window in the middle of the wall, having guessed the crime lord was the type to put himself in the biggest room. Soon the blond ninja was outside the largest room and sure enough, behind an absurdly large desk, sat the man Tazuna had described to him. The man looked particularly smug as he talked to another man, who looked particularly unsavoury. Naruto restrained himself from just blasting into the room and decided to listen in to the conversation. He focused on his ears and soon the man's words became clear.
"….going to attack the Konoha group in five days time at the bridge. Even if he wins he'll be so beat up that he can be disposed of. Spread the word around. I need a large number of men, the usual big muscles and tiny brain type. We'll show Zabuza what a foolish little baby demon he is." The green-suited man leaned back in his chair with a smirk while his underling bowed and left the room.
Naruto continued to hesitate, wondering what to do with this information, and realised he had two options. The blond could smash into the room and kill the crime lord in a heartbeat as he had planned, and he'd have to deal with Zabuza afterward. The man was completely psychotic so he might attack the Konoha group in anger or just leave. If he waited for Gatou to arrive on the bridge and betray Zabuza first, then the chances of him leaving the Konoha group alone were greater. It wasn't that Naruto was a coward simply avoiding battle, but he had his teammates and even his sensei to think of.
Clinging unseen to the wall for ten minutes, the blond made his decision. He slowly made his way back down the wall and back into the darkness from whence he came. Gatou had no idea how close he had come to death that night.
The Konoha team sat with Tazuna and his family at the meal table. The atmosphere was sombre after Naruto had filled them in on what he had heard the night before. By an unspoken agreement they decided not to rush their meal, but even though Hinata's silence was not unusual Ino's was almost deafening.
The silence was suddenly broken by the person they expected it from the least, Inari. "Why are you bothering? You're all going to die! You can't defeat Gatou so why bother at all."
Everyone was too stunned to respond to the boy's outburst, even his mother and grandfather. Naruto understood the boy's sense of defeat, since Tsunami had told them about the boy's father figure's fate. "Inari...we all want to give up some times...it hurts to keep trying, to keep going... we find ourselves asking ourselves Is it worth it?...Why keep trying? But in the end it comes down to this." Naruto looked the boy straight in the eye. "Are you willing to bear the pain of trying your hardest? To push yourself beyond your limit? To do what people tell you that you can't? In order to protect those you care for and honour those who have fallen doing the same." Inari's face was blank as he took the words in, but Naruto had not finished. "No one can live forever Inari. All we can do is the best with the time we have. Your father understood that...I wish I could have met him. He was a real hero...and he still can be if you learn from his example and do what's right."
Naruto stood up and headed out the room, needing to get out of the house to think. Behind him silence reigned. He knew that at least some of what he had said got through.
Naruto sat high in a tree, at first thinking about his family; Kuri, Miya, Anko, Tsuki, Yamato, Sakura, Akiko, Kakashi, Iruka and now Hinata, Ino and Kurenai. He would make sure that he survived and that all his teammates would live. He would not lose to Zabuza or his companion, because he had too many people to protect to die anytime soon. This thought inspired him and he began to train, the hardest he had done since Akiko had nearly died.
Elsewhere in the forest Ino and Hinata were training intently, having themselves been inspired by their teammate's words. Hinata practiced her family's fighting style by sparring with her sensei, and Ino tried to learn a genjutsu that Kurenai had shown her. The Yamanaka girl could not bring herself to train in her family jutsu, the very thought nauseating her.
Kurenai and her two female students were surprised when Naruto didn't make an appearance. They rested for a time before heading in the direction the blond had gone. The three kunoichi walked for a while before they heard heavy panting as they walked into a clearing.
Ino looked around at the destruction. There were boulders smashed to pieces, trees literally torn in half and craters in the ground. The blond-haired girl's jaw dropped.
Hinata saw that Naruto was barely able to stand and moved over to him. "Naruto-kun."
Naruto was covered in sweat and not a small amount of dirt. Being tired he hadn't heard them arrive. "Hello Hinata-chan." Naruto nodded to the raven-haired girl a little shakily.
Kurenai found the landscape a little disturbing. "You've been training hard."
Naruto's eyes showed determination. "It's not enough Kurenai-sensei. I won't stop until I have done it."
"Done it?" Ino's curiosity was piqued, more so because of the carnage around them.
Naruto nodded. "One of hardest techniques I've ever attempted."
This caught everyone's interest, but Hinata was more concerned over Naruto's condition. "M-Maybe you should finish f-for the n-night?" She was surprised he hadn't fallen over yet.
Naruto shook his head. "I have to keep going as long as I can, you three go home and rest. I'll be back when I'm ready."
Ino didn't look best pleased. "Naruto don't you think..."
Naruto's voice came out almost desperate. "Please Ino-chan, I have to get stronger...I just have to."
Ino was just about to push the point when Kurenai put her hand on the young girl's shoulder and shook her head. "Just don't stay out all night Naruto."
Naruto nodded and took a deep breath. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" A few dozen clones appeared as the women left the clearing.
Hinata looked back at Naruto for a moment before turning to her sensei. "Kurenai-sensei?" She wanted to know what the older woman was thinking and Ino also turned her attention to the Jounin.
"You want to know why I let Naruto continue to train?" The red-eyed woman saw the two girls nod. "When he spoke to Inari earlier...it was obvious he was speaking from experience. Naruto is pushing himself past his limits to protect others...this country but most importantly those he cares about...and I think that includes us." Both girls looked at their sensei in surprise. "Despite how distant Naruto appears to most people I believe he's a very people oriented person. Now that he doesn't have to keep up his pretence around us he's allowed himself to think of us as friends." Kurenai saw that both girls understood. "Now what you have to remember is that, before he was adopted, Naruto built a family in his mind of those close to him." The girls looked a little less understanding now. "Naruto legally has a mother, father, aunt and cousin. I also think he sees various others in familial roles, but I'm guessing. I'm also guessing that Naruto has no siblings or those he considers as such, so it's natural for him to fit that role to two girls a similar age to himself who he has become closer to...the two of you."
Ino and Hinata stopped walking, looking thoughtful, but neither of them said anything.
"Does that bother you?" Kurenai had thought the girls would be flattered.
"No." Both voices came out quiet but firm.
Ino shook her head. "I'm glad sensei. I don't have any brothers or sisters and I don't have much faith in my family right now. It would be nice to have someone who I can trust, that I can consider family."
"Hinata?" Kurenai turned to her other student.
Hinata gave a small but happy smile. "M-My family d-doesn't want me Kurenai-sensei." She continued when her teacher was about to interrupt. "It's t-true." Hinata looked at the ground, a tear welling up around each pearl coloured eye before she wiped them away, but when she looked up she smiled once again. "A-At least I-I know t-that somebody w-wants me in t-their family."
The moment was both tinged with happiness and sadness for the two young girls. The group continued their way back to the house.
"Hey, you'll catch a cold sleeping in a place like this." A peaceful and feminine voice disturbed the sleeping figure.
Naruto groaned before sitting up, his body thankfully fully recovered from all that he had asked of it. He'd been so exhausted the night before that he'd actually collapsed where he'd stood. "Thanks..." He then looked at the girl who had spoken to him, a pretty young woman, and something about her struck him as familiar.
"Haku." The girl answered his unspoken question. "You're a ninja?"
Naruto nodded vaguely, still in the process of waking up. Something about this girl was bothering him.
The girl noticed that the boy had obviously been training hard. "Tell me, do you have someone precious to you?" She sounded almost anxious, though her face remained calm.
Naruto was confused by the girl's question and things were beginning to feel surreal. "Yes." Naruto began to concentrate on his senses, even as he was reminded of those he had been thinking so much about the previous evening.
"You're lucky, protecting those precious to you is how you truly become strong." The girl's voice conveyed a surprising sense of sadness.
Naruto's eyes widened as it suddenly hit him. "Is that why you protect Zabuza?"
This time it was Haku's turn to be surprised. "W-What do you mean?" Haku surprised herself with her nervousness, she was usually so calm it even worried Zabuza, yet now she felt in vulnerable and panicky.
"I remember your scent. You're the hunter-nin who saved Zabuza." Naruto kept his tone calm.
Haku began to back away, but turned around when a voice made her turn back.
"If you let this continue Zabuza will die." Naruto crossed his arms, his expression grave.
Haku began to feel angry though it didn't show. "I won't let you hurt Zabuza-sama."
Naruto shook his head sadly. "You misunderstand me Haku-san. I have no desire to hurt him. If you can convince him to leave Tazuna and my team alone then I'll let him be." Naruto's expression then turned so hard that even Haku found it intimidating. "But if Zabuza tries to hurt my friends I will not hold back and if I have to destroy him I will. It's his choice." Naruto then waited for her to leave, doubting anything would change but he had to give it a chance. It was the same with the situation with Gatou.
Haku's face became impassive as she understood the blue-eyed boy. His teammates were precious to him. "Good bye Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded. "Good bye Haku-san." The girl quickly left, soon invisible through the foliage. Naruto sighed and turned around, heading back to the house, things had gotten complicated. The girl didn't seem to be a bad person, but she was close to a person who was. He honestly hoped that he wouldn't be forced to hurt her, but he would do what he had to.
(Three days later)
The workers had been given the day off, but work was going to be the last thing on their minds today.
Naruto looked at the bright blue sky, seeing that the shining sun paid no heed to his problems, before he looked around at his teammates. They had brought Tazuna with them for his own protection. Tsunami and Inari would be safe with a clone patrolling, just in case.
Naruto couldn't allow himself to relax as he made sure to keep alert, ready to detect the presence they were expecting.
Ino and Hinata sat either side of their sensei. The tension was palpable. They had known now for five days that the attack would come this day, but that did not make it any easier on their nerves.
Naruto felt the air shift. "They're here." Even as he spoke half a dozen Zabuza's fell from the sky and encircled the group. They burst into water before they got a chance to move, and the only sign that Naruto had even moved was that he had shifted his body weight from one foot to the other.
Zabuza stood a little distance away with his arms crossed, but he didn't look worried. Beside him was the masked figure they had seen before, though Naruto had seen her real face. On the other side of the Demon of the Mist were two familiar ninja, the ones who had attacked them near the beginning of their journey. "Hmmm nice to see your little holiday hasn't softened you up." He turned to the two men besides him, first to the one on the left then the one on the right. "Gozu, Meizu I trust you can take care of the two girls."
The two men just glanced at the girls. "No one escapes the Demon Brothers twice." Gozu's voice was filled with confidence.
Zabuza turned to Haku. "Haku, take care of the woman. She's Jounin, so you will probably have to use that technique." The masked girl nodded. The Demon of the Mist turned to face the blond boy. "Let's see how you fight against me at full strength brat."
Naruto took a deep breath. "Gatou means to betray you. I heard him informing one of his subordinates that he and a band of heavies are going to come later to finish you off after our battle."
Zabuza frowned under his bandages, before his expression turned cold. "Coward."
Naruto knew that the sword-wielding ninja didn't believe him and his small hope of avoiding a conflict was lost. If they were lucky they could hold off until Gatou came and proved him right, even then there was no guarantee what would happen. "Have it your way Zabuza."
Kurenai looked towards her team, with concern evident on her face. "Don't die…consider it an order."
Naruto would have rolled his eyes had the situation not been so serious. He glanced at his two teammates and could smell their fear, but it wasn't overpowering. The two kunoichi of team eight looked determined. Kurenai's face looked blank, but as an experienced fighter she was bound to suppress any emotion. The group had managed to split into three almost unnoticeably, each with their own opponents.
Zabuza turned his back to Naruto and began walking casually away, while Naruto followed at an equally relaxed pace. Soon they were a good distance down the bridge from the others. "I don't want anyone getting in our way."
Naruto didn't give any sign that he had heard and watched as Zabuza began forming seals. The fox-boy prepared himself for anything.
"Kirigakure no Jutsu!" (Hiding Mist Technique) The nuke-nin quickly disappeared from view, but he didn't bother with his normal speech. There was not much chance that he would be able to intimidate his young opponent. He waited in the mist for an opportune moment.
Naruto began to form seals of his own. "Futon: Shippuuheki no Jutsu!" (Wind Release: Hurricane Burst Technique). Naruto released a large amount of wind imbued chakra in one burst, in one direction, and the effect was immediate.
Zabuza watched with interest as a small but powerful gale tore through the immediate area, and the mist between them was blown away. After a moment he was forced to close his eyes due to the force of the wind that whipped around him. Realising the boy was a devious fighter he jumped aside as the gale died down. He opened his eyes in time to see Naruto swipe his blade at the space where he had just been standing. "I am not gong to underestimate you again."
Naruto smiled under his mask. "You already have."
Zabuza didn't dodge fast enough and, as the clone in front of him burst, the real Naruto sliced at his side. The cut wasn't deep, but he realised the boy's real ability was harder to gauge than he had first thought. The mist that had been moved aside began to close in once again. "You want to play? Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Water Clone Technique) A dozen Zabuzas formed around the blond figure.
Hinata dodged another blow from her opponent, but so far Gozu had been unable to lay a hit on her. The young girl had an edge in speed, with her slight build, and her activated bloodline pushed the advantage further. The ninja in front of her was burdened with some heavy pieces of armour and weaponry, which slowed him down. She still lacked confidence and was reticent in landing blows. Her opponent was obviously losing his temper. Even though she was fine for now, the claw worried her. Her stamina wasn't great and soon she would begin to slow down. That claw looked like it could do a lot of damage and it was most likely only a matter of time before he swallowed his pride and began to use ninjutsu.
Ino dodged her opponent's blow, which was already going wide, but she only did so to make it look like he was nearly hitting her. Kurenai had taught the platinum-blond a genjutsu, which she was putting to good use. Its weakness was that it was easily dispelled and most Genin would be able to shake the jutsu off. Its strength was that it was very subtle, shifting the target's depth perception just slightly so that they misjudged any targets position. Any intelligent fighter would have realised they were under a genjutsu pretty quickly, but her opponent apparently wasn't that bright. Still, it was only a matter of time before he realised and dispelled it. It only made it harder that if she struck Meizu a blow that caused significant pain it would dispel the technique. For now she kept on the defensive while she thought, and she saw that Hinata seemed to be holding her own.
Kurenai didn't find it difficult to match Haku's speed, but she was wary of what Zabuza had said before they had all separated. It seemed likely that the girl's strength was not her taijutsu skills. The Jounin caught a kick from the masked ninja and then a punch, the force surprising. What was more surprising was that her opponent began to form one handed seals. "Sensatsu Suisho no Jutsu!" (Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death) The Jounin, who had seen this technique, jumped out the way rapidly and as she sailed through the air formed seals of her own. "Meisaigakure no Jutsu!" (Hiding Camouflage Technique) The red-eyed Jounin vanished from sight. Haku frowned, able to sense the woman near but unable to pinpoint her location. She also knew the technique was too strong to dispel, leaving her with little choice. "Makyo Hyo Sho!" (Demonic Ice Mirrors)
Naruto noticed that Zabuza seemed pleased, and he wondered what the technique was that he'd heard the masked kunoichi use.
"Your sensei is out of luck." Zabuza blocked Naruto's attack, while Naruto pushed against the blade. The clones had quickly been destroyed some time ago.
"Don't underestimate Kurenai-sensei because of her looks Zabuza. The loveliest rose may have the sharpest thorns." Naruto smirked under his mask. "You of all people should know that." Naruto was merely amused by his opponent's attempts at mind games.
Zabuza grunted and jumped back, hidden once again in the mist. Time he began to suppress his chakra.
Naruto realised he was going to have a hard time locating his enemy's position, the mist making it harder for his normal senses to be useful. He had been relying upon the Jounin's strong chakra signature until now. He had to think fast.
Both Ino and Hinata were beginning to tire from their short time in combat. They stood with their backs facing each other and only a little distance between them.
Unfortunately Meizu chose this moment to realise that he was under a genjutsu, because the two girls seemed to be occupying the same spot. "Kai!"
Ino paled as she lost her advantage, and she saw the man give her a smirk as he raised his claw in a threatening manner. She could only watch as he moved towards her.
Hinata was distracted by Ino's immediate peril and didn't completely dodge a blow to her head. Her opponent looked satisfied as he expected her to collapse from the impact. Hinata had no intention of meeting his expectations.
Ino froze and didn't know what to do as the man was nearly upon her. She did something entirely foolish and closed her eyes, not quite brave enough to face her fate. A moment later she heard the sound of the breath rushing out of someone. She opened her eyes and saw another pair only an inch from her own. The eyes moved back unsteadily and Ino could see blood running down the man's chin. He fell aside with a stunned expression, revealing a rather fierce looking Hyuuga girl behind him with her palm still held out from a killing blow.
Hinata saw Ino's amazement, and she herself was amazed at her own actions. The Hyuuga heiress had never mastered the Hyuuga ability to land chakra delivering blows. In her training she was never able to will herself to send the small, but potentially deadly, amount of chakra into someone's body to damage their organs or close Tenketsu. Even against one of the demon brothers she hadn't been able muster the determination to use her clan's most deadly fighting style. Until now. She had seen her friend in mortal danger and had moved faster than she realised she could. Instinctively she had blasted chakra into the Meizu's heart from behind. The blow had killed him instantly.
Gozu watched his brother fall, and for a moment was too stunned to act. The two brothers had always lived together and had known that one day they would die together. His blood burned with fury as he looked at the girl who had done it. The enraged Chuunin dashed forward blindly.
Ino saw that the man was looking right past her, his thoughts clouded by his anger. She didn't know what else to do but cast her one genjutsu. She succeeded as the man neared and managed to get inside his guard, where she used a kunai that she had pulled out. She drove the small weapon into the maddened mans chest and straight into his heart. The man's momentum carried him forward, where he fell to on top of his brother. Dead.
Ino and Hinata just stared at each other with pale faces. They had each made their first kills to save the other. There and then the bond of friendship they had strengthened as to become unbreakable.
Ino broke the silence first. "We have to help Kurenai-sensei."
Hinata turned and for the first time noticed the structure that appeared to be made out of ice. She gasped she saw her sensei standing awkwardly and full of senbon needles.
The two girls ran towards the hall of mirrors.
Kurenai was still hidden by her genjutsu as she watched Haku launch herself again from the mirror she was in. The airborne kunoichi threw senbon everywhere before she entered another mirror and came out again, launching more senbon.
Haku moved too quickly even for a Jounin to follow, but the airborne senbon could just be seen. While Haku didn't seem subject to air resistance, the needles were, and Kurenai could at least make an attempt to dodge. She continued to do so for some time, each time avoiding most of the needles and picking out as many as she could when Haku was in between jumps. Unfortunately she was slowing down due to her injuries and she wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight for long.
Kurenai winced as more senbon hit her. She lost her concentration and the genjutsu fell.
This girl seemed an even worse opponent for her than Zabuza. Her shinobi skills exceeded those of the nuke-nins, but the girl's bloodline technique more than made up for it. The red-eyed kunoichi had some explosive tags, but doubted they would make a dent in the thick unnatural ice.
Naruto dodged yet another swipe of his opponent's blade, but he had not managed to dodge every one of them completely and he was suffering some injuries. The lacerations were deep enough that they were taking some time to heal. He was annoyed. As long as the nuke-nin was using only physical attacks, the mist-nin could keep his chakra suppressed. The little Zabuza was using for the mist was being masked by that same mist.
The blond heard laughter. "Those girls did well to defeat the demon brothers, weak as they were, but your sensei isn't faring as well." His voice contained mock worry.
Naruto had already sensed the fluctuation of his sensei's chakra output and put his plan into action when the mist-nin last attacked. "I best end this now then Zabuza." To his surprise the arrogant mist-nin appeared just in the blond's vision. "I've been working on this one technique for some time and I want you to be the first to see it."
"I'm honoured." Zabuza's tone implied otherwise as he dashed towards the blond. "I won't let you use another sneaky technique."
Naruto simply smiled as the other man was nearly upon him. "Too late..." The other man was about to swing his sword. "Bunshin Daibakuha." (Clone Great Explosion)
From a distance the real Naruto watched the mist evaporate due to the explosion. He was glad he'd left a clone on the sidelines of the fight to trade places with. He'd switched with the clone just after Zabuza's last attack and his eyes had not been on the blond. Ignoring his wounds he rushed towards the ice structure, where he knew his teammates were.
Kurenai turned as movement caught the corner of her eye and watched in dismay as Ino and Hinata entered the ice prison without hesitation.
Ino and Hinata were surprised by their sensei's facial expression as they appeared to help her. Until Haku made another pass.
Suddenly the bridge resounded with the noise of a large explosion. Haku felt anxious, but she couldn't see outside, and just hoped feverently that Zabuza was ok.
Shaking of her misgivings, since she was no good to Zabuza distracted, the young kunoichi leapt out from the mirror once more.
Naruto didn't even slow down as he entered the ice structure. He immediately saw that Hinata was on the ground. Ino was standing over the Hyuuga, completely unaware of her surroundings as she cried freely over her motionless teammate. Kurenai, despite her grief, had the presence of mind to prepare for the next attack.
Haku paused when she saw Naruto enter, knowing what that most likely meant. For a moment that seemed to last forever she did nothing.
Naruto looked at Hinata's still form and felt no chakra at all coming from her. Out of the blue his head began to hurt as anger hit him like a sledgehammer.
"TAKE IT."
Naruto understood who was speaking to him and what was being offered. "NO!" He shook with rage, aimed at the masked kunoichi and the demon trying to take advantage of his grief.
"AVENGE YOUR FRIEND. I CAN GIVE YOU THE POWER."
Kurenai was the only one to see Naruto's eyes flicker red for a moment; before they turned blue once more. He seemed to be talking to himself. She had a very very bad feeling. Naruto's eyes began to flicker from blue to red and back, as his body seemed to tense.
Naruto felt a powerful chakra trying to force itself upon him, but he resisted. As much as he wanted revenge for the death of someone he had begun to feel close to, he still had two people who needed him. With a painful blast of his own chakra he purged himself clean of the foul chakra and the voice spoke no more.
With his own chakra still peaking he began to form seals. "Katon: Jao Ensatsu Kokuryuha no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Killing Wave of the Black Dragon technique) Naruto, who had raised his hands to his mouth, breathed out a large ash cloud of black smoke amidst a huge flame. The swirling vortex of cinders spread out and engulfed the fire, trapping the raging flames inside. Finally the black cloud began to form a more succinct shape, quickly becoming a dragon. The dragon radiated colossal heat from its black ash hide. The hide compressed the intense heat into a smaller area, making the damage it could cause more concentrated and giving it a larger physical impact. The eyes shone with red hot fire as it shot towards the mirror Haku was still in. The nose of the dragon met the mirror and merely kept on going. There was a hiss as the ice melted and fell upon the dragon. The ice had been so cold that, as it melted, it actually cooled the dragon. Enough so that when Haku fell to the ground in a heap she was only singed rather than incinerated. The ice mirrors that had not been destroyed turned to water and fell to the ground.
Naruto ignored Haku's prone form and moved over to Hinata. There was the very small chance that he could help her with a medical technique. He began to carefully pull out needles from her fair skin, and as he pulled the ones from her neck there was a sharp intake of breath from the Hyuuga girl. Naruto felt giddy with relief as Ino made an incoherent but loud noise.
Kurenai was very glad that her student had survived, but she was still focused on where they were. "Naruto." Once she had the blond's attention she nodded to the direction where Haku had fallen. The two headed outside as Ino and the unsteady Hinata watched on.
Naruto stood over the girl, whose mask had now broken and fallen off, and his anger fled. The unmasked girl had spared Hinata for her own reasons, and he looked down with sadness. The girl did not look badly burned, but the impact had broken several bones and he guessed that she also suffered several punctured organs. "Let me help you." He kneeled down beside the girl, while her blank face looked at the sky.
"Zabuza-sama is dead isn't he?" The girl's voice wavered as she spoke.
Naruto was forced to nod. "I don't see how he could have survived."
"Then let me die. I have nothing to live for." The girl just lay there as if she was already dead. He didn't know what to say to comfort her and he could only guess at the depth of the pair's relationship. "I have a request Naruto-san."
"Of course." Naruto felt it was the least he could do.
"Take me to him. I want to be with him…at the end." She managed to keep her voice steady.
Naruto ever so gently picked her up into his arms. He glanced at his sensei, who nodded, and walked towards where he had fought the Demon of the Mist. He hoped it wasn't too gruesome, but there was little he could do regarding that.
Naruto was surprised that Zabuza was in fact still alive, though only just, with his sword beside him. It was obvious by looking at his blackened limbs, white face and the strip of white down his chest that he had used the large blade to block some of the explosion's force.
Haku saw that Zabuza was alive and for a moment hope flared within her, but the part of her that knew a lot about human physiology extinguished it.
The mist-nin's breathing was haggard as he glanced up at the boy who had defeated him and then at Haku. He said nothing as Naruto placed Haku beside him, but when the blond stood up he spoke. "How is she?"
Naruto was surprised by his concern, but shook his head sadly. "I could save her." He didn't need to say that the nuke-nin's own injuries were too severe. He could tell that the mist-nin's neck was not quite straight, which explained why he didn't turn his head. The fall had broken his neck and it was likely as soon as he was moved he would be killed.
Zabuza continued to stare up at the sky. "Haku."
Haku was able to turn her head. "Yes Zabuza-sama?"
"As soon as the clone exploded I thought I was dead, and when I landed I knew I was dead…I realised something that surprised me. I'm going to miss you Haku….Why miss a living weapon though? Perhaps you are more to me than I realised….I wish now that I hadn't led you down this path….I don't want you to be like me." Zabuza didn't look sad, but Haku knew he was. The knowledge of his own imminent death was changing him. "Don't die Haku. I don't wish for you to die. I ruined your life…."
"You saved me Zabuza-sama!" Haku ignored the pain in her chest as she shouted.
Zabuza would have shaken his head if he could. "I saved you….but I still ruined you life. It would have been better if I'd have left you with someone who wasn't a cold blooded killer….Look at yourself Haku. Look what I turned you into…. I want you to live and rid me of this one sin."
"Zabuza-sama…." Haku found, for the first time since she could remember, tears running down her face.
"I don't need a weapon where I'm going…..I'm going to die Haku…. I can accept that….if I know you are still living on." Zabuza was finding it harder to breath. "Naruto…"
Naruto didn't hesitate to stand next to Zabuza, where he could be seen. "Zabuza."
"You are one of the strongest opponents I have faced. You are also a good man. I'm glad that it was you who finished me rather than some low-life. I want you to take my sword and..." His eyes showed intense emotion. "...Would you heal Haku and take her with you?" Zabuza wasn't begging, but his voice sounded urgent as his breathing became more ragged.
Naruto was surprised, but he still nodded. "O-Of course."
Haku looked up at Naruto. "You want me to go with him?" Surprisingly she wasn't really angry at the masked blond for killing Zabuza. It had been a fight to the death that the mist-nin had insisted on, but she was surprised Zabuza would want her to go with him.
"He's a man of honour Haku and there are few of those left these days. He's also strong….he defeated me at his age…..and he'll only get stronger….He can protect you. He can show you the life I should have." Zabuza's voice was getting quieter. "Naruto…."
Naruto understood and began to heal Haku, his healing chakra blazing forth from his hands. He could sense Haku's vitals getting stronger.
Zabuza started to gasp as Haku watched. "Haku…..if….I'd…..had a ……daughter……I….would…….have wanted…..her to…..be just like you……" Zabuza let out one final gasp as he closed his eyes for the final time. There fell a reverent silence, only broken by the crash of waves far below them.
Haku continued to look at Zabuza while she was healed. She felt empty, but in a way she felt content. Zabuza's well being had always been her main concern and he had never really been happy in his psychotic behaviour, but at least at the very end he had found some peace.
Naruto continued to work while his teammates and sensei were respectfully silent. Someone else however wasn't as respectful of the passing of the nuke-nin.
"So he was weak after all. I guess you saved us the effort of killing him." The group turned towards a crowd across the bridge. Haku was well enough to at least sit up and she looked at Gatou, who looked sickeningly smug. "Now all we have to do is take care of you."
Naruto was feeling emotional at that moment and it was soon swung back towards anger. He thought he had hated this man as much as he could, but now he found himself hating him even more. Naruto concentrated chakra to his right hand. No one saw him move. Suddenly he was past all the thugs and in front of the crime boss. He swung his hand at the man.
Gatou's smile faded as blood began to seep from his neck before he dropped, his head rolling from his lifeless body. Naruto took one look at the thugs around him and their expressions. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" In a puff of smoke there were fifty Naruto's.
The men looked understandably uncertain. When an arrow landed in front of them, everyone looked up to see Inari with a Naruto clone. The boy was armed and so were the dozens of people behind him. The young boy spoke up. "Get out of here!"
The men thought about their chances and fled. Naruto looked up at Inari, proud of the boy and his choice of actions. Naruto looked at his team and Haku, as if to assure himself they were all alright. His clones all dispersed, including the one by Inari. The blond boy proceeded to close his eyes and collapse.
