Chapter 10
"Okay, don't let your guard down. Zabuza is probably alive—he could strike at any time," Kakashi-sensei warns the next morning as we prepare to embark on the final leg of our journey, without Naruto, who is presently passed out, having trained far too hard the previous evening. After eating a warm breakfast of miso soup and rice, we set out.
"What's that?" asks Kakashi-sensei as we arrive at the massive bridge.
"No!" Tazuna exclaims at the sight of his dead workers.
"It seems that they've made their move," I murmur, stating the obvious. Thick mist fills the air. "It's the Hidden Mist jutsu…"
Zabuza's voice resonates from seemingly everywhere. "They've arrived. Be on your guard." Kakashi-sensei instructs all of us, himself included.
"Yes, though this will be far more difficult—he has a rather powerful companion this time around," I point out.
"She's right, you know," Zabuza agrees, stepping into the open. Haku follows closely behind.
"It seems we meet again, Yuki," Haku greets me, his voice muffled by his red-and-white tracker mask, his eyes obstructed by narrow slits.
"Indeed," I reply, smiling at my friend—today, my foe.
"You know that boy?" Sakura asks me, surprised.
"Yes. I met him five years ago while travelling to the Leaf. He was at Zabuza's side even then." I step forward toward Haku and Zabuza, and, suddenly, Squad 7, Tazuna, and myself are surrounded by water clones.
"Okay, Sasuke, do your thing," Kakashi-sensei orders.
"Right," he replies, business-like. He lunges forward, wind gusting in his wake, shuriken in hand. His movements are so fast that his actions are but a blur. The Zabuza-clones explode and melt into puddles.
"He's fast," Zabuza comments on Sasuke's speed. "I think you have found a rival, Haku."
"Yes, so it seems. He is quite fast." Sasuke launches himself at Haku, now, determined to prove Zabuza's words true. I feel torn between my friend and my comrade. My own personal preference vs. my obligation as shinobi.
I stand back and watch the battle, attempting to choose my course of action. I stare at the two, heart in pain. Shall I remain neutral? Or shall I take action? I feel a hand on my shoulder—Kakashi-sensei.
"Yuki—stay out of this fight. Your heart is torn, and a shinobi cannot allow his or her emotions stand in the way of the mission." So he can tell…
"Kakashi-sensei, I hope that you are aware of the fact that I am perfectly capable of killing my emotions. This will not be the first time, nor will it be the last…" I immediately think of my not-too-distant betrayal.
"I know that you are more than capable, Yuki, but it is an unhealthy act. I do not wish for you to do anything too drastic to yourself. This is my squad's mission, anyway." He leaves me to have his battle with Zabuza, and I slink off. His squad's mission, my ass. I'm a part of his squad for this! It's not that I wish to fight Haku-I just prefer to avoid the damsel in distress image, the stereotypical, weepy female image. It's not who I am, nor do I wish to be perceived in such a fashion.
I stand by Sakura's side, aiding her in her protection of Tazuna. And this is all over the building of a bridge… hmph. I can't help but wonder what our numbers will be upon our return to Konohagakure. I'm fairly certain that I will… as for the three other genin…
All of us, including Zabuza and Kakashi-sensei, watch in interest as Sasuke and Haku exchange lightning-fast blows. Such speed, on both of their parts, yet Sasuke seems to have managed the seemingly impossible. "It seems that the brat has outmatched Haku in speed…" Zabuza growls in disbelief, his voice muffled by the bandages covering his mouth.
Haku struggles to his feet, breathing heavily. "Zabuza-sama… allow me to fight this battle my own way," He begs.
"Heh… it seems that Haku has taken a liking to this boy. Very well, Haku," Zabuza grants him permission. "I won't interrupt."
I watch in anticipation as Haku's kekkei genkai takes effect. Giant, glistening mirrors of silvery-blue ice surround Sasuke, leaving him no room for escape. Haku slips into the mirror nearest him. None of us breathe as we stare intently at the scene before us, attempting to discern what is taking place within Sasuke's frosty prison.
"I see that Haku is finally taking this battle seriously. That boy has no chance. He dies today," Zabuza states.
Sasuke's screams fill the otherwise suspenseful silent air. "Sasuke!" Sakura cries out helplessly, as if the dying boy will respond to her.
"Don't worry, about him Sakura. Sasuke is not a weakling,-he can handle himself. Besides, he needs quiet so that he can focus. Do not scream; screaming will only be counterproductive." I attempt to comfort Sakura, though my words are empty. Against this foe, Sasuke stands no chance. Minutes pass. The screams become more and more agonized. The situation is utterly hopeless.
Out of nowhere comes the crackling sound of a minor explosion. A shuriken sends Haku flying out of his mirror. It seems that we are once more under attack from an unseen assailant. "The number one, hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja," Haku muses, pushing himself to his feet.
"Naruto," I growl, facepalming as the identity of the 'assailant' is revealed via Haku's words. What an idiotic move on his part, making his appearance so blatantly obvious. Had Naruto used his brain, we may have had a chance. Or, more likely, our lives would have been prolonged for a few more minutes.
Kakashi-sensei, seeing my frustration, proceeds to lecture Naruto on the art of stealth. I take advantage on the few moments of peace Kakashi-sensei has granted me to focus on the situation at hand. There's Zabuza, whose sole intent is to assassinate Tazuna at the slightest opening, i.e. Kakashi leaving to rescue Sasuke. That's essentially where I come in—if needed, I could easily stand up to him.
Next is Haku, with his fearsome kekkei genkai. At the moment he is holding Sasuke in his prison of ice mirrors, which can be entered, not exited.
There must be something that I can do, other than standing around, watching my comrades get clobbered. I sweep my gaze around the scene of battle, the blood splatters, the current positions of my team mates… and note that the newest arrival is missing. I turn to Kakashi-sensei, panic wringing its long, sharp-nailed fingers around my innards. "Sensei, by any chance was Naruto stupid enough to enter the ice mirrors?" I ask, though Sakura is the one to answer.
"He was! I don't understand what goes through that idiotic brain of his! Now both his and Sasuke's lives are in danger!"
I facepalm once more. Sakura and I's shared moment of agreement is shattered by the dissonant, combined screams of Naruto and Sasuke. After their long, shrill wails come to an end, an unbearable silence sets in, interrupted only by a soft whimpering from Naruto. "This chakra!" I hear Haku exclaim. The ice glows a reddish-orange as a result of the chakra emanating from Naruto's body, and, suddenly, the mirrors shatter. Naruto is revealed, his body outlined by a fox-shaped chakra, alongside Haku, who is shielding himself. An unconscious, or dead, Sasuke lies at their feet, needles protruding from his neck.
Naruto charges toward Haku and punches him in the face, sending him backwards and shattering his mask. I watch him lie on his back, and long to help him to his feet. "Sorry, Zabuza-sama. I have failed you.
As he slowly stands up, his unmasked face is revealed to all of us. Naruto instantly recognizes him, and slowly transforms back into his normal self—his whiskers thin, his eyes lose their red glow, the chakra returns to his body. "Hey! You're that boy from the woods!" he proclaims, much to Haku's delight.
Haku and Naruto share a conversation. As I eavesdrop, I realize just how similar the two boys truly are. How similar I am to the two of them. Our shared loneliness. The ostracization we have lived through. Our dreams of acceptance.
Mist obstructs my vision to the point where I can no longer see, though my ears remain tuned in to the conversation. A pregnant pause. A sigh from Haku, and finally more words. "Naruto, please end my life. I am no longer of any value to Zabuza-sama," Haku begs. My breath catches, and my eyes threaten to shed tears.
"No," I whisper. I know that Naruto is incapable of ending a life, though just hearing Haku wish for such a thing is more than enough to break my heart.
"What is it?" Sakura asks, a panicky note in her tone.
"It's nothing…" I choke, my voice betraying me.
"Something is wrong!" Sakura exclaims, eyes wild, chin wobbling in fear. "Is it Naruto? Is it Sasuke?"
Rather than replying, I turn, preparing to convince Haku of the value of his life.
I hear the crackling of Kakashi-sensei's lightning blade. "I have to go," Haku's voice whispers in the distance.
Don't tell me—
Haku appears in front of Zabuza.
I teleport to Haku's front.
Kakashi-sensei's lightning blade pierces my right shoulder…
"Haku, are you-" I begin to ask, awakening with a jolt.
"He's dead," Kakashi-sensei gently informs me, his hand on my forehead.
"But I thought I-"
"My arm completely penetrated your shoulder and my fingers hit Haku's heart…"
"No!" I cry, and once more pass out, though not before I feel the warmth of blood seeping through my clothing, and the kiss of a single tear on my cheek.
"Yuki! Yuki!" Several voices call. I struggle to reply, in both a state of shock and fatigue. I manage to open my eyes to narrow slits.
"Oh, good! I feared that we'd lost you, too!" Tazuna exclaims.
"What?" I wheeze, summoning as much chakra as possible to heal my still-steadily-bleeding wound. I look toward the other end of the bridge and see Kakashi, Naruto, and a crippled Zabuza confronting who I would assume to be Gatō's men.
A short fat man, perhaps even Gatō himself, takes a few steps toward Haku, and kicks him, cackling madly. His voice sickens me, and fills my entire being with a deep hatred. I struggle to sit up, my mind and heart brimming over with an insatiable bloodlust as a result of that man's treatment of my friend's corpse.
"Don't strain yourself," Tazuna cautions me, "or you really will die."
"That bastard just kicked Haku!" I rage, my usual composure tossed to the wind. I push myself to my feet, shoulder burning in pain. I bite my tongue, and draw more blood.
I stagger to Zabuza's side, interrupting a lecture being bestowed upon him by Naruto. I produce a bone dagger from my good shoulder, rendering both of my arms useless.
"Do you really intend to fight my men?" Gatō asks as I slowly approach. "I'd hate to see a beauty like you get mangled!" the rough-looking men around him laugh.
"You kicked Haku," I coldly state. "I won't fight your men—I'll kill each and every one of them!" I start to charge with the little speed I can muster, but Zabuza stops me. My head feels lighter than the clouds above me, and I feel close to death. It seems that my prediction was incorrect. I will be among the dead today.
Zabuza turns, revealing a tear-streaked cheek, and says, "I'm sorry, but this is something I must do alone. Boy, give me a kunai!" Naruto tosses him a knife, and he places it between his shark teeth.
"You really expect to defeat me without the use of your arms? You, a mere baby-demon?" Gatō taunts him, fueling the blazing inferno that is my anger.
"We'll see who the true demon is in Hell, Gatō!" Zabuza charges toward Gatō, and severs his head with the knife. I feel a morbid satisfaction at the sight of his decapitated body, and the fires within me are tamed.
We all watch in shock as Zabuza proves to the world his status as the Demon of Kirigakure by killing mercenary after mercenary with a single kunai. Some attempt to flee, only to be stopped by a second demon—me.
I join Zabuza in the slaughterfest, allowing the Kaguya within me take control. I kill all who attempt to escape in Haku's name. My determination, alongside the sheer thrill of battle, erase the electrifying pain of my shoulder.
In seemingly no time at all, I am the last, for the second time in my life.
I awaken to the light kiss of snow on my cheek. My eyes flutter open. "She's alive!" Sakura flippantly exclaims, breathing a sigh of relief.
I sit up, but immediately fall backwards. I look to my left, and again to my right. The sight to my right wrenches all of the air from my lungs. "You mean to tell me that Zabuza died, too?" I ask despairing. "I failed to save them both!"