Coco: Sorry about all the typos. I've seen to caught something, and I honestly just don't feel like proof-reading...I honestly need to get a beta reader or something. Hopefully I'll get whatever I caught because I hate not being able to keep my food done. I've always been a big baby when it comes to puking, so I'm hoping this is just a twenty-four hour bug or something. But anyway, I hope you enjoy the story. Once again, sorry about all the typos.
Kakashi frowned at Suijin while knowing he was on a different level than the kid in the mask. He wasn't sure if his genin could handle him. However, Kakashi would be too busy dealing with Zabuza to deal with the kid as well. Speaking of Zabuza, Kakashi turned his head around to look at him.
"Well, well, I had it right." Kakashi said. "It was all an act."
"An act?" Tazuna asked.
He was still a bit confused though he definitely recognized Zabuza, and the boy in the mask had been the one to cart the Demon of the Mist away the other day, right? However, he had no idea who this third guy was. Though he definitely looked dangerous.
"With a cute little mask." Kakashi added.
Sakura exclaimed her utter shock even though Kakashi have given his theory that the hunter-nin from the other day had been a fake.
"Big phony." Sasuke said with a scoff.
"So I guess all that about being a hunter-nin and protecting his village was just a bunch of bull." Tazuna said.
"Yes, I believe we have already established that." Tsubaki said bluntly.
Suijin chuckled in amusement as Tsubaki took her eyes off of him for like two seconds to give her team and Tazuna a deadpanned expression.
"Obviously the three here are very well acquainted, which means we were duped the first time around, yes?" Tsubaki asked. "Shall we move along to actually engaging the enemy?"
She was ready to put her training to the test. She would not allow the fear to overtake her…to cloud her judgement. She would fight with a clear mind and with all the skills she needs to win because she will not fail her mission…but more importantly she won't fail in protecting those close to her.
"It seems as if the little Hana-hime is ready to fight." Zabuza said then glanced at Haku. "Remember, Haku, that move gave us the first advantage. Now use it."
"Right." Haku said.
He then rushed forward to attack at whirlwind pace towards Sasuke. However, Tsubaki didn't have the time to watch since Suijin rushed in as well. She brought out her kunai to block the swing of his sword. She nearly stumbled backwards due to the strength behind his swing.
"You're stronger than I thought." He said. "I was sure that you'd at least stumble backwards."
Tsubaki narrowed her eyes before lashing out her foot. Suijin jumped back to land a few feet away. Tsubaki rushed after him, which meant she and Sasuke were locked in battle with their own opponents with Kakashi and Sakura standing by. Tsubaki and Suijin clashed again as Sakura looked between her fight and Sasuke's fight.
"Sakura, cover Tazuna, and stay close to me." Kakashi said. "Let Sasuke and Tsubaki handle their fights."
Sakura immediately jumped in front of Tazuna while nodding her head. And even though Kakashi said that he glanced back at Tsubaki's fight while wondering if she could beat her opponent.
"Come on, Hime, we just want that old bridge builder." Suijin said. "If you hand him over, all this can be over."
He then had to duck down to avoid getting a kick to the head. He looked up at Tsubaki seeing determination as hard as steel in her eyes.
"I will do no such thing." She said. "Besides, aren't you the one who wanted to fight?"
Suijin chuckled suppose that was true. He had to dodge a few more swings from her feet as she moved in flowing, graceful movements that Hana-nin were known for. Even though her previous village gone, it was obvious the girl trained deeply in the fighting arts of her people. Suijin then suddenly looked at something behind her.
"Oh, it looks as if Haku is getting a little serious?"
Despite knowing it was a bad idea, Tsubaki glanced back to see Haku was using the water from the fallen clones to make senbon out of them, which he sent right at Sasuke. The attack first looked as if it hit as Haku got out of the way in time.
"Looks like your friend is done for." Suijin then frowned because he knew something was wrong.
Tsubaki smirked slightly as she turned her eyes back onto Suijin who realized the attack in fact did not hit Sasuke who had managed to jump high into the air.
"Sorry, but your friend will have to try harder than that to defeat Sasuke-san." Tsubaki said as Sasuke used shuriken to force Haku backwards. "Now, you should be more worried about the fight you are currently engaged with."
Tsubaki moved her arm up as Suijin went to slash again, and barely using any force on her part, she used her arm to brush his to the side. And due to the strength and momentum behind the swing, Suijin couldn't stop the redirection of his sword. She basically used his own strength against him then as he was finishing his swing, she whirled around plant her knee hard into his side that it sent him flying a few feet away to hit the railing of the bridge. He looked slightly surprised as he looked towards Tsubaki. He then grinned thinking this fight might be interesting after all.
As he and Tsubaki continued fighting, Zabuza watched the two fights happening with a frown on his face. Haku was actually being overwhelmed in speed by Sasuke, and Suijin had actually taken a hit. These genin shouldn't be able to compare to his students. Zabuza personally trained Suijin since the boy was four, and the boy had more talent than Haku probably ever could. He was one of those once in a generation shinobi who exceled in the art of ninja. Yet this little genin managed to actually land a hit on him. Granted Suijin is just messing around and not fighting serious…but even then Suijin rarely ever takes a hit.
"You made a big mistake insulting these ninja and calling them brats." Kakashi said to snap Zabuza out of his thoughts. "That's just guaranteed to bring out Sasuke's attitude. He's the best young male fighter of Konoha. And Sakura here is our sharpest mind."
Sakura giggled feeling pleased with the praise as she continued to guard Tazuna.
"Then Tsubaki is the most talented kunoichi of her generation." Kakashi added. "And last but not least, our Number One-Hyperactive-Knucklehead Ninja is Uzumaki Naruto."
Tsubaki smiled thinking Kakashi explained Naruto perfectly, and if he was here, she was sure this fight would be more than a little chaotic. Zabuza gave a chuckle, which had Kakashi frowning slightly. He didn't see what was so funny.
"Haku, Suijin, if we keep going like this, we'll be the victims instead of them." Zabuza said. "Get on with it."
Suijin frowned with the excited look in his eyes dimming a bit. In fact, he looked almost guilty in a way.
"Well, you heard the boss." Suijin said. "Play time is over. I have to get serious now, which means you won't be living must longer, Hime."
Tsubaki just narrowed her eyes because she refused to be frightened by his words. She had to fight with a level mind. She also couldn't concern herself with how Sasuke's fight was going because she had to believe in him. Besides, she doubted she'd be able to get to him because she noticed from the corner of her eye that Kakashi was stopped by Zabuza. Her eyes immediately snapped completely back to Suijin as he went in for the attack. He went to swing down, so she brought her kunai up to block.
Her eyes widened when the strength behind the swing was much stronger, and she couldn't hold up her arm firm to keep the blade away. Her kunai was knocked down, and she felt the blade slice her shoulder. She bit her lip to muffle a cry of pain as she heard Sasuke cry out as well. It looked like they were both in trouble. She was then kicked in the gut to send her slamming into the bridge to roll across the ground slightly.
"Tsubaki!" Kakashi shouted as he turned his head.
He went to help her, but Zabuza blocked his path once more, which had him gritting his teeth angrily. He couldn't help either of his battling genin. It made him feel useless. If he wanted to help them, he'd have to find a way of dealing with Zabuza first.
"Those two won't last much longer." Zabuza said. "I personally trained Suijin since he wasn't even half the age of these genin. The boy's talent is almost scary, and no one can beat Haku once he uses the technique he is now."
Kakashi narrowed his eye at Zabuza while listening as Tsubaki and Sasuke cried out again. They were being hurt repeatedly and he couldn't do a thing. Sakura looked in between her two teammates not sure what to do. Who did she help? How could she help? She wanted to help Sasuke, but she couldn't just leave Tsubaki on her own…and Tsubaki was closer. Should she try to help the friend closest to her, and after helping Tsubaki, they both could help Sasuke, right?
"Just try to help them, and I'll the other two in a heartbeat." Zabuza warned Kakashi.
His words helped Sakura make a final decision. She couldn't just stand here doing nothing. She had to find a way to help her friends.
"I'm sorry…I can't stay with you." Sakura said to Tazuna. "Please, forgive me."
Tazuna looked down at the girl while seeing the determination burning in her eyes.
"I understand." Tazuna said. "Go now."
Sakura reached down to pick up a discarded kunai before whirling around to give her aid to Tsubaki. If she could help Tsubaki defeat Suijin, or even turn his attention onto her, Tsubaki could help Sasuke. Those two fighting together should be able to beat that Haku kid easily. Then they could come help her if Suijin wasn't already taken care of.
"Tsubaki!" Sakura called out then threw the kunai at Suijin.
She was hoping to make him to jump back, so he could continue his assault on Tsubaki. However, even though he did stop for a moment, he didn't jump back. He just easily caught the kunai in one hand, which had Sakura gasping. Then what shocked everyone was how in a flash that Tsubaki whirled around and threw her own kunai at one of the ice mirrors surrounding Sasuke.
She wasn't surprised when Haku just came out of the other side of the mirror to catch the kunai. In fact, she expected it, and it was part of her plan. She quickly performed the hand signs needed before slamming her fingers into the bridge. Tazuna was shocked when her fingers sunk into the concrete as if it was just potting soil. Suddenly vines shot up where Haku was to wrap around his neck and arms.
"It will be hard to return to the safety of your mirror if you're all wrapped up." Tsubaki said.
Suijin will admit he was impressed. Even though Tsubaki was fighting him she was aware of the fight happening behind her, and was able to think up a plan that would slow Haku down or stop him in his tracks. She just needed a way to get to Haku, but she was so busy with him it was impossible. So when her friend distracted him for a second, she took her chance to execute her plan.
"Whoa." Sakura said with wide eyes.
Tsubaki could be pretty amazing sometimes. Kakashi let out a sigh of relief while knowing that at least one of his students was okay at the moment. However, now Tsubaki was a sitting duck since she had to keep her fingers in the ground, so her vines would remain around Haku. Just as he as thinking that Suijin went in for an attack. Without moving her fingers from the ground, Tsubaki flipped over onto her back while kicking her feet outwards. She used one foot to redirect his swing like she had done with her arm earlier, and the blade missed her head by an inch before she used her other foot to kick him hard in the chest to make him stumble backwards.
Tsubaki knew she couldn't let go of Haku until Sasuke was free from the boy's odd jutsu. Tsubaki was about to pull Haku right out of the mirror then put enough pressure around his neck to knock him out. However, before she could a shuriken shot out to hit Haku across the mask. Haku slumped out of the mirror without the vines having to pull him out though they remained around him. Not far from where he fell there was a large explosion of smoke. Tsubaki could take one guess as to who just arrived, and she knew she'd be right.
"And our dear spazz has arrived." Tsubaki said.
Sakura blinked in confusion before her eyes widened when the smoke cleared to reveal Naruto who was posing as if he was some kind of hero arriving to save the day.
"Uzumaki Naruto…is here!" He said grinning. "Yeah, believe it."
Tsubaki wasn't sure how things were going to go with him here now, but she felt a slight sense of relief. If Naruto was here, he could help Sasuke while she put all her attention on Suijin. If she didn't, she knew she'd be dead within seconds.
"Now that I'm here, everything will be alright." Naruto said confidently.
He was ready to kick butt and take names, and finally be the one who saves Sasuke not the other way around.
"Naruto!" Sakura cheered in relief.
She too felt better knowing he was here since it meant they had one other ninja to fight.
"You know how in stories the hero usually shows up at the last minute, and then kicks butt?" Naruto asked then swept his hand in front of him. "Well, that's what I'm gonna do right now, believe it!"
Suijin blinked wondering what was up with this kid. Didn't the blonde realize it would have been better to remain hiding in the mist and provide cover form there? He completely gave away the element of surprise too soon.
"Alright, you're history!" Naruto said then brought his hands together. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Zabuza's eyes widened, and in an instant he threw many shuriken in Naruto's direction.
"No!" Kakashi called out. "Naruto, move!"
Naruto was just frozen in place for a moment, and Tsubaki knew she had to do something. She knew it was foolish, but she released her hold on Haku to use her vines to deflect Zabuza's shuriken. She then had to rip her fingers out of the bridge to dodge Suijin's sword, which was aimed at her face. She jumped backwards before landing in a crouch as a cut appeared on her cheek with blood running down it. She mentally cursed knowing she wouldn't be able to get a hold on Haku like that again.
"That was stupid move on your part, Hime." Suijin said. "If you hadn't went to help your blonde friend, you'd still have a hold on Haku. In fact, if you had wanted, you could have used your vines to crush Haku's windpipe the second you caught him, which would have saved your other little friend."
Tsubaki knew that was true, and perhaps she should have just instantly killed Haku. But there was no change that. However, something she didn't regret was releasing Haku to protect Naruto.
"I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I just let Naruto-san be hurt when I could have helped." Tsubaki said honestly. "And I'm not too worried about Sasuke-san. He has Naruto-san to back him up now."
Suijin tilted his head wondering why Tsubaki had so much faith in the orange-wearing, blonde spazz. He didn't seem like much. Of course, he watched the fight between Zabuza and these genin and Kakashi earlier in the mission. The blonde did surprise him a bit when he managed to trick Zabuza and make him release his hold on the water prison. However, Haku could never lose to a genin like the blonde boy. He and that Sasuke kid were as good as dead. As said blonde was getting a scolding from Kakashi, Zabuza got ready to throw more shuriken.
"Please, wait, Zabuza-san." Haku said as he stood up.
Zabuza looked towards Haku as Haku was looking towards Naruto who had a frown on his face from being scolded.
"This boy…I want to fight him my own way." Haku said. "Please, allow me to do so."
"Bring it on." Naruto said.
Haku took a step forward while ready to do just that. Tsubaki frowned at the tension behind her, but kept her eyes completely on Suijin who was watching to see what the spazz would do next.
"Hmph, so you want me to leave this to you." Zabuza said. "Is that it, Haku? As usual you're too soft."
"Forgive me." Haku said dipping his head.
Suijin narrowed his eyes knowing that Zabuza was right. Haku wasn't like them. He could kill…yet didn't have the heart of a killer. Suijin has killed countless of people without even blinking, but Haku was different. If possible, he tried to spare every life he could. Suijin will admit he doesn't kill everyone he comes across, but that was only because those people were too weak to waste his time killing them. However, even if Haku took it easy on them, the blonde spazz didn't stand a change. He'd be dead soon enough.
"I can see you're underestimating him." Tsubaki said to get his attention as Naruto was confronting Haku about all the lies he told. "You wouldn't be the first. In fact, many people doubt Naruto-san…or just write him off completely. I will admit he wasn't even close to the most talented in our class. He does mess up often. In fact, he acts foolish 90% of the time, but he there is something he has more than any of us here."
Suijin's brow quirked as he wondered what Tsubaki was trying to say. Did this kid have something special about him? A special jutsu perhaps?
"Naruto-san has a strongest will to succeed than anyone else I've ever known." Tsubaki said. "Even if he might technically be a failure, Naruto-san never gives up because he has a dream to become the greatest ninja of our village…the Hokage…and he won't let anyone stop him from reaching that dream. So I know for certain that he won't allow himself to be beaten here even if the odds are stacked against him. I believe in Naruto-san, and I know I don't have to look back and worry. Even if his methods are a bit…unorthodox."
She added this last part when she heard the uproar behind her about Naruto sneaking inside the mirror dome instead of smartly attacking outside.
"I don't see how you have so much faith in him." Sakura said. "He's such an idiot."
Tsubaki just chuckled as she got onto her feet while knowing she had to completely focus on the fight in front of her.
"Put their fight out of your mind, Sakura-san." Tsubaki said. "We must believe in Naruto-san and Sasuke-san, and worry about the opponent in front of us. I trust you to have my back."
Sakura looked at Tsubaki with wide eyes since she didn't think Tsubaki would ever say that to her. It wasn't like they were close before. In fact, Tsubaki once bluntly told her that she didn't like Sakura because she thought of Sakura as an annoying fangirl who wouldn't amount to anything if she only thought of Sasuke.
"You came to my aid even though your precious Sasuke-kun was in danger because you thought clearly like a kunoichi instead of a fangirl." Tsubaki said. "You knew it would be logical to give me aid first since I was closer, and could help Sasuke-san once I did not have to worry about fighting Suijin-san alone. You've become someone I know can back me up in battle. Now let's show this rogue-nin what two kunoichi of Konoha can do."
Sakura was shocked for a few more seconds, but she then grinned while nodding her head.
"Right." Sakura said as she reached for a kunai out of her holster.
Suijin was silent for a moment as both girls faced him. He sighed wondering why he had to get stuck fighting them. He honestly wasn't even interested in fighting the pinkette. It was obvious she wasn't as strong as Tsubaki. However, if he wanted to fight Tsubaki without interference…he'd have to take out the pinkette first.
"I'm going to apologize about this in advance." He said.
Suddenly he appeared behind Sakura, which had the two kunoichi gasping. Sakura didn't even have time to turn around before Suijin's blade pierced through her neck. Tsubaki's eyes widened as Sakura gagged with…water coming out of her mouth? That's when Sujin's blade was suddenly in a liquid like state instead of being hard steal. It was tense for a few seconds before Sakura's eyes fluttered shut as she lost consciousness. Suijin moved back with the water like sword splashing down onto the ground as he caught Sakura in one arm. He set Sakura down as the water on the bridge moved in an odd manner to reform the steel blade of his sword as his hand remained gripping the ever solid hilt.
"What did you do?" Tsubaki asked as she glared at Suijin.
"Don't look as if you could kill me." Suijin said waving her off. "My sword has a special property to turn into water on my command, and if I pierce anything while it's in that state, whatever is hallow inside the object fills with water. I just temporarily blocked your friend's windpipe and partially her lungs with water to make it as if she was drowning. However, I removed the blade—therefore the water—from her body before it could cause death. She's just taking a little nap."
Tsubaki grit her teeth together while realizing just how dangerous Suijin was. However, she wasn't about to be frightened by his skill. She would fight with all her might.
"Now we can fight without any disturbances." Suijin said.
"Why are you so intent on fighting me?" Tsubaki said.
"Because I want you to show me just how strong someone who has others to protect can fight." Suijin said. "Also I am interested to see what the last of the Taikanhana Clan can do. I hear you have some scary jutsu behind those beautiful facades."
Tsubaki frowned knowing what he was speaking of, but she didn't acknowledge his words. The jutsu of her clan that he has mentioned isn't something she plays with lightly. Besides, she was still young and couldn't fully control some of the jutsu that she even knew about. It was dangerous for her to use them without guidance let alone in a battle with other people around. She was suddenly surprised when Suijin rushed her without warning. She thought he would try to use his sword, but he just tackled her while running towards the edge of the bridge. They both tipped over the railing while heading for the water below.
"Tsubaki!" Kakashi shouted.
He ran trying to go after his student, but Zabuza blocked his path while refusing to move an inch. Kakashi grit his teeth as he glared at Zabuza.
"Sorry but that's the last you'll be seeing of the little Hana-hime." Zabuza said. "Suijin took her into his domain, so she'll be dead soon."
Kakashi stood there shaking in anger while unsure what to do. He had two genin strapped in the dome of crystal mirrors, one was left unconscious, and the other one was completely out of his sights while having to fight on her own against an enemy out of her league. He heard the splash down below signally that they two reached the water, but what followed after was complete and utter silence.