Disclaimer: I no own Naruto.
So who else is the most mature of your group? Raise your hands! Sometimes I don't even feel like a friend, more like a second mom BECAUSE THE IDIOTS THAT ARE SOMEHOW MY FRIENDS CAN'T POUR WATER WITHOUT ME HOLDING THEIR HAND! *slams head repeatedly on desk* Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?! I'm sick of being responsible, it's another person's turn now! ARGH, I give up, they can fail their classes and get lost all the way in Cancun for all I care! GO! Fail at life, my sheltered egotistical so-called friends, because I. AM. DONE.
Sorry... can't take it anymore. After an entire lifetime (quite literally, since I've known one of my friends since birth) of being the 'responsible mom' of the group I just blew my top after today. Sorry, you had to face it... I'll make it up with this chapter! ^^
Guest:I never said that Obito didn't KNOW who Naruto was, he just never met him personally, like Kakashi never did in canon even though he was Minato's student as well. Besides, Yanagi is classified as an Unreliable Narrator, she doesn't know personally if Obito and Naruto have ever met before or not, she's only taking it for granted. Obito never acted as if he did or did not know Naruto, so the reader can't really know for sure. And Yanagi does know that Minato is Naruto's father. In chapter 9 she alludes to knowing about the 'secret' of Naruto's parentage.
About Shisui: Ummm... Shisui IS the strongest in the clan, it's stated several times in canon. Once again, Yanagi is an Unreliable Narrator. She knows that Shisui has the Mangekyu, the whole Uchiha clan with the sharingan knows. In Chapter 3, Yanagi specifically says that no one can know if they don't have the Sharingan, so it's not much of a leap to assume that no one outside the Uchiha clan knows what Shisui has that no one else does, which solves the 'as long as someone knows he has that power, it becomes ineffective' problem you brought up.
I know it's spelled Kekkei Genkai, but I just don't bother to change it because it's already in all my stories and I don't have time to correct it all; cuz if I correct one, I gotta correct them all! lol Pokemon reference. XD
Still I thank you for your constructive criticism! I just wish you had logged in so I didn't have to do this in a chapter...
*squee* I'm excited about this chapter! ≥∇≤
To clear up anymore misconceptions, Yanagi falls under the following types of literary devices:
These are done on purpose to give Yanagi a more realistic approach.
~Unreliable Narrator Meaning that in fiction, as in life, the unreliable narrator is a narrator who can't be trusted. Either from ignorance or self-interest, this narrator speaks with a bias, makes mistakes, or even lies [from . c o m]
~ Antihero An antihero is a protagonist who has the opposite of most of the traditional attributes of a hero. More often an antihero is just an amoral misfit. While heroes are typically conventional, anti-heroes, depending on the circumstances. [from tvtropes. o r g]
Sorry for the long AN... honestly didn't mean it this time... But in reward here's an equally long (or even longer really) CHAPTER!
vvv
I sighed and snapped my book closed, giving up on trying to read. This fog was so damn thick I couldn't even read! I don't know why I let Naruto talk me into not turning around and going back to Konoha after the fight with the Kiri chunnin. I just knew there was going to be another big problem before this stupid mission ended. It wouldn't be a Team 7 mission if we didn't run into some kind of trouble.
"WOAH! It's huge!" Naruto suddenly shouted. I glanced up to see what the idiot was talking about now while the boatman scolded the blonde about his loudmouth. Like that would make a difference. Still, I was mildly impressed by the bridge Naruto had screamed about. Too bad we wouldn't see it finished, since I was dragging my team back to Konoha the minute Tazuna's foot hit the shore.
Still there was one thing bothering me...
"Yo, Grandpa Drunk..." I started. The man didn't react like he usually did, which gave me an insight to how serious this was. "Tell me why there are men after you." I was still aborting the mission when we dropped Tazuna on shore, but due to morbid curiosity I wanted to know why this guy had gone from a seemingly harmless drunk to someone rogue ninja were after. I could smell a good story behind all this.
Might as well entertain myself with story time since I couldn't read.
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing when Tazuna said, "I have no choice but to tell you–no I want you to know the truth." Man was this guy dramatic, "Like you said, this isn't a true C-rank mission, the one who seeks my life is a very short man but cast a very long and deadly shadow." I wondered mildly if Tazuna was trying to keep us interested enough to stay, or if he was just a naturally gifted story teller.
" 'Cast a long and deadly shadow'? Hmmm... Who is it?" I asked, deciding to play along.
Tazuna gave me a solemn look, "...You know him... as Gatou. He's one of the wealthiest men in the world and-"
"I know of him." I said flatly, not wanting Tazuna to continue his blathering. Granted I didn't know the midget was a black market dealer who worked in dirty under-the-table tactics, but still.
Naruto was doing his squinty face again, "Huh? Who? Who? What? What?" Seriously, the kid sounded like he was five years younger than his actual age. How I got saddled with him, I would never understand. The Hokage must have some beef with me that I didn't know about.
Grandpa Drunk went on to explain the dirty deeds of this Gatou, all without losing that dramatic flair he had going. Seriously, if this guy hadn't already devoted his life to bridge building he should have gone into professional story telling. The genin were hooked; even the boatman was listening raptly, all while rowing the boat of course. Tazuna went on to explain how the bridge would break Gatou's control over the Land of Waves, and thus putting Tazuna's life in danger. Blah blah blah, boring boring boring. I got enough drama from Obito, I didn't need it from Grandpa Drunk as well. Though, I had to admit, Tazuna was better at telling the story than Nii-san.
"So why did you request a C-rank, when you knew this was a B-rank mission?" I asked, keeping the conversation on track before Tazuna could go down the road of ramblings.
The old man looked down, silent for a moment, then spoke, "Because the Land of Waves is poor, not even our Daimyo have little money. I couldn't afford something higher than a C-rank." I gave a flat stare. It was something as simple as money? With all the drama already saturating the story, I thought it would be more spectacular than that. "This bridge will bring prosperity to my home, but if you just drop me off there won't be a bridge. They'll assassinate me."
My three little genin looked guilty, though Sasuke hid it better than Naruto or Hinata. I just continued to stare at him unimpressed by his blatant guilt-tripping. After growing up with Obito and Shisui I was immune to all guilt-trips of any kind.
Tazuna moved on to flat out blackmail. He gave us a fake smile and said in a light tone, "But don't feel bad about that! Of course my sweet little grandson will be upset. He'll cry 'Granddad! I want my granddad!'" The change in voice was amusing as Tazuna mimicked his 'grandson's voice. Hinata and Naruto looked extremely guilty now, like they had accidentally kicked a puppy. But Tazuna wasn't finished yet, "Oh and my daughter will condemn the ninja of Konohagakure, denouncing and blaming you for abandoning me and living her life in sorrow." The old coot added quickly as if it wasn't a big deal. The man's beady eyes darted to my still unaffected stare and continued, "Ah oh well, it's not your fault, forget it!"
I stared at him stoically.
Tazuna sweatdropped, thinking his little scheme failed.
Finally I sighed reluctantly, "Fine, we'll keep guarding you." If I had said no Naruto and possibly even Hinata would annoy me until they convinced me otherwise. It was best just to give in for now and let the drunk have this round. Tazuna lit up and I glared at him, causing him to whiten under his tan instantly.
Beside me Sasuke smothered a snicker. He knew from experience that it was foolish to blackmail the Blackmail Queen.
vvv
I groaned when I saw Sasuke and Naruto having some kind of speed walking race. Why couldn't they acted like a normal rivalry? Why must it all be passive-aggressive and loud?! Naruto ran ahead and did a funny little 'look left and right' thing. I was about to ask what the hell was he doing when he suddenly threw a kunai, "Over there!" He exclaimed.
Everyone–read: Sasuke and I–immediately leapt into defensive stance around Tazuna and waited for the attack.
Nothing happened.
Causally Naruto stood back up, "Hm, just a mouse."
Tazuna went off on the little brat, but Naruto ignored him by exclaiming that people were hiding around in the bushes all around us. I was about to hit him for being stupid when I felt a surge of chakra behind me.
Naruto seemed to follow my instincts and aimed another kunai knife at the spot I felt the chakra surge. Tazuna smacked Naruto upside the head and the brat and drunk had yet another yelling match while I went to investigate. Just below the kunai that Naruto had thrown a white rabbit was having a heart attack.
A white snow rabbit.
Curse my cursed damn luck. The karma demons must really loath me.
I stepped away from Naruto's sobbing apologies to casually inspect the clearing, searching for chakra signatures. I wasn't a very good sensory nin, most of it was just pure natural skill since I had spent most of my training on my sharingan and ninjutsu, so I wouldn't be able to sense anyone who was suppressing their chakra at a jounin level.
Considering that I couldn't sense anyone meant that my suspicions were right and our next attacker was a jounin skilled opponent. The right side of my mouth twitched up and I almost sang out 'come out come out wherever you are~' but I didn't.
Especially since our opponent was already attacking.
"DUCK!" I roared and immediately all members of the group hit the dust, barely avoiding the big ass sword flying through the air. I was on my feet the second that stupid sword was past me and staring up passively at the jounin now standing on his sword hilt.
Cow print arm and leg warmers. Grey striped pants. No shirt. Big ass sword. Damn it.
Time to troll.
First I ruined his sense of mysteriousness, "So... you're Momochi Zabuza, eh?" Silence from the cowboy. Guess I'd have to kick the trolling up a notch, "Feeling... peachy today?" I got a small minuscule twitch from the man and I grinned. That minuscule twitch from him meant he was extremely annoyed. One more time and I'd push him over the edge. "I have a very serious question. I need you to answer honestly." I paused for a moment, "Is peaches your favorite food? I hate them." Now I got a glare and a sliver of killer intent.
Naruto began running for Zabuza like an idiot. Luckily I was able to stop him. I might be able to tease Zabuza, but that didn't make him any less dangerous. Naruto would just be killed needlessly if I let him attack.
"Don't. This guy is out of your league." I said seriously.
The blonde didn't seem to like that, "But I can take him!" He said confidently. If only he knew how wrong he was.
I gave the kid a very stern look that made him back down. Ever since I became Team 7's sensei, I had been very surly and often glared at the trio of brats. But I knew they got the feeling I was kidding most of the time, that I was only fooling with them. Now I wasn't. I was truly being serious. "Stay. Back. Naruto. When I say this guy is too powerful, I mean it." I turned my stare to Sasuke and Hinata, "All three of you stay out of this. Protect Tazuna, that's an order." I said and shoved Naruto backwards, out of danger.
Looking back up at the still silent Zabuza, I changed moods and called out cheerfully, "Hey, Peach-boy, any chance you'll let us go?"
Silence.
"Is that a yes?"
Silence.
"Are you mute or something?"
Silence.
"...Do you like pineapples?"
Silence.
Man, this guy was worse than I was when Shisui was around. I dropped the act and fell into a defensive stance, "Fine, Peachy, if you're not going to talk then you can at least attack. I've got things to do than try and drag answers outta you. That's T&I's job, not mine."
Silence.
I rolled my eyes and in the process of doing so activated my sharingan. That seemed to get his attention. Zabuza perked up and asked in a raspy 'I'm-obviously-a-heavy-smoker' voice, "So you're an Uchiha. By your unusual behavior... you're Yanagi, are you not?"
I tsked demurely and flipped my ponytail over my shoulder, "Why I'm just flattered to death. You know my name, and here I thought I was overshadowed by the stupidity of my brother."
"The Stupidly Brave Kunoichi of Konoha." Zabuza rasped, naming one of my various catch names I had gotten.
Laughing I waved a hand, "Lame, isn't it? I don't know who came up with it; still it is a better nickname than some." A certain nickname from an annoying Uchiha who I wasn't on speaking terms with came to mind and I frowned. Quickly I erased the frown and replaced it with a cheerful grin, "But I have to say, you're nickname is better... Demon of the Mist."
Zabuza seemed to be getting tired of our little mind game, "Hand over the old man." He said.
I scoffed, "Seriously? I admit I dislike the man as much as you do, but asking for me to hand him over is just lame and lazy. And your intimidation tactics aren't working, Peach-boy. It's kinda hard to be intimidated by someone with the last name of 'peach soil'."
A thick mist suddenly began to build up. Guess I pushed the peachy cowboy too far. I smiled. Goody, now the fun began. "In the Kirigakure Bingo Book, it's listed that you had a runaway mouth, Uchiha." Zabuza commented.
"I have a runaway mouth. I'm not dead yet, dumbass." I corrected hotly. How dare Peachy insinuate that I was going to die!
Zabuza gave a creepy chuckle, but it didn't hold a candle to Obito in his pranking moods, "Soon." He promised. I rolled my eyes again. As far as trash talk went, this guy was not a pro. It was almost embarrassing how predictable his insults were. Peach-boy continued before I could insult him back and show how a true master of disrespect did it, "In our Bingo Book it's said that your fire ninjutsus are some of the most powerful in the world. Too bad it won't do you any good."
Well shit.
Being from Kirigakure, Zabuza would naturally have a water nature. I was lucky enough to have two chakra natures–fire and wind–but that wasn't going to do jack against freaking water. Water nature beat fire, and wind was practically useless against it anyway. That left genjutsu and taijutsu to fight with. However Zabuza's sword would put a hindrance on my taijutsu and just be plain annoying anyway. I was also pretty sure that Zabuza knew in advance that I was an Uchiha and would take lengths to protect himself against genjutsu.
Double shit.
"Now..." Zabuza started. Immediately my three genin leapt into a defensive formation in front of Tazuna. I shifted my weight onto my left foot, ready to spring forward at a moments notice. I might be at a major disadvantage going against this S-ranked criminal, but I was damn well going to give him a hard time and make the bastard earn his prize... if I even let him have it.
Peach-boy suddenly leapt away and onto the water. The genin and Tazuna seemed surprised that he was able to accomplish such a feat. I was more worried about the huge amount of chakra Peachy was building up. Whatever Peaches was doing, it wasn't going to be good. I thought back on all my spars with Kakashi when he used water based jutsus. None of them required this amount of chakra, so what was Peachy doing?
"Suiton: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza called out and the mist suddenly thickened with chakra, creating nothing but a white wall all around us. I could barely even see the kids behind me, let alone wherever that prick disappeared to.
The tension was high in the air. I stayed coiled, ready to strike out defensively if so much as a leave rustled the wrong way. I was a jounin of Konoha and the only one able to stand a chance against Zabuza. There was no way in hell that I was letting the Demon of the Mist past me and lay a scratch my genin team.
"S-sen-sensei...?" Hinata stuttered nervously. I knew the poor girl was shaking badly. Damn it, I knew she wasn't ready for real missions yet. Though, granted this wasn't supposed to be a real genin mission.
"Don't worry. He'll come after me. You just keep guarding Tazuna." I said, my red eyes darting from place to place. But even with the highly advanced sight of the sharingan, I still could hardly see past the thick chakra infused fog.
"Who is this guy?" Naruto asked, for once sounding nervous and serious. I guess the kid finally realized that this was real and he could very much die out here without ever getting close to his dream. Strangely, I wished that he was still that naïve kid from three minutes ago.
"Momochi Zabuza, a nuke-nin from Kirigakure and former captain of the Hidden Mist Assassination Unit." That's all they needed to know. I didn't want to scare the kids. They were nervous enough as it was.
Zabuza seemed determined to tell then anyway, "Uchiha, you're forgetting something..." That raspy voice sounded eerie coming out of the mist, like some vengeful wraith looking for a soul to devour. Peaches didn't even have to explain his silent killing technique for the kids to be frightened, but he did it anyway. I glared off into the mist, no one could frighten my brats except me.
The fog thickened to the point that I couldn't even see Team 7 anymore. Shit shit shit! Zabuza spoke again, this time his creepy voice seeming to come from all around. I let loose my killer intent, my chakra swirling around me and dissipating the fog a little. I could practically feel Sasuke freezing up in fear, the killer intent coming off Zabuza and I were hitting my younger cousin. This wasn't going well, Sasuke was the best support I had out of the three. Though I hated it, I was probably going to have to call on the genin's help to take down Peach-boy. If he was unable to move because of fear...
"Sasuke!" I said, my voice cutting but reassuring at the same time. My cousin tensed, seeming to come out of his fear induced stupor, "Calm down. You've got nothing to fear," I glanced over my shoulder at Team 7 and smiled soothingly, "I'll protect you even if I die for it. That's a promise!" Nii-san used to say those three words when we were younger, and Obito always kept his word.
So I would do it too.
Of course Zabuza had to spoil our little bonding moment with his creepy intoning, "I wouldn't be so sure... it's over." Suddenly his voice wasn't everywhere at once like it had been. It was in one specific place.
Right in the middle of my genin team.
OH HELL NO!
With a reaction speed that could only be achieved through training with a sharingan, I leapt for the Peach bastard as my four companions leapt away from him. My kunai knife plunged deep into the man's gut. Zabuza grunted and leaned against my shoulder, his warm breath brushing against my dark brown curls that coiled around my ear. For a brief moment, a silence fell over the world, as if acknowledging that a life was ending.
But both Zabuza and I knew it wasn't.
Naruto suddenly screeched, "Sensei, behind you!"
I spun around, the Zabuza water clone bursting to spray cool water all over my back, while the other Zabuza swung his Kubikiribōchō and cleaved me in half. Blood flew from my mouth as I stared in surprise at my killer. Zabuza seemed to smirk under his bandages.
Then he frowned.
I dissolved into butterflies.
Zabuza spun around, spitting like an angry cat; though his voice retained that raspy calmness when he said, "Nice work, Uchiha. I didn't even notice the genjutsu."
From my hiding place among the trees I leapt down behind Peachy and placed my kunai knife along his throat, "Don't move." I growled threateningly. This guy threatened my genin, he had made it to the bottom of my 'shit-list' in record breaking time.
Peaches started a boring monologue of how I was able to distract him while I reassured my team and cast the genjutsu while he was distracted. I was tempted to kill him just to shut the idiot up. Seriously, what was the point of explaining everything as if there was an invisible audience watching this fight? It was boring and drawn out and sometimes just plain stalling.
Oh.
Yet another Zabuza appeared behind me, Kubikiribōchō once again back and ready to cleave me in half. This time, I didn't have a genjutsu ready. Naruto yelled something about being a water clone while I ducked underneath Peach-boy's big ass sword. Zabuza followed his sword's swing and stabbed it into the ground before using it as a leverage to kick me into the air.
I twisted in enough time to meet Zabuza as he jumped after me, but his axe kick propeller me into the water. The one place I did not want to be. Just like I expected, the little prick appeared behind me with an air of smug victory. I tried to spring away from the water before he could catch me, but it was too late, "Water Prison Jutsu!"
My world took on a watery blue tint and I immediately felt cold and clammy. The water that imprisoned me felt thick and viscous like honey, I couldn't move an inch. I snarled angrily at the man holding the prison, my red eyes promising a very violent death if I ever got out. I wish I wish Zabuza would just glance my way, long enough for me to cast a very painful and horrific genjutsu, but he didn't. Peach-boy seemed to know what would happen if he met my gaze; seems I'd have to think up a more physical torture to dish out then.
Congratulations, Peaches, you just managed to piss off one of the most hot headed Uchiha known in existence.
vvv 3rd POV~ Sasuke vvv
Sasuke felt Yanagi-sensei's killer intent spike drastically, but strangely this time he wasn't afraid. Perhaps her promise that she would protect the team with her life had gotten to him more than he knew. Sasuke frowned, in the few weeks of being under Yanagi's tutelage he knew that she was a very powerful but... he never expected her to be taken out so easily.
"Water Clone Jutsu!" The man called Zabuza shouted. Dimly in the mist, Sasuke could see another Zabuza burst from the water and stand between Team 7 and the real Zabuza. Sasuke tensed, they would have to go through the clone first to get to Yanagi-sensei. If that brief fight with the clones was anything to go by, these water clones weren't at all weak.
The water clone suddenly appeared in front of Naruto, causing the blonde to fall back and in the process lose his headband. If this wasn't such a serious moment, Sasuke would scold him for being clumsy. Given the fact that even Yanagi-sensei wasn't doing so just went to prove how serious this fight was.
At a loss, the Uchiha genin watched as his teammate landed far away from him, too far to help. Sasuke didn't want to leave the protection of Tazuna to Hinata alone. The Hyuuga was already scared out of her wits, Sasuke doubted she would be of much use.
Yanagi suddenly shouted, her voice muffled and wavering by the water that held her prisoner, "Leave you idiots! Peaches is only able to fight you with his water clone, now's your chance to run. The clone can't follow you forever, so run you imbeciles! Get out of here, complete the mission, do you hear me!?"
Sasuke glared at his cousin, running was no longer an option. The second Yanagi got caught was the moment that Sasuke knew that Zabuza would stop at nothing to kill Tazuna. It was better to stand and fight rather than run away and prolong their life for a short time. That was the act of a coward. And Sasuke was not a coward!
With a sudden surge of confidence, Sasuke shot forward, determined to rescue his cousin and sensei. Throwing shuriken after shuriken at the water clone, Sasuke leapt into the air and, just as he reached the clone with his attack, was thrown away like nothing more than a rag doll. Naruto called out the younger Uchiha's name, fear and concern lacing the blonde's voice. As Sasuke struggled to stand back up, Naruto suddenly charged for the clone.
Of course the blonde goofball was thrown aside easily, coming to a stop at the feet of Hinata. The shy Hyuuga heiress quickly went to her knees to ask in her wobbly voice if Naruto was okay; but Sasuke eyed what the blonde had retrieved with interest. It seemed that the whole attack was just to get his headband back. Sasuke frowned, what was so important about that headband? Surely what the clone had taunted about not being a true ninja hadn't gotten to the blonde. It was just trash talk, like what Yanagi-sensei had been doing when Zabuza first showed up.
Naruto stood up, the scowl on his face dark and serious. Sasuke was slightly impressed by the blonde's change in attitude, "Hey, you no-brows freak," Sasuke couldn't help but smile a little at the attempt to imitate Yanagi-sensei's insulting nicknames, "put this in that book of yours... the person who is going to be Hokage of Konohagakure..." Naruto reached up to tie his haiti-ate around his forehead and glared up at the impassive water clone, "he never backs down. And his name is Uzumaki Naruto!" Unlike Naruto's previous claims to become Hokage, Sasuke had to admit that this one was serious. For once, Sasuke actually believed that Naruto could become Hokage.
The serious aura surrounding Naruto turned into something akin to cocky and confident, "Alright, Sasuke, can you hear me?"
The navy haired Uchiha gave his teammate a flat look. He was standing two feet away from the blonde, of course he could hear Naruto! "Yeah, I can hear you." Sasuke said, his tone a touch exasperated.
"Alright! I've got a plan."
So he finally had a plan, huh? As opposed to flailing around like an idiot? Sasuke scoffed, "So you're finally thinking about teamwork? What's the plan then?" Naruto gave Sasuke a foxy grin.
Unknown to either of them, Hinata watched from her spot in front of Tazuna. If ever she doubted her awe for Naruto, it had been replenished. The Hyuuga felt as safe being protected by her two teammates as she had when Yanagi-sensei stood in front of them, promising to protect the team with her life. Whatever the two boys were planning, Hinata had no doubt that it would succeed!
vvv Normal POV vvv
Poof!
Everyone, other than Sasuke and Naruto, was surprised to see the second Fuuma shuriken transform into Naruto. I watched with anticipation and awe as the kunai Naruto and thrown back at Zabuza made it's way, in what seemed like slow motion, towards the Peachy bastard. If I could move, I would be shivering in excitement. There was no possible way to dodge that kunai, not without releasing me from my prison.
Although, it probably would have been better for Zabuza to let the kunai hit him.
It would have hurt less.
Zabuza turned on Naruto, the Fuuma shuriken he was holding spinning dangerously as he cocked his arm back to throw it at my student. Seemed Peaches forgot about me; I should be hurt, but the anger of been imprisoned–on top of my students being threatened–was overriding any hurt. "I'll destroy you!" Zabuza growled, his raspy voice finally showing anger.
I. Don't. Think. So.
Still dripping water, I raised my fist and caught on of the blades on the hand guards of my gloves. I didn't even grimace when the thin metal cut into my skin unable to take the pressure of the shuriken's sharp blade. Naruto, not having any water walking training like Zabuza and I, fell into the water unharmed. I just hoped he had enough sense to get the hell out of dodge, because I wasn't going to wait. I wanted to tear Zabuza a new one right now. Zabuza met my gaze only to find a full on Uchiha Death Glare.
It made me dance happily on the inside to see him pale a little.
"Naruto. That was an excellent plan, I'm proud of you." I complimented, feeling the need to. After all, without that brat's help, I would still be giving glares in a water prison instead of outside like I was now. Naruto laughed like it was no big deal when we all knew it was. My eyes flickered to him, "Now get your ass back to shore. I've got a rotten peach to incinerate." Naruto gave a mock salute and began swimming to shore.
Hmm... maybe as I reward I'd teach the team water walking. They had gotten tree walking down... somewhat.
Zabuza and I struggled briefly for the Fuuma shuriken. Being female and weaker than Zabuza, I was losing and the sharp blade came closer to my neck. Narrowing my eyes I bent backwards, my right leg flying up to kick the shuriken into the sky, then back flipping away from Peach-boy. I crouched on the surface of the water, watching Zabuza warily. I knew he would use water ninjutsu, thinking that I would have little to no defense against it.
My hand drifted towards my kunai pouch as I thought over my choices. I could block the attacks with well placed wind ninjutsu, but that risked diverting an attack to the genin, or I could copy Peach-boy's hand signs and fight ninjutsu for ninjutsu. The only problem with that option was I wouldn't have much chakra to use. Using a chakra nature that wasn't mine would use up too much chakra–especially if the jutsus were powerful like I knew they were going to be–and they would be substantially weaker. Unless...
Nii-san always said if you can't win with power, win with annoyance.
I smiled. Zabuza, suspecting something, leapt away and I mimicked him, going in the opposite direction. I copied Zabuza's stance and started weaving the hand signs he was making at an almost inhuman speed. But my sharingan eyes could pick them up.
Zabuza's first mistake: weaving signs in front of an Uchiha.
We finished at the exact same second and both called out, my voice mimicking his to the best of my ability, "Suiton: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Two dragons composed of water rose at the same time, moving in the exact same way. Perfect mirrors of each other. There was no way to tell whose was whose other than chakra. Zabuza's dragon crashed into mine and the weaker one flailed a little before twisting around and biting into it's opponent's 'flesh'. Water rose from the banks and flooded the clearing, nearly drowning my poor genin.
Eh, they probably needed a bath anyway.
Especially Naruto.
While our water dragons were busy battling it out, Zabuza and I shot forward to meet underneath the ninjutsus. Kubikiribōchō clashed harshly with one of my fans I used in wind ninjutsu; I grimaced when I heard the crack of some of the fan's ribs breaking under the pressure of Kubikiribōchō's sharp edge. Maybe I should have grabbed a kunai instead...
I could tell that Peachy was thinking back on the battle, obviously confused by how my water dragon formed at the exact came time that his did. After all, the sharingan copying the jutsu, so I should have been a nanosecond behind at the least.
Zabuza's second mistake: showing doubt to the sharingan wielder.
I felt Zabuza's muscles tense and guessed his next move. Leaping back at the same time, I landed three feet from where we were struggling to get an upper hand on physical strength. My red eyes picked up a subtle twitch in Peach-boy's right leg and I matched his pace as we began running in circles, staying the same distance away from each other. I kept my mimicking up, copying the exact way his head was tilted or the way his fingers curled. He stopped. I stopped. He lifted his arm. I lifted my arm. His eyes widened. So did mine.
Zabuza's third mistake: forgetting that eyes are the windows to the soul.
"...going to do next?" I finished his thought as I dropped my arm in perfect sync with Peachy. I think I broke his brain, if that expression of pure surprise was anything to go by.
Shouldn't have trapped me in a bubble of water, now should you Peachy?
He made a hand sign as I did, "It makes you furious doesn't it?" I asked, reading the subtle twitches of his eyes.
Zabuza was starting to look crazed. "You're just copying me, like a monkey!"
"You can't beat me with cheap tricks! I'll crush you!" We said at the exact same time, in the exact same tone. I even managed to make my voice a little raspier than normal, just to match Peaches. It took Zabuza a second to realize that I had said exactly what he said at the same time, shooting down whatever claim of me copying him.
Zabuza made some lame comment about my monkey mouth as he started to weave signs. I did the same. Unknown to him, my mouth twitched up slightly, ending my perfect mimicry of the Kiri nuke-nin. My tomoes began spinning slowly, so slow that it went unnoticed to Peaches even though he was meeting my gaze fully. Zabuza faltered for a brief moment, seeing the ghostly genjutsu of him behind me as I finished the hand sign he had already been making.
"Suiton: Giant Vortex Jutsu!" I said in a loud commanding voice. Zabuza stared in utter shock as the jutsu that he had thought I was copying from him came roaring towards him. He didn't know that the genjutsu had stalled him for a nanosecond, long enough for me to read how his hands twitched and predict the last hand sign without his help. Peachy thought I had done the impossible, when I had just done was was expected of an Uchiha.
Zabuza's final mistake: he thought he could beat an Uchiha.
While I watched my vortex do it's job, I checked on my genin. Hinata was standing in front of Tazuna dutifully, her kunai knife no longer shaking with fear, while Sasuke helped Naruto out of the raging waters. They were lucky that the vortex didn't pull them in too. Then, out of the corner of my eye, my sharingan picked up another chakra source. One that hadn't been visible to me before. Outwardly I didn't show any signs of knowing, whoever this newcomer was they obviously weren't our allies. They would have leapt in by now. The question was: were they Zabuza's ally?
The vortex died down and I leapt into the tree that it smashed Peaches into. I flung kunai at Zabuza to pin him there and keep the bastard from causing any more trouble. I wasn't going to underestimate this guy any longer, he would be dead before the minute was up. I withdrew another kunai knife from my pouch, "Now your finished." I said and cocked back my arm to throw the kunai, aiming for the spot between his eyes.
Zabuza gave me a bewildered look, the first true emotion I had seen on his face all day, "How did you-? Can you see into the future?" He demanded in an almost scared voice.
Was it really that mind blowing to go against a sharingan? Sane people usually ran when they saw the Uchiha red eyes, but no one I fought with had forced me to use the Uchiha kekke genkai for so long. Normally it was just a quick genjutsu like the one I used early in the battle.
Maybe I should ask Shisui-...never mind.
"Yes. And I see death in your future." I said.
A tiny buzzing sound alerted me of something out of place. My sharingan eyes darted towards the source, but Zabuza's cry of pain snapped my attention back to him. My eyes widened when I saw him crashing to the ground, senbon needles sticking out of his neck.
A womanly laugh drew my attention further up the tree that I was in. Long dark hair was brushed over a white mask with a swirling red pattern that curled around the nose and left cheek. The Kiri embalm was stamped into the mask's forehead: a hunter-nin. "You're right... it was his last battle." The Kiri hunter-nin said.
I leapt down from the tree and made a show of pressing two fingers to Zabuza's neck and felt no pulse. That didn't fool me. I could see a small amount of chakra still shimmering in Zabuza's core with my sharingan. A near death state then. There were three possibilities why Zabuza was alive: the hunter-nin was incompetent and couldn't even make a clean kill. Unlikely since she was a hunter-nin going after a A-ranked criminal. Two, she had a sadistic streak and wanted Zabuza's kill for herself, knowing Kirigakure it was possible. Or three, she was in league with Zabuza and 'killed' him before I could truly end his pathetic life.
"He's dead." I said from my squatting position and looked up at the hunter-nin for an explanation.
She immediately bowed, "Thank you." She said softly, "I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time." My eyes narrowed at her voice. It wasn't... feminine enough to be a woman. A boy then? If the hunter-nin was male, then he was very young, probably as young as Team 7.
"You're a hunter-nin from Kirigakure, correct?" I asked.
The boy dipped his head in acknowledgment, "I am."
"What is this?!" Naruto suddenly shouted. Both of us turned from each other to look at the frustrated blonde. He was pointing at the hunter-nin accusingly, "Who do you think you are!" The masked boy said nothing, irritating Naruto even more, "Did you hear me?!" The brat enunciated each word.
"Stop it Naruto. He's not our enemy." I said. My sharingan picked up the slightest twinge from the hunter-nin's left pinky finger. A sign of guilt. I didn't look at the Kiri nin. If I let him know that I knew, he would attack. I couldn't take down a wimpy hunter-nin in this state. The two Suiton ninjutsus really bit into my chakra reserves. Soon I would have to be forced to deactivate my sharingan or risk chakra exhaustion. Honestly, I don't know how I was still standing at this point.
Naruto spun on me, "That's not the point! He just took out Zabuza, just like that! I thought you said Zabuza was powerful, and that guy killed Zabuza with one move! It makes us look like idiots! How can I accept that?!" I had to admit, from Naruto's point of view it was a little too much to take. But then again, he didn't have a younger cousin like Itachi. I grew up knowing that Itachi would always be more powerful than me so I accepted the truth and moved on.
I stood up, careful to show that it wasn't a struggle to do so, and walked towards my student. I stopped in front of him with a passive look, "You don't have to accept it, but it's still true. There are many kids out there that are younger than you but stronger than me." Kakashi had pounded that into me at an early age too, when he was still a prick who didn't believe in teamwork.
Naruto looked away mulishly.
The hunter-nin, having gotten tired of my scolding Naruto, teleported from the tree to beside Zabuza. Easily the kid lifted Zabuza over his shoulder, ramming home what I had just told Naruto, "You're struggle is over for now. I must deal with the remains. Please excuse me and farewell." The boy held up on hand, palm flat, as the wind began swirling around him again, and teleported both Zabuza and himself out of my sensory range.
I sighed as Naruto yelled about the hunter-nin's disappearance. Naruto ran to the spot that the two disappeared from. "He's gone, Naruto." I told him in a tired voice. Didn't this kid ever learn?
"What are we doing here then?! I can't believe it! All that hard work and for nothing!" Naruto shouted as he began punching the ground, as if it were Zabuza's face he was pounding in. Behind us, Hinata stuttered out the blonde's name in concern.
I grabbed Naruto's wrist before he could swing again "Let it go, Naruto. Being frustrated will not help things. Nothing will ever be just easy, so save it for the next enemy." That's what I did. That's what the Uchiha clan was taught. Save it for the next enemy and pulverize him with the anger from your past defeat. I turned to the rest of our group, my hand still wrapped around Naruto's thin wrist, "Alright let's move on. We'll rest at Tazuna's house." If the old man complained then I would kindly remind him that Team 7 shouldn't have even helped him. Rules stated that we would be wise to abandon the mission instead of continuing.
Pulling Naruto to a stand, I turned to lead the group towards town. Just a few more hours and I could fall onto a nice futon and sleep until this whole damn thing blew over. I took one step, one measly little step, and my body froze. I felt my sharingan deactivate on it's own and had the strange sensation of falling.
I didn't even feel the pain when I hit the ground.
^o^
lol Yanagi keeps calling Zabuza 'peaches' XDDDD That made the chapter in my opinion. Grrr, it's so hard to not quote Kakashi from canon. I'm so used to quoting with Zabuza and Naruto that I fall into the habit of quoting Kakashi for Yanagi! *pulls hair out* STOP IT YOU STUPID MIND! QUIT SCREWING AROUND WITH ME!
BTW: I'm calling Uchiha BS on Yanagi knowing Zabuza was still alive at the moment Haku appeared instead of coming to the conclusion afterwards like Kakashi did in canon. My reasoning: Yanagi is an Uchiha and so has a better control over her sharingan than Kakashi. Ta-da! Problem solved! And before any of you complain... It's not as bad as the Uchiha BS that Sasuke pulls in canon. Just remember that ^U^
~You don't die of a broken heart...you only wish you did.
Note: Zabuza's surname 'Momochi' actually does literally mean 'peach soil'. Don't believe me? Wiki it! I got the information from Narutopedia, under Zabuza's trivia. XP
UP NEXT! Training, Yanagi-Style!
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