The forest towered over the pair. Wintry white snow drifted downward from the height of the tower, crushing down on the heavy sky. The white trees rose around the pair.

"Is something the matter?" Zabuza raised the massive sword.

Nōtō's eyes narrowed.

"You stepped back our fight." Zabuza smirked.

"The way things are now… I'm not confident in my ability to kill you without involving my students. Well, even before it was like that, but now it's doubly so." Nōtō's eyes narrowed. "Susano'o Mikoto is known for producing one-hit kills. In essence, if I go on the offensive, you should be capable of dying. That you didn't… I need some time to consider." He stepped backward a pace. "That's the simple truth."

"My target isn't you. You're wasting my time." Zabuza's hand tightened on the sword.

"By all means, then…" Nōtō lifted his hands. His arms rose in the posture of a defensive maneuver. His feet planted firmly on the ground. "Kill me, should you feel so eager."

The sword stabbed forward.

Nōtō caught the sword within his hand.

Blood trailed from the palm. The iron metal stained crimson with blood.

I see. Under pretense of gathering power for the attack... "You tricked me. Maybe Leaf shinobi aren't as pathetic as I thought," Zabuza remarked aloud. He loosened his grip on the sword

"You don't tend to shut up, do you?" Nōtō rubbed his head wearily. "Well, in that respect we're probably similar types."

A silence followed.

"Anyway, I really am quite impressed. In this world, there aren't many people who can survive that attack not once or twice but three times." Nōtō glanced upward briefly.

"I said it before… You shouldn't show your technique over and over to an enemy. There's always a counter." Zabuza smirked. He adjusted his grip on the sword.

"Hm." Nōtō's eyes narrowed. "Mind telling me a little about that boy up there?" He pointed with his free hand toward the height of the tower.

"Hmph." Zabuza smirked. "Sure. Since you're going to die before you can fight him, it's not my concern whether you know about him. Besides... He's my pride and joy. He's been taught in many arts, and even I don't equal his strength… He's succeeded in all circumstances."

"Oh, you don't need to boast about all that. Humility is a virtue. If he's as virtuous as you say, he shouldn't quite concern himself over being so strong. I just wanted to ask one simple question." Nōtō looked upward, his glasses shining. "Has he ever fought in a serious battle before? Not an easy fight. A fight where he might lose his own life."

Zabuza blinked. "What the hell does that have to do with anything?" he demanded aggressively.

"People react differently when their lives are seriously on the line. There's no way of telling what could happen… Genii freeze up. Runts suddenly spring to life. When someone enters a battle that could take the life of another or themselves, their actions are entirely changed." Nōtō stepped forward. "It's a very important test, you realize. Blood is the first and only test of people."

Zabuza's eyes widened.

Nōtō removed the blade from his hand. His body lunged forward. "That's a limitation you personally are incapable of understanding. In short, you have never felt that fear of death. But that boy up there, I suspect, is quite different in this respect." The palm, knife-like, slashed through the shirt.

A scrap of cloth fell from Zabuza's shirt. Zabuza's eyes widened.

A black needle pierced the skin. Red skin rose around the needle.

"I see." Nōtō stepped backward. His eyes fixed on the needle. "That is the mark of acupuncture. Truly Haku is a male Yamato Nadeshiko. By puncturing your own body, you alter your pressure points."

Zabuza smirked. "Yeah… that's about right." He sighed. "Everyone, once they kill enough, loses that fear. So you're overestimatin' the trouble."

Nōtō's eyes narrowed. "It's true… such a simple method to counter that ability does exist, though it's difficult to use. It's been a long time since I faced someone of your caliber."

A pause followed.

"Well, at any rate, that's probably true. But the first kill is always the hardest, as well."

The sword flicked to one side.

"I've heard you Leaf shinobi can track blood, so I won't be giving your nose anything to reach.

The blood sank into the ground.

"Hidden Mist Technique."

Mist rose from the ground.

Zabuza faded into the darkness.

Nōtō gritted his teeth. I apologize, my students. I should have taught you better... His gaze, serious and solemn, regarded the fight. I hope that you haven't been too badly injured.

Price

The clones flashed rapidly around the mirrors. Images reflected in the mirrors. The stones of the castle glimmered, the edges shining in the fading light of day.

"Are you sure you won't give up? I don't want to kill you here." Haku's arms rose. "We have dreams too-we other shinobi. We're not simply cold-blooded killers. We're the same as others."

"That's just being a coward. No matter how this turns out, you still have to kill Yokaze-san yourself, right?! So you're just delaying things!" Sasuke smirked. "You aren't willing to cut out your heart yet!"

Yokaze trembled on the edge of the castle wall.

A moment of silence followed.

"Yes… You are correct," Haku admitted after a moment.

Naruto frowned.

Sasuke scowled.

"I am just playing around. I'm quite sure of that. I know that in truth, I have to act... But I'm not ready just yet. I'll test my fangs on you two."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. He drew out his kunai. Shadow Clone Technique! If I fill this space, there's no way she can get us!

The clones filled the space.

Haku sighed. Well, it's not a terrible plan. But given my speed it won't matter how many there are.

The body flashed forward.

Sasuke smirked. We have you now. Her hands laced together. Rapidly, the cheeks inflated. Sparks of flame spread from the surface of the skin. "Flame Style: Engulfing Flame Technique!"

A rush of flames burst along the ground.

The clones popped into nonexistence.

"What the hell, Sasuke?!" Naruto roared. "My plan was gonna work!"

"Take a good look." If he hadn't distracted her, I probably wouldn't have had enough time. No matter how fast someone can move, there are limitations to their sight if they're distracted. Sasuke smirked. Which gave me that opportunity.

A flaming scrap of cloth fell to the ground.

Naruto's eyes widened.

The images reflected the damage.

A blackened edge fell from the uniform.

Can he see it? Haku's eyes widened. Can he see my motion? She tightened her grip on the needles. This guy should realize—it's not possible to reach me!

Sasuke reached downward, pulling out her kunai. "My next move will be to impale her."

Naruto's eyes widened. Wow! Sasuke really did get cool after all that time! He grinned broadly. I'll have to catch up soon!

Price

Water dripped downward through the sewer tunnels. The pile of dust filled the corridor.

"A clone?!"

"Damn, she's fast…" The wild-haired boy scowled. We'll roast her slow once we catch up with her, for sure. We can do that much.

"But why would you pick the right passage!?" The white-haired girl raved, tearing at her hair. "It makes no sense!" She gritted her teeth. Arrgh! She's escaping from me again!

I picked the one that a smart person would not pick. She probably guessed our intelligence from us escaping through that passage. Kōju ran down the passage, tantō in hand. Likely she has a bloodline advancement… It would not be wise to fight her in an enclosed space like this. Her hands clapped together rapidly. "Earth Style: Mole Burrowing Technique!" She descended into the earth on the side of the passage. Like this I also have more information… She won't catch up with me so easily.

"Hey! Hatake Kōju!" the white-haired girl shouted. "I can drown that entire town in poison, if I want to! You better come out and fight me!" Her feet planted on the ground. Her hands laced together.

Kōju's eyes narrowed. If I were to follow the rules, I could leave now… More important, however, is to determine whether she is bluffing. If she is bluffing as I initially suspect, then this shouldn't be a problem.

The white-haired girl lifted her hands rapidly. Her cheeks puffed out. Dark green smoke drifted from the edges of her lips. "Infection Style: Dark Wind of—"

Waves of smoke spread outward from the lips.

The other two covered their mouths with rags. It's no worse than Amegakure, usually. There's that much.

Kōju emerged from the darkness. I'll determine it here.

Kisan smirked, her hands lowering.

"What's your name?" Kōju questioned, her expression calm and distant.

"Kisan." Kisan raised her hands, her eyes narrowing. "That's better… I don't like my opponents running in the middle of a battle."

"Hmph." Kōju's hands rose. Her eyes narrowed. "You picked the wrong environment to fight me in, though."

"Eh? What's that? I can't hear you over the sound of the poison seeping through the air!"

"With due respect…" Kōju's hands rose. "That's not what I meant."

Kisan's eyes widened.

"You're strong, but not strong enough." Kōju's hands laced together. "Especially in the area of taijutsu."

The thugs' eyes widened.

Price

Blood stained the battlements. The sky darkened. Clouds gathered over the castle.

Miyama reached downward. "So those eyes really can see it…" She touched the surface of her injury.

Mirai's eyes narrowed.

"You can see the immediate future. In battle, that ability is perfect against any opponent." Miyama grinned. "That's the kind of resplendent ability songs and tales sing of. It's quite different from most bloodline limits. It's even unique beyond the extent of what is considered possible."

"It's not as strong as… you make it sound. My eyesight… gets worse every time I use it… In fact… I can barely see most things, but it's enough. The outline." Mirai gripped the sword tighter. Her eyes narrowed, the milky pupils glistening. "That's really... it. I don't deserve... such praise."

"I'm glad you have a sense of honor." Miyama clapped her hands together. "There's just one little thing… I trust you haven't forgotten my bloodline advancement, either." A flash of silver shot forward. The hand extended.

Chakra blasted rapidly toward the body.

Mirai ducked downward rapidly. She stabbed the sword into the ground.

Miyama scowled. "Tch…"

"I know better… than to give you something to use… Magnetism Style on. If you use it… you gain a weapon. You can affect large objects better than something small like my little katana, but…" Mirai lifted her sword. "Better… to end it here." Her blade shot through Miyama's stomach.

Miyama's eyes widened.

Blood dripped from the body.

The sword glimmered, blood falling from the blade.

Mirai's face grew solemn. She tightened her grip on the sword. "I don't... like killing people. But you don't give me much choice if I am to protect my... employer." The mask glimmered, water dripping from the surface of the breather. She sighed, coughing as she regarded Miyama.

Miyama slid downward, her eyes wide and glazed.

"...Sorry." Mirai turned away.

The sky darkened with clouds of snow.

Slowly, the temperature dropped.

Miyama lay motionless, one hand caught in the pooling blood.