Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I own Zelda, Bleach.

Triforce Legend

Chapter10: Battle of the Mirror

Field Country: Fensu Province / Haruno Ranch

Three days had passed since the incident at the castle and the team had been recovering at the ranch since then. Marin and Tarin had returned to their ranch with the group having offered them shelter as thanks. Of course the Konoha nins had to help the aged farmer and his daughter look for the missing animals that were running around the neighbouring fields.

The country itself was in shambles and it would take months if not years for it to completely recover from this but still it appeared the populace would pull through. Yugito had placed a marker of some kind that she thought would come in handy encase the shit hit the fan again. It was the day the group was to leave when the owner of the farm: Tarin told the team about exactly why he asked for ninja protection. Apparently a few weeks ago he was asked to deliver a convoy of supplies to a village at the base of the mountains near just off of the main route back to Fire Country.

Once he had finished his delivery Marin had run off smelling smoke coming from a nearby cave in the mountainside. When she had went in she had arrived at the entrance she found two people dressed in red cloaks that Team Naruto had identified as Akatsuki standing at the entrance talking. The two had vanished inside and when she made to follow she was attacked by some kind of puppet that. She apparently managed to escape since it was being held down by a cable or a wire like it was some kind of guard.

Naturally the team had set out to see why two Akatsuki members would be doing in some old cave…

"You sure this is the right way?" Naruto asked looking up at the guy who was leading the way.

Casting a look over his shoulder Sai nodded, "according to my estimates it is just up ahead".

The team arrived but didn't jump down from the trees instead remaining hidden so as to assess the situation. Looking down at the cave entrance in the rocks Sai made sure there were no other signatures in the area before the team moved in. They appeared at the entrance and nodded towards each other before proceeding inside.

They walked through the narrow passage and emerged inside a large chamber with large rock spires sticking out from the ground. The team took to the rocks for cover overlook the situation in the center of the room. In the center was a large platform with a large golden crystal diamond in its center hovering just above it.

The platform had six symbols in a circle formation around the crystal with a seventh symbol in the center Naruto and Yugito quickly identified as having the same design as the symbol on their hands. The two seemed to shiver slightly when they saw what was inside the crystal however; it was shield.

A shield so clear you could see your reflection in it…

"That's the…Mirror Shield," the Kumo Jonin spoke barely above a whisper but everyone of the group caught it.

"Mirror Shield?" Lee asked confused, "what's that? And how do you know what it is?"

Naruto seemed to be forcing himself to remain still as his eyes were glued to the shield in the crystal, "I can feel it calling me…it's the same feeling I got when I passed where the Master Sword lay".

Tenten's eyes widened as she heard that, 'there is no' way! Is he really is the Hero of Legend?!'

"That shield is the counterpart of the Master Sword…Naruto's sword," Yugito answered grabbing her head as if in pain.

"Are you alright?" Sakura asked looking over at the girl.

Yugito shook herself and nodded, "yeah I'm fine; just got a major headache though".

Tenten tried to keep herself calm while this happened, 'a headache? The Princess of the Kingdom was said to be prone to headaches because of the amount of knowledge she possessed…well shit'.

"I think there's someone down there," Lee informed and pointed down near the platform.

There a lone figure stood in his black cloak covered in red clouds that they almost everyone of the team recognized. "That's Sasori," Sakura's eyes narrowed.

Yugito looked confused at their reaction and asked, "you have a history with him or something?"

"You could say that," Tenten commented.

"He's puppet master from Suna who tried to kill us on our last mission," Sakura answered clenching he fists. Yamato and Sai didn't say anything have already went over the report about the former Team Kakashi and Team Gai's mission to Suna, "he's no' longer human…just a puppet; a human puppet".

"Where's his partner?" Yamato asked looking around but finding no' one else in the chamber.

After a moment of checking the area Naruto spoke up, "it doesn't really matter; Akatsuki must not get their hands on that shield".

"Why? It's just a shield after all," Lee asked.

Naruto didn't answer so Yugito did, "that shield can reflect any attack…including attacks from Biju. If Akatsuki get their hands on it none of the Jinchuuriki will stand a chance; their powers would just be used against them".

Silence reigned in the group…

"That's a lot of power; I see why you'd consider it a threat," Yamato commented with a knowing look. "If they manage to produce other shields like that they could do a lot of damage".

"Thankfully it can't be copied; it's made out of materials far denser than anything in known existence". Yugito informed them, "but even so…just one of them is dangerous to have lying around".

Naruto crouched down behind the rock and closed his eyes, "what are you doing?" Tenten asked.

"I get the feeling I'm going to need this," was all he said as he remained completely still.

Sage Mode Activated

Naruto's eyes snapped open showing that they were now outlined red with his pupils narrowed into horizontal slits. "I suggest we make this fast," he said standing up.

--

Things had been going from bad to worse over the last few weeks for Akasuna no Sasori; first he was damn near killed by two teams of children a few weeks ago during his mission to capture the Ichibi Jinchuuriki. He had lost his scorpion body exoskeleton to the pink haired bitch after she had destroyed it and he'd been forced to build himself a new one. Then he had been reassigned a new partner who apparently just joined called Tobi; he was a carefree soul with a bit of insanity and yet he couldn't help but feel nervous when the mask wearing Akatsuki member was around.

The pair had gone to the Heaven and Earth Bridge in Grass Country to get information from his spy in Orochimaru's stronghold. It didn't go so well…Orochimaru had been waiting and his spy appeared to have been able to disrupt his control over his spy: Kabuto. He had tried to kill Orochimaru and would have too but unfortunately the Hebi-Sennin's apprentice had shown up having sensed the battle.

That's when Tobi had entered the fray; he had knocked the young Uchiha around like a pinball. Kabuto had nearly died when Sasori infected him with one of his poisons and Orochimaru was forced to call a retreat. Sasori knew why he did this however…the Hebi-Sennin' current body was failing him and he needed to transfer soon or he'd be dead.

He returned to the Akatsuki frustrated and his partner turned back into his carefree self overnight but he would never forget how the man fought; like he was more of monster than a man.

And that thought was disturbing him more than it should have…

When the leader of Akatsuki dispatched him and Tobi to Field Country to find some old relic he had protested asking what the point of it was. All the leader said was that the shield they were sent to collected was needed to act like a sort of focusing lens and (though it wasn't a requirement) would allow them to achieve their goal that much quicker.

He wasn't an archaeologist…and he sure as hell wasn't a religious man.

Placing his hand on the giant golden crystal hovering in front of him he looked over the shield within. He saw a reflection of his face in it; the shield itself was a masterpiece of art. Outlined in red and the image of a half moon emblazoned on it with a small but noticeable triad symbol in its center.

'Once Leader-sama is done with it I think I'll attach it to one of my new puppets,' Sasori thought amused as he contemplated installing it on his own body.

Suddenly his danger senses went wild as a blur of pink appeared behind him; turning quickly he was met with a monstrous punch to his puppet face. He was blown away from the impact but before he could get far he was grabbed by the scorpion tail.

"What?!" Sasori exclaimed in surprise having not sensed anyone until now.

Sakura pulled him back by the tail drove him into the ground with another super punch but this time to the chest; he hit the floor hard creating a crater with Sakura standing over him. Before he could recover she had picked him up and sent him across the cavern with a monstrous spinning kick to his chest with enough force to destroy his new scorpion body.

When the team saw he made no sign to move Tenten asked, "Wasn't that just a little bit overkill?"

"Damn; I get the feeling you don't like him," Yugito commented with a whistle.

"Your damn right I don't," the pink-haired Chunin responded. "We should hurry this up".

"Princess; help me with this," Naruto said circling the crystal. She stepped up to it and stared at the object floating inside, "any idea how to get this open?"

Yugito looked down at the symbols on the platform; there were lines circling outwards covering the symbols and the symbols themselves were all similar. Like a pattern or…

"Was there some kind of barrier when you found the Master Sword?" the Kumo Jonin asked crouching down to get a better look at the symbols.

Naruto thought for a minute before answering, "now that I think about yeah there was; a very large door. I played some song I've never heard of but I knew out to play".

Yugito looked up at him and asked, "What about now?"

"I could still play a song but…I can't remember which one I used," he answered truthfully.

Yugito just pointed down at the symbols on the floor, "these symbols aren't symbols at all; they're musical notes".

Naruto looked down at the platform before responding, "it can't be that easy".

"Try it," she said.

He created a shadow clone and had it henge into a small ocarina. Putting it to his lips he began to play starting with the first note on the platform but after a few notes he found he knew exactly what he was playing and so continued subconsciously. The others just looked on in silence suddenly feeling at peace with everything around them.

The crystal suddenly shattered like glass and fell to the ground with the Mirror Shield still hovering where it had been. The ocarina disappeared in a poof of smoke; taking a step forward Yugito made to touch the floating shield.

Sadly she didn't get that far…

A blur fell from above and landed between the two and the shield; he wore an Akatsuki cloak and wore a straw hat hiding his face from view since he was looking straight down at the floor. Skidding away Naruto and Yugito came to a stop beside their team-mates.

"Damn I knew it was too good to be true," Tenten unsheathed her katana.

"I should thank you; we weren't able to get through the barrier around the shield but now we are," came the newcomer's voice that sounded familiar to both Naruto and Yugito but they couldn't place where from.

"Dammit we've been played," Tenten growled.

"Come little children and meet your end," the Akatsuki member raised his head revealing his face covered by a familiar orange spiral mask.

Naruto's eyes widened in recognition, 'the Mizukage?!'

"Oni-Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!" a large stream of blue fire was exhaled from behind his mask and his straw hat was blown off.

"Nayru Ai!" Yugito shouted forming a blue diamond shaped crystal around the team just as the ball hit it. After several moments she grunted in pain, "Dammit; the strain is too much for me to handle at the moment".

"This barrier can only stop things getting in right?" Tenten asked getting a nod from the Kumo Jonin, "good". She re-sheathed her katana and took out a pair of scrolls, "let's see how you like this!" she unsealed hundreds of weapons from the scrolls and sent them at the Mizukage.

"Tobi's a good boy!" the Akatsuki member shouted as the weapons seemed to pass right through him.

"It didn't work," Tenten's eyes widened in fear, 'so this is Akatsuki'.

Yugito let out a scream as she fell backwards in pain the barrier collapsing as she did; Sakura caught her.

"Futon: Rasen," Naruto held up his hand forming a plate of chakra and wind to block the oncoming attack. The flames rippled along the barrier and flickered at its edges, "damn that's hot; that's no' ordinary fireball jutsu".

"It appears to be superheated thus turning its colour blue," Sai informed them seeing it (I'm thinking along the line of a Bunsen burner).

The barrier-plate in Naruto's hand was burning hot and he could feel his hand beginning to boil under the constant heat even as he was being pushed backwards, "we're in trouble here".

"The Mirror Shield," Yugito gritted out, "get it".

Lee nodded and shot out from behind cover; Madara was unable to see him because he only had one eye and moved on his blind spot. The green-clad Chunin passed him and grabbed the still floating shield. He returned to the group a few moments later at his full speed just as the chakra-shield collapsed and threw the Mirror Shield over to Naruto.

"You all will die here…if you're lucky," the masked-man said as the flames covered the team. The room suddenly went silent and then with a loud booming sound echoed through the cavern "what?" the flames suddenly shot back towards him. "I don't know how you did that but you won't get far," he held up his hand and swiped it outwards snuffing out the flames. Looking to where the team stood Naruto hand his sword unsheathed and the Mirror Shield held up in a defensive stance, "of course…the Mirror Shield reflected my attack back at me".

"I'm taking this guy down now," Sakura said shooting forward and appeared in front of the Akatsuki member in a matter of seconds. She threw out a punch but all it did was pass right through his head causing no' damage, "what the hell?"

"Our attacks are phasing right through him! Get out of there pinky!" Yugito shouted.

"Ignorant little children," spoke the Mizukage as he suddenly grabbed her hand and delivered a kick to her stomach sending her crashing into a nearby rock formation. Sai and Tenten sliced through him with their blades but sadly it went right through him again, "pitiful fools; you have no' idea who you are dealing with".

Faster than either could see he had punched them both with enough force to blow them in opposite directions across the cavern. Madara turned slowly to the remaining three and cocked his head to the side.

"Would you like to play a game?" was his sweet almost innocent tone.

"Yamato help the others," Naruto said leaving no' room for argument.

The Anbu Captain nodded and ran off to where the others lay. "Splitting up your forces against me is a bad idea hero," the Akatsuki member's voice turned deadly.

"Shut up Mizukage-Teme; no' one calls me hero except the Princess here," Naruto growled as him and shot forward with his sword at the ready.

"The Master Sword? No' matter; you are still too weak to face me," Naruto swung out his sword in a wide arc only for a resounding clang to be heard throughout the cavern. "You're still just a child after all," Madara said amused as he griped the handle of a large red and black sword that was jammed in the ground but managed to stop the Master Sword from cutting him in two, "that sword of yours is very dangerous; it is one of the only weapons in existence that can actually hurt me". If it wasn't for the mask you could tell he was smirking, "sadly my sword: the Dark Sword's sole purpose of creation was to stop the Master Sword from posing any real threat". (Note: Think Ganondorf's sword from Twilight Princess)

Suddenly and arrow covered in flames hit his side and exploded blowing him backwards with his large red sword still in hand. "Hi no Ya," Yugito spoke with her bow levelled. Her gaze had hardened upon seeing the dust clear, "even though the attack managed to actually do some damage it wasn't enough," she whispered.

Madara's laugh echoed through the chamber as he stood, "so the princess has a bit of fight in her after all". He raised his hand and a dark blue ring formed in it, "this is getting interesting".

A vortex of dark blue spirals shot out from his hand and shot towards Naruto; in response he raised his shield to deflect it but was blown back under the sheer force of the blow. He slammed hard into the ground beside Yugito with staggered breath and was panting hard even as the vortex died away.

"He's too strong," Yugito said with her hands glowing green as she attempted to heal her blond team-mate.

Naruto grunted in pain, "I know; we can't win like this".

"We have to get out of here," the Kumo Jonin said standing.

"Have you got an escape plan?" Naruto asked as he stood up.

She nodded, "I set something up just encase we needed it".

The Mizukage let out an amused chuckle, "and what make you think I'll let you leave here alive?"

Suddenly the rest of the team appeared at their side, "you don't have a choice in the matter". Yugito grinned and held her hand up, "Farore Kaze!" a column of light engulfed the team.

Madara's single eye widened and he moved to stop them, "no!" it was too late though. They were gone, "they got away…with the shield no' less". He shook in anger turned seeing his partner: Sasori climb out of the nearby rock formation.

"That girl has a mean left hook," the puppet master said rubbing his jaw.

Author's Notes:

Well that ends another arc; I've created sections of the story called arcs like they do in the manga and anime and this take about three chapters an arc. (Gaara retrieval arc, Elemental Royal Ball Arc and now the Field Country arc). Next chapter the team returns to Konoha and it will probably have a very sober atmosphere to it after their defeat at the hands of Madara.

For the record even though I hate most of part 2 of the manga it does have one feature I find good. Throughout the entire time the Naruto series has been running we've seen him not just get stronger but get smarter and less prone to do things rash. In part 1 he would always charge blindly and think up a way to get in close to an enemy. In part 2 he then had the skills to back up his way of thinking but he was still prone to charge in blindly as evidenced by his fight with Orochimaru.

Naturally as the manga progressed he was getting less and less reckless making sure not to do stupid things while on missions. His latest battle with Pein is a prime example of how far he's come and that's what I'm doing here. I created this story to show (though he is stronger than in the manga) that he needs to get less reckless. In the manga Jiraiya himself said to Tsunade that Naruto was still far from being a decent Hokage even with his new skills.

It's a similar case with Sakura; she may be older and more mature but she lets emotions cloud her judgement especially where Sasuke is concerned. That plus she has no' skills outside of her super strength; her speed is atrocious and the only reason she won against Sasori in the manga and anime was because of Chiyo.

Translation

Futon: Rasen = Wind Release: Spiral

Nayru Ai = Nayru Love

Hi no Ya = Arrow of Fire

Oni-Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu = Demon Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique

Farore Kaze = Farore Wind

That's just the way I see it so you don't have to agree with me; please read and review…

…See Ya Later…