Disclaimer: I do not own any Naruto characters, though I wouldn't mind if I did.
Chapter 11.
The morning soon came and the day that everyone was going to be protecting Tazuna was about to begin. However, though Kakashi, Gaara, Sakura and Sasuke were awake, Naruto was still sleeping. He still looked exhausted even if he was sleeping. So Kakashi made up his mind to let Naruto sleep in for that day.
"Goodbye!! Please take care of Naruto." Kakashi told Tsunami. "He's pused his body to the limit. I don't think he'll be able to move today."
"Yes." Tsunami just nodded as she watched the Four Shinobi walking off with Tazuna. She just smiled when her father said, "Okay. Let's super go!!" He said brightly. He always had to say something with super in it, didn't he? She just shook her head as she went back inside to do some chores.
As everyone traveled down the road, Gaara walked in silence, seemingly in a better mood than he had been yesterday. He kept glances from Sakura and Sasuke but he didn't say anything as he walked right behind Kakashi. Kakashi only glanced behind him once but then looked forward again. He knew why Gaara was in a pleasant mood. But he wasn't going to say anything to the other two.
Things, however, didn't go so well as soon as they got to the bridge.
As soon as they arrived, they saw bodies lying all around the bridge floor, making everyone tense up. "Wh-What's this?!" Tazuna gasped before rushing over to one of the men on the ground. "What?! What happened?!"
The injured man was gasping in pain as he looked up at the Bridge master. "A monster….!" He gasped before closing his eyes to try and be rid of the pain.
The four Shinobi tensed as they looked around at the mess. Gaara had his arms folded over his chest as he stood completely straight, his hold already on the sand. He could sense someone close by. But where? He did not want to be in the same mess as he had been before. Then the mist came rolling in, making everyone tense and stand alert. Tazuna stood in the middle of the four Shinobi, while looking frantically around. Kakashi placed his hand on near his pack while everyone just stood ready. Gaara was keeping his arms folded over his chest though. But he was pretty sure that this was Zabuza's Hidden Mist Jutsu. And so did Sakura.
'Kakashi-sensei!! This is…This is HIS Hidden Mist Jutsu, right?!"
Beside Gaara, Sasuke was shaking again, much like he had before. The red head couldn't tell if it was like last time or excitement. But either way, they were about to enter a nasty fight.
"Long time no see, Kakashi." Came Zabuza's voice, making everyone tense. "I see you're still with those brats…." He meant the three Genin. "He's shaking again….poor kid." Zabuza said from within the thick mist before laughing.
Then all of a sudden, the mist lightened up around them and there were several Zabuzas standing all around them, making all of them jump. The Zabuza standing right in front of Sasuke caught the smirk on the Genin's face as he just looked right at him. "I'm shaking from excitement." Sasuke said smugly.
"Hmph!" All of the Zabuzas snorted.
Kakashi just smirked under his mask and looked over his shoulder at Sasuke. "Do it, Sasuke." He told him.
Sasuke nodded before charging as all of the Zabuzas started to swing their swords to cut into all of the Shinobi. He moved rapidly all around everyone, slicing through the Zabuzas. Gaara just smirked as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Look whose the show off now." He remarked before all of the Water Clones vanished with water splashing all around them. Sasuke just looked directly in front of him with a smirk on his face. "You can't fool me!" He announced.
Everyone turned to look down the bridge and spotted the real Zabuza standing with the Hunter Ninja. Zabuza was wearing the same pants from before but now he was wearing a black sleeveless shirt over his chest. The Hunter Ninja looked just about the same. Gaara just turned his body and looked directly at the boy, frowning darkly as soon as he saw him. He was highly annoyed by this brat for the deception in the beginning and he was looking forward to hurting him. But it seemed that the boy was not even considering him as a threat. He seemed to be looking at Sasuke.
"Hmm. He saw through the water clonse. That brat has grown." Zabuza said tilting his head. "It looks like a rival has appeared, Haku?"
"It does indeed." Said the boy, Haku.
There was a pause as the Leaf Shinobi and the old man looked at the two Mist Ninja dryly. Out of everyone, Sakura was the only one who was surprised to see the Hunter Ninja. Kakashi just stuffed his hands into his pockets while looked at the two. "It seems my thinking was right on the mark." He stated. "The masked one….he's obviously Zabuza's comrade standing right next to him and all…"
Sakura glared right at the Mist Ninja, Haku with rage. "He should stop hiding under that mask and face us!!" She said angrily.
Gaara merely glanced over at her before shaking his head. His eyes went over to Sasuke when he edged forward a little. "I'll fight him." The black haired Genin said as he glared at the boy. "Tricking us with that stupid act…I hate bastards like that the most."
"You're so cool, Sasuke!" Sakura said brightly.
Gaara just rolled his eyes, feeling highly annoyed that Sakura was praising Sasuke again. He just wished she'd get a clue that Sasuke wasn't interested. But then again, why was he complaining? He just kept his eyes forward. "Keep focused, Sakura." He stated, making her look at him with surprise.
"An impressive young man." Haku immediately stated, meaning Sasuke. "Even though the water Clones only have 1/10th the strength of the original…. Still, very impressive."
Zabuza nodded as he looked at Hatu. "But we have gained the first advantage. Go!" he barked at the boy, who immediately began spinning rapidly towards them with a sharp, "Yes."
It surprised everyone only a little as Haku came spinning towards them like a tornado. Sasuke immediately moved forward to intercept the attack, his kunai slashing out at Haku, who hit it with his Senbon needle. Then they began swinging at each other with their weapons, testing their kunai abilities.
"Sakura!! Gaara!! Step in front of Tazuna and don't leave my side! We'll let Sasuke handle him." Kakashi said moving in front of the old man. Gaara just nodded as he and Sakura move to be in front of Tazuna, while watching the out come of this fight. Gaara wanted to keep a good eye on this Haku. Just to memorize all of his moves for the fight with him. He was sure Sasuke could handle the Mist Ninja just fine but he really hoped that he would get a piece of him too.
"I don't want to have to kill you…." Haku's voice traveled towards them. "But you won't stand down, will you?"
Sasuke just snorted as he kept his kunai raised, blocking off the senbon needle from slicing at him. "Don't be foolish." He remarked. Haku just sighed under his mask. "I see…But you won't be able to keep up with my speed the next time. Plus I've already gained two advantages." He told Sasuke. The black haired Genin just snorted as he looked right back at his enemy. "Two advantages?"
"The first is the water on the ground. And the second is that I have occupied one of your arms." Haku stated before raising a hand and forming a sign. "You will now only able to run from my attacks."
And to everyone's surprise, he began to perform signs with just one hand. That even surprised Gaara. He had had never seen anyone do that before. And judging by the look on Kakashi's face, neither had he. So to perform hand signs with one hand was not very common at all. Haku then slammed his foot onto the ground underneath his feet and the water shot up into the air all around him and Sasuke. Even more surprising, the water formed into sharp looking needles before shooting towards Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" Sakura gasped beside Gaara, who just gritted his teeth in concentrating on the fight.
However, Sasuke immediately threw up his other hand forming his own sign and closing his eyes, concentrating on what he was trying to do. Before the water needles could strike him, he leapt into the air, surprising Haku as he leaped backwards. Gaara just followed Sasuke, seeing him up in the air as he flung shuriken at Haku, who moved quickly to avoid getting hit. But Sasuke was already right behind him, holding up his kunai. "You're pretty slow…" remarked the Uchiha prodigy. "From now on….you will only be able to run from my attacks."
Surprised, Haku whirled around with a senbon needle his hand just as Sasuke was swinging his kunai. He deflected the kunai with the needle but then had to duck just as Sasuke flicked his kunai at him. He crouched low but gasped when his "rival's" foot came spinning to meet him. It hit him hard across the face, sending him sailing backwards only to land right at Zabuza's feet, who also looked surprised.
"Looks like I have the advantage in speed." Sasuke said smugly as he stood up straight.
Kakashi chuckled as he lift his head and look directly at Zabuza. "I can't have you underestimating my team but calling them brats. Sasuke is Leaf Village's #1 rookie." He stated, motioning to Sasuke then he motioned over to Sakura. "Sakura is the brightest in the village." Sakura just blushed, looking very proud. "The other one is the show-off, hyper-active, #1 loudest ninja in the village." Said Kakashi, meaning Naruto. "And the most dangerous," he added, motioning to Gaara. "Is Gaara." Gaara only folded his arms and glared right at Haku and Zabuza, trying to prove that Kakashi was not kidding around. He was the most dangerous student in Konoha, due to Shukaku.
However, Zabuza only chuckled, making all of them frown. "Haku, do you realize? At this rate we'll be driven back." He said. Haku nodded as he stood up, just as the air began to grow cold all around them. There was an icy chill swirling around him. That didn't look good at all. "Yeah. We can't have that…." He remarked before forming a sign with his hands.
Suddenly the water all around Sasuke began to rise up, freezing into ice all around him. They began rise even higher, surrounding him and becoming….mirrors?!
Gaara frowned with the others, as they watched the ice become mirrors with an icy look about them. He could see Sasuke trapped within this Jutsu. It was like some kind of prison jutsu. And even more alarming when Haku moved forward and stepped right into the mirror, becoming almost 2D. He was also in all of the mirrors around Sasuke. That was not good at all.
"Damn it!!" Kakashi exclaimed as he bolted forward. He knew that Sasuke was in a whole lot of trouble.
But Zabuza had other plans. He moved quickly, blocking Kakashi's path, keeping him from going any closer towards the icy prison that held Sasuke. "Hey, your opponent is me." He said as he kept in Kakashi's path. "Against that Jutsu, he's finished."
Kakashi gritted his teeth as he glared at Zabuza but then quickly turned sharply looking at the icy prison when there was a several shrill whistles and then Sasuke cried out in pain. From where he was standing, he could see several needles shooting from the icy mirrors and striking Sasuke every where. "Sasuke!!" He yelled in horror. The only answer he got was Sasuke's cry in pain.
"If you get by me, I'll kill those three." Zabuza warned him.
Sakura whirled around and looked at Gaara, with worry. "Gaara, watch Tazuna, please!" She told him. Gaara just glanced at her with his arms still folded but he shook his head. "I'll go. You watch him." He told her before he began to move forward, his hand now digging into his kunai pouch.
"Oh no, you don't." Zabuza said before forming a hand signal. There was a sudden explosion and a Water Clone Zabuza leapt into Gaara's path, blocking him. He just grinned wickedly at the Genin. Gaara glared at him but smirked when Sakura raced right past them, throwing the kunai towards the icy prison. "Sasuke!" She screamed as she threw her kunai. But to her horror, Haku leaned out of one of his own mirrors and caught it. She gasped in shock. But Gaara kept on smirking as he nodded to Haku, motioning to right behind him. Haku quickly whirled around to see a shuriken spinning rapidly right towards his face. It slammed into his mask, knocking him right out of his ice mirror.
Startled, Zabuza jerked around with Kakashi, all eyes now looking towards an explosion of smoke. Gaara just continued to smirk as he shook his head and folded his arms. "That show off." He remarked. Haku, on the other hand, pushed himself up to his knees while looking towards the smoke. "Hyper-active, 1# loudest ninja…." He muttered.
The smoke quickly cleared and Naruto was standing there, grinning insanely as he posed for everyone. "Naruto Uzumaki!! Has finally arrived!!" He yelled cheerfully. "Now that I'm here everything will be fine!! The main character of a story usually shows up in these types of situations and instantly…kicks the enemy's ass!!"
"Naruto!!" Sakura cheered.
Gaara just smirked to himself and shook his head as he tilted his head. He was used to this sort of thing when dealing with Naruto. The others shouldn't have been surprised either. However, his eyes snapped towards Zabuza when he spun around, throwing shuriken at Naruto. Kakashi was swearing up a storm as he took a step forward to go stop them but Zabuza was blocking his way again. So that left it up to Gaara. He gritted his teeth as sand immediately shot out of his gourd and sped towards the Shuriken, just as Haku was throwing senbon needles. The needles slammed into the shuriken before the sand could intercept it.
"Haku, what is this?" Zabuza asked with a growl.
Haku shook his head as he lift himself to his feet while looking at Zabuza. It was then they saw the large cut across the mask. So Naruto's shuriken had met its mark when he had first arrived. "Zabuza, these kids….please let me fight them my way." He requested. Zabuza just turned his face a little, while still looking at Haku. "So, you don't want me to interfere, Haku? You're soft as always." He stated.
That just made Gaara frown. Did he just hear that right? Haku, being soft? Right. He didn't believe that for a second. But then again….he hadn't killed Sasuke yet and he had had a chance to do it. Was he trying not to kill him?
"Hey!! I came to save you!!" Naruto bellowed as soon as he jumped through the mirrors to join Sasuke.
"You total moron!!" Sasuke yelled from within the ice mirror prison. "If you're a Shinobi, then use your head!! Why did you come inside the mirrors?! Damn it!! I don't care anymore!! You're an idiot!!"
"What did you say?! I came to save you and this is what I get?!" Naruto yelled back.
Gaara couldn't stop himself but slap his hand to his face and groan. Trust Naruto to get himself into trouble. He dropped his hand and looked right at the Zabuza Water Clone who was chuckling darkly as he watched the mess inside. That just made the Genin smirk to himself as he folded his arms and called out his sand. Sand shot out of his gourd and sped at the Water Clone, who immediately jerked back only to get sand slammed against him and sent him bursting into water. "I'll take care of this then." He said dryly as he sent his sand flying towards the ice prison to help them out.
Suddenly another Zabuza water clone appeared right before him, swinging a fist at him. As quick reflex to that, the sand shot back and quickly shielded Gaara from it. That seemed to be Zabuza's aim because the Water clone jumped backward with his hand on his sword's handle, chuckling. "This is our fight, little kid." He remarked. Gaara growled at being called a little kid but he mildly distracted when he heard Naruto cry out in pain. "Naruto….." He found himself say.
"This Jutsu uses the mirror's reflection to transport me. From my point of view, you seem to be moving in slow-motion." Came Haku's voice. That just made Gaara frown even more to hear that. He saw Kakashi straighten a little in surprise. "For that kid to master a Jutsu like that…." Zabuza interrupted by laughing.
"Huh? Jutsu like that?" Sakura asked in confusion.
Kakashi nodded as his head dipped down a little more. He was looking very serious now. "An advanced bloodline." He informed her. "A deep blood lineage….superior genealogy….It's a Jutsu passed down by your ancestors."
"Then…." Sakura was saying sounding very worried.
Again Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, you could compare it to my Sharingan. Even I couldn't copy it. It's impossible to defeat."
Gaara just gritted his teeth before he concentrated on his sand, sending it flying now towards the Zabuza water clone, who began to dodge it, swinging his sword to keep it away. He had to get this water clone out of his way so he could go help them. But every time he moved to go to it, it got into his way swinging his sword at Gaara. So Gaara had no choice but to fight it.
"Sasuke!! Naruto!! Don't lose to that guy!!" Sakura yelled, distracting him a little but he immediately focused back into the water clone. But she was interrupted aburtly. "No, Sakura. Don't egg them on." Kakashi called to her. "Even if they could somehow defeat that technique, they cannot beat that boy."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked with a frown.
Zabuza just laughed darkly as he shook his head. "They don't yet have the strength to destroy their hearts…." He remarked. "And kill another person. That young man knows the true pain of being a Shinobi. A real Shinobi can't be created in a peaceful village like yours…because you can't gain the most important thing. The experience of killing."
Sakura gasped as she took that into though. "Then what can we do, Sensei?!" She begged. Kakashi just shook his head as he reached up and grabbed his forehead protector. "Sorry but…I'm going to end this instantly." He told Zabuza, who just chuckled.
"He, he. Sharingan, again." Zabuza said. "Is that the only thing you can do?" Before he reached into his bag behind him. Before Kakashi could even raise it, Zabuza charged forward with a nasty looking kunai blade, swinging at him. Kakashi quickly rose his other hand and let the kunai strike his hand. Gaara spun around to see what was happening but he was rewarded with Kakashi still alive with only blood running down his hand and arm. "You asked if it's all I can do, but you are afraid of the Sharingan…Zabuza." He growled at him.
"He, he. A shinobi's surpreme technique…is not something that should be showed to the opponent over and over." Zabuza told him. Kakashi just shook his head. "You should feel honored. You're the only person to see it twice. And there won't be a third time."
"Heh…even if you defeat me, you can't win against Haku…." Zabuza told him. "Ever since he was a little kid…I taught him all kinds of fighting skills. Even facing the greatest adversity, he has succeeded. Without a heart nor fear of death. A fighting machine known as a Shinobi. And his Jutsu surpass even mine. The terrifying ability of an Advanced bloodline." He told him darkly as he yanked the kunai out of Kakashi's hand. "I gained a high quality tool for myself. Unlike the scrap that follow you around."
Kakashi just yanked up his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan. "There's nothing as boring as a man's bragging!! Let's get this started!!" He snapped.
"Hold on for a second." Zabuza said as he rose a hand. "I'll use your own words and brag about one more thing. The last time you said this to me…." He laughed sharply. "I've been waiting a while for this chance to use this line… 'I'll tell you this. The same Jutsu won't work twice on me.' Wasn't it? I already have seen through the trivial system of that eye. In the previous fight, I wasn't just getting beat like an idiot. I had Haku hiding in the background examing every aspect. Haku is also bright. By seeing a technique once, he can usually come up with a way to defeat it."
Then the mist began swirling all around them, so Zabuza was using his Hidden Mist Jutsu again. Gaara just frowned before having to dodge the large blade that the water clone was using. He threw his sand towards the water clone. He could hear a several fights through the mist. Both Naruto and Sasuke were taking a beating by the sounds of it, and Kakashi was fighting nearly as hard. But right now he had his own worries to take care of. The Water Clone was moving pretty fast but…..
"Kyaaahhh!!" Sakura screamed.
Gaara couldn't stop himself from looking over to see Zabuza pratically materialize right behind Tazuna and Sakura. Kakashi had just leapt into the path before the Mist ninja could slice Tazuna in half, getting slashed across the chest in the process. He clapped a hand over his bleeding chest while panting in pain.
"Kakashi!!" Sakura gasped.
And seeing so much blood now, and smelling it, Gaara felt Shukaku really starting to stir within his mind. He gritted his teeth as he fought to keep the demon back but ended up flinching when the Water Clone slashed out at him with the giant sword. Luckily the sand moved into the path, blocking it. Shaking, Gaara jerked around and glared at him. The Water Clone paused before swinging his sword again. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. The Genin's eyes had changed. They were no longer teal colored, but black and yellow.
"What….?!" He gasped as he stepped back. He could feel the sudden rise in Chakra. This was very dangerous Chakra. He had never felt anything like it. "Wh-what….kind of little monster are you?!"