Ch 11 Team 7: Confrontation
I don't own Naruto
Notes: if N e one wants to help me decide Haku's gender post it now what you want shim to be…otherwise I'll just go with my original idea. This might be short because it's just the fight scene, I hope you enjoy.
The next day, the group had packed up quickly, ate a brief breakfast, and headed out. It was still early in the morning as the group stretched out their morning tiredness with yawns and head shakings as they resumed their travels.
Sasuke had once again adorned his leathered suit; he was guarding the rear as Kakashi lead the front. Ami and Sakura were to the sides of Tazuna, alert in their jobs of protecting. They would be walking the rest of the day, and if they were lucky enough, they would make it to the shores of Wave Country, Tazuna's home land, by the end of the day.
While walking, Sakura had thought back to the battle the other day and she had to wonder how strong Sasuke was. In the battles and spars she had seen him in, he never used his sharingan. She was sure Sasuke could be even more devastating once his sharingan was activated, casting genjutus without hand seals throughout a whole battle would be good against any ninja…except maybe the Hyuuga's eyes.
Her head turned slightly back, watching Sasuke move silently with them, he was calmly scanning the area, as she said, "Sasuke?"
His head snapped to hers in a second as Ami had also turned to look.
At first, you couldn't see Sasuke's facial expression underneath his mask until he tilted his head sideways, his eyes curious as they stared at her…Sakura smiled at how cute he looked in that expression. "I was wondering why you never use your sharingan?"
'Oh,' Sasuke shrugged, It's not like he didn't enjoy it…he just forgot he had it sometimes. He was used to fighting without it but maybe he should use it more, especially if he wants to master it. He knew enough, and his battles with his Sasuke had given him insight in some of the abilities…especially since his Sasuke had the ability to control demonic chakra, which only one other person in the world was known for. "I will not depend on my sharingan Sakura but I'll use it when the time calls for it." The answer was brief and to the point, Sakura felt he was leaving something out but never the less nodded and looked ahead.
Kakashi nodded in approval, the sharingan is a strong tool to use, but to rely solely on it, well, it doesn't really make a true ninja…a strong one, sure, but still, you can't always trust your eyes, some nins could always have a jutsu to counter it.
The walk was long but pleasant, even with the threat of enemy nins, the group grew excited with what they would face next. Being a ninja is without its risk, they would have to battle and survive to become stronger, and the two girls were beginning to understand that concept.
As they traveled, Ami had become twitchier with each passing second, often bringing out her kunai dagger to the littlest of noises. Sakura sighed in exasperation, yes they should be alert but there is a difference between alert and paranoid…and Ami is crossing the borderline between them. Sasuke just watched Ami like an amused older brother, chuckling at the childish antics that he remembered doing once upon a time ago…it was a good breather really.
When lunch had come, they did not stop or settle, they just unpacked a ration bar from their equipment and ate along the trail. They had been travelling for hours now, briefly stopping when Tazuna needed the break and quickly covering their trail. The group noticed that the further they travelled, the cooler it became as little mists could be seen.
"Ooh, we're close now," Tazuna looked down their path, "Just farther down and I have a boat waiting to take us to my home."
The group sighed in relief, travelling was fun and all but you can only look at trees and rocks for so long until you get bored.
When they finally reached the giant shores, like Tazuna said, there was a boat waiting for them. Entering the boat they travelled across the lake, the man controlling the boat spoke how dangerous these waters were, ever since Gato had decided to cut off people coming in and out of the village. Tazuna continued explaining the depression his village faced and ended with a sad story about himself.
Once they reached the shore, they quickly exited and continued to travel.
"Don't let your guard down," Kakashi had told them when he noticed a heavy fog ahead…something didn't feel right. Sensing a little chakra shift, Kakashi peered through the side of his eyes at Sasuke; the boy seems to feel as uncomfortable as he did. Sasuke had just released a few blocks of chakra that he figured came from the boy's gravity seal located on his arms and legs. Kakashi continued peering at Sasuke as the one of the boy's hand twitched near those packed shurkiens on his sides, He knew that Sasuke was expecting a fight and he feared that it was true…were they really ready for this?
'It's now or never,' Kakashi thought as he mentally prepared for anything, his book was placed away as he continued walking, 'If we have time, I am going to need to re-asses the abilities of my team and teach them what they are lacking.'
"Is it always this foggy where you live?" Ami asked her nose scrunched up at the misty fog that covered her face.
"Hmm, sometimes, but it's strange since we don't usually get them this thick until later." Tazuna had answered thoughtfully.
'Crap' the word rung through Sasuke and Kakashi's head as they smelled a trap. Let's check, missing nins sent to hunt the client…check… strange thick fog appears right before they arrive at their destination…check… a swishing sound in the air…their eyes widened.
"GET DOWN!" Kakashi roared pulling down the closest members, Tazuna and Sakura.
Sasuke had tackled Ami to the ground as the group either crouched on the floor or laid on the ground. A huge sword flew across them, spinning rapidly in the air like a boomerang, missing the group. It continued through the air until it embedded itself into a tall tree near the lake. A sudden blur then a figure stood above it, a slashed Hiate slanted across his head as bandages covered the bottom part of his mouth. His arms were folded against his chest as his eyes glinted with excitement once he saw Kakashi. He let out a dark laugh, "Ha Ha, no wonder the demon brothers had failed, Copy Cat Kakashi, or shall I say, sharingan Kakashi?"
Kakashi lifted up his hiate that covered his left eye, a matured sharingan now visible as he stared right back at the nin, "Zabuza Momochi, Devil of the Hidden Mist."
The group had already surrounded Tazuna, watching the confrontation between the two ninjas. Sakura watched each one in anticipation, she never knew Kakashi had the sharingan…he wasn't an Uchiha but wisely, she kept her questions to herself as she watched the strange man, Devil of the Hidden Mist.
Zabuza let out an ominous laughter, his hands formed a single seal as the mist thickened and covered the whole place. They couldn't see through the thick mist but Kakashi let out parts of his chakra to form a small space so they could see each other. He signaled them to stay quiet as they listened.
"I am the master of the silent killing technique…" Zabuza's voice spoke in the mist.
"I can attack you from anywhere… you'll be dead before you realize it." Zabuza let out another round of sadistic laughter as the whole group tensed.
Sakura was scared at hell as she waited but continued to hold on to her kunai. Ami gritted her teeth as she refused to show how scared she was, she continued looking around, a kunai in her hand.
Sasuke stood a little ways out. He had released a few blocks on his gravity seal earlier, just so he would have a faster time to react. He decided against releasing all of the seal since the sealed weights added more damage to his punches and kicks. Silently, he knew Zabuza wouldn't kill the genins unless he really had too, that was one reason they had survived their first encounter with the man. Instead of outright killing them, Zabuza had tried to scare them away, even offering them to escape if they leave the old man. Just that one gesture and Sasuke knew Zabuza had a soft spot for kids…inside that entire demons personality thing... somewhere dark and spooky.
Sasuke had just watched the scene, trying to figure out what to do. He guarded the back of Tazuna as he pulled out one of his Uchia shurikens ; his other hand was twitchily moving in the air, waiting for the next move.
Kakashi looked at his students, giving them an encouraging look, "Don't worry; I'll protect you with my life."
That one sentence had an effect on the team, whether it hardened their will or soothed their worry, the effects could be seen as each one steeled their nerves.
"That was touching, Kakashi," Zabuza appeared in the center of the group, his huge sword was held behind him, ready to slash Tazuna, "But I'm already here."
Sasuke had already acted along with Kakashi, Tazuna was moved by Sasuke as Kakashi had already appeared and stabbed Zabuza with a kunai. Ami and Sakura moved back and watched in surprise as the Zabuza disappeared in a burst of water.
"A water clone?"Kakashi asked as Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi.
"Yes," he had replied pulling his sword down and slashing Kakashi into pieces.
Ami and Sakura had cried out to their sensei only to find out it was also a water clone and the original Kakashi appeared in front of them.
Zabuza stared back at Kakashi, surprised how Kakashi had known the water clone jutsu. Zabuza's eyes soon widened as it burst into water.
Sasuke stood behind the downed water clone; he had just slashed the clone. Suddenly, Sasuke flipped away from a quick sword slash in the mist, he landed besides Tazuna as Ami and Sakura snapped back into reality and headed towards Sasuke, Kakashi warily looked around. The team regrouped as Kakashi stood in the front, trying to see through the thick mist.
"I'm surprised that little brat snuck up on me," Zabuza had spoken through the mist, "But no matter…this will soon be over."
"Zabuza, quit hiding and face me," Kakashi answered back in irritation.
"As you wish," suddenly Kakashi was bombarded with sword strikes. Kakashi had to duck and dodge each attack; Zabuza was striking then quickly retreating into the mist before Kakashi could try to counter the attack. The attacks left Kakashi with little time to prepare a jutsu as he had to quickly dodge another cleave.
'He is trying to wear me out,' Kakashi thought as he ducked another strike.
Sasuke watched the attacks Zabuza was throwing. The mist nin was cautious against Kakashi, no doubt he had heard all the effects a sharingan could do against an opponent, but sooner or later, Kaakshi was going to get tired.
Sasuke quickly unlatched his mask, returned the shuriken, and started forming hand seals. Ami and Sakura watched as Sasuke quickly went in front of them, finishing his jutsu he yelled out, "Wind release: Great Breakthrough!" He let out a large gust of air through his mouth.
Kakashi and Zabuza watched as a gust of wind blew towards their direction, the mist was blown away revealing Zabuza standing on top the waters, his water clones each looking at Kakashi, then to the genins.
'Good job Sasuke,' Kakashi thought, quickly he blurred from the visions of his opponent. The water clones had burst into water as Zabuza jumped away in time from Kakashi's kunai slash.
"No more hiding," Kakashi stared at the nin, both of them standing on top of the lake. For a second, no one moved, each one gripping their weapons, Kakashi his kunai and Zabuza his giant cleaver.
'NOW,' they both disappeared in a high speed battle, each blurring into the eyes of the watchers only appear when an attack had connected, then to disappear again.
The group watched in amazement at the speed the two Jounins where battling in. Sasuke took a little breather, he didn't have an affinity for wind anymore so he had to add a little extra chakra to the jutsu; he kept up with the battle though, he could see perfectly. The two jounins were engaged in a fast taijutsu battle as Zabuza tried slashing Kakashi only to miss then block either a kick or a punch that was thrown back.
He had to watch as Zabuza had missed a slash but continued with a kick, Kakashi blocked only to be pushed into the water. Zabuza's hands quickly formed a set of hand seals as he towered over Kakashi who emerged from the waters.
"Water prison jutsu," Zabuza's hand was outstretched as water gathered around Kakashi. The water gathered all around him to form a sphere which connected to Zabuza's outstretched hand; Kakashi was trapped in the sphere prison, unable to move.
"Wh-what," Kakashi struggled in the prison, something seems to be hindering his ability to form chakra.
"Ha ha, you're mine Kakashi", Zabuza turned to the rest of the ninjas as a clone materialized from the water and appeared before them.
The clone Zabuza smirked at the genins, the fear in their eyes gave him a sense of satisfaction, "I'll tell you what…" Zabuza spoke, "If you run now and leave the old man…I'll spare your pathetic lives."
Sakura was shaking, their sensei was caught, and after the battle they witnessed…they didn't stand a chance.
Ami likewise watched in a morbid sense of dread, she too was scared at this man; she didn't know what to do.
"RUN, YOU CAN'T BEAT HIM!" Kakashi yelled from the prison.
"Ka-kashi?" Sakura spoke, her whole body was shaking. Ami watched her sensei struggling in the prison, unable to escape, and then back to the smirking water clone; again, she stood, unable to move.
Time froze as a body ran past Ami and Sakura, slowly through their eyes; they saw him run up to the clone. The clone in response smirked and brought his sword down…only to hit air as the figure quickly dodged and sliced through the head of the clone…it dispersed.
Sasuke stood towering over the defeated clone, his Uchiha Shuriken on one hand as he glared through his masked covered face. "Don't underestimate me," he spoke before turning to Ami. "Are you going to give up again…Chicken?"
Ami stopped, her mind clicked with rage that showed her promise. She will never go back on her promise, she will never freeze again…and Sasuke called her chicken. 'Sasuke, I am kicking your ass after this.' Ami thought as she smirked, "Sasuke, let's do this, he's not the only one who can produce clones."
Ami stood next to Sasuke as Sakura hardened her will. Sakura ran in front of Tazuna, kunai in hand as she lead him out of the way, casting a low level genjutsu around the area.
"Ooh spunky little brats here," Zabuza chuckled, "Let's see what you can do…" More clones emerged from the waters as Sasuke and Ami got into position.
Sasuke turned to Ami, "These clones aren't as strong as the original," He grinned underneath his mask, "Want to introduce them to some exploding personalities?"
Ami grinned in anticipation, despite the life threatening situation, this was kinda exciting. Her hands formed the familiar cross shape seal. "KAKASHI SENSEI, WE'RE COMING TO SAVE YOU!" she roared out as Kakashi was torn on the inside; 'yes save me but save yourself' his thoughts didn't make sense, in spite the situation.
"MULTIPLE SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!!" the whole field was covered with kunai wielding Amis as Sasuke had thrown his shuriken across the field only to explode in a burst of fire in front of one of the mizu clones, the battle started.
Clones met clones as swords and kunais clashed, Sasuke raced through the field, avoiding sword strikes with jumps and leaps. Already, his hands started glowing as fire collected at the palm of his hands. Strafing right, he dodged a sword slash, "Fire ball," Sasuke spoke as he threw the fire at the clone's face. The fire dispersed the clone as tiny mists could be seen, Sasuke continued heading towards the edge of the lake as he watched Ami clones try to overwhelm the mizu clones. Ami's clones were everywhere, helping each other take down a clone by either attacking in greater numbers or exploding once slashed. The original Ami was busy trying to dodge strikes, while directing which clones to explode. She wasn't as fast as Sasuke but she still managed to dodge a few strikes. She had to grind her teeth when one of the mizu clones had grazed her in the arm, she summoned more clones and joined them in attacking.
As Sasuke dashed to the end of the field, the small army of mizus became more frequent that it was almost impossible to reach the lake. Thinking of an option, he retreated back yelling, "Ami I need your help!"
Sasuke helped destroy a few more mizus with well placed fire jutsus before Ami came to his side.
Sasuke peered at her, she was sweating tired from producing all the clones, she wouldn't last long. He looked back at the field, there were fewer clones now, and a huge jutsu could probably destroy all of them. He then whispered into her ear as Ami looked back at him in surprise before turning back to her clones, little beads of sweat continued to appear on her forehead as she had to concentrate hard on detonating the clones.
Sasuke released the rest of his gravity seals, the chakra from the seals returned to him as he started on a set of hand seals. This jutsu was going to cost him mostly all of his chakra, but he hoped it would work.
His karyuu spread was activated as fire erupted all around Sasuke, he poured all his chakra into the jutsu. Finishing his seals, he ripped of his face mask as he outstretched both his arms out, aiming at the small field of clones.
"NINJA TECHNIQUE: WAVE OF FIRE!" Blazes and blazes of fire erupted all over him as fire shot out of his hands and mouth; a blanket of fire covered the field, burning the everythin gthe fire touches and drying the air as the pops of clones could be heard.
Zabuza stared at amazement at the technique as did Kakashi; the tiny field was covered in fire as Zabuza could feel the heat of the blast.
'Sasuke just poured all his chakra into one attack. He won't be able to stand after this.' Kakashi thought.
A blanket of smoke obscured the land as Zabuza couldn't see, suddenly a giant wind shuriken sprung out of the smoke and forced him to release the sphere and move his arm away from becoming sliced.
Sasuke smirked from the back as he coughed up smoke; he spoke to Ami, "catch me…" everything went black.
He fell to the ground as Ami just stared in amazement before snapping out of it, "Sasuke!" Sakura had watched and came running towards them with Tazuna in tow.
"Damned brats," Zabuza muttered before he was sent flying across the water, hitting a tree. Kakashi had risen from the waters, staring at down at the ground, he looked pissed. "You guys did good…now leave the rest to me."
Kakashi watched as Zabuza stood up, his hands already forming symbols. Kakashi mimicked him, matching every hand seal with hand seal as Zabuza started to worry.
"Water dragon projectile jutsu!" they both exclaimed, finishing the jutsu.
Twin giant serpents of water emerged from the waves as they attacked each other and dispersed.
"Wh-what.?" Zabuza stared back at the face of Kakashi, he gritted his teeth, "Those damned eyes!"
He started forming more seals, "You won't beat me, I won't lose to you!"
Kakashi again followed seal after seal as Zabuza lost more and more of his confidence, suddenly; he saw an illusion of himself as Kakashi's eyes were spinning madly.
'Th-that's me? No, an illusion,' he stopped before he could finish the hand seal, 'No, I can't beat him like this, I need to get close."
Kakashi finished the seal and roared out to the shock of Zabuza, "Grand Waterfall jutsu!"
"WHAT!?" Zabuza only replied before a swirling vortex appeared around Kakashi and launched against him. The vortex smacked him right in his chest as he was sent spinning around a huge wave of water , suffering from the pressure of the attack until finally slamming against a tree. Defeated and exhausted he didn't notice the kunais that pinned him against the tree.
"Zabuza, I see your death," Kakashi spoke darkly; ready to give the final blow.
Kakashi then watched as a few senbons were thrown into the neck of Zabuza. Quickly looking up, he spotted a masked nin with standing above the tree. "Thank you for your help, I will collect his body and destroy the secrets he holds." The nin jumped down and collected the body before disappearing.
Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, he was glad the hunter nin didn't stop to ask questions, he would be too tired to answer back. Putting away his kunai and covering his sharingan eye, he walked back to the group who had watched the whole encounter; he explained what had happened before falling to his knees.
"Kakashi sensei, are you alright?" Sakura worriedly asked.
"I'm just exhausted," he chuckled as he watched Ami and Sakura steadily helping a half awake Sasuke walk.
"Quickly, quickly, my house is near, we'll have you patched up in no time," Tazuna directed them as he helped Kakashi walk. The group helped the wounded out of the burnt field, they had to hurry since Kakashi and Sasuke were about to pass out, the wounds they faced would take a while to heal as Sakura could already spot the burnt marks on Sasuke.
They would rest now and gather their strength for what was to come next.
Note: And before you tell me that the jutsu is too powerful, think about what he did first before casting the jutsu and also that he has the affinity of fire (also lightning but that's later). Think of Yamato and all those big jutsus he had done with Naruto. Sasuke has knowledge of this so he can create all kinds of devastating jutsus just referring back to those trainings. I hope that was ok, not really good with fight scenes.