Kasek: Read, review, point out errors because I'm too lazy to get a beta-reader. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Naruto or One Piece
Chapter 12: The Results of Apprehension and Preparation
"196... 197... 198..."
Tazuna interrupted Kakashi's count of his one-fingered push-ups. "I've been meaning to ask you this, but... how come you're still here? I lied about the money."
Kakashi's eye half-closed in though. "To abandon your duty is not courageous. Below the courageous, there is nothing. Those are the words of the previous Hokage." He made his one-hundred ninety-ninth push-up. "That is the way of the shinobi. We do not move because of money alone." He grunted, and got to push-up number two hundred. "Okay, you guys can get off now." Tazuna and Tsunami nodded, and got off of Kakashi's back. Kakashi looked at his hand and made a fist. "Two hundred one-fingered push-ups with two people on my back... I'm almost back to normal."
--
Zabuza held an apple in his hand, and a moment later, it burst under the pressure of his grip. He flicked the resulting apple juice off of his arm. Haku smiled at the display. "Looks like you're almost recovered."
Zabuza nodded. "Yeah... we should get moving soon, Haku."
Before Haku could reply in an affirmative, Gatou and his bodyguards walked in the door. "Well, don't you look like a man on a mission, eh, Zabuza?"
Zabuza growled. "We'll be leaving tomorrow. You'll be satisfied with the results."
Gatou smirked. "Oh, I will be, I will be..."
After they left, Zabuza growled, wishing he had just Gatou's head, instead. "That man... he's like a mouse in the woodwork, always popping up at the wrong times..."
Haku nodded. "Yes... I wonder if he plans to show up tomorrow..."
Zabuza sighed, causing his bandages to flutter. "I wouldn't doubt it for a second. He'll probably wait till I'm almost done and demand to kill Tazuna himself..."
--
Kakashi looked up from his meal as Sasuke and Hinata carried Naruto inside the house. Kakashi sighed. "You overdid it again, didn't you, Naruto?"
Naruto grinned. "Yeah, I decided to stop having my clones go for a battle-royal and had them all attack me at once."
Sasuke grunted as he placed Naruto in his chair. "Lucky us, our training isn't as intensive physically."
Hinata sat down in the chair next to Naruto, and gladly took a sip from her drink. "It's probably not enough to make a difference in battle, but..."
Kakashi sighed. "Well, at least that muscle strengthening thing I taught you will help, and I'm sure the elemental training can help with distractions until you guys can learn real jutsu."
Naruto grinned. "Yeah, that muscle strengthening thing sure does help! I mean, putting chakra into your legs to make you faster? I never thought of that!"
Kakashi shook his head. "Naruto... I can't tell if you have schizophrenia or not, because half of the time you're a genius, and the other half you're an absolute idiot. That kind of thing is basic for a shinobi."
Tazuna grinned, as well. "At any rate, it's great to see you guys work so hard. I've been working super-hard on the bridge, too. It's almost done."
Tsunami glared at them. "Well, stop overdoing it! You guys need to conserve your energy!"
Inari glared at Naruto as he acted so carefree. Memories of Kaiza ran through his mind, causing him to tear up. 'You must protect what's precious with these two arms...' 'Don't cry... Inari.' The tears started flowing, and Naruto, who was sitting directly across from the boy, took notice first. "Huh? What's wrong?"
Inari seemed to have trouble speaking. "Why... why..." After a moment, he slammed his hands on the table and stood up. "Why do you guys bother to try so hard?! No matter how hard you try, you'll never be a match for Gatou's men! No matter what claims you make, no matter how hard you work, when facing the strong, the weak only end up getting killed!!"
Everyone but Naruto was stunned into silence. Naruto took a bite out of his food. "Whatever. I'm nothing like you."
Inari's tears intensified. "I'd hate to be like you!! You don't know anything about his country, and yet you're being so nosy!! What do you know about me? I'm different from you! You're always acting like a clown, and goofing around! You don't know how hard life can be!!"
Something snapped inside of Naruto. "You don't get it... do you, kid? You think that it's ok to sit around and cry all day, like the star of some tragedy?" Naruto glared full-force at Inari, who was stunned into silence by just Naruto's eyes- they had turned red, and the pupils had become slits. "If that's what you want... then you can just go and cry for eternity, you big crybaby!"
Hinata spoke, greatly worried. "Naruto, that's enough! Please, stop it, he's just a kid!"
Naruto's eyes turned on Hinata, and she, too, was paralyzed in fear by the change in his appearance. Naruto walked away, none daring to stop him. Inari, after recovering his sense, ran out the front door. Sasuke saw the sheer terror on Hinata's face, and shook her shoulder. "Hinata, are you alright?"
Hinata came out of her daze. She didn't dare tell Sasuke about Naruto's eyes... whatever they were, it was not a part of his Devil Fruit powers. She looked down at the ground, deciding not to say a word. Silently, Kakashi got up from his own chair and decided to follow Inari outside.
As Inari sat on the dock, sobbing, Kakashi came up from behind him. "You mind if I join you?" Inari shook his head, and Kakashi sat down next to him. "Naruto didn't mean as much harm as it may have sounded like. He doesn't use his head sometimes." This seemed of no comfort to Inari, who was still shivering from Naruto's glare. Kakashi sighed to himself. "Tazuna... told us about your dad. Like you, Naruto also grew up without a father. In fact, he didn't even have a mother, nor siblings. Sasuke and Hinata have been his only two friends, and he's only so close to the Sarutobi clan, the people who took him in and raised him. The truth is... everyone else in the village hates his guts, for something beyond his control."
Inari looked up at the jonin. "You mean... the reason they call him demon, right?"
Kakashi nodded. "Right. But... I've never once seen him cry, or complain. He's always trying his best to get people to see who he is at heart, not what they see in their minds. For that dream, he'd risk his life... he probably grew sick and tired of crying a long time ago. He knows what it means to be truly strong, just like your father did. In fact, Naruto may know how you feel better than anyone else."
Inari seemed surprised. "Wh-what?"
Kakashi nodded. "He always asks us how you're doing when he's not around. He doesn't seem to be able to not be concerned about you."
Inari looked down at the water, the moon's reflection intersecting with his own... and smiled.
--
Kakashi, Hinata, Sasuke, and Tazuna were all packed for the day. Kakashi turned to face Tsunami who was going to bid them farewell. "Take care of Naruto. I want him to take a break from training today. We're going to need him at peak strength for the upcoming battle."
--
Zabuza growled when he heard Gatou's voice come over the radio. "Is the ambush ready?" Zabuza didn't respond, but looked at Haku, who nodded. They both disappeared, leaving the boat empty, except for the sound of Gatou's voice. "Hey, Zabuza, are you there? Hey!!"
Gatou, sitting on his couch at his base, growled. "Looks like they're already starting." He looked up at his bodyguards. "Time to get moving."
--
Naruto woke up with a start. "Ah! I overslept!" He peeked into the front room, not seeing anyone there aside from Tsunami and Inari. "Hey, hey, where is everyone?"
Tsunami, who was sewing, paused for a moment. "Sensei said for you to take a break from training today..."
Naruto went back to his room and hurriedly got dressed in his standard shorts and vest. "Shoot, shoot, I knew they had gone without me! I've got to hurry, I can just feel that today's the big day!" He dashed through the house and out the door, leaving behind a shocked Tsunami and Inari. "I'm off!!" Inari could not help but look in the direction Naruto had went, thinking for a moment before resuming helping his mother with her sewing.
--
"Wh-what is this?!" Tazuna was shocked at the sight before him- all five of the remaining workers were on the ground, some blood on the ground nearby. One of them was still conscious, and Tazuna rushed to his side. "What happened?! Please, tell me!"
The man coughed, some blood in his mouth. "A... monster..."
Tazuna growled as the man fell unconscious. "A monster... that leaves four suspects, that's for sure."
Kakashi was surprised. "Wait, four? I thought Zabuza was the only monster around here."
Tazuna gulped. "Well... there was... something else... that I forgot to mention..."
--
"Inari, help me with the dishes!" "Give me a minute, I'm in the bathroom!" The two men standing in front of Tazuna's door smirked. This would be too easy.
--
Mist began to envelop the bridge. Everyone immediately stood back-to-back. Kakashi growled. "Here they come!" Looks like he's still alive after all...
Hinata narrowed her eyes. "This is Kirigakure no jutsu, right?"
Zabuza's voice came from somewhere in the mist. "Long time no see, Kakashi..." Sasuke's body began trembling. "Oh, I see that you're still with those brats... the boy's shaking, poor thing..." Immediately, ten clones of Zabuza appeared all around them, and even between them.
Sasuke smirked. "What I'm trembling from isn't fear... but excitement."
Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "Do it, Sasuke."
An instant later, and all of the clones disintegrated into water, having been sliced by Sasuke with his two kunai- though it looked like all Sasuke did was shift poses. Sasuke smirked again. "It's going to take a lot more than that to take me down, let alone all of us."
Zabuza's voice came once again, though this time from one direction than from all around them. Everyone turned to face Zabuza and Haku, who were in the direction that they themselves had walked from to get here blocking their exit. "Looks like the brat's grown. He could be your rival, Haku."
Haku tilted his head, which was covered by his mask. "Maybe."
Kakashi narrowed his eye. "It looks like I was right on the mark. That masked kid... he's obviously Zabuza's comrade, if he's still here."
Sasuke growled, and stepped forward. "He should drop the act. I hate people like him..."
Kakashi held him back with one hand. "Let Hinata do this. Her eyes will allow her to fight him better- he is a Hunter-nin, after all."
Sasuke grunted, and let Hinata step up to the plate. Haku tilted his head again. "Taking down those clones... even though they only had a tenth of the strength of the original, it's still impressive. Let's see if this girl is any better."
Zabuza grunted. "We have the advantage. Go!"
Haku disappeared, and appeared in front of Hinata, a senbon at the ready, and swung at Hinata. Hinata grabbed Haku's wrist with her left hand, and then thrust her palm into Haku's chest, forcing him back. Haku grunted in pain, and slowly stood up. "I see... close combat is your forte. Then let's see how you deal with ranged attacks..."
--
The door shattered into many pieces, with Waraji's hand on his now sheathed sword- apparently he had sliced it into that many pieces himself. Zori stepped in the door, and smirked at Tsunami's face, who was completely stunned. "You're Tazuna's daughter, right? You're coming with us."
Inari heard his mom scream from inside the bathroom and rushed out into the main room, where Tsunami was on the floor, the table broken, and the two men were standing above her. "Mom!!"
Waraji smirked. "What do you want, kid?"
Tsunami panicked. "Inari! Don't come, run away!!"
Waraji looked to his partner. "Should we take the brat, too?"
Zori looked at Inari, causing many unpleasant memories to emerge in the boy's mind. "I don't know... we only need one hostage..."
Waraji began to draw his sword. "Then, should we kill him?"
Inari hid behind the wall, and Tsunami decided to resort to drastic measures. "Don't you touch him! If you do, I'll bite my tongue and kill myself! You want a hostage, right?!"
Inari started to cry at his mom's display of courage. Zori frowned. "Thank your mom, kid."
Waraji's frown was deeper. "Darn it... I wanted to cut something."
Zori glared at his taller partner. "You ALWAYS want to cut something. You cut several things on the way here, and you're probably going to cut several more things on the way back. Let's just tie her up and get going."
Inari broke down and cried as they left. I'm so sorry Mom... I'm just a kid... I can't do anything against monsters like them.. I don't want to die...
'You big crybaby!' Inari was startled from his tears. 'You think that it's ok to sit around and cry all day, like the star of some tragedy?' 'He's probably... sick and tired of crying...' 'If that's what you want... then you can just go and cry for eternity, you big crybaby!' 'He knows what it means to be truly strong, just like your father did.' 'If you're a man, choose a life of no regrets... For something that is precious to you, no matter how tough, no matter how sad, you must try and try... and even if you lose your life, protect it with these two arms.
Inari wiped his tears. They're all so incredible... so cool... so strong! He stood up, and clenched his fists. I too... I will become strong, Dad!
--
Waraji leered at Tsunami. "What pretty skin... I want to cut it."
Zori pushed her. "Walk faster, will you? Trust me, the faster we get done with this, the faster you get away from Waraji here." Waraji took offense to that, but before he could voice his indignation, Inari's voice came from behind them.
"WAIT!" All three turned around to see Inari, standing on the corner. Tsunami yelled at him. "Inari! Run away, now!"
Inari grit his teeth. I can... do it! "GET AWAY FROM MY MOM!!" He dashed towards the two swordsmen, yelling to give himself strength.
Waraii put his hand on his sword. "Che, idiot..."
Tsunami screamed for her son to stop, but to no avail. Zori put his hand on his own sword. "Cut him." A moment later, and Inari was cut into three pieces... or so it seemed. Waraji and Zori were more than shocked to find that what they had cut... was nothing more than a log. Zori growled. "Kawarimi...?"
A voice came from behind them. "Sorry I'm late... but a hero usually shows up at the last second."
Inari looked up at his savior. "N-Naruto..."
Naruto grinned at the boy. "Great job Inari. Thanks to you, I was able to resuce your mom." Inari looked behind him- indeed, his mother was with them, and not with the samurai.
Waraji growled. "You little brat! We'll show you what happens when you mess with us!" They both began to charge at Naruto, and Naruto merely smirked. He threw some shuriken at them, which they blocked with their swords- which was just a distraction. They saw their shadows enlarge, and managed to turn around just in time to block the fists of the two clones that had appeared behind them- both of them in their hybrid forms. The force of the impact caused them to drop their blades, which fell into the ocean.
Waraji snarled. "That was my favorite sword, you brat! I'll show you... what happens when you make me angry..."
Zori sighed. "I hate it when he gets like this..."
Waraji grit his teeth, and all could see that he was growing larger. Not only that, but he was growing fur. His arms grew longer, and he slouched over a bit. His ears raised up a bit, and his mouth grew into a snout. A moment later, and the clones were sliced in half by the claws... of a grizzly bear/human hybrid. The beast turned on the real Naruto, a crazed look in his eye. "I'll kill you... I'll tear you to shreds, and eat whatever's left! And when I'm done, those two are next!"
As Inari and Tsunami huddled in fear, something inside of Naruto snapped. "You can threaten me all you want... but mess with them, and you'll see what I'm truly capable of!" Naruto changed forms, this time into his most muscular form. The beast charged at him, and Naruto ducked under him... and then threw him into the water. Naruto glared at Zori. "Next."
Zori looked at the now-human Waraji, who was beginning to sink. "Look, I'll surrender if you agree to fish him out, alright? My powers aren't nearly as fearsome as his, and this isn't the best place for a fight..."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And just what are your powers?"
Zori sighed, and a moment later... was a child-sized koala with human posture. Naruto couldn't help but laugh as Zori growled at him. "You gonna fish him out or not?"
--
Waraji growled at his partner, and would've said something if he wasn't gagged. They had been tied up, with only their heads exposed, and then put on a boat, which was tied to the dock with a rather long piece of rope. As a pittance, their swords had been fished out and placed with them. Naruto smiled. "Thanks for helping me out with that... I can't fall in the water, or I'd drown, same as them."
Tsunami smiled back. "We should be thanking you. We had no idea that the Devil Fruit had such a curse with it."
Naruto frowned. "Well, this certainly explains how Tazuna knew about the source of my powers... Tell me the truth. Gatou has powers too, doesn't he?"
Tsunami frowned. "Yes... or so he says. He had those two kill my husband to show off the Devil Fruit, but he never told us about the curse, and he never told us what kind of powers he holds."
Naruto frowned. "I see... this is my first encounter with someone else holding these powers, but what I do know is that there are three kinds... and I most certainly hope that it's not the kind that gives him power over the elements." Naruto yelled out to the boat. "I hope you guys know that you personally executed the father of this family! I'm sure they wouldn't think twice about cutting you loose!" All movement on the boat ceased- apparently they had been trying to wriggle out of the ropes.
Inari spoke up. "How... did you know that they'd be here?"
Naruto grinned. "There was this boar that was all cut up in the forest, and all the trees around it were cut, too. I noticed that all the cuts made a path that led straight back here, so I followed as fast as I could. But... what I really want to talk about... is an apology. I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have said those things..." Naruto patted Inari on the head. "You're strong. You're certainly no crybaby."
Inari stared in surprise at Naruto, and was surprised when he felt tears running down his cheeks. "Sh-shoot... I told myself... that I was never going to cry again... now I'm a crybaby again..."
Naruto chuckled. "What are you talking about? It's okay to cry... when you're happy!"
Inari was shocked for a moment, and then began crying again. Naruto smiled, and turned bac to face the two samurai. "Well... if they attacked here... then that means that they're probably attacking at the bridge right now, too. I can count on you to keep these guys on their leash, right?" Inari nodded. Naruto grinned. "Man, it sure is tough... to be a hero."
Inari's faint smile widened into a grin of his own. "It... sure is!"
--
Kakashi glanced at Sasuke. "Step in front of Tazuna and don't leave my side. Let Hinata handle this." Sasuke grunted. At least he had gotten to kill the clones...
Haku went through a series of one-handed seals, getting Kakashi's attention for sure. One handed? I've never heard of such a thing! Haku stomped down on the ground when he finished. "Hijutsu: Sensatsu Suisho!"
The water all around Hinata rose up and formed into several needles. As the needles began flying towards her, she took a combat stance. They all flew towards her, and in an instant, there was a giant explosion of water. Haku was surprised, however, not to find a body in the water. Where did she- "I see... long-range combat is your forte. Then let's see how you deal with close combat." Haku turned around, and saw Hinata pulling her right hand back for another palm thrust. Haku sidestepped it, only to see that it was a feint for a kick with her left leg. Haku ducked under the kick, and Hinata spun all the way around, using the force from the kick to do a left-handed palm thrust, sending Haku flying all the way back to Zabuza.
Zabuza was surprised. Haku... lost in speed?!
Hinata smiled, though breathing a little heavily. "Looks like... I'm the faster."
Haku managed to land on his feet, and analyzed what had just happened. How did she escape? She hadn't jumped over the needles... that's when he noticed her eyes. "You... you're a Hyuuga." Hinata nodded. "So, then... you were able to see a path through the needles, clear as day... that's how you escaped."
Hinata nodded again. "I could've escaped through the air, but it would take too much time to get back to the ground and attack you again, so I dodged the needles as I ran through them."
Haku nodded. "To have both the Sharingan and the Byakugan on one team... was not expected."
Kakashi smirked under his mask. "I won't let you underestimate my team ust because they're what you call brats, Zabuza. Hinata is the heiress to the Hyuuga clan... Sasuke was the top of his class... and then there's Naruto... the so-called Kitsune of the Hidden Leaf... the boy with more connections to Konoha's past than I care to count, but the one I should let you know of is... Hokage's apprentice."
Zabuza began chuckling. "Oh, is that so? Hehe, I'm quaking in my boots. Haku, it seems we're falling behind... we don't want that now, do we?"
Haku shook his head. "No, we don't..." Chakra began to pour out of Haku's body, causing Hinata's eyes to widen in fear. His chakra's spilling everywhere... and the air... it's so cold... The water all around them began rising up, and freezing at the same time. Soon enough, Hinata was surrounded by twenty-one frozen mirrors in every direction except down. "Hijutsu: Makyo Hyo Sho!"
Kakashi was nearly frozen himself just by the sight of the mirrors. What IS this jutsu?! Haku stepped into one of the mirrors, causing an image of him to appear in every single mirror. Kakashi swore, and tried to dash to Hinata's rescue, but Zabuza got in his way. "I don't think so. Your opponent... is me. Against that jutsu... she's finished, Hyuuga or not."
Hinata looked around her frantically, trying to find the real Haku. Haku's voice emanated from all around her. "Shall I begin? I'll show you... my true speed." Hinata barely had any warning before Haku appeared from one of the mirrors... and her clothes were torn to shreds as she tried to dodge each of his slashes that he made as he jumped from mirror to mirror. To those with regular eyes, all the slashes were nearly simultaneous- that's how fast Haku was moving.
Kakashi, who did not have his Sharingan activated, only saw Hinata being slashed multiple times. "Hinata!!"
Zabuza chuckled. "If you get by me, I'll kill those two behind you."
Kakashi glanced at Sasuke. "Sorry, Sasuke, it's not that I don't trust your ability, but it seems I can't go help Hinata right now..."
Sasuke grunted, and turned to Tazuna. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to leave you or a moment." Tazuna nodded in understanding. He wouldn't want to stand around, either, if his friend was in trouble. Sasuke got closer to get within range, and then tossed a kunai at Hinata- she did not normally carry one for herself. However, Haku leaned out of one of the mirrors, and grabbed the kunai as it came. While Sasuke swore, a shuriken came from the side and whacked Haku's mask, causing him to fall out of the mirror.
Haku looked towards where the shuriken had come from, only to see a smoke bomb go off before he could see the figure using it. Slowly, a figure emerged from the smoke- Naruto. He smirked as he saw Haku on the ground. "Uzumaki Naruto... has arrived! Just in time to save everyone, too!"
Kasek: I'm gonna stop right here, because if I don't, this WILL go on until the end of the Battle of the Great Naruto Bridge.
In other news, there's no way I'm going to throw away Waraji and Zori now that I've given them the powers of the Akuma no Mi. Especially since Zori's a koala, I mean, come on! How can you expect me to kill him off just like that? However, they are going to disappear for a while. You probably won't see them until the sequel to this story (That's right, a sequel. It will take place after the Rescue Sasuke arc).
