[Chapter 12: The Broken Seal!]
Recap!
'No more games,' thought Haku in annoyances, 'I need to stop this now!' Haku targeted Sasuke and Kitsune, "This time you'll stay down!"
Haku throw two senbone that hit both Sasuke and Kitsune in the calves before he attacked Kitsune's fox making her to vanish back to where she was summoned from. This, however, ticked Kitsune off big time to the point that she let out a none human growl.
"Sasuke, Kitsune!" Naruto called out when he heard their cries of pain that was caused by Haku unleashing more senbone on them.
Haku then did the same to Naruto, but this time they were sticking out of their bodies.
'An enemy you can't see and you can't hear?' Kakashi thought, 'it's been a long time since I've face anyone this tough. And Sasuke, Kitsune, Naruto. I don't know if they can hold out.' Kakashi closed his eyes. 'Stay calm, think. Where well he strike?' At that Kakashi's eyes snapped opened as he looked a different way. "the bridge-builder!"
Kakashi took off heading for where Sakura and Tazuna where standing waiting for something to happen when Zabuza appeared behind them making them to turn, but Kakashi got in the way.
"To late!" Zabuza yelled as he swing his sword at them.
Sakura's scream could be heard through out the bridge and part of the village.
QS-Kitsune let out a gasp as she stood up at once when she heard the scream.
'That scream...that was Sakura,' thought Sasuke, 'what's happening to her? Where's Kakashi?'
"Sakura...she's in...trouble," Naruto manged to get out making Sasuke and Kitsune to look at him.
'We've got to break through,' Sasuke once again thought looking away.
"I'll bust us out of here," Naruto said as he stood which made Sasuke to look at him again.
'Naruto?' thought both Sasuke and Kitsune.
"I'll fake him out," Naruto told them as he stood up.
"You've exhausted my petitions," Haku growled.
Naruto put his hand in a hand sign before he took off at a quick run, but he ended up doing a back flip when Haku appeared in front of him. Kitsune followed with her Kyoufugan Naruto as Haku run net to him.
"Naruto!" Sasuke and Kitsune yelled.
"Behind you!" Sasuke called out making Naruto to stop and turned around to only get hit by needles again. "Naruto!"
"Your chance of escaping my house of mirrors is zero and that is absolute," Haku told them.
Both Sasuke and Kitsune ran over to Naruto.
"Naruto, are you able to get up?" Sasuke asked as his blond teammate tried to set up. "Try not to use any more charka, that's only going to help him now."
Kitsune looked at Haku with narrowed eyes unaware of a black star shape pattern was appearing around her pupil from edge of the iris to the other edges.
"I know Sasuke, I know," Naruto said before he passed out.
'We can't go on like this,' thought Sasuke, 'he's blocking every move we make and Kitsune can't find him so she can look into his eyes to use her Kyoufugan on him. I've got to find away to out maneuver him.' "My eyes has adjusted to his movements."
Kitsune glanced at Sasuke from the corner of her eyes with shock before she turned to look at Haku which caused a growl to come from her throat as she mentally cursed out the mask he was wearing.
"Looking for a counter attack?" Haku asked them, "I'll save you the trouble." Kitsune and Sasuke both picked up a senbone each from the ground and blocked all of the senbone that was thrown at them and Naruto. "What?"
"Get up loser," Sasuke ordered Naruto, "we've got to team up."
'I'm aiming at their vital spots now, but I can't get a direct hit,' thought Haku in shock.
"I know what we have to do," Naruto told Sasuke as he sat up, "believe it Sasuke."
Haku once again started to throwing needles at them, but Kitsune and Sasuke worked together to block them.
'It's not just luck,' Haku thought as he continued to throw needles, 'their fighting to protect their friend. That's why their so determined, but they can't possibly see the needles coming.' When Haku throw the needles at Sasuke, he pushed Naruto out of the way while he and Kitsune jumped out of the line of the needles. "My movements are beyond human speed and yet their tracking them somehow. Whatever their doing I've got to stop them now.'
Kitsune and Sasuke gasp in shock when Haku disappeared.
'He disappeared,' thought Sasuke as he looked around for the Ice Jutsu user, "where did he go? How can he just vanish?" Kitsune and Sasuke moved their heads back and forth for their enemy. "Naruto, you better not pass out again. Come on, let's go. Kitsune and I can't keep protecting you like this."
"Well, then don't," Naruto told them, "I never asked for your two help."
Kitsune gasp when Naruto passed out again which made Sasuke to look at him.
"You can't revive him," Haku told the two Konoha Ninjas, "he's reached his limits." Both Sasuke and Kitsune throw the senbone that they were holding at the mirror that Haku was in, but they bounced off. "Impressive, you two have exalt moves." Haku held up some senbones. "Both your attacks are very skillful." Haku throw more senbone at them, but the dodged once again. "But the both of you reached your limits as well." Kitsune snorted knowing for a fact that if he wasn't using his own Kekkei Genkai as a shield then she could have unleashed her full strength. "Motorfuctions, reflexes, judgment, both your abilities are weakening slowly, but surly. Now your finished!"
'Here he comes,' thought Sasuke, 'stay calm, focus, concentrate, see everything."
Haku come out of the mirror and attacked both Sasuke and Kitsune. Kitsune quickly jumped out of the way while Sasuke had already grabbed Naruto before he, too, out of the line of the needles.
'They saw every move, but there no way they could do that,' Haku thought as Sasuke put Naruto down panting before he looked up with crimson eyes.'Impossible. Those eyes; the Sharingan.' Haku looked at over at Kitsune who was glaring at him with her Kyoufugan activate and completed. 'That's the Kyoufugan and it's fully developed now. I better keep form looking into her eyes or I'm died.' "Your..."
'It's not complete, but I can see through his deception,' thought Sasuke.
'So they, too, have kekkei genkai,' Haku thought as he looked over them making sure that he didn't look Kitsune in the eyes. 'The unique bloodline trait passed down within a clan. Interesting. Even though it's not perfected like that girl's Kyoufugan, to uncover it during a lethal attack is an amazing feat, and because of that I won't be able to fight much longer. My jutsu uses a tremendous amount of charka and their swift movements also take energy there's no doubt that the more we fight the more he well use the Sharingan to pro-see my moves while the girl tries to get me to look into her eyes. Even now the boy's eyes are tracking me and the girl is trying to look into my eyes. I can't target them directly, they'll just block a frontal attack, so I have to throw them off guard...' Haku then turned his attention to Naruto. 'By attacking their partner then I'll destroy them!'
Kitsune let out a gasp as Haku come out of his mirror and went for Naruto who was down while Sasuke stood to the side before he ran forwarded to try to him.
"What?" Sasuke asked, 'I've got to stop him!'
Kitsune stared wide eyed at the scene that she had just witness in shock and close to tears.
"Sasuke" Kitsune whispered.
Naruto was able to regain conscious and the first thing he saw was Haku on the ground.
"You...always get in the way Naruto," Sasuke told him with difficulty, "it never fails."
"You beat him, Sasuke!" Naruto cheered before he saw Sasuke, "huh?"
Sasuke looked over his shoulder at his blond teammate, "you should see the look on your face. You...you look like a total loser."
"Why?" Naruto asked, "why did you...save me? Why did you do it?"
"I don't know why I just did," Sasuke answered as he looked forward, "you...I...hated you."
"Then why?" Naruto asked again, "it doesn't make any since." Naruto sat up. "Why did you...protect me?" Naruto stood up looking pissed. "I didn't for this! I didn't ask for you to save me!" "I don't know my body just moved," Sasuke told him, "there was no time to think." As Sasuke started to fall backwards Naruto moved to catch as Kitsune ran up to them, but of course Sasuke being Sasuke had to say some thing. "Loser."
"Sasuke!" both Kitsune and Naruto shouted out.
Naruto cought Sasuke before he hit the ground as Kitsune skidded on her knees on Sasuke's other side.
"He...he's still out there," Sasuke told Naruto as he left his hand up, "my Brother. I...promised myself...I'd stay alive...until I killed him. Naruto...don't let your...dream die."
"Sasuke," Kitsune whispered as Sasuke's hand fall and his eyes closed. "SASUKE!"
Kitsune scream was heard by her Sensei/father, teammate, and client making the three to flinch at the cry. The two Konoha Ninjas were unaware of Haku getting up as he watched the scene before him unfold. He watched as the young Hatake cuddled Sasuke's head as she wept over him while her blond teammate fought back his own tears, but deep inside of him some thing was stirring awake.
"He found...he found a strength he didn't realize he had," Haku stated in a whisper, "why? Because of cartian person who was precession to him. To save that person he rushed in knowing it was a trap. He was a true ninja worthy of honer." Haku stood up and turned to the side before he spoke more loudly. "Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle?" Haku looked back at them. "This is part of what it means to be a ninja."
Kitsune found it impossible to glare at Haku who had melted back into his mirror as she let 5 years of unshed tears fall from her eyes and onto to Sasuke's forehead protector while she cuddled his head closer to her after Naruto had laid his head in her lap, but that didn't mean that she wasn't unaware to Naruto who was right across from her.
"Shut up," Naruto told him, "I...I hated you, too, Sasuke and yet." Kitsune felt cought a faint sent of evil in the air as steam surrounded all three of them not knowing what to do or where it was coming from. "You'll pay for this." Kitsune's head shot up at hearing the demonic tone in Naruto's voice just as the steam turned into red chakra that was spiraling around them. "I'm going to kill you."
'The Kyuubi,' Kitsune thought as she moved to protect Sasuke.
"What is this Chakra?" Haku asked, "chakra can't been, but it's clearly visible. It's something ghastly. I can feel the blood lust like it's evil it's self." Kitsune and Haku stared in shock as the senbone where thrown out of the Naruto's body and his hands started to heal and change on it's own. "His hands are healing and changing. This boy...what is he?" Naruto's eyes turned a dark blood red color with blood lust in them as the whiskered markings on his face became pronounced. "The blood lust in his eyes...the is no longer a child!"
Kitsune watched as Naruto charged at Haku destroying a mirror before she throw herself over Sasuke again to protect his body from the sharp ice. It wasn't long after that Kitsune stopped paying attention to the fight. Kitsune was once again cuddling Sasuke's head in her lap as she let her tears fall which landed on his face and forehead protector as a sob escape her throat as she realized that after all theses years of knowing the young Uchiha she had come to develop a crush on him, however, it then that she realized that it wasn't just a simple crush, but love instead.
"I love you, Sasuke," Kitsune chocked out in a whisper, "I love you."
Kitsune didn't listen to what was going on much, but she did hear what was being side at that moment.
"Go on," Haku's voice rung out, "finish it. Kill me." Naruto took a step back looking unsure. "Why do you haste? I think you wanted to be a mighty warrior."
"That's not what it's about," Naruto yelled at him, "you really that that's all there is to it; fighting and killing till there's one man standing! There's a lot more to being a shinobi then that and there are other ways to showing your strength then beating some on in battle."
"I had a feeling all along," Haku told him, "From the first moment in the woods. We are a lot alike." Naruto looked at him confused. "I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm only sorry that it must be you hand that is tainted with my unworthy blood."
"You sure about this?" Naruto asked him, "and your positive that it's the only way?"
"Yes," Haku answered him.
"The weird thing is if we've meet in other time and place I think that maybe we could have been friends," Naruto stated before he pulled out a kunai while Kitsune was still sobbing over Sasuke as she continued to ignore what was going. "This is for Sasuke for he also had a dream!"
At this Kitsune's eyes snapped open as it hit like a tone of bricks.
'That's right,' thought Kitsune, 'Sasuke wanted to restore the Uchiha clan and kill his Brother for what he did.' Kitsune closed her eyes letting more tears fall. 'Maybe I can give him some peace by killing his elder Brother for him.'
Kitsune was so cought up in her thoughts that she didn't hear Haku tell Naruto that there was a slight change in plan or Naruto leaving to find or when Sakura and Tazuna showed up. It wasn't until Sakura touch Sasuke's cheek though his head was still in Kitsune's lap did they noticed anything.
"He's bodies cold," Sakura stated the obvious, "this isn't just one of his Genjutsu tricks is it Kitsune?"
"No Sakura it's not," Kitsune answered with a monotone.
"Go on," Tazuna told Sakura and Kitsune though from the looks of it she was already shedding tears. "You two don't need to be brave or anything on my account. Go ahead and let your feelings out Sakura, Kitsune. It's alright."
"We were the best," Sakura started to say as she stroke Sasuke's cheek, "acest ever test at the academy. The perfect students." Kitsune looked at Sakura having thought that the pink haired girl would talk about herself and not about the both of them. "Did you know there are more then 100 principle of Shinobi Conduct? Kitsune and I memorized ever single one. I don't know about Kitsune, but I use to love it when they tested us on them. It gave me a chance to show how smart I was. I remember so clearly this one exam They asked us to explain the 25th principle. We got it right of course." Sakura's shoulders started to shake as tears fall. "A Shinobi...never shows his feelings...no matter what the circumstances is...feelings are a weakness that only cloud his judgment...and weaken his since of duty." Sakura finally started to cry as she throw herself onto is chest. "Sasuke."
'To put such an unbearable burden on two young girls shoulders,' Tazuna thought, 'if that's the Shinobi way? You can have it.'
Kitsune looked away from Sakura and back at Sasuke as her tears continued to splash onto his head band before she closed her eyes to try and hold them back reminding herself that she is a Hatake and Masato. Sakura, Tazuna, and Kitsune, however, were unaware that Sasuke's heart had started to beat again as they shed tears for him.
'Where am I?' Sasuke thought, 'am I alive or...' Sasuke opened his eyes to see Kitsune's eyes closed as tears fall from her eyes and onto his face before he looked to the sound of another crying voice. 'Sakura, Kitsune? Can it be? It is.' "Sakura it's hard to breath with you on top of me."
Kitsune and Sakura looked at him to see Sasuke blinking at them as Kitsune whipped her eyes.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked before her eyes willed up again with tears. "Tazuna, he's alive, alive!"
Kitsune couldn't help the sweat drop that appeared on the back of her heads as she smiled nervously.
"Ow!" Sasuke shouted out, "Sakura that hurts!"
"Sasuke!" Sakura cheered, "Sasuke!" After about a few minutes of Sakura making a fool of herself, she let go of him and Sasuke went and sat up. "No. No what are you doing? You shouldn't move."
"For once I agree with pinky," Kitsune told him.
She stood up before she turned her attention to Gato though she toned his voice out.
"How's Naruto?" Sasuke asked Sakura as he looked at Kitsune, "and what happened to that guy in the mask?"
"Naruto's just fine, but the...the one in the mask...he's dead."
"Died?" Sasuke asked unwilling taking his eyes off of Kitsune and looked at Sakura. "But how? Did Naruto do it?"
"Oh, I...I came in late, so I'm not sure what happened," Sakura answered him making Kitsune to roll her eyes. "He was protecting Zabuza." Sakura clasped her hand together. "I had faith in you, Sasuke. I knew you pull through. Your to cool of a guy to stay down for long."
{Me: Yeah right Pink whore. Just keep telling yourself that and maybe we'll believe you.}
'He never meant to from the very beginning,' Sasuke thought as Sakura stood up.
"NARUTO!" Sakura yelled making Kitsune to clasp her hands over her ears and looked at Sakura with a look that could kill her if looks could kill. "OVER HERE!" Naruto flinched a bit, but still didn't turn around right away. "IT'S SASUKE!" This time Naruto turned around to see Sasuke standing up. "HE'S ALRIGHT! HE'S ALRIGHT!"
Sasuke raised a hand in greeting making tears come to Naruto's eyes before they were looking at the thugs thought Kitsune didn't hear them because she was still trying to get the ringing to stop as the thugs charged at them. After she was able to clear her hearing an arrow landed in front of the thugs making them stop in their tracks and all of them looked behind or ahead to see the entire village with Inari standing them there.
"There's one little thing you forgot about!" a Villager yelled, "before you sat one foot in our Village! You'll have to get through all us!"
"Inari!" Naruto shouted.
"Hero's usually show up at the last minute," Inari told them, "you know?"
"They all came," Tazuna said with happiness, "the whole village."
Kitsune looked at the thugs with a mix of Hatake and Masato smirk before she did a hand sign at the same time as Naruto.
"This is going to be fun," Kitsune said.
"I can't let you have all the fun," Naruto stated.
"Shadow Clan Jutsu!" they both shouted.
About 4 more Naruto's appeared next to him while over 100 Kitsune's appeared behind her all holding some kind of weapon or had their hands in a hand sign. The thugs stepped back afraid of what they where facing.
"I guess I have just enough Chakra to help you two out," Kakashi told them as he made the same hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu: Kakashi Style!"
{Me: Lol. I love that. Lmao.}
The thugs stepped back even more as about 100 Kakashi's appeared looking ready to fight.
"So do you still want to fight?" the Kakashi's all asked.
"No thanks," the thugs answered before ran for the boat and most jumped into the water.
"Victory!" Inari shouted with joy.
The rest of the villagers cheered as well as the clones of Naruto, Kitsune, and Kakashi vanished leaving the real ones standing there looking amused or in Naruto's case giddy.
A week later; Cliff!
It's been a week since the fight with Zabuza and Haku and all five of squad 7 stood in front of their graves that was on a cliff that over looked the village as the sun sat in the background. They bridge was finally finished thinks to the help of Naruto, Kitsune, and Sakura while Sasuke and Kakashi rested after the battle. Sakura was kneeling in front of Haku's grave prying before she looked up a the sun sat.
"Is that really it Kakashi-Sensei?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"Is that the ninja way?" she asked again as she looked at him, "to use and be used by people like tools?"
"Shinobi are all merely tools in the hands of destiny," Kakashi answered.
'When did he start hanging out with Neji?' Kitsune thought with a sweat drop.
"No point in wondering if it's right or wrong," Kakashi went on, "it just is. It's the same in the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
"Well, if you ask me if that what's bring a ninja is all about then some things out of wack," Naruto told then, "is that why we go through all this training to end up like them?"
"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke and Kitsune asked before they looked at each which resulted in them in looking away quickly with blushes.
"Well, it's a question without an answer," Kakashi answered, "that is some thing we ninja have to deal with everyday of our lives. Like Zabuza and the kid."
"Ok," Naruto said out of no where.
"Hmm?"
"I've just came to a discussion," Naruto told them, "from now on I'm finding my own ninja way. As that's straight and true and without any regrets. From now on I'm following the way of Naruto."
Kakashi smiled his one closed eye smile while Sasuke and Kitsune smirked at the blond though Sakura where looking at like he had grown an extra head.
The Next Day!
All five of the ninjas where standing in front of the villager, Inari, his mother, and Tazuna.
"We could have never finished the bridge without you," Tazuna told them, I can't tell you how mush we're going to miss you."
"Do be careful."
"Thank you for everything," Kakashi thanked.
"Now, now," Naruto told them, "don't get all chocked up. We'll come back and visit really soon."
"You swear you well?" Inari asked with tears in his eyes.
"Of course," Naruto answered as tears came to his eyes, "you know, Inari it's alright to cry if you want. There's nothing wrong with that. Go for it."
"Who said I wanted to cry?" Inari asked him, "and anyway if there's nothing wrong with it? You go on ahead and cry."
"No, you first," Naruto told him before he turned around, "forget it."
Kitsune and Sakura looked at Naruto like he was an idiot.
'Boys can be so prethic,' the two girls thought.
With waves all five of them started to walk away down the bridge towards the main land to head back to the village.
"As soon as we get back I'm going to let Iruka fix me up a while massy of roman to celebrate a mission accomplish," Naruto told them, "oh, and just wait till I tell Konohamaru about all of my adventure. The kids going to warship me."
"Hey," Sakura said out of no where.
"Yeah?" Naruto asked.
"No you, Naruto," Sakura told him, "Sasuke, when we get back do you want to go do some thing together?"
"I don't think so," Sasuke answered, "thanks."
"Oh, ok," Sakura said with her head bowed as she stopped walking.
"Sakura, I'll do some thing with you if want?" Naruto asked as he stopped and went back to her as the others kept walking.
"What?" Sakura asked, "Hey, that was a privet conversion! Bet it!"
Kitsune looked back to see Sakura throw Naruto making her sweat drop at the pink haired genin unaware of Sasuke looking at her.