[Chapter 13: The Weapons Known as Shinobi!]
Recap!
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 echoed through out the bridge and reached Akiza's ears as hers and Luna's fight reached the edge of Haku's Ice Mirrors before Luna kicked her inside breaking on the of the mirrors as Haku 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!'
QS-Akiza stared wide eyed at the scene that she had just witness unaware that she was no longer in a blood frenzy and much to Dyou's relief though at that moment the 10 Tails wished for her be on a blood crazied frenzy again instead of in shock and close to tears.
"Sasuke" Akiza 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 Akiza ran up to them, but of course Sasuke being Sasuke had to say some thing. "Loser."
"Sasuke!" both Layla and Naruto shouted out.
Naruto cought Sasuke before he hit the ground as Akiza skidded on her knees on Sasuke's other side.
"He...he's still out there," Sasuke told Naruto, "my Brother. I promised myself, I'd stay alive until I killed him. Naruto don't let your dream die."
"Sasuke," Akiza whispered as Naruto laid Sasuke's head in her lap.
Sasuke turned his head to look at her only to see tears filling her silvery onyx eyes and running down her face.
"Akiza," Sasuke chocked out, "I know that you hate me, but I want you to know that I...that I'm in love with you."
Akiza chocked back a sob as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"I don't hate you, Sasuke," Akiza whispered, "I hate what that man made you become." Sasuke blinked up at her as his life slipped away. "But I never hated you, Duck butt."
"I'm glad to..."
Akiza stared in horror as Sasuke eyes closed just as his breathing stopped.
"Sasuke?" Akiza asked in a whisper, but Sasuke just laid there not making a sound or breaking making Akiza to start sobbing quietly to herself. "SASUKE!"
Akiza sobbed harder making Naruto to look away from her having never known her to cry. The two Konoha Ninjas were unaware of Haku getting up as he watched the scene before him unfold. He watched as the young female Uchiha 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."
Akiza 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, 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." Akiza 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." Akiza'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."
'Dyou, what's going on?' Akiza thought.
"It's the Kyuubi child," Dyou answered her, "his chakra is leaking out of the seal that holds him, however, he won't hurt you, but I'm not sure about that Haku kid though."
"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." Akiza 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!"
'I think I might have to agree with him,' Akiza thought as she used her body to shield Sasuke.
"Oh please," Dyou said as she rolled her eyes, "that boy hasn't seen blood lust until he seen you when your blood crazied child."
Akiza 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 Akiza stopped paying attention to the fight, to Dyou who was telling her to pay attention to for signs of an Atk, and to what was going on around her not caring if she was striked down where she was covering Sasuke's body till she was sure that no more bits of sharp ice where flying every where. All that matter to Akiza at this moment of time was the fact that Sasuke was died and there wasn't anything she could do about it and even though she didn't want to say it out loud or to herself thinking that it was a weakness that shouldn't been known or showed. Akiza Uchiha the last female and now the only Uchiha was and is in love with Sasuke Uchiha even though she hated his attitude and the hated the fact that she was and is in love with him, however, she did not hate him. Akiza 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.
"I love you, Sasuke," Akiza chocked out in a whisper, "I love you."
Luna stood off to the side watching the second child prodigy of the Uchiha Clan cry over her follow Uchiha Clan member not bothering to try and finish their fight knowing that Akiza would not fight back and would let Luna kill her, but Luna knew that she couldn't do that in fear of killing Dyou as well and/or making the 10 Tail pissed off. Akiza continued to sob over Sasuke paying the world around her no attention what so ever for she already felt died inside having lost her parents, elder Sister, and her entire clan to one man, however, she was able to move on knowing that she still had Sasuke even though he turned into a jerk after the massacre, but now she lost him, too. As Luna watched she felt the guilt of knowing that Haku who was like a Brother to her was the cause of the dark haired girl's sorrow and she felt sorry for her as she listened to the cries of a broken heart. Both of the girls could hear talking going on between Naruto and Haku, but Luna didn't pay attention and neither did Akiza though didn't mean that she didn't hear them.
"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.
Akiza was still sobbing over Sasuke as she continued to ignore what was going only Dyou seem to be focusing on something and that all revolved around Akiza and her state of mind though 10 Tails could not blame the girl for not caring about anything now that she lost the last person in her life that helped her to move on after the Uchiha Clan Massacre even though the boy never tried to talk to her or even looked at her if he wasn't required to, but the knowledge that he was still alive still kept Akiza focus on what was going on her and gave her a reason to kept on living and known Dyou feared for the worst.
"This is for Sasuke for he also had a dream!" Naruto's voice rung out.
Akiza's head shot up at that making Dyou confused on what was going on through the young Uchiha's mind though she was afraid to find out.
"Child what seems to be the matter?" Dyou asked her young host.
'I've just realized something,' Akiza thought back to Dyou and the demon heard the monotone that just her thoughts held. 'Sasuke wanted revenge on Itachi for what he did and before I join him I'll take Itachi down first.' Dyou couldn't stop the gasp that came from her. 'I well get revenge for the Clan and Sasuke's soul can rest in peace.'
"Are you sure Child?" Dyou asked, "your strong and there's no denying it and you have me, but Itachi has a whole group of Ninjas to protect him or help him in killing you."
'Yes I am aware of this Dyou, but you must understand,' Akiza thought as a sob came from her lips, 'Sasuke was the only person that was keeping me from doing anything stupid even if he, himself was unaware of that fact. I owe him this and if I can take Itachi down then I don't care about what well happen afterward.'
Akiza and Dyou where so cought up in their conversation that they 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 Akiza'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 Akiza?"
"No Sakura it's not," Akiza answered with a monotone.
"Go on," Tazuna told Sakura and Akiza 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, Akiza. 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." Akiza looked at Sakura having thought Sakura would talk about herself and not about the both of them. "Did you know there are more then 100 principle of Shinobi Conduct? Akiza and I memorized ever single one. I don't know about Akiza, 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.'
Akiza looked away from Sakura and back at Sasuke as her tears splash onto his head band before she closed her eyes to try and hold them back reminding herself that she was and is an Uchiha. Dyou let out a sigh at her young host's thoughts about fwhat she's feeling is makes her a weakling and that she needed to pull herself together. Sakura, Tazuna, and Akiza 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 Akiza's eyes closed as tears fall from her eyes and onto his face before he looked to the sound of another crying voice. 'Sakura, Akiza? Can it be? It is.' "Sakura it's hard to breath with you on top of me."
Akiza and Sakura looked at him to see Sasuke blinking at them as Akiza whipped her eyes making Dyou laughed with joy and started to tease Akiza about her crush.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked before her eyes willed up again with tears. "Tazuna, he's alive, alive!"
Akiza and Luna couldn't help the sweat drops that appeared on the back of their heads as they 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," Akiza told him.
She stood up and looked at Luna who looked back at her with a confused look her face before they turned their attention to Gato though they toned his voice out.
"How's Naruto?" Sasuke asked Sakura as he looked at Akiza, "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 Akiza 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 Akiza 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 Luna and Akiza clasped their hands over their 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 Akiza 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."
Akiza looked at the thugs with an Uchiha smirk before she did a hand sign at the same time as Naruto.
"This is going to be fun," Akiza 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 Akiza'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, Akiza, and Kakashi vanished leaving the real ones standing there looking amused or in Naruto's case giddy. Akiza walked up to Luna who looked at her with sad eyes that held confusion in them though Akiza felt the need to smile she didn't, but she did placed a hand on Luna's head confusing the young girl even more. It wasn't long till they noticed that it was snowing and heard some of the villager talk about how it's not suppose to snow that time of year and it wasn't long till Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi joined Akiza looking at her.
"So what are we going to do about this girl?" Naruto asked as he looked Kakashi.
"She'll be coming to the Leaf Village with us," Akiza answered them instead.
"Are you insane?" Kakashi asked, "she tried to kill us."
Akiza took a hold of Luna's shoulders and moved her in front of the young Uchiha to face Kakashi.
"Does this look like a face of a killer to you, Kakashi?" Akiza asked in her monotone.
Kakashi looked at Luna and sweat dropped at the confused look on the young girl's face and felt the need to hug her.
"Alright she can come back with us," Kakashi said giving in.
"WHAT!" the other three Genin yelled in shock.
"Kakashi-Sensei..." Naruto started before Akiza turned Luna to him making him stop talking at once to which he raised his hands in the air. "I give."
"Naruto, Kakashi-Sensei?" Sakura asked and when she saw Luna's confused look she squealed before glumping the poor girl. "KAWII!"
"What is wrong with you four?" Sasuke asked.
Akiza saved the young girl from Sakura before she made Luna look at Sasuke who felt his eye twitched to keep from giving in to the young girl's cute confused look.
"I know you want to give in Sasuke," Akiza told him, "I can see your eye twitching."
Sasuke knew that he was out voted because it was 4 against 1 and much to his annoyances so he gave in, too.
A week later; Cliff!
It's been a week since the fight with Zabuza and Haku and all five of squad 7 and Luna 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, Akiza, Luna, 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?' Akiza 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 Akiza 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 Akiza smirked at the blond though Luna and Sakura where looking at like he had grown an extra head.
The Next Day!
All six 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."
Akiza, Luna, and Sakura looked at Naruto like he was an idiot.
'Boys can be so prethic,' all three girls thought.
With waves all six 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.
"Not 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!"
Akiza looked back to see Sakura throw Naruto making her sweat drop at the pink haired genin unaware of Sasuke looking at her.