"Back down now, and I won't have to kill you. It's the bridge builder we want."-Haku
The Demon of the Mist and His Icy Sword/The Crystal Ice Mirror Jutsu.
Kakashi and I spent the next few days recuperating, while Sakura watched over Tazuna and Naruto and Sasuke worked on their training. I was pretty much back to my normal self, physically, after a good night's rest. However, Kakashi still had a hard time getting around after those days passed. He had pushed himself over the limit and was paying for it, big time. But I think Naruto and Sasuke were enjoying the extra hours to themselves to try to perfect the art of channeling their chakra.
I was about ready to go at this point. This mission had exhausted me and I had to admit that I was all set and ready to go back to the Leaf Village. But as tired and in need of some serious down-time as I felt, I was worried about Zabuza. I knew with each passing day that it was only a matter of time until he struck again. Estimating that it might take him about the amount of time to recover as it took Kakashi, I actually grew more and more stressed as Kakashi grew stronger.
He'll have that boy with him...
Which meant we'd be dealing with not only one formidable opponent, but two. And Naruto and Sasuke were completely wearing themselves out with training. If we made it out of this alive, I would be sincerely impressed.
Then again, I've made it this far.
As we got to know Tazuna's family a little better, we all came to realize just how disturbing their situation was, and just how horrible of a person Gato was. Inari's stepfather had apparently been an admirable guy, always risking his own life to save others. And he was killed while trying to stop Gato from taking control of the Land of Waves. Tazuna told us the entire story, and in the process I understood why Inari had such a bitter attitude. He had lost someone he loved, because that person tried to do good for others. My heart ached for his loss and all the pain he had been exposed to.
"It's unfortunate," I whispered to Kakashi that same night while we were alone, "That he had to be exposed to so much misery so young."
Kakashi sighed remorsefully. "That's the way this world is. No child gets to experience the luxury of innocence for very long."
"True," I replied, casting him a dry smile. "But then again, you'd also need to have some wisdom and willpower to rise above the bitterness, wouldn't you?"
Whether he couldn't come up with an answer or simply chose against it, I didn't know. But based on the absent expression that came over him, I knew he was deep in thought. What I wouldn't have given to be able to figure out what was going on inside that silver head of his.
Then, Kakashi looked at me and asked a question that I wasn't remotely expecting. "Kanata, why are you still here?"
I smiled awkwardly, turning half way in the other direction. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you could be long gone by now. I wouldn't have been able to stop you in my condition. So why didn't you take your opportunity and go?"
His gaze was cold but penetrating. I could tell that he was looking for an answer in my eyes, almost as if he was expecting not to believe the reason I gave him straight-up. So I held eye contact with him perfectly and replied, "You needed me. They needed me. I wasn't about to turn my back on that responsibility."
And yet, as soon as I said those words, I regretted them. Hadn't we already established that I turned my back on that responsibility years ago? Why would this time be any different? He didn't have anything else to say to me, and all I could do was look away.
The next day, Naruto blew up at Inari at the dinner table.
Inari was basically going, heroes don't exist this, and we're all going to die that... and Naruto had to go all spazzy on him. Granted, the kid did tell Naruto that he didn't know what it was like to be treated like trash and pushed around. That was a bit of a sensitive subject for Naruto.
"Quit whining and complaining like a sorry little victim!" Naruto snapped. "You can whimper and cry all day... but you're nothing but a coward!" Then, although Sakura scolded him, he stood up and left the table.
Directly after, Inari left to go sit outside and cry.
My strong appetite from just a moment ago vanished, and heaviness weighed on my shoulders.
Briefly before leaving the table, I made eye contact with Kakashi. It wasn't long after that that the Jounin stood up from his seat and followed the broken Inari outside.
I didn't suppose I'd ever know what was said between them, but I did hope that it made a difference.
Because Naruto and Sasuke had finished their training and made it all the way to the top of the trees, we all set out in the morning to watch over Tazuna as he finished his bridge. We ended up leaving Naruto behind though, because he was still sleeping after exerting so much energy the day before.
Kakashi told Tsunami, "Take care of Naruto. He really wore himself out yesterday, so I'll be surprised if he's actually able to get around much at all today."
In response, Tsunami agreed, but she then expressed her concern for Kakashi's own health. "Will you be all right?"
Kakashi laughed it off. "Why, do I still look weak? I'll be fine."
"I'll see to it that he doesn't hurt himself," I told her, earning a sheepish grin from Kakashi. Then we started on our walk to Tazuna's bridge.
It wasn't very long. The Land of Waves was so tiny that it never took much time for people to get from one place to another on foot. It was a bright and sunny day, and everything seemed quite at peace in the world until we reached the bridge.
What we found when we arrived were workers, men who were supposed to be helping Tazuna build the bridge. But, as opposed to what one would have expected, the workers were not actually working. Instead, they were all sprawled out on the ground, many of them lying in pools of blood, moaning in pain. I fought the urge to grimace as I watched a few of them try to stand.
Tazuna let out a gasp of horror. "What happened? Someone's been here!"
I glanced around suspiciously, searching for our potential threat, who I was certain had to be none other than Zabuza. Already, I could feel the heaviness in the air that signaled danger was upon us. The mist gathered suddenly, blocking our sight from most of our surroundings. I moved closer to Kakashi and the students so that I wouldn't lose them. Kakashi motioned for the kids to prepare themselves. We were on the verge of round two. And this time, someone was going to die. There was no doubt.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting..." Zabuza's voice penetrated the silence within the heavy mist. "I see those brats are still with you... and that one's still trembling. Pathetic."
I heard Sasuke take a deep breath of air. And he spoke in a menacing voice of such that I've rarely heard escape any child's lips, causing my spine to tingle. "I'm trembling… with excitement." And when Kakashi gave the word, Sasuke pulled out his kunai and lunged at Zabuza. More specifically, all of the Zabuzas that surrounded us. He destroyed each of the water clones with ease, and stepped back into place, grinning like an evil little mastermind.
He really is kind of a creepy kid.
The mist thinned out just a tiny bit, and I was able to make out the figures of the real Zabuza and his little sidekick in the distance. The boy with the Anbu mask. It was him, after all. He had deceived us all.
"So, it's true," Kakashi said with a bit of bite in his tone. "It was all an act."
"So all that about this kid being a tracker ninja was just a big lie," Tazuna hissed.
"They look pretty friendly to me," Kakashi said. "I'll bet they've been pulling schemes like this for some time."
"He's got some nerve," Sakura said in a petty voice. "Pulling a trick like that and still showing himself here."
"And hiding behind a mask..." Kakashi murmured. "Who does he think he's fooling?"
"Yeah, you should speak for yourself, Sensei," Sakura replied.
I held back the urge to snicker. Good one.
"Heh," Sasuke said haughtily. "I'm taking him out. Hiding behind that mask of his. Who does he think he's fooling?"
Sakura clasped her hands. "Oh, Sasuke, you're so cool!"
The look on Kakashi's face in response to Sakura's fangirl moment was priceless. "I just said that." He glanced at me. "Did I not just say that?"
"Easy, big guy," I murmured.
I tensed as Zabuza's pawn moved toward us. He made several steps forward, but made no sign that he was going to attack. Not yet, at least. I could tell he was studying all of us without even having to see his eyes. Sasuke prepared himself with his kunai. However...
"Kanata, is it?" Haku asked. I wouldn't have realized he was looking directly at me had he not used my name.
I squinted in an effort to see the young boy more clearly. "Haku," I greeted coldly.
"It's been quite some time now," he said. "I was rather hoping that we wouldn't cross paths like this again."
"Small world, I suppose," I replied.
"Unfortunately, this time I won't be so gracious. Back down now, and I won't have to kill you. It's the bridge builder we want."
He was speaking to me like there was no way he could possible lose. What an arrogant little bastard. What was it with children and their attitudes these days?
I shook my head. "Your words are wasted. If you want the bridge builder, come and get him."
Haku was silent for several seconds, but then I heard his soft voice. "I see..."
His speed was blinding, as unmatchable as Kakashi's. I could barely follow his movements before he came to a stop and clashed with Sasuke's kunai. "Stand down," Haku said. "You cannot keep up with me. And I've already gained two advantages."
Sasuke growled. "Oh, really? And they are?"
"Well... Number one, we're completely surrounded by water. And number two... I've blocked one of your arms. Therefore, you now have only one hand with which to defend yourself." Immediately, he began performing hand signs with just his left hand. Even I was surprised. To be able channel chakra using only one hand was not a common ability.
It was already clear to me that Haku was an extremely dangerous adversary. And unlike with Zabuza, I didn't know anything about Haku's strengths and weaknesses.
"One thousand needles of death," Haku chanted calmly.
I clenched my teeth. There was no time for any of us to rush in and save Sasuke. He was on his own, and as the needles came raining down, Haku bounded away with lightning speed, coming to a halt several feet away. Sasuke evaded the attack, just barely. And he looked more graceful and agile as he ever had when darted behind Haku, gaining the next advantage. Both of them were quick, but somehow, Sasuke ended up on the offensive and landed a blow on his opponent. Haku went flying, and smacked against the ground with a loud thud.
"Well..." Kakashi said to Zabuza in somewhat of a proud tone. "I suppose it was a bit of a mistake on your part to underestimate the abilities of these kids. Sasuke is the best young fighter on our squad. Sakura is our sharpest mind, and of course... Naruto is our Number One Hyperactive Knuckle-headed Ninja."
He does love bragging about them, doesn't he?
Haku stood, clearly frustrated at this point, and chakra began to emanate from his presence. I tensed. Chakra only became visible like that when an extremely powerful jutsu was about to take place. Holding his fingers up in front of his mask, he said, "Secret jutsu... Crystal ice mirrors!"
On that queue, several huge, smooth, mirror-like blocks of ice protruded from the ground in a massive circle. They surrounded Sasuke, barring entrance from us, and exit from him.
"What is that?" Kakashi asked.
"I have no idea," I whispered. Ice. I only ever in my life met one other ninja who used Ice Release type jutsu. I had thought ice was an element specific only to my Kekkei Genkai. I had never seen a particular jutsu like this performed in my lifetime. Even if he used Ice Release, it was obvious that his abilities greatly differed from mine. But I wondered for a moment—if this kid could perform Ice Release Jutsu, would my Sub-zero even affect him? I was curious.
"I'm getting him out," Kakashi said, moving ahead.
"Kakashi, wait-" I began.
But I was interrupted by Zabuza, who was suddenly standing directly in Kakashi's path. "I don't think so. If you enter this battle, it's with me. Your boy doesn't stand a chance against Haku's Crystal Ice Mirrors."
Within the circle of ice mirrors, Haku attacked Sasuke with his needles. This time, there was no escape, no way for Sasuke to get on the offensive. He would be pelted to death by razor-sharp blades if no one stepped in. If Kakashi couldn't get past Zabuza, I had no choice. I somersaulted past Zabuza and I made a run for it.
My sudden movement surprised Zabuza, and he glared at me. "Don't you dare!"
When I ignored him, he reached for me, but Kakashi halted him with a kunai to his throat. "It doesn't pay to have more than one opponent, does it?" I heard Kakashi say.
I didn't stop... at least, not until I was nearly at the opening in between two ice mirrors. I was all ready to rush over and help Sasuke defeat this kid. I knew it would be dangerous to enter without a plan, but I needed to be of assistance, somehow. Kakashi was busy with Zabuza, and Sakura wasn't strong enough to go up against Haku. In the short few seconds I had, I tried to work out a strategy in my head. But then something struck Haku. It may have been a needle, or a couple needles for that matter. It was hard to differentiate little details in the mist. Nevertheless, Haku violently hit the ground.
And it was then that the Leaf Village's very own Number One Hyperactive Knuckle-headed ninja appeared.