Breaking Limits
I'm pissed.
When I'm angry, I angry type. I still don't know if that's a good thing.
Now beginning the chapter on Saturday night. You'll be reading this, exactly one week from now. I best get started.
You should note that there's a scene that you may or may not like, but honestly, I had always intended for it to happen in Wave. It matters here and now, than anywhere else. No spoilers.
Also, I 'did' several things in which I eliminated certain things; things like the need for scene breaks but instead just voiced what was happening elsewhere at the same time by using a bold font and marking them out with asterisks.
Disclaimer: *Sighs deeply*. I don't own Naruto. With that done, its time to go commit arson before I lose what composition I have left.
2 x 13 =…
As he walked up the stairs, the battle started replaying in his mind. The moment had fled from him and now the present held no distractions for him. The memories of all he ever had was now currently at the front of his mind again. Whether that truly was a curse or a blessing was once again yet to be determined but now, Naruto was sure that he himself did not know.
'I don't know if I prefer to have instant recalling memory, or mass knowledge and experience, or to just have low key memory, little knowledge and experience in low amount.'
"Haku." Naruto muttered.
He made it to the room where they (the ninja) slept in and entered. Without further ado, he created five shadow clones that stood at each of the four corners of the room and one just to his right to guard him.
'Watch over me.' He requested mentally. 'Don't let anyone in this room. No exceptions. Clear?'
'Hai.' (x5)
"Alright." The original Uzumaki sighed.
He settled down in a lotus meditating position and formed the bird handseal. Any and all handseals were unnecessary, but his thoughts and memories kept plaguing him.
"Haku." He sighed deeply, recalling the girl he met in the woods.
The clone to his right nodded. "I got your memories too, boss. That Zabuza guy called her name at least two times. She must be that hunter ninja-looking person."
Naruto looked to the clone and sighed. "Think she was trying to wheedle me for information?"
"Uh huh."
"Damn it! She must've been a terrific actor. Either that, or I must be really gullible. I didn't even ask as many questions as the offhanded ones she did that required details."
"Ain't your fault." The clone answered in an effort to console him.
"And what if it is? What if the information she might've got made us look so intimidating that they decided that they can't fight us in a fair fight?"
"When have you tried to fight a fair fight?"
Naruto gave a wry grin. "True. Time to call the cavalry."
He allowed focus to take full effect as he closed his eyes, letting it pull him into the mindscape. After what felt like a minute, he reopened his eyes to find himself seated under the tree that was the focal point of said mindscape. Looking around quickly with the aid of peripherals, he saw that the great and massive Kyuubi no Kitsune was sitting on his rear with his 'hands' resting on his 'thighs'. His eyes were closed.
Getting up himself, Naruto then turned fully to look up towards the Fox. He had never seen Kurama like this before. 'Perhaps this is how his presence leaves me to be in my brothers' minds. But how do I get him to wake up? To come back here?'
About a minute of deliberations, he came up with the perfect solution.
"Suiton: Mizu Kasukēdo!" (Water release: Water Cascade)
He sent the C ranked jutsu upwards into Kurama's face. Normally, this wouldn't have fazed the demon, but the water fell unto his snout and dripped just inside it, just as he was inhaling through his nose.
*Cough* *Choke* "Gh! Gah! Wha was zat!" *Choke*
"Mornin' Kurama!"
"WHAT! WHAT'RE YOU DOING?!"
Naruto sweat-dropped. "O…k…Definitely not a morning person."
Kurama ran his forearm over his snout in an effort to get rid of the water. "Cut the crap. What do you want?"
The Uzumaki groaned. "I'm in trouble."
"That's nothing new."
"My team and my family in Wave are going to die within three days."
The Fox's eyes widened before he laid down flat to have his eyes on the same level as his containers. "You're joking. Now what really happened?"
"I'm not joking!" Naruto yelled adamantly. "Is the seal in here real time? I need a connection to my brothers. We're too far and I need everyone brought up to speed. Time's wasting! Please?!"
"Yeah. It's real time right now. Time in here and outside your head is synced. Anyway, gimme a minute. I'm just gonna tell everyone to come here."
Kurama closed his eyes while the blond waited. After about two or three minutes, he saw his brothers appear in the mindscape like (sudden) blinks and he smiled a little as he saw that they were all in uniform. "Damn we look good."
Narkaze grinned. "Good to see me too."
Naruto smiled as well, before it fell into a frown. "Alright! Everyone, if I may have your attention please! I've got some news. None of it is pleasant…"
=X=X=
"That bug user is as good as dead." Gozu stated matter-of-factly.
Haku barely turned her head to look over to him. "How come?"
Meizu and Gozu continued staring at the house's direction with Zabuza. "Poison. He tried to step backwards from my gauntleted strike but I'm positive that he still got injured from it. There was blood on it."
None could tell Zabuza's emotion from his bandaged face. "Maybe that's for the best. As he slowly dies in front of them, it'll emphasize the futility of all of their actions."
Haku decided to speak up. "But were it not for me listening at the house and overhearing the plan, the family would have at least gotten away. We only had time enough to put up that fence at the south end of the house."
"That's true." The swordsman admitted. "That brat has a good repertoire of jutsu. For Kami's sake, Haku, you nearly got caught in his fucking clone Daibakuha."
"You also yelled my name thrice in total. Now Naruto knows that I'm the one who betrayed him."
Zabuza leveled a stare at his subordinate. "Were you ever on his side?"
"I'm not on Gato's." The girl replied, wisely dodging the question. "This man is…poisoning this land. Couldn't we have found a better job elsewhere?"
"This one's easy." Gozu and Meizu answered simultaneously.
"Is that why we're reduced to just keeping them in their house to let them die of starvation and thirst?"
"Doesn't matter." Momochi growled. "Besides, it's paying for the rebellion. You know that."
"I know." Haku defended. "We could have been more merciful and at the very least give them a quicker death."
"You're talking shit. This is the way of shinobi. To get the job done at any cost, no matter the tactics or weapons of attack. You saw his fire jutsu, and his goddamn exploding clones. Do you think he's going to show mercy to you should he ever get out of that house?"
"N…no."
"Exactly. Meizu, Gozu, go over there and listen to see if they're planning any hair-brained schemes to escape. Haku, since you're still nursing some burns from the brat's fire jutsu, you can go buy some food while patching yourself up at the same time. Hurry back. I'm going to catch a few minutes of sleep."
…
…
…
It had been half an hour since the brothers reported that they were hearing nothing important. They had peered in through certain knot-holes and listened at walls but all they could pick up was the Aburame was going but not yet out, Tazuna was out cold and the last three females holding a vigil over the two unconscious males. They hadn't dared to stand on the rooftop like Haku who was far more proficient at making no noise on all surfaces so they assumed that the jinchuriki was there; they hadn't seen or heard anything of him on the ground floor.
Haku returned with the food and woke up her master upon arriving. She beckoned to all of them and gave each of them their share of the food. The brothers then took to sleep while Zabuza and Haku still watched the house.
Over time since the start, each took turns holding up the mist that surrounded the house. They held it up in pairs and in this way, it was far less chakra intensive. It was actually far less thicker in the nights for in the darker times, it was less necessary. Thicker as in depth; it was still impenetrable to stare through for even a Hyuuga using their Byakugan. It just didn't extend as far from the house. The logic applied to the fact that one couldn't see through a wall, no matter how thick it was. You couldn't see through a one-foot thick wall, in the same way you couldn't stare through one that was thirty feet thick.
It was all about perspective.
"Alright Haku. Your turn to listen at the house."
The ice user nodded before donning her mask, lest her face give away her intentions. Knowing that Zabuza would probably note her activity, she took an hour around the ground floor of the house, before she took to the roof. Zabuza might excel at hearing, but he couldn't hear what the mind thought. That, she alone was privy to.
Treading silently at the roof, she stopped at the hole that the people inside had made. The first day this was made by Naruto, it had created a measure of excitement with her cohorts. In the days following, it had become something for her and Zabuza to exploit. In fact, it had been a topic to argue that they could just let poison through the hole for them to catch, seeing that they would ingest it with the rain water. Luckily, Gato had used his veto power to shut the idea down, saying that he was content to let them die slowly.
She peered in through the hole and was content that no one in the house was there to see what she was doing. The sound would be audible and she was sure she could escape if they came running to investigate.
Deep down, she wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing.
On one hand, it could save a life.
On the other hand, it would prolong a life's suffering.
She silently prayed for a way for all conflict to be resolved with the least casualties. With that done, she unsealed a plastic bag with yet-to-be known contents, and dropped it inside.
=X=X=
"Well…Fuck." Nartai muttered. The taijutsu clone stood up in the mindscape and stretched.
"'Fucked', is more like it." 'Doc' said. "I might be able to do something about the poison, but you need to find out from his symptoms so I can know what kind or rather, type it is. I'm not a miracle worker."
"Well, we sure as hell can't let Konoha in on this. They'll think you were all crazy, then tear you to pieces. Worst case scenario, I get suspended again, interrogated, and that's if I live through this mess." Naruto shrugged. "I can only rely on you guys to bail us out."
"But we can die!" Narkaze argued. "We're flesh and blood too! And we won't be able to get back our mentality and consciousness even if you get them. We would be born again, with no idea of who we once were!"
"Risk is always present in the world of Shinobi." The assassination clone said wisely and lowly. "Besides, we with our youki are more resistant to damage. And if our creator dies, its safe to say we perish as well."
"Even so, we can't all go," He continued. "Many of us are abroad in far locations to train while Kurama has been guiding and advising our training in different places. At the most, three of us are needed, and two of us are closest to your location."
Naruto groaned. "Shino's life is on the line…"
"I wouldn't have forgiven him that easily." Narkira muttered. "In any case, who shall, and can be able to go in the required time frame?"
Slowly, the assassination clone himself raised his hand. Over the course of a minute, four more hands joined his in the air. It was that of Narishi, the clone who was the medic. Narshokku, the clone that specialized in Raiton. Narsensa who was obviously the team's pioneer in sensoring, and Narburei who was qualified in interrogation and torture.
Naruto smiled a bit. "Thanks bros."
"Of course." Narburei replied. "When this is all over, I'll have logged some important research information about the intricacies of the delicate art of torture."
"Oh." Naruto grinned/smirked. "Gato."
"Hai."
Kurama who looked on at his container and his clones decided to voice his concerns. "Well, if and when you get involved, your genin whole team, maybe even your family will catch on to your brothers. While you do not share the same chakra, given the unique mixture of yin and yang, chakra itself and youki, even the Hyuuga might see that it resembles too much. Also, Kurenai might outright figure out that they are your clones by your clothing, voice, and such."
"Simple. She might realize it, but she'll have no proof. She knows a lot, but nothing that'll hurt me, and nothing I can't deny. But in any case, I'm tired of having to pretend. I'm tired of lying. When this is all over, our enemies shall come to fear the Tenacious THIRTEEN!" Naruto shouted.
"YEAH" (x12)
"We'll don the masks the whole time." Narishi stated. "Perhaps wearing shades over our eyes to hide the iris colour. Using the hood as well, we'll be completely incognito. Maybe using code names."
"Damn. Now I wish I did go." Narkaze muttered. "That'd look cool."
"Too bad." Naruso said with a chuckle. "Anyway, y'all listen up. I got a plan… It involves kicking a lot of ass. That's all I can do, since I can't make it."
"Now…I'm interested." Kurama said with a toothy smirk.
...
…
…
"And that's it?"
"It'll work."
"Anyone else have any ideas?" Naruto asked.
There was none that answered him.
"Well. Kick-ass, yes." Naruto admitted. "Incredibly reckless…dangerous…exposing…chances of survival less than double-digits…"
"Uh…yeah! For the ninjas outside!" Naruso said with a determined grin.
The original Uzumaki sighed. "Fine. Now each of you who are coming needs a codename. Pick something slightly obvious but leave out the first syllable. I'm sure you know why."
"You guys can still call me 'Doc'." Narishi admitted. "I've grown fond of it."
"Volt? Blackout? Overcharge?" Narshokku wondered which would be the best option. "Surge, maybe?"
"Surge." Narsensa said quickly. "I guess my name can be 'Farsight'."
There were nods all around. "Now we need one for the troubled one and me." Narkira mused.
"Hey! I'm not troubled! Aw, to hell with it. Call me Psychosis."
"'Believing things that are not true'? What the hell?" Naruto muttered.
"It's my name. Not yours." Narburei bit back. "Narkira, just tell him yours so we can get moving."
"Fate."
"…" (X12)
"You know what, Narkira? I think you're my new favorite." The Kyuubi snickered.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Kurama, do I have to come into the seal all the time to talk to the others?"
The Kitsune stopped laughing. "No. At the distance you are between each other in a group like this, I believe it's necessary. For individual messages, I could relay them; per say, one to another, and another to one."
"I see. Thanks for meeting everyone."
One by one, he watched all of them leave the mindscape except for Narburei. He walked over to his creator before speaking to him independently.
"I'm the closest to you. Currently, I'm in Konoha."
"WHAT?!"
"Calm down. I'm in a physical disguise. I just stopped by there to go to the library. I also replenished your library clones, thank you very much."
"Oh. Um. That's fine." Naruto admitted. "But why say it to me?"
"I have a lot of time to meet up with the others at the rendezvous for the attack. Don't you want me to pick up something for you? Food? Drink perhaps? You all did say that you were holed up in a house without those kinds of things. I got a gold seal on me."
"That'd be great. Arigatou."
"Just tell me what everyone wants. Kurama will tell me!" With that said, the torture clone left the mindscape. Shaking his head, Naruto left the mindscape as well, leaving the Kyuubi on his own. Said Fox just went back to waiting for the next time his container needed him.
=X=X=
He came back to existing reality with a deep gasp. Looking around sharply, he saw his clones still guarding him with rapt attention. "Thanks guys."
"No problem." Four of them dispersed, but the one beside him didn't dismiss himself just yet.
"I want to talk to you about-":
The Uzumaki frowned. "I got the memories from the others. Let's go check out what made that thumping noise about an hour ago." He stood up and walked silently to the door and withdrew his tanto. The clone did likewise and went through the door as Naruto opened it. Looking to both sides, he told his boss that something in a plastic bag was at the end of the hallway below where they had made the hole in the roof. The hole that was twelve inches in diameter was very accommodating, but the bag was still unwelcome. From all appearances, it must have come in from outside.
They both stalked up to it, ready to run if needs be. 'What is it?' Naruto wondered.
'Don't know.' The clone knelt down and picked it up. Feeling the bag, he frowned before opening it and took out…
"Oranges?" Naruto whispered in astonishment.
"Yeah." The clone agreed. "And there's some kind of note in here."
"Explosive?"
"Nah. It just says the word 'METALLIC'. And it has the letter 'H' below that. Like some kinda signature."
"What in the world? Any idea what this is about? What if the oranges are poisoned?"
The clone observed the fruit carefully. "No bruising, piercing, holes, funny smells…" It cut an orange in half with his tanto before sampling a small part. "Tastes safe. Still wonder what the note's all about? Think it's from Haku?"
Naruto shrugged and dismissed the clone. Seeing orange seeds that fell to the ground from the dispersed clone, he shook his head before going downstairs with the bag of oranges, still puzzling over the note. As he reached the foot of the stairs, the others looked up to him.
"Get any divine knowledge up there, Naruto?" Kurenai asked sarcastically.
Naruto chortled. "Nope. Hinata-chan, how long was I up there?"
"Around two hours." The girl replied.
"That's alright. How's Shino?"
"He's feverish. And he has complaints."
The Uzumaki snapped his fingers. "Actually, sensei, I've got some news. It's divine."
Everyone looked up the blond now, as if asking a silent question if he was mental.
"I have ways how to figure out ol' Bug Boy's medical case. Can he answer my questions?"
Shino sat up. He looked extremely haggard, but all in all, still retained his glasses, and his somewhat stoic personality. "Hai. What…are they?"
"I don't want to weaken you too much from talking back to me, so I just need some yes or no answers."
"That's alright."
"Does your mouth taste like blood?"
"Hai."
"Chest on fire?"
"No."
"Seeing doubles?"
"…No."
"Does your side hurt? Especially your right?"
"Hai."
Hinata jumped in. "So that's why he favored laying down on his left?"
Shino nodded. "What's next?"
"Do your nerves feel…extra sensitive? Like a mosquito bite now would feel like a wasp sting?" Naruto queried. The more questions answered, the more he felt like Narishi would have a better idea on what he was treating.
The Aburame nodded again.
"I guess that's all I needed. Now moving on-"
"Hold up." Kurenai interrupted. "Now that you asked him those questions, what happens now?"
"Diagnosis." Naruto replied. "The doctor will see to you. Hopefully before you die, that is."
"Naruto-kun? Why do you sound so morbid? There is so much that you haven't told us. Don't you trust us?" Hinata asked.
The boy briefly thought of Haku and growled. "Sure I do. To some extent, that is. All that happens on this mission." He pointed at his sensei. "Is going on paper. Printed for all to see. The less you all know, the better."
"The Hokage will force it out of you anyway!" Kurenai yelled.
"That's if we live. And I'm the key to all of us living. Don't I get some kind of leeway for preserving lives?"
"He's got a point there." Inari stated. "But Naruto-nii? I'd much rather live."
"And you will." The Uzumaki reassured. "But I can't keep telling all I know to a teacher I can't trust based on her bias towards me."
"You know what this is about!" Kurenai spat.
"GODDAMN IT!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs. "YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW?! YOU THINK IT'S MY FAULT! HE APOLOGIZED! GET OVER IT!"
"You're a liar." She said simply.
Naruto hung his head. Hinata stared at him, and suddenly realized that tears were streaming from his shadowed eyes. He raised his head again, and revealed to all red slitted pupils and a feral visage. The look startled her badly, and she suddenly got the feeling of danger.
"Fine! Be that way! Shino and Hinata weren't supposed to know for another three months. MY family was never meant to know but we will NEVER GET PAST THIS UNTIL YOU ALL KNOW!"
"Naruto?" Kurenai asked in a concerned voice.
"You! Don't say anything! You're gonna shut up and listen!"
"Now see here-"
"SHUT UP!" Naruto roared.
*All of the ninja outside were listening to the developing drama with escalated curiosity.*
"I am the jinchuriki for the Kyuubi no Kitsune. That's right! I'm the demon container for the Nine Tails!"
No one spoke again for another two minutes.
"He's…my best friend. The person who helped me live through childhood when I was alone. Who helped me to come to Wave to be adopted by my family. A mentor, a guide, an occasional chakra battery when I needed it." Naruto chuckled here. "And I'm sure that he'd love to chat with you all."
Kurenai's eyes widened along with everyone else who was currently losing their minds. (Sans Tazuna, who was unconscious, and Shino, who's too 'awesome' to show emotions) "Wait a minute-"
Naruto's eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed as his consciousness retreated to the seal. He quickly swapped mentalities with Kurama like in Kimyō Town and the whole area in a split-second later gained a dreadful aura. It was felt all over Wave Country, and all felt as if they were about to die. A short second later, it was drastically reduced, but it was still overpowering in the case of personality, rather than KI as 'Naruto' got back to his feet.
"Good Evening."
None answered him. Outside, Kurama could hear the footsteps run away by a little distance but he stayed. Currently, he was only a 'chakra battery' as Naruto had previously stated and in this state, he knew no fighting techniques, save for the few in his own personal forms. Save for his unrelenting aura he suppressed a bit, there was nothing he could really do.
"You can call me 'Kyuubi' for the time being." He walked over to the sofa where Shino and Hinata sat. "Move over please?"
They obliged his request and everyone could only stare in awe at 'Naruto' as his whole personality had changed like an about turn.
"I'm going to clear this up as quickly as I can. Tsunami, Inari. Naruto loves you very much and he didn't want to tell you of me, lest you begin to hate him. You could only imagine the hesitancy that rose exponentially since the Yuhi woman's little Jinchuriki 'lesson'. He loves Tazuna as well, but, the guy's out cold. Maybe we can chat later."
"…"
"Moving on." He turned to Shino and Hinata who stared at him and grinned a toothy smile. "Yeah. He was going to talk to you about me in six months time, but uh, it's been roughly four months. Shino…"
"…"
"Stop snooping in his business. Many a time I sensed a kikaichu insect on his person. He couldn't tell when his chakra was being eaten but I can. If it happens again and I tell him…Kami help you."
Shino nodded slowly.
"Hinata..."
"Hmm, K-K-Kyuubi-sama?" The girl stuttered in nervousness and fear.
"At ease. Naruto's still clueless, as you probably know. One of these days, you're probably gonna have to scream it into his face."
"S-scream what?"
"You know what I mean." The Kyuubi reassured. "Just do it soon, or if you don't want to do it anymore because of me, I'll understand."
The girl suddenly realized what the possessed host was saying and blushed heavily. She wasn't too sure what would happen after this, but until then, she had better get some facts straight. "Alright."
"Good girl. As for you, Kurenai…"
Said woman was on the edge of her seat, ready to bolt if necessary.
"Stop being a fuckin' bitch."
Tsunami lost her temper. "I don't know what kind of prank this is, Naruto, but you're taking it too far. Now apologize!"
Kurama's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Do it!"
"Fuck no!"
The civilian mother got up and stomped over to 'Naruto' and clocked him over the head with a closed fist. "Do it!"
"What the hell?! I'm the Kyuubi no freakin' Kitsune! I'm not going to apologize to that fuc- Ow! Fuck-damnit!"
Tsunami raised her fist again.
"Woman, so help me Kami, if you hit me again, I'll tell Naruto to only save himself, instead of trying to help everyone in this household!"
"…Wha?"
Kurama stood up, now going on the offensive and strode around the room as he spoke. "This whole time, he's been grieving his dead father, dealing with the Aburame's shit, arguing with himself about a probable betrayal of a girl who's probably set to slit our throats-"
*Outside, Haku who was still listening with Zabuza hung her head while Zabuza grinned.*
"-While he's trying to figure if he should hold her in good esteem.-"
*Haku smiles a bit under her mask while Zabuza frowns.*
"-Dealing with his fractured relationship with his brother, which is fixed to some extent. And this whole FUCKING TIME-"
"KYUUBI! I will not have profanity in my house!" Tsunami yelled.
"Hmph. You're lucky he considers you his mother. Fine. I'll respect that. But as I was saying, this whole time, ever since he asked THAT WOMAN FOR HELP-" Kurama pointed at Kurenai who was still watching his every move. "With a simple cloning technique so he can pass his genin exams, she tells him to go kill himself, right from the get-go."
All eyes turned to Yuhi, who had the decency to look a bit ashamed. "You said that to Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, unbelieving. Kurenai set her face and ignored all else while watching the 'Kyuubified' Naruto.
"And ever since that steaming mess, he has hated being under her tutelage, having to make progress of his own, trying to warn his other two teammates of her snobbery, and they did not believe him."
All eyes became downcast.
"And yet still, through all that, he's still working himself into the ground, trying to help you all. Hiding behind fronts of indifference, intolerance, and the like, the boy has a heart of gold. The boy has nothing but good intentions, through all adversities thus far, and I suspect that may never change. You should think real hard on what I said. Oh, and Kurenai?"
"…"
"Sorry about your father. You should know that Naruto knows what its like to lose one. TWICE."
With that said, 'Naruto' collapsed again in a crumple on the floor.
(A/N- Due to being stuck for several hours on how to transition this scene, I wrote a poem instead. Hope you don't mind.)
Regrets (Breaking Limits Exclusive) by MRAY 4TW
There is so much I know,
And even more unknown.
So much I've done and left undone,
I and my own must face them alone.
T13
There is so much I wish I could say,
Kept it bottled up, day by day.
Uncertainty has made me hold my tongue,
Regrets have escalated, secrets must be shed.
T13
My brothers and I, a team of Thirteen,
Still concealed by shadow, still yet to be seen.
We shall be there for one another,
Each of his own, each other protecting each brother.
T13
Regrets still spike, but soon you'll know.
We're going to fix any and all problems.
Gato, you've had your fun, your tyranny is done,
In the streets, your blood will freely run.
-That, I will not regret.
T13
=X=X=
"I guess that's that. Now my family knows. Now Shino knows….Now Hinata-chan knows." Naruto mumbled.
"No helping it. They drove you to this, but I suspected that there would never be any peace or proper team stability until you did it." Kurama replied.
They were in the mindscape. Naruto was currently lying on his back on the Kyuubi's massive head while the Fox himself was lying down with his head resting on his fore-arms/legs. Both had decided to remain neutral awhile before figuring out their next move.
"You can't stay forever. You still need to escape within a day when your brothers arrive."
"I know." The Uzumaki sighed deeply. "Damn it all."
"'Damn it all', is right." Kurama said in accordance. "I've done all I could using what oratory skills I had. But damn, that woman has a wicked hand. Either that or women zealous about manners just hit harder than most."
Naruto grinned. "That's Kaa-chan." He got up and stretched. "I'm outta here. Nothing to the plan changes, and if worst comes to worst, I guess I can defect from the village. They've given me a hard time thus far, and if I plead my case to the Hokage, he'd better make some laws, or I'm bailing from the village."
"Amen to that. But I'd rather you don't."
"And pray tell why?"
The Kyuubi lifted his head and withdrew one of his fore-arms/legs and swatted Naruto off his head, ousting him back into reality, question still unanswered.
=X=X=
His eyes opened slowly to find himself looking straight up at the ceiling. Glancing to the sides, he realized that he was in the living room with the others who were arguing about what had happened earlier.
Catching on to some garbled conversation, 'Focus' quickly clarified his senses and he rose up, now discovering that his head had had a pillow beneath it.
"Naruto-nii, that was so cool!" Inari yelled, cheering from his seat beside their mother. Naruto chuckled at this, but apparently, Tsunami was not pleased.
"I don't care for that; that 'Kyuubi' soiled my house with cursing." She turned to Kurenai. "And were the things he said true?"
The woman cared not to answer; she was too engrossed in her own thoughts.
"It certainly explains the animosity between the two of them from the first day," Shino reasoned. "I don't know if I should be more concerned with Naruto and what he contains, or about the ideals that both sensei and the Kyuubi have." He coughed deeply at this, before Hinata patted his back.
Naruto gazed at Inari. "Who put my head on the pillow?"
"Ano…that was me, Naruto-kun." Hinata answered from behind him. He swiveled around sharply to face her.
"Arigatou, Hinata-chan."
He got up shakily, took up the pillow, and made it to the sofa where his genin teammate were and took a seat beside them. "So he told you all, huh?"
They all nodded.
Naruto sighed. "Anyone besides Inari and sensei thinks lesser of me?"
Shino shook his head. "No. While I would love to ask more questions, he warned me not to pry. Instead, I'll leave up to you to tell when you're ready."
"Fantastic. Anyone else want to say something? Kaa-chan?"
"He's…fine." Tsunami admitted. "Just get him to stop cursing. Now that I think of it, he must've been the one to influence you to make your mouth as dirty as his was." The reply was paired up with a frown.
Naruto sighed mentally. He was afraid that she was talking about being 'demonically influenced', but she seemed only concerned with the swearing he sometimes did. "Hinata-chan? You?"
"He's alright. If he's been the one assisting you for all these years, then he must not have been anything like the creature we've been lead to believe."
"He…does like…explosions." Naruto admitted. "And to some extent…violence. But what happened all those years ago were not his fault. He was…" 'What was the excuse he told sensei, again?' "He was trying to avenge himself. I can't say anymore."
"All these years, we've been lead to believe that he was killed by the Yondaime."
"Nah, Shino. The Yondaime only sealed him in me. He must've realized that he just needed a leash and a cage instead of being put down."
"I'm taking offense to this."
"Aw, calm down, yah big crybaby."
Hinata lifted an eyebrow. "Was that-"
"Yeah." Naruto interrupted. "He said he felt offended."
"Naruto…" Shino groaned.
"Yeah?"
"You mentioned something about a diagnosis. In case you've forgotten, I'm still in the process of fighting for my life…"
Naruto chuckled. "Sorry about that. And no, I haven't forgotten. But I'll be back with you in a minute. I want to know what sensei thinks."
Kurenai stared at the floor. "All I can say is that I'm sorry for telling you to go kill yourself."
The blond sweat-dropped. "O…k… That doesn't sound all that sincere, but uh, what the hell…I'll accept the apology."
"Look. I just need some time to think. If you'll excuse me-"
"Hold on!" Naruto stopped her with speech, just as she got up to leave. "I still need to know what your favorite food is."
She stared at him, incredulous. "What? This is hardly the time for-"
"Just tell me. You don't have anything to lose. You can still go do whatever you were gonna do anyway, just tell me what your favorite is first."
Kurenai snorted. "I like dango. Not my favorite, but I don't have any." She turned and went upstairs, leaving them in the living room.
"That's fine." Naruto called after her. He himself turned to face the rest of his companions. "I need to know your favorites too."
"How is this relevant?" Shino queried with a pained groan.
"Just tell me! You don't have anything to lose, you know!"
"I like dumplings glazed with honey. Now what?"
"Calm down, Shino. I just need you all to trust me. Have I ever steered you wrong?"
The Aburame did not answer.
"My favorite is cinnamon buns." Hinata volunteered.
"I should have guessed that, given how you defended it that time." Naruto remarked. He noticed her blush, but thought nothing of it. "Next!"
"My favorite is…hmm…" Tsunami looked to her forehead in thought. "Peaches. And Inari's is pretty much anything that's meat and skewered."
"Kaa-chan!" Inari chastised. "It's red-peas soup."
The mother leveled a deep stare at her son, who soon relented.
"…When it has a lot of meat in it. Happy?"
"Hai."
Naruto took a mental note. "And I guess my favorite is ramen. I never really diversified my range of meals, but I suppose that it could be that for now. Now don't you all feel better?"
"…"
"…"
"I'm still dying."
"Oh boy. Awkward." The Uzumaki muttered the last in a sing-song voice. "We'll all talk later. Just give me a minute, everyone." He sought contact with the Kurama once again in thought, only to get a grumbled 'what is it?'
'I have messages for Narburei and Narishi. I guess Narishi takes priority.'
Naruto quickly gave in the answers that the Kyuubi took stock of. In another minute, he 'sent' the message to the Medic, who replied back through Kurama.
"He says 'He's lucky. It's a metallic poison and I can get a cure for that. He would have been dead without a chance of survival if it was an organic poison. Right now, it's affecting his nerves and organs like his kidneys and liver.'"
"…" Naruto froze. "Metallic?" He asked out loud.
"That's what I said."
"Naruto-kun? What's wrong?"
"Diagnosis. And something really weird."
He quickly told them what the Kyuubi had said, leaving out the fact that someone else had told him. They could 'half-understand' that, but Naruto then whispered to Shino.
"Someone outside dropped a note through the roof. It said the word 'metallic'. Know what that means?"
"Can't you ask the Kyuubi? Isn't he the know-it-all right now?" The Aburame asked back.
Leaning back in his seat, Naruto continued his inward conversation. 'Ask Doc what he knows about metallic poisons and oranges relating to one another.'
"That's…unusual." The Kyuubi quickly complied and soon got back an answer. "He says that if someone had a lot of oranges, like the juice, they could flush out heavy metal poisoning out of their systems. At the very least, it can slow the effects."
Naruto thought long and hard when he heard that. Each minute that passed, he heard his teammate laboring for breath.
"Shino, do you think you'll live for another eighteen or so hours?"
The glasses-wearing boy looked back towards him. As he considered his current state, all he could utter was a 'no.'
"There's a chance that something in this house can help you. There's also a chance that it can kill you faster. What say you?"
One reply and five minutes later found Shino drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "There's so much I wish I could say, but later I'll tell you. Promise."
They all nodded, and he resumed his conversation with Kurama. 'He's drinking the juice. I think it's safe. It doesn't matter if it was poisoned anyway, he wouldn't have lived to see Doc come help him, and it was his choice to make.'
"I see. I already told Narishi. He says that he's purchasing 'selenium'."
'What the heck's that?'
"I think I know, but I can't remember." The Kitsune admitted. "He also mentioned that he's pressed for time, so anyone who's close to a market, you should tell them to buy a lot of coconuts and bring it there."
'This keeps getting weirder and weirder. Anyway, I need you to tell Narburei the following food items: Ramen, peaches, red-peas soup with a lot of meat, honey-glazed dumplings, cinnamon buns, and dango. Tell him to bring a dozen coconuts and a tall bottle of the best saki gold can buy.' He thought with a grin.
"That's fine. Anything else?"
'And after that, you can take a nap.'
"Finally."
Naruto came back to reality in a sense. "Well, that's that everyone. Now follow me upstairs." Before they could all move, he silently created shadow clones that all henged into them, and the bunshins went upstairs.
He motioned to each of them to come closer. Since Shino could not be moved, they all tiptoed over to him and they all huddled. "Whisper. I think they might be listening to us. So whisper."
"Okay, Naruto-nii. What's this all about?"
"I sent some dummy clones upstairs to throw them off. The point of the matter is, someone outside knew that the poison was metallic and they gave us the oranges. The oranges are good for metallic poisoning."
"Do you know who dropped it off?" Shino whispered.
"I think it's the person who's dressed up like a mist Hunter-nin. There was a signature of an 'H', and I met a girl who seemed to be trying to get info from me the same night we fought. Her name was Haku." Naruto replied.
"I heard that name before," Hinata whispered. "Zabuza yelled it."
"Exactly. Now, moving on. I've got bigger news. We're getting out of here."
"How? When?" Tsunami asked, now getting excited.
"Five a.m., tomorrow. I've got people on the outside who will be coming to get us. Kyuubi called them."
"You know what? I think I like Kyuubi after all." Tsunami answered with a smile. "But shouldn't someone tell your teacher of what's going to happen?"
"She won't know 'till the last minute." Naruto whispered. "Gives her less time to ask questions I can't bother to answer."
=X=X=
"They're all in the woman's bedroom. They're just talking about how they're hungry and how they should reason with us." Zabuza muttered to the rest of the group as he came over.
Gozu and Meizu smirked. "Won't be too long, now. Soon, their stomachs will soon digest themselves, heh heh." The elder said with a laugh.
Haku who stood close by them slightly hung her head, staring at the ground. She was still heavily pondering if what she was doing was the right thing. On one hand, she had to think of her master's wishes; she was still nothing but a tool. A very unhappy, unpleased, disobedient tool.
It was the way of the ninja. Of all that mattered, it was the bridge builder's life that hung in the balance. Why couldn't they just let the others go free? She had posed this question to the Swordsman, but he had answered that it was Gato's idea. She had never regretted doing another thing so much as her own suggestion that night. It would have been better if she had kept her mouth shut.
"Where do we stand?" She asked.
"We don't have to wait much longer." Gozu reassured. "But in any case, you're on the night watch, and it's my turn to hold up the Hidden Mist jutsu with you. Guess I'll be pulling more than just my weight. "
"You should really master the jutsu before all else, Haku." Meizu agreed.
=X=X=
Kurenai was tapped on the shoulder, jolting out of her sleep. Almost instantly, she had a kunai to the offender's throat.
"Gomen." The person whispered.
"Tsunami-san?" The red-eyed woman hissed. "Forgive me for my action, but why did you awaken me?" She slipped the kunai back in her long sleeve, in its secure catch.
"Follow me to the living room." The woman whispered back.
After a brief stumbling in the dark, they made their way downstairs. Here, it was barely lit, but in the dim light, Kurenai could make out the forms of all the others. She even noticed that all were fully dressed and ready as if they were to leave. Shino and Tazuna were in stretchers made with bed-sheets and broom and mop-sticks, and everyone looked expectant.
"What's going on?"
Naruto walked up to her, and presented her with her sandals. "We're leaving. All you have to do, is do what I say, and what our rescuers tell you to do." He intoned with a whisper, with all seriousness.
"Wha? What's going on?" She asked hopefully. "People from the Leaf are here?"
"Even better." Naruto replied. "Just don't freak out, or ask questions. If there's any a time that you should just go along with whatever's being done, it's now."
Kurenai had no idea what was going on. But what she did know, was that Naruto was practically oozing confidence and charisma, and with a sigh of relenting, she nodded.
Naruto nodded back as well. 'Kurama, is everyone within thought range?'
"Sir yes sir." The Kitsune bit out. "Why don't you just ask 'em yourself?"
'Hmph. All you guys present?'
'Fate, present.' 'Surge, present.' 'Farsight, present.' 'Doc, present.' 'Psychosis, present. Heh heh.'
'Alright.' Naruto answered. 'Let's get on with it. You all know what to do.'
'Yeah. We go all out, while you get the hell out.' Psychosis thought back. The thought implied that he was grinning/smirking.
"It's five a.m." Kurama announced abruptly.
=X=X=
'The house was built like a compass.' The sensor clone thought, as he crouched beside his Assassination-specialist brother. 'The front door facing the north, where we are. The fence is like a massive 'U' that barricades the South end that is the back door, and to the East and the West. I'll pulse the area again to make sure that all the ninja are directly ahead of us. While Doc and Psychosis gets them out, we'll be risking our necks.'
"T'is fate that decides that," Fate muttered to him. "All ancestral shinobi have encountered death. Soon, it will be ours, but until then, I'll embrace their ways that have succeeded. Experience taught them through trial and error, and I will learn from it."
"The old ways are crude."
"They are." Fate answered. "But they are effective."
'Tell us where the ninja are!' Psychosis yelled in thought.
Farsight gathered his wits, and used all of his inbred talent he had extrapolated from 'Focus' to pulse his chakra like a version of echolocation. As he did, he knew that all the other enemy ninja out there would sense it, and all of them needed to react quickly. As the information bounded back to him, he quickly reached out again to the others.
'Four of them. Three males, one female, if their physiology is any indication. Two asleep, two awake. But if those two are light sleepers, they're awake now from my chakra pulse…they're looking our way, Fate.'
Fate nodded, and in a linear poof of smoke, created a dozen bunshins who he fell in line with. At a single prompt, all withdrew bows from their backs, and affixed an arrow on it, pulling it back taut at a 50' angle. Farsight himself created four clones, who suddenly charged forward through the undergrowth and assorted foliage at the four ninja who stood watching the front of the house.
=X=X=
"Did you feel that?" Gozu muttered to Haku, who stood close by him.
"Hai." She whispered. Looking to her sleeping comrades who were rousing themselves up, they had a distinct feeling of alarm.
"What was that?!" Meizu cried.
"Must've been some kind of chakra wave or pulse; something of the sort." Zabuza growled out his reply. "Someone's trying to sense us. Haku, check the house, make sure that they're still put."
The ice user nodded, and treaded back to the house. Before she could make it halfway, all noses turned to point at the direction of where noisy stomping was coming from; four or five, if the number of was any clue of their numbers. Presently, she had three senbon between her fingers should the need arise.
Four boys came hurdling through the undergrowth, and to her shock, they all resembled Naruto. In clothing that is. But to add even more to the look, all were hooded, and had particularly savage looking masks portrayed on bandannas, and wore shades.
And wielding a tanto, and some sort of a metal stick. Each.
Each of them rushed to each of her cohorts and herself. Promptly, Zabuza swung his sword at the waist and as it struck the clone, it bled what looked like bluish-white chakra, and the Swordsman leapt backwards.
"Daibakuha!" He yelled.
The Demon brothers leapt away with him, before a medium sized explosion ensued, releasing a slight explosion that kicked up dirt, throwing over them. Needless to say, the other three clones were then almost on the others when all combatants fought to keep the clones out of reach, when the kamikaze clones sought to be within it.
On the other side of barb and razor fence, Psychosis giggled a bit. "Ah, there's no better sacrifice than someone else's."
Doc shook his head. "For the love of- ugh, never mind. Did you remember to bring the wire cutters?"
The torture clone nodded. "I can't forget." Quickly spawning a clone, both of them produced a pair of the special heavy-duty scissors. "Snip-snip, my brother. Snip-snip."
They both had the fence cut out in an arch in the required area at the direct south of the house. Surge quickly pulled away the offending refuse of it.
'Wait for the screams, then go in.' Fate thought to everyone. He turned to his own created clones, which still had their arrows at the ready. As they heard the fourth explosion, he spoke aloud to his bow-bearing clones.
"Release the volley."
They all let go, and thirteen arrows took flight. A second later, each had another arrow from the pack on their back quivers, which conveniently held twenty. 'If needs be,' Fate thought grimly. 'I still have more arrows in seals.'
=X=X=
They heard the explosions, and it was all they could do as they quietly waited in the living room. At Naruto's insistence, all kept quiet, although Kurenai had questions that begged for answers.
After a fourth one, Naruto whispered. "Get ready, everyone."
A long, blood curdling scream was heard outside, to the front door in direction. As it continued, kitchen (back) door was kicked down, and Kurenai panicked. In fact, she nearly yelled herself as she saw two people around Naruto's size and appearance bound into the living room, wearing feral bandanna masks and hoods, not to mention shades.
"Let's go, Naruto." One of them hissed.
She hesitated. "How do you know his na-"
"No time." Naruto interrupted. "Psychosis, Doc, get Oji-san and Shino. Everyone else, through the back door. Hurry!"
Tsunami, Inari and Hinata wasted no time. They had fairly good visibility outside, and at the back, another one of the strangers escorted them through the very thin mist to where there was a hole in the fence. It was big enough for Hinata and Inari to walk straight through, but the Mother of the house had to stoop to get through.
"Keep going. Tsunami-san, get everyone to the cave where Kaiza-san stored his fishing supplies, close to the coast. I must stay." He ordered.
The woman nodded, and the two younger ones followed her, while Surge stayed. He turned back to face the space where the kitchen door once occupied to see that everyone else was streaming out. Kurenai was first, followed by his two brothers and the clones they must've made carrying Tazuna and Shino on home-made stretchers. Naruto brought up the rear.
"You convinced her, eh?" Surge called to Naruto softly. "Kurenai-san, please follow him to Kaiza's supply cave. Trust me; you don't want to stick around."
Kurenai was too brow-beaten to even nod a response, and all of them quickly left through the fence. As Surge watched them leave, he waited for the time he was required. It shouldn't be too long now.
=X=X=
As the volley of arrows were released a few moments prior, all of them turned to listen to the sound of multiple objects cutting through the air. At the recognition, Zabuza's eyes widened as he saw the 'somethings' bearing down on their location.
"Shield yourselves!" He bit out. Without further delay, he stabbed Kubikiribōchō into the ground and stood behind it, raised slightly at an angle. Meizu dove behind a tree, and Haku quickly created an ice mirror before her. Gozu was the last still left out in the open, and in a desperate attempt to protect himself, he raised his own gauntlet to try and give some mediocre cover to his face and vitals as arrows flew towards them.
The act wasn't all futile; it protected his organs. Unfortunately, it left his legs completely exposed. As if they could control themselves, one took him in the thigh, and went all the way through to the other side via the muscle mass there.
"Gaaaaahh!" He screamed in its punctuation, and fell on his side, grasping the leg and grunted fervently as he saw the horrible instrument with its eighteen-inch shaft making his leg look like a cross. He lost his half of the control over the already substandard mist, for Haku did not have much talent over that particular jutsu yet.
About another second later, Zabuza yelled. "There's another set coming! Get ready!"
Another volley came and went, leaving everyone but Gozu with arrows sticking up from their bodies. Haku looked to the man bawling on the ground one last time, before it seemed that whoever who was firing the arrows let loose all they had on his current location.
And as if by a single switch, his screaming ceased abruptly; his life snatched from him.
'Scratch off whoever Narkira and his clones just stitched up.' Farsight told the others. 'The little skirmish is done, so it's time to fight 'em. But take it easy, we're still not strong enough to take on these guys in a full-blown fight, if Zabuza the Demon of the Hidden Mist is there.'
'We still must do what we can,' Surge replied. 'All here, onward!'
Fate dismissed his clones and returned his bow and arrows to their current place on his back, before removing a pair of Kakute from his weapons pouch. They were merely rings that one could slip their fingers through and wear like knuckles, but the offensive part consisted of two separate two-inch spikes…for each ring.
He slipped them on, and at the same time, Farsight removed his baton and quickly released the catch. It was no secret that he favored the blunt object over the smaller blade tanto counterpart everyone carried. He had practiced with its use, and he was going to demonstrate results.
"Get moving!" The assassination-specialist ordered in tandem.
Both he and Farsight dashed through the bushes towards the three opponents no doubt still alive. Surge who was behind the house ran around the side straight towards Haku. To each their own enemy, and all they truly were…were distractions. At least until all were safely out of reach, then they themselves could beat a hasty retreat.
=X=X= Farsight
As he emerged from the undergrowth, he had to immediately duck a massive shuriken attached to a chain. The closest person to him was a roughly dressed man, and by all means, looked as if he were out for blood. That is, if his near look alike who looked like a pincushion at his lonesome out more in the open was any indication that he was a close associate; perhaps even a brother.
"Die!"
As the sensor clone ducked, he had nearly stumbled, but soon righted himself and dodged the chain for a second time as it was retracted nearly explosively. He assumed a running stance as he got out of the dodge, and was sprinting at his adversary in a dead-on run.
The man decided to rush at him as well, and as both reached the other, Meizu brought down his massive gauntlet down unto the boy's head. Farsight lifted his baton and held both ends, stopping the heavy weapon by blocking it with the hilt/handle with his own that was smaller in comparison.
The force made him buckle under the sudden weight and momentum, forcing him to his knees. Muttering a quick 'thank you' for Narken's lesson about the hilt, he pushed back the gauntlet towards the man with a hissed curse.
"Goddamn brat! You killed my brother!" The man shouted in grief. "Your life is mine!"
Farsight rolled his eyes behind his shades. "Tch. A vendetta? Whatever."
The answer seemed to infuriate the man, and he swung again but this time with nothing but a straight fist. It glanced off of T13 member's cheek as he tilted his head to dodge it, barely in time. The sensor clone realized that the man was currently too close to swing the baton in, and decided to move in even closer.
It would prove to be Meizu's misfortune; as the boy was now within his guard leapt straight upwards to his chin using nothing but his right shoulder, and powered by leaping upwards. The man's head snapped backwards and the man backpedaled in slight pain from the maneuver; he had suffered through worse.
"Graah!" Meizu's determination rose with his infuriated yell, and he lunged straight forward at the boy with his gauntlet. Narsensa simply jumped backwards by around two feet, the gauntlet falling short by practically a mile. He was about to taunt the man, when he felt a sense of alarm. Quickly, he threw himself to the ground as the man launched the shuriken again.
"Well, judging from that, I'd say that you have a poor arsenal of techniques." Farsight stated as he got up quickly and rolling to the side as the chain was pulled in through the spot he was previously in. "Other than yelling at me with horrible breath, screaming your lungs out and that chain of yours you favor so much…meh, nothing special."
Meizu cursed to himself. All he knew jutsu wise was the Kirigakure jutsu he wasn't the best in finding his way around like his deceased brother, and a simple genjutsu for when he his in small bodies of water. None usefully right now, he reasoned as he swung his gauntlet again. The boy, as far as he knew was no special thing either. All he had currently, was a freaky-looking mask, and some sort of retractable metal stick. He also sought to fought at close range.
"You're one to talk. You're nothing outstanding either."
"Ah." Farsight replied. "You admitted that you're mediocre. But there's one thing that I've got over you." He quickly sidestepped the man's gauntlet for what would be the last time and grinned.
"And what's that?" The man shouted in his face.
"The ability to not just beat an opponent, but to be able to beat him to death."
The man was just out of arm's reach. Perfect.
Gripping his baton tightly, he swung it from the side and it impacted at the man's side. The atrocious sound of ribs breaking was heard as the man stifled a groan for his side. Not yet done, Farsight pivoted on his left foot and made a full 360' degree spin to increase the momentum of his next strike, which struck the man in the self-same area.
What wasn't broken before was certainly shattered now, and the man clutched at his side with his free hand on the aggrieved side. Stepping quickly to the man's side, Farsight punctuated his next hit at the crook behind the man's knee. The man, on his body's impulse to remove weight from the injured limb, fell to his knees and as soon as that happened, he felt the same instrument try to reshape the base of his spine in a single hit.
"GRAAAAH!"
The man, above all else felt immense pain. Following closely in second place was anger, and third, fear that he was about to lose; not only the fight, but also his life.
He sought one last look of the boy who now stood taller than him, and that was all he saw as the boy channeled chakra into his baton to increase its potency for damage, just before he swung it as hard as he could just at the base of his skull, slightly driving upwards.
And that indeed, was his last look of and at anything.
"That's for whichever of you tried to knock out Oji-san." Farsight muttered. "That is what I call a killer-concussion."
=X=X= Fate
As soon both he and his brother emerged from the bushes, he didn't know what to feel as he saw that the person in his way was none other than Zabuza Momochi.
'Alright, Narkira.' He psyched himself. 'Ninety-five percent of the battle is avoiding getting hit. Don't get hit, and you'll live.'
A dodge of the massive blade later, he once more gained his acquiescent vibe. "Oh well. Everyone's gotta go in their own time."
Zabuza heard him, and voiced his own reply. "And your time is now. You picked out the day for your own demise."
Fate shook his head. "T'is fate. If Kami has willed it, then so shall it happen."
Zabuza lifted the sword by the handle with one arm and swung it at a horizontal angle. "Kami has no say here. I control whether you live or die."
Fate groaned. "No use talking to someone who has a particularly egotistical monologue issue." He ducked the massive blade and stepped in closer towards the man. He reasoned that the closer he got to the man, the less force would be at the hilt of the blade. It was a 'door' principle. More force was required to close it if you were doing it closer to the hinges than if you were to do it where it locked.
Luckily, Zabuza hadn't caught on to that idea yet, but something told him that the weaponry on the boy's hands practically yelled 'close range', and he muttered expletives. Kubikiribōchō was basically a long distance adjustment to what should be a close range weapon, and it no longer really had the advantages that a close-ranged weapon like a sword should offer. Basically, its primary use was to use sheer brute strength and excessive momentum in weight to cleave through people at swinging range.
Pulling it up for another swing, he stepped back a bit before bringing the massive sword down diagonally, hoping that the boy wouldn't be able to dodge it properly. As it fell slant towards the right, Fate stepped right in its path in a daring move. As Zabuza begun to grin in self-accomplishment, Fate smirked under his mask before he leapt up with his feet full on in front just before it slammed through his thighs.
Kubikiribōchō harmlessly dug into the dirt at the same angle, and as it made contact, Fates time in midair ended; he fell and balanced on the flat on the blade with one foot, the other on the blunt 'edge.'
He chucked one of his kakute at Zabuza, allowing to slip off his fingers and a second later embedding itself in the nuke-nin's throat with the spikes. Another second later, all the man was and all he had collapsed into a puddle of water.
"Water clone? No wonder that came so easy. The clone must have been made from early-morning dew." Fate mumbled, as he carefully approached his thrown weapon on the ground and took it up, fitting it on again. "Where is he?"
He looked around and all he saw was Narsensa fighting some guy with an abnormal amount of metal on his hand, and Surge fighting the suspected Haku who was disguised as the hunter-nin. Making a mental note of keeping himself aware of his own fight, he knew that he still needed to be aware-
*!*
Reflexes made all of his muscles go taut before making him leap sideways in a dive to get out of his location. His previously occupied space was then taken over by Kubikiribōchō that had been swung down in a vertical manner. And given the grunt that the nukenin made as unleashed the effort, he would have been in two pieces, neatly down the middle.
As he landed on his side, he pushed off with his feet to roll over the lateral side of his arm and across his back in a half-roll, and got back to his feet. "Tsk tsk. I should keep in mind that you're the master of silent killing." Fate stated in a taunting manner. 'Time to see if he'll take the bait.'
Zabuza smirked. "Indeed. Kirigakure no jutsu." He announced, while holding on to his sword with one hand, and his other in a half tiger handseal.
A thick and foreboding mist erupted from the water clone that dispersed earlier, and further supplemented by water-natured chakra, soon blanketed the whole area. He was about to incite fear in the boy and hopefully just finish off the other two who fought Haku and Meizu by announcing vital points he could hit, but he was interrupted by the boy's nearly maniacal laughter.
=X=X= Surge
The Raiton clone sprinted from around the house, and as he made it into the open, he was faced by a hunter nin who held up a wall of ice behind them. He had never intended on facing this person, but on a battlefield, one did not simply choose their opponents. More often than not, it seemed like random chance held that in sway.
Surge whistled at the hunter-nin. "Hey. How're you doing?"
He immediately had to step out of the path of a number of senbon that flew from a fingered fist-hold. "I suppose that you're alright. I'm alright too." He continued, trying to start a conversation. It was heavily suspected that this was the girl, and Naruto insisted that he still need to make sure. Even some recognit-
"Naruto?" A voice from the masked individual spoke softly and unsurely. "How did you get out of the house?"
The ice user was certain that this was indeed the same boy from her encounter in the woods. He had his hood up, and wore a mask that would have certainly frightened her to death if she hadn't lived through other horrors over the course of her life. He also wore shades, and she considered it completely unnecessary. It did make him look 'cool' though, being completely 'incognito' like that. Her punning to herself was half-intended. She released the ice wall technique she held up to protect herself from the arrows earlier, and it shattered to pieces.
"I'm not Naruto." Surge answered as he removed his baton from his back waist-holster. "But I'm just as good as him to talk to. Well, uh," he hesitated. "Almost as good, anyway."
Haku retrieved more senbon as well, from seemingly nowhere. "You're lying. You speak like him, have the same mannerisms, the same gait, personality, even the same clothing and body size."
"You got all of that from hearing me speak a couple sentences and how I ran to you?" Surge asked unbelieving. "You don't miss much, do you?" He ran forward at her, noting how she kept the senbon gripped between her fingers like animal claws. "Too bad you're still wrong."
Haku briefly hesitated, wondering if she really should engage him; but instead, took up a defensive stance with her senbon needles to offend and her free hand to bar. "Naruto, go back inside the house before I kill you."
"Bluffer."
He swung out the baton just before he reached her but instead swung it aiming for her waist. He was still hoping to hurt, but not cause longstanding damage. Haku flinched as he called her lie, but caught his wrist with her left hand. She lunged forward at his shoulder with her senbon to hopefully give him a warning injury, but he caught it with his free left hand at the wrist. What should have been a fight now looked like a reverse tug of war between people who each was trying to intimidate the other.
Surge's work in the mines and use of grav-seals to train began to tell, and he started forcing back her senbon lunge, and her free hand. In a mild sense of panic, she attempted a kick at the groin with her right knee, but he lifted his left one and put it in the way. Both people got the feeling that their knee-caps just shattered into glass.
She ignored the pain, and decided to use his momentary discomfort to gain superiority in this now handicapped face-off by closing the distance with her senbon. Rather than repel that distance, he gripped her wrist even tighter, until it felt like her tendons and bones were fighting for space to occupy. He was nearly close enough to just disconnect the joint holding her palm to her hand.
The hapless girl dropped the senbon in a show of relinquishment. Surge assumed that she was giving in, and savagely yanked her hand down to her side but she did not resist it. He became a bit confused at this, and it grew even more as he saw his breath blowing through his mask. Quickly glancing down at the wrist he still held at her sides, he noticed her fingers forming what looked like a half tiger handseal.
"What the he- shit!"
He pushed her away savagely in front of him and released her before he quickly tried to do the replacement technique. He was too slow, and he suddenly felt metal intrusions in his left shoulder from behind.
"Gah!"
His entire left arm went limp but he still used hi limbs and made a counter-clockwise turn and used his baton with his still able right swinging with the turn. He just swung, and it made a dent in the look-alike Haku in the head, just over the ear. It was inert, but the baton completely took off that top of the cranium; the clone fell apart into ice, as did an ice wall behind that she must've made with only one handed handseals.
He turned back to face the original. "That was cruel and unasked for, Haku." 'Why didn't 'Reflex' help?' The Raiton user wondered.
"Desist and return to the house. If I don't kill you, my master certainly will."
"So if I really were Naruto, and I'm not saying that I am, you would have doomed me to die from a lack of sustenance." He tested, assuming a new defensive stance with a now practically-dead arm.
"I…am sorry for that."
"I would still like to thank you for the oranges in his place." Surge stated. "Naruto claims that it helped his friend, and he requested that any who faced you was to warn you, and only use blunts instead of sharps."
"…I don't need coddling. And my purposes are to follow my master, even if it inflicts death."
Surge rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't want to get involved. Naruto figured out a major weakness in your Hidden Mist trump card, and when he utilizes it, he'll kill any and all to get to Gato. Then he himself."
Haku frowned beneath her mask, before pulling three more senbon. "Go back to the house. That's your final warning."
Surge looked past her and noticed Zabuza creating the mist again. "And I'm warning you for the last time. I don't need two arms for what I'm going to do. I practiced it a lot."
The mist covered her from behind, and then him as it grew to cover the area in rapidly decreasing visibility. "And what's that?"
All who were on the battlefield heard Fate laughing as if he were insane. It was positively spooky, and unsettled most. "Get out while the gettin's good!" Farsight yelled.
Haku was still yet to make up her mind when she heard the shout. But it she made her choice to beat a hasty retreat when she heard 'Naruto' whisper his technique.
"Raiton: Jibashi…" (Lightening release: Electromagnetic Murder)
…
…
…
In that split second, several things happened.
Fate left in a shunshin, still laughing like a lunatic.
Farsight, who was the closest to the undergrowth, dived into it and continued sprinting to get the hell out of dodge, just beyond the range of the mist.
Haku used a water shunshin, and left before she got seriously hurt or worse.
Zabuza was still wondering what the excitement was all about, all by his lonesome in the mist.
Surge held out his right hand that still held the baton, and electricity arced from it like a conducting lightening-rod.
…
…
…
The raiton chakra jutsu took superior class over a jutsu that was created with water and further augmented with water-natured chakra. Needless to say, the whole god-damned mist lit up like a stormy night with Zabuza at the epicenter.
=X=X=
Inari and Tsunami were eating while looking out through the opening of the cave when they saw what looked like lightening flash in a wild and erratic fever over where their home was. Inari sipped at his soup, before pointing at it with an index.
"What's all that about, Naruto-nii?"
"Probably some people who got killed and got their hearts restarted. Several times in alternating order, that is." His brother replied, slurping his noodles. He finished the mouthful of food before he continued. "Psychosis, did you-"
"Yeah, I already did it." The eccentric clone replied.
"What did you do?" Tsunami asked.
"Insurance." Psychosis replied. "Hey Doc, how's Shino and Tazuna?"
"I'm fine. Just give me that damned cork opener for this saki, young man." The bridge builder requested. "Pity Naruto always took away my saki instead of giving me it."
"Tou-san! You're not supposed to drink!" His daughter chastised in between mouthfuls of peach.
"I think I'm entitled to the privilege, considering that I nearly got my brains knocked out of my head, and spent nearly a day unconscious!" He pulled the cork off with his teeth in impatience and took a swig.
Doc found the vein just to the left under the chin. Without further ado, he injected the concentrated selenium into it. "Shino will live. Tazuna will too."
"Right now, I'm living like bloody royalty. Best saki to ever grace my throat."
"Shhh."
"Gomen, Kurenai-san."
"Sensei? Aren't you hungry?" Hinata asked her teacher, noticing how she had yet to eat the dango she was presented. She herself ate a bit of her cinnamon bun and waited for the woman's response.
"I got too many things on my mind."
"…" The Hyuuga fixed her with a questioning stare.
"And I'm not hungry."
Naruto finished eating his ramen and smiled. "Liar."
I had to do that to end this chapter. I had several things still left to do, but I guess I can leave it for next time. Don't worry about the 'cheap' fight. I'll make sure there will be another encounter. Besides, my idea for Wave was getting rid of the damn mist. You saw what it did poor ol' house inhabitants. Maybe, just maybe, Wave would have been lesser of Zabuza hiding in 'plain' sight and more visible deaths. Err…
Also, yeah. His foster family and his team all know about (The) Kyuubi, now. They had to find out at some point, and I had intended for them to find out before the Chunin exams. I also wanted Kurenai to come to better terms with Naruto/Kyuubi before then too. The whole bias thing was also getting old; things won't get better overnight, but now, we should have a turn-around. T13 is still a mystery to them; I brought fewer of them to Wave and made them use code names for readers to keep easier track of, as well as eliminating extremely obvious 'Nar' prefix for their names that would be recognizable for his team and family.
That's all. Don't forget to review, people.
Valete omnes,
MRAY 4TW.