The Unusual Uchiha

by makoto x chelia

Aspiring to be a great Ninja like his elder brother Shisui, Ryouta Uchiha embarks on a painful journey of discovery and to hone his skills in order to fight the darkness that plagues his clan and the world.

35. Chapter 35

Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!

DocSlendy; Well, she's going to have a unique relationship with Ryouta, to put it mildly.

Faresjojor; Thanks, I'm glad that you do!

ShadowUzumaki55; Heh, that's how Ryouta rolls, after all. Hanabi starts to feel confident again in this chapter, and it does have something to do with Ryouta, which you'll read about. I thought that would be a good thing to do, plus it will help them bond.

Naroku; Thanks. Eeh, the only person who is deeply in love with him is Satsuki, and Mikoto to an extent, for reasons which have been shown in the past. Sakura and Ino have crushes on him, but aren't in love with him. It's the same with Hanabi, though she's slightly more closer to love than the other girls. Well, they aren't going to love him straight away, as it wouldn't make sense. He's grown up with Sakura, Ino, and Hanabi, so it would make sense that they've had time to get to know and develop feelings. Kurotsuchi doesn't know him, so she wont start loving him for no reason, as I've said in past chapters, I've got plans for all of them to love for different reasons. Yeah, I know. And cool suggestions.

Cloud4012; Yeah, she surely is going to shake things up after awhile, isn't she? I've got big plans for her. And poor Kisame, being basically abused by Izumi on a serious degree. I certainly will!

Lightwave; Heh, that's exactly it. Yeah, that's what I thought anyway, I thought it would make things quite interesting. I've actually got some ideas on that in the future, which will make their encounters, interesting. Team Seven have a long way to go before they are besties, but they are starting to get along. Hehe, Izumi is on the loose, and you don't want to mess with her~ They have their ways and means of helping them out.

War Sage; Thank you!

Neonlight01; Thanks, glad that you liked. Hehe, she's going to shake things up quite abit, you know? Hehe, I thought that would be a good scene to add into the story, give it a little different feel than the one that happened in canon.

Anime PJ; Yup, it surely is going to be different alright. I know, right. He's had quite a number of nut jobs after him in his short life, that it isn't even funny, though he's got some good points to his life, huh. Hmmm, that's a good question, Haku is going to be...well, the chapter says it all. You're right, there are going to be some good fight scenes in this chapter, and look forward to the rest of the arc as well!

Jugar38; Thanks, and yeah, Haku appears in this chapter, but will have more of a developed role later on in the arc. And thank you!

Harem Master123; Thanks, and yeah, Izumi is the Queen of awesomeness, isn't she? Those are some cool suggestions, and okay!

AlphaOmega; No worries, you reviewed and that's all that matters. Thank you, Ameyuri is going to play a big part in the development of Ryouta, with of course once the lie with Obito is done. Eeh, I guess that it is rotten luck, really. Well, Obito is pretty convincing if given the chance, and was able to convince and manipulated people, which has clearly happened with Ameyuri. And yeah, those two together are going to be quite difficult alright. It will be shown what Haku does as time goes on.

Skull Flame; Hehe, I like to keep people guessing, that's something I like doing from time to time, gives the story a little mystery. Well, you know the Mist, most of them are quite insane. Hmmm, even if she isn't in the harem, she does play a big part in these early parts of the story, and maybe even later on as well, with especially Ryouta. Those two scenarios are pretty cool, and yeah, in the anime it stayed she died from an illness. Heh, Kisame is quite scared of Izumi, huh. Poor Kisame. And thanks!

With those lovely reviews out of the way, it is time to start the next chapter!

---

The unexpected alliance part two!

The new mission was going strong.

Since the little, very brief, pep talk from Ryouta, Hanabi seemed to snap out of the daze she was in. Rather than being fully okay, she was dealing with her inner struggles, that was as much as she could do at this moment in time.

Walking in a diamond formation, Shisui was at the front, Ryouta at the back, with Hanabi and Sai at the left and right position respectfully. Tazuna was in the middle, walking along while admiring the view...or lack of one.

It wasn't a bad view, from most perspectives. The forest was a green colour, and it did look to be full of life...but Tazuna couldn't help but ponder what it had been before, and what it was now, comparing it to something brilliant, and something that wasn't brilliant at all.

"Come on everyone." Shisui began, taking in the sights around him. "We've got quite a lot of ground to cover, and anything could happen at any moment. But...don't forget to stay alert. Even if you think this is a relaxed time, enemies can appear, so be ready for anything."

[Yes, Sensei!]

The team responded with their determination, even Hanabi showing such a determination now. Her face was the picture of it, though she couldn't forget what happened before, not yet.

Shisui could tell that Hanabi wasn't still one hundred percent. Even though she seemed to cheer up when Ryouta gave her encouraging words, she was also wondering what was going to happen with that, and how Hanabi was going to cope, though he hoped that she was going to be okay.

While walking, Ryouta allowed his thoughts to carry him away from the situation for a moment, thinking about something deeply.

"I wonder...if we come across any Shinobi...would it be like last time...? I couldn't face off against that mask...but I've grown stronger since then, and I've been training my butt off for years now...I wonder if I will be able to face down a strong Shinobi, a truly strong Shinobi like that thing from long ago that forced Itachi-nii and Izumi-nee to be separated from us..."

Ryouta often thought about it. How strong he had come, how strong he could be, and what he could do in the future. He didn't want to feel useless anymore, like he did that night so long ago, yet fresh within his memory. Even as he walks now, his mind kept going back to that night, the screams of pure terror filling his mind, which shook him slightly, but then he would shake his head, and mumbled "Focus on the mission." so quietly that not even Shisui could hear him.

At the same time, Hanabi was battling with her inner fears, worries, and happened to wonder what was going to happen next.

"Since this mission hasn't been cancelled...that must mean that Shisui-sensei and Ryou-kun believe in me...okay. I can't be a crying child anymore. I can think about it after the mission. For now, I will have to move forward, and go strong. I have to do this. I wont allow this mission to fail now."

Hanabi's inner strength increased a great deal. Though she wasn't back to her usual confidence, it didn't mean that she was lacking either. She was going to continue forth with what she needed to do, for her team, her friends, and the client as well.

While that happened, Sai kept looking between Ryouta, and the other two members of the team, including that of the Sensei, wondering what she should do now, as even she realized that this mission could be something that she couldn't handle.

"Hmmmmm, this has gotten difficult. I have to make sure that Ryou-kun is safe, but on the other hand, I don't know about the other two...though, Hanabi is what is called a 'friend' now...but she seems to be a liability. If Ryou-kun dies, then Danzo-sama would be displeased...I would be displeased if his kind smile went away. I have to protect the smile...and maybe even the other two...Shisui-sensei though, is strong. Even Danzo-sama is afraid of what he could do...I have to make sure that he doesn't suspect anything on my part."

Sai resolved this to herself as she continued walking onwards, a slight spring in her step which most would find odd from the young usually emotionless girl. It was something that she didn't even suspect to happen, but something within her at the time was...almost happy. She wasn't sure if that was the feelings name, but she was, for all intents and purposes, happy with the current situation.

While walking, Shisui and even Ryouta noticed something within a bush, a small rustling happening, but before they could say anything, Sai took out a kunai and threw it at the bushes, it hitting the tree behind it, startling the people around quite abit.

"Waaah!" Hanabi cried, looking towards Sai. "Wh-What are you doing all of a sudden!? You can't throw kunai's around like they are out of fashion!"

She roared, showing an unhappy disposition at the sight of Sai trying to hit something with a kunai, which she didn't know of since she didn't have her Byakugan activated right now, conserving strength for when she did need it.

"Y-Yeah, as Hanabi-chan said...y-you can't suddenly do something like that...it's wrong to..."

Tazuna looked quite shocked that she threw a kunai suddenly, always suspecting that she was the calmest of the group, but showed something that wasn't exactly calm about her.

Ryouta looked towards the spot that she threw the kunai, and saw that a small white rabbit had come out. Immediately, he went towards it, and picked it up, cradling it as he ran a finger down its spine.

"Geez Sai-chan. I know being prepared is good and all, but make sure that you don't kill innocent animals in the first place. Look at this guy, he is so frightened right now, he is literally shaking with fear."

Sai regarded the rabbit with furrowed eyebrows, as Shisui did the same. But before he could say anything, a small black crow in the sky drew his attention, letting out noises that Shisui recognized with some others flocking around it as well, but on the one Shisui was focusing on, there was something on its back, but Shisui couldn't make out what that was from its distance to him and it.

"Those noises...that particular crow and some others that feel like...it couldn't be after these years...Itachi? Izumi...san as well? But to think that Itachi and Izumi-san would...wait, what was that...did it say that an ambush...Zabuza...Ameyuri...those names are from the Mist...but why would they be here now..."

As Shisui was attempting to figure out what was going on, Sai faced Ryouta with an apologetic look on her face.

"Sorry, Ryou-kun. I thought that it was an enemy that has come to attack us. I didn't expect that it was anything other than that."

She bowed her head, apologizing as Ryouta continued to stroke the rabbits head, softly taking in its features, but in particular, the colour of its fur, which was indeed white, and not what it usually would be for this time of year.

"Hmmm, it seems to be something wrong with this...the colour of the fur is...something not for this time of year...unless it is held in captivity...and the only reason it would be out here is...a trap!"

Ryouta came to a sudden realization, and so did Sai, as she was on the same wavelength as he was.

---

He went to voice his thoughts, but it was at that time Shisui yelled "Get down!" in a gravelly voice, something that Tazuna, Hanabi and Sai opened their eyes at, having never heard the desperation within his voice.

"Tazuna-san!"

Ryouta immediately ditched the rabbit and lunged for Tazuna, knocking him to the ground as Sai and Hanabi both ducked, just in the nick of time as a large blade few overhead, going for Shisui.

Rather than allow the blade to pass over him, Shisui sensed something within himself, and used his speed to appear under the blade, and grab the handle, swinging it to the left hand side up above his head, to reveal a rain of ten kunai's being sent that way, thankfully the sword blocked the strikes of the kunai, deflecting them away from his students and Tazuna.

"That's my blade you're holding, I would like it back now!"

From up above, where the kunai's had come from, a large boorish voice surrounded the area, and popped out a man with bandages covering his mouth, using a kunai to stab towards Shisui.

"So, it is you! Zabuza! If you wanted to keep your blade, you shouldn't throw it around like it is going out of fashion, as my Genin would say!"

Shisui returned to his feet quickly, and used the large blade to clash against the kunai of Zabuza's, having a small struggle in the air for Zabuza and the ground for Shisui, before Shisui pushed away Zabuza who landed a few feet away from him, throwing his kunai straight for Shisui's face, only for the man to deflect it with the giant sword that he 'borrowed' from Zabuza.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!"

Using her swords as a medium, Ameyuri appeared from the opposite direction, and shot a powerful bolt of lightning towards Shisui. Shisui, noticing the lightning managed to dodge, only for Ameyuri to fire off some more towards Shisui, dashing around him so he didn't have a place to disappear to, coming from all sides.

"Heh, try and dodge those you bastard. This is what Ameyuri does, and it is pretty impossible to escape, even for someone like you." Zabuza smirked as he looked towards the Genin, who now returned to their feet and got in front of Tazuna in a protective stance, both Sai and Ryouta having their tanto's out while Hanabi had a shaky hand on a kunai. "That boy...he must be the one who is the murderer of the Uchiha clan...seems like to me that he is like Haku, gentle...but maybe I'm wrong. Plus the Hyuga girl is there, and the unknown girl, I wonder what their capabilities are? Best be careful, the Uchiha and the Hyuga especially, ones a so-called murderer, and the other is a Hyuga, I've heard they can do dangerous things...even Genin, cannot be underestimated when it comes to those clans."

Zabuza was quite ecstatic right now, looking at the Uchiha who according to rumours had done something no one was ever able to do, and assassinate the Uchiha clan within a single night, plus Hanabi, being a Hyuga, was a nice touch, in Zabuza's eyes.

"You wont be able to escape this, Shisui Uchiha!"

Ameyuri laughed, once her attack had been deployed fully. From the left, right, back and front, plus up above, many bolts of lightning rained down upon Shisui, who couldn't move, least of all be shocked by Ameyuri's opening attack.

Seeing that he didn't have any choice, as they were coming from all sides, Shisui threw the blade in the air, and wove through some hand signs, quick enough to make Zabuza and Ameyuri seem confused by it until he stopped, activating his Sharingan at the same time.

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

With his chakra, he made some water appear around him, and it soon formed a wall of water, surrounding all of his points, even covering his head.

"Tch, bastard."

Ameyuri complained as she returned to the ground, and saw that all of her lightning attacks only wrapped around the wall of water, securing Shisui's body from the assault of lightning.

"Water Release: Water Lightning Bullets!"

Manipulating the surrounding water, Shisui shot off the electrified water bullets towards Ameyuri and Zabuza.

"Hah! This is nothing to me!"

While Ameyuri, who had lightning blades, wasn't effected by the bullets of lightning surrounded water, cleaving through then as if they were nothing at all, Zabuza wasn't so lucky in that regard, and had to jump away, skillfully avoiding all of the bullets of lightning and water which shocked some parts of the area, destroying a tree in the process which burned down to the ground, but didn't cause a forest fire.

At that time, Shisui used his fame technique to get in front of his Genin, having Zabuza's sword in front of him in a defensive stance, while the three Genin looked on at the two Mist Jonin with wondering (and fearful in Hanabi's case) eyes.

Ameyuri walked towards the middle as did Zabuza, who was unaffected by the attack that Shisui gave them, though Zabuza was slightly more stamina drained due to the fact that he had do dodge, while Ameyuri didn't.

"Tch, you avoided our first assault which we planned out quite well, that's something quite good. Though we shouldn't expect anything different from Shisui of the Body Flicker, should we, Ameyuri?"

Zabuza gave a dirty smirk towards the pair, though looked at the sword within Shisui's hands, and hated it instantly, as that was Zabuza's blade, and he wanted it back, at all costs.

"Yeah, he is pretty good..." She smirked, and looked towards Ryouta. "Ooh, is this the famous 'murderer of Uchiha'? Did this kid really massacre an entire clan during a night? The waves of cuteness and innocence roll off him so sweetly. Sweetie, is it okay if I open you up, and see what's hiding inside that small body of yours?"

Ameyuri licked her lips sensually, and blew a dangerous kiss to Ryouta and gave a wink. Something about that was...sexy, in Ryouta's eyes, but scary as well, and wondered why she called him the person who massacred the Uchiha.

"E-Excuse me...did you say that I murdered the Uchiha?"

He was miffed at best, down right pissed off at worst.

He didn't want to be accused of doing anything to the Uchiha, which despite what they did, he loves with all of his heart, and is proud to have come from such a proud and noble clan.

"Yes, that's right, killer." Ameyuri confirmed, giggling slightly. "To think that this adorable boy is the one that killed the Uchiha, it is amazing what happens in this world. But, I suppose you had fun, didn't you? Did you laugh as the blood splattered all over you, the screams filling the night. And they say that we Mist people are badass, I can't say that I would've wanted to be in the Uchiha shoes, if adorable Uchiha-kun came after them during their sleep. Oooh, I can just imagine you laughing maniacally while screams and pleas come your way...alas, people like you and I do not care about such things, do they?"

As soon as Ameyuri had said this, Ryouta sharpened his eyes, the accusation leaving a bitter feeling inside of his body, and a disgusting taste in his mouth as well, something that he didn't like at all.

"I think you got it wrong. I'm nothing like you're saying. I've never even taken a human life at all, and when I do...I wont be laughing about it like you're suggesting. I wont be 'getting off' on killing, as that isn't me."

Ryouta told her with straight eyes, tempted to use her Sharingan.

But Ameyuri was cleaver enough to not peer into his eyes, knowing that if she did she could be placed under a Genjutsu, so she kept her gaze at shoulder level, avoiding the eyes all together.

"Hmmmm? What are you saying Uchiha brat? It is widely known that you're the reason the Uchiha were butchered in their sleep. Also, wasn't it you that also made sure that your Otou-sama was dealt with by the age of...hmmm, was it four or five again? Then you tried to assassinate Onii-sama there, who's protecting you as well, that's quite funny. I don't think I could protect someone who attempted to assassinate me."

The accusation that he received stunned him. Even Shisui was quite stunned, and wondered why Ameyuri would think that Ryouta was the one who killed the Uchiha that night when it was known that Itachi was the one who did it.

"D-Don't say such things! I wouldn't hurt Onii...I wouldn't do anything like you're suggesting. It wasn't me who wiped out most of the Uchiha, it was..." He paused, seeing the frown work its way onto Shisui's face, so continued with a lie. "I-It was Itachi-nii...Itachi Uchiha who did it, not me...I didn't have any involvement in that whatsoever, so stop saying those things."

"Hehehehehe, don't worry sweetie, I will make sure your death is swift, and quick. I'm not a sadist." Zabuza scoffed at that, which drew an annoyed look towards the gray skinned man. "Yeah, got something to say, someone who lost their sword because he can't keep a hold of it?"

Zabuza developed a tick mark by his forehead, gritting his teeth in mild frustrations.

"Tch, we all can't be hot headed lightning bitch like you are, Ameyuri."

Zabuza shot back at the redheaded woman, who clicked her tongue and swiped her blades downwards.

"Even if you say such things, it doesn't mean that you're going to be able to get your blade back. Unlike you, I don't make it a habit to throw my blade around a battlefield. That's rookie mistake 101, right there Zabuza."

It irked Zabuza to admit it, but in away, she was right. He thought that he would've been able to get Shisui off guard, but he wasn't quick enough for such things, and made it so that Shisui was now in possession of his butcher like blade.

"Whatever. We have to get it back off him."

"Fine, but don't come crying to me if he gets it off you again. And don't forget, you're the one that doesn't touch my prey. Ryouta Uchiha is mine, I'm going to be the one who extinguishes his miserable life."

As soon as the words left her lips, Shisui and Sai developed angry faces, for different reasons. One was out of pure love, a love that an elder brother held for his younger ones safety, and the other was...something akin, but also different to the love that Shisui felt.

Meanwhile, Ryouta and Hanabi had opened their eyes wide at Ameyuri's declaration, not understanding why she was doing something like this, as it didn't make sense to either of them.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart. You're the one who's going to kill the brat, I know. All I want is my bridge builder."

Zabuza confirmed it with a sly smile on his face,igniting some fear within Tazuna. But fortunately, he saw that Shisui had raised his blade, and pointed it towards both Zabuza and Ameyuri.

"Zabuza, and Ameyuri. The famous Ninja Swordsmen from the Mist. I've heard of you two, you're quite ruthless, with your Kiba Ameyuri, and Zabuza's...well, my blade now." That irked Zabuza who withdrew a blade from his pouch, a short sword at that. "Oh, still packing another blade with you, Zabuza?"

Shisui showed a ghost of a smile, worried for the three Genin behind him, and waved his hand, which gave the Genin the knowledge that they should get around Tazuna, which they did instantly, Ryouta at the front, Hanabi to the left, and Sai to the right, covering the man who was in the middle, all having some bladed weapon out, tanto's for Sai and Ryouta, while Hanabi had a kunai out, though she was shaking profoundly at the sight of the two Jonin level Ninja.

"Tch, it wont be like that for long, pal."

"Oh, we're pals? I didn't know that."

Answering Zabuza with a sly smile, the former Mist Ninja showed a bloodlust for Shisui like no other.

"There's a good bounty on your head, Shisui Uchiha. If I cash you in, then I will be able to get some good food. I think I wouldn't have to work for a few years if I killed you and brought your body for collection."

"Sorry, I don't feel like dying today, Zabuza. And Ameyuri, you're not going to get past me, so don't even bother trying."

He directed at the female swordsman, said girl having a wide smile on her face.

"Ara ara, you're showing such a nasty side to you right now. Maybe I should kill you as well, Shisui Uchiha?"

"Come and try then, Ameyuri Ringo. But I will tell you right now, attempt to hurt him...my Genin, then you'll have pissed off someone like me, and that's something you don't want to do."

As soon as she heard that, Ameyuri giggled a little bit, finding it quite funny on Shisui's end to make such a 'joke' as far as he could see it was anyway. That's how she thought it was, and that's how she wanted to see it as well.

"Kukuku, you're really gunning for me this time, aren't you? That's quite funny, Shisui Uchiha-kun. But don't worry, I will give your Otouto a good death, it will make things seem awesome in comparison. Now, lets see about that blade!"

Ameyuri, without wasting time lunged forward, and spun around. By doing that, lightning danced around her body in a glory mini tornado around herself, heading for the Uchiha Sensei.

Shisui took off forward with his amazing speed, and immediately found a weakpoint due to activating his Sharingan, and attacked from there, blocking the spinning attack that Ameyuri did without a worry.

"Ohhhh, good boy, but I'm not the main~"

She sang out as Zabuza came from the sky, having jumped up previously, and unleashed a hail of kunai towards the clashing Ameyuri and Shisui. Having no choice, Shisui pushed Ameyuri away, and spun the butcher like blade around like a propeller, sending the kunai's away from his body, and away from his students as well.

"These cheap tricks wont work on me, Ameyuri, Zabuza!"

Shisui boasted with confidence, but not letting down his guard for a second as he lunged for Ameyuri again. Because the blade was something he wasn't used to, weight wise, it slowed him down by two seconds, which allowed Ameyuri to dodge the swing Shisui gave, and shot off a thunderbolt straight at the male Uchiha.

"Cheep tricks, avoid this then you bastard!"

Ameyuri's confidence was displayed as a sadistic sneer made its way onto her face, which spelt trouble for most around, including that of Ryouta, who knew the killing intent was directed towards him.

Shisui avoided the blast of lightning, only to notice that more came his way in the form of small, but highly condensed lightning bolts that could pierce through flesh with ease.

"Sensei..."

Ryouta called, and wanted to help, but Shisui flashed him a smile, which made him relent from butting into the fight, Shisui's concentration returning to the battle at hand, which made it somewhat difficult to keep track of his Genin, having to trust in their abilities to do something like this.

Rather than be stupid and tank them, Shisui did the smart thing and ran around them, even with the added weight of the sword, he still avoided them without a worry, and then jumped up high and brought down the sword towards Ameyuri, sure that he had succeeded...but he hadn't.

At the last second, Ameyuri crossed her swords to form an X shape, allowing the large butcher sword to land in the middle of the X shape. When Shisui went to pull the sword away, before she could shock him using the sword as a conduit...but Ameyuri twisted her hands, capturing the blade, and grinned wildly.

"Sorry, but Zabuza-chan is the one who wants to have a little thundering with you...see what I did, thundering...?" Shisui cocked his head to the side with a slight confusion, drawing a sweat to drop from her forehead. "Whatever, just be shocked with my lightning bastard! I try and make jokes but they aren't well received!"

Ameyuri charged her swords, making them spark, and have lightning travel towards the blade that Shisui held. Seeing no other choice, he abandoned the sword, jumping back a few paces, leaving the sword in Ameyuri's care, who tossed it behind, Zabuza appearing there and caught it.

"I would thank you..."

"But you really hate it when you have to admit you screwed up."

Ameyuri finished with a sly grin on her face, Zabuza giving a small frown in return, but couldn't refute what the girl had said, and put his hands together in a small hand sigh, something that didn't escape Shisui's eyes, nor the eyes of the Genin.

As soon as Zabuza made this hand sign, Shisui knew what it was straight away, and saw that mist was gathering around the area, blanketing it in the fog, obscuring even his vision from seeing others.

Soon, both Ameyuri and Zabuza completely disappeared in the mist, as Shisui warned his Genin.

"Be ready, you guys! This is a Jutsu that creates mist, and is used for the Silent Killing technique! They'll strike at a weak point, so don't let them get to that point, okay?"

[Yes!]

The Genin replied, Ryouta immediately activating his Sharingan...but something was wrong. As soon as he activated it, he saw only the colour of Zabuza's chakra, and he couldn't see through the mist like he thought he would be able too.

"Hmmmm...this is...it has to be something...is it because the mist is made of chakra...? That's got to be it...because of the chakra that was used to make the mist, I cannot see through it...if it was normal mist, then that would be fine, but this is a mist I cannot see through...shit, that means my Sharingan will only be useful when they are close...I've got to use my other senses instead of relying on my eyes for this."

The boy concluded with himself, and rather than focus on using his eyes, he listened intently, Sai having already figured this part out for herself, and was listening as well, hoping she would be able to hear.

Hanabi on the other hand...wasn't coping well. All of the bloodlust in the air was making it difficult for her to stand properly, her legs were buckling under the pressure of the killing intent in the air. Her hands shook from immense fear, her eyes flickering open and closed like a dodgy light bulb. All of it was getting on top of her, and she wasn't sure if she would be able to do anything.

---

There was nothing but silence for a few seconds, before Ryouta suddenly felt breath on his neck, hearing "So sweet." within his ear that made him feel so much fear, but he swung for that direction anyway, to see Ameyuri stood there who blocked the strike with ease.

Hanabi (who had forgotten to use her Byakugan due to the fear she felt) and Sai were caught off guard by this woman as well, and went to strike, but she avoided their attacks with the same ease she fended off Ryouta with, and rushed towards the black haired boy.

"Sorry baby, but that's not how it works."

As she said that, she swiped for his neck. Thankfully, he did a back flip to avoid the blades powerful impact, for the most part. On his cheek, he felt a stinging, and then a small drop of blood run down his cheek and then a burning sensation appeared.

Done with the back flip, he put a hand to his cheek, and grimaced slightly at the wound, and knew that Ameyuri had used the lightning off the swords to increase the cutting power, and leave a burning sensation on his cheek.

"Shit, this woman is tough. I can't even sense any of her chakra. I'm not a Sensor Type by all means, but...I can usually sense chakra around me as a whole, and right now...I can't sense any...just what is she trying to do..."

Ryouta's thoughts were interrupted by Ameyuri who came out of the mist from right in front of him, having a sadistic smile on her face, something that could make most run away in fear.

"Don't think that's enough little boy! I'm gonna cut the meat off your bones and have myself a Shota feast tonight!"

KICK!

"Iyaaa!"

He cried, as Ameyuri crossed the distance, and kicked him in the side, sending him away from the others, separating him from Hanabi and Sai, Shisui having a slight panic attack at hearing his little brother's distress and wasn't sure if he was okay or not.

"I'm coming, Ryou!"

Even though he knew it would be something that was quite selfish, he couldn't allow Ryouta to fight someone like Ameyuri, guessing that it was her due to the way she had spoke about him beforehand, and rushed that way.

"No!" A voice said, spawning behind him. "Your fight is with me, not her!"

Zabuza appeared and swung the blade at him. Shisui, with his reflexes brought out his tanto and deflected the large incoming blade, parrying the mans attacks, and pushed him away, attempting to go to Ryouta...but Zabuza had other plans in mind.

Zabuza quickly lunged at Shisui, swinging his massive blade to Shisui's ribcage from the right, attempting to cleave him in half. Before he could, Shisui used his speed to narrowly avoid it, doing a back flip away from the blade, but in turn, that allowed Zabuza to get between him and Ryouta.

"If I knew what direction the girls where in...but since this mist is hard to see through, never mind pinpoint locations, I'm unsure...I can't blow it away so easily...I don't want to hit Ryou by mistake...shit, this is no looking good, they were really prepared, bringing two Jonin here...damn bastards. And then there could be a hidden enemy, I can't even forget that either."

As Shisui commented this to himself, Zabuza held a hand to his throat, as if he was going to choke himself, but that simply wasn't the case at all, something Shisui narrowed his eyes at.

"There are eight points...do you know what I'm talking about, Shisui?"

Zabuza commented and asked, Shisui narrowing his eyes at the barely visible rogue Ninja.

"If you're asking something like that, then I would have to guess that you're talking about the vital points on an opponents body. I don't have time for this shit, I've got to go and save-"

Before he could finish, Zabuza swung for his neck, fully intending to cut down the mans body. Shisui had enough sense to parry the large blade the best he could, and was thankful that he was as fast as he was.

"Ameyuri really is gunning for your Otouto, you know? She's going to kill him."

"Tch, you don't know my Otouto. Pushed against a wall, and he can achieve miracles!" Shisui declared proudly and honestly, but held back his true thoughts. "Come on Ryou...I know you can survive for as long as you need...you don't have to win, just survive until I come to your aid. After all, remember what you've been through...the mask was stronger than she is, and you lived through that, I know you can survive this."

Shisui couldn't help but smile slightly, which gave Zabuza a confused face.

"Whats with the smile? Thinking about your Otouto's funeral?"

Shisui to the everlasting confusion of Zabuza chuckled deeply.

"That's not it at all, I've been thinking about what you said, and how Ameyuri is going to kill my Otouto...but, she doesn't know something that I know about, and very few people do know about as well."

"Oh?" Zabuza asked, raising an eyebrow. "Whats this thing then? Something to do with...your Sharingan? It is useless within this mist, so don't get cocky and think you can use it now."

"Oh, it has nothing to do with the Sharingan...no, it hasn't gotten anything to do with that at all."

Shisui said with a cryptic smile on his face, something that irked Zabuza to no end if he was honest with himself at this moment in time.

"Then what on earth are you talking about?"

Zabuza demanded an answer as he lifted his butcher blade upwards, hauling it over his shoulder. Shisui answered Zabuza while continuing to chuckle.

"My Otouto, has Okaa-sama looking out for him. She's been doing it since day one, and she wont ever fail him, even if she isn't here anymore. So let us fight, Zabuza, so I can end this quickly, and then end you."

"Heh, those are some fighting words...then, let the battle commence!"

With that, the battle between Shisui and Zabuza went underway.

---

Where Ryouta was, it wasn't looking so hot. He had a cut on his cheek, blood pouring from it, and the worst thing was...he was alone, and that's what Ameyuri liked more than anything.

"Kekekeke!"

"Get lost!"

He roared, swinging behind him where the noise came from. But by the time he did, Ameyuri wasn't there anymore, leaving him in a state of confusion, only to feel a hand trail his spine.

"Ooh, what a lovely back you have, Ryouta-kun~"

Ameyuri teased, as Ryouta lifted his leg and went to give a kick, but with her Jonin reflexes, she stopped the kick with her arm, pushing it away and spinning back into the mist again, leaving Ryouta alone and worried.

"Where are you...?"

He asked this so quietly, that he wasn't even sure he had said anything at all. But Ameyuri certainly did hear him, and chuckled within the mist, Ryouta unsure of where it was coming from.

"Hehehehe, one little boy in the mist~ Whats going to happen next~ Will Onii-chan come and save him~ Or will the boy be dearly missed~ Hehehehehehehehee~" She gave a singsong type of voice, making the situation more creepier than it should've been. "Don't worry Ryouta-kun, it's okay. I'm gonna make you bleed from your body. I've heard Uchiha have tasty blood, can I please get a small sample from you?"

"Screw off!"

He yelled, swinging the blade in the direction he thought that Ameyuri was...but it turned out to be nothing at all, the sword simply cutting through the mist slightly, which then returned due to the potency of the mist itself.

"One two three...it missed me~ Hey isn't that a rhyme?"

Ameyuri's sadistic nature came through to Ryouta, who once again thought he had pinpointed her location, and send a kunai in that direction, rather than go over there himself as he thought that was the best course of action...but nothing came out of it at all.

The sound of feet could be heard all around Ryouta, circulating him like an animal hunting its prey as Ameyuri spoke again.

"Little boys shouldn't be out after the mist comes in. Should I take you home? Wait, where do murderers go when they die anyway? Is it to Hell, or Super Hell? Either way, let me know, when I send you to the other side!"

Suddenly, out of the mist, from behind him, Ameyuri popped out, and did a large swing of her arms with both blades, the lightning wrapped around them to make their cutting edge even more so than normal swords.

Ryouta was too slow to react in time, and received a wound on his back, but it wasn't that deep as he moved away from the area, chucking a few kunai in that direction in return, which he heard the sound of colliding metal, indicating that she had blocked the kunai.

"I can't receive much of them, the lightning is passing into my body, slowly making my body act differently than usual. And the cut doesn't help either...damn it, my back hurts from the attack she gave me...little bitch is getting on my nerves now...if this damn mist wasn't here then I would be able to do something..."

He mentally cursed himself for the lack of power he had right now.

Even though he was by far not weak, in mist as thick as this one is, it didn't make it easy for him to fight. As the blood dripped onto the ground, from the wound on his back, he heard Ameyuri again.

"Ooh dear, it seems I've caused a wound to appear. Is that a bad thing on my part? Am I a bad girl now? If that's it, then I have to make amends and be a good girl from now on."

Suddenly, with a small warning, Ryouta felt cuts appear on his body, lightning infused cuts at that. On his arms, legs, chest, back, and even his face, cuts of the Kiba blades appeared.

"Iyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Ryouta was defenseless to aid himself. He couldn't make a move against Ameyuri. He always praised himself on his speed, but right now, due to the attacks that seemed to come from everywhere, it was something that baffled his mind, cursing himself again and again for the weakness that he held, and most likely, knew that right now, he wasn't helping the situation by being an essential sitting duck.

---

As the screams of pain rang out from Ryouta Uchiha, Shisui heard them, and became distraught, hoping and basically pleading with himself right now that Ryouta was okay.

It had only been a few minutes since his battle with Zabuza had began. During that time, they fought pretty evenly. Shisui, unable to really use his Sharingan, had to rely on his other senses to help him, which was fine since he was a trained Shinobi and was able to do such things.

But Zabuza wasn't a slouch either. He was able to put Shisui into some dangerous situations. He was able to use his heavy blade to put pressure onto Shisui, who didn't like admitting it, but felt like he was going to have a difficult time with dealing with Zabuza.

"Hang on, Ryou! I'm coming soon!"

Shisui yelled over the fog, but he wasn't sure if had done anything in succeeding in helping the situation at all, hoping that he could have at least used some kind of assistance.

"Heh, aren't you a little optimistic, thinking you can deal with me so easily."

Zabuza mocked, swinging his large blade downwards in an attempt to split Shisui in half. Using his impressive speeds, Shisui evaded the slash, and landed a solid kick on Zabuza's stomach, sending him away from his body, hitting a tree, and brought it down due to the sheer power that Shisui used in his kick.

"Sorry but I don't have time to deal with you! I've got to go and protect my Otouto now!"

Shisui gave a fake apology, and ran forward with a smirk on his face. But Zabuza had other ideas.

"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"

Suddenly, from the mist, another Zabuza came out, wielding the same weapon he had, and gave a slash towards Shisui, the boy himself evading the blade without a worry, despite it being unexpected.

Skidding backwards away from the clone, Shisui looked on as Zabuza, and his clone stood side by side, next to one another in a victorious look in their eyes, as if they had won the battle already, when it was clear that it hadn't been won yet, from Shisui's prospective.

"I don't have time for your clone, Zabuza." Shisui glared, and instantly, waved through some hand signs, and put his mouth forward. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Using the fireball, a relatively small one since he didn't want to hit anyone else on the field, he fired it off towards Zabuza. The man was about to tank the fireball, but it was a mere distraction, as Shisui appeared next to the man, with his tanto, and swung for his neck.

"Argh!" Zabuza complained, as he received a cut on his arm from dodging Shisui's attack, mostly. "You damn bastard! You're really beginning to piss me off now, Shisui Uchiha!"

"Good!" Shisui commented with a sneer as he went for Zabuza's clone. "Take this!"

Shisui swung his blade at the neck of the clone, but the clone blocked it with his blade.

"Sorry, but that isn't..."

As the clone went to speak, Shisui sneered again, and had shown that his other hand had entered the clones watery body, and retracted his hand with a small smile on his face.

"Boom."

With those dark words, a localized explosion happened with the clone, making the dust appear within the air, destroying the clones watery body from existence, shocking Zabuza immensely.

"Where in the fuck did you-"

Zabuza's mind couldn't keep up, with Shisui teleporting (using his fast speed to appear as if he teleported that is) next to Zabuza, and quickly thrusted his blade towards Zabuza's chest area.

Zabuza, in some miracle, was able to divert the blade enough with his own blade in time so it wasn't a killing shot...but it still did stab him. His shoulder, received a wound on it, a thin, but deep wound at that.

"Fuck!"

Zabuza cursed as he brought out the blade from his shoulder, blood bursting from the wound at the same time, coating the ground in a deep crimson, which Zabuza was shocked at, having been stabbed despite being in his mist.

"Zabuza. I don't know why you fight, but I know why I do. And right now, my resolve to protect my Otouto...to protect my Genin is strong enough to defeat your mist. I don't give one if you think you can distract me enough. Because, once someone threatens my Otouto, then they're going to die...just like I did to my Otou-sama...I was the one who killed him, not Ryou, and I don't look back on it in the slightest, because all he was...was a cowardly bully."

Zabuza blinked at the new information as he quickly undid the cloth around his body, and fixed it against the wound, stopping its progression for a time at least.

"Hmph, if that's the case, then...I will just have to crush your little dreams of saving your Otouto. I don't care if you killed your Otou-san, all that matters to me is the bridge builders death."

"I see, then let us fight!"

With that, the battle between Zabuza and Shisui continued.

---

At the same time Shisui heard the scream, Hanabi, Sai and Tazuna also heard the cries of pain, and anguish.

"Ooh, that poor boy, is getting assaulted, because of me...I can't believe this...I never thought that I would be the cause of pain for someone like this...those cries, they must...to think I'm leaving my life in the hands of a preteen, while the adult me stands back and allows this to happen and can't do anything about it."

Tazuna dejectedly cast his eyes down, his expression glum and depressed.

He hated it, relying on the fact that a child, in his eyes, has to do this alone. Shisui was currently fighting for him, and now Ryou was as well. Two brothers fighting for him, while he was the one to lie to him. Even Tazuna, had pride within himself, and held himself accountable for this.

"Tazuna-san, Ryou-kun is strong. We have to believe in him, after all. Even if you went to him now, you would be killed, and then Ryou-kun would be killed to try and avenge your death. That's the person who he is. He wouldn't stop, even if you did something like that. Ryou-kun is a very caring person."

Sai was the one who surprisingly said these things. Tazuna was shocked that Sai was the one who said these things, while Hanabi herself cast her eyes downwards to the ground.

"I'm doing it again...I'm a member of the Hyuga clan...I'm a strong girl, I came out top of my class along with Satsuki-san who would be able to help Ryou-kun in this situation. I tried my best for those years, to prove to Otou-sama...to prove to everyone that I'm not just a weak member of the Hyuga clan...I'm strong as well...but I can't move...the fear is too great for me...I can't even move my fingers, if they came for us now, then we would be dead...I can't do this...maybe I should just give up..."

Hanabi wallowed in self pity, and doubt. She didn't know what to do anymore...she didn't even know if she could do anything at this point. Shaking in fear, Hanabi's eyes cast towards where she heard the screams, as Tazuna noticed it as well.

"You...can go, if you want? I can tell, you want to go and help that kid inside there...I don't blame you actually."

Tazuna spoke to the confusion of Hanabi.

"W-What are you saying? I couldn't, even if I wanted too. I have...to protect you, Tazuna-san. I...I wouldn't be much help anyway...I would only get in the way, like the time with the Demon Brothers...I didn't do anything that time either...and now, Ryou-kun and Sensei are fighting for their lives, and all I can do is shake and shiver in immense fear...you're right, Tazuna-san."

"Hmmm? What was I right about?"

Tazuna didn't quite understand what was going on, and decided to question it further.

Hanabi cast her eyes downwards, as more cries and a small explosion went off from Ryouta and Shisui respectfully.

"You said...that I was...a child. Remember? I might as well be blind, the good these eyes have done for me. I can't even use them to protect my friends. You see...I'm a Hyuga, and we claim to be the strongest in Konoha...but right now, I'm not doing anything that shows how impressive they are."

Hanabi explained to the saddened Tazuna, who regretted saying what he said before.

"Heh...don't say such things, Hanabi-chan." Tazuna began, shaking her belief. "You're...I was the one that was wrong. I said that the Uchiha boy was a dopey nine year old who wouldn't be able to do anything, but right now, that child...that man is fighting for me. I know for a fact that he could run away if he wanted, but he's fighting for some Ojii-sama like me, when I was the one who...hell, I will admit that I bullied you two. It was stupid and insensitive of me. And I was wrong about you as well. You might be scared, but...I know for a fact that he believes in you."

Those words shocked Hanabi's eyes open wide, as Sai tilted hers to the side to see what was going on with Hanabi.

"W-What did you say...?"

"Huh? Which part?"

Tazuna's question was met with silence as Hanabi began thinking about something from her past.

---

Flashback!

At the tender age of eight and seven respectfully, Ryouta and Hanabi sat together during lunch time for the Academy, a rare occasion where Satsuki wasn't sat with Ryouta, and sat with Hinata, discussing things amongst themselves. Ryouta looked to be pretty banged up, due to what happened not long ago with the massacre, his arm still having been in a cast from the amount of damage that he received from that time.

"Ryou-kun, here, let me get that. You've not got a good arm right now, so let me do it."

Hanabi offered, and gripped the box he was trying to open. Once she had opened it, she brought out the food, and placed it on the table.

"Aah...thanks, Hanabi-san. It was quite difficult."

He expressed his thanks, and used his one good hand to lift up and take a piece of his sandwich, placing it in his mouth.

"Ryou-kun...those injuries you have, they are really bad. You didn't have to come into the Academy today, didn't Iruka-sensei say that it was okay to have some more time off?"

The young Hanabi noted with a sigh escaping her lips.

"Yeah...I guess they are and yeah he did which was kind of him, but it is fine. I am fine with these types of wounds now."

He confirmed it with a strained smile. Though still in pain, he didn't want to alarm Hanabi to the pain that he was feeling right now, and made sure that she didn't have to worry about him.

"But Ryou-kun...there's something that I don't get."

Hanabi's spoken words made Ryouta furrow his eyebrows in thought and confusion.

"Hmmm? What don't you get, Hanabi-san?"

Hanabi bit her lip a little bit, attempting to think of a good way to ask the question. Eventually, she was able to think of a good way to put it across, hoping that she would be able to convey these words to the girl.

"The...wounds. I mean...the Uchiha, weren't nice to you...yet you put your life on the line for their survival. Why did you...do something like that? You faced off against Itachi Uchiha-san, and defended the people who abused you in the past. Why did you do something like that?"

Hanabi didn't understand it herself. She was quite confused about it, and wasn't sure how she would be able to do what he had done with Itachi (that's who she thought it was) and how he seemed to not even care about it.

"Because...I had to do it, that's why."

"Had too? What do you mean? You didn't have to do something like that. They were horrible to you, and you almost died protecting them, protecting Satsuki-san as well. I remember her saying how you took a sword for her."

Ryouta gently shook his head to what Hanabi said, and went to explain to the white eyed girl.

"I did though. It was my clan. Even if they hated me, I did it for my clan. I did it for the pride, and the survival of my clan. Even these injuries don't matter, because I was able to protect the people that I came from. Even if they hated me, it didn't matter in the slightest. I was able to defend them. These wounds are a small price to pay for what happened that night, and how I see Uchiha families being happy together. That little girl I saved often brings me baked treats...though they don't taste that good, the thought is still there, and it is more than I have ever gotten before from most Uchiha."

Hanabi listened with a quietness that made it seem unusual with the girl, but Ryouta could only smile at her.

"But...even then, weren't you scared?"

"Petrified."

Ryouta confirmed it with a small smile on his lips, making Hanabi's eyes blink like flashing lights.

"I...don't understand...you, were petrified...why didn't you run away? No, how did you even move to begin with, if you were petrified, exactly?"

In Hanabi's eyes, that's what she thought that she would do in a situation like that. But Ryouta didn't see it that way, and continued the conversation, explaining to her what was what.

"Because...there was no one else. No one else was coming to save them. Konoha didn't know about it, until it was too late, and I was the only Ninja around. Nii-chan wasn't there...but he's back now...and the others were either dead or hurt like Mikoto-san was. But...it didn't matter to me, because even though I was frightened, it was something that I had to do."

"Even if you say that...I don't know if I could do something like that. That person...Itachi-san was...scary. He was stronger than you were...yet you stood to face him, knowing that you'd have to either forfeit your life, or come close to it...yet you weren't scared?"

"I was scared, but I put that aside. As Shi-nii told me, turn fear into strength...it is common to be afraid in battle. But the trick is that the Ninja turns their fears into strength."

"Fear...into strength?"

Hanabi absentmindedly spoke, only to gain a nod in return from Ryouta.

"Exactly, turn fear into strength. The Ninja that fights in battle and says that they weren't afraid is either stupid, insane, or lying. But the trick Shi-nii taught me was even though you're afraid, you can use your fear, and put it to good use, to fuel your survival and give you the strength to continue fighting for your friends, for yourself as well."

"Hehe...maybe you can do that, but I can't do something like that...though it isn't like I plan to get afraid in battle. I am a Hyuga after all. If I was afraid, I wouldn't be a very good Hyuga, would I?"

Ryouta chuckled, and gave her a head pat with the one good hand that he had.

"Even if you don't...don't forget, Hanabi-san. Even if you're afraid, think about turning that into strength. Because, I know that Hanabi-san is very strong, and I know she wouldn't let fear overtake her. I know that Hanabi-san is very powerful, her inner strength would be able to turn the absolute fear into powerful strength."

"Ryou-kun I..."

She began to tear up a little bit, Ryouta continuing to smile happily.

"Don't worry Hanabi-san, I believe in you."

End Flashback!

---

"Don't worry Hanabi-san...I believe in you..." Hanabi echoed the words that she heard so long ago, strength filling her eyes. "Turn fear...into strength...turn fear into strength...believe in yourself...believe and use your fear to fuel your survival...I have to do it...because no one else will...only I have my eyes..." As Hanabi said this, she put her hands together into a sign, looking directly ahead. "Byakugan!"

She activated her famous Dojutsu, veins around her eyes, signifying that she had it activated. And as soon as she did, all around her became as clear as day, and she could see the fights between Zabuza and Shisui, and Ameyuri and Ryouta.

"Hanabi..."

Sai went to question, but the girl focused her eyes onto Ryouta, who was seething in pain at this moment in time. Ameyuri was close, having stopped her initial assault on his being, watching with sharp eyes, moving closer and closer, sparks going off from her blade, ready to attack at any second.

"Ryou-kun! Dodge to the left, now!"

Ryouta opened his eyes wide, and did what Hanabi commanded, narrowly avoiding the blades that came down on Ryouta, shocking Ameyuri immensely.

"W-What in the fuck...?"

Ameyuri was thoroughly confused and pissed off that he somehow was able to evade thanks to the fact that Hanabi had said something when it shouldn't be possible to do anything like that, but pressed on anyway, and did an assault towards Ryouta.

"Ryou-kun! Listen to me, okay! And breathe fire on your blade as well! It should help you in this! Even if she has lightning swords, fire should at least somewhat level the playing fields!"

"H-Hanabi-chan that's..."

He spoke, breathing fire as Hanabi commanded, using chakra flow to aid him in his fighting.

"Left! Right! Left! Block to the side and pivot on your feet, send your foot to the left!"

Hanabi ordered, and he did just that. He avoided a swipe from the left, a stab from the right, evading another attack from the left which was made of pure lightning, then used his own blade to block the lightning swords, then pivoted on his feet, sending a delivering kick to Ameyuri, sending her skidding across the ground.

---

As he did this, Shisui heard Hanabi, and wore a proud smile on his face.

"With Hanabi-chan, Ryou might be able to at least stop the advances of the woman before too long, and will allow me the time to deal with Zabuza, then get to my Otouto."

As he thought this, he fended off Zabuza's blade attacks, finally able to fully concentrate on the fight at hand as Zabuza's patience was wearing thin if he was honest with himself.

---

At the same time, Hanabi continued giving orders to Ryouta. Somehow, he was able to avoid the worst of it, and parry her attacks. Though Ameyuri still beat him hands down due to being who she was, somehow with Hanabi's guidance, it leveled the playing field in their favour, even if only slightly.

"Even though I'm giving this my all, I don't know how to do something like this yet...I need to do something like that...but wait, what's that?" Hanabi saw something with her Byakugan, within the trees. "I didn't notice it at first, but there is...someone there. Someone is up there, but...who is it? Someone else is watching our fight...but who it is, I do not know."

Hanabi wore a troubled face, wondering who the person she saw was.

"Hanabi, what's troubling you?"

Sai could see it within her face, and decided to question it further.

Hanabi blinked once, and informed her friend in a quiet whisper.

"In the trees, there is someone there, observing this fight."

Hanabi was wary of this being. She wasn't sure what to make of this.

"Friend or foe?"

It was the most simplest question that Sai could manage to say.

Hanabi though, didn't really have an answer for her, shrugging her shoulders softly.

"I don't know...but at least, she doesn't seem to be making aggressive movements, but I can't focus on her while helping Ryou-kun dodge. But Sai...you've got to help Ryou-kun, that woman is too much for him. She's got to be at least Jonin, and it took all of us to take Anko-sensei, and even then, Anko-sensei was holding back and underestimated us, something I don't think this woman is going to do. You've got to aid him, at least until Shisui-sensei finishes his fight with that Zabuza."

"I see, but what about the protection of Tazuna-san? Don't we all have to protect him?"

That's what Sai thought. While she wanted to help Ryouta out with his battle, she wasn't sure if she should leave Hanabi alone to fight against this unknown enemy, incase that she was more than she seemed.

"If you can fight back to back with Ryou-kun, then you'll be able to cover each others weaknesses, their back. Right now, in the mist, it is difficult to pinpoint, much less cover your own back. But if you go back to back with him, then I can use my Byakugan to keep an eye on our mysterious friend or foe up there, and look around my area as well, just incase that person or someone else appears. Don't worry about me, I'm going to keep Tazuna-san safe. I'm the best person for this kind of protection, since I can see all around me at a good radius, and I am the only one who can see through this mist. I've been acting too out of it for my tastes, so now, I'm going to do what I can to protect Tazuna-san, and help my friends as well. That's what I have resolved to do."

Hanabi was determined.

Now more than ever, she wasn't going to be a freeloader. She wasn't going to be the girl that stood back and whimpered about everything. She was now going to do something that only she could right now, and be the eyes of everyone around.

Sai looked at the resolve within Hanabi, and agreed.

"Okay, I will go and back up Ryou-kun. Please be safe."

Hanabi nodded once with a resolute smile on her face.

"Yes, you as well. Keep each other safe, and leave Tazuna-san to me."

"Do not worry, I will do it. Just keep Tazuna-san safe, and I will do my best to aid Ryou-kun with this Ameyuri Ringo girl. Though she's a tough opponent, even with me and Ryou-kun together, it is going to be something difficult."

With a single nod, Sai went into the mist, leaving Hanabi alone with Tazuna.

"Tazuna-san, please remain close to me."

Hanabi ordered, Tazuna doing it without a worry, seeing how the girls whole demeanour has changed from what it was to what it is now, glad that she has strengthened her resolve.

"You seem to have picked up your strength, Hanabi-chan. How did you come back to being the usual you?"

Tazuna noted with a proud smile on his face, as if he was staring at his own grandchild, and then followed up with a question for the young Hyuga girl. Said girl merely cocked her head back with a smile on her face.

"Hmmmm, because a boy once said that he believed in me...and if he believes in me, I have to start believing in myself as well. I can't do the crying thing, because I am a Hyuga, and I do not want to appear weak in front of the Uchiha. Hyuga claim to be the strongest, I will just have to show these people who I am now."

Seeing her eyes, Tazuna's face broke out into a smile.

---

"Hyaaa!"

Sai exclaimed, making it to the battlefield, and slashed at Ameyuri who was near Ryouta. Ameyuri danced around the blade, and was forced to jump back when Ryouta slashed at her as well.

"Sai-chan..."

Ryouta breathed heavily, standing on wobbly legs. Sai looked at him, and saw that he was covered in wounds from head to toe. Cuts, bruises and even burn marks on his body. It appeared as if he had been through something terrible.

"Ryou-kun, can you continue fighting?"

Sai asked with a small amount of emotion, something Ryouta nodded at, even if he was exhausted, feeling like he could die at any second.

"Yes, I will fight on, don't worry."

Even though he said that, Sai knew that it wasn't the case at all. It was as if he was lying to himself, but right now, she knew that even if he was, she needed him to combat Ameyuri, as even with her Root training, she wouldn't be able to take Ameyuri alone.

"I think that you should die!"

Ameyuri announced as she lead the charge against Sai and Ryouta. She had forgone hiding in the mist anymore, slashing at both of them at the same time. Raising their blades, Sai and Ryouta clashed against the girl in question, who fought them both off, one hand for one Genin.

"D-Don't suddenly say something like that!"

Ryouta complained, parrying her explosive renewed determination through his blade coated in fire. The lightning around the blade called Kiba wrapped around Ryouta's blade and snuffed out the flames, leaving a single metal blade underneath.

Seeing that, Ameyuri was proud of her efforts, and attempted an attack on Ryouta's metal blade. But at the last second, Sai intervened and blocked the strike, giving Ryouta enough time to land a direct blow on the girls body...or he thought so anyway, as Ameyuri had moved her slim body to the side, avoiding the punch and then pushed Sai away, slashing at Ryouta again.

This time, Ryouta's Sharingan was able to aid him since she was close, allowing him to read her movements, avoiding the lightning blade, only for Ameyuri to do a spinning attack, cutting the air around her.

"Hah!"

Ryouta and Sai jumped backwards in unison, narrowly avoiding the spinning attack that she gave, only to be shocked when she stopped, unleashing a bolt of pure lightning.

Using each other, they pushed away from each other at speeds they wouldn't be able to do otherwise, the lightning harmlessly passing by them, saving them from total annihilation.

Returning together, they went onto the assault again, slashing towards Ameyuri. The girl took note of them, and due to being so close, she didn't have time to think and block the attacks.

For a minute or so, Sai and Ryouta had Ameyuri on the ropes. Due to the fact that they were surprising her, she was quite unsure of how to go about killing these children in front of her.

"To think that they would be able to push me like this. The Uchiha is...different to what I expected, and this unknown girl has skills that put most Chunin to shame. This isn't what I thought it would be, I've got to get them to back off. I've got to get the upper hand...together, it might be a hindrance, but I should still be able to win. No matter how tough they are together, they cannot match a Jonin like me...Shisui Uchiha on the other hand will no doubt be able to overpower Zabuza later on if they continue fighting. I suppose that I should take out these two Genin, and then help Zabuza. That's what I need to do, Shisui Uchiha is too dangerous to fight one on one, Zabuza will lose eventually."

As she was thinking about it, Sai drew a couple of snakes from ink, and sent them at Ameyuri.

"Super Beast Imitation Drawing: Snakes!"

As Sai announced this, Ryouta sent off a few fireballs towards the snakes, engulfing them in the flames, all burning the ground below them in the glorious blaze, heading for the sword wielding girl.

"You think this is going to do me in!?" Ameyuri raged, and sliced the snakes apart with lightning wrapped around the blades, protecting herself. "Die you bastards!"

Losing her calm demeanour, Ameyuri came at Sai and Ryouta again and again. Slashing expertly, she was able to use one hand for one Genin to keep them both at the same level.

Once gaining the advantage, Ameyuri pushed Sai out of the way, knocking her back until she hit a tree. That's when she set her sights on Ryouta's form, a gleam within her eyes.

"Sorry boy, but you're on my list of dead things. I don't usually say this, but to me...you don't look evil, but I don't see why that person would lie about such things, so I'm gonna have to kill you now."

Ryouta stiffened his body and took a defensive stance. Ameyuri lunged forward, swiping with her swords. Ryouta swung his blade to intercept, but Ryouta's blade was knocked away.

"N-No!"

He cried out, seeing that he didn't have much of anything left anymore. From the assault he got before, he was quite exhausted, and didn't know what else to try. As the blades neared him, he resigned to his fate and apologized to Shisui within his mind, sorry that he would have to go now.

"It is time to-"

"Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

From up above, the thing that was on the crows back before, suddenly fell off to reveal a fluffy white kitten.

"W-What the fuck was that!?"

Ameyuri stopped her attack, and looked up...and wished that she hadn't.

"Nyaaaaaaaaa!"

The cat landed on Ameyuri's face, and slashed at her cheek, leaving a cut mark there. As it did that, Ryouta noticed that the cats claws had something akin to a purple substance on it.

"What the fuck is this fucking cat doing!? Get this crazy pussy off my face! Shit! Get off me you whore cat! You're pissing me off now!" Ameyuri was having a comedic struggle with the cat, flailing her arms about as the cat continued to claw her face again and again. "You fucking slut cat! I hate you and I hope that you die you little bitch! Owwwwwwwww! That hurt you hooker cat! You little slag! I hope you burn in hell bitch!"

She roared this and somehow was able to get the cat off her face, which landed next to Ryouta. As soon as the cat got off her, Ameyuri saw double vision, mumbling "Aah shit." and fell to the ground, to her knees, panting, her eyes swirling around in her head.

Ryouta looked towards the cat, and furrowed his eyebrows, and then smelt something he hadn't smelt in such a long time before now, and opened his eyes in mild shock.

"I...Izumi-nee..."

Those two words were enough to send him into shock. Seeing this cat, smelling it was enough to convince him that this was in fact Izumi's cat. He didn't know if it was a summon or something else, but whatever it was, he knew that it came from Izumi Uchiha.

The cat regarded him with a playful wag of its tail, and tilted its head to the side, purring slightly. Hearing that, it was as if the cat was confirming what he thought to be true, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Izumi-nee...even after all of these years, you've sent this cat to give me protection...haven't you? You're...amazing Izumi-nee...thank you, for giving me this chance...you saved my life, again. Thank you...Izumi-nee...I love you..."

He smiled gently towards the cat, giving its head a pat. The cat snuggled against his hand, then disappeared in a burst of smoke, its duties fulfilled, but left behind a small note. Ryouta immediately picked up the note, and stashed it into his pocket as Sai came to join him again.

During this, Ameyuri had recovered, almost at least, feeling woozy from the feeling of the cats claws digging into her skin. Even though she felt confused and disoriented, she still could fight. She felt that it was the case that she could fight anyway.

"R-Ready to finish this ladies and Shota?" She mumbled, and looked upwards. "Damn, the stars are screaming at me...screaming...why are you screaming at me...I haven't done anything!"

Sai and Ryouta shared a look between the two as Ameyuri swiped the sky with her blades, believing that something was there, then Ryouta was the one to comment on it.

"Eeh...are you okay?"

"Shhhh, you're not made of Tuesday..."

That only set more confusion into Ryouta and Sai merely looked at her as if she was insane.

"No, I don't..."

Ameyuri's mind was becoming slightly messed up, but then she slapped herself across the face to the shock of Sai and Ryouta, giving herself a shock in the process from her blades, something she intended to do.

"Oww! Shit!" She complained, shaking her head. "Damn it, that fucking cat gave me some hallucinating drug...I need to do something...but fuck it. Say kiddies, I'm gonna have to kill you now before this drug makes me see something weird!"

Ameyuri sent a daring smile towards Ryouta and Sai, and despite being exhausted, knowing that Izumi hadn't forgotten about him was enough to give him the strength to continue fighting.

"Lets finish this, Sai-chan. We've got to hold out until Shisui-sensei arrives to finish her off."

Nodding at the boy, they both charged forward towards Ameyuri who did the same, on shaky legs, feeling the effects of whatever the cat did to her, making her feel dizzy, and sick, but she still had more than enough to fight the pair on equal grounds.

---

With Zabuza and Shisui, their fight had been drawn out for awhile now. Neither seemed to be gaining the advantage.

If Shisui could use his Sharingan, he knew that he could beat Zabuza. But due to the heavy mist, it was coating him and leaving the vision in the area to be a minimal.

Yet at the same time, Zabuza was hanging on by a thread. Shisui lived up to the name. He was fast, faster than he thought that Shisui would be, and knew that if it kept going, he was going to lose, so he would have to do something quickly.

"You're amazing, Shisui Uchiha. Under normal circumstances, I think that I would lose. You're skilled, your use of a blade is fantastic. I can't say anything negative about you. I'm proud to cross swords with someone like you."

Shisui smiled at the compliment, and parried Zabuza again, sending the blade to the left, and went for a kick, but Zabuza effortlessly dodged the ground, following up with a body cleaving slice, which was stopped by Shisui's tanto.

"Thank you, Zabuza. You're also skilled. I haven't been pushed like this in quite awhile. I wager you could give most Jonin in Konoha a run for his, or her, money. However..."

"However...what?"

Shisui smirked and disappeared, only to reappear to the side, and deliver a bone crunching kick to his rips, cracking one of them in the process as a released a small howl of pain, falling a fair distance to the floor, though recovered quickly as Shisui towered above him.

"The difference between me and you is, I have someone to protect. And that's the difference between us, Zabuza. My strength comes from my desire to protect my Otouto, and my team. Not to come off as preachy, but if you have or find something like that, then you should...cherish it. My Okaa-san said bonds are what keep us strong, and if you manage to walk away from this, then take my words to heart."

Zabuza, at this moment in time, didn't want to listen to anything that Shisui was saying. But something inside of him listened to Shisui, even if he wasn't consciously aware that he was listening to Shisui.

"Tch, weak words. Bonds don't make you strong, you make yourself strong."

Shisui bowed his head, swinging his tanto to the side.

"Then, that's your downfall, Zabuza. Mark my words."

With those words, the battle between Zabuza and Shisui continued, with Shisui giving a more dominating fight towards Zabuza.

---

Ten minutes into the battle, Hanabi was getting worried. She could see what was happening, and didn't know how to handle it. Even though she could see, she couldn't do anything. The mist was as thick as ever, and the fighting continued with no real outcome. Though she could tell that Ryouta wouldn't be able to last long, and Sai was being pushed back by a good degree.

However, she couldn't help but notice that the Ninja above wasn't moving. Even for a solid ten minutes since she noticed, nothing has happened. It was as if she was a statue, only keeping her eyes on the battlefield, and that was it.

"If this wasn't an issue, then Shisui-sensei and Ryou-kun would be able to use their Sharingan's to aid them in the battle with the Genjutsu that they possess...that's...wait, the mist is still...thick, even though it has been over ten minutes since the mist was cast...could it be that the girl up there is..." Hanabi focused on the masked girl, and found that chakra was dispersing from her. "It is, she's using her chakra to keep the mist activate...I must've not noticed because of the fact that I wasn't looking for such things and looking around for other enemies...they must know that because of Sensei's and Ryou-kun's Sharingan, it would be something that they cannot do...I have to do something about the mist...I have to go and do something about her so she'll stop casting the Jutsu...but if I leave, Tazuna-san would be...defenseless. And I don't know her fighting capabilities, so engaging in one on one isn't going to be my friend."

Hanabi was quick to realize that this was a problem, and she wasn't sure on how to sort the problem.

She looked through her pouch, and found that she had some paper bombs. Without worry, she wrapped them around some kunai that she had, and took aim at the spot where the girl casting the Jutsu was.

"Tazuna-san, get to my front, alright?"

"R-Right, I will do as you say."

Tazuna did it without complaint, and silently moved towards her front area. Once making sure that Tazuna wouldn't be hurt if the girl came for her, Hanabi was ready to enact her plan.

"Take this!"

Hanabi chucked the kunai towards the girl in question, knowing that she was an enemy now, and then threw some more as well, all having bombs attached to them which she used her Byakugan to pinpoint a good location to throw them with succession in mind.

The masked girl looked on with shock that she had been discovered, and immediately stopped the Jutsu which cleared the fog away almost instantly, and jumped upwards, forwards, away from the kunai which stuck into the tree, a sizzling noise coming from them.

DON! DON! DON! DON! DON!

A myriad of explosions happened where the kunai's hit the tree, shocking everyone around.

---

Shisui looked towards the bombs explosion, mumbling "Hanabi must've done it." before quickly using the distraction and slashed forward with the intent to bisect Zabuza right there and then.

Zabuza blinked, knowing that the girl was discovered, and only saw the blade going for his torso once it was close enough, jumped back to avoid, only to get a large gash on his torso. Seizing his chance, Shisui lunged forward, and did an assault of kicks on the large man, sending him crashing into a tree.

Zabuza hit the back of the tree, breaking it from the force that Shisui used and mentally growled.

"Seems like Haku was found out. This battle isn't going in our favour, we have to retreat and come up with a different plan of attack...maybe we could get some more forces..."

---

At the same time that happened, Sai, Ryouta and Ameyuri were all confused on what was going on. But unlike Shisui who used the opportunity, Sai and Ryouta were the ones caught by surprise when Ameyuri wore a sadistic smile, and lunged at Ryouta.

"Time to die kiddy!"

Ameyuri had a bloodlust that wasn't going to be extinguished by anyone, and once she neared Ryouta, she made a swipe for him. At the last second, Sai appeared, and elbowed her away from the exhausted Ryouta, saving him from certain death.

Ameyuri did a couple of flips in the air, and landed on the ground, though was quite unsteady on her feet. Due to what Izumi's(?) cat did before, she was feeling quite dizzy, getting dizzier by the second.

"S-Shit...this is..." Ameyuri mumbled to herself, and looked towards Zabuza. "Shit, he's also getting done by Shisui Uchiha. We need to plan this, I didn't expect that cat and those two to put up as good a fight as they did. Damn them..."

She quickly dashed over to Zabuza...but fell flat on her face as she made it to him, something Zabuza sweatdropped at. At the same time, the mysterious Ninja appeared before Zabuza and Ameyuri, in a protective stance.

This girls eyes looked over the area, seeing Shisui getting next to Ryouta and Sai, checking their condition, and Hanabi still standing in front of Tazuna in a protective stance.

But then, she saw something that shocked her more than she thought she would. Her eyes, and Ryouta's eyes briefly met one another's, though his Sharingan had disappeared now, to conserve some chakra, and she mentally gasped, remaining stoic outside.

"Those eyes...I remember now. From those years before...it was the same boy. The one that returned my...yes, I remember now...to think that Ameyuri-san was after this boy...his eyes still look the same as back then...no, they seemed to have experienced more pain than before...but, they are strong, kind eyes. Those eyes are...the ones that known pain, yet continue to smile...I can't understand why Ameyuri-san would want to kill him...he's got pure eyes...he hasn't ever murdered anyone before, I can tell this much. Whatever lies Ameyuri-san was told, was just that, lies."

As the girl thought about this, Shisui checked over Ryouta.

"Damn, Ryou...you alright? These wounds are..."

Even though Shisui was concerned, Ryouta waved off his concern, and stood up on shaky legs.

"Y-Yes...I'm fine. I got..."

"You got what?"

"Nothing...but Sensei. Ameyuri-san is...tough. She's too much for the current me and Sai-chan."

Shisui nodded, and stood in front of them in protection, as Sai held Ryouta close, so he doesn't fall to the ground. Even she could tell that he was getting closer and closer to the point of passing out.

Shisui looked on as Ameyuri shook on her legs, and Zabuza wasn't on any other stable legs either. Their fights with the Konoha group didn't go in their way. Though Ameyuri's 'defeat' was due to the poison that the cat had on its claws, messing with Ameyuri's insides, and giving her various conditions.

"Ameyuri, we've got to regroup. We both cannot continue."

Ameyuri nodded, her eyes rolling around everywhere.

"Y-Yes...lets retreat for now...we've got to get going...shit...why is the sky singing to me right now...? Not again, that bitch cat gave me drugs, I'm scared of what's happening to my mind...fuck off! You can't have me you bastard sky! I'm not your bitch!"

Zabuza casually looked to the side, quite worried about what she was talking about. But then she slapped herself again, knocking some sense into her.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you run away, now?"

Shisui broke into their conversation, and though he was panting slightly, he was ready to fight against them both if need be. He was confident with their conditions the way they were, they should be able to kill them if need be.

Zabuza's eyes fell to Haku, who was still looking at Ryouta.

"Haku, use your Ice to create an escape route for us." The named Haku didn't move at first, staying still. "Haku! Snap out of whatever trance you're in, and help us get away right now!"

That snapped Haku out of whatever thoughts she was in, and she looked towards Zabuza, nodding her head once.

"Yes, Zabuza-sama. Allow me to do this for you." Haku wove through some hands signs, with one hand which immensely impressed Shisui, then pointed her hand forward. "Ice Release: Certain Kill Ice Spears!"

"Ice Release...a Kekkei Genkai! It has to be!"

Shisui announced as the water rose from the small lake nearby, and turned to giant spears of ice. Using them, Haku shot them towards Shisui and the others, using quite abit of chakra to use countless of these ice spears.

"S-Shisui-sensei!"

Ryouta called, and with a grabbing of the pair, Shisui Body Flickered away with the two, the spears nailing in the ground they were stood on. But Haku, using her immense control over the spears of ice, directed them towards where they showed up...where Tazuna and Hanabi were.

"D-Damn, it seems that she can control them like that...but she must be using a lot of chakra to put so much density into the ice spears and to manipulate them like she is right now. But..."

Shisui then saw something that made him gasp.

What he saw was Zabuza manipulating the water around in the lake to the side, and it formed a serpent that looked to be like a Dragon serpent, made entirely of water, and saw Zabuza wearing a shit eating grin.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Technique!" Zabuza announced as the water serpent wriggled around. "Now, Ameyuri! Use your lightning swords as well!"

Ameyuri nodded while crying, having to hit herself again to give her a shock.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!"

Using what chakra she could muster up, Ameyuri shot a large thunderbolt at the water Dragon, and made it light up with lightning, using the water as a conduit, giving it a tremendous boost of power.

""Collaboration Technique: Thundering Water Destruction Dragon!""

That's when Zabuza and Ameyuri worked together, and sent the Dragon made of water and having lightning wrapped around it, towards Shisui and the others, smashing apart the ground with its mere presence, indicating how strong the attack really was.

Shisui assessed the situation quickly, noting that not only did he have the ice to deal with, but this collaboration technique, which looked to be a very powerful technique, noting that he wouldn't be able to deal with it alone.

"They thought well...there isn't away that I would be able to...even if I used 'that', I'm not sure I would be able to defend against all of them, and protect these Genin as well..."

"Shisui-sensei!" Hanabi called, and quickly rushed forward with Sai beside her. "Sai and I will deal with the ice spears. If anything, we can at least nullify them to a standstill. I've used the least amount of chakra, I should be able to combat these ice spears with Sai's help."

"Hanabi-chan that's..."

Shisui went to refute what she thought, when he felt a hand on his own hand.

Looking down, he saw that Ryouta had grasped his hand and giving him a bright smile.

"Lets trust Hanabi-chan and Sai-chan now. They are...also our comrades...our friends. Lets...leave that to them, and let us...fight together against the lightning water Dragon thing."

Shisui was quite shocked by the words Ryouta said, and quickly shot a look towards Tazuna, seeing that he was okay and giving his consent with a nod of his head. His eyes then went back to Ryouta, and saw his determination.

"Ryou, I admire your determination, but your chakra levels are dangerously low..."

Even though Shisui said that, Ryouta shook his head.

"Even if you say that, you don't have enough chakra to deal with that kind of an attack either. At least, if we work together, then we can pull off something amazing together, allowing us to do something to combat that thing. We're Uchiha after all, we cannot lose face now."

Shisui couldn't deny what he was saying. He could at least see that even with the chakra he had, if he wasted it all on this attack, and was knocked out, then the Genin could be left defenseless, should Zabuza have another trick up his sleeve, which he couldn't do at this moment in time.

So Shisui did the only thing he could do, and give his consent.

"Right, lets fight together then, my Otouto...no, my partner."

"Fufu, don't say that around Ayame-nee-san or she might get the wrong idea." He teased with a strained face, seeing the pout forming on Shisui's face, and then looked forward. "Lets go with that collaboration technique."

Shisui nodded to Ryouta, and both went through hand signs together, ready to finish it.

---

While that happened, Hanabi and Sai went forward to combat the ice spears that were coming for them. Hanabi was the one in front, while Sai was the one who was behind, drawing on her scrolls with the special ink that she had.

"Okay! Here we go!" Hanabi was the first to begin, and slowly, she began rotating, building chakra around her. "Eight Trigrams Revolving Heaven!"

Hanabi's body kept spinning around until she formed a dome of chakra around her, and the ice spears hit the dome. Because of the protection that it gave her, the ice spears bounced off the dome, sending them in different directions back towards the ice users spears, hitting them and destroying one another.

The ones that made it past Hanabi were confronted by Sai, and her ink drawings. She drew very fast, faster than she ever had done before, and formed something that she hadn't formed before.

"Super Beast Imitation Drawing: Pure Ink Dragon!" Sai finished announcing this, and out came a big Dragon made of ink. Like a serpent, similar to the water Dragon that Zabuza made it, shot out and headed towards the ice spears. "This is...thanks to you, Ryou-kun...doesn't your name mean Dragon and you're pure...I believe the word is...inspired, so I thought the name was a good one. I got...inspired to make a strong creature like you are."

With a small smile on her face, she watched her ink Dragon sail through the air and wrap around some ice spears, crushing them with its giant body, something that drew a shocked breath from Haku.

---

At the same time, Ryouta and Shisui had finished their hand signs, and smiled towards one another as both opened their mouths wide, directing their faces towards the incoming water lightning Dragon.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Shisui's open produced a large blast of wind, enough to be compared to a tornado. At the same time, Ryouta used all of the chakra he could and breathed out a massive fireball, which began mixing with Shisui's wind.

""Collaboration Technique: Great Firestorm Annihilation!""

Using their combined technique, using their Sharingan's (which Ryouta activated again) to mix their attacks perfectly together, creating a large whirlwind of pure blazing destruction. Due to the fact that they combined their powers together the best way they could, and mixing it together with the perfect ratio, the attack towered over the lightning water Dragon of Ameyuri's and Zabuza's.

When they met in the middle, a large explosion of power meshed together in the middle of the forest. The water and lightning Dragon attempted to engulf the whirlwind of flames, but the flames seemed to be more than a match for the Dragon.

The flames of Shisui and Ryouta created a huge explosion to surround the immediate area, engulfing the area in a heavy smoke, at the same time as completely destroying the water lightning Dragon, sending a majority of flames towards the pair.

At the same time, the ice spears ceased, leaving Hanabi to fall to the ground from being dizzy due to not having mastery over that technique, and Sai to stop her Ink Dragon, giving a small pant due to being slightly tired from using a tax consuming technique.

With Zabuza and the others, Haku had gotten in front of Ameyuri and Zabuza, creating an ice dome before her and the other two, protecting them just enough so they had a chance to run away under the cover of smoke, vowing to get vengeance on the Uchiha's and the other two with them.

"S-Sensei, they are getting away!"

Hanabi, who could see clearly, passed this information onto Shisui as he looked towards Ryouta, seeing the boy was about to pass out.

"It's fine, for now. If we pursue, we could be lured into a trap. It's best if we regroup." Shisui said with a sigh, seeing that his Genin weren't going to be able to defend themselves anymore, and was proud of them. "For now, all we can do is-"

"Next time Shisui Uchiha! I'm going to be the one who ends you!"

"Be prepared Ryouta Uchiha, your Shota body is mine! I'm going to definitely kill you!"

On the wind, Shisui and others heard Zabuza and Ameyuri issue these threats, which Shisui rolled his eyes at, while Ryouta panted with a small frown on his face, not happy about someone else trying to kill him.

"We'll...be waiting, Zabuza...Ameyuri..."

Once the smoke cleared, Hanabi and Sai walked over towards Ryouta and Shisui, Tazuna doing the same.

"Ooh God, that was...amazingly...scary..."

Hanabi mumbled out, but while before she was depressed, now she was back to her usual self, showing a genuine smile which made the others smile, glad that she had returned to her usual self again.

"Yeah, well done Hanabi-chan. You're the one who saved Ryou, from certain death. I'm sure if you didn't aid him with your Byakugan, then he could've died. Sai, you also did well, aiding Ryou, and then Hanabi-chan in what they were doing, and with protecting Tazuna-san as well. Finally, Ryou, to fight off Ameyuri as well as you did was quite..." Before he could finish, Ryouta's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell face forward, passing out. "Ryou!"

Shisui caught Ryouta just before his face could meet the ground, holding him tightly.

"Shisui-sensei, Ryou-kun has used too much chakra, and those wounds need to be treated straight away. He's losing way too much blood, and I'm sure that the lightning hasn't done anything good to his insides."

Sai spoke with worry for Ryouta, with Hanabi hovering over him, examining him with her Byakugan, using some bandages she had with her which she always carries in dangerous situations like this, to do a quick first aid session, stopping most of the serious wounds that she could treat like this.

"From what I can tell, there isn't any permanent damage to his organs or anything. And his chakra network was shocked with the lightning, but there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage either. I'm not an expert or anything, but I've done some emergency first aid, and stopped some of the wounds from progressing. But staying out here is..."

"Yeah, we need to get to a safe place quickly." Shisui looked towards Tazuna. "Tazuna-san, we could do with a place to rest. Would your place suffice?"

Tazuna inclined his neck in agreement.

"Yes, there should be a place to allow him time to recuperate."

Shisui nodded, and lifted Ryouta up, carrying him in his arms carefully, looking down at him with a proud smile.

"Then lets get out of here, and do what they are doing, preparing for the next assault." The three of his companions that were awake gave their consent and they all walked forward together. "Well done Ryou...I'm sure it must've been hard, but once again, you defied the odds and fought against a Jonin, and came out with your life. I'm so proud."

With a kind smile on his face, all five of them continued towards Tazuna's house, to prepare what they were going to do next.

---

End chapter!

So, what an explosive fight huh. Zabuza vs Shisui, and Ryouta vs Ameyuri (with the help of Sai, Hanabi, and even Izumi's little cat) with Hanabi regaining her strength to fight, which turned the tide of the battle. And since it was the hiding in mist technique, the Sharingan wasn't able to see through it (which I checked from various sources), Hanabi really was the only one who was able to see through it with the Byakugan which can see through it according to my research.

Next chapter will be the aftermath, where they will be in the Land of Waves, which means that Tsunami will be introduced, among other things happening as well, maybe even a true meeting between Haku and Ryouta again, so look forward to that, and until next time!

Ryouta; Satsuki, Haku (fem), Karin, Sakura, Hanabi, Tsunade, Anko, Mikoto, Ino, Gaara (fem), Kurotsuchi, Samui, Fu, Sai (fem), Tsume, Hana, Yukimaru (fem). (WIP)