Then There Were Two
Summary: Naruto Uzumaki...Katsumi Uzumaki...are the twin children of the Honorable, Late Fourth Hokage...both outcasted by Konoha, the two find strength in one another that is incomparable and irreplaceable. The Teams...are quite different now, and the future...is looking more than a little bit brighter…or is that but the calm, before the storm?
Anime/Manga: Naruto
Genre: Romance/Humor/Adventure
Pairing: I... know who with who will be. I'll let you guys fidget and wonder.
Rated: M for Mature
-x-x-x-
Cause I've done some things that I can't speak,
and I've tried to wash you away, but you just won't leave.
So won't you take a breath and dive in deep?
Cause I came here so you'd come for me.
- Haunting (Halsey)
-x-x-x-
Shikamaru couldn't tell what was going on with Sasuke and Katsumi, but the second Sasuke pulled her past the vantage point of Zabuza, he'd seen her transform into a Kunai. "What are those two doing?! Kakashi is free...why push themselves!'
"Some people strive to succeed, Sasuke and Katsumi are those types of Shinobi."
Shikamaru shook his head, ignoring the slight undertone of depression in Ino's voice as he watched their slightly more headstrong teammates, "no, something happened." He knew Katsumi. She was headstrong, yes, but she didn't step in unless she needed to. When she fought off the clone, it was to give him time to come up with something to break Zabuza's hold on the Prison. That's done, with Sasuke's help, they managed to break the prison. So, what was her reason to get involved now!? He watched Sasuke throw the Kunai and wasn't surprised when both Kakashi and Zabuza moved back. When Zabuza shot forward and took up the kunai, he yelled out about how they were only helping him in 'killing their precious Sensei'.
POOF!
"Don't be so sure!" She twisted in his arms as her hand reached out and gripped the Kunai in his other hand. Bringing a knee forward, she caught him in the left kidney and was dropped as he jumped out of her reach. Kakashi shot forward and grabbed Katsumi.
"I told you to stay out of the way now!"
"Next time I'll let him slice you up with one of my Kunai's then!" She raised a kunai between her and Kakashi.
Shikamaru felt realization hit him hard, "it was laced in something. She saved Kakashi-Sensei...from her own Kunai."
Ino sighed, "I guess that's why she says she doesn't put stuff on her weapons. She does it once and it's nearly used on Sensei."
Nodding, Shikamaru acknowledge the irony of the situation too as he watched Kakashi place Katsumi down and step in front of her. The battle was back on, and Zabuza and Kakashi were ready to end it, however that happened, it was going to happen.
-x-x-x-
"You okay?" Sasuke asked, checking her over as he hovered close to her. With the two adults trying to kill one another a little bit ahead of them. He'd moved in to get Katsumi out of the way before something happened to his teammate.
"Y-yeah. I think my leg is out of commission, but I'll be fine after a couple days. Hopefully that doesn't come back to haunt me later."
"Tch, damn your reckless..."
She couldn't help but laugh at that. "You helped my recklessness this time around," referring to him throwing her into dangers way, she let him guide her back to the makeshift Manji formation as they situated themselves around Tazuna. It was amazing that she could even stand still. Her leg was burning from her assault on Zabuza's arm.
"Katsumi, you okay?"
Katsumi said nothing to Ino's inquiry. The fact of the matter was, she was not okay. Her reaction time would be cut down drastically if Zabuza managed to get past Kakashi again. She would most likely be useless. Shivering from the chill from the breeze touching along her body with her clothes soaked against her.
"What the hell are they up to?" Shikamaru sighed, "I've never missed walking dogs so much as I do right now."
"Ushi, saru, u. Ne, inoshishi, tori, ushi―"
"They have completely matched up with one another..." Katsumi frowned, "Kakashi-Sensei isn't just copying him...they're absolutely in sync! Ah! Damn..." Katsumi knelt down to avoid being swept away by the current. An arm settled around her shoulder and she looked to see Ino holding onto her.
"If you can't stand, lean on me." Ino said this, her eyes were closed to keep the water out. When the flood of water gave out, she helped Katsumi up on her feet and left her hand on the others shoulder in support.
'Ino...' Katsumi closed her eyes and smiled, "thank you." Relaxing beside the only other female in her team, Katsumi focused on the fight before them. It was like watching a mirror.
"It's like watching twins..." Sasuke muttered.
Katsumi frowned and shook her head, "no, I can tell you firsthand, even twins aren't that in sync. I don't think Naruto and I have ever mirrored one another so perfectly." Watching the flood tear through the terrain, whatever this water vortex jutsu was...it was impressive. However, what was more impressive...was what happened next.
She heard it before she saw it. The familiar whistle of Senbon slicing through the air. She recognized it only because of how often she'd sit in and watch Genma train with Hayate and Raido, along with a few others occasionally. 'Is he dead?' She stumbled when she made to move forward, flinching at a sharp pain in her leg. 'Damn, damn! First mission out of Konoha, and I'm gonna go back injured!?'
"No vital signs, he's definitely dead."
"Thank you, I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time. Waiting for the chance to finally take him down."
"By your mask, I see that you're a tracker ninja from the Village Hidden in the Mist."
"Impressive. You're well informed."
"This is insane, I feel a bit annoyed that you get to swoop in and wipe him out after the crap we just went through!" Katsumi straightened up and fixed her bag on her shoulder.
The masked newcomer turned to face her but said nothing in retaliation. Instead, it almost felt as if he was sizing her up. Not just her, but the others in her team.
"I feel a bit freaked out by the guy if I'm being perfectly honest," Ino frowned, "why doesn't he say something?"
"Something like this. I'd rather he not speak, it would only make it feel more real." Katsumi looked to Zabuza, "I'm almost sad...to see someone so powerful, brought down so easily, it's infuriating. What are we doing? This kid...he looks about our age, don't you think?"
Shikamaru sighed, "he's clearly an overachiever. Try not to think too much about it."
"Yeah, we're still learning, Katsumi!"
It wasn't enough, Ino and Shikamaru's attempts at cheering her up. She was bothered by the whole situation. She wondered if Kakashi didn't feel a bit put off by the fact that some kid their age had taken Zabuza out with one move, despite the effort he himself had put in fighting him. "Yeah...right. Still learning." She watched the kid vanish from the tree, reappearing beside the body of Zabuza as he linked his arm over his much smaller form.
Whatever was said after, Katsumi didn't care to listen to. She didn't acknowledge it. Didn't even try to comprehend the situation for anything more than what it was. All wrong. Everything about it was wrong. From how easily Zabuza was taken out, to the departure, to the crap feeling in her chest. It was all...all wrong.
-x-x-x-
Shikamaru situated Katsumi on his back, prying her legs up carefully under his arms as he stood up and started walking with Kakashi next to him. Tazuna was up ahead talking with Sasuke and Ino, both deep in conversation over the tracker nin that had taken off with Zabuza.
"Technically," Katsumi forced out through her pain, "there's a number of ways to stop a heart but maintain ones' life."
Shikamaru shook his head, "don't start thinking that this was some ploy of the tracker ninja's. It's troublesome."
Saying nothing, Katsumi looked over at Kakashi, frowning when she didn't see him next to them. "Wait," she looked back, "Kakashi-Sensei!"
Really, even after Zabuza had been dealt with, they couldn't catch a break.
-x-x-x-
Me: Here is chapter 14 of Then There Were Two. Send Love Through and Review~! Also, if you didn't all know, Send Love Through is a song from an older animated Movie called Rock and Rule. If you haven't seen it, well...I feel sad for you. You should not only go and watch it, but also listen to the song, Send Love through. I say it enough...Review!