Naruto: The Rabbit Prince.
This Fanfiction is a crossover with The Naruto series, Darkstalkers, Summer Wars featuring: King Kazma, with elements of Watership Down.
Rated: M for violence, blood, swearing, physical combat, mentions of sexual content, murder, and death.
Fair warning, this fanfiction contains the following tags/clichés: Competent Naruto, Fūinjutsu (not master level) Naruto, Kekkei Genkai (with conditions) Naruto, Potent Chakra Naruto, Rabbit Summons Naruto, Animalistic Naruto, and Good Kaguya. Antagonistic Sasuke and Sakura within.
Pairings: None unless they are adults because the plot doesn't revolve around romance.
Summary: What if Kaguya wasn't as evil as everyone perceived her to be and the Chakra Fruit drove her mad? What if she had another son that turned out to be her official firstborn that was to be the King of the Rabbit Summons? What if her son adopted Naruto and cared for him as if he was one of their own? And what If Naruto had another Godfather? As Naruto grows into a fine shinobi, he must face the many trials that come with his growth.
Disclaimer: I do not own the following Anime, Books, and Games. Naruto is rightfully owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Darkstalkers is rightfully owned by Capcom. Summer Wars and King Kazma are rightfully owned by Madhouse. Watership Down is rightfully owned by Richard Adams.
Chapter 20: The Rematch.
Today, the Human Prince was in the bridgebuilder's home protecting his daughter and grandson, per request from Kakashi himself that he stay behind. Several clones were hidden around the house, ready to act at any given moment if Tsunami and Inari were in any danger.
Naruto was in the guest room he resided in, and he sensed no sign of any activity. He was restless, and it concerned his actions from yesterday. You could have brought me with you, sensei. If Zabuza shows up at the bridge—no! It'd be my fault if anything happened because of my own stupidity. I have to hope that Haku talked to him.
The Human Prince took a deep breath to calm down. If Haku made it work on her end, then we should be fine. If not, I'll take it to my grave. He then remembered back to yesterday's discussion with Kakashi.
Flashback...
"So... you just talked to Zabuza's accomplice, and managed to convince her to talk to him about killing Gatō instead?" Kakashi asked in disbelief. "You do know how much you compromised the mission, right?"
"Sensei, I could sense her emotions. She doesn't want to harm us," pleadingly replied the blonde.
"Regardless, what if something goes wrong, and Zabuza manages to kill us all as a result?" Kakashi questioned, containing his infuriation at his student's decisions.
"That won't happen," firmly retorted the Jinchūriki. "If that happens, I'll summon one of my clan to help us clear up the mess I made. Besides, we did nothing but talk. I didn't reveal where we were resting the entire time."
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose for the third time that day. "Even if Zabuza doesn't kill us, what goes from there?"
"Sensei, you of all people should know in the world of shinobi, an enemy can become an ally in an instant." Naruto was confident in his choices. "If Zabuza kills Gatō, we won't have to fight him, and he can get the funds he needs while the rest can go to the nation and us for our service."
"You better know what you're doing, Naruto. This isn't a game or some story where good prevails over evil."
"I know, but this will be a risk we have to take."
"Let's hope, Naruto, let's hope," Kakashi responded, skeptic about what will happen. This wasn't exactly a gamble; the cyclops expected the same result would lead to a battle with Zabuza, and he would be prepared to deal with the Demon.
In the world of shinobi, trust is for fools. It can be easily broken without a moment's hesitation; it was a weak foundation for an agreement between enemies. But mutual self-interest, that's a real foundation where both sides can come to understand one another.
End Flashback...
Naruto was knocked out of his state of mind by memories that came to him from one of his Shadow Clones. Inari was going to charge the two assailants. The boy shouted out, "Let her go!"
Naruto gasped. Tsunami! Inari!
The Jinchūriki rushed downstairs only to be met with the sight of two assailants being tied up by his clones, and Tsunami holding her son close.
One of the attackers was a fair-skinned man with a blue jacket, a dark purple hat, black eyes with lined tattoos, and black shorts. The other was another man with tan skin, donning a shirt that was tied at his waist and the same shorts as his partner. He had dark tattoos and scars on his face and body.
Both thugs had a katana, each of which being held close to the table by one of the clones. Both men were struggling to get out of the bindings that held them.
"Tsunami, what happened?!" shouted Naruto, concerned for her and her son's wellbeing.
She took a few breaths as she loosened her grip on her son. "T-These men, t-they were sent b-by Gatō to k-kidnap me. T-They s-said if I didn't go along, they would kill Inari. They were going to use me as leverage against Tou-san."
Naruto's gaze became that of an angry beast as his face turned into a snarl. He speed-walked towards the helpless thugs and grabbed the one with the purple hat by his jacket. "What is Gatō plotting?"
"As if I'd ever tell you—" He was cut off as Naruto gave a hard kick to his stomach.
Naruto became aggressive with his captive and spoke with demand, "I won't ask again. What is Gatō plotting?!"
"Go fuck yourself—" Once more, he was cut off by a kick in the groin, and once more the hostile shouting of the thug had become a child's high pitch shriek. He was then silenced by Naruto stomping on his head, asserting dominance over the assailant. The only things that could be heard were the man's whimpers.
Naruto looked like he was about the kill the man at any second. He spoke in a venomous tone that rose, "Well, since you want to do it the hard way, I'm going to have both of you screaming to the Kami for mercy!"
The Human Prince grabbed his victim by the hair and dragged him from the porch and into the kitchen. Naruto's clones brought the other tattooed assailant in and began clearing out the area while Tsunami and her son had taken residence in the corner.
A few of Naruto's clones closed in and pinned him down, making sure he wouldn't move. The blonde placed his foot on the blue jacket of the man's chest. "What's your name? And don't lie to me; I can tell when you're lying."
The voice of the tattoed man in the corner got his attention by shouting out, "As if we'd ever tell you anything, you damn brat!" He looked towards his partner. "Zōri, keep your mouth shut!"
So that's his name, Naruto thought as he looked towards his silver-haired captive. Alright, I'll have to scare him if I want him to talk.
"Alright then!" Naruto accepted in fake sadistic joy as he turned back to the silver-haired man and forged a red crystal spike in his right hand. "Since you and your friend here don't want to spill, I'll have to mutilate your bodies. This spike will go into your eye if you don't talk, Zōri-san; make this easy on yourself."
Naruto slowly raised the spike and moved it towards the man's eye. So much panic made way onto the man's face. "Stop, I'll tell you everything!"
"You idiot!" his partner screamed at him.
Zōri began to whimper, much to the Human Prince's bewilderment. It was a little shocking that it was so easy to reveal this man's cowardice. "What is Gatō plotting?"
"He's planning on killing everyone in the old man's family. He needed his daughter for an example, then he was going to kill his grandson! That's all I know, I swear!" Zōri admitted quickly and fearfully.
That bastard, Naruto angrily thought as the spike dissipated into thin air. He will pay for this.
"Then what are you waiting for? Head to the bridge and rip the pig open, brat," Kurama remarked.
So why now that you decide to speak, dearest cousin? Naruto mentally responded with a small smile on his face.
"What fun would there be if I didn't get involved?" the fox answered, bloodlust lacing his voice as Naruto rolled his eyes.
Are you ready? Because we're going into battle, and judging by Zabuza's strength alone, I might need to rely on you, if you don't mind.
Kurama was taken aback by this. His warden just asked for his consent to use his power. Was this just a façade, or was this boy truly genuine in his attempts to bond with him?
It was taking too long for the beast to respond, and right now, the Human Prince had no time.
Naruto turned back to Tsunami and her son. "I'm heading towards the bridge. It's best if you pack your things and go into hiding. My clones will protect you." He then walked towards Inari, bent down, and smiled gently. "When one of my clones was destroyed, I received their memories from them. You charged in without a care in the world to save your mother. You are very brave, Inari. Never forget that."
"Will your clones handle these men? What if they're killed?" asked Tsunami in concern.
"They'll last, don't worry; I'll make a few more to guard the house. Just pack whatever essentials you'll need." Naruto left the house while the clones took the men out and started dragging them off somewhere into the woods so they wouldn't harm the bridgebuilder's family.
Naruto charged at the trees and began jumping from branch to branch, making his way towards the bridge.
With Team Seven and Tazuna at the bridge...
The entirety of the bridge and area around it was surrounded by a thick mist on one side. The other was much thinner and capable of being seen through. Zabuza had returned with a vengeance, and his bloodlust could be felt in every direction.
Sakura was guarding Tazuna as they tried to make heads and tails of the situation, and they were shaking in fear. Kakashi was facing off against the Demon, keeping his guard up at all times. The pressure was too much for comfort. Sasuke was somewhere else on the bridge, facing off against the false Anbu, who still donned the mask she wore when she saved Zabuza.
Kakashi was busy trying to see through the mist with his Sharingan active but to no avail. The only things in sight were only within ten feet of him, but that wasn't enough. Just last second, he jumped back from a sword swipe from Zabuza.
Kakashi was panting. Damn it! I can't see a thing, and Sasuke's in trouble. If I try to save him, Zabuza will go for Sakura and Tazuna. If only Naruto were here; he could tip the battle in our favor.
"Still holding out for that Genin of yours, Kakashi?" mocked Zabuza. He was dressed in a new attire wearing a sleeveless black shirt and matching pants while still bearing the leg warmers.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was keeping up with the false Anbu. Earlier, the Uchiha had shown his growth by taking out eight of Zabuza's Water Clones, making large puddles all around him and his opponent. Haku had proven to be faster than Sasuke, but the Uchiha could anticipate her speed. She and Sasuke had each other at a stalemate with a clash of a kunai and a senbon.
"Looks like you're trapped. If you don't surrender soon, I'll have to take you out," Haku said nonchalantly, not even straining in the struggle. "Back out of this now, or else."
"Or else what!" barked the Uchiha in frustration as he tried to keep the pressure on.
Haku sighed. "Or else this."
The false Anbu brought up her free hand to form half of a ram hand seal. Then, she flew through an array of one-handed seals until she came to a stop on another ram once more.
"Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death!"
She stomped on the ground, making the water surrounding them levitate into the air. Time seemed to have stopped as the water around them took the form of deadly needles, and they were all directed at the Uchiha.
"You had your chance, but it looks like I'll have to take drastic measures," Haku said, maintaining her composure.
Does she really mean that? Zabuza thought, knowing of his disciple's kind-hearted nature. No, she has something up her sleeve.
Then, the deadly needles went towards their target, leaving an explosion of water as a new thinner mist spread around the area. The Uchiha had made his move and evaded by going above as there was an opening from the top.
Sasuke appeared behind Haku in an afterimage, only to be met with a kick that sent him back further away from the rest of Team Seven, Tazuna, and Zabuza.
The masked woman was quite amazed at the Uchiha's getaway. She looked on as the Genin recovered from his ordeal. "I have to say, I'm quite surprised that you managed to act so fast. But this is where it ends."
"As if! You'll be at my mercy soon enough!" retorted the Uchiha.
"We'll see about that," Haku hummed in acknowledgment and soon made one handseal. Both the index and middle fingers were now being used in an altered version of the tiger hand seal.
"Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors!"
The air around them became cold, and the mist became more concentrated. The soft sound of water forming into ice and crushing into itself was heard all around Sasuke as he looked around, trying to see what was going on. As soon as the mist cleared, it revealed a deadly house of mirrors.
"You should have just turned back when you had the chance," Haku begrudgingly lamented from behind the mirrors. "Now, you'll have to pay for your arrogance."
Haku put her hand towards one mirror and melded with it, somehow becoming a two-dimensional figure. Her reflection from that one mirror then transitioned itself to the others.
That's when the nightmare began. Haku, from all directions, threw her senbon and pierced the Uchiha from all sides as the metallic needles embedded themselves into his body.
"AAAARGGHHH!" Sasuke screamed in pain as he looked around frantically, trying to find the real one. "You bitch!"
"I warned you, but you didn't listen. With my house of mirrors, you've already met your end at my hand."
The Uchiha's body was nothing more than a pincushion, the sharp pain being too much for him to bear. All he could do was kneel on the ground and use his hands to protect his head. It was a world of suffering with the only hope that help arrived in time. In the meantime, his body continued to be decorated in senbon.
Kakashi heard his student's screams from the thick cloud of mist that covered a portion of the bridge.
Then, the sound of electricity loudly sparking against the ground drew attention from everyone. It was almost as if someone was running, and each step lead to more static sounds being made.
Naruto's here! Kakashi thought. He can help even the odds against Zabuza's partner. Kakashi wasted no time as he shouted out, "Naruto! Get to Sasuke! He needs your help!" He then narrowly dodged Zabuza's blade in a rising slash.
Naruto, who had heard his sensei, charged forward down the bridge right through the thick mist. He sensed his teammate's fear and Haku's regret further ahead only to see mirrors made from ice. He had to protect his comrade, no matter how much he loathed him.
The blonde jumped into the air and delivered a Black Lighting-infused kick to one of the lower mirrors, breaking through to get to his comrade. He glared at the mirrors. "I thought you would talk to Zabuza."
"Naruto-san, I could only do so much to convince him otherwise," Haku pleaded as Sasuke looked at the blonde with fury in his eyes.
"You know her, dobe? How do we know you're not a traitor?" the Uchiha demanded, ready to call out Naruto on his 'betrayal.'
Naruto rolled his eyes in irritation as he looked towards Sasuke, annoyed. "I was trying to keep everyone alive, Uchiha!" The Jinchūriki's voice raised in volume as he answered. "Kami, you are insufferable!" He then looked back towards one of Haku's reflections. "Let him go. I'll take his place in this fight."
"Not a chance in hell, dobe!" Sasuke screamed out as he looked at the blonde maliciously and stood to push him out of his battle. "This is my fight! You're just getting in the way!"
Naruto was left wide-eyed. Was the Uchiha really that prideful? "We could die on this mission, and you're worried more about your own damn ego—" He cut himself off as he saw his teammate's eyes change. "Well, congratulations, Uchiha. You finally unlocked your birthright."
Sasuke's eyes widened with that revelation bestowed upon him. He was now one step closer to his goal; he had finally unlocked the Sharingan.
"Eyes up, Uchiha. The battle's not over yet," Naruto alerted his comrade. Right now, he was on the defensive; there was no telling what Haku could do within the mirrors.
Haku threw volleys of senbon and managed to hit Naruto in the arms and legs, limiting his movement as he tried to dodge. He and the Uchiha were now dodging an onslaught of senbon in the house of mirrors, but something had to give; Haku couldn't keep this up forever.
With Kakashi, Zabuza, and company...
Kakashi once more tried to use his Sharingan to see through the mist, but to no avail. All he could hear was Zabuza's mocking voice through the thick fog. "You really think you can make it, Hatake?"
"I think I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But I should say the same for you; you're just as blind as me," responded Kakashi.
"I don't need my sight to kill you, Kakashi." That voice sent a chill down the Jōnin's spine.
Mere seconds felt like an eternity; the pressure was too much for comfort. And then, it happened. Zabuza leaped from the mist and slashed at Kakashi's torso, giving him a shallow wound as the silver-haired man jumped back last second.
Kakashi was in deep pain as he clenched his chest, but now realized he had an opportunity to turn this battle around. All he could hope for were that his students were faring better against their opponent.
"They won't last much longer against Haku, you know, "Zabuza jeered as if he was reading the silver-haired man's mind. "She's a prodigy like no other, creating her own jutsu and learning at an incredible pace. Your brats entered a suicide match the second they engaged her in battle, Kakashi. Even if you manage to kill me, they'll be dead by then."
The silver-haired man still held out hope that his students would survive. He had to put his trust in them if they were going to win this battle.
With Naruto, Sasuke, and Haku...
The Usagigetsu and the Uchiha were playing a dangerous game of Cat and Mouse within the confines of the mirrors.
Naruto tried to sense where the real Haku was but found out that she could attack simultaneously from every mirror, and it was no trick. He was now looking around frantically, trying to find a way out of this situation. The Human Prince couldn't just fire off ninjutsu left and right since this was an opponent that knew where the vital points of the body were; he had to end this match as quickly as possible while trying to keep their own strength up.
"Usually, I wouldn't condone being reckless, but now's a better time than any," the blonde muttered under his breath as a plan formed in his head. He made a familiar plus-shaped hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
An entire platoon of clones appeared to their creator's side as he shouted out, "Destroy them all!"
Without a moment's hesitation, the clones sprung toward every ice mirror in hopes of finding an opening in the enemy's technique.
Haku moved fast from one reflection to the other, slashing away at Naruto's clones with ease until they dissipated.
Naruto had managed to sense it as much as Sasuke laid witness to it. Every time she left the mirrors to strike the clones, she left herself wide open. This now allowed them to strike back the second she was occupied.
One more time, Naruto thought, determined to win as he weaved the hand seal once more.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Once more, a battalion of clones was sent towards each of the mirrors as Naruto and Sasuke got ready to engage her. And like before, she slashed her way through the clones with ease. The Uchiha cupped one of his hands to his mouth.
"Fireball Jutsu!"
The Uchiha blew out a small fireball and managed to singe a part of her clothing, which lead to her retreating back to one of the mirrors. But he wasn't done yet.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The Uchiha took a deep breath in a blew out a much more powerful, controlled torrent of fire and directed them at one of the many reflections. The blaze enveloped the mirror with a burning intensity.
The flames cleared out as Sasuke ran out of breath and chakra. There was no way the ice could not be melted after this attack. However, the Uchiha's expectations were dashed as the mirror remained in the same pristine state as if nothing happened.
"What!" Sasuke exclaimed in panic. "That's impossible—"
"Sasuke, calm down!" He was cut off as Naruto already got an assessment of the situation. "This is a kekkei genkai, the Ice Style."
"Correct," Haku confirmed. "You'll need a blaze stronger than that if you want to melt it, though. This is my jutsu. Here, I'm the determined victor. And in my eyes, you both are moving incredibly slow."
Could this mean that time is literally dilated inside the mirrors? Naruto asked himself.
"In a way, yes," Kurama answered, hearing the blonde's thoughts. "In those mirrors, she has a clear advantage over you. They can be destroyed, but you'll have to combine your wind with the Uchiha's fire to breakthrough." He venomously spat the name Uchiha like it was poison.
The Jinchūriki nodded at his cousin's council. He would have to ask about his cousin's hatred for the Uchiha later. Now was the time to act as he got his comrade's attention. "Uchiha, do you have enough chakra for one more fireball?"
Sasuke actually looked bewildered at the blonde's question. "What's the use if those things won't even melt?"
"Just trust me. We're going to make it out of this alive. When I give the call, send a fireball to the top row and let me follow up with one of my own techniques."
For the first time, Sasuke actually cooperated with his teammate. Going through a few hand seals, he prepared the fireball jutsu once more. Meanwhile, Naruto was flying through his own set of hand seals until he shouted, "NOW!"
"Wind Style: Scattering Flower Dance!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A cyclone of red and white rose petals conjured themselves from the blonde and dark-haired ally sent out a fireball towards the floral winds as they went straight towards the mirrors in a controlled blaze. Combined together, they managed to engulf one of the mirrors in flames so hot that it was destroyed on immediate contact as the petals burned beautifully in the intense winds. Naruto directed the controlled blaze towards the other mirrors from above and below until they were all destroyed, forcing Haku to leave the last mirror and get back as she landed in a widened stance.
Without a moment's hesitation, Haku threw two senbon towards the Uchiha as they embedded themselves into his neck and chest, causing him to gasp as he went down in an instant.
Naruto was quick to be alarmed. "Uchiha, stay awake!"
"Dumb-ass..." Sasuke groaned. His eyes closed, and his breathing became relaxed and shallow, bringing shock to the Human Prince as he rushed to his side.
No, it can't be... Naruto tried to sense what was left of his comrade's chakra. Much to the blond's surprise, that's when he noticed that the Uchiha's chakra was dormant as if he was asleep. Haku had put him in a near-death state.
"I'm sorry, but it had to be this way," sincerely apologized Haku.
Naruto turned to his opponent in a rage as he stood. "Cut the crap! I know you didn't kill him, you don't have the heart to do so." The blonde put his hands in his pockets. "Now tell me, if you're not going to kill us, then why fight us?"
Silence fell over them for a few moments, not one of them saying a word. Haku then burst into a fit of innocent giggling that was so sudden and dramatic of a change in her personality that it caught Naruto off guard. "What's going on? Why are you laughing?"
The masked nin took off her mask to look directly in Naruto's eyes as she answered cheerfully, "Because I won the bet."
"What bet?!" Naruto asked hysterically, which lead to more giggling from the masked nin.
"Well, you see, Naruto-san, this was all a bet I made with my master. After our little talk, I had a lot on my mind." Haku calmly took a deep breath in as she now stood proud. "I'm not a killer, but as a shinobi, I will become one to help others."
"Despite the change of heart, that doesn't change why you were fighting us in the first place," retorted the blonde.
Haku smiled once more as she further explained, "It was the only way to ensure your team's safety and target Gato without hindering our goal..."
Flashback... At Zabuza's Hideout...
Zabuza's temporary residence was a camouflaged treehouse hidden within the darkest parts of Nami's forest. It was perfect; no one but his employer knew he was there. Like the tree, the house-like construction was made to blend in with the environment around it. Within, it seemed almost like a regular home.
In one of the rooms, Zabuza could barely move from his bed as a requirement of his recovery. When alone like that with nothing to do, the mind began to wander. Just a few days ago, Gatō had come into the hideout and decided to gamble with his own life. It had ended with Haku breaking the shipping tycoon's arm while taking out his two idiotic bodyguards; she knew that under the blankets, her master had a kunai and was about to kill Gatō when he got close enough.
Just as that thought came to mind, Haku had entered the hideout, having returned with the many herbs that could boost his recovery. "It's about time you got back."
"Well, I was getting the herbs," Haku retorted wittingly. "It's up to me to take care of you if you can't take care of yourself."
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you, Haku," Zabuza sneered. "It's bad enough that Gatō was right here, and I could have killed him. Our job would have been a lot easier if you just let me kill the fat piece of shit!"
"That's the thing I want to talk to you about." Haku's voice became much more stern. "Why not kill Gatō when you've fully healed from your injuries?"
Now, this was something that surprised Zabuza. His apprentice actually wanted to kill someone, and most of all, condone it? "And why the sudden change of heart? You were the one preaching of restraint not more than a few days ago."
Haku took a deep breath in as she gathered her thoughts while looking down. "Well, sometimes, one has to make sacrifices for others to benefit. And in this case, it would be one corrupted man's life in exchange for the innocents of this nation."
Zabuza squinted his eyes in suspicion. It wasn't like Haku to act like this, much less consider the death of another living being. She didn't look physically battered or harmed, so she must have been shaken mentally. "Something happened during your little trip to the forest. Tell me."
"I simply opened my eyes," Haku answered, raising her head to meet her master's gaze. The false Anbu went on to tell of Kakashi's blonde student when regarding Gatō's demands of having the bridgebuilder killed as the boy told her the lesser of two evils. Sometimes, taking a life was necessary so others could be saved.
Zabuza took this all in with a bit of pride, but also a bit of sympathy; his pupil finally knew the price of what it meant to be a shinobi. All this time, she didn't want to stain her hands with the blood of others while wanting to be a weapon for her master's will. She wanted both, but that came at the price of the inevitable fact that something like this could never be avoided.
"Zabuza-sama, I want you to spare that team and their employer; they do not deserve to die," Haku requested sadly. "The bridge is the perfect place where Gatō will be gathering his mercenaries and be at his most vulnerable. Those men can be easily killed since they know nothing of the shinobi arts."
Dealing with Kakashi would be too much of a hassle, but if there was a way to keep him occupied long enough to enlist his help in protecting the bridgebuilder, then the tyrant will fall.
Zabuza battled with the many thoughts in his mind as they shifted towards Haku in a more paternal manner. Long ago, when Haku was very young, she had said something that shook him to his very soul.
"Your eyes are like mine."
It was like she understood him down to the finest details of his life. It was as if she knew of his pain and broken soul in a cruel world filled with constant death and violence.
It was then and there Zabuza came to a decision. "How about a wager? I'll go after Gatō if Kakashi's brats manage to break through the best jutsu in your arsenal, but you have to put all your strength into it this time. If you want them to live, you have to put them through hell."
Haku was shocked. Her master really went by her terms? She stuttered, "I-I accept your conditions."
It was going to be alright. A vile man would die alongside his followers while those that deserved life would live; the people would be liberated from the greed of one man.
Flashback end...
As Haku finished her tale, she began to smile contently. "Now, it's time for the curtain call." The false Anbu put two fingers to her mouth and let out a sharp whistle that reverberated throughout the bridge.
"W-What's going on? W-What are you doing?"
"You'll see, Naruto-san." Haku looked towards the part of the bridge that was blanketed with the thick unyielding fog.
With Kakashi and Zabuza...
The sound of whistling made its way toward the two Jōnin. It wasn't long until Zabuza's laughter sounded throughout the area. "So, it looks like they managed to breakthrough Haku's best jutsu."
"Well, it looks like your 'prodigal pupil' wasn't as grand as you made her out to be," Kakashi taunted.
"Maybe so, maybe not, but you're lucky, Hatake; you, your students, and the old man you're protecting get to live. You should be thanking that blonde brat of yours."
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, suspicion evident in his voice as his eyes darted around, trying to find his enemy in the thick mist. "What does my student have to do with this?"
"He has everything to do with my pupil opening her eyes to the world around her; she finally realizes the cruel world of shinobi," Zabuza replied with an enthusiastic tone, almost in gratitude. "Consider this your lucky day, Kakashi."
As soon as Zabuza said that, he went through one hand seal. Soon after, the mist began to clear, slowly getting lighter and lighter as time passed. By that point, both Jōnin became visible to one another. Kakashi was by the railing on one side while Zabuza was on the other. Sakura and Tazuna were fifteen meters away, not a scratch on them.
Zabuza gave a bloodlust gaze while Kakashi gave a stone-cold one. The moment was suddenly interrupted by clapping coming from the unfinished part of the bridge. Both Jōnin looked towards the source of the applause as well as their students.
With Naruto, Haku, and an unconscious Sasuke...
As the mist cleared, they turned to see their superiors off in the distance, looking towards the source of the applause, which was further ahead. What they saw was an entire mob of Gatō's men, all wielding various swords and spears. Gatō himself was at the front of this mob, confident and smug as he knew that his hired blades were nothing more than personal attack dogs, ready to kill at the right price and protect him.
Gatō was what Tazuna described him to be as a man that was corrupted with his own greed. He was a short man with combed-back, shaggy hair while sporting a pair of small black glasses. He wore a black dress suit like any businessman, with a purple tie and closed-toed shoes. Even when he was in front of his men, he still portrayed a smug coward that used them for nothing more than to show muscle and power around those weaker than him.
The small coward began to laugh. "So this is all you can do, Zabuza? I asked for Tazuna's head, but instead, I'll just have to take yours." The thugs that accompanied Gatō began to laugh alongside their employer, ignorant about their situation regarding Zabuza and the other shinobi that were there.
For a moment, all fell silent. Haku and Naruto came into the scene. Naruto was carrying Sasuke on his back, much to Sakura's chagrin. "You bastard! You let him die?!"
"He's not dead, Haruno! He's unconscious!" retorted the Human Prince as he glared at the pink-haired girl, silencing her. He turned to his teacher and began to put his comrade down. "Kakashi-sensei, what are we going to do?"
Before Kakashi could answer, Zabuza spoke for him. "That's easy to answer, brat. Since you've won the bet, you all get to live." He motioned towards Gatō. "And that fat pig over there will die, isn't that a miracle?"
Naruto had to cringe as he sensed the nuke-nin's murderous intent, but he knew that this is what was needed to complete their mission and free this nation from Gatō's clutches. Naruto then became emotionless, trying to disconnect from the harsh reality of killing. "I-I guess it is, Momochi-san."
"As if you could kill me," the shipping tycoon boasted, believing his gang of hired thugs could protect him from the inevitable. "If anything, Zabuza, you were nothing more than a pawn. I can get rid of you like a cheap whore." And that was the final push that Zabuza needed.
Zabuza turned to Kakashi with a smug look in his eye before turning back towards the mob of men that were willing to charge them at any moment. "You should join in if you don't want your brats and the old man to die, Kakashi."
The Sharingan user said nothing as he nodded and began to step forward, ready to fight alongside his former enemy against the entirety of Gatō's men.
Then, all hell broke loose. One after another, each of the hired mercenaries engaged the two Jōnin. As the men ran with naginata, swords, and other types of melee weaponry, both Zabuza and Kakashi were evading with pure speed and skill. Kakashi pulled out a kunai knife, and with every dodge, slit the throats of his attackers as he went along. Zabuza was using his human-sized sword to lop off the limbs of his prey as they all came to meet the same fate. Some were severely injured while some were decapitated by his blade.
During the midst of all the chaos, Gatō immediately realized his mistake and began to run from the scene like the coward he was. He ran and ran, knowing that if he looked back, it would be certain death. However, today he would face the wrath of the Kami through two experienced shinobi that had seen countless battles in their lifetime of killing. He reached the unfinished part of the bridge that led a steep drop into the sea below.
Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna were all horrified at the scene before them as Haku looked on with an emotionless mask, knowing that the death of Gatō was necessary if this nation wanted peace from the tyrant.
T-This is what it means to be a shinobi. This is what Gatō brought upon himself. His sins against the people of this nation and around the Elemental Nations are innumerable. Naruto tried to reassure himself that this was the right thing to do, but it felt so... wrong. He then heard groaning from behind him and knew the Uchiha was regaining consciousness.
Sasuke moaned from the needles that had pierced his body. As he got up, he noticed Kakashi and Zabuza fighting alongside one another as the mob of men tried and failed to kill them. "W-What's going on?"
Naruto turned back to look down at his comrade, somewhat relieved. "Oh, well apparently, Haku had made a bet with Zabuza, so we could all live. And in exchange, Gatō will die as a result." Naruto's gaze returned to the scene while Sasuke followed suit.
By the end of all the carnage, both Jōnin had slain their way through Gatō's men, their clothing stained with the blood of their victims. They began to close in on Gatō as he cowered closer and closer to the edge.
The tyrant was now on the edge of the bridge, looking around frantically for the way out. Fearing for his life, he desperately pleaded, "W-Wait! P-Please, d-don't kill me!"
By that point, Zabuza had picked the small coward up by his throat and readied his blade for decapitation. He was about to go in for the kill until Kakashi stopped him. "Zabuza, wait."
"What is it?" the Demon of Kiri demanded as he glared at Kakashi.
"Let him live. His judgment will be carried out by the people he oppressed for so long," Kakashi answered as he pulled down his headband to cover his Sharingan.
Kakashi's words couldn't have been more accurate as the sound of cheering came from a distance. Everyone looked back as an angry gathering of the oppressed townspeople had come with weapons and items of all sorts with a new resolve to put an end to the man that had been plaguing their nation with his greed.
Today, the nightmare would end. And the people of Nami would be free from Gatō's tyrannical rule.
We can finally get on to some original chapters until the next canonical event.
I've made it to 20 chapters, now that is a milestone. I say it all the time, and I'll say it again: I'd like to thank my Beta Reader, Conejo-sama for helping me and guiding me along the way. Let's give her a big round of applause.
Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death.
Rank: B.
Class: Offensive.
Range: Short to Mid range.
The user creates what appears to be thousands of needles out of water to surround the opponent. The user then carefully aims the needles at the target and fires them at rapid speeds, impaling the victim and causing significant amounts of damage or even death.
Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors.
Rank: Unknown.
Class: Offensive
Range: Short to Mid.
The user creates several large mirrors out of ice in which they surround the target. By entering just one, the reflection of the user will appear in all of them. This allows the user to travel between mirrors instantaneously, making it seem as if they're omnipresent within each mirror. It's best usages lie in its capability to overwhelm opponents with constant barrages of weaponry.