"Naruto" Normal speech
'Naruto' Normal thought
'Shannaro' Inner Sakura's speech
"Rasengan" Jutsu/Seal
It's been 3 days and finally comes a day for team 7 to confront Zabuza and settled things once and for all. All the members of team 7 were already outside, except Naruto. He is fake-sleeping because he knew that there is a possibility for Gato to kidnapped Tsunami and turned her to a hostage.
"Please take care of Naruto. It seems he was still tired from the training he put himself through, so I think to let him rest a little more" said Kakashi to Tsunami and Inari was standing near his mother. Unknown to them, well Kakashi certainly noticed, Naruto is peeking through the window. Kakashi glanced for a second to the window, but Naruto already managed to hide himself.
Tsunami nodded her head and wished them good luck. Tazuna and Team 7 turned to leave and waving his hand as a sign of 'good bye'. Tsunami only looked at their back silently.
Upstairs, Naruto also gaze at his team's back silently while thinking. 'Now that they've left, Gato will make his move. Even though it's a little risky to let Sasuke fights Haku, but it is the only way for him to awaken his Sharingan. Sakura-chan also should be fine. She has improved so much, that I was surprised. She could be a powerful backup for Sasuke. As for Kakashi-sensei... Let's see how he hold up against the Kirigakure no Kijin. If he is really that legendary there was no way he would fall by Zabuza's hand. But I also can't allow either Zabuza or Haku to die. So I need to calculate the time perfectly to avoid the worst outcome'
The Bridge
When team 7 and Tazuna arrived, they were really surprised to see all the workers lying on the ground. They were all beaten but none of them were killed.
"What's happened here?" demand Tazuna.
'It seems he is already here' thought Kakashi deductively.
Tazuna's house
Naruto decided to descend and walked to Tsunami to greet her. "Good morning, Tsunami-san!"
Tsunami was washing the dishes heard Naruto's greeting and turned back to face him. "Oh, Naruto-kun! You already woke up? I didn't expect for you to wake up this early"
"Well, I can't sleep forever, can't I? So where is my sensei and teammates" wondered Naruto as he took bread from the table and began to eat it.
"Your sensei told me that you should take a rest today. So they left already with my father" replied Tsunami
"Eh?! They should've just waked me up! They underestimated my abilities too much" complained Naruto with a tic mark on his forehead. He then looked at Tsunami and said. "Well, I will be catching up to them now. Bye, Tsunami-san" Naruto waved at her and run away. Tsunami is about to tell him hold on, but Naruto already left.
But Naruto didn't truly left he just used Meisagakure no jutsu to blend in with the wall. He is waiting patiently for Gato's goons to show up.
Not long after Naruto left, Tsunami went to her room upstairs to gather the cloths to wash them. She called out for Inari to help her, but he didn't seem to appear. Unknown to her, the two Gato's goons are already standing there with their bloodthirsty smirk.
Back to the bridge
Out of nowhere, the mist appeared around them, which alarmed Kakashi greatly. He widens his eye as he could feels chakra in this mist. 'This mist...'
He then changed to a defensive stance and warned his students. "Sasuke, Sakura, he's coming!"
Both Sasuke and Sakura prepared to pull out a kunai from the holster and prepared to fight. Tazuna also gritted his teeth nervously.
'So he's alive after all. And he's already shown himself" concluded Kakashi with a narrow eye in his head.
To be sure, Sakura decided to ask Kakashi the reason of the sudden phenomena. "Kakashi-sensei, this is Zabuza's Kirigakure no jutsu, right?"
There was a pause for a second. Suddenly a voice rang through the mist. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi. And you still carrying those kids around, though one is absent. It's seems the blond gaki is not here. What happened?"
Kakashi didn't reply but just looked around and ready to act when necessary. Sasuke is trembling though. Seeing that Zabuza decided to ridicule him. "Look, he is trembling again. How pitiful". Sasuke widens his eyes as suddenly a bunch of Zabuza appeared around them. But the surprise turn to an excitement, Sasuke smirked and countered. "I am shaking with excitement". Zabuza looked disinterested though.
Kakashi eye-smiled and turned to Sasuke who is still smirking. "Go for it, Sasuke!"
One Zabuza that was in front of Sasuke charged at him and attempted to cut his head. Sasuke smirked and made a move. In a blinked of an eye all Zabuza's around them were slashed be turned into water which proved that they were just Mizu Bunshins.
'I can see them' thought Sasuke after defeating Zabuza's Mizu Bunshins.
"He could defeat Mizu Bunshins. That kid got stronger" said real Zabuza and stepped from his hiding. "A rival has appeared for you, Haku"
'Stop joking like that, Zabuza-sama. The only one worth to be my rival is Naruto-sama' scoffed Haku but still replied. "It seems so"
After the statement, both sides just staring at each other for a while. But Kakashi decided to break the silence. "Ya, ya, it seems my prediction was corrected"
"Your prediction?" wondered Zabuza.
"The masked guy" implied Kakashi. Sakura only now noticed that Haku was the sane person that she saw back then and opened her mouth with funny eyes.
"So it means Naruto is correct" contended Sasuke looking calmly at Haku.
"So it was a lie that he was a hunter-nin from Kiri?" added Tazuna.
"He's on Zabuza's side no matter how you look at it" concluded Kakashi.
Kakashi and Sakura were discussing about how they didn't like Haku. Sasuke stared at Haku all the time though. "I'll fight him" said Sasuke with a voice that there will be no arguments.
"Hai?" Sakura asked back.
"He pulled that stupid act to fool us. I hate guys like that" replied Sasuke.
"Don't try to act cool here, Sasuke! That guy is with Zabuza, he is not an easy opponent. I suggested we waited for Naruto-kun to arrive then took care of both of them" suggested Sakura with a serious face.
Kakashi was surprised at Sakura's mature statement. Even though he knew that Sakura changed because of hang out with Naruto. He didn't know that she will mature this fast. Naruto had competely changed her from a useless fangirl to a true kunoichi. Then he glanced at Sasuke to wait for his response.
Sasuke gripped his knuckles tightly and refute. "No. We don't need to wait for Naruto. I will fight him alone. I need to test myself just how my strength has grown since the academy. I need to shorten the gap between them". Sasuke thought about Itachi and Naruto in his head.
Meanwhile, Haku and Zabuza have their own conversation. "That boy is quite interesting. Even though the Mizu Bunshins have only 1/10 of original strength. He dealt well with those clones .He deserved to be on the same team with Naruto-sama"
"But we made the first move. Let's go" said Zabuza then he voiced his question that was in his head since Haku decided to address Naruto, -sama. "What the heck with that Naruto-sama crap? Don't tell me you feel attracted to that kid?"
"Nothing like that. I respect Naruto-sama for his determination and guts" countered Haku. Her expression is unknown because of the hunter-nin mask. And just that Haku twisted herself creating a tornado and head straight to Sasuke. Sasuke was surprised seeing that move, but narrowed his eyes and ready for the counter.
Tazuna's house
The two goons managed to abduct Tsunami and was about to leave. Inari, after recalling his father's words of courage and Naruto's words in the belief of heroes, charged at the two goons not caring for his well-being. He charged at them with only one desire, to save his mom. The two goons felt annoyed about the kid and decided to kill him. Tsunamis looked at them in panic and threaten to bite her tongue and die. But one of them had enough of her abs just knocked her unconscious. Just as Inari about to cleave in half, a clash of blades was heard.
Back to the bridge
Sasuke and Haku clashed kunai and senbon with each other. Both sides tried to overpower the other.
Zabuza was still standing aside and observed the battle of his accomplice. "Oh? He was able to catch up with Haku's speed"
Kakashi also observed the battle and then turned to Sakura to warn her. "Sakura, stick close to Tazuna-san and stay close to me. Let Sasuke handles the masked guy"
Sakura did as she was said and stood in defensive stance.
Sasuke and Haku still clashing blades with each other. For a moment, they separate and then rotate only to clash blades again.
"I didn't want to kill you, but it seems you won't back off, right?" contended Haku and still trying to overpower Sasuke.
"Damn right! I won't back off no matter what" Sasuke retorted back with a smirk.
"As I thought... But you are in disadvantage now. That's why you won't be able to keep up with me anymore. And I've two advantages" replied Haku with confidence.
"Two advantages?" repeated Sasuke questionably.
"First, I am surrounded by water. And the second is, I've sealed one of your hands. Therefore, you can only take and block my attacks" explained Haku her advantages.
Sasuke was about to shot back that that are in same conditions, but he widens his eyes when he saw Haku formed hand seals with one hand. Even Kakashi was shocked when he saw the face hunter-nin formed hand seals with one hand.
Haku finished forming hand seals and unleashed her jutsu. "Hijutsu: Sensatsu Suishou". She stomped her foot on the ground and the water started to raise up. Slowly the water turned to senbons and was prepared to fly at Sasuke with shocking speed.
Sasuke looking around and sweat nervously while thought. 'This is bad! I don't have a choice, I must used that jutsu to survive'. He closed his eyes in concentration. Haku jumped back that moment the needles flew at Sasuke with shocking speed. But the moment Haku back off Sasuke also formed hand signs with equal speed.
Tazuna's house
The two goons looked surprised as in front of then stood a kid with spiky blind hair and blue cold eyes. He is clashing his own blade with theirs.
"Where did you come from?!" demand one of the goons irritated.
"You guys will be dead soon. That is unnecessary" retorted Naruto coldly.
"What did you say!" shot back the one with a cap and thrust his sword at Naruto. Naruto disappeared in front of them, which cause them to look around. Then they put their gaze to the ground and noticed Tsunami was not there as well.
Naruto appeared at the tree where he put Inari there. He was holding Tsunami bridal style. He slowly put her at the tree and was about to leave. Tsunami opened her eyes that moment and shouted in auto. "Inari!"
"He is fine" replied Naruto with his back to her. He stopped moving when he heard her voice.
"Naruto-kun? What are you doing here? I thought you already went to the bridge" asked Tsunami confused.
"I knew that something like that may happen so I fake my leaving to caught those goons of guard. Now, please, head back to your house. I will take care of those two" replied Naruto and smiled at her.
"Will you be ok?" asked Tsunami worthily while pick up Inari. Naruto nodded his head and Shunshin back to the goons.
"We lost a hostage because of you gaki! Now you will die painfully!" shouted the one with eye-patch and charged at Naruto. The one with the cap followed him.
Naruto disappeared in front of their eyes once again. Only to appear behind them with Nenekirimaru withdrawn and took off their heads. He didn't even bother to look at their corpses and just leaving while flicking his sword off blood.
Back to the bridge
Haku looked back at the outcome. And she was surprised when she saw steam coming out where Sasuke supposed to be. 'Steam?'
The sight began to clear and now everyone could see Sasuke was enveloped in flame armor. He stood there sweating a bit with a smirk. Sasuke used the moment of surprise and began to formed hand seals. "Katon: Housenka no jutsu".Sasuke blew a couple of small fireballs at Haku, which cause her to jumped back and dodge them carefully. But that was what Sasuke wanted, he used Housenka no jutsu as a distraction to ambush her from behind.
"You're pretty slow". Haku turned her head to the voice behind. "Now you will be the one to take and block my attacks". He began to spin as was she. But Sasuke has a trick this time the moment they were about to clash blades again, he threw the other kunai in his hand, while force Haku to bend down and using that moment to kick her hard to send her fly back to the ground.
Sakura, Kakashi and even Zabuza was surprised that Sasuke managed to stay on top of the fight.
"Sasuke is amazing!" muttered Sakura in awe. She knows that Sasuke is string because he is from Uchiha clan and was trained by Naruto-kun since he was 7, but she was still surprised as he managed to deliver first serious strike that knock down Zabuza's accomplice.
"He definitely becomes much stronger than before" Kakashi said to himself as he observed the fight.
Haku shook her head and slowly pick herself up from the ground. She stood up slowly and asked. "How do you survive from my Setsatsu Suishou? I thought I've you with that jutsu there"
Sasuke smirked cockily and replied back. "That was definitely a close call. But I've managed to activate my Enjin no Yoroi to effectively melt your water needles upon the contact. So do you've any trick? Bring it out or you will be wiped to the ground again". Really, Uchiha arrogance will never leave them. Even if Naruto tried to drill that in his head. Uchiha just has so much pride. That's why their ego is one of their weaknesses.
"Zabuza, you made a huge mistake when underestimate my students just because they are children. Sasuke is Konoha's top rookie. Sakura is the smartest child. And I don't need to mention him. Naruto Uzumaki Konoha's most unpredictable enigma". As the afterthought Kakashi added in his mind. 'Yeah such an enigma that not even Hokage-sama knew what he is capable of'
But unknown to either of the side Naruto has arrived and was observing the battle from afar on a tree branch.
Zabuza turned to Haku and ordered. "Stop playing around and get serious already, Haku. We still need to capture that geezer there". Zabuza implied to Tazuna, that was trying to make him unnoticed by them.
Haku nodded her head in acceptance. "As you wish Zabuza-sama. I will finish him real quick". Haku began to slowly approached Sasuke which alarmed him. He noticed the air began to become colder.
"It will be over now. You will not be able to keep up with my true speed" proclaimed Haku as she made a weird hand seal.
Sasuke gulped and looking wearily at Haku. "True speed, you say?". Sudden an ice mirror slowly started to form behind Sasuke which shocked him. Then the while Sasuke surrounding was covered by ice mirrors creating a dome around him and Haku.
"Hijutsu: Makyo Hyosho" Haku called out her jutsu when it was successful performed. The mirrors stared to glow and Haku went inside one if it. This shocked the entire team 7 greatly.
"W-what the heck is that jutsu?" wondered Kakashi in shock.
At the tree branch, Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Hyoton, ehm? Didn't know that you have a kekkei genkai, Haku-san?". He looked back to Sasuke that was looking back and forth at the ice mirrors. "You must overcome this trial in order to become stronger and to awake your Sharingan, Sasuke. Also show me the results of your hard training". Naruto glanced at Zabuza, which was observing the battle with calculating eyes. If Kakashi decided to intervene then Zabuza will intercept him. And Kakashi can't make reckless move or else Sakura and Tazuna will be endangered. But that was what he thinks, Sakura is no longer useless anymore. In fact she will prove that to both Kakashi and Zabuza in this battle. Naruto then turned his gaze to Sakura and soften his eyes. She really tried hard to become stronger and to earn his recognition.
In the ice dome
Sasuke is being assaulted from all sides by the senbons. He could only stand there and receive Haku's attacks. Sasuke is screaming in pain which horrified both Sakura and Kakashi. Kakashi decided that it was time to intervene, but Zabuza intercept him and threaten if he decided to intervene he will kill both Sakura and Tazuna.
'Just how long will this continue?' thought Sasuke while gritting his teeth. He didn't even have time to form any hand seal. 'Kuso, is this all I can do? If it is then I won't ever be able to catch up to those two. The only hipe for me is to either wait for Naruto to arrive to double team him from both sides or to somehow unlock my Sharingan. Easier said than done, though'
Back at the tree branch, Naruto still observing the battle with calm expression. People called that being cold heart. But Naruto Uzumaki from the start didn't know what is love, happiness or the other emotions that highly emotional. He only just recently discovers the meaning of friends. That was the only thing he understood right now.
Next time: Sasuke's Sharingan