Hey! It's me, again! :D I was gonna wait to post this chapter, but just decided that since it's done, I might as well post it. I am not sure how I really feel about this chapter though. I have read through it multiple times, but can't find any other way to write it, so I hope it's alright! I would love to know what you think about it. I tried my best I swear! Anyways thank you Dekuton, Girl-luvs-manga, and Scarlet rose white for your reviews! And to those of you who have favorited, and or followed, you are all awesome, and I love you!
I really love reviews, they motivate me!
And I don't plan on having Hotaru have a love interest anytime soon, but I am curious to know who you think she should be paired with?
This chapter has been fixed and rewritten starting with the fight between Zabuza VS Naruto, Sasuke, and Hotaru!
After we left the ninja tied to the tree, we travelled for a few days before we got on a boat, that would take us to the land of Waves. It was very foggy, you could barely see a foot in front of you.
The first part of the ride was quiet, since we weren't supposed to talk. I kind of wished it wasn't, because that gave me time to think about that ninja. The one I killed, not long ago. I couldn't get his face out of my head. I could hear his choking, and the gurgle of his blood. I started to feel sick again. I shook my head to try to clear it. Now really was not the time to think about this. If I remembered right, we would be meeting Zabuza soon. And I knew I had to be focused for that.
"The bridge isn't far now. Our destination is just ahead. The land of waves." Our boat guide said quietly.
The closer we got, we could start to see the bridge.
"Woah, it's huge!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs.
I slapped my hand over his mouth. "Naruto, be quiet!" I hissed.
He laughed sheepishly. "Sorry Hotaru." He said after I took my hand away from his mouth.
Kakashi sensei sighed, and shook his head.
"Mr Tazuna. Before we reach the pier I want to ask you something." Kakashi sensei said suddenly, turning to Tazuna.
Tazuna put his head down, and didn't speak.
"The men who are after you. I need to know why. If you don't tell us, I'm afraid we will have to end this mission when we drop you ashore." Kakashi sensei continued.
We all waited for his response.
"I have no choice but to tell you." He finally answered. "Now, I want you to know the truth. Like you said, this is beyond the scope of the original mission. The one who seeks my life is a very short man, who casts a very long and deadly shadow."
"A deadly shadow? Who is it?" Kakashi sensei asked.
"You know him. At least I'm sure you've at least heard his name before. He's one of the wealthest men in the world. The shipping magnet, Gato."
Kakashi sensei's eyes widened. "Huh? Gato? Of Gato transport? He's a bussiness leader. Everyone knows him." Kakashi sensei was very surprised. There was no doubt about that.
"What does a bussiness leader have to do with ninja being after you?" I asked.
Tazuna sighed. "Gato is a very powerful tycoon from a famous company that's true. But below the surface, with the same ruthless methods he uses to take over bussinesses and nations, he sells drugs and contraband using gangs, and ninja. It was one year ago, when Gato first set his sights on the land of waves. He came to our island and used his vast wealth to take total control over our transporting shipping. Anyone who tried to stand in his way simply disappeared.
I could feel my blood boil as he was explaining it all. I was starting to feel a bit bad for how I had talked to him at the beginning of the trip.
"In an island nation a man who controls the sea, controls everything. Finance, government, our very lives. But there's one thing he fears. The bridge. When it is complete it will join us to the land, and that will break his control. I am the bridge builder."
"So that's it. Since you're in charge of the bridge, they're after you to stop you from finishing it, becasue you're in Gato's way of total power, and control." I concluded."
"That means those guys we fought in the forest, they were working for Gato." Sasuke added.
"I don't understand. If you knew he was dangerous, knew he'd send ninja to eliminate you, why did you hide that from us?" Kakashi sensei asked. I wondered about that too, because I just couldn't remember.
"Because the land of waves, is a small improverished nation. Even our nobles have little money."
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Kakashi sensei just stared at Tazuna.
"The common people who are building this bridge. They can't pay for an A or B rank mission. It's too expensive. If you end the mission when you drop me ashore, there will be no bridge. They'll assassinate me, before I reach home." He looked up at us. "But don't feel bad about it. Of course my sweet little grandson will be upset. He'll cry." He surprised me when he lifted his head up even more and attempted to talk like a small child. "Grandad! I want my grandad!" He cried.
That made me cringe.
"Please don't do that again. That was borderline creepy." I pleaded.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded their heads and Kakashi sensei sighed.
"Oh and my daughter will condemn the ninja of the hidden leaves, blaming you for abandoning her father, and living her life in sorrow." He paused for a moment, "Well it's not your fault, so forget it."
Okay nevermind, I no longer felt bad.
"I know that we're not supposed to hit the client, but you're really coming close to becoming my punching bag." I growled.
Tazuna's eyes widened, and Kakashi sensei put his hand on my shoulder. Pretty much telling me to back down. I huffed.
"Well, I guess we have no other choice. We'll have to keep guarding you." Kakashi sensei said with a smile. I glared at Tazuna.
"Ah, I am very grateful." Tazuna said with a sly smile.
I leaned closer to him. "We won't be your bodyguards forever." I said, smiling evily.
His eyes widened.
"Okay, Hotaru, that's enough." Kakashi sensei warned.
I dropped my smile and glared at Tazuna. If he wanted to threaten us, well I will threaten him right back.
"We're approaching the shore." Our boat guide finally announced.
We all turned to look.
"Tazuna, we have been very fortunate. No one has noticed us so far." The boat guide concluded.
"Nice going." Was all Tazuna said.
Everyone got quiet again as we went through a dark tunnel. Once through, it was bright again, and there was no fog in sight. I saw a bunch of homes cluttered together. It was beautiful.
Once the boat was docked, we all got off, which I was glad for. My legs were starting to cramp up.
"That's as far as I go. Good luck." Our boat guide, said, then bidding farewell.
"Okay, take me to my home. And I mean take me there in one piece."
I rolled my eyes, and we made our way to Tazuna's home.
It was a quiet walk at first. Until I noticed that Sasuke sped up, to walk beside Naruto. I knew it wouldn't be quiet for much longer. Naruto glared at him.
Naruto suddenly ran a few feet and stopped, to look around. His head whipped around towards a cluster of bushes. He grabbed a kunai, and threw it at one of the bushes. Was there someone there? I couldn't feel anybody.
We were all surprised. We waited for someone to jump out, but no one ever did.
Naruto laughed. "Hm, it was just a mouse.
I felt my eye twitch. Breath in. Breath out. Repeat.
Man he was killing me. My patience was running very thin with him. He was so lucky I considered him as my brother, or else I would have killed him by now. Between him and Lee I just couldn't catch a break. I mean yeah, I could be hyper at times and what not, but I was nowhere near their level of crazy.
"A mouse, huh?" Sasuke said, raising his eyebrow at Naruto.
Naruto chuckled. "Uh, yeah"
"Naruto, those are kunai knives, they're dangerous." Kakashi sensei reminded him.
I started to hear Tazuna growl.
"Stop trying to scare me you scrumpy little dwarf!" He yelled.
I couldn't help but laugh at the look on Naruto's face. It wasn't there for long though.
"I know someone is here!" He started looking around. "Over there!" He yelled, throwing another kunai, into another cluster of bushes.
"Naruto, knock it off!" I yelled.
"But there's someone following us, I know it!"
Kakashi sensei walked to where Naruto threw his kunai. I followed him. The kunai had landed right above a poor little bunnies head. I gasped.
"Naruto! Look what you did! You almost killed the poor thing!" I yelled, grabbing the poor little bunny to cuddle it.
"Awe come on Hotaru, it was an accident!" Naruto whined.
I glared at him. "It was not. You were aiming to kill. Maybe I should just randomly throw a kunai at you and see how you like it!"
Naruto put his hands up. "I said I was sorry!"
"Don't say sorry to me. Say sorry to Thumper." I said, holding the rabbit out. Though the moment he was near Naruto he started freaking out, so I hugged him to my chest again, and he calmed down a bit.
"Well look at that. He's terrified of you."
Naruto put his head down. "Oh come on Hotaru."
I just glared at him, and started petting Thumper.
I turned away from Naruto.
Naruto's mouth fell open. "I...I.. Oh come on!" He yelled.
I noticed Kakashi sensei was turned away from us looking into the forest.
I put the rabbit down. What was he looking at?
"Look out!" He suddenly yelled.
I looked to see a giant sword coming at us. I grabbed my spear and threw it to attempt to knock the giant sword out of the way, but my spear wasn't blunt enough, or big enough. It just uselessly fell to the ground after hitting it. So I had to grabbed both Naruto and Tazuna, and brought them to the ground with me, as the sword whizzed past where we just stood. He was here. Zabuza.
The sword lodged itself into a tree and Zabuza landed on it. Oh boy was he hot. I shook my head. Okay now was not the time to be drooling over the enemy.
We all gathered around Tazuna, since he was the target.
Kakashi sensei walked closer to him. "Well well, if it isn't Zabuza momochi. Rouge ninja from the village hidden in the mist."
Naruto suddenly started running towards Zabuza. What was he doing! I tried grabbing his jacket but I was too slow. So I attached chakra thread on him and pulled, making him stop.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" I yelled.
"Let me go Hotaru!" He growled. "I'm going to fight him!"
"Naruto, stop it." Kakashi sensei practically growled.
Nauro's eyes widened and he stopped struggling against my thread, so I let him go. He stayed put.
Zabuza laughed, and looked at me. "So you're the little girl who killed Akinobu. To tell the truth, I was expecting something, more."
My eyes widened.
"Hey, you leave Hotaru alone you creep!" Naruto yelled, trying to run at Zabuza again.
Kakashi sensei stuck his arm out, stopping Naruto. "Get back."
"But why? I can't let him get away with talking to Hotaru like that!" Naruto growled.
"Naruto, quit it. If sensei says to get back, then you get back. It is obvious that this guy is different than the other two ninja. He's stronger."
"But." I cut him off.
"No. Just stop Naruto." I pleaded. His shoulders sagged in defeat. I sighed.
"Hotaru is right. He is much stronger than those other ninja. A whole other league. If he's our opponet, I'll need this." Kakashi sensei said, grabbing the edge of his headband covering his covered eye.
"Kakashi of the sharingan eye. Did I get that right? Zabuza asked.
I looked over at Sasuke, to see his look of surprise, at the mention of the sharingan.
"It's too bad huh. But you'll have to hand over the old man."
I stiffened, and planted myself in front of Tazuna. Like hell I was going to let him get him.
"Now quick. Manji formation. Protect the bridge buider, and stay out of this fight." Kakashi sensei ordered. "You already know how to use team work, so you better use it."
Kakashi sensei, started to lift his headband, until his eye was uncovered. He then opened it, revealing his sharingan eye. "I'm ready"
Naruto looked shocked. Probably because of Kakashi's red eye.
"Well. Looks like I get to see the sharingan in action. This is an honor."
"What is the sharingan?" Naruto yelled.
"Sharingan. A rare power. It resides in the eyes. The user of this visual jutsu or dou jutsu, can instantly see and comprehend Genjutsu. Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu. And reflect the attack back, on the attacker. The sharingan is a special rare form of dou jutsu. However, there's more to the sharingan than that. A lot more." Sasuke explained.
"You got it right boy. But you only scratched the surface. The sharingan can analyze an opponents technique. And the copy it, to the smallest detail." Zabuza said, before mist started to surround us.
I could feel myself start to panic. This was it.
"As for you Jonin. In the asassanation of the hidden mist, we had a standing order to destroy you on sight. Your profile was in our Bingo book. It called you, the man who copied over a thousand jutsu. Kakashi the copy ninja"
Kakashi sensei, and Zabuza were now having a stare down.
"Wow, that's so cool!" Naruto yelled. We all ignored him though.
"Enough talking. I need to exterminate the old man. Now."
"Like hell you will!" I yelled. I froze when I realized what I said. I needed to shut up, or I was going to get myself killed!
Naruto and Sasuke ran to me to help me guard Tazuna, and we all got into a fighting stance.
"So, I'll have to eliminate you first, eh Kakashi? So be it." He and his giant sword suddenly disappeared. I tensed up. Where was he?
"He's over there!" Naruto suddenly yelled. We all turned to see Zabuza standing on the water.
I could feel that he was building up a hude amount of chakra. We were fucked. He suddenly disappered. I looked around. Where was he this time?
Kakashi sensei started to walk towards the water.
"Sensei." I called out to him. I knew walking towards the water was just asking for trouble.
"He'll come after me first." He said, stopping.
"Who is he sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Zabuza momochi. The ex leader of the hidden mist asassination unit. He's a master of the silent killing technique."
"S..silent?" Naruto stuttered out.
"As the name suggests, it happens in an instant. Without sound, or warning of any kind. It's so fast you pass from this life without realizing what has happened."
I could feel myself start to shake. This was all real now. Everything. I wasn't just watching it in some tv show, I was living it, and I was absolutely terrified. One wrong move and I knew Zabuza would strike me down like I was nothing more than a bug.
"The sharingan cannot fully neutrilize it. So don't lower your guard." Kakashi sensei warned. "Well if we fail, we only lose our lives." He added.
Seriously! "Thank you for that sensei. That is exactly what I wanted to hear at a time like this." I spat. He said nothing back. I was now even more scared.
"The mist is getting thicker." Naruto whispered. And it was. I felt like I was being suffocated in it.
"The land of waves is surrounded by ocean. The swirling mist are ever present." Tazuna said, now looking down at Naruto.
"I don't think this has anything to do with the ocean." I admitted.
"8 points." Zabuza's voice came from nowhere. I stiffened, and looked around.
"Larnyx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart. Now which will be my kill point?"
Oh my god. I wanted to puke. Kakashi sensei suddenly cleared the mist. But it didn't stop the suffocating feeling I had. The killing intent was now so bad I actually wished for the mist to come back. I felt like I was going insane. I couldn't clear my head, I couldn't calm down. I could only stand there and shake, as I tried keep myself from falling apart right there. I couldn't take much more.
"Sasuke, Hotaru, calm down. I'll protect you with my life. All of you. I will not allow my comrades to die. trust me." He said, turning back to us with a smile.
I choked on a sob. I had to pull myself together. I couldn't lose it like this. I was a ninja and I had to act like it! I trusted Kakashi sensei. I trusted him with my life. And I couldn't let him down.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Zabuza suddenly spoke up. I gasped. As I knew he was now behind Sasuke and I. "It's over."
I didn't think. I grabbed my spear, and turned around, swipping it at Zabuza, making him move.
Kakashi sensei, then took that moment that he was distracted, and tackled him, stabbing him with a kunai. Zabuza let out a startled yell. I started to hear something like running water. I then realized, that was a Zabuza water clone, which meant he was still out there.
The real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi sensei, and the clone popped.
"Sensei, behind you!" Naruto yelled.
"Die!" Zabuza yelled, swinging his sword at sensei. Cutting him right in half.
Please be a clone, please be a clone. I silently begged. Blood suddenly turned to water, and I sighed in relief. It was. Zabuza looked surprised.
Sensei then appeared behind him, and held a kunai to his throat. "Don't move." He warned. "Now it's over. you're finished."
"All right!" Naruto yelled, with a big smile on his face.
I was still tense though. I knew it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Zabuza started to laugh.
"Huh?" Kakashi sensei looked a little taken aback.
"Finished? You really don't get it do you? Your technique is nothing but a crass imitation. I'll never be defeated by a mere copy cat ninja like you. You are full of surprises though. You'd already copied my water clone jutsu, when you made your little speech. Very skillfully executed. You made your clone say those words to draw my attention, while you hid in the mist, waiting for me to make my move. Nice try, but I'm not that easy to fool." He moved so fast, he was behind Kakashi in the blink of an eye.
I gasped. "Sensei!" I yelled. Zabuza swung at Kakashi, but he ducked, making Zabuza miss, and his sword embedding itself itnto the ground. But Zabuza, propelled himself on his swords handle, and kicked Kakashi. Kakashi sensei grunted, and flew through the air.
"Now." Zabuza said, grabbing his sword, and running after Kakashi.
As Zabuza was running I noticed that there were makibishi spikes on the ground. I was sure Zabuza saw them as well. He slide to a stop. He turned around a did a backwards flip into the water behind him.
"Sensei!" Naruto yelled.
We watched as Kakashi sensei stood up in the water. But it looked like something was wrong. What was I not remembering?
Zabuza appeared behind him again. "Ah, fool." He said, making some hand signs. "Water prison jutsu!"
So that's what I was forgetting! Kakashi sensei was suddenly incased in a giant water ball.
Zabuza started talking, but I couldn't really hear what he was saying. He then turned to us, and made a one handed hand sign. A water clone jutsu, started to form in the water. Oh how I wished this fight was over.
"You think wearing a headband makes you a ninja? When you've hovered between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly, your profile is entered in my bingo book, then you ay have earned the title ninja. But to call upstarts like you ninja, is a joke."
"He disappeared again!" Naruto yelled.
He then appeared in front of Naruto and kicked him, making his headband fly off.
"Naruto!" I yelled. Zabuza then turned to me. He laughed
"Now you, girl."
I gasped as his foot connected with my abdomen. I could feel something break, and a searing hot pain go through me. I flew through the air for a second, before I collided with the ground, making me cry out, as the pain in my abdomen got worse. I knew I had at least a few broken ribs.
"Hotaru! Naruto!" I heard Sasuke yell.
I forced myself to get up, because I knew Sasuke was next. It hurt to move, and to breath, but there was nothing I could do about it right now. I could either choose life, or death, and I was choosing life! I threw multiple kunai at the Zabuza clone. But not one hit him. He deflected them all. He came at me again. I had no time to defend myself. This time he aimed a punch to my face. I flew back again. I could taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. I tried to get back up, but it hurt so bad. It took everything in me not to cry.
I saw that he was now stepping on Naruto's headband. "You're just brats."
I was finally able to get up, though I was panting, and I felt dizzy from all of the pain.
"Listen! Get the bridge builder and run! You can't win this fight! He's using all of his power to keep me in this prison. So he can only fight you with his water clone. But the clone can't go far from his real body. If you get away from him, he can't follow. Now run!" Kakashi sensei yelled.
I looked at Sasuke and Naruto. Sasuke wasn't hurt, and Naruto wasn't that bad off. I was the only one with injuries right now. I was the weak one. I knew that. But that didn't mean I was going to run away, no matter what sensei said. I was going to stay, and fight, no matter what. I was not just going to leave him, and I knew Sasuke and Naruto felt the same way. We had to stop him, because if we just left Kakashi sensei and Zabuza managed to kill him, then it wouldn't matter how fast or far we went, Zabuza would find us, and he would kill us, so we had to end it here.
"I'm sorry sensei. But that isn't an option." I finally spoke up.
Sensei's eyes widened. "Hotaru, you do as I say! All of you! Now take the bridge builder and run!" He yelled, clearly panicking.
"No! We are not leaving you! You're our comrade. You asked us to trust you, and we did. Now all I am asking is for you to trust us." I pleaded.
"Hotaru, you guys can't win this fight!" Kakashi sensei yelled louder this time. "I am begging you. Please go!"
"We've got to do it." Sasuke finally spoke up. He then yelled and started to run at the clone, throwing kunai, after kunai at him.
I looked beside me, to Naruto who was still on the ground, shaking. I limped over to his headband, now that Zabuza was distracted, and no longer stepping on it, and slowly bent down to pick it up. I then limped over to Naruto, and held his headband out to him. He looked up at me.
"We have to help Sasuke, and Kakashi sensei." I said softly. "They need us."
Naruto looked at his headband and then at me. He winched. I was pretty sure my face was swollen. I could feel it throbbing. A moment later he reached for his headband with a shaky hand. He then firmly grabbed it, and stopped shaking.
"Right." He whispered. "What should we do?"
"I don't know." I admitted. I looked back over to Sasuke. He was still fighting the clone, but it wasn't going to well for him. "Sasuke, fall back!" I yelled. He immediately fell back, and joined me and Naruto. He was panting, and bruised.
"We're not getting to him." He admitted.
"Well we have to do something." Naruto growled.
"Well we know regular old kunai and shuriken won't work against him, and neither will my spear. Is there anything else we can use?" I asked, looking at Naruto and Sasuke.
"Wait, Hotaru. You can keep people in place with your chakra thread, just like you did with me." Naruto pointed out.
My eyes widened. "Yeah, I can. But Zabuza is strong. I don't know how long I'd be able to hold him." I admitted.
"Talking about giving up already?" The Zabuza clone taunted us. Naruto growled, and I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Ignore him. We have to think of a way to get to Kakashi sensei." I said, making Naruto turn back to me.
"But how when we can't even get past a clone?" Naruto yelled.
I looked back to Kakashi sensei. He needed us right now, and we weren't really doing anything other than freak out at the moment.
"I am tired of waiting." The Zabuza clone said, now right behind us.
Sasuke was the first of us that he grabbed. He threw him to the side, like he was nothing.
"Sasuke!" I yelled, running over to him.
"Aren't you useless brats done yet? You'll never be able to beat me, so you should just give up now." The clone taunted yet again.
Naruto growled, and clenched his fists.
"What are you doing? I told you to run! This fight was over the moment I got caught. Now take off! Your mission isn't to prove how brave you are, it's to save the bridge builder. Stay on mission!" Kakashi sensei yelled.
I helped Sasuke up, and we went back to Naruto and stood up, and turned to look back at Tazuna.
"Bridge builder?" He asked. Tazuna groaned.
"Well I-I guess this all happened because of me. Because of my desire to live. But I won't let that stand in your way now." He lifted his head to look at us. "Forget about me, and do what you have to do. Go ahead and fight to save your sensei!" Tazuna yelled.
I looked over to Sasuke and Naruto. "hmph. Alright, you hear that?" Sasuke asked, smiling.
"Yeah, believe it. You ready? Hotaru?" Naruto asked, him and Sasuke now looking at me.
I grinned. "Ready."
sensei's eyes widened. "Stop this!" He pleaded. But we just ignored him.
The Zabuza clone started laughing. "You really haven't learned anything, have you? Still playing your little games, pretending to be ninja. When I was your age, this hand had already crushed many opponents." He lifted one of his hands up, looking at it.
Naruto and Sasuke tensed up. I shuddered.
"Long ago, in the Village Hidden in the Mist. Also known as Blood Mist Village. Before a student could become a ninja, there was one final test." Kakashi sensei started.
"Hm. Do you know about the graduation exam?" The real Zabuza asked.
"What graduation exam?" Naruto asked.
The Zabuza clone started to laugh once again. "What's the big deal anyway? We had graduation tests too." Naruto asked. But he kept laughing. I could tell that Naruto was starting to get mad.
"Did you have to kill the other students to pass?" Zabuza asked.
My eyes widened. I had forgotten that at one point Mist did that.
"Imagine young ninja like you. Eating together, training together. And then comes the final exam. Only they changed the rules. Kill or be killed. You can't stop while your opponent still breaths. He was your friend, shared your dreams. Now it's him, or you."
I felt sick. How they had been allowed to get away with that was beyond me. It was sick, and cruel.
"Ten years ago in the Village Hidden in the Mist, the graduation exam changed. One year before, a dark evil had filled the school with terror." Kakashi sensei spoke up again.
"What evil?" I asked, even though I had a feeling I already knew.
"Without pause or hesitation, a young boy who was not even a ninja approached the class and took down over a hundred other students."
"It...It felt so...good!" Zabuza spoke up, yelling the last part.
"Oh my god." I whispered. Naruto and Sasuke gasped. Sasuke then grunted when Zabuza rammed into him. When Sasuke fell to the ground Zabuza elbowed him in the stomach, hard. Sasuke yelled, and an alarming amount of blood shot out of his mouth.
"Sasuke!" I yelled. Zabuza slammed his foot down onto Sasuke's stomach, making him grunt in pain.
He laughed again. "You're nothing."
"Stop right there!" Naruto yelled, making a hand sign. "Shadow clone jutsu!" Multiple clones surrounded the Zabuza clone. "Here we go." They said simultaneously, running at him.
I connected my chakra thread to Sasuke, and dragged him out of the way. It was the only thing I could do. Though it was hard, because he was quite heavy.
Once Sasuke was near me again, I looked up to see all of the Naruto's had dog piled onto Zabuza. For a moment I thought for sure that they had subdued him, until all of the Naruto's were thrown off of him. The real one landing near Sasuke and I.
"His skills are too advanced. He's too powerful. There's no way to defeat him." Tazuna pointed out.
"We still have to try though." I said, running at Zabuza.
"Hotaru, wait!" Sasuke yelled.
I got my spear out, and started to advance on Zabuza. It was hard, due to the fact that I had broken ribs. He was able to dodge every single one of my attacks. Finally probably growing bored with me, he grabbed me by my throat, lifted me into the air, and started to squeeze, making me drop my spear.
I started to gasp for air, and I clawed at his hands, trying to get him to let go. But he wasn't budging. I could hear someone calling my name but I didn't know who. I felt my heartbeat start to slow down, and black spots danced across my eyes. I was sure I was going to die.
Just as that thought came to mind, I was suddenly released, and I fell to the ground with a thump. I started to cough and gasp for air. What happened?
I heard another thump to see Naruto land beside me. But he got back up.
"Hotaru, are you okay?" He asked, kneeling beside me.
"Yes." I croaked out. I tried getting back up, but the pain was so bad. I couldn't help the few tears that escaped. Naruto helped me up. I was now panting, but that just hurt me even worse, cause every time I breathed I aggravated my injuries. Sasuke ran back over to us. He dropped beside me.
"Are you useless brats done yet? You'll never be able to beat me, so you should just give up now." The clone taunted yet again.
Naruto growled. "I'll never give up to the likes of you!" He yelled. He made some more clones, and ran at him again. I wanted to stop him, but I was in so much pain.
"Sasuke." I whispered. Sasuke whipped around to look at me. "Go help Naruto."
"But, you're hurt." He argued.
"We all are." I pointed out. "Also leave a clone with Tazuna." He nodded his head after a moment, and left after he made a clone. Said clone immediately went to guard Tazuna.
I shakily got up. Man this freaking sucked. I watched as Naruto was thrown back once again, grabbing his bag, as he was passing it. He started to dig through it. What was he looking for? He finally pulled out a demon wind shuriken.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, throwing the shuriken to him. Sasuke easily caught it, spinning around to face Zabuza again. What where they doing? Sasuke opened it. I looked over to Naruto, and he wiggled his fingers at me, laughing. I gave him a confused look. What the heck?
"Demon wind shuriken: Windmill of shadows!" Sasuke yelled.
"A shuriken? You'll never touch me with that."
Sasuke jumped into the air, and threw it hard at the Zabuza clone. It passed him though, as it neared him. Oh. I ran towards the real Zabuza. He caught the first shuriken, but there was a second one. I used my chakra thread to hold Zabuza into place. I don't think he realized it yet. But the moment he tried to jump, and couldn't move he realized it.
"What?" He yelled. At the last second the shuriken turned into Naruto, who had a kunai.
"Eat this!" Naruto yelled, throwing the kunai at him.
I could feel Zabuza start to pull against my chakra thread. It took everything in me to keep it held onto him. The moment the kunai got close to his face though, he broke it, and realeased the jutsu holding Kakashi sensei. I saw that the kunai still hit him though. Right underneath his eye.
He yelled. Very angry now, and started to spin the shuriken. He then took aim at Naruto, who had landed in the water. My eyes widened.
"I'll destroy you!" He yelled.
Before he could throw it, Kakashi sensei deflected the attack with his hand. I sighed in relief. Though he looked very pissed. Zabuza gasped.
"Naruto, that was an excellent plan." Kakashi sensei praised.
"I got distracted, and lost my grip on the water prison." Zabuza grunted.
"Don't flatter yourself. You weren't distracted. You were forced to let go." Kakashi sensei corrected. "Your technique worked on me once. But it won't work again. So, what's it gonna be?"
Zabuza was quiet. By now Sasuke was with me again, as we stood in front of Tazuna. I was now only running on pure adrenaline. I wondered how long it would last.
Zabuza grunted. and put more force onto Kakashi sensei's hand with the shuriken. Kakashi sensei started to grunt, and groan, and I could see the blood falling from his hand. Zabuza kept putting more force into it, but Kakashi sensei was able to knock it out of his hand, and it went flying.
They both jumped back from each other. Once Zabuza landed he started making hand signs, and what sounded like chanting, a jutsu. As soon as Kakashi sensei landed he joined in, and started copying Zabuza. Once the jutsu was finished, the water started to form two what looked to be dragons.
"Water style. Water dragon jutsu." They both yelled at the same time.
The dradons started to circle around each other, and then collided, making giant waves in the water, which slammed into us. I almost lost my balance when Sasuke grabbed me, and held me upright.
The dragons continued to fight each other. Water continued to rain down on us, but by now we were all solely focused on the fight.
Kakashi sensei, and Zabuza were now fighting each other. Trying to gain power over the other. They jumped away from each other again, and started circling each other, running on the water. I realized what was happening. Kakashi sensei was copying Zabuza. Move for move. Like a shadow.
"Going to do next?" Kakashi sensei said suddenly. Surprising Zabuza. "It makes you furious, doesn't it?"
"All you're doing is copying me, like a monkey."
"You can't beat me with cheap tricks. I'll crush you." They both said at the same time.
Zabuza's eyes widened. And he started doing more hand signs. "When I finish with you, you'll never open that monkey mouth again." He threatened.
He paused though, when a shadow started to appear behind Kakashi sensei. when It turned into him, he looked surprised, so I knew it wasn't him who did it, so it had to be sensei.
"Water style. Giant vortex jutsu." Kakashi sensei called out.
"What?" Zabuza yelled.
A giant ball of water formed, and went after Zabuza.
"Impossible!" He yelled, as it collided with him.
The water vortex ended up coming towards us, and it took everything in me not to let it take me away with it. Sasuke ended up grabbing me, and Tazuna, and lifted us high into the tree where the water couldn't reach us. Poor Naruto was still caught up into it.
Zabuza was washed up to a tree, where Kakashi sensei threw kunai at him, and met his mark, on both of Zabuza's arms.
"You're finished. Kakashi sensei, said, kneeling on the tree branch above Zabuza.
"How? Can you see into the future?" Zabuza asked.
"Yes." Kakashi sensei answered almost sarcastically. "This is your last battle ever." He said, holding up a kunai.
Suddenly something flew at Zabuza, and was embedded into his neck. It looked like needles. I gasped. Could it be? How could I forget him? Haku.
Kakashi sensei turned to look at the figure high in the trees. I watched as Zabuza fell to the ground. 'Dead'
Haku chuckled. "You were right. It was his last battle."
We all just stared at him. Kakashi sensei jumped down, next to Zabuza's body to feel for a pulse.
"No vital signs." He then looked back at Haku.
Haku bowed. "Thank you. I've been tracking Zabuza for a long time, waiting for this chance to take him down." Haku explained. I glared at him though, because I knew he was lying. But I said nothing, because none of us were in the position to fight. I had broken ribs, a swollen face, and I didn't have enough chakra left for another fight.
"By your mask I see you're a tracker ninja, from the village hidden in the mist." Kakashi sensei concluded.
"Impressive. You're well informed." Haku praised.
"A tracker!" Naruto said, getting ready to fight him.
"Naruto, you don't even know what that is. You missed the lesson." I said, shaking my head.
Naruto's face heated up, and he chuckled. "Oh."
"When a rouge ninja breaks away from his village, he carries all kinds of secrets with him, the secrets of his people. Trackers are especially trained to hunt down these ninja, and eliminate them. That way the secrets of their people stay safe." I explained.
"That's correct. I'm a member of an elite tracking unit, of the village Hidden in the Mist. It was my duty to stop Zabuza." He explained.
Lies. All lies. I just wished I could say something. Naruto ran to the tree Haku stood on. He started to growl, looking in between Haku and Zabuza.
"What is this? Who do you think you are?" He yelled, pointing at Haku.
I jumped down from the tree, much to Sasuke's displeasure. I landed on my feet, hard, and grunted. I limped over to Naruto.
"Did you hear me?" He growled.
"Easy, Naruto, He's not our enemy." Kakashi sensei said, intervening.
"That's not the point!" He yelled, turning to face sensei. "Did you see what he did, just like that? Zabuza was huge and powerful like some kind of monster. I mean look what he did to Hotaru!" He yelled, now pointing to me. I stopped. "And this kid, who's no bigger than me, he brought down Zabuza with one move, like it was nothing!" He yelled even more, as Kakashi sensei made his way over to them. "I mean what does that make us? We're just fumbling around. We don't know anything! How can I accept that?" No matter how much I didn't want to admit it, Naruto was right. We were all lucky we were alive right this second.
"Well, even if you don't accept it, still it did happen, Naruto." Kakashi sensei put his hand on Naruto's head. "In this world, there are kids who are younger than you. And yet stronger than me." He admitted. Naruto just grumbled. and then sighed.
"Are you going to be okay Hotaru?" Naruto asked, flinching again like earlier when he looked at me. Did I look that bad?
"Pfft, of course. Never been better. Honestly." I said, smiling, which I immediately regretted because it hurt my face. Nobody seemed convinced.
Haku suddenly disappered, to stand next to Zabuza. I stared him down, which I think he knew, cause he turned around to face me, and stare right back. We stared at each other for a minute, until he broke it, to turn back to Zabuza. He picked him up.
"Your struggle is over for now. I must deal with the remains. There are many secrets in this body. They must not be allowed to get into the wrong hands. Please excuse me. Farewell." He said, disappearing with Zabuza's body.
"He disappeared!" Naruto yelled. I limped over to him, before he could freak out, and I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Naruto. Just because he is stronger than us, means nothing. It is nothing for you to get upset about. I feel the same way. I feel weak. But I know with more training, we can all become stronger.
Naruto grinned at me. "You're right! We'll train until we drop!"
Speaking of dropping. My adrenaline was now gone, and all of my pain started to return full force. I started to feel the weight of everything, and was now extremely tired. I couldn't help it, when I passed out.
"Hotaru!" I heard Naruto yell, before I let the darkness overtake me.