DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own anything regarding the Naruto or Naruto Shippuden series with the sole exception of my own characters and their story-lines or their involvement within the story. Everything else belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
-Of Sharingan's, Fallen Teammates, and Weakened Seals-
Sakura's screams echoed throughout the area.
'That scream... That was Sakura! What's happening to her? Where is Kakashi?' Sasuke asks himself before looking over to his injured teammates. Naruto was laying on his stomach while grunting in pain as Amaya sat up slowly with gritted teeth, evaluating whether or not it's safe enough to pull out the senbon.
"Sakura! She's in trouble..." Naruto mumbled weakly.
Amaya scowled. "What the hell is going on over there?!" She spat out harshly, wincing in pain as she pulled a few of the needles from her side.
'We've got to break through!' Sasuke thought to himself, right as Naruto slowly rose up from his position.
Naruto growled and slowly pushed himself up. "I'll bust us out of here!" He reassured confidently.
Sasuke stared at the blond, surprised. 'Naruto...'
"What do you plan on doing?" Amaya asked in a slightly hushed voice.
"I'll fake him out." Naruto replied as he stood completely.
"You've exhausted my patience." Haku informed, becoming more and more agitated.
Ignoring the male, Naruto gathers his chakra into his feet and takes off running. However, just as he is about to reach an opening, Haku appears in one of the mirrors before him, prompting the blond to jump back and run in another direction with Haku running alongside him in the mirrors.
"Naruto, behind you!" Sasuke warns, prompting the blond to look behind himself.
The warning, however, was in vain as Haku throws more senbon, sending Naruto to the ground.
"Naruto!" Amaya and Sasuke call out worriedly.
"Your chance of escaping my house of mirrors, is zero. That is absolute." Haku states, watching silently as Amaya and Sasuke run over and kneel next to the blond.
"Naruto, are you able to get up? Try not to use anymore chakra. That's only going to help him now." Sasuke says as Naruto tries to sit up.
"I know, Sasuke. I know." The blond replies before falling back onto the ground unconscious.
"Naruto?! Hey, Naruto! C'mon wake up!" Amaya calls somewhat frantically as she lightly pats the boy's cheek.
'We can't go on like this... He's blocking every move we make. I've got to find a way to out maneuver him.' Sasuke thought as he stands up. "My eyes have adjusted to his movements." He adds aloud before glancing around.
"Looking for a counterattack? I'll save you the trouble." Haku calls as he appears in a mirror and throws more senbon. Thinking quickly, Sasuke picks up one of the many needles covering the ground as Amaya stands with a drawn kunai, the deflecting some of the oncoming weaponry. Once the onslaught ends, Sasuke falls to his knees and Amaya hunches over from the exertion.
'Saa~ I really need to work on my stamina...' The brunette thought to herself as she tried to catch her breath.
'What?' Haku wonders in surprise as he stares at the two.
"Get up, loser! We gotta team up!" Sasuke yells to Naruto as Amaya nudged him with the toe of her shoe.
'I'm aiming at their vital spots now. But I can't get a direct hit.' Haku thought, still in slight awe at the Genin's abilities.
Sasuke's voice and Amaya's prodding seemed to bring the boy to, making him sit up. "I know what we have to do. Believe it, Sasuke."
Soon enough, Haku's mirror images reappear and throw more needles. Forcing the duo to deflect once more. 'It's not just luck! They're fighting to protect their friend, that's why they're so determined. But they can't possibly see the needles coming.' The nin thought to himself as he continued the attack.
Knowing that the two of them couldn't stop all of the needles, Sasuke roughly shoulders a now standing Naruto, knocking the blond into Amaya - who then pulls him to a safer spot. Seeing that the two are out of the way, Sasuke also moves right as the senbon embed into the ground.
As Haku watched this happen, he focused his attention solely on Sasuke. 'My movements are beyond human speed. And yet, he's tracking tracking them somehow... Whatever he's doing I've got to stop him now!' He thought to himself, now seeing Sasuke as a bigger threat compared to his companions. 'He's calling most of the shots right now...' Haku adds before disappearing from sight.
"He disappeared! Where'd he go? How could he just vanish?" Sasuke asked aloud before turning to the blond. "Naruto, you better not pass out again! C'mon let's go, we can't keep protecting you like this!"
"Well then don't! I never asked for your help." Naruto rebuffed before passing out once more.
"Naruto!" Amaya cries out as she crouches next to the boy, shaking him lightly in hopes he'd wake up again.
Hearing the thud and the brunette's exclamation, Sasuke turns to look at the blond in surprise.
"You can't revive him. He's reached his limits." Haku informs calmly, causing Sasuke to growl. The masked nin lets out a laugh at the response.
Sasuke, in frustration throws the needle he was using, making it bounce off the mirror Haku was currently in. "Impressive. You have excellent moves. Your attacks are very skillful." He compliments, throwing a few more senbon -which Sasuke dodges- before moving to another mirror. "Looks like you've reached your limits as well. Motor functions, reflexes, judgement, your abilities are weakening slowly but surely. Now you're finished!"
'Here he comes!' Sasuke thought to himself as he watched Haku move throughout each mirror. 'Stay calm. Just.. concentrate. See everything.' He breathes, and just as Haku is about to attack, Sasuke channels chakra to his feet and grabs Naruto. "Amaya! Move!" At his command, the two jump back as the senbon embed into the ground where they were standing.
'He saw every move! But.. there's no way he could do that!' Haku thought, once again surprised.
Sasuke, with the help of Amaya, laid Naruto onto the ground before looking up. However, there was a slight difference in his appearance, and Amaya could only gasp lightly in surprise.
"Sasuke..." Amaya breathed, her wide blue eyes making contact with his now gleaming red ones.
At the sudden change, realization dawned upon the nin. 'Impossible... Those eyes! The Sharingan!... You're--'
"It's not complete. But I could see though his deceptions." Sasuke said aloud to himself, a small feeling of pride filling his chest for awakening his family's special Kekkei Genkai in such a crucial time.
'So he too has a Kekkei Genkai. The power of a unique bloodline trait passed down within a clan. Interesting. Even though it's not perfected. To uncover this power amidst a lethal attack, is an amazing feat.' Haku thought to himself, shaking off the surprise while readying more senbon. 'And because of that, I won't be able to fight much longer. My jutsu uses a tremendous amount of chakra, and his swift movements also take energy. There's no doubt that the longer we fight, the more he will use the Sharingan to perceive my moves. Even now, his eyes are tracking me... I can't target him directly, he'll just block a frontal attack. So I'll have to throw him off guard, by attacking his partners. Then I'll destroy him!' He plots before rushing towards Naruto and Amaya.
"What?!" Sasuke exclaims noticing the plan instantly. The Uchiha then begins gathering his chakra into the soles of his feet, propelling himself forwards. 'I've got to stop him!'
Sakura and Tazuna stare shocked as Kakashi holds the bleeding wound on his chest. "Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura exclaims, relief and a slight tinge of worry coating her voice.
"You were late, Kakashi. You let your concern for those little punks' safety, cloud your mind. Adding further to the fog that already hinders your Sharingan. Your eyes are sharp Kakashi, but not sharp enough to read my moves. Not anymore." Zabuza comments gruffly before chuckling. "C'mon, Kakashi, I want this to be fun! I want to enjoy myself as I extract my revenge! As for those brats, don't worry. They're at Haku's mercy. No... They're breathing their last breath right now!" He continues to say as he shrugs lightly. "Relax! You'll have plenty of time to weep out an apology for failing those brats when you see them in the next life!" At this, he begins to laugh loudly to himself as he sheaths his sword.
...
Silence soon falls upon the group, the only distinguishable sounds being Kakashi's heavy pants. Sakura turns to look back at the barely visible dome holding her teammates captive. "He said Sasuke.. will die!" She mumbles before shaking her head. "No, I won't believe that! I have faith in him!" She reassures herself.
'SASUKE WILL BEAT THEM TO A PULP! CHA!' Her inner-self cried with a fist pump.
"And that masked kid..." Sakura mumbled.
'I'LL MAKE HIM WISH THAT HE WAS NEVER BORN!' Her inner self exclaimed once more, punching the air violently.
"I can't lose Sasuke!" Sakura finally exclaimed with clenched fist as her inner self chimed in once again, 'ANYONE WHO TRIES TO TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME WILL PAY FOR IT!' She then nodded with narrowed eyes. "And Naruto and Amaya either!"
...
"Exactly." Kakashi voiced, making the pinkette gasp lightly as she turns to look at him. "I... I believe in their abilities. I have faith in them. Naruto... The number one, hyperactive knucklehead ninja. Amaya... The supporting pillar of this team, and heiress to the Minamoto clan." Kakashi added, making Zabuza's eyes widen.
'The Minamoto!... Their rare Kekkei Genkai make them some of the most formidable opponents in Taijutsu! They're specialists!' The rogue thought to himself, glancing in the direction of the ice mirrors. However, Kakashi wasn't finished just yet.
"And Sasuke." Kakashi said, gaining Zabuza's attention once more. "Heir to the most powerful clan in the Hidden Leaf Village!"
Zabuza's widened even further as he realized where Kakashi was going. "You mean...?"
"Yes. His full name, Sasuke Uchiha. The unique powers of the Uchiha clan run through his veins. The Kekkei Genkai is his birthright." Kakashi replied almost smugly. His chest filling with pride at the thought of the Genin chosen for his team.
"I've heard that one young ninja survived the tragedy of the Uchiha clan! No wonder he advances quickly! But so does Haku! No one can match him. No one has ever stopped his secret jutsu, even the most skilled Jounin fall before him! Just as you will fall before me, right now!" Zabuza retorts, still slightly surprised that such brats came from such admirable and fearsome clans.
"Sakura! Stay with Tazuna!" Kakashi orders, keeping his narrowed gaze on the rogue.
"Okay. Uh, got it!" The pinkette stammered.
'He's right, it's time to end this! But he is the one who will fall!' Kakashi thought to himself as he ran off into the mist to confront Zabuza one last time.
As Naruto finally comes to, his first sight is Haku lying on the ground a little ways away and Sasuke standing protectively in front of him. 'Where's Amaya?' He wondered and glanced around, to his relief, he found the brunette sitting next to him hunched over panting.
"F-finally awake, huh...?" Amaya asks in a raspy voice, sending a weak grin his way, making his stomach clench in worry. The brunette's voice caught Sasuke's attention, notifying him that Naruto was conscious once more.
"You always... Get in the way... Naruto... It.. never fails.." Sasuke grunts, his tone of voice conveying how much pain he was in.
"You beat him, Sasuke! Amaya!... Huh?" Naruto cheers happily until he notices the wounds the two share.
"You.. should see the look on your face... Y-you look like a.. total loser." Sasuke rasps, his voice wavering slightly as he glanced over his shoulder for the first time, revealing a small trail of blood running from the corner of his mouth.
"Why-why did you.. save me? Why did you do it?" Naruto asks, looking back and forth between the two.
"Saa~... It's what friends do, isn't it? You would've done the same." Amaya replies, her breathing getting slightly heavier as she spoke.
"I don't know why, I just did." Sasuke answers before adding, "You... I hated you."
"Then why? It doesn't make any sense! Why did you protect me?!" Naruto asked again before clenching his fist. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for you to save me!"
'It would've happened either way, whether you liked it or not.' Amaya thought to herself as she watched Sasuke worriedly.
"I don't know, my body just moved... There was no time to think, loser." Sasuke answers before he suddenly loses balance and falls backwards.
Both Amaya and Naruto's eyes grow wide and Naruto quickly jerks forward to catch the Uchiha.
"Sasuke!" Amaya cried out as she slowly scooted over to the two, not finding strength in her legs to stand. Once she reached the two, she placed the Uchiha's head in her lap as Naruto continued to hold onto him.
"He.. he's still out there. My brother... I promised myself... I'd stay alive, until I killed him. Naruto, Amaya, don't let your dreams die." Sasuke muttered weakly in pain filled grunts.
"W-what do you mean?" Amaya asks weakly, her eyes watering as the Uchiha stares up at her solemnly. "You're gonna be just fine, Sasuke. Once this is over, we're gonna go back home!"
Sasuke, however, doesn't get to respond as his eyes slowly close, his body going limp quickly after.
Amaya stared down at the boy numbly, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. "H-hey, th-that's not funny, Uchiha! Now isn't the time for dramatics!" She stammered out before continuing, "Wake up, damn it! Sasuke!" She exclaimed weakly as she gently shook the ravenet, receiving no response.
Naruto, still in shock, watched the interaction intently as his own eyes watered. Leaning over, he hugs the boy closer, biting back his own sobs.
By this point, Haku slowly begins to stand and looks over at the trio. A slight tinge of pity filling him. "He found a strength he didn't realize he had." He murmured to the two, his mind going back to what transpired moments prior.
...
-Flashback-
"What?!" Sasuke exclaims noticing the plan instantly. The Uchiha then begins gathering his chakra into the soles of his feet, propelling himself forwards. 'I've got to stop him!'
Just as Haku threw his senbon, Sasuke jumped in front of the two and took the brunt of the attack, the needles digging somewhat deep into his abdomen.
Amaya's eyes widened at the sight. Gritting her teeth, she surges forward to assist the Uchiha.
Haku made another attempt to throw more senbon, but Amaya pulled out a kunai and deflected most of the onslaught. However, that didn't stop the few that managed to embed into her own stomach.
Ignoring the pain, the brunette attempts a spinning high kick, which he blocks with his forearm. She pivots on her heel and drops low to the ground aiming for his ankles - though he quickly remedies this by jumping back and out of the way.
Before long, Sasuke suddenly rejoins the fight once more, and the Taijutsu battle continues amongst the three until the Uchiha ceases Haku's arms in a firm grip. Then using all of his strength, Sasuke spins around and throws the nin into one of his mirrors, the harsh hit sending him into a brief unconsciousness.
-Flashback End-
...
Haku snapped out of his thoughts and continued. "Why? Because of certain people precious to him. To save those people, he rushed in knowing it was a trap. He was a true ninja, worthy of honor. Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle? This is part of what it means to be a ninja." As he finished saying this, he stepped back into a mirror slowly.
"Shut up." Naruto growled lowly, handing Sasuke over to Amaya completely. "I hated you too, Sasuke. And yet..." Naruto then trailed off, suddenly steam began to rise around the three making Amaya look up and Haku watch in confusion. "You'll pay for this." The blond growled out as the steam is pushed away by bright visible, orange chakra, strong enough to slice into the ground surrounding them.
"Naruto..." Amaya murmured worriedly, locking eyes with the blond. The addressed took her in, observing the wounds she had gained while he was unconscious, sending another surge of fury through his being.
Naruto didn't say anything back to the brunette, instead he put all of his focus on Haku. He turned to glare at the nin as he spat, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" The chakra surrounding the trio becoming thicker and much more visible at his words.
The boys sudden rage surprised Haku, but not quite as much as the changes that were happening to his appearance. Naruto's usually bright, cheerful blue eyes were now blood red, their pupils slitted. 'What is this chakra?' He thought to himself as he watched it swirl around Naruto. 'Chakra cannot be seen! Yet it's clearly visible! It's something ghastly, I can feel the wrath! The bloodlust... evil itself!' He added.
Amaya felt shivers wrack her spine. A dreadful feeling so strong and dark. It almost made her sick with unease. She watched silently as the chakra swirled around Naruto fiercely, forming the head of a wickedly grinning fox. 'I-is this the chakra of the Nine-Tails?!'
The two watched with mixed emotions of awe and horror as the needles pushed themselves from the boy's body. Each wound healing itself quickly, and his nails were beginning to look more like claws than anything else.
'His hand is healing! And changing! This boy... What is he?!' Haku thought to himself before glancing towards Amaya. 'She looks just as surprised. Interesting.'
Naruto continues to glare at Haku, the once light whisker marks on his cheeks becoming darker and more prominent. He lets out a low, deadly growl and Haku couldn't help but flinch back slightly at the guttural sound.
The sudden spike of dark chakra made Kakashi look up in worry. "Is Zabuza creating this?!" He asked himself aloud, but quickly debunked that thought as the feeling of bloodlust in the air rose ten-fold. 'He's not! I know this chakra! There's no way...'
Meanwhile, Zabuza was experiencing the same feelings. 'What is this energy?! Something foul... Is it Kakashi? No.. it's too powerful, even for him! Where's it coming from?!' He questioned, glancing around the area furiously.
'Naruto!' Kakashi suddenly realized, his eyes snapping in the direction where said student was last seen, his mind instantly flashing back to twelve years prior - when the Nine-Tails attacked the village. 'This puts everyone in danger! Now of all times... The seal has broken! I have to stop it!' Kakashi thought worriedly, before remembering his other two students. 'What's happened to Sasuke and Amaya?!'
By now, the chakra completely filled the dome, making Amaya feel claustrophobic. 'This is just the Nine-Tails chakra alone... What if the seal completely breaks?! What then?!' She panicked to herself, her grip on Sasuke tightening slightly as she watched Naruto's usual friendly appearance turn into something completely feral.
The blond crouches low to the ground and growls again before he takes off, charging at Haku on all fours.
'The bloodlust in his eyes... This is no longer a child!' Haku thought fearfully to himself as Naruto yells out in anger. The masked nin tries to attack by throwing needles at the boy, however, the pure and completely raw chakra emitting from Naruto stopped the senbon before they could even make a mark.
Naruto continues to charge, and right when he reaches the mirror Haku is in, the masked nin quickly transports to one above the blond. 'His chakra grows stronger every minute. I must strike now!' Haku thought to himself, somewhat panicked.
Haku's mirror images reappear and prepare to throw senbon. Each one hitting their mark, making Naruto hunch over. Suddenly, Naruto let's out a yell as he jerks into a standing position, forcefully pushing the senbon out. The blond, more enraged than ever, turns around and runs forward. Raising a fist, he hits one of the mirrors, completely demolishing it.
Haku, currently in the mirror above Naruto, readies a cluster of senbon in his fist as a makeshift shank. 'Now.' He decides as he comes out of the mirror. 'Now!'
"Naruto, watch out!" Amaya shouts in warning, briefly earning the blond's attention before he looks up. Spotting Haku instantly, Naruto quickly and smoothly moves and spins out of the way as the nin crashes onto the ground, splinters of wood flying up from the force of the attack.
The masked nin quickly gets up, making eye contact with the furious blond. "Impossible!" He yells in disbelief before turning to retreat into another mirror. Naruto, however, is too quick in this state, and snatches ahold of Haku's arm before harshly spinning the nin around to face him.
'Those eyes!' Haku gasps, staring at the boy in horror as his overwhelming chakra becomes stronger and thicker than before.
'Ah.. could it be?! The seal has been broken...?! No, it's been loosened, and a glimmer of the Nine-Tailed Foxes chakra has slipped through. But the seal still holds.' Kakashi muses to himself as he reaches up and unclips a pocket of his flack jacket. Pulling out a small scroll, he tosses it into the air allowing it to unravel. 'Good, then maybe we still have a chance!' He sighs, slicing his finger before catching the scroll, wiping his blood across the seal within. 'Just maybe...'
"Zabuza, I don't mean to spoil your fun. I know how you like to stretch these things out. But how about we put an end to this now?" Kakashi calls out into the mist, spinning and twirling the scroll around. Eventually rolling it back up, Kakashi tosses the scroll back into the air again and catches it, his hands coming together to make a hand sign. "C'mon, what do ya say? We're both busy people." He calls out again.
The rogue nins laugh could be heard throughout the mist. "Tempting. I'm curious to see how you tend to back up those brave words. Show me, Kakashi!" Zabuza replies gruffly.
Amaya's watery eyes widen even further as Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra becomes so strong that it completely obliterates some of the mirrors, forcing her hunch over and hide her face as the pieces fall around her and turn back into water.
With Naruto still gripping tightly onto his arm, Haku tries to make more hand signs but all is for naught. 'I.. can't. His energy is too strong!'
Naruto growls again as he clenches a hand into a tight fist. The orange chakra swirling madly around his hand as he does this. Giving another angry growl, Naruto punches Haku in the face, the force and power of the hit crack his mask and send him flying through some of the mirrors making them shatter. Haku tumbles and rolls across the bridge harshly, inevitably stopping the jutsu.
Amaya watches in awe as the mirrors begin to glow faintly before shattering. 'H-he did it!'
Haku stands slowly, his mask beginning to chip away piece by piece. Naruto eyeballs him harshly before charging once again.
'Zabuza. I am not a match for this boy. Master... I have failed.' Haku muses solemnly as Naruto reaches him with a fist drawn. However, the last piece of the mask falls, revealing Haku to be the person Naruto met in the woods prior. Successfully stopping the blond in his tracks, his fist only a few inches from Haku's face.
"So that guy in the woods... That was you?" Naruto asks, upset with the revelation.
"Why do you not strike?" Haku questions, ignoring the question as he stares at the blond curiously. "Did you not vow to avenge your comrade's death and injuries by killing me? Or was that vow just empty words?"
Naruto yells in frustration before punching Haku in the face for a second time, sending the nine stumbling backwards and to the ground.
Haku lifts himself up slightly and spits out some blood. "No. That won't do. You're still holding back. If that is all the strength you can put into it, you will never keep your vow." Haku criticizes, wiping the blood from his lip. "Perhaps they don't mean as much to you as you pretend." He adds, making Naruto think back to some of their previous encounters.
"Is there someone who is important to you?"
...
"I fight for someone who is precious to me. I live for him and I face death for him, so that his dream may become reality."
Haku slowly stands. "To show mercy to those who oppose the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live, when you could strike them down. This is not compassion. It is a betrayal of your life's very purpose. For what reason do you exist then? You're of no use to no one, your life has no meaning. It's mere existence. Day after day of pain and struggle, signifying nothing."
"Yeah, well speak for yourself!" Naruto rebuffs.
"Are you really that blind, little one? I am speaking of myself." Haku replies with a small smile. "This day has shown me that I am of no longer of any use to Zabuza." He adds solemnly.
"Zabuza. Why that guy anyway?! To devote yourself to a rotten slug that doesn't know the meaning of the word honor? If he really is the one person that matters most you you, man that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!" Naruto replies harshly.
"There were once others who mattered to me. Long ago... My father and my mother." Haku informs before continuing, "I was born in the Land of Water, in a small village where the snow lies deep in the winter. My parents were farmers and very poor. Our life was hard, but we were content. My parents were good to each other and kind to me. Yes, we were happy once. But then everything changed."
"Because of something that happened long before I was even born, everything changed." He then added solemnly.
"W-what do you mean? What was it? What happened?" Naruto asked as Haku reached up and wiped some more blood from his lip. "It wasn't my doing. It's in the blood." He replied, staring at the red liquid on his finger.
'In the blood? Does he mean his Kekkei Genkai?' Amaya asked herself as she stayed quiet.
"Blood?" Naruto asked again. A moment of silence passed before he asked again impatiently. "So what was it?! You said something happened that changed everything!"
"It was.. my father who changed. He killed my mother and he almost killed me." Haku answered, making the two gasp lightly. "After years of suffering the horrors of civil war, the people of my land had come to fear and hate anyone who carried the Kekkei Genkai in their blood." Haku added.
"Kekkei Genkai..." Naruto mumbled, his voice trailing off slightly.
"The advanced bloodline trait of a clan. It's jutsu and abilities, passed down from generation to generation. Because of their unique abilities, the clans were used as mercenaries. They fought many battles and were much feared. But when the wars were over, they were despised and shunned by the people who fear their presence would only bring more war and misfortune. So, it was that, after the wars that these clans went into hiding, denying the bloodline trait that flowed in their veins. Concealing their unique abilities. Knowing that to be discovered meant certain death. If you had searched that boys' memories or even that girls, I'm sure you would've found it there too. The cruelty of people, their fear of things they don't understand. For years my mother was successful in hiding her bloodline trait, she met and fell in love with a farmer and they were married, and after that my mother thought that she would lead a peaceful and ordinary life to the end of her days." Haku said informatively, thinking back to the day when his mother discovered his new found-abilities.
"My father had seen. And so he knew our secret, my mothers and mine." Haku murmured as he thought back to the day everything changed with the death of his mother. "When at last I was myself again, I was no longer myself. My father and mother were gone, but I knew something else had been taken from me. Something even more important. And that was when I truest despaired."
"More important than your mother and father? What?" Naruto asked curiously.
"My purpose. In all the world, there was no one who needed me. I was unnecessary." Haku replied, making Naruto's eyes widen.
'Just like me!' The blond thought, seeing Haku in a new light.
"Why is it you're so determined to be Hokage? Because you want all eyes in your village to look on you and recognize you as a great ninja. You see it as only through the eyes of others that our little lives have significance, when there is no one who sees you or will even look at you, it's as if you do not exist. Then Zabuza came along and looked at me, and his eyes were not full of hate or fear, he did not shun me for my strangeness. Indeed, my special powers were just what he wanted, but he made me necessary again." Haku states as he thinks back to the time he met the rogue nin. "I was happy." He added, remembering when Zabuza defected from his village.
"I have failed you Zabuza. I am a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use." Haku murmurs, walking towards Naruto who takes a slight step back. "Naruto. Kill me."
Kakashi finishes making the hand signs. "Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu!" He exclaims as he slams the scroll onto the ground with both hands.
"I don't know why you bother. What use is your jutsu if you can't even find me? But I can find you. Blindly falling into my trap, you disappoint me, Kakashi. I think you're right, it is time to put an end to this." Zabuza sneers, pausing as he begins to hear a low rumbling sound. Suddenly, the ground cracks open, revealing a dog which tries to snap at his ankles. Zabuza jumps back slightly but before he knows it, another dog appears and grabs his other foot.
Before he knew it, the sound of barking surrounds him completely. Zabuza squirms in place, grunting at the pain emitting from his ankle as he looks up - instantly spotting the large group of canines ready to pounce.
...
"That dreadful noise.. what could it be?!" Tazuna asks aloud as he and Sakura stare off into the mist. The beast like noise continued, filling the area around the two with suspense.
"I don't know, and I'm not sure I wanna find out." Sakura replies just as nervous as the elder beside her.
...
Kakashi stands to his full height. "I realized that if I couldn't see you, I'd have to smell you out. That was a summoning jutsu, I was calling forth my ninja hounds. They can track a scent anywhere."
The mist slightly clears to reveal Zabuza incarcerated by dogs of all sizes and colors. Each one growling with their teeth embedded deep into his flesh. "When you attacked me, I let you get passed my guard. I wanted you to cut me. You see it's the smell of my blood on your blade that lead them to you. Surprised? Looks like I wasn't the only one who was blind. Hmph, falling into my trap. You disappoint me, Zabuza." Kakashi informed, ending his statement with a mocking note as he used Zabuza's previous words against him once again.
As the two stood there staring each other down, the mist began to clear up more and more, the surrounding area becoming more visible each passing minute. "Ah.. the mist is finally clearing, and you know what I see? Your death." Kakashi notes as the nin growls lowly.
"Talk, talk. Do you mean to talk me to death?" Zabuza asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"In a way, yes. Right now, my hounds are just playing with you. But one word from me and they'll tear you apart... Poor, Zabuza, see where your ambitions got you? You were always pushing things too far." Kakashi replied before continuing, "There was the failed Mizukage assassination and your failed coup d'état. You were forced to flee with the few followers you had, your countries tracker ninja hot on your heels... You became a rogue ninja, whose name was quickly known, even in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Now you're crazy enough to wanna go back and try it again. But for that you need money. And to get it, you've stooped so low as to be the hired thug of a swine like Gatō. Alright Zabuza, enough talk. Time to finish it, but it won't be with Sharingan. Imitations of some other ninja's tricks. No, it's time I introduced you to my own jutsu." Kakashi then begins to preform form and signs and chakra begins to form in his hand. "Raikiri!"
'Chakra so strong it's visible! He holds it in his hands!' Zabuza thought to himself, both in awe and fear as the lightning chakra sparked in Kakashi's hands.
"I won't allow you to kill Tazuna. He's a brave man with a noble dream. The bridge he's building is the hope of this land and all its people... You're like a disease, by attacking one you affect all and you don't care. That is not the way of the Shinobi." Kakashi states giving Zabuza a hard stare.
"You're right. I don't care! These useless little people and their petty little dreams, why should they matter to me? I have a dream of my own." Zabuza spat angrily.
Kakashi's Raikiri got stronger. "But to have a dream, you have to have a future. You don't. Your future is all used up, Zabuza." Kakashi replied gruffly.
Amaya and Naruto stared at Haku in shock as he got closer. "Go on. Strike. Kill me. Why do you hesitate?"
Naruto clenches his fist tightly and backs away a few steps. "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! I mean, he treats you like a slave! You're a human being, not a weapon or a tool! How can you care about someone like that?!"
"For that very reason." Haku replies solemnly.
"Huh?" Naruto asks, staring at the boy in confusion.
"Does that seem so strange to you?" Haku asks quietly.
"Well, yeah. A little." Naruto replies, as if the answer were obvious.
"When he found me, I was without a purpose or reason for living. Zabuza gave me both. But now, my usefulness is over. The only thing that gave my life meaning.. it's gone. I am a broken tool. A blunted weapon of no use to anyone. Go on, Naruto. Do it, for both our sakes. Do it... Quickly." Haku pressed as the blond gave him a long, hard stare.