Sakura stood in front of Tazuna with her Kunai readied as she listened and looked around carefully. Zabuza emerged silently from the mist behind them.

Their eyes widened and they turned to look behind to see Zabuza rush at the old man with bloodlust in his eyes as he reached for his sword. Kakashi appeared between the assassin and his prey with his arms out protectively.

"Too late!" Zabuza raised the blade over his head and swung down with all his might. Blood splattered all around, and Sakura screamed in horror.

"That was Sakura!" Sasuke huffed as he looked beyond the mirrors and into the fog. "Did something happen?! What's Kakashi doing?"

Naruto struggled to get up but was unable to move. "Sa...kura..."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Damn... I have to do something..."

"I-I've... gotta do something..."Naruto forced himself up with a grunt of pain as the Senbon stuck out of his back.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he watched Naruto slowly get up. "T-This guy..."

"Here I go..." Naruto winced in pain and brought himself to a stand, then clenched his fists and stared at Haku with his brows furrowed.

"It's pointless to struggle." Haku said simply as he watched the boy.

Naruto closed his eyes for a moment to clap his hands together as he concentrated. When he opened his eyes, he stood with a wide stance and growled as Chakra surged around him. He ran to escape the dome, only for Haku to appear in his way, and he quickly jumped backward and ran in the opposite direction, with Haku easily keeping up with his pace.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at Haku's image in the mirror and he turned toward the blond. "Naruto! Behind you!"

Naruto turned too late and a volley of Senbon struck him and he fell to the ground with a grunt as Sasuke's eyes widened slightly.

"Naruto!"

"As I said, it's impossible for you to get out of here." Haku looked down at Naruto coldly. "I mean it."

Sasuke ran over to Naruto and knelt by his side as he looked him over, his lips forming a hard line as he examined the Senbon sticking out all over.

"Can you stand, Naruto?"

"Y-Yeah..." Naruto muttered weakly after a moment, groaning loudly in pain as he was unable to move.

"From now on, don't waste your Chakra!" Sasuke scolded. "You're playing right into his hands!"

Naruto pushed himself up, ignoring the pain as he breathed heavily and his body trembled. "I know." His eyes fluttered shut and his arms gave out and he collapsed once more.

Sasuke let out a slow breath as he looked at Naruto. "Damn it... If things continue like this, it's going to be really bad." He glared and turned to Haku. "I... I have to do something."

He stood and narrowed his eyes as he looked around. "Strangely, my eyes have adjusted..."

Haku appeared in the mirror in front of him with Senbon readied in his grasp. "It's about time I put an end to this for you..."

Haku appeared in a different mirror and, in the blink of an eye, launched the needles at the Uchiha. Sasuke quickly retrieved one of the fallen Senbon on the ground and used it to knock away the incoming needles, one after the other.

"What?!" Haku leaned closer to stare at Sasuke in surprise.

Sasuke dropped to one knee in pain, glaring at his opponent as he gripped the Senbon tightly. He looked at Naruto. "Stand up, you idiot!"

Naruto clenched his teeth and tried to shift his weight, sucking in air as pain coursed through his body and he trembled.

"I'm aiming for his vital spots... but he parried all of them." Haku observed quietly.

Naruto slowly pulled several Senbon from him and managed to sit up, still wincing. "I know, I say... You're so persistent!"

Haku's image filled every mirror and threw Senbon at the pair. Sasuke leapt to his feet and knocked the needles away quickly.

"A coincidence...? No, that's not it..." Haku continued to attack as he watched his Senbon knocked away. "On the contrary, he's fighting while covering for his friend." Haku directed a cluster of Senbon at Naruto, who had just managed to get to his feet, and Sasuke quickly knocked him out of the way, both of them avoiding the attack.

Sasuke winced and glanced down at his leg, having not dodged the last volley entirely. A pair of Senbon had lodged into his thigh and restricted his movements.

"Surely, my movements..." Haku pursed his lips in thought. "That boy... he can see them. What in the world?" He raised another set of Senbon in preparation. "Alright, in that case..."

Haku vanished entirely from every mirror, leaving Sasuke to scowl and look around.

"He disappeared..." Sasuke glanced and checked each of the icy panels. "Where... Where did he disappear to?!"

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder at Naruto, who's eyes were half-open as he wobbled where he sat upright.

"Naruto! Don't faint! I can't take care of you any more than I am now!"

"Who asked you... to take care of me...?" Naruto panted and blinked slowly as he muttered. His eyes fluttered shut again and he fell backward, losing consciousness.

Sasuke turned to him and his mouth gaped slightly.

"It seems that kid has finally reached his limits." Haku's voice echoed around them, though he still remained unseen.

"Tch!" Sasuke glared and looked around for the masked boy, finally spotting him on the highest mirror directly above their heads.

Haku laughed to himself under his breath and Sasuke threw the Senbon at him in frustration, only for it to bounce off of the surface.

Sasuke tightened his fist into a ball as he stared at the boy.

"Amazing... that's an amazing move."

Sasuke turned to look at Haku as he appeared in a different location.

"You move well..." Haku threw a set of needles at the boy, who dodged them all. "However... I'll stop you with the next one." Haku appeared in a different mirror as he continued and Sasuke followed his movements with his eyes. "Motor function... Reflexes... Ability to judge a situation... all of those skills of yours... should be at their limits."

"He's coming!" Sasuke let out a slow breath and narrowed his eyes. "Calm down... focus... and... see everything!"

As Haku raised his arms to throw another wave of Senbon, time seemed to slow as Sasuke knelt to grab Naruto and leap out of the way. The needles instead landed where they had been and Haku returned to his mirror.

"He saw through... absolutely everything?! No way!"

Sasuke gently set Naruto down, huffing as he caught his breath, and then his eyes rose to his rival. Instead of dark, they were a background of crimson with the Sharingan's signature Tomoe encircling his pupils.

Haku blinked and stiffened. "Those eyes... it can't be... the Sharingan?!"

"You are..." Haku muttered to himself.

"Only a little bit, but... I was able to see!" Sasuke's mouth twitched in a faint smirk.

"So, you also have the power of a Kekkei Genkai..."Haku acknowleged. "What a kid... It's not perfect yet... but to think that in the middle of a battle he was able to rouse this power..." Haku held up another trio of Senbon. "If that's the case, I can't fight him for too long... This Jutsu uses a lot of Chakra and there are limits to retaining the teleportation speed. Besides, the longer the fight continues, the more my movements will begin to enter into the range of his 'reading.' In fact, his eyes have already captured me. It would be foolish to aim straight at him. In that case..."

Haku held up another set of Senbon in his other hand and shifted his gaze to Naruto. "I'll use this kid to lure him in!"

Haku launched forward out of the mirror, toward Naruto and Sasuke gathered Chakra to his feet to increase his speed.

"I have to make it in time!"

Blood splattered all around, dripping and oozing from the new, angry wound in Kakashi's left side. He gasped in pain with his breaths shuddering and shallow and he clutched the wound as blood poured over his hand.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura trembled and covered her mouth at the sight of the blood.

"You were late entering to guard, Kakashi." Zabuza chuckled. "Your whole-hearted intent to help those kids has gone to your head and it seems to have clouded your Sharingan with an even heavier fog than the one I created."

"Even though you have those impressive eyes, your ability to read your enemy's movements is getting cloudy." Zabuza laughed under his breath and his eyes fell on the Jonin's wound. "Amuse me more, Kakashi. I want to repay my debt in an amusing way."

Kakashi's gaze wandered behind the assassin to the mirrors and Zabuza followed his gaze.

"Don't worry. Anytime now, Haku is going to finish off those kids." Zabuza shifted his stance and griiped the sword with both hands. "You'd better apologize to them in tears when you're all in the next world for being weak."

Kakashi glared as Zabuza laughed and was entirely hidden by the fog. The laughter echoed around them and Kakashi clenched his jaw as he applied pressure to his wound.

The mist shifted and cleared enough for Sakura to only just make out the dome of mirrors.

"Sasuke will be killed...?" Her eyes watered and she shook her head quickly. "That's not true! Sasuke is... he can't! not by that guy!" She clenched her fists and shut her eyes tightly. "He won't be defeated! Naruto won't be, either!"

"That's right." Kakashi nodded slightly and looked over his shoulder at her.

Sakura blinked and looked at her teacher. "H-Huh?"

"I... I believe in their strength." He reassured her, his breathing shallow and rasping. "Naruto is the Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja... and Sasuke is a member of the most excellent clan."

Zabuza's eyes widened slightly. "No... that can't be..."

Kakashi turned to looked in Zabuza's direction. "Yes... His name is Sasuke Uchiha... and he holds within his body the famous Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan. He's a Ninja genius."

Zabuza stared at Kakashi wide-eyed in disbelief. "He's the remaining survivor of that clan?!" He let out a short huff as the mist hiding his position shifted. "No wonder he grows so quickly. "But... that's the same as Haku."

The assassin reached for to grasp the hilt of his blade once more and Kakashi gripped his Kunai as he narrowed his eyes.

"Nobody has ever beaten that secret Jutsu of Haku's... not a single person..." Zabuza vanished in the fog again with a slight chuckle. "Well then... that's enough conversation. It's about time I finished this, too."

Kakashi shifted into a wider stance, leaning forward slightly. "Sakura, don't move from here.

"Okay!" Sakura positioned herself in front of Tazuna with her Kunai drawn as Kakashi ran off into the fog and was swallowed by it.

"I'm going to put an end to this!" Kakashi ran with anger burning in his eyes.

Naruto's eyes cracked open as his consciousness returned and he struggled to lift himself off of the ground as he looked around.

"F-For God's sake, you..." Sasuke muttered weakly as he stood protectively in front of Naruto, as Haku lay on the ground. "Just won't quit... dragging my feet, will you?"

Naruto blinked and looked up as Sasuke and then broke into a large grin.

"You did it, Sasuke!" He stopped himself and his eyes widened.

Sasuke coughed and saliva and blood spurted out from his lips and dripped down his chin. Senbon lodged through his limbs and torso with their ends piercing through the other side. Blood poured from each of the wounds to form a small puddle beneath him.

He looked over his shoulder at Naruto as he coughed again. "W-What kind of expression is that... you... idiot..."

Naruto sat up quickly and gulped. "W-Why?!" He trembled at the puddle of blood. "Y-You protected me...?!"

H-How the hell... should I know?" Sasuke's body shook and he struggled to remain standing, thinking about his rivalry with Naruto and their fighting. He chukled weakly under his breath. "Hmph... You... I hated you."

Naruto stood and clenched his fists. "Then why?! Why?! Why me?! I... I didn't ask for your help!"

"I don't know..." Sasuke's eyelids grew heavy and started to close. "My body moved... of its own accord... you fool."

He fell backward and Naruto caught him before he hit the ground.

"Sasuke!"

"That man..." Sasuke muttered quickly and coughed. "Until I defeated... my brother... I refused to die... that's what I decided, but..." His hands trembled and his eyes watered as he looked to Naruto. "You... don't die..."

His arm dropped limp and his eyes shut. Naruto's eyes widened further and slow tears rolled down his face. His heart skipped and the color drained from his face. Naruto pulled Sasuke close and Haku stood slowly and gazed down at the Genin.

"He..." Haku muttered slowly. "To protect someone dear to him... he went in knowing it was a trap... Such is a Shinobi worthy of respect." Haku turned to face away from Naruto, his mask hiding his solemn expression. "Is this the first time you've faced a friend's death?" Haku paused and turned back to the blond. "This is the way of the Shinobi..."

Haku reentered the mirror and Naruto gritted his teeth, refusing to meet the older boy's eyes.

"Shut up!" Naruto gently set Sasuke down, his own voice trembling as hot tears flowed. "Even though I... I hated you, too..."

Steam accumulated around Naruto in a circle and he clenched his fist tighter until his knuckles turned white. "I won't forgive you for this..."

Orange Chakra burst out of Naruto and swirled around him in a hot column that rose into the air. It cracked the ground and small pieces of debris and rock swirled amidst the Chakra. His eyes became blood red with slitted pupils and the whisker-like lines darkened, giving him a feral appearance.

Naruto looked up at Haku with a wild hatred in his eyes. "I'm going to kill you!"

Haku moved back and his eyes widened beneath his mask. "What is this Chakra?!" The Chakra surged to swirl in an enormous ball around Naruto. "For Chakra to be tangible like this... and what a ghastly Chakra that is..."

The Chakra formed the image of a giant fox's face, grinning devilishly above the Uzumaki. The Senbon stuck in his body were ejected and each of the wounds healed instantly, steaming coming from the holes as they closed. His nailed curved and elongated to a point and a low growl came from his throat.

"His wounds... they're healing instantly... this boy... " Haku's eyes lowered from the image of the fox down to the boy himself. "Who in the hell is he...?!"

Naruto turned to shoot a murderous glare over his shoulder at the boy.

Kakashi stared upward at the column of swirling orange Chakra as it permeated through the thick fog.

"This... is this Zabuza?" Kakashi stopped running as the enormous Chakra overwhelmed his senses. His eyes widened suddenly in recognition. "No... this sinister Chakra... it can't be!"

Zabuza glanced around as the new surge of Chakra electrified the air. "What is this Chakra?" Zabuza muttered under his breath. "It feels foul..." He paused and looked around. "Kakashi? No... it's too huge to be Kakashi's..." His eyes narrow. "So... who is it?"

Kakashi gulped as he looked at the glow of orange through the mist. "Naruto! Oh no... At a time like this... the Seal has broken?! I have to hurry!"

The Chakra faded from view and Naruto growled low, crouched on all fours. He looked up suddenly at Haku, who quickly held up Senbon as the boy rushed at him.

"He's coming!"

/Heyo. Thanks for reading. Just wanted to add a quick note.

All of the comments, questions, criticisms, and concerns will be addressed later on in the story. Even the things that seem inconsistent or mary sue right now. There will be more backstory and explanation added later as well, I promise. I have it all outlined out. They will be addressed.

And, of course, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this story.