CHAPTER 13
TITLE: A Cold Reception
She could hear their loud, angry shouting from miles away.
Kiri no Kuni was a harsh, unforgiving country of water, snow and ice. The sparse areas that allowed for growth were often low shrubs, mold and algea. And very, very few trees.
She remembered the sparse, old, and stubborn trees outside her family home. The evergreens that isolated her small home village. The veil of green pine needles acting like a seemingly impenetrable barrier. The separation both stranding them, and uniting them.
Now they were long gone. Cut down for the fireplaces of impoverished families, and the pires of the dead. Everything in this land always seemed to take. Take the food, then the trees.
Until even the people were gone. Only their screams could be heard now. And the lack of trees made it easy for sound to carry.
She could hear the sound of angry shouts and murmurs on the wind, the angry villagers, searching for those who were 'cursed' like she was.
She stood there next to the road, and contemplated running. Knowing that to her left was the town she just came from. And to the right lay the villagers. Death at the very least, more likely something even worse.
She had nowhere left to go.
She hiccuped out a sob, despair and hunger robbing her limbs of any strength. She collapsed to the cold floor, her bare knees going numb almost immediately from the icy, snow covered floor.
The larger village that at least tolerated her presence before, had ejected her. A small conflict with some wretch of a man who tried to take advantage of her escalating to such a point that it reached the councils ears.
Now here she was, nearly three years later, back where it started.
'Three years, still the same. Unneeded, unloved, unwanted.'
Haku just sat there, watching them come. Watching the bright orange haze of their torches pop up over the horizon.
"Who are you?" A gruff voice asked.
She looked up, peering over her shoulder at a tall man, with a sword as tall as he was hanging over his shoulder. The man had the eyes of a shinobi, with light grey bandages covering his face and nose.
She pursed her lips, unused to talking, "Haku. M-My name is Haku."
He grunted in acknowledgement, looking her over, "You got a lot of chakra for a civilian. You have a bloodline limit."
It wasn't a question, merely an observation. But the jolt of fear she felt when he spoke drove her to answer, nodding feebly. He just stared, jerking his head in the direction of the approaching mob, "They're gonna kill you you know."
Haku's gaze drifted lazily to the crest of the hilll, "I know." She whispered.
The man clicked his tongue, muttering under his breath, "...Fuckin' waste."
Haku looked down, "Are you going to kill me now?"
He scoffed in what was almost a laugh, if not for the subtle disgust she heard in his tone, "No. Surprisingly." They remained in silence for a while the both of them watching the mob approach, "Would you like to serve me?"
Haku gasped softly, her eyes widened as she turned to look at the man, "...Serve you."
His gaze hardened and she guessed that he was frowning under the mask, "Yes. You probably know already, but I'm a shinobi. I live a hard, and violent life. And I happen to have VERY high standards."
He shot her a look, pinning her to the ground, "My name is Momochi Zabuza. And under me, you'd serve as a tool. A shinobi trained for one purpose. To serve me for the rest of your days."
'Unneeded, unloved, unwanted.'
She quivered, fresh tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, "Yes. I-I... I won't disappoint you." He nodded, looking satisfied. He reached behind him, drawing his sword in one fluid, smooth motion.
She felt a flicker of fear at the sight of the long, cool steel. But he gave her a look that said, 'Not for you.'
He marched forwards, and Haku stumbled to her feet, her frozen legs slow to obey her, "Zabuza... s-sama, what are you..."
Zabuza didn't stop, he didn't even turn his head, "Showin' you something."
She quirked her head quizzically, and He looked back at her. His eyes crinkling up into a crude facsimile of a smile. More a leer than anything else.
"...Your first lesson."
Zabuza marched on, the sound of his footsteps fading as the wind picked up. Obscuring him from view.
Haku ran ahead, raising a hand to the harsh wind.
It was barely a few seconds until she heard the screams.
High, desperate, and grating, but just as intense as the others. Now, adults, men with blades cut down by her new master. Instead of the high pitched shrieks and wails of mothers and children she was used to.
She ran ahead, until she reached the apex of the hill, and looked down.
The carnage was, hellish. He moved like a snake, his liquid, lightning quick movements so practiced it almost looked like a dance. Blood spurted and sprayed from wounds, droplets, then jets of crimson painting his entire body in viscous fluid.
She was numb to the violence, the death. Three years of toiling amid the poverty born of a war older than she was had acclimated her to all the horrors of battle.
'But still...'
Haku searched inside herself for the shock, to horror, or some kind of disgust in what she saw. She found nothing.
In that moment she felt nothing but pure, unadulterated happiness.
How could she not, she was wanted. Perhaps for the first time in her life.
Despite the utter carnage before her, despite the screams, Haku smiled.
Kakashi saw it coming about a hundred paces away, the pristine, nearly glistening puddle standing out like sore thumb.
He tuned out Naruto and Tazuna's bickering to focus in on it, 'No rain in nearly a week, and there just so happens to be a crystal clear puddle of water in the middle of the road.'
He used a small bit of chakra to enhance his senses, raising the power of his already sensitive nose even higher. As he suspected, it was a henge. A good one too. But not good enough to disguise the smell of two distinct individuals hidden underneath, but too good to be bandits, or missing nin lower than chunin level.
He narrowed his eye, 'So, at least one chunin level threat lying in wait for their prey. Bandits don't normally have the patients to rob like this, and missing nin typically prefer higher payouts than random passerby. Only Jounin or above would dare go after me or Naruto, so that means...'
He glanced behind him, Hinata, watching Naruto bicker with Tazuna. While Sasuke slowly lagged behind, his eyes slightly bored, but still attentive.
He glanced ahead, 'Roughly fifty paces now...'
He nodded to himself, 'Time for some answers...'
"What do ya mean Konoha was your second choice!?" Naruto yelled, indignant.
The old man groaned in exasperation, lowering his head so low his straw hat nearly fell off his head, "You're awfully young to have hearing loss at your age brat. I said what I said."
Naruto put his hands on his hips, "Are you trying to say our village's shinobi are second rate or something?"
Tazuna rolled his eyes, "Don't you know anything kid?! Konoha is far out of the way for a small country like ours. It took me all of my life savings just to get here, not to mention commision a mission from your Hokage. I'm an old man now. My old bones aren't meant for long treks like this."
Hinata frowned and walked a little closer, "Then why come to the land of fire?"
Tazuna looked ahead, his expression grave, "Kirigakure is the closest village to here, but it's been in the middle of a civil war for years, and from what I hear, it'll continue to be like that for years to come."
Naruto's eyes widened, "A ninja civil war?"
Hinata turned to Naruto, "The current Mizukage hates Kekkei Genkai, and tried to either exile, or kill all the bloodline wielderrs in the country a few years ago. Those who are against it are fighting the Mizukage and his loyal ninja."
Tazuna nodded along, "She's right. It'd probably be a death sentence for a man my age to go there. Although Kiri does still accept mission, their ninja are notoriously wishy washy. They might just gut me and take all my money anyway."
Naruto narrowed his eyes, "So what you mean is that Konoha was your only choice."
Tazuna flinched at his stare, and turned away, not answering him. Naruto was about to inquire further, when he suddenly picked up on a sudden, strange smell. It was heady and earthy, with a tinge of what Naruto could only liken to ozone after a downpour. He stopped in place, just in time for two figures to leap from the puddle of water, their forms coalescing from liquid, to solid.
The water spread out, thinning to this lines that hardened to steel, the chained blades wrapping around Kakashi, biting into him.
"Sensei!" Naruto screamed, reaching out towards him.
Kakakshi could only gasp in shock and confusion, before the chains sawed right through him. Tearing him to bloody, malformed pieces. He stared blankly at the scene, watching the bloodied chunks of what used to be Hatake Kakashi fall to the ground in slow motion.
There was utter silence for a few heartbeats, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata and Tazuna all staring shocked as two strange shinobi stood over Kakashi's remains.
"So much for the famous 'Copycat Kakashi'." One of them ground out, harsh and deep.
Naruto looked up to see the both of them, bent low, their steel whips already red with the blood of his sensei.
They were both obviously Nuke-nin, the mark of kirigakue on their hitai-ate, both crossed out. They were cloaked in dark robes, each armed with a bladed gauntlet, a bladed chain hanging from each one.
The other looked straight at him, "Now, to deal with the fodder."
Naruto flinched, feebly drawing a single kunai, the blood and viscera drudging up unwelcome memories.
"Na...gh. Hn...I...Agh." The sounds that dragged their way past his lips were barely recognizable as words. Blood oozed from his lips, his legs thrashing against hte floor, struggling to say sometimes, anything at all.
But there was nothing to say. He'd done this, it was his fault.
Iruka was dead.
The sound of whooshing air snapped him back to reality, his stomach dropping in mute horror as the spinning blades at the end of two metal whips rushed towards him.
The same that just killed their sensei, ripping him to pieces almost instantly. The two missing nin rushed at him, their clawed gauntlets outstretched, one for him, and the other for the old man. He raised his kunai, 'Too fast!
Two shuriken rushed past him, one just missing his left ear. The two caught each whip, pinning each to a tree nearby.
Both rouge shinobi jerked to halt, and staggered from the sudden weight of Sasuke, who stood on their heavy gauntlets. Sasuke moved first, flipping backwards to deliver two equally hard kicks to the head.
They grunted, both quick to recover, yanking their chains free with a harsh tug. One engaged Sasuke, who ducked a quick swing of his chain.
The other turned on his heel and ran, using chakra to enhance his speed, running straight for Tazuna.
Naruto turned, his eyes widening, "Hinata watch out!"
The Hyuuga turned, her own eyes widening in fear. She cried out as he closed in, ducking a swipe of his gauntlet, lashing out with a single quick jab. The man groaned in shock and pain, launching himself backwards on one leg, the other hanging limp and useless.
"Ah! Help me!" Tazuna screamed, watching in terror as the one who had been fighting Sasuke evaded him, running straight for him.
The missing nin lunged, his clawed gauntlet stretching out towards him. Naruto flinched, raising his kunai in defense, but no attack landed.
The man choked out a cry of pain as he was caught by the neck by an outstretched arm, unwavering as iron.
Naruto gasped in shock, "Kakashi-sensei!?"
The suspiciously unharmed, one-eyed jounin waved at him, "Hi."
Naruto turned to Hinata, who seemed fine. Shocked, her white robes a bit dirty, but seemingly unharmed. She turned from Kakashi to the other downed shinobi, who laid on the ground, alive, but unconcious.
Naruto sighed, looking at Kakashi expectantly, the jounin shrugged, "I wanted to know for sure what they were after."
Kakashi nodded to the fallen ninja to his right, "Just goes to show that sometimes, the basics really are important to master."
Naruto looked over to where he nodded to, seeeign the various cut up chunks of human flesh, where now innocuous chunks of splintered wood.
"Sorry to keep you waiting though Naruto, I didn't mean for you to get hurt."
Naruto looked back at his sensei, "Huh?"
He looked down, checking himself, and stopped when he looked at his hand, spotting a single shallow cut on his right hand, the blood trickling down his arm, dripping steadily off his elbow.
Kakashi walked past him, addressing sasuke and hinata, "Good job you two. Especially you Sasuke. Smooth work."
Hinata keened at the praise, smiling brightly at her sensei. But Sasuke just grunted to himself. 'Useless, I was useless in that fight.' Naruto thought to himself, staring down at the ground.
'Useless, powerless...'
He swore. Swore he'd never go back to being like he was. Unable to do anything, to save anyone...
"Hey." Sasuke said, tearing his attention away from the ground.
The Uchiha smiled, actualy smiled at him, "You alright, Scaredy cat?"
Naruto's nostrils flared, 'You cocky son of a—.'
He felt his anger top out, mixed with the foul tinge of shame at the knowledge that his hesitation could've gotten them all killed.
He growled at the Uchiha, but the voice of his sensei cut I'm off, "Both of you, cut it out. Naruto's injured.
Naruto looked up at Kakashi's voice, seeing how their sensei tied up the two, their weapons carefully laid out a fair distance away from them.
Sasuke sneered, turning to Kakashi, "What? That little—
Kakashi fixed him with a glare, cutting him off, "It's poisoned. The Demon Brothers Gozu and Meizu are famous for their use of poisons on every blade they use." He continued staring, looking at all of them, expecting some kind of response.
All of them frowned in contemplation, but it was Hinata who figured out what Kakashi wasn't saying. Her lavender colored eyes widening in a mix of shock and fear, "They're in the Bingo book."
Kakashi nodded, ignoring the surprised looks from Naruto and Sasuke. "Which typically means that they're chunin or above. And particularly dangerous."
Naruto swallowed thickly, at the information, glancing at the two unconscious chunin, "What are we gonna do with them sensei?"
Kakashi shook his head, "They'll be out for a while longer, but even when they awake, I doubt they'll tell us much."
He spun away from them all, his back facing the tied up chunin, staring right at Tazuna.
The older man flinched hard, shying away from Kakashi's cold gaze. The jounin only took a single step forwards, and Naruto discovered he could sense the man's chakra, broiling just underneath the surface.
"...Which leads me to you, Tazuna-san." Kakashi drawled, taking another step.
"Why are chunin level ninja after us. They targeted you, only trying to eliminate me out of necessity to complete their mission. What. Haven't. You. Told. Me?" He said, for the first time since Naruto had known him, sounding utterly pissed.
Tazuna seemed to shrink under the pressure, and opened his mouth, before closing it with a pop. Turning away from him.
Kakashi nodded once, before he clapped and turned to his genin, "Okay everyone, let's head back to Konoha." Naruto whipped his head around to look at his sensei, his eyes unbelieving, "What?!"Sasuke, Hinata and Tazuna all reacted similarly, with Sasuke and Tazuna both sharing a similar look of outrage.
But Kakashi shook his head, crossing his arms, "You applied for a C-rank mission. We signed on for a C-rank mission. This is now at least a B, which far exceeds the range of difficulty this team is prepared for."
Tazuna spluttered, his eyes taking on a more frantic edge to them, "P-Please, you have to understand! It was all I had to ask for the mission in the first place. Gato controls nearly everything about my village."
Kakashi paused, giving the bridge builder a curious look, "Gato. The slumlord gangster?"
Tazuna nodded emphatically, his hat nearly falling off, "The very same. He's leeched off our village for years. Cutting us off from the rest of the world, forcing us to depend on him for everything!"
The jounin narrowed his eyes, "So you lied to me and my Hokage, sending fresh genin to save your village."
Tazuna didn't respond, suddenly finding the dirt road very interesting.
Kakashi shook his head, "We have to go back to Konoha anyway. We don't know what kind of poison Naruto's been exposed to. We have to head back to make sure he's okay."
Naruto's uninjured hand went for his side, crossing his body to reach his kunai holster. And without a second's hesitation, he stabbed his hand all the way through.
Hinata gasped, her hands over her mouth as she looked on in shock, while Sasuke and Kakashi's eyes both widened.
He gritted his teeth against the wave of hot, searing pain in his hand, grunting as he removed the blade, letting the blood pour out of the wound, hopefully whatever poison was on their blade pouring out with it.
He could feel his mind traveling back in time, to countless sleepless nights. Either occupised with training, studying or both. The cold, and dark moments spent trying to convince himself that he wasnt in that dank cell. That he was home.
The bitter moments spent training past walls, getting better and better with every failure, every injury.
"No. There's no WAY I'm getting left behind..." He growled to himself.
He looked up, staring kakashi in the eyes, unyeilding. "I've worked too damn hard, for two damn long to give up now."
He clenched his bleeding hand, causing more blood to fall to the floor, "I swear, I swear on my blood that I'll never be frozen with fear like that again..."
He turned to the old man, his face a sheet of white. He smiled, almost snarling at him, "And I swear to protect this old geezer. And complete this mission. No matter what dattebayo!"
He groaned with pain, slowly unclenching his fist, "There's no way I'm gonna let all my training be for nothing. The early mornings, all the bruises, Mizuki, Tori, everything. There's no way in hell that I'm gonna quit here. I've bled before I'll bleed again."
His eyes swept over all of them, daring any of them to argue, but his eyes met with Kakashi's his eye own narrowed in turn, though either in disproval, cautious pride, or appraisal he couldn't tell.
It was after a few moments of silence when Kakashi walked up to lay a hand on his shoulder, "Well said Naruto. But before we do anything, you really should bandage that hand up before you bleed out."
Naruto faltered, shuddering with student concern that he hadn't just severely wounded himself just to prove a point, 'Hey Kyuubi, I'll be fine right?'
The fox grunted, 'I was busy dealing with the poison. You stabbing yourself just made the wound worse. I was almost done cleansing it from your system when you went and punched a hole in your hand.'
Naruto's eyes widened, and Hinata rushed over with a first aid kit before naruto could panic, "Here Naruto-kun." She applied a small bit of a white, greasy looking substance before wrapping up the wound on his hand..
He felt an almost immediate cooling sensation, followed by a lack of pain. He looked down, and then back at Hinata with wide eyes, "Damn Hinata! I didn't know you could make stuff like that!"
Her cheeks reddened at the praise, looked even further down as she worked, "It... never really came up."
Naruto smiled at her and looked up to see Kakashi's gaze fixed squarely on his hand, already quickly healing. He felt suddenly self conscious, and gave a quick glance to HInata. She seemed not to notice, her hand going in a circle, weaving the long band angle around his hand.
'Watch that one young one, his curiosity is unsetttling.'
Naruto rolled his eyes, 'You've got a lot of nerve calling anyone unsettling kyuubi.'
But he heard the message, and stared back at his sensei only looking away as Kakashi walked off, stalking towards Sasuke and the bridge builder.
His eyes fixed on Tazuna, "I think you and I need to have a little chat..." Naruto didn' t need enhanced hearing to hear the loud gulp or the shallow whimper that came from the old man.
Haku knew the instant her feet hit the rough tiles that covered the ceiling, that her master Zabuza knew exactly where she was.
It was subtle, but she could see the movement plain as day through the hole in one of the old tiles; the noticeable twitch of his heavily muscled neck. The hasty attempt to hide his urge to whip his head around and look at her.
An attempt to disguise his surprise that anyone got this close without him noticing.
She surpressed the swell of pride she felt when she saw it, sobering her attitude before she inadvertently made him angry. Zabuza Momochi did NOT, appreciate being shown up, even by his favorite, most powerful tool.
She let herself slide off the tile, falling soundlessly to the floor, stalking the shadows just how he taught her, choosing to shunshin in the middle of his meeting with the few thugs that wretch Gato had sent to them.
She kneeled instantly, "Zabuza-sama."
Her master was silent for a moment, appreciating the split second of fear that seemed to echo across the faces of the brutes behind her.
He was sat on his makeshift throne, a heavy oak chair that might've been the noble seat to a village elder or chief, but was now a forgotten ruin not unlike her own village.
He let a hand drop down to filddle with the edge of the mighty Kubikiribocho, the Executioners Blade leant against his shoulder.
"I hope you have a good reason to interrupt my meeting with these, fine gentlemen Haku." He growled in faux anger. She smirked behind her mask at the shudder of fear from the men behind her, and bowed lower to the floor, going along with the act.
"I apologize Zabuza-sama. I have come to inform you that—"
"The Demon brothers have been defeated..." He drawled, as if expecting her news.
She paused, "I assume my news is late then?"
He grunted, "Hardly. Although these three have infrormed me that a certain jounin from Konoha sporting a mask that covers his left eye has been spotted in a boat, approaching Wave."
Haku straighted from her bow, "The Demon Brothers are dead then."
Zabuza snorted, rising from the throne, "Hn. That soft Konoha trash probably just handed them off to ANBU."
The Demon of the Bloody Mist grabbed his enormous sword, approaching the three, raising the sword with a single hand, pointed to them, "You listen here you little rats. Tell your boss that Momochi Zabuza is gonna handle this himself. Got it?"
The three thugs nodded swiftly, and Haku realized that her master released a bit more of the killing intent than he normally leaked, that small amount being enough to send them into a panic. All of them fleeing at once.
She watttched them go, eventually turning to look at her master, "I will come with you."
Zabuza turned to glare at her, "No you will not."
He grinned, the many wrapped bandages curling up from the force of his wide smile, "I've been itching for a shot at 'Kakashi of the Sharingan' for years now. I won't taint our fight by asking for anyone's help."
Haku frowned, "The Jounin was not alone. There were three others with him. Genin apparently, from what I could tell."
Zabuza froze, before exploding with dark laughter, "So that guy got himself saddled with a couple brats did he? Heh, they'll be easy work. The day I'm laid low by some little tree fucker, I'd gladly I'll slit my own throat before he could.."
Haku frowned, and although her mask covered her feartures, Zabuza seemed to catch on to her mood, like he alwayas seemed to.
"You disapprove?" He intoned, almost inviting a challenge. He released a burst of killing intent, fixing her with a stare, but she shook it off with practiced ease.
"I would never." She drawled.
He stared for a few more seconds before growling turning to walk around her towards the exit, "Fine. You can be backup. Just be sure to enjoy the show. It's not every day you get to watch 'Copycat Kakashi's' guts spill to the floor.."
Hinata decided, that despite the danger they were in, she was glad to be away from the village. Confident in the fact that if word of what had just happened reached her father's ears, she'd never reclaim the title of clan heir.
If there was any particular value or common trait that the Hyuuga clan treasured, it was, ironically, independence. Partially when concerning any other shinobi, teammates or not.
To many of her kin, their possession of their Kekkei Genkai proved thier superiority over any and all shinobi. Using their gifts as often, and as publicly as they could.
But to Hinata, it was yet another area where she seeemd to fall short.
Even to the average passerby it was clear that her Byakugan was different. The traditional grey eye color distinct to the Hyuuga was commonplace among nearly all members of her clan, apart from the odd condition of blindness or birth defect.
Hers, appeared closer to lavender than grey, and contrary to the extraordinary distance and detail her cousin's sight could accomplish, Hinata hardly ever came close, even on her best day.
This fact was one among many reason why she hesitated to use her ocular abilities when with her team. It was a paltry, petty reason in retrospect, especially considering that if not for her sensei, her hesitation may have gotten them all killed.
Hinata led them all now, with Naruto and Sasuke close behind her, while Kakashi and Tazuna trailed behind, apparently in a quite intense conversation judging by the droplets of sweat that dripped down the sides of his face.
Every few minutes she raised a hand to activate her byakugan, spying for any more threats to her or her team.
"Hey, Hinata."
Kakashi's gruff voice startled her, making her jump before she turned around to see her sensei walking up, relaxed as ever.
He caught up to her, walking parallel on her right, "Good thinking, Hinata. If I'd have known that we had a mission like this on our hands, I'd have asked you to do this earlier."
She bit her lip, still continuing to search for danger, not turingi to face him, "I'm sorry sensei. Its what I should've been doing all along. I won't make that mistake again."
Kakashi shrugged, "It's what being a genin is for. Making mistakes that don't cost you lives or the mission. So when you're promoted, and trusted with more important mission, you don't make those same mistakes."
She grit her teeth, starting to feel the ache behind her eyes, her body's way of telling her not to overdo it, "And if my mistakes do cost lives."
Kakashi turned to look at her for a minute, Hinata still looking forwards, "That's what I'm here for. To keep you safe while you learn." He said gently, putting his hand on her shoulder.
He narrowed his eye, turning his head to catch her eyes, "You did well Hinata. I didn't see a reason to have you use your Byakugan for a D-rank, so It's on me if something goes wrong. But don't exhaust yourself, just prepare yourself to do it better the next time."
He leaned in closer, whispering, "Besides, you're probably already tired from your early morning training sessions with your father. No need to tire yourself even more."
Hinata felt her heart skip a beat, and narrowly avoided tripping on her own feet. She looked up to her sensei, expecting a frown of disapproval, or at least a stern glare at not informing her sensei of her early morning training.
But all she saw was the crinkled eye-smile and a hand coming down to rugged up her hair. She managed to withhold a whine of upset, considering that they're now in hostile territory, but Kakashi only laughed.
"Mah mah, you worry too much Hinata. That's my job." He said, chuckling as he walked past her, taking the lead.
She allowed herself a few seconds to pout before she let herself smile, feeling as small pebble of weight lifted off of her shoulders.
It was the second that he stepped off the boat that Naruto knew that something was wrong.
The moment his sandals hit the dark, course sand of the land of waves, he felt his hair stand on end. He hunched down, taking a moment to listen closer. He walked away from the boat, trailing alongside the old man, when he brought his hands up in the seal off confrontation, channeling his chakra.
He felt the energy well up, and explode outwards, his senses went into overdrive. He could feel his smell, his eyes, his hearing expand around him, almost taking on a life of their own.
He blinked rapidly, trying his best to sort out the cacophony of sounds, smells, and flickers of movement he could see past the branches and leaves to either side of him on the narrow trail they were on.
He concentrated, honing in on the sound of soft, rapid footsteps, by far the quietest thing in the forest. He shot Kakashi a look, catching his eye for a brief moment as he glanced back at his team.
Kakashi held his gaze, then nodded, turning his eyes back to the trail in front of them.
Naruto swallowed thickly, 'Not the best sign...'
The Fox inside him rumbled in thought, 'Whatever, or whomever it is, we are more than capable of handling it.' Naruto nodded, his heart beating out of his chest. He kept watching, his eyes scanning the forest for anything.
"Naruto?" He turned to see Hinata there, her eyes wide with concern, "Are you alright?"
Naruto laughed, scratching his head, "Yeah, just got a bad feeling is all."
Sasuke perked up at this, turning towards them, while Hinata's eyes widened even further for a second, turning away to look around them, "A- A bad feeling, how?" She said nervously.
Naruto looked with her, listening closely, "Just a gut feeling, almost like, you know. Like we're being—" He trailed off when he heard a particularly loud footsteps a ways off. Heavy footsteps...
He gritted his teeth, and grabbed a kunai from his holster, "Not this time!"
He threw the kunai, the blade sailed through the leaves and branches, landing with a solid slap against something hard.
Team 7 leapt as one, Hinata standing in front of Tazuna, and Sasuke next to him as they both crouched, with kunai drawn. Hinata raised her other hand to her face, two fingers raised, "Byakugan!"
Naruto kept his eyes forward, trained on the hole his kunai made in the wall of vegetation, when he heard hinata run away from the bridge builder, running past him towards the noise he heard.
He was about to shout a warning when, after only a few seconds, Hinata emerged, the limp form of a white hare in her hands.
Hinata held the animal in her hands, Naruto watching as the thing thankfully breathed in and out. Alive, but unconcious.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata murmured in a reproachful and disapproving tone. Naruto stammered out an apology to the hare, while Sasuke and Kakashi walked up behind him.
"Hn, usuratonkachi." He muttered.
Kakashi was silent though, watching on as Naruto and Hianta fussed over the injured animal.
"...It's the wrong color." Kakashi whispered.
Naruto's eyes widened and he looked back to the animal, as it slowly roused from it's shock induced sleep.
He was about to ask Kakashi what it meant when a sudden, heavy, sickly feeling struck him. He reeled, and almost gagged as the feeling slammed into him, 'Kyuubi, what the hell...'
The fox growled, though not at him. But at the source of the sensation. The Kyuubi reared up towards the sound, grunting out his words in a rough, but also hurried tone, 'Bloodlust. Hardly a dozen feet away, you—"
He was cut off when Naruto caught the scent of whoever it was, a grim miasma of sweat, iron, and blood.
"Get down!" Kakashi yelled out, dragging Sasuke down with him.'
Naruto dived, tearing Hinata down with him as something whooshed over their heads, but only barely.
There was a loud thunk, and as Naruto looked up he saw an enormous blade sticking out of a tree, as a tall, nearly shirtless man stood atop the blade, his back towards them.
His senses alerted him that he was the source of the bloodlust he felt earlier, the feeling oozing off of him in wafts.
Naruto gulped hard at the sight of him, and stood next to Tazuna, preparing himself to defend the old man, and hold up his promise.
"So, you're 'Sharingan Kakashi', aren't you." The stranger said, his gravely voice dragging out the strange moniker that his sensei apparently held.
Sasuke stiffened behind him, and Kakashi nodded to the man, relaxed and still, "Yes. And you must be Zabuza Momochi. The Demon of the Bloody Mist, am I right?" The man known as Zabuza turned, his face hidden by bandages, the rest of his face being a grim, but humorous leer as he glared at his sensei. "Oh ho, so the famous Hatake Kakashi knows about me eh?"
The man now known as Zabuza kneeled, gripping the handle to his blade, hunched like a predator over the massive sword. He was missing his eyebrows, his bare chest also bearing no hair, "I should feel honored." He grunted.
Naruto felt his heartbeat quicken, thundering in his ears. He pulled a kunai from his holster, growling as he took a step, only to be held by by an extended hand from Kakashi.
His sensei didn't turn to face him, keeping his eyes on Zabuza, "Get back and defend Tazuna. This guy's jounin level at least. Let me handle this."Naruto's eyes whipped back to the intimidating figure perched on his sword, the man's eyes locked only on Kakashi.
Naruto took a step back, putting himself next to Tazuna, 'A battle between two Jounin...'
Kakashi took another step forwards, "This could get dicey, bettter go all out and resolve this quickly."
Kakashi reached up, and pulled his Hitai-ate up, and opened his left eye, revealing a red eye with three to one surrounding the pupil.
And suddenly Naruto was no longer in the land of waves, he was in a cave in the land of fire, staring up at those eyes... Knowing that wherever those eyes went, pain was soon to follow.
Opening Obito's eyes was a lot like applying a filter. When working with T&I, some encrypted files had unique filters that accompanited them.
Thin, fragile glass, with very specific colors, half formed characters, or shapes that transformed a sheet of unintelligible gibberish into a file filled to the brim with precious intel. Opening his left eye was similar, applying the other half to an incomplete world. Hundreds of new details jumped out at him, vying at him for attention. But he knew he had to focus, focus on the dangerous rogue nin that stood in a tree branch barely a few feet away.
He didn't dare turn to his students, but he didn't have to to know that he had a fair bit of explaining to do before this was over.
Sasuke would leikly be the worst off, the eye seeming like a slap in the face to the heir of his whole clan. Seeing this as just another extension of the pain Itachi had wrought on his life.
Besides of the mass murder of innocents, Kakashi had nothing too much against Itachi. He never much cared for politics, and from what he knew of him, he was a well mannered, if poorly adjusted youth with a bright future.
But if there were two things he could hold against the Uchiha at large, it was two things. Firstly, the brutal murder of innocent people, and secondly, whatever hell that lowlife of an Uchiha wrought on Naruto Uzumaki.
He could hear his harsh breathing from here, Naruto's quick breaths coming in hard and fast. Another reminder of the invisible scars he possessed. A low chuckle came from the Mist jounin, "Hehehe, better keep your brats on a tight leash..."
Zabuza raised his hand slowly, forming the seal of confrontation with deceptfully slender fingers, "...Or you'll be dragging them home in body bags."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, focusing himself, 'They tend to focus on tricks and stealth rather than the upfront tactics of Konoha or Kumo. I need to be careful, or it'll be my students who pay the price.'
He focused his mind, and hardened his heart, 'Zabuza Momochi has to die as quickly as possible.'
To Naruto, everything disappeared except for the eye. The world was roiling, waves of heat coming from outside, and within.
The fox raged, his furious yelling blaring in his mind, 'Accursed eye! Kill him Naruto. Unleash me and my power. Kill that wretched curr of a human! Wrend him to peices, rip him to shreds!'
Naruto winced, his gaze drifting from the crimson of Kakashi's eye to the rogue nin standing above him.
He shook his head, holding it gingerly, 'Not now Kyuubi, quiet down.'
'You DARE order me!? COMMAND ME!?' The fox raved, sending the level of discomfort from manageable, to painful.
Naruto grit his teeth, forcing himself to focus, his eyes training on the man and his giant sword. He clamped down on his connection, feeling as the loud, angry shouts were suddenly muffled.
He felt the relief of sudden quite wash over him as he caught his breath, fighting against the panic, steeling himself, and crouching down in a ready stance. His feet squared, ready and watching for the man to attack.
In a flash, Zabuza reached down for the hilt of his giant sword, whipping it out of the tree, and launching himself through the branches, landing with a soft ripple of water, on the surface of the river at their backs. Kakashi's eyes followed him, until they all turned as one to watch the dangerous nin.
Zabuza sheathed his weapon behind his back, raising one hand high in the air, "Suiton: Hidden in the Mist Jutsu."
Immediately, thick mist wafted in from behind him, completely obscuring him after only a few seconds.
The mist came quickly, enveloping them all in seconds.
A voice echoed across the expansive, empty space, startling Naruto before he steeeled himself again, "Hmm, eight killing spots. Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, the jugular and femoral veins, the kidneys and the heart. Which shall I choose for every one of you. So many choices..."
Naruto growled back, gripping his kunai even harder, the thin steel feeling inadequate in his hands.
Hinata was the first to break the silence, raising her own kunai in a shaky hand, "Sensei, wh-, who is he?"
Their sensei didn't move, "A missing nin from Kirigakure no sato. A black ops member, and an expert in the 'silent killing' technique.
Naruto swallowed, his eyes darting all around for any sign of the mysterious ninja, "Any 'helpful' information sensei!?"
"Don't panic. His technique is effective, but simple. He'll use mist to obscure our vision. Try and take us by surprise."
Hinata tensed suddenly, "I—I, I can't see him!" She exclaimed, sounding somewhere between surprised and utterly shocked.
Kakashi just nodded, "The mist is affected by his chakra. His own chakra system will just blend in. Save your chakra and focus on protecting Tazuna. I'll focus on killing Zabuza."
Another cackle of menacing laughter echoed from the mist, bouncing off the very air to reach their ears, "You may as well bare your necks for me, make all this go along a lot quicker."
Kakashi brought his hands up, "Enough talk." He said.
Instantly, Naruto felt the full force of Kakashi's chakra slam into him. He flinched, the crackling energy electrifying the air, a blue haze of energy just barely visible through the mist.
'Killing Intent!'
He grit his teeth against a wave of nausea and cold fear that flooded him, images of the Sandaime flashing through his mind.
He clenched his jaw, 'No! I'm stronger than that. I'm stronger than I was...'
Naruto steadied himself,, forcing himself to stare ahead.
Sasuke and Hianta flinched as well, the both of them likely to be new to this level of Killing Intent. But Naruto had the wherewithal to resist it.
He was still tense though, his eyes darting back and forth to find even aa small hint of movement. 'It's definitely strong, exactly what's to be expected of two jounin. But it's nothing compared to the old man. Or the Kyuubi.'
This was WAY different from the demon brothers, this 'Zabuza's' bloodlust was impossibly strong. His chakra thick and heavy with years of using it for ninjutsu.
The same kind of shinobi that would gut you where you stood without even a second glance. This guy would kill them all if they weren't careful.
The fox hummed in acknowledgment, nodding along to his words, 'Our superiority will shine through. Show these insects what the true power of a Jinchurriki is.'
He heard a few words whispered in a familiar voice, and saw as Sasuke shook, raise his kunai high, the end pointed down.
"Don't worry..." Kakashi said, his voice loud and full of confidence. It stole their attention, jarring Sasuke, who hurriedly returned the kunai down to his side.
Their sense smiled behind his mask, his eyes crinkling with mirth, "I don't let my comrade's die."
Naruto smelled him before he heard him, the distinct smell of a still pond, mixed with sweat, blood, and honing oil.
"Last I checked.." He grated, standing in a low crouch, his enormous blade poised above him, ready to strike.
"That wasn't your decision." It was his taunt that cost him, and Hinata capitalized with a strike to his exposed elbow as his swing came down. He grunted, but continued the strike, the sword's speed slowed somewhat.
Naruto dived, dragging the old man down with him. He hit the ground hard, the force of his movements sending Naruto a few feet to his left, landing in a crouch of his own.
The sword swiped through the dirt as if it were warm butter, swinging back around for another swing headed for Hinata.
Luckily, a handful of well timed shuriken forced the jounin to abandon the swipe at Hinata, turning to his right to deflect the flying projectiles with his sword. He moved quickly, spinning to send Hinata flying with a heavy kick to her chest faster than she could dive out of the way.
She cried out at the kick, spinnning messily, tumbling on the rough, course dirt and sand until she slid to a stop. Grunting with effort and pain as she stood wobbly to her feet.
"Hinata!" Naruto screamed, surging forwards, kunai in hand.
Zabuza whirled on him, nearly blurring with speed. He darted forwards, his sword trailing behind him. Naruto raised his kunai, the throwing knife feeling like pebble tasked to bring down a mountain.
There was a loud 'clang', the nearly melodious sound of tempered steel meeting tempered steel.
The Kunai was held by Kakashi. Who glared at the jounin, his crimson eye fixing him with a cold, but furious stare.
Zabuza held firm, his blade fixed against Kakashi's the both of them straining to gain a single inch of headway against the other. "Tell you what. I'm feeling pretty generous right now Hatake. I'll cut ya a deal. Hand over the bridge builder, and I'll only kill one of those little brats you have."
Kakashi didn't answer him, the only sign that he'd heard the mam being his grunt of increased effort in their struggle.
Zabuza's leaned in, using his superior size and weight to give himself a bit of leverage. "It'll have to be the Hyuuga. She pissed me off earlier, so it's only fair. Plus, her eyes would go for a fortune in Kiri, and Kumo. But I suppose you'd know all about that wouldn't you."
Kakashi stilled, relaxing slightly, "You won't touch my students." He said, his voice firm.
Zabuza scoffed, "I'm the demon of the bloody mist. I do what I fucking want." Kakashi leant back, dashing out of the way of the massive sword, parrying the left blow an instant later.
Zabuza moved swiftly the sword in his hands moving unnaturally fast. Appearing so light and malleable in his hand it seemed as if it were made of wood.
Kakakshi moved just as fast, their fight almost too fast for Naruto to follow. Kakashi kicked, punch and struck with every limb, dodging or blocking every blow. While Zabuza seemed more like a wraith. Looming, back bent menacingly as he dragged the sword through the air, the blade swinging with deceptive speed, nearly hitting his sensei on more than one occasion.
But Kakashi was faster, backing up, but staying as close as he dared. Occasionally scoring long, yet thin slices on Zabuza's exposed arms. The man didn't seem to notice, never slowing, never stopping at all, not even to flinch.
The swordsman pressed him, slashing and stabbing viciously, never stopping even when they edged closer and closer to the lapping water of the lake behind them.
Zabuza suddenly brought up his hand in the seal of confrontation mid slash. Kakashi brought up his own hand up, his form disappearing in a blur of movement.
He appeared a few feet behind Zabuza, the jounin groaning with pain, a long slash appearing from his collarbone to his stomach. The missing nin dropped to one knee, then subsequently dissolved into water.
Kakashi's eyes widened, and his head whipped up to watch the sky. Naruto followed his line of sight, and watched as the missing nin descended, his sword raised high, striking down with thunderous fury. Cleaving Kakashi neatly in two.
The world stood still as the two halves of his sensei wobbled, before they too also dissolved into water.
Zabuza's brow furrowed, and then relaxed his jaw dropping suddenly as Kakashi appeared behind him, his kunai buried deep into his back.
Zabuza flinched coughing harshly, blood spattering the wrapped cloth around his mouth, "Hehe, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised 'Copycat Kakashi'."
Kakashi didn't move, "A surprised shinobi, is a dead shinobi." He said judiciously. In response, Zabuza's form melted immediately, dissolving into water. Naruto's eyes widened as he watched Zabuza rise out of the water behind Kakashi, his hands clenched together, "Well said."
Kakashi gasped, "The water—"
"Too late!" Zabuza said, his hands flashing through hand signs, "Suiton: Water Prison!"
Water lurched to life around his sensei, rising to rush and create a bubble around Kakashi, encasing him in a bubble of swirling, churning water.
Zabuza chuckled, placing one hand in the bubble, "I'll give you this Hatake. You're no slouch. But it's been a long time since the war, you've gotten sloppy." Kakashi grunted with effort, his limbs moving through the water as if the water from the lake was replaced with molasses.
Then Zabuza turned on them, flinching when his dark eyes focused on him, "You should've taken me up on my offer 'Copycat'..."
Lost...
He'd lost against Zabuza.
His eyes were on his team through the water, the rushing water loud in his ears.
'Focus' He needed to focus, "Run!" He yelled to them.
They each reacted in their own way, their fear no doubt reaching new heights at this new development. Shattering the illusion that their jounin sensei had everything under control.
He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stare at them, 'Feel guilty. Break... later.'
They were all shocked in their own way, with Naruto looking the worst off as he stared at him, confusion plain on his face.
"Run with Tazuna. Run for thee tree line and I'll catch up with you. His Jutsu is only active while he'd touching the bubble. I'll get out of here and I'll catch up with you."
He did math in his head, running through the possibilities, and realized that Tazuna stood pretty much zero chance of surviving that particular plan, but figured that it gave his team a 50/50 chance.
He just had to hope that their training would save them, when he could not.
He'd be lying if he said it was the most helpless he'd ever felt, but it was definitely a close second. Their sensei was captured, and had just told him that his best course of action was to run away. Naruto looked inward, 'Hey Kyuubi, any words of advice, or sudden power boost?'
The fox growled in consternation, thinking to himself, 'This one is tricky Naruto, and possesses a powerful sense of bloodlust for a human. You could stand to learn from a man such as he.'
Naruto shook his head, "Learning's for the living Kyuubi!"
He tried for himself to scrouge around his heart for any semblance of anger to fuel him. But all he found was fear. Fear and despair.
He swallowed thickly, his eyes trained on the sword wielding shinobi, 'Am I seriously gonna die here?'
Zabuza caught his gaze, and laughed long, and loud, "How you fucking brats managed to wear hitai-ate is FAR beyond me. You leaf trash really are soft."
He turned to Kakashi, "Really Hatake. How are you from the same village as these insignificant children." Kakashi struggled a bit longer, straining his legs before turning a vengeful glance at Zabuza, "We can't all murder our entire graduating class Zabuza."
Naruto gasped at the news, but Zabuza just grinned at Kakashi, not hearing him. "Oho, I've pissed you off have I? Well I'd hate to know how upset at me you'll be after I'm done with them."
He turned to the four of them, "Besides. The death of one's friends does wonders for the soul." He gave Kakashi a short glance, "Maybe then you'll be a bit more of a challenge."
Zabuza brought his other hand up to form a quick seal, and a water clone manifested next to Zabuza, wading through the water, striding quickly towards Naruto. He cringed, raising a kunai just quick enough to deflect the strike, but not deflect it enough to keep the blade from biting into his shoulder.
Naruto cried out in pain, backing out of the way of another strike, but not moving quick enough to dodge the punch to the face Zabuza gave him.
His world shook, and he was lifted off his feet, tumbling end over end through the sand, ending up only a few feet from Tazuna. Who could do nothing but stare mutely at the battle.
Naruto looked up, and rose with a grunt, flinching at a tight feeling in his hand. He looked down at the bandages on his hand, the blood now dried, the wound nearly completely healed.
Naruto focused on the hand, his mind going back to his promise. He felt as an iron-like response settled on him 'It was always going to be like this.' He realized. Someone like him wasn't going to suddenly come into good luck, despite all his previous struggles.
The world of Naruto Uzumaki was hard, and cruel. Where others saw happy smiles and the greetings of family and good friends, Naruto received only scorn.
A part of him had hoped that the hard part was over. That his previous torments would be rewarded tenfold. But if there was anything that Naruto learned about this world, is that happy endings aren't earned.
They're taken.
Taken by those who endure, who brave the harshness of the world, and rise despite it all.
Rei's face flashed to the forefront of his mind, then the off white and purple of Tori's mask.
The old man...
Iruka-sensei...
Naruto clutched the dirt under his hand, 'No, I am not gonna die here.'
He looked up, and saw the faint shine of his Hitai-ate, shining through the dirt, laying just a few feet in front of the intimidating missing nin.
Naruto growled and lunged forwards.
"Naruto!" Hinata yelled in fear and concern.
Naruto dug in, his kunai poised to strike or defend if need be.
Zabuza gave a short chuckle before he moved, spinning to dodge Naruto's swipe from his kunai to deliver a nasty kick to Naruto's face.
He took the blow with a grunt, sliding back to his previous spot, his hand wrapped tightly around his headband.
Hinata jogged up to him, checking him, "Naruto-kun, please. You can't go rushing in like that. It's like Kakashi-sensei said. We have to work togeth—" She trailed off as her eyes trailed down to what he was holding.
Naruto's hand clutched tightly to the headband, the cool metal soothing him, reminding him of his sensei. Hinata watched silently as he tied his headband around his head. Pulling the tails tight with a loud snap, grinning up at Zabuza, "Hey, no-brows..."
He pointed at him, "Remember this day freak. The day that you fought the future 'Kami no Shinobi'!"
He wiped the blood from his mouth, grinning widely at him, "Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto kept his eyes on Zabuza, "Hey Sasuke! Hinata! Listen up!"
"Yes Naruto-kun."
"What?"
He glanced back at the both of them, "I've got a plan. Let's save our sensei." Neither one moved or said anything at all, they only looked from Kakashi's spot next to the lake, then back to Naruto.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, the faintest of smiles stretching his lips, "Hn, teamwork is it?"
Naruto nodded, "You got it."
Hinata nodded too, "Let's' do it."
Naruto grinned even wider, "Let's get wild."
Kakashi Hatake could feel his heart beat out of is chest, as he watched the swirling, distorted view of his students in peril. He fought the urge to give in to despair, the often practiced mantra he used so often in the third shinobi war echoing in his mind.
They're still alive. They're still alive. They're still alive.
He watched as helpless as a man watching his own children fall from a great height as Naruto was kicked like a rag doll across the floor.
He tried to move again, swearing violently to himself at his own failure.
Naruto got up, saying words to his teammates that Kakashi couldnt hear, but based on hte defiant grin on his face, he could tell that Naruto wasn't out of the fight yet.
"Naruto! The fight was over the second I was caught. Run, I'm giving you and order!" The threat seemed to catch Naruto's attention, his cerulean eyes losing a hint of their usual edge as he turned to look at him.
He looked concerned at first, but a quick glance to his teammates seemed to bolster him, bringing a hardiness to his expression that seemed to fit somehow.
He cupped the sides of his mouth to yell an answer back at him, "Sorry Kakashi-sensei, but I'd rather be trash, than less than trash dattebayo!"
Kakashi gasped through his nose, and he looked at his student again, really looked.
He was scuffed, but uninjured, the white bandages hanging limply around his hand, now completely dry. The wound fully healed. His black and orange jacked was cut straight through, the shinobi mail underneath torn in places, showing only unmarred white skin underneath.
Naruto's smile was infectious, Hinata and Sasuke wearing eager smirks that seeemed to match his own.
Kakashi's eyes widened, 'He's grown.' He remarked to himself.
No longer was the the frail, injured little boy he carried out of that dark pit. Gingerly laying him on his own bed, one that would later belong to him, along with the entire apartment.
No longer the victim, but a Ninja.
He allowed himself a small, hesitant smile at his own expense, feeling confident in his charge. Aware that it was do or die now. And that he could only blame himself.
Both for his mistakes that led to his capture, and the encouraging words of his dead teammate.
'Obito, lend him some of your strength. He's gonna need it.'
Naruto turned back to Zabuza, while Sasuke formed a quick seal, a poof of white smoke appearing, concealing all of them.
When it cleared, Sasuke held a Fuma shuriken, and reared back to throw it. He heaved, and threw it, the spinning blades whirling towards Zabuza, and Kakashi felt a bit afraid, and disappointed at the lackluster attack.
He stopped himself though, narrowing his eyes, 'Look underneath the underneath...'
He saw it then, two blades, Obito's eye detecting waves of chakra that emanated off of them. He heard them spinning, cutting through the air as they hurdled towards the mist nin. He watched as Zabuza jumped elegantly, the blades passing over, and under him by mere inches.
An instant later, the telltale sound of two poofs of smoke came from behind. He turned to look, and saw Hinata and Sasuke approaching fast, dual kunai for Sasuke, while Hinata was barehanded.
Zabuza moved quickly, unslinging his sword, and swinging down in one smooth motion.
Sasuke dodged, but barely, a slow kunai glancing the heavy sword. Taking a large chunk out of his blade.
Sasuke went for the arm that extended into Zabuza's water prison technique, but the swordsman saw it coming, swinging the backside of his blade for Hinata. The stiff metal catching her in the chest, the air rushing out of her lungs in a wheeze.
Zabuza let Sasuke come in close, before whipping a leg out, catching him in the collarbone, and sending him flying. Kakashi struggled in his bonds again, but froze when the forms of Sasuke and Hinata vanished in two poofs of smoke.
His mind did the work for him, rewinding to the large poof of smoke earlier.
'Naruto's clones, henged as the others!'
Zabuza connected the dots as quickly as he did, turning too late to avoid the lightning quick jab from Hinata.
He heard the small grunt of pain, and felt a swell of excitement and pride at the successful hit, only to be cut off with a stab of helplessness when Zabuza reared back to cut her in half.
From behind Zabuza, Sasuke appeared out of the mist, and delivered a sold kick to the back of Zabnuza's head.
He felt the jutsu waver for a split second before Zabuza inevitably regained control, dropping his sword for a split second to grab Sasuke, slamming him to the ground, hard.
The Uchiha choked out a cry of pain, the cry doubling in volume when Zabuza kicked the Uchiha, sending him, sliding across the ground.
The Uchiha whipped a hand down to his kunai pouch, throwing a kunai at the missing nin.
It was off, Kakashi could tell, and Zabuza watched the blade fly past him, almost a foot off from it's target. Kakashi kept his eyes on Naruto, and watched his grimace of pain and exertion, twist into a full, sharp-toothed grin.
He flashed through the seals for a substitution, and widened his eyes as he tracked the kunai's flight. Two poofs of smoke later, and suddenly Naruto was high in the air, kunai poised to throw.
Zabuza realized what was happening too late, whipping his head around to look, just as Naruto launched the blade faster and harder than he'd ever seen the blonde throw.
The kunai sped through the air, right on target, headed directly for Zabuza's outstretched arm. With a growl of anger, Zabuza retraced his arm, saving himself from being impaled on the kunai, only catching a glancing cut from the blade.
The Jutsu fell instantly. The heavy water weighing him down, releasing their grip on him, the bubble of water collapsing in on itself. Naruto fell to the earth as gracefully as he could, slamming to the dirt roughly, a small could of dirt rising from the ground.
Zabuza whirled on him, his sword rising to strike, "Why you little—"
Kakashi moved on instinct, chakra enhancing his legs, speeding through the water, raising a hand to block the mighty swing, using chakra to support his muscles. The blade impacted the metal vambrace on the back of his gloved hand with a loud clunk, the sharp, and heavy sword biting through the metal and into his hand.
Naruto panted behind him as he stared down the supposed 'demon of the hidden mist'.
He glanced back at Naruto, "Good plan Naruto. Well done."
He looked behind Zabuza, smiling at Hinata and Sasuke, "You guys have grown up." Zabuza scoffed, "A man like me, getting distracted and releasing my jutsu.." He trailed off, shaking his head in dismay.
Kakashi shook his own head, "No. You were 'forced' to release your technique. Tricked by the 'soft brats' you spoke of earlier."
Zabuza narrowed his eyes at him, but didn't say anything, only leaning harder into his blade, trying to force him back. Kakashi never gave him an inch, only continuing to stare back at the jounin. He let his anger rise, "I'm going to kill you Zabuza. Not because it's my mission, but now... I'm going to do I becasue I want to."
He continued staring, his heart surging with satisfaction at the subtle hint of fear and caution he saw in his eyes. Knowing that this was only a hint of what was to come.
Hey guys, as I said eariler, I'm going to do my best to make sure that all of the Wave Arc is posted before I leave for the Army. That day being Nov 15. But until then, have a good one!
KCMC66