Kakashi knew that he had no one to blame but himself for ending up in this position. Another tired breath left his lips as the tomoe around his crimson eye spun to assess the situation around him. Sasuke is struggling to even stand up, his legs trembling in both fear and exhaustion. A ragged, bloody cut ran down his arm while his other desperately clung to the tree beside him for support. Their client stood in the back, fearfully witnessing the terrible scene before him. His confident attitude is now nowhere to be seen, something Kakashi cannot blame the civilian bridge-builder for.
As for himself? Well, his chakra levels are rapidly draining at every second his sharingan is revealed. The kunai he had brought is severely outmatched against the legendary swords he's dueling with, the edge is barely hanging on and it's only a matter of time before it would snap. His fatigue is catching up, but he tried his best to mask it so his opponents wouldn't take advantage of his weakened state.
He should've known that taking a mission this misinformed will only result in disaster. Before he could even refuse the babbling offers of the old man, Sasuke had taken it upon himself to agree for him and the bridge-builder had practically fallen to his knees in gratification. Upon being questioned, the Uchiha proudly replied that no shinobi will be able to
Maybe it's because of arrogance that made him relent or the tiny sense of justice still lingering inside of him. Whatever it is, he regrets now that the consequences came to bite them back in the ass. Thankfully, Kakashi still had the mind to quickly send a message to the Hokage about the change in the mission. He doubts that anything he says would relieve any punishment he would receive for the blatant rule-breaking, but at least he was still cautious enough to request for backup—which he really needs right now.
The cursed gift throbbed painlessly in his eye socket, alerting him of another attack incoming. With a slight twist of his body, he narrowly dodged the enormous blade that slammed against the road, right where he was standing before. Cracks erupted on the road, the sheer weight of the sword is too much for the island to handle. This begs the question; how its wielder could swing such a weapon with ease?
"Sharingan no Kakashi!" A gruff voice cut through the white mist around him, revealing a rather tall, imposing figure stomping through.
Menacing, dark eyes peered through the hazy fog. The man's exposed upper body spoke of years of battles and death, proudly displaying the multitude of scars decorating his almost-grayish skin. White bandages masked the lower part of his face, similar to how Kakashi wore his mask, though the scarecrow feels he wears them for a different reason. He wore a rather comical pair of arm and leg warmers that resembled the skin of a cow. Though any pretense of humor will immediately be washed away once he is revealed to be the owner of a butcher knife the size of a full-grown man.
"I always thought you would be a worthy challenge. How disappointing." Zabuza Momoichi, Kirigakure no Kijin, mocked with a sadistic smile under the bandage wraps. The slashed Kiri forehead protector glinted, confirming the A-rank missing-nin's identity.
Kakashi controlled his breathing and sneaked another glance at his student behind him. His condition stayed the same, but he seemed to be revving to fight once again. While he admired that trait, engaging a highly-ranked shinobi while suffering severe injuries is foolish. However, he knows that the boy's drive won't allow him to think clearly and there's a chance that he might act recklessly.
So he needs to end this fight quickly.
"A challenge, huh? Isn't this a little unfair?" Kakashi snarked as he slowly stood back up, but remained in a combat stance.
Before Zabuza could speak, another voice entered the folds.
"You should know that us shinobi… we never play fair."
A second, much shorter figure emerged from the mist but appeared just as dangerous as her companion. A deranged smile is pasted across her lips, matching the cruelty beneath her shadowy-black eyes. Bloodfallen hair flowed down her baggy but comfortable clothes as two folds of her pale, scarlet hair were erected over the sides of her head like a pair of rabbit ears, held up by her slashed forehead protector. Hanging under the sleeves of her hakama were a pair of tanto-sized swords with two prongs protruding on either side. Lightning danced along the edges of the blade, seeking to curse their next meal.
"Ameyuri, I told you to focus on the brat. I have my eyes set on Hatake." Zabuza growled, receiving an eye roll from his ally.
"The boy was nothing but a piece of rotten meat—nothing special about him. One hit from my blade and he's already down. Such a pathetic meal." Ameyuri Ringo replied lazily, her shark-like teeth protruding out of her smile.
However, the Demon wasn't amused at all. "I thought we had a deal, wench." Ever so slowly, he lifted the sword out of the ground as if it weighed nothing and hefted it over his shoulder. "You swore by your swords."
A scoff was her response. "What a killjoy," she muttered not-so-quietly, prompting another growl from Zabuza.
Using their argument as a distraction, Kakashi acted quickly. Hands blurred into action, performing the intricate hand seals needed before he slammed them against the ground. "Doton: Doryūheki!" he cried out silently and the world beneath them shifted.
At first, it was just a small crack. Then it proceeded to stretch across the dirt behind Kakashi, forming a chaotic spider-web of deformation until it exploded as the earth spewed out a fictile barrier that continued to grow until it reached the tallest tree in the forest. The signature bulldog heads proudly displayed their growling maws at the shinobi. Once the shaking stopped, the wall towered over the missing-nins like a giant looming over an ant.
Kakashi finally let out the breath he was holding as his form hunched over to mitigate his exhaustion. It took a lot more chakra to put up this wall, especially since he added a few extra precautions. His mismatched eyes then found themselves on his opponents, who now wore some sort of surprise and admiration.
Ameyuri whistled appreciatively. "I've seen Iwa shinobi fail to reach even half the height of this thing." she mused to herself.
"Admirable, but overall useless," Zabuza remarked, swinging his sword back to the front. "To go such lengths for a genin. I hope you make it worth it!"
With a roar, the Demon lunged at speeds far greater than he should be with a sword almost the size of him. In response, Kakashi's sharingan blazed in action, allowing his body to follow the missing-nin's movements with ease. The first swing of the blade screamed death in every way and just as always, the silver-haired man danced with it. Each wide swing from Zabuza met the cold and empty air or the blunted blade of his kunai.
It almost looked comical to see one defend themselves against the famed Kubikiribōchō with just a simple kunai but it was being done. Lacing the insignificant blade with as much chakra as he could, Kakashi could at least deflect the slashes but it's only a matter of time before it would snap.
However, in the midst of battle, he forgot one key detail and that detail had just sped past him, carrying arches of lightning as she pounced towards the wall. There's no question about what she intended to do but Kakashi still let her pass by him and focused his attention on Zabuza.
Ameyuri let out a crazed laugh as she leapt towards the earthen wall. Wielding her Kiba, she spun across the air like a wild tornado. Anything or anyone that comes in contact with her will surely be ripped to shreds. Upon meeting her target, she slammed both her blades against the barrier, the momentum causing cracks against the surface.
"Raiton: Jibashi!" she cried out with glee as arcs of lightning passed through her arms, dancing along the metal of her blades and finally imploding into the earthen wall. A loud cry of thunder and electricity screeched across the forest. Each bolt of lightning sunk into the wall, hoping to raze the entire structure down. Blazing azure lights roared, bringing some semblance of brightness into the gloomy, and misty forest. Slowly, the dirt began to crumble before Ameyuri's smirk, only for it to disappear once she was greeted by a translucent, hazy mineral underneath the barrier's surface.
"Quartz?" she gaped.
Kakashi allowed a small smile to crawl under his mask when he heard the woman's surprised remark, which in turn distracted Zabuza enough for him to land a clean kick right at the Demon's bare chest. Unfortunately, it proved to be in vain as the target of his foot suddenly dissolved into a puddle of water at the first contact with his foot.
'A water clone!' the scarecrow silently exclaimed, before another throb of his sharingan alerted him.
Without wasting time, Kakashi rolled to avoid the wide swing of the sword behind him. Looking up, he was greeted by four copies of Zabuza, all glaring at him with the thirst for his blood. Even with the white wraps over his mouth, he could practically hear the smirk stretching over the Demon's lips.
What came next was a blur.
Kakashi had already discarded his blunted kunai for two new ones and the battle became a blur of metal, water, and dust. The cries of the blades sang all across the forest. Water splattered the floor as if it were blood, leaving a few remnants of Zabuza's clones. The sheer speed that the two dueled could only be described as a whirlwind. Every time Zabuza lost a clone, he would create another to overwhelm the Konoha Jonin, but Kakashi proved to him that his skills had not rusted at all.
However, someone on the sidelines grew patient. As much as she loved a good fight, she would rather be the one participating. Additionally, the two were barely landing cuts on each other and Ameyuri was slowly growing sick of the prolonged battle. If only someone would speed things up a bit and this brought a grin to her face.
So, with the intention in mind, she extended her arms into the air and cried out as obnoxiously as she could. "Raiton: Sandāboruto!"
Lightning sparked along her fingertips, followed by an incredible discharge of azure energy. The howl of the jutsu had alerted both shinobi of the incoming assault but was not prepared for the magnitude. Webs of power raced toward their target at breaking speeds. It bore no discrimination and like snakes, lunged with its fangs out to sink in an expulsion of agony.
Kakashi chose the common route and summoned a terrarian orb from the earth to swallow his body. He had just reinforced it with quartz right before the rods of lightning struck his position, just barely piercing through the barrier.
Meanwhile, Zabuza cursed his 'ally' as he bounced across the road, dodging every spike of lightning trying to smite him. His clones had already been vaporized to water vapor and the flat of his sword had already taken the brunt of most of the jutsu. He should've known that Ameyuri is too much of a loose canon to hold her end of the deal.
"Ameyuri, I will kill you!" he snarled, dodging the last of her lightning assault.
However, said woman wasn't paying attention. In fact, she's already up in the air and falling towards the earthen dome. A cackle followed her down to the ground. Her Kiba growled as they met terra, pouring as much lightning chakra through the makeshift shield until it crumbled to rubble.
But to her surprise, Ameyuri found no trace of the scarecrow.
Just a hole.
That's when she bore witness to the scene of the Konoha Jonin emerging from the earth like a ghost summoned from the Shinigami's stomach, right behind her ally. Fortunately, Zabuza reacted appropriately to the sudden flare of chakra at his flank and responded with a swing of his sword.
He expected to meet the soft flesh of his enemy or to hear the sickening crunch of his bones. But he felt his blade pass through without any resistance and Zabuza looked on in shock as the boys of Kakashi began to liquefy; a scene so familiar that the Demon reacted just a second before he was greeted by a blast of steaming water.
His body had been thrown across the forest before the pain could even register. The skin on his chest screamed in anguish. His ribcage groaned at the force, nearly cracking under the pressure. It was like being hit by one of Yuki no Kuni's trains, the continuous weight pushing him through the air currents and the winds screeching in his ear. The last words Zabuza heard before he was sent flying were the accursed whisper of his opponent.
"Suiton: Suihou no Jutsu."
Upon the dust settling, Zabuza was no longer amongst the forest and just a few hundred meters from them, a splash in the lake could be heard. Standing alone in the middle of the road was Kakashi, sharingan still spinning wildly and his hunched form strained into a battle stance. The fight has not yet ended and judging from the growing grin on Ameyuri's face, she understood the situation as well.
"Round 2?" Kakashi quipped with a tired sigh, he could no longer hide the fatigue from his voice.
Ameyuri threw her head back with a laugh. "With pleasure!" she replied viciously.
Sasuke stared at the earthen wall that had been erected in front of him. He was too tired to see it rising from the ground but he had felt the ground shaking from the sheer size of the barrier. It's obvious that his sensei had created it to separate them but that doesn't mean he doesn't like it. However, he understood why Kakashi had done it.
As much as he hates to admit it, Zabuza had… scared him.
When they first encountered him, Sasuke had been confident that this so-called Demon of the Hidden Mist was just a farce to intimidate his foes. However, when the mist settled in and the man began to leak his killing intent, the Uchiha froze.
He froze!
That was supposed to be the moment where he proves that he's getting stronger—getting closer to his brother's level. But if he can't even stand still under the aura of Zabuza, then what is he compared to Itachi? He could still hear the Demon's voice whispering every vital organ he wished to pick out from his body. The thought sent shivers down his spine and Sasuke hated it!
He was supposed to be the last surviving Uchiha, the last hope of his clan, and somehow, he was defeated by intimidation! It was disgraceful, but he knew better. This is just a stepping stone to his greatness. All shinobi encounter obstacles in their career—his cursed brother had said so, and if he survives this mission, then everything will go up from here.
Sasuke winced as another spike of pain shot up from the long, jagged cut on his arm. Surprisingly, the wound hadn't come from Zabuza's blade nor his own, but it came from a second shinobi; one that he hadn't even seen coming. All he heard was a crazed laugh and a flash of lightning before a spike of agony shook his body. If it weren't for Kakashi, he would've been shredded.
Speaking of his sensei, the man apparently bore the sharingan. Sasuke had heard that he had one, mostly from rumors amongst the shinobi corps and a clear description from the Bingo Book, but to see it in person was another thing. It's a strange sight to see a non-Uchiha bearing his clan's kekkei genkai and oddly enough, Sasuke wasn't that bothered by it. After all, it's only logical to assume that many of Kakashi's achievements were only due to the sharingan.
So despite the raging battle behind the wall, he knew that the man would do just fine. At least, until he could finally get his wound wrapped up and join the fight.
"Are you sure, brat? It's okay to say you're scared, y'know." Tazuna, his client, remarked as he began tightening the bandages around Sasuke's arm, earning him a wince.
"Shut up! I'm not a coward like you." the Uchiha boy spat, but it's hard to remain angry when he's flinching at every spike of pain. "Besides, this is also my mission. I won't let my sensei finish it alone."
The old bridge-builder frowned but kept his thoughts to his head. After all, who is he to judge a shinobi from a hidden village? Despite the morality of leaving a child to fend off seasoned killers, he simply left it alone. This is the world they live in and there's nothing he can do about it.
With a last tightening of the bandage wraps, Sasuke ignored the lingering pain and stood up. Pulling out a kunai from his pouch, he prepared himself for the eventual onslaught he's about to receive, both physical and verbal. It doesn't matter what Kakashi has to say, he still has to get that bitch back for cutting his arm up. However, before he could leap into action, a calloused hand suddenly held him in place by the shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Sasuke turned around, expecting the cowardly bridge-builder, only for the berating words to die in his mouth.
"You…"
Kakashi's fight with Zabuza had taken so much chakra from him. To think that an A-rank shinobi is giving him a hard time. He must've heavily overestimated his abilities. After all, he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and not even his latest assault on the man will be enough to eliminate him. It's just giving him enough time to breathe and focus on the second threat.
With one temporarily down, Kakashi brought his attention to Ameyuri. His hands, once again, sped into a blur of hand seals. "Raiton: Raijū Tsuiga!" An aura of lightning coated his right hand. He then gripped his elbow to prepare for the eventual surge. Within a few milliseconds, a disarray of azure bolts shifted out of the aura-coated hand and began to form into the shape of a hound.
Ruby-red eyes blinked into existence and immediately found their target. With a crackling howl, the lightning hound lunged at Ameyuri, leaving an azure cord connected to Kakashi's fist. The former Kiri shinobi accepted the challenge with delight as she pulled her blades out of the dirt and leapt to meet the elemental hound.
The Kiba in her hands glowed with chakra, humming in preparation. Once Ameyuri was nearly kissing the nose of the jutsu, she simply swung her swords to the side and cut the hound in half. But she's not done yet. The momentum continued to carry forward as she barreled toward the Konoha Jonin. What remained of Kakashi's jutsu was suddenly absorbed into her blades, snaking along the metal and pulsing with power.
Ameyuri aimed her Kiba at Kakashi with a maniacal grin. "Raiton: Raiga!" she suddenly cried.
What followed is a discharge of hundreds of lightning bolts arcing across the air. Like tiny dragons, the tendrils of static chakra flew towards the silver-haired man with hisses of death spelling his name. They were too fast, even for Kakashi's sharingan to follow. His body wanted to move but his legs remained rooted on the ground, something that Ameyuri delighted in.
The blood-thirsty glee only grew when the bolts of lightning finally hit its target, sending shockwaves of dust and dirt out into the mist. A pained scream tore through the chaos, which only served to bring more joy to the former Kiri nin's heart. While those were not enough to kill a seasoned shinobi, there's no doubt that he wouldn't be able to function for quite a while.
Ameyuri understood this completely but couldn't help but frown when she noticed something amiss. The world around seems foggy, even with the clouds of mist hanging around. Her thought process seems slower than normal as if her brain is failing to keep up with her body. Time warped around her and she found herself suddenly feeling a bit nauseous.
"Magen: Sekai no Hen'i."
It was just in a split second, but Ameyuri's inky eyes were able to spot it. The space around her rippled like a pebble skipping across a lake. The only warnings she had were those low whispers and the shadow that mysteriously warped over her. It was only thanks to the short hint that she was able to spin around and raise her blades in time to block what could've been a life-ending strike.
It doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
Because it did… like absolute hell.
The crimson eye of the sharingan winked at her as a focused assault of lightning met the conducting blades of her Kiba. For the first time ever, the swords failed to deflect an attack made from her own element. At least, not in its entirety.
Sure, it blocked its intention to pierce her right through the heart, but everything else powered through. Snakes of lightning nested across her body, singeing her clothes and leaving black burns on her skin. The pain forced Ameyuri down to the ground and her landing only added to her suffering.
However, the pain was nothing compared to the beating her ego just went through. To be defeated by her chosen element sent a surge of rage in her veins. Her tongue licked the iron streaming down her lips, baring her jagged teeth at her opponent as she struggled to get up to her feet.
Kakashi noticed this and charged up his Chidori once again. His chakra is dangerously low and he can't afford to continue a battle against two highly-trained shinobi. With the intention to end Ameyuri's life, he lunged at the woman to give her a painless and quick death. The defiance in her eyes was evident by the way she snarled but before he could strike her down, Kakashi was interrupted by a familiar blade and this time, his tired body failed to respond with resistance.
Kubikiribōchō relished in the blood of the Konoha Jonin. Its bite nearly carved him in half, cleaving through his flesh like melted butter and if it weren't for the tiny semblance of awareness he had left, he would've been slaughtered on the spot. Instead, Kakashi rolled to the side with a large bloody slash running down his abdomen. It took him everything in his power to hold the urge to scream. All that came out his mouth were gasps and even that felt like sandpaper scraping against his throat.
The exhaustion finally took its toll on his body. Kakashi felt his limbs stop responding. Blood continues to gush out of his wound, creating a pool of crimson beneath him. Despite the failed attempts to plug the cut, the silver-haired man's hand remained on his abdomen. If this continues, then he'll be meeting his father sooner than he thought. He isn't sure if that's a good thing. As the thought of his father lingered, darkness shrouded his vision and the wisps of unconsciousness claimed him.
Zabuza smirked at his handiwork. "Gotcha, Hatake," he remarked mockingly, before turning his attention to his fallen companion. "Get up, you lousy bitch. Tch, couldn't even handle one man. You don't deserve those swords. Should've given it to Raiga."
Ameyuri let out an uncharacteristic growl. "Don't mention that man in front of me." she spat. It would've looked intimidating if it weren't for her struggling to stand up straight. "And for the record, I didn't see you do any better. The bastard lives up to his rank."
"Get over it." Zabuza scoffed before staring at the downed form of the famous Konoha nin. "Shame. If he hadn't wasted his chakra to protect the kid and the geezer, he would've been a great challenge."
Ameyuri snorted. "Spoiled my meal," she said as she stretched her limbs out, still feeling a bit of lightning tingling her skin. "Come on. We still have a job to do."
"Don't remind me."
Dragging her Kiba to her side, the blood-haired shinobi walked up to the earthen wall with a whistle. "You have to admit, though. This is impressive." She traced her slim fingers along the shallow crevices along the surface, revealing the shards of quartz embedded under. "Iwa's going to be pissed that a Leaf shinobi is innovating better earth jutsu than them."
"Whatever. Let's just get this job done. Haku just told me Gato's expecting another report." The Demon of the Hidden Mist scowled in disgust. "Wish I could just kill that fucker."
"You know nothing is stopping us from doing that, right? We can fuck up his entire company and get away with the loot. His army of thugs is worse than the kids during our academy days!"
Zabuza slammed his blade down to silence her. "And risk painting a target on our backs? No one will hire a backstabber. Honor means nothing to a shinobi but a business deal is another thing. Respect the lines until it's been crossed. Understood?" he glared at Ameyuri, who responded with a flip of a finger and a snarl. "Now, let's get this job—"
"Fūton: Kaiten Sukōru!"
It came fast—too fast.
The shock came first, a thundering pulse that rippled from his abdomen to the rest of his body. He felt his stance hunch over just by the impact. From his perspective, a blinding light encased his vision in a cocoon-like shape, leaving the center blurry and colorless. The world around him is starting to shrink, enclosing him like an animal trying to devour him. Are the trees growing smaller?
No, he's just falling faster.
Falling? His feet are off the ground and he could feel the air blooming across his back yet the direction feels wrong.
That's when everything registered. He wasn't falling. He had been slammed with possibly the strongest kick he had ever felt and now, his body is soaring through the air. Pain erupted like an active volcano, glops of agony spilling across his abdomen like he was being burnt alive. Spikes the size of kunai stabbed his organs, leaving invisible punctures along the linings of his stomach.
The crack he had heard wasn't from the air pressure, but from his ribcage giving in to the immense force applied against his body. It had already been damaged before and the additional impact only made it worse. That is until everything abruptly stopped—too abrupt. Pain, once again, rose like a tidal wave and washed over his broken form. A glob of blood escaped his mouth, forcing the harsh winds to enter his lungs. The rough exterior of the tree he had slammed onto left a violent streak of gashes against his skin.
"Zabuza-sama!" a fading voice exclaimed.
It sounded familiar, but the temporal embrace had already claimed him and the last thing he saw was a figure running towards him, their face scrunched up in distraught and concern.
Huh, how long has it been since he has seen one of those looks directed at him?
Must be nice…
Ameyuri gripped her swords with a certain tightness. Her crazed eyes and wide shark's smile may radiate insanity but she is a lot smarter than that. She wouldn't have been accepted to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist if she had been a loose cannon. Just like the rest of her fellow swordsmen, they value a great fight above all else and often develop a lust for a bloody battle. It doesn't matter if their opponent is clearly stronger than them, any challenge will ignite the flames of their swords.
However, there is only one moment Ameyuri could remember that made her hesitate to draw her Kiba and that was the time when the current Kage of Kiri had begun a complete extermination of every single person with a kekkei genkai. When Yagura Karatachi confronted them, questioning their loyalties, that was the first time Ameyuri had second thoughts about bringing out her swords. She could still remember his menacing, liseran eyes boring through her soul. She swore that she had seen a three-tailed beast looming alongside him but she had taken off at that point.
After that encounter, she swore to herself to never freeze up if she ever ends up in that situation again. Unfortunately, it came sooner than she thought.
It had come out of nowhere. Ameyuri was treated to a harrowing spectacle when a man with golden locks suddenly appeared out of nowhere and brought the power of the winds the magnitude of a hurricane with him. It had just been a split second, but she had caught a glimpse of the whirling drafts of chakra orbiting around his hand. She had been spared from the twisting assault but Zabuza wasn't treated the same.
Ameyuri isn't sure if he survived and frankly, she doesn't care because he's not the one standing before him. The aura being projected would put anyone down to their knees and she would probably be the same if she wasn't a stubborn bitch. That crushing pressure feels as if he's allowing the weight of the sky to fall. She had thought that Yagura was a monster, a demon conjured from the Shinigami's stomach to reap the souls of the privileged. But to think she would witness a demigod, a being blessed by Kami, to join the feeble mortals of this world.
Yup, she's rightfully fucked.
His cerulean eyes matched the dullness of the misty afternoon, and the way he gazed through her as if she didn't exist nearly spiked a pillar of prideful rage to surge through her but fortunately, she kept her cool. The calluses on his hands spoke of battles far greater than the ones she saw or participated in. His lips were pressed into a line, a result of the stony expression on his face.
Without breaking eye contact with Ameyuri, the blond muttered lowly, far too low for her to hear. However, she didn't have to guess what he spoke of when a smaller form with a dash of cherry blossom pink emerged from behind him. Judging from the forehead protector on her head and the fear evident on her features, it's safe to assume that the girl is a Genin, an inexperienced one at that—even worse than the Uchiha brat.
However, after a few words from the blond, the pinkette scurried off to the silver-haired Jonin that Zabuza had cut down, bringing a small brown bag along with her.
'Oh, it seems Hatake had brought backup.' Ameyuri concluded. 'But why did he call for a guy who could potentially match a Jinchuriki!'
"Ameyuri Ringo, Shinku no Tatsumaki, how… fortunate it is to meet you." Though his voice held no mockery, she couldn't help but feel annoyed by his tone.
However, there is nothing she could do under his crushing gaze. It felt like being in the presence of her former Kage all over again. The former Kiri nin actually thought of retreating, that is until he saw him hold his hand out.
"Hisan'na Soyokaze…" a low voice left his mouth and wind began to gather along his hand.
Gales swirled across the air, sweeping through the white mist and flowing through the blond's fingers. It soon became a collection of currents running up and down in a rod-like form. Soon, the mass of winds found the state of solidness, compressed enough that the blond was able to grasp it with his hand. What formed is a blade of zephyrs that possesses the sharpness and ferocity of a cyclone.
At the sight of the blade, Ameyru felt a tingle running down her spine. The Kiba nearly sang in praise of the makeshift blade and she herself couldn't help but admire the ingenuity. Lightning danced along the edges of her blades, sparking the will of their purpose once again. Oh, how long she sought for a worthy swordsman to duel again. Her bouts with Zabuza had grown stale and repetitive, and there isn't a single worthy wielder of a blade that can give her a challenge. But now, he came.
She isn't stupid. She knows that this battle will be too much for her, if it even ends up being one. Even if she beats him in the art of the sword, there's no question that he has the ability to vaporize her from existence after the duel. However, her smile refuses to waver. The trembles of her body began to transform into ones of anticipation. Excitedly, she brandished her blades with a shiver of delirium. Despite the dangers of death, the lust for a challenging fight won over and she had found a brand new meal to ravish.
No words were spoken, but there was a silent agreement between them. Shinobi were no soldiers of honor, but mercenaries of deceit, lies, and money. But as a swordsman, Ameyuri found a spark of integrity igniting in her soul. There would be no jutsu used and no treachery, just the crossing of the forces of their blades.
For a second, they simply stared at each other, gauging what form of style they intended to use. But Ameyuri is an impatient glutton for a fight she had hoped for, for years. Little did she know, her opponent thought the same. There had been no one to cross blades with back in Konoha, other than his former subordinate. While he was not a master swordsman, he quickly formed a bond with the art of swordsmanship and he had wished for a chance to test his current skills.
An opportunity has landed right on his lap, and he intends to take it.
To the surprise of Ameyuri, the calm blond moved first with the ferocity and fluidity of a hurricane—no, a maelstrom. It didn't take long for her to react. Swiftly raising her blades, she lunged wildly to meet him. Lightning crackled along the Kiba, roaring in anticipation as the blond's sword howled hauntingly. Eventually, the two met in the middle and crossed blades for the first time.
A shockwave erupted between them., but they stood undisturbed. They threw a lot of strength on their fist swing, mainly to test each other's skills and gather information. In terms of power, the blond is winning their bout by a large margin. The tendrils of azure lightning that crept along her swords were being swept away by the soft, but sharp swirls of wind. Ameyuri is nearly leaning backward at the sheer power she had been met with.
However, the former Kiri nin held an advantage. Despite losing the power struggle, her second Kiba has its edge dangerously close to his chest. The only thing stopping her from plunging it was the tempest forming a protective barrier around his body. That and her intent to butcher him still reside in the back of her mind. The blond's eyebrows were set into a furrow, clearly displeased with their first crossing.
'As I thought, he's powerful and knows his way around a blade, but still lacks the experience of a master.' Ameyuri thought with interest. 'Self-trained? Probably didn't have a proper teacher. Well, let me learn you something!'
Ameyuri jumped back, allowing the space between them to breathe a little. But they didn't take long to meet again. This time, she went for the kill; a loud slash down his chest to carve a wonderful mark for him to remember. Unfortunately or fortunately, the blond deflected it with ease. However, this forced him to take the position of a defender, something he isn't used to. But Ameyuri is unleashing an onslaught of strikes and thrusts that he couldn't find an opening to switch their positions.
But that didn't mean he wasn't holding his own. None of her attacks have hit yet and he would take that as a great advantage for him as well. Lightning and wind continuously poured from their battle, and accompanied by the mist, it almost looked like a devastating storm waging war against the forest. Roars of thunder and howls of twisters trumpeted across the dusky afternoon sky.
Sakura had nearly lost concentration on her job because of it. She's already struggling to stitch the wound up with all the blood running out. There's a difference between operating on a fish and a living human. Her hands trembled as she shakingly pierced the man's skin with the needle, the last stitch she needed. If only she had already finished learning the Shōsen Jutsu, then maybe she would be able to do it faster and more efficiently.
Another shockwave from the unbelievable battle occurring near her forced a yelp out of her. She broke her attention for a bit and peered behind, causing her eyes to grow to the size of dinner plates. Is this a true fight between two high-class shinobi? What she's supposed to do in a world where monsters of power like them thrive in chaos. What is a lowly civilian like her supposed to achieve in this setting? With the dark thoughts running through her head, it's only making the already difficult operation even harder to finish. But thankfully, everything settled down when a wave of ice came crashing down.
Wait, what?
Naruto was in the same thoughts as he witnessed a shroud of icicles begin swarming his position. A freezing fever swathed his body with chills, the only warning he had before the billowing and serrated wave of frost enveloped the blond in an icy tomb. Remnants of the frozen structure lay across the road like a crumbled building. Oddly enough, his opponent was spared from the cold, almost as if the ice had been sentient.
Ameyuri knew immediately who the perpetrator was. "You! What are you doing here?!" she snarled at the sudden appearance of a Kiri hunter-nin, dressed in a navy-blue kimono and bearing a mask with slitted eye holes and patterns that reflected the sea's waves. Most of their ebony hair is gathered into a white bun holder, while two of their locks fall loose, framing their masked features.
However, the voice that responded contradicted the hunter-nin's aura. "Ameyuri-san, I have come to retrieve you. Zabuza-sama has been critically injured. I propose a temporary tactical retreat." It was soft, almost feminine but the total robotic tone erased any appeal.
Ameyuri growled and made a motion to strike her undesired ally, only to stop herself from doing so. She has enough enemies and it wouldn't do good to make another one. Her eyes shifted the clumps of ice and snow that enveloped her opponent. That's when she decided to postpone their duel, attaching her blades to the belt around her hip.
"We shall meet again, my meal." she licked her lips before leaping away with the hunter-nin.
Sakura watched the scene in horror. Once the enemy nins retreated, she immediately dashed for her sensei, praying that he's still alive under all that ice. She had seen the icicles that accompanied the wave and she shivered at the thought of being skewered by the frozen spikes. However, before she could even attempt to uncover the blanket of icy rubble, a hand suddenly popped out, nearly frightening the poor pinkette.
The hand obviously belonged to her sensei and it appears he still has his tempestuous sword. With a clean slice downward, the snow and ice pile was separated into two and created a path for Naruto to escape. Emerging from his rimy crypt, the blond let out an icy breath and a click of his tongue, clearly out of disappointment.
"Why are fights always getting interrupted!" he childishly pouted, earning a sweatdrop from his Genin.
"Um, sensei? Are you okay?" Sakura asked in concern.
Naruto hummed, dusting off the crumbs of snow from his flak jacket. "Yeah. Haven't encountered a Hyoton user before but hey, it's an experience!" he grinned, before it turned grim. "How's Kakashi? I wasn't able to see his wounds clearly."
The pinkette fidgeted. "I stopped the bleeding for now, but he lost a lot of blood. There's not much I can do until it heals," she replied somberly, receiving nothing but silence. He must be staring at her in disappointment. After all, he had brought her over the wall to treat Kakashi and she failed to do that.
A hand then rested on the top of her head, rubbing her cherry blossom locks with a chuckle. "Don't worry too much. If he's stable, then he'll get back up. I won't allow him to leave just yet." Naruto said with a grin. It did little to reassure the pinkette, but it still brought her a bit of warmth. "Now, come on. We still have a job to do."
Tsunami placed another bowl of rice on the table. It isn't filled up, much to her disappointment. Sadly, this would have to be the norm from now on. Rice has been a luxury for the past few years. Ever since the price of one bag of rice has spiked to nearly a thousand ryo, she's been saving up for the last couple of months but so far, she doesn't have nearly enough. That's not including all their other expenses including water and electricity.
Taxes have been raised once again. She shouldn't be surprised at this point. Nearly every week, Gato's henchmen would come around to collect their week and would make up a tale about a new tax. There's nothing she could do but surrender what's left of their ryo.
That's why she wanted to stop her father from hiring shinobi to help them. Not only don't they have the money to afford it, but it's not guaranteed that they will succeed and could possibly make it worse. But her father is a stubborn old man and the situation is only growing dire by the minute. Their time is already ticking down and there's not much they can do to make it worse.
As she heard the door open, she assumed it was her son who came back from a day of fishing, something she was both proud and concerned about. While she understood his desire to support the family, the risk of bumping into Gato's henchmen is something she isn't willing to take. But just like his grandfather, he pestered her all day for an entire month before she relented.
Sometimes, her family gives her a migraine.
"Inari, close the door when you come in. And leave the fish in the storage," she called out, expecting to hear the dull voice of her son.
"Um, excuse me."
To her surprise, she was greeted by a rather tall, young man with a golden shade of hair and a dazzling smile that would've made her blush, if it weren't for the unconscious man in his arms. Following right behind him were a group of children, all with a unique set of characteristics. But her eyes focused on the form of her father and his tired eyes, before shifting back to the blond's cerulean ones.
"Do you mind sparing a room for my friend here? He's a bit… injured." the man sheepishly requested.
Tsunami spotted the white wraps around the unconscious man's abdomen, along with patches of blood seeping through and she barely held her gasp.
"Oh, dear. Of course, please follow me this way." she gestured for the blond to follow him, leaving the rest of his companions for her grandfather to cater to.
She led him to their spare bedroom, which once belonged to her late husband. It would be a waste not to use it, especially in a situation like this. After unlocking the door, they entered the rather dusty room. It was relatively empty, save for a single bed, a wooden desk, and a ragged couch in the corner. The wooden boards under their feet creaked as Tsunami dusted off the blankets and puffed up the pillows.
"Set him down here."
The blond followed her instructions and carefully laid the silver-haired man on the bed. "Thank you for helping us. I know these are trying times and I appreciate your hospitality." he kindly said to the widow, who gave him a light smile.
"No problem, shinobi-san. What kind of person would I be if I let a wounded man die in my front step? I did just what anyone would." she replied emptily.
Naruto chuckled without humor. "Believe me, there aren't that many people left like you in this world."
Tsunami nodded sadly at that. The entire town is an example of that. If it were anyone else, she's more than sure that they would be refused from their house and frankly, she wouldn't blame them. The only thing that compelled her to do so is her compassionate heart which she promised would bite her back someday.
"I take it that you're the shinobi my father hired?" she questioned. Tsunami knows nothing of the shinobi from the hidden villages, other than the basic information. Hired killers, she heard. People who can slaughter an entire army without remorse. But she couldn't help but doubt that with how soft-spoken the blond is.
However, it could all be a trick. After all, she also heard they are masters of deceit.
Naruto smiled. "Not exactly. But we're still here to help. So don't worry, miss. All of this will be over soon enough. I promise and Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze never breaks a promise." He flashed her a bright smile that nearly matched his hair, along with a thumbs up.
Despite her suspicions, hope blossomed in her heart at the blond's words. Though he may be a bit… unorthodox, she felt reassured that someone like him had come. Maybe her father was right and that all they needed was a little bit of hope. It doesn't matter how much they have to pay. No one can put a price on freedom. The possibility of being released from under Gato's tyranny excited her and she couldn't stop a smile from gracing her lips.
"Thank you!" she cried out, lunging at the blond and wrapping her arms around him with a tight hug.
Naruto's eyes widened and awkwardly rubbed the widow's back as comfort. Thankfully, she detached herself from him with a hot blush, but with a smile nonetheless.
"Come, you must be hungry! Just let me prepare a few more bowls."
Despite eating five bowls of ramen before they left, Naruto did feel a little bit famished. Sheepishly, he nodded and was unceremoniously dragged out of the room and back to the dining area, missing the fond smile that curved up Kakashi's lips upon their departure.
"Quite the ladies' man, aren't you? Jiraiya-sama must be jealous."
Dinner was a quiet affair. No small talk nor whispers were shared, just the wooden claps of the chopsticks, the clinking of metal utensils, and the sounds of chewing filling the empty room. That is until it was broken by the least expected person in the group.
"Naruto… -sama," Sasuke spoke up, frowning as he searched for the proper words to address him. The others looked at him strangely. "What is our next move?"
Naruto hummed as he took another spoonful of breaded chicken in his mouth. "The mission you received was to protect the bridge-builder as they construct their project. You'll be doing that." It's clear from the scowl on the Uchiha's face that he was displeased with the information but wisely kept silent for the time being. "My team is tasked to assist yours so they would be switching shifts with you. Zabuza was severely injured due to both Kakashi and my actions. I would give them a week, minimum before they would strike again. Should that be enough to finish your bridge, Tazuna-san?"
The old bridge-builder rubbed his greying beard. "It depends. My workforce has been declining lately but maybe if I can round up a few more guys, we can finish it by that time," he replied, taking a swig from his bottle.
The blond nodded. "I already scouted the area. A few of Gato's henchmen were around but I quickly took care of them." Unbeknownst to him, the civilians shivered at the casual talk about killing while the genins were a bit calmer. "Gato probably knows that there are shinobi here and understands that he has to rely on the missing-nins he hired. In the meantime, we will be training. To advance your skills to prepare for the eventual battle. This is a B-rank mission, a whole level above your pay grade so I expect you to listen, understand?"
"Yes, Naruto-sensei."
Naruto nodded in satisfaction and was about to finish up with his bowl when another voice cut in.
"Taking over my team as well, Naruto? Being a sensei seems to be right for you."
The blond groaned and faced the annoying features of his best friend, standing in the corridor as if he hadn't been carved up by a large butcher knife just a few hours ago. In his hand is his beloved Icha-Icha, his eyes following along with the words.
"Kakashi, get your ass back on that bed. I'm not picking you up if you collapse." Naruto fumed.
Said man waved his concerns off. "I'm fine. Sakura-san did a good job stitching me back up so I thank you for that." he nodded toward the pinkette, who smiled nervously at the praise from the strange silver-haired scarecrow. "Besides, if I'm not going to be able to fight for a while, the least I can do is teach them."
"Kakashi, being a responsible sensei?" Naruto arched an eyebrow. "I must be living in an alternate reality!"
Kakashi chuckled lightly and was about to answer with his own quip when the door slammed open. Entering the house is a young boy with a pair of dull, black eyes and short stature. A few drops of water fell from his damp bucket hat, as well as the metal bucket he's struggling to carry. The smell alone was enough to figure out what's inside. Though the boy seems to be already desensitized to the foul odor.
"Mom, I'm back," he called out but froze when he saw more than two people around the table. At that moment, plenty of possibilities ran through his head and everything ended with his family being held hostage by the unknown group, only for relief to flood his heart when her mother smiled warmly.
Tsunami greeted her son. "Welcome back, Inari. How did your fishing go?" she questioned as she got up to prepare her son a bowl.
"Fine. I only filled up one bucket before I had to leave. There aren't that many left in the river." Inari replied, eyeing the strangers cautiously as he placed the bucket down near the storage room. "Who are these people, Mom?"
"They're shinobi, sweetie. They're here to help us!" Tsunami replied with an enthusiastic tone, expecting her son to share her excitement.
Unfortunately, all she received was a cold gaze from the young boy, who redirected his stare at the supposed hired helpers. "You're going to die," he remarked stonily, something the rest of the shinobi weren't expecting, especially coming from such a young child.
"Inari!" his mother cried out, horrified at his implications.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?" he decided to ask. He already has an idea as to why but he wanted to hear it coming from the boy's mouth.
"Gato is the leader. Anyone who tries to fight him will die. Not even shinobi will defeat him."
It's clear that the statement didn't sit well with the shinobi, especially the genins. One of which is a bit more vocal than the rest.
"Gato is nothing more than a rich businessman who pays other people to do his bidding. He is nothing compared to us." Sasuke replied coolly, if not a bit arrogant.
"You don't get it! You didn't see what I saw! Gato will kill us all!" Inari cried out in anger as he stormed past the group, arms hiding his tear-stricken face.
Naruto frowned at the interaction. The boy is both cynical and naïve, not the best combination. It's clear that he knows nothing about the strength of a shinobi, but given his young age and lack of experience in a hidden village, it's understandable. Add on to the possibility that he has witnessed a horrific scene involving Gato and a victim, possibly his father—if the sullen look on the mother's face is taken into consideration.
"Sorry about that…" Tazuna spoke up in the stead of his daughter, who is a bit troubled by the previous outburst. For the first time, the old man didn't appear to be drunk. "My son-in-law, his father, had been the few who rebelled against Gato's rule. He had been a brave, stupid yet courageous man. Sadly, he was no match for the army Gato brought and made him an example to the town. Tortured him and killed him—a public execution. All the while Inari watched."
The genins' faces twisted in horror, except for a few who frowned despite themselves. The jonins remained expressionless but inwardly sympathized with the family. A cruel fate to subject an innocent man to, especially in front of his son. Unfortunately, this isn't the worst thing they heard or seen in this cruel world.
"D- don't worry, Tsunami-san." Hinata, surprisingly, spoke up with a bit of hesitance but remained determined. "W- we'll be here to help you! You and your family won't have to suffer for long!" Her face faltered for a second and looked at her sensei with uncertainty. "Right?"
Oh, how Naruto finds Hinata's passionate bursts toward injustice too cute. It makes him wonder how Hiashi could see this and not believe her to be the rightful heir of the clan. The stoic Hyuga believes in his clan's power too much to blind him from seeing the potential in his daughter. Proper nurturing will eventually turn this girl into a confident woman who will lead their clan to greatness.
However, it seems she is still naïve about how the world works. Sure, they have come to liberate Nami but it's more than that. According to the residents of the town, the country has been under the rule of Gato Company for quite a few years now, so why didn't Konoha do anything? It's because Nami continued to function as a trading land despite being under tyranny, if not better than in the past. The only reason why they're acting now is that they were hired to, which paves a way for an alliance with Nami under the guise of a righteous deed
From an outsider's perspective, it may seem heartless but in this world, it's hardly a sin compared to other atrocities. The Hidden Villages are seen as the main powerhouses and the smaller countries and villages are the Neutrals. Each Hidden Village wants to gain more power and territory, and the only way to do that is to ally with the Neutrals or forcefully conquer territory, but that usually ends up starting a war.
Naruto disliked dealing with such politics. He prefers sticking to what he knows and that's fighting. But as a clan head, he is forced to learn this elaborate system and truth be told, he hated it. Oh, how he wishes to change it but as he is right now, that hope is nothing but a baseless dream. Jiraiya also wishes for a world of peace, yet another idealistic fantasy that he is forced to realize how impossible it is. As long as there are people, there will always be war.
Naruto, despite these thoughts, smiled nonetheless. "Yes. It's part of the mission the Hokage gave me. We may not be allies, but we cannot leave this country knowing the oppression it's under." he declared, receiving looks of gratitude from the family. There's nothing wrong with a bit of optimism, as long as it doesn't control one's actions.
"But, we won't be able to do that if we don't defeat those missing-nins. Which is why starting tomorrow, you'll be starting your training." Naruto clapped his hands, standing up with a foxy grin. "So, get some sleep because we'll have a long day tomorrow."
"Yes, sensei!"
Morning came faster than the genins expected. A quick breakfast was made and eaten before they hurried along into the woods to meet up with their sensei. The sun is barely peeking from the sea, yet the twelve-year-olds are more than determined to enhance their skills. Standing before them are their two teachers, who seem to be talking amongst themselves at the moment.
"Are you sure about this? This might only exacerbate his mental state."
"He's already in a dark place, Kakashi. Nothing but power is in his mind. He needs someone to compare himself to, someone who is his age to constantly measure himself. If he compares himself to us, he will only spiral into a deep obsession to obtain our kind of strength through any means necessary."
Kakashi hummed. "You're right, but are you sure that he is the right choice for this? He isn't exactly a safe individual either."
"Not exactly a lot of options out there. Besides, maybe this will help him as well." Naruto replied with optimism.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Naruto."
"Um, sensei?" Sakura brought both of the jonins' attention to her, making her cringe in embarrassment. "Are you alright?"
"Hm? Oh, it's fine, Sakura. We're just discussing how we're going to proceed with your training today because it seems that some of you are more advanced than the rest." Naruto replied.
Both Sakura and Hinata tried to hide their winces but failed spectacularly. It's quite clear that their skills aren't up to par compared to the two boys. Sasuke proudly stuck up his nose, recognizing the praise coming from the blond jonin. However, he also managed to shoot a small glare at the only person who could be on par with him.
Sai has always been a thorn in the Uchiha's back. Despite averaging barely passable grades throughout the entire academy, he knew that the pale boy was hiding something. In spars, Sasuke would always notice how controlled and telegraphed his movements were despite showing amateur hand-to-hand combat skills. His kunai would always land in the middle for the first five tries before the rest would simply fly across the field.
It infuriated the boy that Sai might potentially be stronger than him yet he has no real evidence. The only way to get some is to fight him but that proved to be a failure, every single time he tries to approach him after the academy hours, he would always disappear and the next time he sees him, he was sitting in his seat the following day, something that secretly frustrated the Uchiha since he always prided himself in being an early bird, yet ever since the pale bastard had entered the academy, his perfect record had been stained.
"Sakura, Hinata." Both girls perked up upon being called. "You two will be trained with Kakashi. You'll be learning your chakra affinities and will be taught at least two jutsu corresponding to your element."
"Follow me, my little ducklings." Kakashi mused, earning two sweatdrops from the girls and a groan from Naruto.
Once they left, Naruto focused his attention on the most troublesome individuals in the group; a ROOT agent that struggles with social interaction and emotions, and a power-driven Uchiha with a revenge boner for his brother. He cursed Kami for placing him in these unnecessary situations.
"Okay, now that's only you two here, I can be blunt. As of today, you two are the strongest out of your graduating class." Naruto started. If possible, Sasuke grew even smugger at that. The ego this boy possesses is enough to match a Kage's pride. Meanwhile, Sai remained expressionless at the praise.
"I didn't say that to feed your egos. Since the two of you are stronger than the rest, I'll have to treat you differently. Training will be a lot harsher, and more unforgiving. Can you two handle that?"
"Yes, sensei…"
Naruto nodded. "Good. But first, I'm going to need to measure your strength and skills. So we'll settle with a spar… between you two." This caused the genins to perk up and look at each other, with one of them taking it more seriously than the other. "This will help me with examining your flaws and what you need to work on. Treat this as a real fight, as if you're fighting for your life. I'm giving you five minutes to gather yourselves and formulate a plan. Break!"
Sasuke's eyes remained on the still form of his opponent. It frustrated him to no end that he knew nothing about the boy. Not his personal life, or his shinobi skills. He doesn't even know what kind of food the boy eats! The only thing he somewhat knows about Sai is his strange ability to bring life to his drawings. An unknown enemy is the worst type of person to encounter.
'It doesn't matter. I don't care what sort of tricks he has up his sleeves. He's still no match for me.' Sasuke boldly declared in his head and to him, that is the truth.
Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Sai, who has been studying and observing the Uchiha ever since he received his mission to monitor him. He has multiple scrolls that delineate every single occurrence in the boy's life, down to the smallest detail. From his favorite pastime being cooking tomato-filled dishes, to him only being able to sleep in his parent's bedroom while wrapped around by his childhood blanket.
Sai doesn't hate nor like the Uchiha, despite being on the receiving end of his ire. He's just another insignificant page in the hundreds of profiles stored in his head; a drop of ink in an elaborate and swirling canvas of imagination. Sasuke Uchiha is just the target of the mission he has received and just like his past assignments, he will accomplish it.
"Are you two ready?"
Naruto's voice broke the two out of their thoughts. They proceed to face each other, bodies tensing for the fight that's about to start. Sasuke immediately shifted his stance to his clan's fighting style, Intercepting Fist. Despite not awakening his sharingan, it's the only taijutsu style he knows and fights with. Meanwhile, Sai opted to unsheath his tanto and unlatch one of the compartments of his scroll. It may seem insignificant, but a single second can decide the fight.
"The rules are simple. Fight to incapacitate, so there are no killing blows nor lethal attacks. Stay within the area and try to avoid using destructive techniques." Naruto orated just far enough to leave some space for the fight. I'll end it if I see a clear victory. If there are no more questions, you may begin."
It didn't take them a second to obey, and the two rushed each other with their weapons. Sasuke sent a flurry of well-aimed punches, all according to the kata of his taijutsu style. Unfortunately, his opponent easily read through the attacks and managed to avoid every single strike in one fluid motion, before lunging with his blade.
Sasuke let out a grunt as he was forced to dodge the tanto. A leap back was enough to enlarge the space between them, but it only worked to Sai's advantage. The roles have now been reversed and the Uchiha struggled to move away from every slash of the blade. He had already drawn a kunai out to match the pale boy's attacks, only to realize that his opponent is a lot more skilled with the sword. It pained him to constantly retreat from his position but it was the only way to avoid being skewered.
Throughout all this, Sai remained expressionless. No signs of any effort were evident on his face, not even a single furrow of his eyebrows. It's like watching an artificial figure following the commands it was implemented with. Every strike is perfect, flawless, and controlled. Each slash is perfectly balanced with the right amount of strength to overwhelm his opponent, without fatally wounding them. The longer the exchange lasts, the harder it is for Sasuke to win.
Fortunately, the Uchiha chose the right choice and abandoned the hopeless battle of blades. After warding off another strike, he took a hop back and shot his nearly blunted kunai at Sai, who deflected it rather easily. But that one second is enough for Sasuke to summon the chakra for his next attack.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Years of practicing the same jutsu over and over again allowed him to perform it within just two hand seals. A technique he's been perfecting for over eight years finally created the fiery ball of flames that roared out of his mouth. The scorching projectile sailed across the air like a meteor hailing from the sky, its vivid radiance swallowing the area in a hellish light.
Sasuke smirked. While the jutsu may not be that powerful, it's a reminder of his strength and hard work throughout the years. He remembered failing to even breathe out a wisp of fire, earning him nothing but disappointment from his father. But he managed to do it, without the help of his brother or his father. It's a testament to his power and the potential he held. With this, he is one step closer to his brother.
Unbeknownst to him, it proved to be futile.
Sai stared at the mass of fire with a phlegmatic expression as he slipped his blade back into its sheath. In an almost trance-like state, he pulled out his scroll and popped out a brush. Without even deigning the incoming jutsu another glance, he swept through the papyrus, leaving tendrils of ink-filled strokes in its wake. His hand moved at speeds a normal artist would envy while maintaining a sense of intricacy and perfection.
With his drawing done, he held up two fingers and whispered, "Ninpo: Choujuu Giga."
Sasuke isn't naïve enough to think that his C-rank jutsu is enough to win him the fight. Despite his frustrations with Sai, he recognizes him as a real threat with unknown abilities. He figured that the pale boy would be able to dodge his technique, but not without a few burns. Then he would be able to take advantage of that weakness and knock him out. A well-made plan would've been effective if he faced a lesser person.
The last thing the Uchiha expected is a dragon of epic proportions to emerge seemingly out of nowhere and engulf the orb of flames as if it were a hot meal. To be more specific, the dragon appeared to be more like a huge serpent and was entirely made out of ink. This only made Sasuke realize that this was Sai's doing and his frustrations with the pale boy grew. Oh, how he wanted to slam his head against the pavement.
But first, he'll have to avoid the inky, draconic snake snarling right at him.
With a mighty jump, he just barely dodged the dragon slamming its entire being against the ground, causing its entire body to rupture into a rain of ink. All it left are puddles of black splotches and a crater carved across the forest's surface. If that had been one of Sai's lesser attacks, he dreads to figure out what else he has in his arsenal.
Is this what Sai has been hiding this entire time? The question plagued Sasuke's mind as he witnessed the destruction of one of his jutsu. A permanent cavity in the ground had been formed and if he hadn't dodged, he would've joined the dirt in a bloody mangle. The sight brought unwanted doubts in the Uchiha's mind on whether or not he had a chance to win against something like that.
'No, I can still win this. If he has to use that ability, then he has to keep me at long-range. So if I get close, I can take him down!' Sasuke quickly acted out his plan.
Surpassing normal genin speeds, he rushed the pale boy with the intention to dismantle any of his future attacks. Unfortunately, he was countered by a gleaming blade soaring down his face. It was only thanks to his swift reaction time and the kunai he had summoned into his hand that he didn't have a linear wound on his face right now. It came as a surprise when instead of the scroll and brush in Sai's hand, the tanto he had previously held was now back in his grasp.
Now, they're back where they started, with blades meeting in blurred strikes and screaming pitched noises across the area. At this point, Sasuke is both distressed and angry; the latter being more prominent. He had thought this would be an overwhelming fight and he was right, only he was the one being pushed around like an academy student. What's more, is that he feels that this pale jackass isn't using his whole strength when fighting him.
Utter contempt began to build in Sasuke's stomach, questioning the audacity of a low-class to look down on him. He's an Uchiha, one of the strongest clans in the village, and this unknown bastard dares to underestimate him. A snarl threatened to escape his mouth, almost like an animal baring its fangs. His pride started to summon a veil, one that blinded Sasuke's vision with a hue of red and he could almost feel his dormant sharingan pulsing.
A shout accompanied his strike, pulling in the air and his anger along with it, and slammed it against Sai's forearm, who had anticipated his attack with a block. It brought a sense of satisfaction to hear a groan from the normally wooden freak. But Sasuke wants more.
So, he took a step back and prepared himself. Performing the necessary hand seals, he inhaled a great amount of oxygen to the point of inflating his lungs. 'Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!' The words were silent but flames that spilled out of his mouth howled like a beast.
At first, it seemed similar to his previous jutsu—an inferno taking the shape of an orb. That is until it split into two, allowing it to form into a flatter shape and spin lively like a speeding shuriken. Then those two began to split as well, before splitting again until there were eight, gyrating circular saws of flames flying across the air, all aiming to mutilate Sai into a molten pile of flesh while Sasuke watched his work play on.
One would think that the spar if it can be called that at this point, would be immediately halted at the sight of an attack that would surely end in death. But Naruto knew better. None of these techniques are strong or fast enough to cause any harm. If it did, he would've already stopped it a long time ago but for now, he's confident that none are life-threatening.
Sure enough, Sai easily dodged the incoming projectiles with ease. Its scorching blades barely singed his clothes. Once he slipped past the last ignited missile, he blankly stared at his opponent with a practiced smile. Surprisingly, Sasuke responded with one of his own, except this one spoke of malice and anticipation.
Heat began to lick the pale boy's nape. Without any warning, he swung his tanto behind him and he was met with resistance, a smoldering one. At the connection, the flames were whisked away but their hot tendrils managed to graze Sai's skin. It wasn't long before he had to deflect another one, this time with a much greater force. Each projectile that flew past him had arched right back at him.
Thankfully, they were just as easy to deflect as it was to dodge them. A simple counter quickly extinguished the flames. But it was a bit of a chore to get through so when Sai finally finished off the last projectile, he allowed a small sigh to leave his lips. He turned around to face his opponent, only to meet a blade at his throat and a smirk that could only belong to an Uchiha.
"I win." Sasuke allowed the sense of victory to wash over him, pouring more fuel into his pride. Truly, he is one step closer to achieving his goal. One step closer to—
"Victory to Sai."
A cold feeling immediately dried up his triumph as he looked on to the jonin supervising them in shock before a burning pit in his stomach spewed out in indignation. "What! But I have him by the throat!" Sasuke cried out.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Look behind you."
The Uchiha cautiously followed and what he saw shocked him because staring right at him were the same emotionless eyes of his opponent. His tanto has been drawn and is hovering right across Sasuke's nape threatening to cut through his neck. A tight constriction around his legs forced him to take a glance down, only to find two inky serpents wrapping their slithering body around the lower half of his body. Stygian fangs were bared, waiting to puncture through his flesh.
The incredulity only grew when the Sai he has on bladepoint began to melt, his skin darkening into a black hue as his body slowly folded to the floor, leaving a muddled pool of used ink. "H- how?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask.
However, Sai kept his silence and withdrew his blade back to its sheathe. The snakes trapping Sasuke proceeded to burst out of existence, leaving the Uchiha still in shock before it was broken by Naruto's applause.
"Well done, you two. You did a good job showcasing your skills but you both still have your flaws." the blond started, before turning to Sai. "I commend you for your skilled bladework. Your strikes are very precise and controlled, however, you still have the habit of being predictable. I immediately recognized your style as the one that the ANBU uses. If the enemy catches on, your swordsmanship will immediately be disabled. So make sure to learn to branch out from your practiced katas."
"Understood, Naruto-sensei," Sai responded with a blank smile.
Naruto nodded. "Furthermore, I'm impressed with the creative use of your Chōjū Giga. Using the remaining ink to summon a clone and switching with it while Sasuke is distracted with his own jutsu is a great strategy. I expect to see more of that in the future." He decided to hold back the criticism about holding back and obviously playing with his food, something that surprised Naruto. Judging by the scowl on Sasuke's face, bringing it up will only worsen his mood.
"Now, Sasuke. Despite your loss, you still showed a great aptitude for katon jutsu. It's obvious that you have more in your arsenal and I advise you to perfect them as well. However, your taijutsu is quite disappointing." Naruto ignored the clenching fist of the Uchiha. "Without your sharingan, the Intercepting Fist is quite useless since it relies heavily on precognition and quick movements. I suggest learning a more grounded style first, which will not only provide a practical but temporal replacement, it would also help you create a better foundation for your clan's style once you awaken your sharingan. Is this good for you?"
Sasuke struggled to berate the man about calling his clan's taijutsu style useless, but he managed to hold it in. Despite the small whisper in his ear that suggested that there may be some truth in the jonin's words, he ignored it and allowed his clan's pride to shroud his judgment. He only kept quiet because he didn't want to agitate the young Namikaze. However, some part of him took in the blond's advice.
"Yes, sir." he gritted out.
Naruto nodded. "Good, now take a break for twenty minutes. Once the time is up, I'll start up your training," he said, before walking away to check on the girls.
Once their sensei was gone, Sai grabbed a small compartment from his pocket to salvage the chakra-infused ink that was used or at least, those that are still able to work properly. Unfortunately, he was interrupted by Sasuke grabbing the collars of his midriff shirt. The scowl on the boy's face managed to bring some genuineness to Sai's plastered smile, much to his own surprise.
Even during the spar, he could feel the frustrations from the Uchiha, and for whatever reason, that pushed him into prolonging the fight instead of quickly ending it. Even his nicknames for the boy stemmed from the desire to cause some annoyance to him, instead of forming a bond as his book stated. Sai found the name 'Duck Butt', to be the most effective one to bring a scowl or at least a deeper one from him.
Is this what Shin likes to often do to him? What did he call it before… ah, yes. Teasing.
"You may win this fight now, but consider this your last. I will not give up until I have you groveling at my feet. So watch your back, Sai because the next time we battle, I'll force you to use your full strength and I'll win."
Sasuke glared daggers at the pale boy that one might think he had already awakened his clan's dojutsu. It may have been a trick in the light, but a flash of acknowledgment flickered across his eyes and some might even call it respect, albeit begrudgingly. With his words said, he turned away and went to grab a glass of water from their client's house, leaving Sai slightly confused.
"If you're confused about what that was…"
The sudden voice sent a tingle down the ROOT agent's spine, but he managed to compose himself. Once again, he found himself wondering how someone like Naruto Namikaze could have such large chakra reserves yet manage to conceal themselves rather skillfully. It's one of the reasons why he's such a high threat to ROOT and somehow, it remains a mystery.
"...that was Sasuke appointing you as his reluctant rival. Heh, reminds me of someone else." Naruto chuckled to himself.
"Rival?" Sai questioned, the word familiar yet foreign at the same time.
The blond smiled. "Better not think about it too much. But keep your instincts sharp and your sword drawn because one of these days, he's going to challenge you again and it might not be as easy as it is now."
Sai blinked. "I… see."
Should I make Haku a girl or a boy? Either way, I'm not sure if it even affects the story. Anyways, sorry for the inconsistent schedule but thank you for those sticking around. I'm just glad that the plot is still in my memory, although a bit muddled.
