Chapter 8 – Zabuza
The group started to get very uneasy as they neared the Nation of Waves. Naruto knew they would face Zabuza soon and the rest of the group was worried about running into other ninjas. Naruto recalled the conversation he had with Kyuubi as they got off the boat and started walking.
Flashback
Naruto was bored. Nobody talked in the boat. 'So damn kitsune, what should we do about Zabuza. I know I'm not on his level yet. I can free Kakashi-sensei and leave the rest to him or try and tackle Zabuza myself.'
Kyuubi replied with a hint of anger. He always got angry when Naruto called him "damn kitsune" 'Kit, you are getting better but to put it plainly, facing Zabuza would be suicide. You could do it like in your former life or you could try and face it a different way.'
'I guess I'll stick with the old way and then I'll help out Kakashi-sensei a little after we free Zabuza.' Naruto replied.
'Good idea kit. But make sure to use demon eyes so he can't steal your techniques. I also suggest letting Haku take Zabuza.'
'Why would I do that?' Naruto asked.
'If the battle goes like last time you don't want Kakashi to faint and leave it to you and Sasuke. Besides you need to change Inari right?"
'Hahaha. I guess so.'
End Flashback
The group walked a little further before Naruto felt it. He formed his seal and whispered, "Demon Eyes". The rest of the group noticed him stop and he formed another seal and said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu". The group watched puzzled as 4 Narutos surrounded the group. Suddenly Kakashi's eye narrowed and he looked to his right.
Ino squeaked as all 5 Narutos threw a kunai into the bushes. Then she yelled, "What do you think you're doing?" She ran to the bushes and discovered a scared white rabbit with 5 kunai surrounding its body. Then she picked it up and shoved it at Naruto. "Look what you did, Naruto."
"Ino use your head." Naruto replied. "Why would there be a white rabbit in an area with no snow. That is a substitution."
Ino was shocked. First was that she missed that and second that Naruto realized that. She immediately realized the problem and she and one Naruto went to protect Tazuna. 'Was Naruto always this smart?'
Sasuke smirked. 'Perfect. I've been hoping for a good battle.'
Naruto grinned and said, "Ino, Sasuke, I can handle the defense of Tazuna. We all need to fight this battle." The group watched as 3 Narutos ran up to Tazuna and shouted, "Chakra Shield Technique: Triple Naruto". The group gasped as a blue bubble of chakra surrounded Tazuna and the 3 Narutos. The real Naruto smirked as he spotted Zabuza.
In the tree Zabuza was getting angry. 'Damn this runt just put up a barrier around Tazuna. Luckily these are clones and all I have to do is defeat the real one. With that he lifted his sword and flung it at Naruto.
Kakashi saw the sword come and yelled, "Everyone get down." Sasuke and Ino both ducked while Naruto just made some seals and said, "Kawarimi no Jutsu". The sword slashed through a log and hit a tree.
Zabuza appeared on top of the sword and smirked down at Kakashi. "So nice to meet you, copy ninja Kakashi." His emotionless exterior didn't show his interior dilemma. 'Damn that kid. Kage Bunshins to form a shield. I have to destroy him, but I can't get to him without getting rid of Kakashi. Oh well, this may be fun.'
Kakashi marveled at Naruto's resourcefulness. 'He created that shield so quickly. He can't take on Zabuza though. Zabuza will attack me first to make sure that I don't interfere in his attack on Naruto. I'll use the sharingan.'
Naruto smirked as he saw the scene unfold from his hiding spot. He was in the ground. He had switched with a clone to create the illusion that he was in the battle. Kakashi brought up his head protector to reveal his sharingan and got ready for battle.
Zabuza jumped from his tree to the lake and used Kirigakure no Jutsu to blanket the area in mist. Naruto grinned. He could see Zabuza. He watched as Zabuza used Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu and Kakashi copied it. A water clone Zabuza came up and tried to slash his clone but was stopped by a kunai in his chest from the water clone Kakashi. The water clone turned back into water and a Zabuza slashed Kakashi from behind. Naruto smirked slightly at the look on Zabuza's face when he saw Kakashi turn into water and feel the kunai on his neck.
'What a Mizu Bunshin? How did he…he copied it when I did it.' Zabuza smirked. "So you copied it when I hid in the mist and had the fake appear as the real you. Too bad it won't work on me."
Kakashi was stunned as Zabuza turned into water and he felt the real Zabuza swing his sword at him. Kakashi ducked and was kicked into the lake by Zabuza. Zabuza ran after him but stopped when spikes on the ground prevented him. Zabuza laughed and jumped over the spikes and into the lake. When Kakashi resurfaced he was surprised at the weight of the water. 'It shouldn't be this heavy.' At that moment Zabuza ran behind him and started doing seals. 'Oh shit.'
It was too late as Zabuza finished his seals and said, "Suirou no Jutsu". A prison of water entrapped Kakashi. "It's over. Those children can't fight me and you are trapped. All I have to do is take care of the one in the orange."
"Don't bluff." Kakashi replied. "You can't move while you hold me here."
"True but I can send a Mizu Bunshin." He replied with laughter as he formed his seal. "Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu." A water clone formed from the water of the lake and headed towards the rest of the team. Both Naruto and Sasuke were excited about the idea of a battle. 'Perfect.' They both thought. 'Finally a chance to show my full strength.'
Sasuke charged the water clone and jumped into the air. He threw some shuriken at the clone but it blocked them with the sword. He charged in for a kick but Zabuza caught it and flung him back. Then Zabuza raced up and slammed his elbow into the chest of Sasuke. Sasuke coughed up a little blood which made Naruto angry. He formed his seal and yelled, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu". It was a bluff since these clones had very little chakra but it made enough of them that he and Sasuke could pull it off.
Zabuza smirked, "I doubt you can hold that jutsu for long with your chakra. Kage Bunshin is a high level jutsu though." All the Narutos charged at Zabuza and surrounded him. Suddenly as Zabuza swung his sword all the clones flew off and disappeared except for 1. The one grabbed a Fuuma Shuriken and threw it to Sasuke.
Sasuke gasped as he grabbed it. Then Sasuke unraveled it and said, "Fuuma Shuriken Kage Bunshin". He jumped into the air and threw it at the real Zabuza.
Zabuza caught it and was about to retort when the second shuriken came at him. He laughed and jumped over it and said, "You are too naïve to think you can…" He was interrupted by a sound from behind him and turned to see Naruto throw a kunai at him. Zabuza was forced to release the water prison and Kakashi escaped. Zabuza was infuriated and ran towards Naruto.
Naruto saw Kakashi coming and gave him a look to back off. Zabuza came at him and hit Naruto in the head with the shuriken as he fell. He was greeted by a poof as Naruto disappeared and he was greeted behind from a Naruto on the land. He was angry. This kid had shielded his target and he freed his instructor. It was then that he realized he had no idea where Kakashi was. He looked to his left just in time to block the kunai coming at him with his arm.
Naruto watched from the side. 'I guess I'll only help again if Kakashi-sensei needs it.'
Kyuubi answered saying, 'Good idea kit, but make sure to watch this battle. These are some high level ninjas.'
'I should protect our team though.' He thought as he walked to the team and ushered them over. He then did a Kage Bunshin and the 3 clones surrounded the team saying, "Chakra Shield Technique: Triple Naruto". A large shield surrounded the team as they got ready to watch the battle.
Sasuke was amazed at Naruto. 'When did he learn these? These techniques are amazing and I don't think we've scratched the surface of his power. Besides, where was he during the fight?' Sasuke voiced his confusion as he asked, "Naruto, where were you during the fight, and how did you switch with the clone?"
Naruto grinned at Sasuke and replied, "I was underground." Ino and Sasuke stared at Naruto. "I used Kawarimi no Jutsu and switched with my clone that was hidden in the shadows. Then I used Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu to go underground and strike if needed. My clone took care of the rest and I didn't have to do anything. Now let's just watch the battle and we can go in if needed. With the shield Kakashi doesn't have to worry about our safety and can battle Zabuza full out."
Sasuke and Ino were both shocked but turned back to the battle.
Kakashi and Zabuza were facing each other in the middle of the lake. Zabuza started to do seals and was surprised that Kakashi was doing them at the same speed as himself, 'How? Is this the power of the sharingan? Can it see the future?' Both finished their seals at the same time and cried, "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu". Two giant water dragons erupted from the lake and collided with each other. As they battled it out Zabuza charged at Kakashi with his sword. Kakashi met him with his kunai and blocked the blow. Zabuza was stunned. 'How can this be possible? We finished at the same time. Yet the sharingan is only supposed to let a ninja copy moves. Can he really see the future?'
The two leapt away from each other, not noticing the figure hidden in the trees. Zabuza formed a seal and was surprised to see Kakashi in the same position. He ran towards him as Kakashi ran the exact opposite way. They both started forming seals for an attack. Zabuza stopped as he saw a figure next to Kakashi. The figure was himself. He was brought back to the fight as Kakashi yelled, "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu". A giant tsunami of water erupted from the lake and headed straight for Zabuza who was pushed back and slammed into a tree. He didn't have time to recover as several kunai struck his body.
Zabuza looked up at Kakashi and asked, "Can you see the future?"
Kakashi brought out a kunai and said, "Your future is to die." He prepared himself to throw the kunai but stopped as several needles punctured Zabuza's neck.
The group looked up to see a hunter-nin in a tree. The Narutos providing the shield for the three ninjas released it and disappeared in a poof of smoke Kakashi got down from the tree and checked Zabuza's pulse. Then he looked at the ninja and said, "From your clothes I presume you are a hinter-nin from the hidden mist village."
"Yes and I have always hoped I would be the one to kill Zabuza." The ninja, Naruto recognized as Haku, replied. "I will need his body. It contains many secrets from our village." With that Haku appeared in front of them and picked up the body. Haku made a seal and said, 'Thank you" and disappeared.
"Come on let's go to…" Kakashi started. He then stopped and fell forward. The group ran up to them and Naruto checked his pulse. Then he picked him up and said, "He just fainted let's escort Tazuna home." The Narutos with the shield released it and disappeared. Then the group walked off towards Tazuna's home.
AN - I'm sorry this took so long but family issues ahve been keeping me away. Alas I am still here and writing. Things are going as with the series for the moment but it takes a different path sometime in the future. I hope everyone likes it. My only problem was wondering if Naruto could stay underground that long but oh well. It is late right now and I can't reply to all the reviews I got but let's see here...
1. Yes I will continue.
2. Naruto will get much stronger starting this trip.
3. I don't intend for all the people who died in the series to die in my story.
4. Sasuke might get bitten or maybe not...
5. I'll post the next chapter tomorrow for all those who have been patiently waiting.
6. I intend to finish my story.
7. Thanks for the info on Shunshin.
8. Sorry you'll get more otput from now on but with the family issues things are a little hectic.
9. People may not even recognize him after the growth spurt. wink wink hint hint
10. Length is increasing. Sorry.
I hope covered the major points. If you wish to ask me a question I missed please post it again. Thanks!