DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto but I sure as hell own the abilities I'll give him.
-----------change POV
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It was a stand-off that much I knew. No way this could get any worse for me. That sword Zabuza was using was giving him more power making his abilities at least triple than when they first fought. I could have beaten him easy if the sword didn't give him so much power. Okay some might be thinking how I know that the sword was giving him power. Well that's easy let me desribe the sword. The sword was like a broad sword with some modifications. The blade was composed of blades folding into another blades until they folded into the middle blade which was the main blade. The hilt was composed of a large orb that released vast amounts of energy and I swear it was looking at me like an eye. Chains bound around the orb and the whole sword exuded a chilly blue aura that struck terror into those who had never with true fear before. The aura was terrifying and I was warry of that power because I felt it before. The power of a demon. The same power Kyuubi held. The same power now sealed within Naruto( or so he thinks ).
"Kakashi what are you waiting for?", Zabuza leered at me as we stood in front of each other poised ready to strike at any moment. I was thinking of how to beat him but now with his new capabilities all my plans were unsure even with the new abilities accounted for.
"Hmm... if you won't start then I will", he started to form handseals which I recognized but just as I was getting ready to use a counter jutsu he shouted, "Suiton Suiryuudan no Jutsu!". I braced myself looked expecting a huge water dragon appear from the river but nothing happened for a few seconds.
"Looks like your losing it Zabuza", I smirked at him under my mask.
"Hmph", I heard him smirk under his mask and to my utter shock and helplessness a dragon suddenly burst out of the mist and charged right at me. I was barely able to brace for the impact as the water dragon whisked me away. 'I am officially screwed', I thought as I tried my best not to die.
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The fight was a stand still. As long as he has those blasted mirrors to hide in I was at a disadvantage. I gripped my kunais tighter thinking it would relieve the pain from the wounds inflicted by the needles imbedded in my back and my right thigh not to mention the needles in my left shoulder had spread down to the leftside of my chest. I growled, annoyed at the fact that my enemy was still virtually untouchable. He just shrugged of all of my hits moving with the motion of my blows to weaken each hit, seemingly simple and basic principle but deemed difficult due to timing. I can't do anything even if I can predict his moves. He's reading me like an open book just like I can read him. I tried to stand my ground. He jumped out of the mirror he was hiding in. At least there was one good thing. It seemed Haku had run out of ammo and the mirrors needed lots of chakra so he couldn't use jutsus liberally, meaning he had to retieve the senbon or risk hand-to-hand combat OR resort to hit-and-run tactics. He jumped out of the mirror diving for some of the senbon and I dove straight for that spot. I threw one of my kunai at him or more precisely where he was gonna be in a second. He withdrew his hand just in time to save it from becoming useless in our fight. I punched him with my right hand which held a kunai while my left pushed off of the ground to get more speed. My right hand met his face but suddenly my fist was engulfed in water. 'Mizu bunshin!', my mind screamed as I twisted in mid-air and threw my other kunai in the direction which was directly behind me just moments before and the kunai hit its mark for there was Haku retrieving as many senbon as he could but now he had a kunai sticking into his left arm near the shoulder. He threw the kunai away and jumped back into a mirror his purpose fulfilled as he collected as many senbon as he could. Obviously he had not expected me to dodge all of his attacks which were meant to end the fight let alone let it drag this long.
"Impressive, I never thought that you would last this long", Haku spoke as he wrapped a piece of cloth around his arm to keep it from bleeding any further.
"You lacking the ammunition would be enough to point that out to me.", I smirked as I positioned myself ready to strike at a moments notice.
"Yes, very perceptive", Haku spoke softly then suddenly he sprung out of his mirror and charged at me senbon in hand. 'Okay his little change in strategy to surprise me is working.', I backflipped and he flew right over me. 'but not good enough', I smirked as I propelled myself into the air using my hands. I was above him then he spun around and threw a couple of his senbon at me then I dodged the senbon but I have to give him credit some of them could have hit me. I was still a couple of feet in the air. I had to choose between landing on my feet or attacking now. I chose the latter so I attacked using a katon technique. It hit him and I'm pretty sure he at least got 2nd degree burns before he got back into his ice mirrors. It seemed his right leg was pretty much burned out of use but my joy was short-lived as I head first onto the cement bridge. I nearly lost consciousness. Damn what the hell was I not doing right! I got back up again and Haku was just about to attack again. I had to think of something or else I was screwed.
-flashback-
"Sasuke", I heard Naruto speak to me as I was practicing my taijutsu. It was an open field and therefore gave me great freedom of movement. Naruto just walked out from a nearby clump of trees.
"What is it?", I asked him without looking at him as I continued my taijutsu routine his words from two nights ago still ringing in my mind.
"You have improved", I heard him compliment me.
"Yeah whatever", I answered still continuing my routine.
"But your fighting style still shows your old attitude.", he shook his head. I stopped in mid punch as I looked straight at him. I heard his opinion of my attitude and it wasn't nice, not nice at all.
"What do you mean?", I looked at him straight in the eye as I stood relaxed arms at my sides.
"You still depend too much on yourself and your still impatient as wanting to see results instantly,
he said as I heard this mixed feelings were stirring the first was anger the second was confusion. I mean what do those have to do with anything.
"What do you mean?", I asked him narrowing my eyes.
"Your over exerting yourself with that fighting routine for instance in certain parts of your taijutsu you use a counter-attack though a mere block could do fine because if you force a counter your exerting more energy than needed but if you use a block you could just use the energy you saved and use it in a more effective counter next time.", he explained. "Also your taijutsu puts you in a spot where stamina will be your weakness since you lack natural strength you have to exert your muscles. It clearly shows in your sluggish motions", Naruto spoke non-chalantly like it wasn't grating on my nerves just hearing him talk. Without warning I lunged straight at him and threw a right punch a second later I was on the ground looking at the clouds.
"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Sasuke you know emotions help in battle but don't ever let them overwrite your rational thinking completely or else you'll just end up dead", Naruto peaked over at me and shook his index finger. He started walking away again.
"Dammit!", I cursed under my breath as I sat up and sat in an indian position.
"Sasuke this little advice might help you in your taijutsu", I looked at Naruto like it was impossible. "Don't push yourself your not alone look for help it won't slow you down. Just take a while to look around"
-end flashback-
'Look around eh?', I thought suddenly Haku lunged straight at me again this time I wasn't able to react fast enough due to getting stuck in my thoughts. I was thrown back with great force and Haku who tackled me turned out to be a mizubunshin. 'A set up', was the only thought that went through my mind. I looked around and sure enough there was Haku aiming at me. He threw the senbon but I dodged just barely enough miss getting hit in my vital areas instead adjusted and let the senbon hit the left side of my chest. I was still flying through the air I looked ahead and I was on a collision course with one of the mirrors. I adjusted again and my right shoulder was the first part that crashed into the mirror. I fell to the floor. The pain was unbearable. I couldn't feel anything in my right arm other than pain. My senses were overwhelmed with the pain I couldn't see, hear or feel anything else due to the pain. I could barely think straight. I looked around but everything was a haze of blue and gray with blotches of red but something shined and caught my eye. I looked and saw it a crack on the mirror that I crashed into. I couldn't break it with my taijutsu even my katon jutsus didn't work then it hit me.
"Hahahahahahaha!", I laughed. "I understand I finally understand", I laughed still as I got up the pain subsiding as the ecstatic feeling of knowing I could win grew... no I would win!
"Hm? Did the pain get to you already?", Haku asked confusion and slight fear mixed in his voice.
"Pain? What pain?", I laughed oblivious to the pain. I still couldn't move my right arm I guess it was dislocated so I just popped it back in again.
CRACK!
"What the? He just popped his bone back into place without even flinching and there's only one guy I know that can do that", I heard Haku mutter under his breath. He jumped straight towards me and tried to punch me.
"Wrong", I muttered. I sidestepped him and grabbed his wrist and flung him into another one of his mirrors. He recovered just in time and went into the mirror rather than crashed into it.
"What the?", Haku whispered to himself.
"Bring it", I stood straight facing him. Haku was slightly agitated by my display. He jumped out of one of his mirrors and threw senbon at me and he was quite surprised to jump back into one of his mirrors with no interruptions instead he saw holding one of my hands up a bunch of silver colored objects and he just realized that they were his senbon. He scanned around and found that there were no more senbon scattered about.
"I took all of them", I spoke and his gaze turned to me. He was obviously confused by this action.
"Are you trying to do what I think your trying to do?", he asked me his voice seemingly showing that something was wrong.
"Maybe why don't you tell me?", I asked cockily as I started to pull out the senbon sticking out of the left side of my chest.
"Your trying to force me into close range combat aren't you and you've realized that if I use jutsus you could just dodge them and stamina wise I would use more and I'll be at a disadvantage", he finished.
"I want to finish this fight I grow tired of your stupid strategies", I said as I finally finished pulling the final senbon from my back.
"Stupid are they", I think I got Haku all riled up with that last comment. He suddenly lunged straight for me. He tried tackling me but I just let myself drop to the floor facing up. As he passed above me I used my hands as support and pushed off of the ground planting both feet firmly into Haku's torso. We were both in mid-air my feet still planted in his stomache and I kicked again and again and again. I caught his head in between my legs in a second I spun both of us(its kinda hard to describe). And with the extra force from the spinning I threw him to the ground. I did some handseals a couple of feet in the air. I breathed in deep and blew it all out. 'Katon Ryuuka no jutsu', I thought. Haku was still on the ground and took the full blast.
BOOM!
The explosion was loud, very loud. I looked around and just as expected none of the ice mirrors were left and I looked towards the center of the crater I made and I found something I didn't expect. It was a huge dome of ice. Moments later it melted away and I walked in to find Haku lying on the ground arms and legs spread and his breathing hard. I collapsed in relief.
"That was a powerful attack it left me barely anything to even stand", Haku commented between breaths.
"Thanks your not half bad yourself", I breathed in deep.
"It seems we're both out of it huh?", he asked I looked in his direction and our gazes met.
"hahahahahaha!", we both laughed out. Respect for each other's abilities growing.
"I guess that I gambled on that last jutsu. Thank Kami it paid off", I gasped out
"It was very powerful like I said but why focus all of your strength in that one attack?", Haku asked.
"I'm not really good with explanations but I'll try", I paused trying to get back my breath. "After seeing the crack in one of your mirrors I realized your mirrors weren't invincible they were just made strong and that gave me hope", I said.
"But that's not it", Haku spoke.
"No, it's not, I realized the environment was perfect for these ice mirrors. The extremely low temprature as well as the abundance of water was just what you needed to maintain your mirrors even if they do require huge amounts of chakra to maintain that's why your usage of jutsus was limited. These conditions make your mirrors more or less indestructible but they could still be broken but doing that would be a waste of strength since the only thing that I have that can break your mirrors are my katon jutsus but the conditions will weaken my attacks requiring me to put more chakra. So I thought back to what a friend of mine told me. He told me to look around for help and not to push myself too hard. At first it confused me honestly it still does but to some extent it applied to what had happened. I looked around and found that the help he was refering to was the conditions of the battle. He told me not to push myself too hard because he knew I was too prideful and would fight on even in the conditions that assured the opponents victory. As I continued to look around I realized I couldn't get any help from the conditions to get an advantage then I realized you only used long range then I realized right from the beginning I was already playing under your rules of combat which is long range and your territory which is within these mirrors. I couldn't get you out of your territory but I thought I could make you fight by my rules so I forced you into close combat and I guess I just got carried away so here we are now.", I breathed in deep after explaining.
"Amazing, I am totally defeated here", Haku said but I swear he was smiling under that mask.
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The more I continued fighting the more I realized the difference between our fighting capabilities. He took a swipe at me with his long sword and I ducked just in time to save my head. We jumped away from each other and squared off. Okay he's using his long sword for offense and the short sword has so far been mostly for defense. His moves became smoother and faster. Even with my chakra enhanced speed I could still barely keep up. I could only defend but he couldn't bypass my defense. My chakra reserves were quickly depleting I was not gonna win if this was gonna keep up. I just had to think of something. He attacked again. I went straight at him not giving him a second to prepare his attack. left, right, uppercut, kick, body blow, reverse heel kick... . Nothing was going through but that didn't bother me what bothered me was his expression. It was like he was studying something that was interesting like a lab rat that was fed some mutating chemical. He finally made his move. He ducked my right hook and swept my legs from underneath and I rolled through then he attacked. He used the long sword to skewer me but I rolled backwards dodging it and got to my feet but he didn't even let me breathe he suddenly used the long sword to slice me horizontally. I ducked but the short sword in his other hand slashed upwards using the momentum from the last attack his whole body turning but I backflipped yet again to dodge he read through that I was sure but he stopped and faced me as I regained lost breath.
"You have potential why don't you join us?", Kimimaro offered.
"I'm a shinobi of the leaf I don't turn my back on my duties", I stated with conviction.
"Even if what your fighting for is wrong?", Kimimaro asked. I looked down and thought. Naruto said that I should pay more attention to my duties but what if my duties are wrong?
"Live a little for yourself, live a little for someone else, live a little for everything"
Naruto's words echoed in my head and I smirked. Kimimaro seemed puzzled. I looked him straight in the eye. "Then I won't fight for my duties I'll fight for myself", I answered him.
"Well so do I", he looked at me a ghost of a smile gracing his lips.
"Then it just means our reasons conflict", I took a fighting stance smirking all the way.
"But I believe we have one thing in common", he spoke as he took his stance.
"Oh?", I cocked an eyebrow.
"We both do not wish to take others lives", we both stared each other down measuring each other up (some how that didn't sound right)
I knew I couldn't win all I could do was hold out till Sasuke-kun and Kakashi-sensei were capable of helping me. 'NO!', I screamed in my head I can't keep depending on them forever I have to think of a way to beat him but first it might be best to think in stages like I have to ensure Mr. tazuna's and my survival then I can start thinking of a way to beat him.
-flashback-
"Wrong!", Naruto shouted for the I-don't-know-what-time that day as he trained me near a lake a little west of our tree climbing area.
"What now?", I wailed as exhaustion set in and I was still not allowed to sit down so I settled for dropping onto the ground.
"Do you know why your so tired?", Naruto asked looking over me.
"Because of chakra exhaustion duh", I answered him like he was dumb.
"No because you were doing it wrong", Naruto told me.
"whattya mean wrong? Look!", I pointed to the boulder I punched or the remainder of the smashed boulder right next to the pile of rubble which was the boulder that Naruto used to demonstrated the effectiveness of the technique.
"The technique still needs perfecting but you haven't even grasped the principles of the taijutsu style", Naruto lectured me.
"What basic principle? All I have to do is use chakra to enhance my abilities", I whined
"That's not it", Naruto started. "You haven't mastered the third mastery of this fighting style.", he spoke sagely. "The first part is that you just burn chakra to enhance your body, this is only effective for those who have excess chakra. Second is what you have been doing right now though it still needs large amounts of chakra the needed amount is lessened and your abilities are improved at least ten times of what they were. The chakra required is lessened due to the more controlled flow of the chakra but the chakra only goes one way so it only goes to waste in the end. Third is the one I used on Zabuza,
the results are very effective and if used correctly the chakra drained will be little to none. Even I haven't been capable of having such control of chakra to master this completely.", Naruto lectured as I listened to every word.
"What is the principle of the third mastery so that it can be accomplished?", I asked Naruto.
"I'm not going to tell you, you have to figure it out on your own", Naruto up and left me behind.
"What?", I sat up and looked around but he was nowhere in sight. "Damn!", I cursed. 'I'll just practice this technique before I complete the third mastery of the style.", I proceeded to find another boulder.
-end flashback-
'My only chance is if I can figure out the third mastery's principle', I thought as I dodged Kimimaro's various attacks. I thought and thought and thought but nothing was coming. I blocked a kick to my chest which sent me skidding back and on my knees. I thought, 'what am I doing wrong?'. Then it hit me.
"Second is what you have been doing right now though it still needs large amounts of chakra the needed amount is lessened and your abilities are improved at least ten times of what they were. The chakra required is lessened due to the more controlled flow of the chakra but the chakra only goes one way so it only goes to waste in the end", those words rang in my head.
I finally realized the flaw in my technique and all I had to do was fix it. I stood up then concentrated on my chakra I knew the only technique that could save me now was the one Naruto taught me that required most or all of my remaining chakra He attacked again. A thrust to my shoulder I turned around following the motion of the thrust which was aimed for my left shoulder to keep from getting my shoulder impaled. He readjusted how he held the sword and tried to use it to hold me by trying to press it against my neck I blocked with my right and spun to my left to deliver a right which he blocked with his short sword but it blew him back by a couple of inches. I didn't cut him any slack and kept attacking.
"Just a couple of minutes ago you seemed to be losing your breath", Kimimaro spoke casually as he blocked dodged and parried each and every single strike.
"Well I just got a second wind!", I connected a right to his chest. He kept his feet planted firmly on the ground. Without warning he stabbed my shoulder but I used my left arm to deflect the strike and it was supposed to graze my arm but instead it just glided across one centimeter above my skin. We both jumped back away from each other.
'What the hell was that?', we both thought simultaneously as I held my left arm. Kimimaro just obsereved me in a fighting stance.
"Your chakra", he spoke. 'Ofcourse!', I thought. My chakra! I was not only manipulating it to move around inside my body I was also manipulating the chakra exiting outside of my body which formed a protective layer somewhat.
"Guess this makes us even?", I asked smiling.
"Your chakra armor is still unstable I still have advantage", Kimimaro spoke then he attacked. I dodged and blocked and did everything else to keep myself from getting killed. His movements were way faster than before it was like he was a whole new person. His movements were so fast that I didn't even have time to think of my next move I just kept dodging like there was no tommorrow.
'Just one hit', I kept chanting in my mind.
BOOM!
A loud explosion came from somewhere. Kimimaro froze for a second but that was more than enough. I threw a right uppercut. Kimimaro realized in time but all he could do was block. My uppercut blew past his defenses and both our thoughts were the same. 'OPEN!'
I spun 360 degrees palms open using the momentum gained in the spin I smashed both open palms into his abdomen, chakra, huge amounts of it burst out of him through his back. "Tenmei Houkou", I shouted. Kimimaro stood seemingly unaffected by the whole thing. 'Please let it work! Please let it work!', I chanted in my mind. He collapsed on the ground seemingly unconscious.
"Thank Kami", I said as I fell on my rear, sighing in relief.
"Jou-chan you okay?", Mr. Tazuna came to see if I was okay.
"I will be but that guy won't", I pointed at Kimimaro.
(A/N: Sasuke and Sakura's fights happened at the same time)
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(A/N: 10 minutes after Sasuke and Sakura's fights)
"Damn!", I cursed loudly as I dodged Zabuza's sword from reducing me to sashimi. At this rate I can't win.
"What's wrong Kakashi you seem to be having trouble?", Zabuza asked in a mockingly innocent voice. 'Like he was ever innocent', I thought.
"Why don't you bring that great student of yours out Kakashi? The one that beat me? I would oh so love to return the favor", he licked his sword which made my skin crawl. My fists clenched isn't there a way to beat this guy?
"Hm?", me and Zabuza both looked around as we heard the loud noise. It was like a whistle and it seemed to be coming from above. We both looked up and soon enough we saw a red comet heading towards us. As far as I knew it was gonna land near us but not directly onto us well how the heck should I know I'm no ballistics expert. We both braced for the impact and sure enough it came.
KABOOM!
"Kakashi-sensei why do you disappoint me everytime I see you?", I know that voice.
"I was looking for you you brat", Zabuza was raging.
"Naruto", I said as I looked around. He was in the spot where the comet was supposed to be and I was somewhat surprised not to see a crater. The mist was gone probably due to the force of Naruto's landing. Of to one side Sasuke was on the ground seemingly exhausted but so was that Haku kid lying in a crater of ice. On the other hand Mr. Tazuna was helping Sakura to sit up straight while a white-haired boy was lying on the ground a ways off.
"Hmph so Kimimaro still failed.", Zabuza said with a snort. I faced him.
"I didn't think you would do something strategically sound like sending an unknown third member to finish the job while you kept us busy.", I spoke with grudging semi-admiration.
"Hmph now that the brat is here why don't you just sit tight while we fight", Zabuza gestured to me with his sword.
"Hold on we're still not finished with our little spar Zabuza", I told him my pride bruised and a little bloody as well.
"I geuss I'm a little late for the party", me and Zabuza both looked at Naruto like he was was wierd as he was lying on his side on the bridge picking his ears. "Don't stop on my account just finish your little fight", Naruto shooed us off. "Oh yeah Kakashi-sensei", I looked at him as he called me "Stop being late even Sakura and Sasuke finished before you", he pointed to the others. 'He's right', I smiled. I'll finish this fight now. Me and Zabuza squared off a little ways from where we were.
"Kirigakure no jutsu", Zabuza muttered as mist enveloped the whole place again. "hehehe this time Kakashi my victory is assured", I stood there unflinching. I took out a scroll and started hand seals.
"Sorry but I haven't time to play", after finishing the seals I opened the scroll and flung it outwards and used my thumb which had blood from the battle to trace blood through as much of the scroll as I could and shouted. " Doton Tsuiga no Jutsu!", I let my hand come in contact with the ground and seconds later.
"AAAARRRGGHHHH!"
I followed the scream and it led me straight to Zabuza. Zabuza was standing his sword a couple of feet away from him. His entire frame covered with large dogs holding him in place. "This ends now Zabuza", I stood in front of him. "CHIDORI!", electric like sparks were flying all over the place. Pure concentrated chakra formed in my right hand which was held by my left arm as to keep it steadily pointing downwards. "Say goodbye Zabuza", I rushed forward chidori in hand inches away from plunging it into Zabuza when suddenly.
Shwreck!(I dunno I just thought any random sound would do)
The sickening sound of flesh being ripped open resounded through my ears. My eyes wide open with shock not because guts and blood were flying everywhere but because the one who recieved the chidori's blow was not the target.
"Don't you know that killing is bad sensei?"
"Naruto why?", I asked my hand still in his sternum.
-flashback a couple of seconds ago-
I was nearly there.
POOF!
The hunter-nin teleported to that spot to take the hit for Zabuza.
SHWOOSH!
Naruto tackled Haku the hunter-nin away and took the blow.
-end flashback-
"Don't worry I'm still alive", he coughed out blood and grinned.
POOF!
"Kagebunshin?", Me, Zabuza and Haku wondered all at once.
"Precisely", Naruto walked out of the mist and came towards us. "Haaa!", he slammed his palm on the ground and the force of impact caused all the mist to disperse. Everyone was now visible. Naruto looked at Zabuza long and hard then spoke.
"Zabuza you've lost"
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: Don't be shy in saying that my writing sucks so that I'll try really hard to improve it and anyone who pushes his luck will get his ass kicked :)
P.S. explanations and remarks will be noted from this chapter onwards.