A Team of Five
Hmmm well that took way longer than I woulda liked but well my social life interfered with my writing. Sorry, anyway since it is now spring break I should be able to update sooner than usual. If I feel so inclined and I'm not just being lazy X)
Chapter Seven: Leaf VS. Bloody Mist
To say that Naruto was pissed was an understatement. In fact he flew through the required hand seals faster than he ever had in his life.
As a kage bunshin popped into existence, the two Narutos spun rapidly and Naruto was flung straight at Zabuza and a very stunned Hinata.
Naruto made the distance in just too short of time. He was able to tackle Hinata clear of the giant clever that threatened to cut her in two but the blade went straight through Naruto's leg.
Hinata's eyes snapped wide open in fear as did everyone else's. Until the expected scream did not come and was replaced with a loud pop. The Naruto that had it's leg detached was in fact the shadow clone and the real Naruto was barreling down on Zabuza before he could collecting himself from what had just happened.
Just as the blonde made it to the ninja from the mist, Zabuza spun on his left heel and dealt Naruto a fierce blow with the cheek of his blade. Naruto was hurled several feet away and his forehead protector was left at Zabuza's feet.
Before Zabuza could go after Hinata or Naruto who were both still down, Kakashi made his reappearance only this time Zabuza knew it was coming. He used a small but high pressured water jutsu to knock the copy nin back straight into the water. That's when the real Zabuza trapped him in a spherical prison of water. The now revealed water clone turned its attention back on Naruto.
(A/N ok so I reused the old "trap Kakashi" bit, but it's the best way to let the genin show off for a bit.)
The blonde boy was once again charging blindly at Zabuza seemingly in an attempt to tackle him. Half way to his destination, Naruto released two dozen shadow clones all latching onto the Zabuza clone while the real Naruto continued running.
"Naruto you idiot you can't win" Sakura screamed from the opposite side of the clearing with Tazuna beside her and Sasuke out in front.
"All of you run! The battle was over the second I was caught." yelled Kakashi from his prison earning a grin from the real Zabuza.
Hinata had gotten back to her feet and stationed herself between Zabuza and Naruto and where Sasuke stood. Activating her Byakugan, the heiress could see the missing-nin crouch down in a twisted position and spin with his blade taking out every clone at once.
Just as Naruto had reached his opponent he was kneed in the gut sending him to the ground. A foot was placed firmly on his head and he was once again kicked away with a painful blow to the kidney.
"Your pathetic just some kid playing ninja. Even your sensei was nothing to me." Zabuza's face twisted into a look of insane glee. "At your age I was already drenched in blood. God those were good times!"
"Devil Zabuza of the Bloody Mist" muttered Kakashi darkly.
"So even the great copy ninja of Konoha has heard of me" laughed Zabuza.
"S-Sensei what are you too talking about" Sakura piped up.
Kakashi sighed "There was a time when the hidden mist was known as bloody mist. During the final exam to become a ninja, candidates were pitted against one another in a fight to the death. That is until one they would forever call devil of the mist, appeared and slaughtered all others ruthlessly."
"Devil? Hah your more like a little baby devil." Spat Naruto.
Everyone's attention was back on the usually hyperactive ninja.
After being kicked a little to Sasuke and Hinata's left, he had gotten to his feet and was now standing unsteadily. There was a collective look of surprise on the faces of everyone present at what they saw. In Naruto's hand was the forehead protector he had lost in his first charge.
"So the dobe knew what he was doing the whole time" Sasuke mused to himself.
"Th-This was the forehead protector Iruka-sensei took from his own head for me." He was having trouble with his panting. "Me, Uzumaki Naruto future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf" he declared proudly. "I'm not afraid of someone like you. As long as my friends stay to fight, so will I"
Zabuza's laughter filled the clearing, then he suddenly became dark. "Your ballsy kid, but you have no idea what your getting into."
Naruto turned and looked to Sasuke, then to the others in turn.
"Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan, look after the old man" everyone was surprised by how serious Naruto was being. After both girls nodded he turned to Sasuke and continued "and Sasuke-" he suddenly flashed a grin, his face full of determination "lets get crazy".
The light burning behind Naruto's eyes told Sasuke there was a plan forth coming, and to his own surprise he was calmed by his comrades confidence. "OK dobe what's the plan"
Naruto turned completely around to face the dark haired Uchiha and flashed the tiger seal. "First off we're gonna kick the crap outta this water clone."
Then turning back to face the mizu bunshin he removed a windmill shuriken behind his back, hiding it from view to all except Sasuke.
Hinata had moved beside Sakura and together the two were in a defensive position around Tazuna. Both girls had no idea what was going on and were completely thrown off guard when the two boys pulled off the plan with little more than eye contact to communicate.
Realization hit Sasuke all at once and was shocked, while at the same time impressed, at the plan Naruto had come up with in the middle of a fight.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu" Sasuke yelled finishing his sealing with tiger.
As the great ball of flame hurtled toward a temporarily off put Zabuza clone, Naruto added the giant shuriken without the notice of the enemy. Finally Sasuke finished the scheme off by making an elaborate display of pulling out a second shuriken.
"Shadow shuriken!" yelled the avenger.
The second projectile seemed to disappeared to Zabuza and he figured it was within the flames, but he was only half right.
When the water clone attempted to block the shuriken guessed to be within the fire, as he was unable to avoid the oncoming inferno, it was completely destroyed being water against flame. With no interference the shuriken and remaining fire continued on to its intended target, Zabuza.
The only known ninja star sped ahead of the fireball, with the second still concealed within the first's shadow.
When the attack came within an inch of taking off his head, Zabuza simply plucked it from the air.
"Bah, shuriken won't do you any good kid" Zabuza mocked Sasuke.
The mist nin's attention was suddenly peaked when he noticed the second object he had before missed. Just at the last second he leapt over the star, careful to not release Kakashi, which then embedded in a tree across the lake.
Finally Zabuza was faced with the final obstacle, the grand fireball that had destroyed his clone. He began preparing himself for the weak flame that would cause minimal if not nonexistent damage to the hardened ninja.
Suddenly the last of the fire, which had slowly diminished as it traveled without Sasuke's chakra to fuel it, completely dispersed revealing a very pissed Naruto.
Without any free hands and being partly in the air Zabuza was forced to take Naruto's blow full on in the face, causing the much larger ninja to take a step back but still not releasing the prison.
Almost instantly Zabuza regained his composure and with his feet now back balancing on the water he threw his left hand forward, opening a large gash in Naruto's side with the large four-pointed shuriken in his hand.
Naruto skipped the few feet across the water landing half in and half out of the water on the shore. He was still conscious but in too much pain to move. Too much pain to notice the wound slowly closing and the pain receding, though it still was more than he had ever felt before.
The four remaining members of Team 7 had little more going through their minds than fear for Naruto and pure fury toward the man now standing, smirking with a large bloody shuriken in his hand.
There they were again, those feelings she had felt during the genin exam against Kakashi-sensei, the want to protect, to defend at all costs. The anger that had flared up while facing their first real opponents. These emotions rushed screaming back at Hinata and she stood there staring down Zabuza with Byakugan eyes, shaking no longer with fear or timidness but pure hate something that until this day had never before entered her mind.
The killing intent that practically rolled off of the small Hyuuga girl drew the attention of everyone in the clearing including Tazuna who had no ninja training. It was so strong it even over powered the force radiating from one Uchiha Sasuke.
He hated to admit it but Sasuke liked Naruto, felt he might even have a shred of respect for the loud mouth. Sasuke had practically frozen when Zabuza batted them away, even trapping Kakashi, but Naruto remained determined and Sasuke respected that. All because of that confidence and will were they willing to keep fighting.
Sensing the intent to kill coming from one another both Uchiha and Hyuuga looked at one another and with no words being spoken turned on Zabuza and charged.
It doesn't need to be said but Sasuke now found himself in a position he never could have imagined. He was along side Hyuuga Hinata barreling down together on a jounin, powerful enough to restrain Kakashi, all in an attempt to avenge Naruto and get him help.
It wasn't she didn't want to go it's that she couldn't. The sudden impact of reality hurt and she knew then that day, she was the weakest of Team 7. Even the dead last Naruto and the shy loner Hinata had her beat any day of the week. While everyone else had anger like her she was the only one, except for maybe Kakashi-sensei, who felt completely useless at that moment as she watched Naruto 'dying' and half of her team attacking the devil of the mist.
Finally Sakura steeled her nerve and slid into her best defensive position. Even if she would be no use in battle she could at the very least protect Tazuna with her very life.
Naruto slowly let the pain take over as he slipped into what he believed to be death, given he had no other choice as he was almost seeming to be pulled toward his destination. The last thing he registered but only partially was the yell of two familiar voices and the pounding of feet.
The two avenging genin ran down the shore at Zabuza. "Naruto-kun!" Hinata yelled like a battle cry while Sasuke was just yelling though in his mind he was beginning to come to terms with his 'friendship' with Naruto"Baka" he said softly as the two lifted from the ground at the water's edge.
Naruto reawakened in a small, dirty and really wet room. Looking around he couldn't imagine every being in a place like it before.
"Oh great I'm in hell" Naruto sighed.
While he began wallowing in self pity, Naruto heard what could be described as a voice though every word chilled him. The voice was completely foreign to the young ninja, and yet seemed like he recognized it.
It was calling him, even though he couldn't completely understand what was being said. All he knew was he was suddenly following it. As Naruto followed the disembodied call down passages, past rooms similar to the one he awoke in, he realized this is what had drawn him in, what had dragged him into unconsciousness.
Naruto continued to walk until the sounds brought him to a door, larger than the others but unlike the others it was locked. A strange sort of power seemed to pulse from the door, causing Naruto to take a step back.
"Hello small one" the voice rumbled clearly from behind the closed door.
"Wh-who the hell are you" squeaked Naruto, trying to bring strength back into his voice.
"That, at this point, is unimportant" came the quick reply.
"Am I dead...is this hell?" Naruto asked the question he was dreading.
The reply was not what he expected. The sound of laughter reached the ears of the blonde and this sound frightened him more than anything else.
"Hell? For you, no, but in a way yes. And no you are not dead, simply unconscious."
Naruto thought on this for a second before continuing his questioning of the strange being that seemed to be residing in his mind.
"Why am I here? My friends are probably still fighting!" Naruto finally remembered the ongoing fight with Zabuza.
"I needed you here while I healed that wound you had inflicted on by means of your own stupidity!" was the rather harsh reply Naruto received.
Rather than biting back with his own comment Naruto, just chose defeat when he decided, it was true. The plan was good and Sasuke had done his part, but in the end Naruto was sloppy and it cost him.
Being unable to stand on the surface of water like their sensei or for that matter Zabuza, both Hinata and Sasuke were forced to bounce off of the missing nin after one attack.
On the second charge Sasuke managed to kick away the windmill shuriken from Zabuza's hand, while he was distracted by Hinata who sealed off a chakra point in his opposite arm before they were both swept away by the mist nin's now empty hand.
"Get the hell outta here, it's no use fighting him now. Just get Naruto to safety." But Kakashi's pleas fell on deaf ears as the two genin continued to battle with the one handed jounin.
Naruto was snapped out of his mental meditation by the sound of his sensei yelling for a retreat. He was still deep within his own mind and in front of the strange immovable door, while supposedly being healed. He only believed this last part because the pain had receded so he had no reason to not believe.
"Th-that was sensei." Naruto mused softly. "Hey whatever the shit you are! Let me the hell outta here!"
"Fine, your out of danger but don't say I didn't warn you when you awaken." the voice mentioned offhandedly.
Naruto snapped awake in his position half on the shore with his legs hanging in the lake water. There was a blinding hot pain running up his side, looking down he saw the last of his wound closing slowly. The edges of the gash were red and seemed to burn as the grew closer together and closed off. Finally the last of the pain receded before he was able to even move.
"So that was what the bastard meant. God that hurt." Naruto muttered darkly as he stood up to look around.
He believed to have been in that strange place for close to an hour but in reality the world around him had moved for about a minute, two at the most.
Hinata and Sasuke were in the middle of a third attack and Zabuza was busy defending. Kakashi was watching the whole completely on edge. But Sakura noticed when Naruto spoke, and slowly turning her head to face him she nearly screamed.
"H-He...I mean y-you're not dead" Sakura was pointing an accusing finger at Naruto.
"Hmm. Yea and the sky's blue, what's your point Sakura-chan?" Naruto laughed.
The two attacking genin landed panting ahead of Sakura and to the side of Naruto. Looking over the both of them were completely speechless. There was Naruto, who they had thought was dead from the horrible injure inflicted by Zabuza, grinning and without a scratch on him.
Zabuza was equally shocked and, frankly, a little unnerved. It wasn't a genjutsu or any ninjutsu because it didn't vanish when hit with the shuriken and yet here he stood, that blonde little hyper freak, smiling like nothing happened.
Almost like he had finally remembered what exactly where he was, Naruto snapped his attention back to Zabuza. A plan almost instantly came to mind when he saw the Uchiha and Hyuuga had been fighting with the mist nin.
"Hinata, can you get close enough to seal his arm with that thing you do?" he asked of his team mate, though cerulean eyes never left Zabuza.
"I-I think s-so if I c-could get c-close enough." With her initial anger gone Hinata was back to being slightly nervous.
"Well I think me and Sasuke-bastard can handle getting you in close enough." Naruto smirked seeing the look Sasuke was giving him.
"Hah that's easy enough just don't go gettin' in my way dobe" Sasuke was smirking but his eyes were relieved.
"Alright so it's settled, we'll keep him busy and you get rid of his other arm. Break!"
With the last word both Naruto and Sasuke leapt at Zabuza, who had only caught snatches of the conversation. Sasuke came in high with a mid-air round kick to the head, while Naruto flew both feet forward at Zabuza's chest.
The devil of the mist had dodged the attack from the dark genin only to receive a more forceful hit from the orange leaf nin when he ducked. His head was snapped back and his body was one big opening.
That's when Hinata saw her opening and she ran forward, shuddering slightly under the pressure of her task. Everything rested on her, if she freed Kakashi they could sit back and watch but if not they were back to square one and the same tactic would not provide an opening twice.
Everything seemed to slow down to her perspective, her target was clear and the objective was within range. With one simple strike the battle could be over and she wouldn't be a failure to Naruto's eyes.
That was it, the inspiration she needed. Hinata steeled her resolve and time shifted back into it's normal pace.
Two strikes one to the shoulder and another in the forearm. This was all that was needed after the first blow she had landed. Zabuza's arm fell limply and as he swung to kick her away, the leg was blocked by a very pissed looking Hatake Kakashi.
Having no way to propel herself back, Hinata splashed harmlessly into the water at the feet of the two Jounin, who were no staring each other down.
"I hope you know, a jutsu never works on me twice." Kakashi spoke darkly.
"Heh I would hope not." was Zabuza's only reply before they pushed apart.
The former ninja of the hidden mist was now unable to completely any jutsu because of his now useless arm.
"Shit, if only that blonde hadn't interfered, I woulda bin rid of the Hyuuga and this wouldn't've happened" Zabuza mentally cursed his bad luck. "Speaking of the little nuisance, how the hell did he not die."
Reaching for his sword, Zabuza switched into a defensive stance and prepared for the attack that was forthcoming from the infamous copy cat ninja.
"Being locked up so damn long trained me. Why didn't' I remember to deactivated the sharigan...crap. I'm gonna have to end this one quick." Kakashi thought to himself.
"Hey, just because I released the jutsu, don't think this is over already." Zabuza was trying to sound confident but was privately hoping for a bale out from his companion in the trees.
"No...your wrong." Kakashi answered plainly. "Not only is this battle over but you didn't release the jutsu, they forced you too." he pointed in the general direction of his team.
Despite everything that had happened in this short amount of time the genin couldn't help but show pride in their own way be it a grin, smirk or shy smile.
"Even though I told them to run, they stayed here and helped me. Now you die Zabuza." Kakashi turned back on said nin, with cold eyes.
The leaf jounin begin flipping through hand seals wanting to end this early. Finally he finished and calling out his jutsu, the water seemed to explode and with its force Zabuza was hurled back to crash through a tree and rest against another. But Kakashi wasn't finished, almost instantly after the wave of his first attack hit the shore he began his sealing again. This time the water erupted in the figure of a great dragon of water.
The aquatic beast reared its head and smashed Zabuza against the tree he was stumbling away from. When all water had cleared Kakashi was seen standing above a barely alive Zabuza ready to plunge his kunai through the devil's throat, but someone beat him to it.
By the time everyone reached the spot Kakashi now stood with a dead Zabuza and an unknown, the unidentified ninja had dropped from his perch in a nearby tree to address them.
Kakashi was the only member of his team that was not shocked, in fact he had completely reverted back to his lazy stance with his hands in his pockets. The genin as well as Tazuna however were not as calm. Naruto was the most shocked of all and showed it.
The enemy they had struggled against the one Hinata and Sasuke put themselves in danger against was just easily defeated by a needle to the jugular, and by a kid that looked no older than he.
"W-What the hell was that?" the hyper blonde yelled to no one in particular. Turning on the newcomer he continued to rant. "And who the fuck do you think you are, huh?"
"Naruto calm down. He isn't an enemy. That mask is from a hidden mist hunter-nin, obviously after Zabuza." Kakashi said calmly though with a hint of pleading at seeing the young genin so heated up.
"Do you think that I care?" Naruto yelled a lot quieter than before.
"I'm sorry for an trouble this has caused you. I'll be disposing of the body now. Thank you for your assistance." the boy said in an quiet yet warming tone.
Lifting the much heavier body of the dead Zabuza the hunter-nin disappeared with a swirl of dust and leaves, leaving Team 7 alone.
"So...who else needs a drink after that?" Kakashi asked as he turned to his twelve year old subordinates with a smile that curved his now single visible eye.
Had Naruto been in a better mood, Hinata not been completely stunned, Sasuke capable of such a thing at this point and Sakura not ready to kill someone from all the tension, they might have laughed at their sensei's jest.
"Hahah that was great you really saved me back there...wow so my place ain't far ahead, how about you guys crash there." Tazuna offered finally coming out of his silence.
"Bout time you offered, jeeze." Naruto mumbled more to himself.
This of course received a smack from Sakura who then went into a lengthy lecture on manners as Hinata fumbled beside him wondering if she should help with the lump growing on his head. Sasuke stood to the side and smirked, but not one of superiority more one of actual amusement.
"Ok so let's get going if you guys are done messing around." Kakashi called as he and Tazuna began down the road.
"Hey sensei your pretty tough to just shake off that whole thing. Your not even that banged up." Naruto mentioned when they had caught up.
"Hahaha well the sharingan does take a lot outta me but I should...be..." Kakashi trailed off, leaving his thought unfinished as he blacked out where he stood. Pitching forward to meet the ground without pain thanks to the sweet comfort of unconsciousness, only to wake again in the house of the bridge builder.
"Oh that's just great. Now we gotta carry him." Naruto whined looking over his leader's stricken form.
"Me and you can take turns lugging him back to the village." Sasuke instructed, taking the first shift and lifting the older man onto his back before he started off behind Tazuna.
As the five people walked little conversation passed between them. Tazuna was blissfully thinking of those that awaited his return. Both Sasuke and Hinata thought of Naruto and wondered how he could have healed so quickly. Naruto was having similar thoughts but was also pondering the strange nin that had taken away the body of Zabuza.
Sakura had a completely different train of thought than any of them. She couldn't get past the feeling of uselessness she felt the entire battle. This was when she made a decision, no longer would she stand by and watch she would improve and next time be of use.
The pink haired konoichi was about to voice her apology for being of so little help to her team mates when Naruto beat her to speaking.
"Thank you" was all he managed to get out. He never was good at speaking. Turning to the faces of his friends and comrades. "I-I...before I blacked out I saw you going at the mist guy. It was the same thing I saw when I came too."
Sasuke just looked at the shorter ninja with a blank face before grinning so slightly it almost went unnoticed by Naruto and the others...almost. Hinata blushed in her trademark fashion and turned her gaze away from Naruto not able to meet his eyes.
"Well Sasuke-teme, Hinata-chan I guess I owe you both one eh." he flashed them all his trademark grin.
Zabuza lay beaten and without a pulse. Slowly, the hunter-nin began removing one of the needles lodged in the throat of the missing-nin. When the first one was finally out the older man seemed to stir and then snap awake ripping out the last needle as well as tearing off the bandages that covered his face.
"Jesus Haku! Do you really need to hit me in the neck it leaves me sore for days." he grumbled laying back down, trying not to make the pain he was in noticeable.
"I'm sorry Zabuza-san but you would be much angrier with me had I scarred your body." the boy known as Haku replied in the same low tone.
"How long will I be out of commission for?"
"About a week and a half with the beating you received." Haku answered his master.
"Hmm fine I guess that means the leaf nin get a little more time to live." Zabuza let that ominous thought hang in the air as he aloud Haku to remove the second senbon.
Man I just couldn't get a spot to end this damn chapter it just kept going and going jeeze. Anyway, were are my reviews I get like 1000 hits a chapter but an average of 10 reviews per chapter...what is that?