Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
Xionremind22; Thanks! Satsuki's just unconscious right now. Ryouta's got some good fights coming up in the Chunin Exams.
Isao Gin; He will be becoming a Chunin don't worry~
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks! They did yeah, they showed their stuff. Satsuki and Haku did have some cool combinations and adding Naruko showed that she truly could work with Satsuki well. Ryouta and Anko had a cool combination~ Mangetsu surely is yeah. We'll see what happens with Satsuki and the others.
danielhaywoodsnow; Thanks! Yeah, Satsuki showed her nicer side. Satsuki will open up as the story goes on. Thanks!
Silver crow; Thanks! Ameyuri did yeah, she was having a good time. Satsuki went through quite a bit. Quite fitting~ Yeah, Gato's plan didn't last long. Karin and Suigetsu seem to always have a rocky relationship. Anko and Ameyuri might have yeah. Glad you liked Satsuki and Haku's tagteam. Maybe it was, who it was could be surprising. Yeah, it does show the differences between them. Anko did yeah, I thought she'd at least comment on it. We'll see what happens with Zabuza this time. Yeah, Satsuki doesn't take too kindly to people wanting to kill Ryouta. Ameyuri's got a twisted sense of desire. Ameyuri spreading that might come back into things later. Ryouta will do his best. It was yeah, I thought that would be cool for Ryouta to use. Cool Avatar ideas. The girls reaction to Mei is going to be fun. Haku could like Mei a good deal.
Skull Flame; It's gonna be fun~ Ameyuri's half teasing and half wanting to intimidate.
MDM11; Ryouta might learn some of them yeah. Ryouta could help them out yeah~ Those would be cool suggestions!
Guest 1; Mangetsu's gonna get some stuff yeah. Satsuki had her moment yeah. Ameyuri's quite smart, and knows how to escape when she needs to do so. No, she can't do that in canon, just something I thought would add to her skill set. He has trained with weapons and wires for quite a long time, so a sword like Nuibari is quite well suited to him. Thanks! Thanks for the suggestions!
Guest 2; Thanks! Ameyuri likes messing with her opponents, both physically and mentally at the same time. Satsuki showed her stuff yeah. They had some cool teamwork between Satsuki and the others~ Ryouta and Satsuki will tag team an enemy, which might be sooner rather than later. Mangetsu surely will yeah~
Guest 3; Mangetsu did yeah, he messed with the wrong people. Satsuki showed her stuff yeah, and how skilled, and willing to work with people she is. I did know about that snake sage bite, recently read it myself, and thought that was a unique way to go about it. Yeah, from looking at Kabuto and reading on the wikia, it seems any substance can be shaped to their liking. Thanks for the suggestion!
The Brilliant Star; Yeah, I'd say he's around there. I do know Date A Live, quite a fun series. Right now, I'm not sure, but it is a story I'd be interested in doing.
War Sage; Thanks! Yeah, there's five blades last chapter, four this one since Ameyuri's gone. The one Ryouta's got, the one Anko's got, the one Mangetsu's got, and the one that Zabuza's got. It depends, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't from what I've read up on. Yeah, Ryouta's going to be going against Naruko this time to stop her. He'll use some this chapter, just depends on the situation. Root is still operating, how it is and what's going on with that will be explored as the story arcs go on. Yeah, I wouldn't mind flash backing to that, when some Mikoto moments come up. Ameyuri does have pride in Kiri, even if she did abandon it. Thanks for the suggestions!
Andrew123456; Izanami, it's an interesting Jutsu, Ryouta could use it if he so wished to, but he'd lose one of his Sharingan if he did, only in extreme circumstances would he do that. Thanks for the vote!
Brainstorm Sorcerer; This chapter will be the end of the fights. Mangetsu truly did yeah. Naruko's gone a little berserk yeah. I always thought that summons were cool, and that canon wise there weren't many people that truly used them in combat, so I thought it would be cool for some others to have unique summons. Ameyuri is a strange one huh. I'm sure it did remind Kakashi a bit about it. He sent a message to Hokage about it beforehand, he also knows about Mei and her interactions with Ryouta, so it would be alright. We will learn about who sent Ameyuri, and Kushimaru, the answer might be surprising. The next chapter will answer about the weapons. Ryouta will help Naruko out of her berserk state. Yeah, if he combined the environment and the dimension power together, it would be truly terrifying. Ameyuri will be back, that's all I can say right. We'll see how that ends~ Zabuza will learn about Ryouta taking out Kushimaru this chapter.
synode; Thanks for the suggestions!
Hinata fan; Yeah, it's going to be quite the ride. Lets hope they do~ Thanks for the suggestions! Haha, it's going to be quite the beating~
Guest 4; Maybe Cao Cao could be the Queen. There's a few people that could be the reason he dies. I could see Rias doing that. I don't know much about Typemoon franchise. Maybe he could help Ise like that. Rias doing that would be fine. He'd have a cool battle against Sairaorg yeah. Yeah, he'd blue flames. Thanks for the suggestions!
Bloodborne; I'm not sure yet, it will be back though.
Well, with those reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Battle of the bridge part three!
Tense feelings surrounded the battlefield of the bridge. Karin and Sakura both heard the cry, and looked to one another, hoping the others were okay.
Suigetsu, wanting to gain an advantage over his enemies, decided to toy with them, hoping that if they let their guard down then perhaps he would be able to escape.
"Maybe my brothers killed one of your friends~"
Suigetsu taunted, only to draw ire from both of the girls.
"You don't know that!"
Sakura snapped, only for Suigetsu to laugh menacingly.
"It's because he killed someone that we have to listen to that girls cries. Haha, I wonder which one it was? I know my brother hated the ice user, and in turn wanted her to die. So maybe it was her."
Karin scowled.
"No it wasn't."
Suigetsu raised an eyebrow.
"You can tell, can you?"
Suigetsu grinned at her, showing his disturbing side.
Karin scowled, but could feel a chakra that was fading fast...
As that was going on, the fight between Zabuza and Kakashi continued. Kakashi could see that Zabuza's skills, and how he was expertly fighting and avoiding Kakashi's Sharingan eye.
Zabuza pulled back into the mist when Kakashi tried to pursue him, only for Kakashi to see a shadow coming in close.
Watching with slightly worried eyes, he blocked the incoming Zabuza and pushed him back, seeing that Zabuza only had a kunai in his hand and not his actual blade, so it made Kakashi realize that this was a clone.
"If you're here, then the real one is bound to show up."
Kakashi surmised, and rushed the clone.
When the clone swung for him, Kakashi jumped high and over the clone, getting behind Zabuza, and stabbed towards the neck, successfully managing to do so...only to see that the clone was holding a paper bomb.
"Damn..."
Kakashi jumped away just in time as the paper bomb went off, only to feel something behind him.
He turned to see Zabuza there, his arms wrapping around Kakashi's form, locking him in place.
"Zabuza, you can't-"
"Goodbye Kakashi!"
Kakashi looked back, to see that Zabuza was coming in with his sword.
The long blade came towards his right hand side, where Zabuza took a massive swing.
Deducing the one holding him was a clone, Kakashi was in a bind.
The clone had a tight grip, and the Zabuza coming in was going to kill him if he didn't do anything in that moment.
Thinking quickly, Kakashi dropped the kunai he was wielding, only for his foot to catch it, and launch it towards the incoming Zabuza, forcing Zabuza to block with his sword, stopping his progression long enough for Kakashi to wrap his legs around the clone, pulling the clone down far enough for him to headbutt the clone, dispelling said clone.
He didn't have long though as Zabuza followed up with his attack, Kakashi withdrew another kunai and blocked Zabuza's attack, their attacks strong enough to create sparks between their blades, Zabuza looking on with impressed eyes.
"Even when you're pinned down, you still have enough skill to think on your feet, and get yourself out of a tight situation. No wonder you're one of Konoha's strongest Ninja."
"Even if I am one of the strongest Ninja that Konoha has, I can't deny your impressive skills."
Zabuza smirked from underneath his bandaged mouth.
"High praise coming from you. But I can't give up just yet."
Zabuza pushed his strength into his blade, and forced Kakashi back, just enough for Zabuza to slide back into the mist, hiding himself once more.
"Damn, this is going to be hard. I have to think of a way to trick Zabuza, in a way that he wouldn't be expecting..."
As he was thinking about how to defeat the Rogue Ninja that was before him, he ran through several possibilities.
However, that soon was replaced with worry when he heard the cry of Naruko erupting in his ears.
But more than just a simple cry.
He felt something strong.
A deep strong chakra.
"That cry...that chakra, it was Naruko...has the seal been broken? What's going on over there…? I have to finish off Zabuza quickly, or I wont be able to stop Naruko...fortunately, I might have the means to finish him off, now that he's got some of my blood."
Kakashi recalled Zabuza managing to cut him before, so he knew that he'd be able to have the upper hand now.
All he needed to do was catch him off guard...
On another part of the battlefield, having heard the scream of anguish, Ryouta and Anko looked to one another.
"Right, you go and make sure they're okay, I've got to check on Karin and Sakura, make sure they haven't been killed or anything."
Ryouta nodded.
"Yes Sensei."
Ryouta went to move, when Anko grabbed his arm.
"Be careful, and whatever's happened...you know how to handle it, don't you?"
Anko spoke with a sombre tone, she wanted Ryouta to be sure and prepared for what might come about because of what could have happened. Though she didn't know, she hoped that Ryouta was prepared for the worst.
Ryouta understood what she was saying, and also what she wasn't saying.
"Yes Sensei...I am prepared."
With that, Ryouta shot forward with Anko looking on, knowing that he'd have to handle it while she made sure the others were safe.
As he cut through the thick fog, he could feel a deep coldness within.
He didn't know what it was.
But when Ryouta got there, he saw Haku attempting to help Satsuki, while Naruko's eyes burned red, and chakra was flowing around her. A stream of red bubbly chakra that was slowly forming across her body, and her whisker marks became thicker, her expression wasn't that of Naruko anymore, it was of something else entirely.
"No...it couldn't be the Nine Tails, could it…? I wonder if her agony at seeing Satsuki-chan like this...has caused the seal to weaken due to the high stress that Naruko-chan is feeling..."
Ryouta thought, as he looked towards Mangetsu.
He was sweating when seeing the girl, and even was beginning to tremble also.
Ryouta didn't waste anytime, running past Mangetsu, and got to Satsuki's side.
"Ryou-kun...it's Satsuki. She's...She stepped in the way..." Haku began, feeling the tears beginning to form in her eyes, but tried desperately not to shed them. "...t-to save Naruko-chan...f-from drowning...but because of that..."
Ryouta placed a hand to his mouth, and steeled his will.
"She might still have a chance, she's not dead yet..."
Ryouta began to perform a life saving manourver on Satsuki, with Haku assisting him in doing so.
Haku's eyes though went towards Naruko, and saw that she was angrily taking steps closer and closer to Mangetsu.
"Naruko-chan..."
Ryouta heard Haku call, and glanced towards her.
Naruko shot for Mangetsu's form. With the red chakra swirling around her, Mangetsu brought up his sword to slice her down with, but she moved with surprising speed, and strength also as her fist hit the swords right hand side with enough physical force that the sword was blown out of Mangetsu's hand, along with the air pressure around the fist strong enough to blow even Mangetsu's watery form back.
"She has this much power…? But I don't understand...Ryou-kun, what is that chakra…? Why...is she acting not like herself…? Who is she Ryou-kun?"
Ryouta couldn't give an answer.
He wasn't allowed to do so, but all he could do for now was work on Satsuki.
"Haku-chan, we need to focus on Satsuki-chan, we can deal with Naruko-chan in a minute. If we don't act now, Satsuki-chan isn't going to recover from this."
Haku understood, and began helping Ryouta.
"You're right Ryou-kun. It seems Naruko-chan is handling herself...whatever it is that she is doing."
Ryouta hoped that Naruko would be okay.
He had to move quickly, save Satsuki, then stop Naruko before the fox was capable of taking her over.
From what he knew, she hadn't even formed a tail of chakra yet, so she hadn't lost her complete self to the Nine Tails. Though he had to admit he didn't know everything, and wasn't sure what kind of mental state Naruko was in right now.
"It's alright Satsuki-chan...I'll bring you back...I'll save you..."
Turning back to Satsuki, Ryouta got to work.
Pushing her body, giving her mouth to mouth, remembering everything it said in the medical books Izumi left behind when someone did drown like this, Ryouta used all of his medical knowledge to try and save her life.
He wasn't going to lose her.
He couldn't.
He remembered Shisui, then he remembered the circumstances behind that…
He didn't want this to be a repeat of that.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Naruko's scream caught the attention of Ryouta, and he briefly glanced back.
Watching her pain etching onto her face, Naruko sent multiple fists towards Mangetsu.
He tried to use a water wall to block the incoming fists, but the strength and speed of the fists along with the chakra around her, blew many holes in the water wall, before she rapidly span around with her foot sticking out, the power she had completely destroyed the wall of water.
"W-What the hell is she?!"
Mangetsu enlarged his fist with water around him, growing and increasing his physical strength.
However, when he sent the fist for Naruko, she responded with her own fist going out. Naruko's fingernails almost looked like claws as she took a swing for Mangetsu, showing her chakra being more powerful than the physical buff that Mangetsu had received, resulting in Mangetsu being smashed away from her, sending him deep into the bridge.
"Gwah..."
Mangetsu spat out blood, unable to switch to his water form in time before she delivered the blow.
He pulled his head up, only to see Naruko's foot going down towards his face.
Activating his watery form within the nick of time, the pressure of the foot however, cracked the ground hard enough for the part of the bridge they were on to shake. Ryouta and Haku could even feel it from their location.
Mangetsu jumped back, and placed his fingers towards her.
Before she could move, Mangetsu fired off highly pressurized bullets of water from his fingertips that could easily rip through flesh.
Naruko got shot twice, blasting her away.
Ryouta panicked for her…
Only to see Naruko letting out a roar, the shockwave blasted the bullets of water away from her.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Ryouta saw that Naruko charged for Mangetsu once more, who formed a Dragon of water.
Using that, he sent it for Naruko, only for the blonde haired girl to swing her fists rapidly before her, dispelling the water Dragon with apparent ease, Ryouta could see that the chakra was growing more by the second, and he believed that the Nine Tails hold on her was growing.
"Satsuki-chan...come on..."
Seconds passed, and Ryouta was desperately trying to save Satsuki.
The chances were growing dimmer by the moment.
His worries became more so with each passing second.
He couldn't panic otherwise he'd mess up and she'd have no chance.
So he stayed as calm as possible, doing the best that he possibly could do.
"Come on...Come on...Satsuki-chan...come on..."
Ryouta did all he could.
Trying his very hardest, with Haku supporting him.
It looked less likely that she was going to recover…
"Gwaaah!"
But just then, Ryouta gained a glimmer of hope, seeing Satsuki coughing up water, Ryouta's heart became relieved, as he helped her out even more.
Sitting her up, she continued to cough up the excess water, before her eyes went towards Ryouta's own.
"Satsuki-chan...you're okay..."
"...Now you can't say...I'm not a team player..."
Her small joke caused Ryouta to chuckle.
"Yes...you're a team player Satsuki-chan...and you're alive..." Satsuki watched him hug her tightly, something that she returned. "I'm so glad you're okay Satsuki-chan..."
Satsuki gave a small smile, latching onto the boy.
"Dummy...as if I'd be going anyway...besides you brought me back..."
"I'd always bring you back, Satsuki-chan. You're...very precious to me, you know?"
Satsuki and Ryouta stared into one another's eyes for just a brief moment, just watching one another with their kindness.
But then reality came back to Ryouta, and heard Naruko, so he quickly made a Shadow Clone which lifted Satsuki up.
"Satsuki-chan, Anko-sensei and the others will take care of you, we'll do the rest here."
Satsuki tried to argue, but Ryouta knew she couldn't just get back up after a near fatal drowning, so he had the clone run off with her, leaving Ryouta, and Haku together.
Haku didn't quite understand what was going on with Naruko, but she could see that Naruko was losing more and more of herself. She wasn't the Ninja that she had seen, she was just something else entirely.
"Ryou-kun, we have to stop Naruko-chan as well, don't we?"
"I'll stop her Haku-chan, can you handle Mangetsu?"
Haku nodded.
"Yes, I'll defeat him."
Ryouta was thankful, he then passed on Kushimaru's blade towards her.
"Use this Haku-chan, I got it from Kushimaru."
Haku clutched the sewing needle like blade within her hand, nodding strongly.
As that was going on, Anko arrived to see Suigetsu having been captured by the girls, so she smirked.
"Well done girls, you managed to beat the water kid huh."
Anko was quite impressed. She didn't state it outright the amount she felt, but she could see that they had done quite a good job.
"We did it just in time before he could get the upper hand on us."
Sakura admitted, Anko placed her hand out.
"Don't go down playing what you girls did, this guys got a strong power, and you both managed to win. You should be proud of your victory."
Both Sakura, and Karin smiled lightly, as Anko weaved through some hand signs.
She then slammed her hand down, creating some earth around Suigetsu's body and binding him even more so he can't get out.
"There, now he wont be a problem for anyone."
"Sensei...the fights, it seems that they're going to be over soon, I can feel the chakra of everyone lowering faster and faster."
Karin added, with Sakura clutching her hands together tightly.
"I hope so, I'm worried about the others..."
"But you did a good job in staying here, and protecting Tazuna and making sure that this guy is stopped. Don't worry about the others, I'm sure they can handle this, we'll remain here in case we're ambushed by anything."
"You think we will Sensei?"
Sakura asked, Anko shrugged.
"I don't know, lets just wait and see."
So that's what they did.
Anko knew that if they were ambushed while attempting to help the others, or if Sakura and Karin got attacked, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself, so relying on the others was the only thing that she was capable of doing at that point.
Back with Haku and Ryouta, Mangetsu was shaking from his fight against Naruko...
But when he saw the look on Ryouta's face that was aimed for him (Mangetsu being smart enough not to look into his eyes) could feel anger coming from him.
Due to what happened with Satsuki, and what he tried to do to Naruko thanks to Haku quickly explaining, if Naruko didn't need savng then Ryouta would have fought Mangetsu himself.
Feeling fear building up, and anger for both Uchiha and Naruko, adding onto the fact that he also hated Haku, Mangetsu was going through a few things right now.
Haku saw Naruko coming in, so she looked towards Ryouta.
"Ryou-kun..."
"I know, I've got Naruko-chan. Be careful with him."
"Yes, leave Mangetsu-san to me."
Ryouta nodded, and took a glance at Mangetsu once more, before tightening his hands and looked towards the rampaging Naruko coming for them all.
Ryouta stepped forward, and went towards Naruko.
Using his quick speed, he grabbed Naruko's body, and dragged her away from the others.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Naruko thrashed within Ryouta's grasp, but he didn't let her go until he was away from the others.
Putting her down, Naruko's eyes were being lost in her rage, and he could see that she wasn't truly thinking straight, as she flung her fist towards him, it was as if she didn't even recognize him at all, so he dodged back and put slight distance between them.
"Naruko-chan, please..."
As he tried to get through to her, she was so lost that she didn't listen and attacked him.
He presumed it was the Nine Tails inside of her, boosting her natural speed, and moved towards his right, so he moved his head out of the way, only for her other hand to go towards his torso, so he moved his arm in the way, and blocked the strike.
Ryouta felt the pressure of her strength, strong enough to create a dent in the ground around them like a small crater, from just the pressure alone, it was just very surprising for Ryouta to see that she had progressed this far already.
Pushing her back a good distance, Ryouta saw that she was running at him on all fours like a fox would.
Coming in left and right with swings of her claw like fingernails, Ryouta dodged each and everyone of them, using his Sharingan to aid in this to see the fast movements that she was giving, only for Naruko to spin around and try to kick his body.
Ryouta back flipped out of the way.
However, she swung her hands forward, releasing some kind of air waves towards him.
Using his speed, Ryouta began to dodge the attacks, while Naruko howled out in pain.
"I have to disable her without hurting her. My best bet is to use some Genjutsu, but it doesn't look as if making eye contact with her is going to be easy….rather, I'd need to lock her down for a second or so to perform some Genjutsu. I'll go with stopping her with a capturing field."
Ryouta allows Naruko to come in close, watching her running across the ground. Her speed he had to admit was increasing, the longer the Nine Tails was active, Ryouta knew that she'd be losing herself, so he did his best.
When she got in close, Ryouta dodged out of the way, and performed some hand signs, before moving his mouth towards her.
"Water Release, Wild Water Wave!"
From his mouth, Ryouta spewed out a stream of water which connected with Naruko, blasting her back without doing much damage, Ryouta used it more as a way for her to be blown away, while he set his trap with another Water Release.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Naruko let out a deadly scream, and a wave of air pressure blasted his water away, and the air waves continued for Ryouta's form, but rather than jump away, he weaved some hand signs, before taking in a deep breath.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Though it was simple, the Jutsu's effectiveness was great enough to combat the shockwaves, and block the attacks coming at his form, Naruko though shot for Ryouta at high speeds, so the boy dispelled the flames before she could get hurt.
When she lunged for him, Ryouta bent his body backwards, allowing Naruko to jump over his form, and while she was doing that, he weaved through some hand signs.
"Water Release, Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"
Expelling a high viscosity water, he forced it against Naruko's body who was still above him.
The sticky substance blasted her back, landing on the ground, the trap Ryouta had set for her, and because she seemed to be pretty mindless at this moment, she didn't even realize it until her front and back both were caught in the sticky liquid, binding her to the ground.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
She screamed once more, only for Ryouta to get near her.
Because she was bound, Ryouta was able to lock eyes with her without having to worry about being blasted away, besides one that came from her mouth, which he dodged by moving his head, though his face received a cut from the shockwave of her roar.
It was a deep cut, Ryouta did feel the sting of the shockwave through him.
Though thanks to his speed, he was able to survive having his head potentially blown off with the incredible close range shockwave that she gave.
"Time to go back to sleep, Nine Tails."
Casting his Genjutsu on her, it didn't take long for it to take ahold of her.
The bubbling chakra around her began to disappear, her eyes shifted back from red, to their usual blue colour.
Confusion came over her for a few moments, and saw Ryouta looking her over.
"You back with us Naruko-chan?"
Naruko looked up towards him.
Seeing the blood on his face, and the way she was captured, she put two and two together.
"Ryou...I...I..."
Naruko began to close her eyes in regret, when Ryouta simply hugged her.
He also released her from the Jutsu that he had cast with the water, allowing her free movement once more.
Sitting up, he continued to embrace her as she did him.
"Don't worry, the Nine Tails is dormant now. You didn't kill anyone, and Satsuki-chan is fine."
"S-She is…?"
She hopefully spoke, Ryouta nodding strongly.
"Yes, we managed to bring her back. She's going to be okay, I promise."
Naruko was so relieved that it even surprised her that she was this relieved.
Then her eyes went towards Ryouta's face, seeing the blood running down his cheek.
"Ryou...I hurt you..."
Her hand placed itself on his face, wiping the blood running down his face, looking deeply regretful about what had happened.
But he soon dispelled it with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry Naruko-chan, it wasn't you. And it's only a cut, I'll be fine."
"But still..."
"Naruko-chan, remember. You and the fox, completely different. You didn't hurt me, you just lost control, and now it's sorted out. Used some chakra consuming stuff though, wanna share your large reserves~?"
Naruko appreciated the kindness that he was giving her, and she ended up tightly embracing him as he did right back to her.
Meanwhile, Kakashi having feared for what was going on with Naruko, knew that he'd have to wrap this up. Zabuza indeed was strong, maybe even more physically than he was, but Kakashi was smart, and he was going to use his mind to help win this battle.
He went to make a move, when he saw the fog moving towards the right, so Kakashi bent out of the way, only to see that it was a trick of the mist, then he heard the smallest noise from behind, so he turned to see Zabuza stood there, his blade swinging for his body.
Grimacing, he barely dodged out of the way, with the blade cutting his right hand side deeper than Kakashi had intended for him to do, Kakashi winced as Zabuza charged for him one more time, so Kakashi weaved through some hand signs.
"Earth Release, Earth Wall!"
Slamming his hands down, a wall of the earth rose up, blocking Zabuza's sword for only a few seconds.
Zabuza cleaved right through the wall, and continued on for Kakashi, bringing out several senbons, launching them with such precision that even Kakashi was shocked, but Kakashi managed to withdraw a kunai, blocking all of the senbons from reaching him.
However, doing that allowed Zabuza to fall back into the mist once more.
"You'll never beat me, it seems that your Sharingan isn't going to save you forever, that's how you managed to dodge me just in time, right?"
Kakashi didn't answer.
He wouldn't be baited by Zabuza.
"Haha, it's alright if you don't want to answer. Delaying the inevitable isn't going to help you. Plus, I have to wonder how long a non Uchiha can keep up the Sharingan for? It must be a large drain on your chakra reserves, right?"
Zabuza laughed out as if he didn't have a care in the world.
He didn't even give his position away either, that's how skilled he was with the Hiding in Mist Jutsu, his voice sounded as if it could be coming from everywhere around him, Kakashi knew that he'd have to be quick or he'd be killed.
Kakashi also knew that Zabuza was speaking the truth.
With each passing second, Kakashi felt more and more of his chakra being drained, and he didn't have the biggest reserves in the first place.
"...I might not have the most reserves, I do have some knowledge on Zabuza thanks to the previous intel, he probably believes that he has the upper hand now. With his allies all busy or gone, it's time for me to make a move."
Kakashi bit into his finger, drawing some blood, before going through a number of hand signs, and then slammed his hand on the ground, releasing his Summoning, which all buried themselves underground, and thanks to Kakashi having been hit by Zabuza already, his blood was on Zabuza's blade.
What Kakashi summoned were ninken, or Ninja dogs, that would track down the scent of Kakashi's blood through the bridge rather than on top were Zabuza could kill them before they had a chance to attack.
Zabuza felt something was off.
Kakashi was being awfully silent.
"So, have you accepted your inevitable demise?"
Kakashi didn't reply once more, Zabuza didn't like it, so he silenced himself, and quietly listened out for anything that could help him out.
The faintest of sounds, the smallest of noises that could draw him to the location of Kakashi, or whatever it was that Kakashi had set up.
Over a minute, and nothing.
Zabuza made sure his wits were about him…
However, he soon heard a noise from below him.
Looking down, he saw the ground cracking, and creatures shooting out.
Dogs with Ninja headbands all began to bite him in various areas.
His arms, his legs, his neck, from the front, back, left and right.
Zabuza tried to move, but he was having difficulty doing so.
His blade was even released from his hand as one of the Ninja dogs bit into it with enough force to draw blood, weakening that hand.
Kakashi soon stepped through from the mist, having a dog perched on his shoulder.
Zabuza's eyes had veins protruding from his eyes, his face turned paler.
He knew that he truly had lost when he saw Kakashi's confident, yet not cocky look.
"Kakashi!"
"Zabuza, I've found you. And now, it's time for me to finisht this mission."
Zabuza's eyes flared while Kakashi began to go through some hand signs.
Soon, he stopped, and lightning began to form around his hand.
"That Jutsu..."
Zabuza began, so Kakashi finished off.
"This is the Jutsu that is going to end your life. The Lightning Cutter."
Zabuza felt his skin tingle.
His body was unmovable thanks to the dogs, and now he was facing death in the face.
As that was going on, Haku finally faced down Mangetsu by herself. Her eyes and his own locked together. Feeling the pressure from Mangetsu, Haku could tell that he had hate weaved through him.
"There's been this feeling deep within me, when I first saw you. I remember being with Zabuza-sama for so long, and he taught me a lot. When I first saw him, it caused me to question everything. Fighting against my former teacher, the man that saved me, and fighting for my new comrades...and fighting for the boy that I...that is someone I truly do care for. The feelings I had...conflicted deep within me."
"I don't care."
"Perhaps you don't, and that's fine. But, Mangetsu-san...you don't have to be a tool anymore."
Mangetsu's eyes flared.
"I am not a tool! And I don't need to hear that from you!"
Haku shook her head.
"I always thought that if I could fulfil the wishes of Zabuza-sama, then my life would have meaning... Right now, when I look at you, I can see my former self, one that would throw my life away for the sake of another, and having no goals of my own."
"I'm nothing like you, I have goals of my own. I want to also fulfil Zabuza-sama's goals. You betrayed him! You left him! I wouldn't ever do that, he is the man that I admire, his killing ability is something that I've always looked up to! To fight beside him is the greatest honour!"
Haku was stunned for a moment.
To Haku, it showed that her, and Mangetsu, were similar in aspects.
But they also differed.
"There was a time in my life, that simply failing Zabuza-sama would have caused me to believe my life had no meaning. I...I did fail Zabuza-sama that day, and because of that, I was tossed away. But, now that I've had this time to think about it, Zabuza-sama did me a favour. He...He allowed me to live a life. He gave me a great gift, he gave me the freedom of choice." Haku cast her eyes up to the sky, as a stray tear fell down her face. "He also gave me the freedom of finding love in my life...freedom and love."
"Freedom...love? I don't think you understand what a Ninja truly is, and what they live by. Feelings get in the way, there is no point to having love in your life, you're only going to end up being a weakling. Zabuza-sama understands this, and wanted to squash his feelings he had for you..."
Haku could see that Mangetsu's mind wouldn't change.
He truly had gone down a path that Haku wasn't sure if he'd be able to return from.
"A Ninja doesn't have to be cold, Mangetsu-san. They don't have to throw away their emotions. I was taught that by Ryou-kun. He...He suffered many things in his life, yet he continues to smile. He smiles, when his heart is hurting him...so I'll do the same. His smile...that smile that I adore, my friends...my new village, those who I have grown to care for and love...I wont let them down. I might be a Ninja, but I'm not a tool anymore. I am a person, and I shall defeat you."
Mangetsu laughed.
"Good luck trying."
Mangetsu raised his finger, shooting off a bullet of water.
However, Haku managed to dodge out of the way, surprising Mangetsu.
He placed both of his index fingers out, shooting a barrage of bullets towards Haku,
Haku didn't bother to dodge, she simply created a mirror of ice. The mirror was sturdy enough for the bullets of water to not fully pierce through. They did manage to damage and break some of it, but the ice regenerated within seconds, acting as a perfect defence.
Mangetsu was getting increasingly angered by seeing that happen, and weaved through some hand signs.
Before he could finish however, Haku used her Ice Release to create mirrors between herself and Mangetsu.
"Damn you!"
Stepping into it, as Mangetsu released his highly destructive wave of water for her, she avoided it, appearing behind him, Mangetsu noticed and simply turned his form watery on as senbons were launched at close range.
Haku noticed something however, and it was how Mangetsu was panting.
"You're getting increasingly tired, your battle with Naruko-chan has exhausted you."
Mangetsu tried to keep his breathing in check, denying what Haku said.
"I think you're looking for things that simply don't exist."
"Now that I've seen your exhausted state, I shall use one last Jutsu to finish you off."
Mangetsu scoffed, he didn't believe her for a second.
However, using one handed signs, Haku stepped back as ice mirrors formed around Mangetsu in a dome shape. Mirrors circulated him, and were layered, with three rows of mirrors on top of the other.
The area began to become even colder due to the Jutsu, while Mangetsu saw that Haku's image appeared in each of the mirrors.
His eyes shifted between them, not sure which one was the real Haku.
"Damn it..."
Mangetsu moved his fingers in rapid succession, and began shooting his water bullets at the mirrors.
Though the mirrors were pierced, Haku's image wasn't disrupted.
"Damn you!"
Mangetsu knew his attacks weren't hitting.
Haku was sliding between each mirror before he could hit them.
So, he tried a different tactic, summoning water from the body of water below the bridge, he attempted to have it come towards the circle of mirrors.
In the moments it did come close, it suddenly began to freeze, Mangetsu surmised it was due to Haku's incredible power.
"Y-You..."
Mangetsu panted harder as he suddenly felt something slice his right arm.
Shock came over him, turning to see what it was…
But he didn't see it.
He kept searching for Haku, but he couldn't find her, while he activated his clans Jutsu to turn into a watery form, though he could feel his chakra reserves rapidly decreasing as Haku swiftly went through him again and again.
It happened so rapidly that even he felt worried.
"...Even if I was at full power, I'm not sure how I'd be able to counteract this. There's also a fact that these mirrors must cost a good deal of chakra to maintain, perhaps she only used it when she believed she had the capability of winning against me...damn, I don't know what I'm going to do, dropping my Jutsu now would leave me susceptible to her assault before I could even try launch an attack. Damn it..."
Mangetsu helplessly watched as Haku's speed blitzed through his body.
But then it suddenly stopped to his perplexity.
Then he heard the sound of something metallic.
Looking around, he was stunned to see that wire was formed all around him in a complex manner.
"When did she...no, when she was attacking me, she was weaving this wire trap..."
Mangetsu murmured, watching the wire coming for him.
He was going to move, when he felt something cold radiating from his feet.
His eyes shifted down, seeing the ice that was there.
He also saw there was a wire already stationed around his feet, stopping his movements.
"R-Running ice through the wires! Y-You can't do this!"
Mangetsu struggled, but the wires giving off a cold aura bound around Mangetsu's watery form. Even without touching the form, Mangetsu was beginning to freeze, and by the time the wires did touch the water, the freezing became so much that as he tried to break free, Mangetsu simply couldn't do so, and was frozen from his shoulders, down to his toes, in a block of ice.
Haku then appeared before Mangetsu, as the mirrors disappeared around her.
She let out a small pant.
"Now you've been stopped Mangetsu-san."
Mangetsu's eyes blazed with his fury.
He couldn't accept it, his defeat at the hands of Haku.
"Why...did he care so much about you…? When I was there...he didn't look at me...like he looked at you...he cared about you...he thought about you...I could tell he did. But me...and Suigetsu...he never did..."
Haku's eyes lowered, feeling the rejection and pain that Mangetsu had felt.
Though Mangetsu had a dark heart, it seemed that what he wanted most was to be respected, and acknowledged by Zabuza, though Haku felt as if deep down that maybe Zabuza did care about Mangetsu, but he didn't ever show it as that was how Zabuza was.
"Mangetsu-san...I am sorry."
Mangetsu angrily stared at Haku.
The simple stare alone was enough to make Haku feel his hatred.
"I don't want your sympathy, I don't want anything from you. You're my enemy until the end, don't show sympathy, show me a good honourable death by your hands. At least...I'd die to an Ice Release user, the revolting Kekkei Genkai of Kiri, and now the property of Konoha, don't you feel like you've betrayed your land?"
"My land betrayed me a long time ago. Maybe one day, it will change. Ryou-kun says Mei-san, will change that, I'd like to see Kiri change, wouldn't you?"
Mangetsu refused to answer, and simply turned his head away the best that he could considering the situation that he was in.
Haku turned her back, and inhaled slowly.
She then weaved through some hand signs, before breathing out wind from her mouth, with enough force to dispel the fog that was around them.
With the fog now dispelled, everyone could see what was happening.
Sakura, Karin, Satsuki and Anko looked relieved when seeing that Haku had won against Mangetsu, Ryouta and Naruko were okay. Anko looked over Naruko, and how she was acting, believing that something happened with the Nine Tails, but it seemed Ryouta managed to hold her off, and stopped her, which she mentally praised.
They also saw Zabuza being pinned down with Kakashi running towards him.
Haku saw that Zabuza had been pinned down by Kakashi's dogs also, and that Kakashi was running towards him with a Lightning Cutter.
Her eyes locked onto Kakashi, and she prepared to move…
When she remembered what Zabuza was.
He was a criminal.
She...couldn't save him.
Even though he was someone that had caused crimes, she felt pain deep within.
He didn't truly show it to her, but she felt deep down that he cared about her, something that was reinforced by Mangetsu.
Now that he was going to die…
"Zabuza-sama...I am sorry...I'm so sorry Zabuza-sama..."
She couldn't take it, looking down at the ground, shedding a few tears while mentally apologizing.
Ryouta glanced at Haku, and saw her pain, saw the anguish within her.
It reminded him of when he lost Shisui.
When he died, and Ryouta couldn't do anything.
Now seeing Haku, who had been through so much already, lose Zabuza.
Yes...he was a criminal.
He had caused a lot of pain to others.
But to Haku...he was the person that saved her, and allowed her to live a better life.
And to Ryouta...Zabuza was a man that Haku could call family.
"No...I promised Haku-chan that she'd be able to speak with Zabuza-san...I promised that I'd do something...Hokage-sama, you told me to use it in the most dire situations...I think this qualifies. For Haku-chan, I'll use that power, it should be able to disable Sensei long enough. I have to take this chance, there's not enough time for me to save Zabuza-san and myself...I have to rely on it."
Ryouta, as he thought it, was already moving forward so fast with the Body Flicker, seeing Kakashi was so close to Zabuza that only about three seconds was left before Kakashi would kill him, his eyes having shifted from normal Sharingan, to Mangekyou Sharingan form.
No one, not even Anko could see where Ryouta had gone.
All they saw was the faint hint of a blur that had been left behind.
Satsuki activated the Sharingan, and looked for his location.
She managed to see him, but he was moving very fast, even surprising her at the speed that he moved.
Kakashi, inches from Zabuza's form, didn't even see Ryouta coming in until the last possible moment when he was before him.
"No!"
Kakashi couldn't pull his hand back, and thought for sure that his hand was going to pierce through Ryouta's body.
However, a silvery aura surrounded Ryouta's chest area, and before Kakashi's Lightning Cutter could hit him, a Susanoo's rib blocked the attack, Zabuza noticed for a moment while it was there the silvery aura...he remembered when he saw something like that with Shisui.
Kakashi went to look, but by the time he did, it had already disappeared, and it looked as if Ryouta had his hand grasping Kakashi's wrist.
"This kid saved me...why? We're enemies..."
Zabuza looked stunned that Ryouta had saved him.
"Ryou-kun..."
Haku also was stunned, seeing Ryouta blocking Kakashi's attack.
Ryouta felt a hit to his chakra, both from using Susanoo and using top speed.
"Ryouta...what are you doing? You could've been killed by my attack, I'd like to know what you're thinking immediately."
Kakashi demanded, Ryouta panted.
"Sensei...please let me explain...I know, Zabuza-san is the enemy, I know that he tried to kill us...but, I've been...speaking to Mei Terumi-san..."
"The woman from Kirigakure? Hokage-sama informed me you have a connection to her."
Ryouta nodded.
"Yes, she sent me a letter...and said that she would like to make a deal with Zabuza-san. His actions can't be abolished with such a single thing, but she said that they both have a common goal and she even contacted Hokage-sama on the matter who agreed, it's all in this letter Sensei...please read this."
Kakashi took the letter off of Ryouta, and quickly read it, while keeping an eye on Zabuza.
Zabuza himself remained perplexed by what was going on.
"...I see, so she's even willing to make a deal with Hokage-sama who agreed to do so. Whatever it is that you've said to her, it seems that you went to great lengths, do you believe in Zabuza that much?"
Ryouta lowered his brows.
"I don't know if I can believe in him Sensei, but I do know that Mei-san isn't an idiot, and she wouldn't make this deal if she didn't believe it would benefit her, and her land and her people most of all. Besides..." His eyes went towards Haku, who looked back towards him. "...I promised someone I care for I'd do everything I could to avoid this man's death. She...immensely cares for him, and...I couldn't let her go through what I had to go through Sensei..."
Kakashi could understand that.
Briefly, his mind flashed back to a friend of his that had died, who was an Uchiha, and then he looked towards Ryouta who was smiling in a similar manner as that person used to do.
But he could also see the seriousness Ryouta had within him.
"...I see, so she should be arriving according to this the day after tomorrow. It seems that we've won this fight, so we'll detain him until then."
Kakashi lowered his hand, while Zabuza huffed.
"I do not want you to do me any favours Uchiha brat."
Ryouta turned his neck around, before punching Zabuza in the face, surprising most people around.
Even Zabuza was stunned by the punch, and saw that Ryouta had managed to cause some blood to come out of his clothed mouth, dyeing it red.
"What the hell kid?!"
"Indeed...what the hell." Ryouta looked over Zabuza. "Kakashi-sensei won your fight Zabuza-san, he would have killed you."
"I know that he would have done that, he won the fight between us. I would have died as a Ninja, live and die as one."
"If you did...then what would your dreams become? You told me years ago, the Mizukage was someone you were gathering funds to assassinate him to stop him."
"So what?"
"How are you going to do that if you're dead?"
Zabuza's eyes burned onto Ryouta's face.
But he remained calm as he spoke.
"Mei-san...look, I get it. You might not see eye to eye with her, you might have conflicting personalities, but you've got the same goals. You both wish to see the end of a horrible part of Kiri's bloody mist, don't you?"
"Even if I do, it isn't your place to interfere."
"Maybe it isn't, but I simply couldn't let you die."
"Care that much for me?"
Zabuza scoffed, so Ryouta expressed his thoughts clearly.
"I care that much for Haku-chan." Zabuza felt a pang of emotion erupt within him for a brief moment. "Like you do."
"I don't, I don't care for anyone."
"If that was true...then why did you tell my brother to take care of her?"
"He told you that!?"
"He told me the conversation, yes."
Zabuza growled.
"Damn that Shisui...even in death he is pissing me off!"
Ryouta raised an eyebrow, but chose to not comment on that, and continued.
"For Haku-chan, I can't let you die...it would be a repeat of my brother and...I can't let her go through that."
Zabuza's eyes lowered, and his eyes turned away from him.
"...Ninja's are tools, if I died, Haku would adapt, she did the first time, and she would have again. Being cold is truly the only way to be a Ninja, she was a tool for my use. I didn't care when she leaved, and I didn't care when I saw her."
Ryouta didn't think he was being honest with himself.
"Shut up right now!"
Naruko suddenly yelled, shocking Ryouta and the others.
Zabuza didn't turn his neck back, simply staring out towards the body of water.
"What gives you the right to tell me what to do little blonde girl?"
"Eeeeh! I don't know everything...but, I do know Haku! She...She really does care for you! Even after all these years, she told me she cares so much for you! And you're saying...being cold is the only way to be a Ninja? That they're only emotionless tools that are used then discarded? So...d-do I have to be cold to be a Ninja too?!"
Zabuza's eyes closed, his mind flashing back to various points in his life.
Ryouta continued seeing that Zabuza wasn't reacting visually.
"You can say Ninja's are cold and have no feelings, but I think that's not true. ...That day, when you gave Haku-chan to us...you wouldn't have spoken to my brother to care for her, if you didn't care, right? Deny me all you want, but you can't deny yourself."
Zabuza's damaged hands began to shake.
Upon hearing the speech both Ryouta and Naruko gave, Sakura and Karin were so moved, Haku also was very moved at the passion the pair shared, Satsuki even had to admit that she felt something deep within her.
Mangetsu and Suigetsu didn't think it would work, they thought that Zabuza would reject them, while Kakashi and Anko hadn't made up their minds yet on what was going to happen, even Tazuna felt the same as the Sensei's and weren't sure what was going to happen next.
Zabuza stared at Haku, who did the same back.
After all these years, denying his feelings, burying them and wishing they'd disappear.
Trying to forget her…
He never could.
Seeing her sad eyes right now…
Seeing the pain on her face...
But also seeing the hope that she had…
Zabuza flashed back to when they first met, to when they trained, when he saw her expressions when she was taught a new Jutsu, when she was able to smile and when he had to leave her behind, but also seeing how she had matured, and grown together with Ryouta and the others she could call her friends.
How she had truly grown from a tool to a true Ninja...
Zabuza began to cry.
Shock came over people such as Kakashi, he didn't think he'd ever see that.
Mangetsu thought it was a trick of the light, and didn't want to believe it.
Suigetsu also questioned what was going on.
Anko also was stunned, seeing how the words of Naruko and Ryouta got through to him.
Naruko's natural compassion, and Ryouta's knowledge of Zabuza and his own compassionate side.
"You brats..." Zabuza relented as he exhaled slowly. "...alright, I'll listen to what Terumi has to say." Ryouta and Naruko both looked relieved as he looked at Kakashi. "It seems these Genin have a good grasp on human emotions..."
"Yes, it seems that they do. Are you truly finished fighting?"
"I said that, didn't I?"
Kakashi held a small smirk on his hidden lips.
But that was soon ended when Karin's eyes looked left.
"Everyone, there's incoming. A number of people are coming here."
Zabuza looked towards Karin, and scowled.
"Gato...Kakashi, get these dogs off me, I need to repay Gato for all of the...lets say kindness that he has given."
Kakashi didn't have a problem with it, and allowed his ninken to drop from Zabuza's limbs.
Soon, Gato did indeed come, together with many of his men. All wielding weapons, the thugs stayed behind their boss as he gave a dirty grin.
"Look at you Zabuza, so pathetic."
Zabuza scowled.
"So, is this the double cross I was expecting?"
"Found out that one of your teammates died, Kushimaru was his name?" Kakashi's eyes glanced at Ryouta, knowing it was him who had managed to do it. "The woman with the lightning swords fled, your little apprentices have both been detained, and you're in a sorry state. Haha...now all I have to do is let my men finish this."
"Finish this? Those fools couldn't compare to anyone here."
Zabuza coldly said, Gato scoffed.
"Your arms are messed up, what are you going to do to me now?"
Zabuza didn't like Gato winning.
He tried to raise his arms, but found that they were damaged, so he turned to Ryouta.
"Kid, kunai in my mouth, now."
Ryouta chortled awkwardly, pulled out a kunai, and held it for Zabuza who practically ripped the bandages off his mouth, revealing his mouth, as he grabbed the kunai between his teeth.
"Zabuza-san..." Ryouta began, Zabuza shot him a look, a look that told Ryouta...he'd not die. "Make sure that Gato can't hurt anyone else, okay?"
"Haha, right kid."
Zabuza then ran forward at high speeds.
Clutching the kunai in his mouth, Gato began to panic, and ran back towards his men who rushed forward. Running through the crowd of thugs, he used his kunai to cut down the men, dodging their attacks at the same time.
One of the men attempted to strike Zabuza from behind, that was until Haku threw some of her senbons into the man's neck, disabling him.
Zabuza glanced at Haku who placed her hands together.
"Zabuza-san..."
Zabuza smirked, as he called "Haku...I want you, beside me." something that made Haku's heart grow, while Mangetsu's own to fall.
Haku looked to Anko who waved her hand.
"Go on Ice Queen, we've been paid to protect Tazuna here, they're a threat to Tazuna, go and get involved."
"Yes Sensei! Leave it to me!"
Haku dashed forward, and though low on chakra, Haku appeared beside Zabuza, and began using her senbon's to fight off the goons, taking the right, while Zabuza took the left, all the while advancing towards the fearful Gato.
Naruko announced "Yeah! Lets do this!" but was stopped by Ryouta.
"Ryou…?"
"Let them do this for the moment Naruko-chan."
Naruko looked towards Haku and Zabuza, seeing Haku's happy face, and Zabuza's smirking one.
Understanding, she nodded strongly.
"Yeah, they've got this."
They all watched as goons of Gato flew around the battlefield, Haku using her speed to deliver swift kicks and punches to them, while Zabuza cut them down.
Seeing them together, Ryouta knew this is what Haku wanted all along.
To fight together with Zabuza, as his equal.
Not as a tool.
Haku was able to fulfil the dream that she couldn't do all those years ago, defending and helping Zabuza.
But, also moving forward with her own dreams now.
When Zabuza was getting to Gato, the panic rose within him, and he ended up letting out a cry.
"P-Please wait! I can give you anything! Money! Power! Whatever it is, name your price!"
Zabuza coldly stared at him.
Unforgiving eyes that displayed his anger.
"Consider this your last payment, Gato."
Gato's fear was evident in his eyes, and then Zabuza finished him off brutally.
As he did, Zabuza who was tired, fell to his knees.
Seeing that, Haku got to his side, and stood before him protectively.
"Zabuza-san, please let me."
Zabuza looked back up towards Haku, seeing her taking the lead in a sense, something she never would have done before.
"...Right."
That was more than enough for Haku, who was ready to face down the others.
With Gato now dead, his thugs look towards the Ninja, and then towards each other.
"Hey, if boss is dead, we don't get paid, right?"
One of the thugs brought up, with another looking dejected.
"Yeah..."
"But, we still have a way for us to get some money. Lets go and pillage the village!"
"Yeah, lets take all their money!"
"That's a good way for us to get something!"
As they spoke, Naruko looked towards Ryouta.
"Erm...do they think we can't hear them or something?"
"I think they're putting their hopes onto us being too exhausted to stop them."
Ryouta replied, as Anko smirked.
"Too tired huh? I'm never too tired for kicking some major ass!"
As she announced it, Kakashi noticed something.
"Wait Anko, there's something coming."
Anko cocked her head.
But then she smirked when she saw it.
The village, led by Inari and his Mother Tsunami. Many, if not all of the village had rallied around Inari, while the thugs looked completely stunned. Each of them had weapons within their hands, determination on their faces.
They were ready now.
The words and the actions of the Ninja seemed to have reached them.
"What the hell…?"
"I thought their spirits were crushed..."
The thugs remained confused, while Inari took a step forward.
"We wont let you do whatever you want anymore! We will protect our village from you all!"
As he declared it, the other villagers backed up what he said.
Tazuna gained a bright smile, seeing Inari standing up, and his village finally doing the same thing.
The thugs looked worried as Anko sighed.
"Damn...I wanted to go and kick some more ass..."
Karin placed a hand to her forehead.
"Seriously, you're as wild as ever Sensei."
Kakashi looked back to Anko and chuckled.
"It's alright now, don't you think?"
Anko cracked her knuckles.
"Hahahahaha...now it's time for us to destroy~ Come on everyone, lets go and get them!"
Anko rushed forward, so Naruko cheered and did the same thing, Karin released a breath as did Sakura, but did run forward also, while Satsuki gave slightly bemused eyes, before she took out a kunai, and did the same thing.
Leaving behind Kakashi and Ryouta, the Ninja began to take down the men of Gato's together with the villagers.
"Ooh yeah! Have this!"
"Heheh! Believe it!"
"Chaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Have this you punk!"
"Hmph, I'll deal with these."
Anko summoned snakes from her sleeves, and wrapped them around the enemies, Naruko summoned some Shadow Clones, and began attacking people left and right, Sakura reeled her fist back, before sending it forward and smashed it against a good number of people, Karin jumped and did a double kick to someone's face, and sent them flying, Satsuki used her Sharingan and speed to predict and counter the enemies attacks.
Haku was able to fend off the people trying to attack Zabuza with ease now the others had gotten involved.
Kakashi looked towards Ryouta, who exhaled slowly.
"You risked a lot today, what if Zabuza hadn't come around?"
"I had a feeling he would, even back when I was with my brother, despite him being called a Demon, I knew deep down that Haku-chan was someone he cared for. And if that wasn't enough...then I would have done what a Ninja would to protect their friends. As isn't that what it means to be a Ninja, Sensei? Breaking the rules would lead people to call you scum, but abandoning your friends, you'd be even worse than scum."
Kakashi blinked at his words.
But then let out a small laugh as some of Gato's men rushed them.
Without looking, the pair took out some kunai, and threw them with precise movements that they each were stopped with a single kunai to the legs.
"Heh...you know, I thought you were reckless when you stepped in front of me...but, I now understand what Hokage-sama has seen within you."
"What's that?"
"Your compassion, and your understanding of people, it is a good thing to see it. But it reminds me, I also went on missions with your brother, when he was alive."
Ryouta was surprised, he didn't know that.
"I...I didn't know that Sensei."
"Yes...well, when I saw you today...your speed today, even I have to admit that I didn't see you until you were before me, it reminded of Shisui's incredible speed."
"Been training to become fast, faster than my brother."
Kakashi's smile was hidden by his mask.
"I see, one day maybe you'll do it. Also, thank you for stopping Naruko."
"...So you're aware of what happened Sensei?"
"The Nine Tails didn't break out, so I'm thankful for that, and she seems to be her usual cheerful self."
Ryouta gently smiled.
"By the way Sensei, that lightning Jutsu was pretty cool! I don't think I've seen anything like that before."
Kakashi adopted a smirk.
"I invented it around your age actually."
"You invented a cool Jutsu like that Sensei?"
Ryouta said with a bright and intrigued smile, something Kakashi found to be endearing.
"Yeah that's right. It takes the Sharingan to use, so it wasn't complete until I gained a Sharingan."
"Ooh, I see. I'd love to have a signature Jutsu like that~"
Kakashi continued to smirk as Ryouta began running towards Zabuza.
"This kid, he managed to beat Kushimaru on his own, renowned for his swordsmanship skills, impressive. But more than that...this boy reminds me of you, Obito. Going through so much to help someone...his kind nature...yet his fierce will...though it seems he's more talented." Kakashi internally laughed. "And Shisui...you've raised a fine young man. Someone that can hope for the best, but is also prepared for the worst...I quite like him."
Kakashi watched Ryouta getting to Zabuza's side, where he began using some healing Jutsu on him.
Zabuza looked towards Ryouta, and saw that he had a small smile on his face.
"Kid..."
"Yes, Zabuza-san?"
Looking at the boy, and what he had done for Haku over the years, he thought about showing his appreciation somehow.
Zabuza shook his head ultimately, not being one to display affection.
"It's nothing, hurry with the healing."
Ryouta began to laugh.
"Haha, don't worry, you'll be fine Zabuza-san~ You're still the same as ever, huh~?"
Zabuza huffed.
But deep inside...he felt a warmth he hadn't for a good long time.
Why...he understood now.
Looking at the Ninja's and the village drive off Gato's remaining men, Zabuza chuckled to himself.
For the first time in a long time...he felt something that almost could be called peace.
End chapter!
So this brings an end for the fights of the Land of Waves arc!
Haku fought against Mangetsu, showing her strength and managed to beat him. Ryouta, using what Izumi had taught him years before, and his own studies Izumi left, helped him save Satsuki. Naruko, who had lost control, was briefly fought off by Ryouta who managed to use his Sharingan to stop her from going too wild. Kakashi and Zabuza also had their fight, and though Zabuza improved, Kakashi's intelligence managed to subdue him.
Going in for the final attack, Ryouta managed to flash between them and stop the attack by summoning a rib of the Susanoo, something only one person saw him use. After a conversation with Zabuza and speaking with deep emotion, he stopped fighting and then him, along with the others, even the villagers, took down Gato and his men.
Kakashi and Ryouta even shared a small moment between them, that's going to help develop a bond between them.
Next chapter, Mei's gonna show up, so that's going to be a fun reunion between Ryouta and Mei.
Ryouta; Satsuki, Sakura, Naruko, Hinata, Gaara (fem), Ino, Haku (fem), Kurotsuchi, Karin, Konan, Mei, Anko, Samui, Hanabi,