Chapter 14
Feeling Zabuza's blade come through the air, I leap backward out of its reach just long enough for it to safely pass by me. Pushing my chakra into my feet I chakra step up to him. Bringing my left blade down towards him. Hearing him chuckle just before his hand grabs the back of my hair and his knee shoves into my ribs. I could hear the sickening cracking of bones even before I am released from his hold. "Now this is to repay you!" He snarls. Fighting to breathe I feel his foot raise through the motions of kicking me. Dropping to the ground I let his kick pass over me before shoving with my hands off the ground and into the air. Successfully jumping back out of his reach coughing.
"Kira!" Naruto's shout echoes around me as I hold my ribs. I really wish all of the yelling would stop so I can focus. Tch.
"Listen, get the bridge builder and run! You can't win this fight! He's using all of his power to keep me in this prison so he can only fight you with his water clone but the clone can't go far from his real body, if you get away from him he cant follow. Now run!" Kakashi's voice was panicked. Worried for our safety. Growling I slide my blades back into their sheaths before raising my right hand towards my face.
"Don't you remember Kakashi? We're a team. I will never turn my back on a comrade!" I remind him of the very lesson from him that had hit me the hardest. With a smirk, I wipe the blood from my chin. Zabuza just seems to chuckle.
"You say that but you rid yourself of your weapons? Either your stupid or the pain of your broken bones are clouding your judgment." Shaking my head I bend my knees ready to attack.
"Actually, I'm neither." I snap at him before running towards him. The eyes of my team, no, the eyes of my comrades are on me. Watching this. They aren't spiteful or hateful right now. I won't turn tail and run! I claim silently to myself. As I felt Zabuza's clone shift to block any attack I push the chakra to my feet once again and leap into the air with a smirk. Moving my hands I perform the seals Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger. Building Chakra in my stomach I take in a deep breath before moving my right hand towards my mouth. Phoenix Flower Jutsu! I shout in my head just as I began blowing concentrated bursts of flames firing them at Zabuza's clone. Following its every move. With the fifth ball, I reach behind me withdrawing a kunai and paper bomb. I prepare the two quickly before throwing them with the last ball of fire.
Flipping backward I land on one knee touching my chest where my broken ribs are. "Boom." I mutter just before the explosion takes place. All I could feel as I stood was the flames from the explosion. The burst of wind whipping my hair around. A sudden shift in the already movement-ridden battleground catches my attention. Diving forward I feel his foot slice through the air mere millimeters from my back. Planting my hands on the ground I spin my body as I shove myself back into the air. This time flying towards him as I pull one of my blades. As I feel him reach for me I grab his arm and use it to give me enough leverage to divert my descent. Burying my blade into the clone's chest just before my feet touch the wet ground. My free hand now moving back to my painful ribs. A kick to my back caught me off guard knocking the air from my lungs sending me flying. A sudden burst of white flashed in front of my eyes as I hit something hard. "… A.. third clone?" I whimper reaching up to my forehead protector and lifting it to clear my view. I found my eyes widen when I realize that as I had kept Zabuza's clones busy the others had freed Kakashi. The one that had struck me was somehow the real Zabuza. My vision fades in and out as I tried to stand.
"Kira!" I heard Naruto yell before turning to run to me. As Kakashi was now fighting Zabuza. Damn it! I shout at myself as my vision darkens again, yet this time it doesn't come back.
Slowly opening my eyes I groan at the stinging caused by the bright sun shining through a window where I was laying. "Damn, it's hard to breathe." I mutter before setting up, wincing now from how sore I still am. I move my hand to my chest to feel bandages now wrapping around my torso. "So that's why." I mutter to myself before standing, finding my ninja outfit cleaned and folded next to the futon I had been laying on. Reaching into my ninja pouch that was laying on top of my clothes I pull out a kunai. Cutting myself free from the restraints so I could freely take in a deep refreshing breath. Looking down at myself I notice the bruises covering me from my right shoulder down over my collar bone, coating my stomach purple. I find myself smirking at how bruised I am, before pressing my right index finger and thumb into my chest feeling around my ribs. Just to make sure they were healed and I, was just sore. Nodding in satisfaction I retrieve my clothes to get dressed before leaving the room to find the others.
Searching the floor I was on first I hear talking coming from a room at the end of the hall causing me to pause at the door and lean against the frame just out of sight crossing my arms. "Heh well, you did take down one of the most powerful ninja assassins so we'll be safe for a while."
"Right, but you know that boy with the mask, what about him?" Sakura's voice comes up questioningly.
"He's from the elite tracking unit of the village hidden in the mist. Those masks are only worn by the most elite ninja." Kakashi's tired voice explains.
"What exactly do they do?" Sakura questions.
"The Anbu black ops also known as the inferno squad destroy all traces of a rogue ninja's corpse. The ninja's body contains many secrets. Ninjutsu, Chakra, special medicines used on his body, these are the secrets of his village. If his enemies find them his people will be in grave danger. For instance, if I were to die at the hands of an enemy they would try and analyze my Sharingan. In the worse case, my entire jutsu could be stolen and used against our home village. It is the sacred duty of the ninja trackers to prevent this. To keep the village secrets safe. If a ninja betrays his village the trackers hunt him down, eliminate him, and obliterate every trace of his existence. That's their specialty." After Kakashi finishes speaking everything falls quiet. Looking down I grip my hands into fists. What is this feeling? As if I am forgetting something important. Or at least as if I should know something that I can't remember for the life of me.
"H. Hey, Sensei are you alright?" Naruto questions. So Naruto is in there as well. I bet Sasuke is too.
"O. Oh right, to finish what I was saying. Tracker ninja deal with the body immediately, on the spot, so there is no room for error."
"Is that? Really important?" I hear Sakura's question. Duh, it's important otherwise he wouldn't have said it.
"Think about it. Do you remember what that tracker did with Zabuza's body?"
"W. We don't know what he did. I guess, I mean, he took it away somewhere."
"Exactly, but why? He should have worked on Zabuza right there as quickly as possible… Think of the weapons he used for the takedown. Do you remember what they were?"
"Throwing needles!" Finally, Sasuke speaks up. "No way!"
"Exactly, none of it adds up." Kakashi agrees.
"What are you all yammering about? You demolished that assassin." Tazuna questions and states as if Kakashi was worrying for nothing.
"Here's the truth. Zabuza's still alive." Nodding to myself I try and block out the screaming from Tazuna, Sakura, and Naruto. Idiots.
"But we saw his body! Believe it!"
"Kakashi Sensei, you checked him yourself you said that his heart stopped!"
"His heart did stop. But, that was just a temporary state to simulate death. The weapons that the tracker used are called senbon. They can pierce deeply but rarely are they fatal unless they pierce a vital organ, not in the neck. They're modified from needles used in medical treatments like acupuncture. Trackers are trained to know every detail of the human body. Causing the heart to stop momentarily while keeping the body alive is an easy matter for them. First, he carried Zabuza's body away even though it's much heavier than he is. Second, he used senbon which have a precise effect but are rarely fatal. From these two factors, we can conclude that the tracker wasn't trying to destroy Zabuza but, he was trying to save him!"
"Come on! You're overthinking this aren't you?"
"Encountering suspicion the ninja prepares quickly, hesitation leads to disaster. Every shinobi knows this saying."
"Sensei... You said prepare quickly but how can we do that when you can barely move and Kira... Well." Sakura begins to question.
"What about Kira?" Kakashi questions lightly.
"She has several rib fractures. Who knows what other damage has been done to her back. From what I can tell there is no internal bleeding but she really should get to a doctor." A female states to clarify what Sakura was saying. "She will be lucky to move at all when she finally wakes up."
"Oh really?" Kakashi sounds surprised with an amused tone.
"Wait, what's so funny Kakashi Sensei?" Again Sakura questions him.
"Would you like to come out and answer that? Eh, Kira?" I heard gasps from within the room. Sighing to myself I shove away from the wall. Great he gave me away. Walking into the room I drop my hands to my sides.
"I'm a bit bruised but otherwise I'm fine." I smirk now moving my right hand to my hip once I have all of their attention.
"But.. How?!" Sakura yells. The look on her face was as if I let down her hopes which irritated me.
"I heal quickly." I shrug nonchalantly. Before walking next to a girl with shoulder blade length black hair, a pink shirt, and a blue skirt.
"But that.." The lady began. With a raise of my hand, she quiets down.
"What I'm interested in is how we will prepare for Zabuza's return when you can't even move properly." I mention as my eyes fall on Kakashi. Watching him laugh seemed to give me goosebumps. He is a little creepy when he laughs.
"I can still train you."
"Hold on! A little last-minute training won't make us strong enough to fight Zabuza! You could barely defeat him even with your Sharingan. We have to be reasonable about this!"
"Oh shut it Sakura." I mutter. "Just let him speak." I snap interrupting her.
"Sakura, why was I able to stop Zabuza? Because you all helped me... You've grown... Naruto!"
"huh?"
"You've grown the most." Kakashi says with a closed eye smile making Naruto smile in return.
"So you notice Kakashi Sensei! Now things are going to get better! Believe it!"
"I don't believe it, nothing's gonna be good!" A boy yells causing everyone to look at the green outfitted little kid.
"Who are you?!" Naruto yells pointing past me to the kid.
"Ahh, Inari! Where've ya been?" Tazuna exclaims holding his arms out for a hug as the kid runs to him to hug him.
"Welcome back grandpa!"
"Inari! That was very rude!" The woman walks over to the two of them with her hands on her hips. "These ninja helped your grandpa and brought him here safely!"
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm rude to them too." Tazuna brushes off the woman's stern words as he pets the top of the boy's hat.
"Yeah, cuz you're a drunken fool." I mutter officially getting a stern look from Kakashi.
Stepping out of his grandfather's arms the boy, Inari turns to the woman. "Mom don't you see these guys are going to die?! Gato and his men will come back and find them and wipe them out!"
"What did you say brat?!" Naruto yells standing up. Reaching out I catch the back of his coat before he could even take a step towards the kid. He pulls away from my grip then points at Inari. "Listen up! You know what a super ninja is? Well, that's me only a lot better. I'm going to be Hokage! This Gato or Blato or whatever he's called is no match for a real hero like me!" I think he just put himself down. That whole phrase just said a super ninja is beyond his own capabilities.
"Ha. There's no such thing as a hero. You're just full of stupid ideas!"
"What you say?!" Naruto goes to go after the kid causing me to grab onto the collar of his coat again only more tightly this time. He begins to yell in aggravation from being unable to move forward.
"If you want to stay alive you should go back to where you came from." Inari says over his shoulder before turning around and walking towards the door to leave the room.
"Inari wait, where are you going?" Tazuna calls for him.
"To look out at the ocean! I want to be alone!" He answers before walking out. Leaving us to watch him leave.
"Sorry about that." Tazuna apologizes.
"It's alright." Kakashi speaks before returning his gaze to me. "Before we do any training, I would like to speak with Kira alone." Giving him a nod I sigh inwardly letting loose of Naruto. "You three relax a bit before we head out to train." The others in the room just look from Kakashi to me then back to Kakashi a few times.
"Alright." Sakura was the first to speak before standing and dragging Naruto out of the room. Sasuke follows after them. It didn't take too long for Tazuna and his daughter to leave next. Silence rang out in the room until Kakashi was sure no one was around to listen in.
"Kira... It's time to talk. Sit down." He calmly speaks waiting for me to sit on the floor near his futon before speaking again. "Would you like to explain how you can fight like that or even heal broken bones in less than twenty-four hours?" Looking down I bite my bottom lip. I knew questions like these would come sooner or later. So now I just have to pick the correct way to answer, right?
