Chapter 18
"Sasuke, we need to fend off anything that happens until I can figure out the best way to fight him."
"You?" He responds as he looks to me. "Why you?"
"Don't ask questions I cannot answer, just do as I say alright." He looks down momentarily then smiles.
"Fine. We'll do things your way for now." I smile in return pulling a kunai from the holster on my right leg as I sheath my blade. A Kunai would produce more results than my blade in terms of blocking needles if they are thrown. The blade yes is longer but it is also more difficult to maneuver at a decent speed.
"Sasuke, I should tell you something." I drop my voice glancing at him from the corner of my eye. Seeing I captured his attention again I finally speak. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Before we knew what was happening I see Sasuke's shirt get torn. That... Boy, Haku, he's throwing needles from the mirrors! As a second one comes at him I slide behind him to block it with my kunai. What wasn't planned, I ended up blocking it with my shoulder. Giving a small grunt of pain as it dug into my flesh. Before even more bombarded us causing us both to curl slightly to try and block our vitals. Upon hearing Sasuke's kunai hit the ground from being knocked from his hand my eyes widen. "Sasuke?" I mutter. Only letting out a sigh of relief when I hear him grunt in response. He's alright but we need to stop these needles!
Seeing Sakura throw a kunai at the ice mirrors from the corner of my eye I notice Haku catching it. I see so even in this jutsu he isn't bound to stay within the mirrors until it's complete. He can come and go as he pleases. Hearing a whistling I fight to not look to where it's coming from and watch as it catches Haku's mask from the side knocking him out of the mirrors. "Sasuke.." I whisper causing him to look at me. "Get out of here while he is distracted. I'll be right behind you." His eyes widen before looking back at Haku.
Hearing a loud explosion-type sound before the popping of firecrackers fills the air I roll my eyes. Oh please don't be so stupid. "Number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja." Haku says as he stands.
"Naruto Uzumaki is here! Yeah, believe it!" He finally drops the pose with a laugh. "Now that I'm here everything will be alright!" Turning my attention away from the idiot. I look around at the mirrors. I wonder how much is known to Haku while he isn't inside them? Hearing Haku's voice about showing us what speed really means my eyes widen. He isn't in all of them at one time! He's just moving fast enough through them that we cannot see! That would mean there is a weakness to this jutsu. Which would be... When he's jumping mirrors.
Yet, if he's moving fast enough we cannot see, then that makes it more difficult... Unless... Looking down I take note of the water on the ground. More water would be helpful but I'm sure with Sasuke and my own mind working together we can figure something out. Sasuke. My eyes widen looking at him. Ice melts right, we can create more water with fire. We could do fire jutsu at the same time which could be more effective. Especially from opposite sides. "Sasuke. Go now!" I hiss at him giving him a nudge. "Attack with your jutsu from the outside when I attack with mine from in here." Seeing him nod I turn towards Naruto and Haku again.
When Sasuke was officially not at my side anymore I raise my kunai counting to ten to give him enough time to get out. "Some warriors accept defeat gracefully when they know they have lost. Others do not. So be it. Let us finish our battle then. To the death!" Turning I look to Sasuke as Haku appears in front of him. Damn it! He knew Sasuke was trying to get out. Throwing my kunai at the mirror ineffectively I try to draw Haku's eyes to me. "Leave him alone!" I growl clenching my fists.
As that sound leaves my lips we are being attacked by throwing needles again. Ducking my head to save my face before chakra stepping to Sasuke and throwing my arms around his ducked form. Covering his body with my own without even thinking. Hissing in pain near Sasuke's ear, I take the majority of the spikes. It was only when my throat set aflame, I knew how bad I had been hurt. Pulling from Sasuke as the needles stop I brush my bangs back over my eyes and peer through the soft tendrils at Haku. Taking an unsteady breath I fight against the pain before shooting a glance at Sasuke from the corner of my eye to see him looking at me. "I have a plan now." He smirks.
"About time."
"It was thanks to Naruto for giving me time to think. Just follow my lead." Seeing him nod I straighten my stance before running at the mirrors. Closing my eyes just before nearing the ice I push my energy outwards. Feeling an attack coming I shove my chakra into my feet leaping back as my hands perform the necessary hand signs. Tiger, ram, monkey, boar, horse, tiger.
"That's!" Sasuke claims under his breath before I hear him make a grunting sound in understanding. Sucking in a breath I pull my chakra into my chest molding it into the raging flames I was summoning forth. Once my feet hit the ground beside Sasuke again we both move our hands to our mouths and expel a huge ball of fire. Mixing our jutsu into one to hit the ice at the same time with double the intensity.
As the flames subside the image of Haku was standing in the mirror in front of us. Unharmed. "You will need much stronger flames to melt this ice."
"Damn it, it didn't work." Sasuke says as I glance to the ground with a smirk.
"It worked just fine. Everything we do brings us closer to complete understanding."
Seeing the mirrors begin to glow again I growl under my breath tucking my body into a ball just before the needles begin to bombard us again. Dropping to my knees from the pain once the needles stop I try to catch my breath as I glare towards the mirrors. "You idiot?!" I heard Sasuke yell nearly causing me to snap at him until I realize who exactly he was yelling at.
"When did you get in here Naruto?"
"I snuck in while you both were trying to melt the mirrors. But what is this?!"
Sighing my palm meets my face. It would have been better if he had stayed out of this. "This is his attack jutsu. He is jumping from mirror to mirror at such a speed we cannot see his movements. From doing this he is able to throw an unbelievable amount of needles at us seemingly at once." I explain causing both of them to just stare at me. "Sasuke." I whisper as I move up to them and hold my hand out for him to take. As he stands I take the moment he was closest to me to speak. Quietly enough for just him to hear me. "Use the water on the ground. We must see his movements to be able to catch him when he is en route."
"Got it." He says as he smiles. Nodding I glare towards Haku hoping my eyes were still unseen by the others around me. Judging by their lack of reactions to them I bet my bangs are still covering them enough.
"If there are 100 mirrors I'll have 100 of me smash them down!" Hearing the popping sounds of Naruto's clones I brace myself for the next assault of needles.
"He isn't a shadow clone Naruto, these mirrors only reflect his image and allow him to pass from mirror to mirror at a supernatural speed. Did you not listen to a single thing I said to Sasuke!"
"So, you figured it out." Haku says.
"Yes, and I'm going to figure out a way to more efficiently put an end to it." I claim to hide the fact of what I had just told Sasuke. He doesn't need to know I already have a plan.
"For someone as skilled as you, I have no doubt that you will. But, I'll put an end to you before you can."
"I couldn't breakthrough. So what he's not going to stop me!" Naruto yells as he manages to stand up again after his failed attempt had successfully gotten him hurt. "I'm not giving up and I'm not going to lose here. Because I have a dream, and no one's going to take it away from me! Someday I'm going to be respected in my village. That's my dream to be the greatest Hokage!" Closing my eyes I take in Naruto's words, successfully reminding me of my own dream.
"We all have dreams… It's human nature." I state simply.
"Dreams….. It was not my desire to be a Shinobi… It's painful. I don't want to kill you but, if you advance I will have no choice. Then I will kill the kindness in my own heart and fully embrace the Shinobi way. And then there will be no mercy, no turning back. This bridge will be the battlefield where our dreams collide. Now I must fight for my dream. Just as all of you fight for yours. Please do not blame me... I will fight for someone who is precious to me. I live for him, and I face death for him. So that his dream may become reality. That is my dream and for the sake of that dream if I must I will act as a Shinobi and take your lives!"
Smiling to myself I couldn't help but hear my own words coming from the boy's mouth. In the death note world, I was willing to give up everything in order to make Light's dream a reality, I would have done anything within my power to keep him safe so that he could see the very world he dreamed of creating. Well, this is going to get interesting. He is indeed a worthy opponent. I do not plan to lose here for my life has only ever had one purpose. I will not fail to defeat time itself even if I have to end someone such as this boy to accomplish that task. Even if it means awakening a part of me that has been dormant within me since Light and I had defeated the task force.
"Sasuke! Naruto! Kira! Take this guy out you can do it!"
"Don't Sakura, don't push them."
"Huh?"
"Even if they somehow found a way to overcome the mirror Jutsu, they still couldn't defeat this ninja."
"How can you be so sure?!"
"They have the desire to win. But, Naruto and Sasuke don't have the instinct to kill and Kira... Fights against it. That boy is a whole other breed from those three. He lives for pain, he thrives on it."
"Exactly, your village has become complacent, the trainees never learn the most important lesson of all. To kill the feelings in their own hearts. To crush an opponent mercilessly to destroy with no emotion or regret."
"But then Sensei, what are we going to do?! Please tell us!" Kakashi looks up towards the Ice mirrors. -I could make a break to save Naruto and Sasuke but then Zabuza would slay the bridge builder… If I use shadow clones he's just going to match them with water clones. I'd be wasting chakra. I have no choice but to believe in all of their abilities.- Raising his hand to his forehead protector he glares at Zabuza. -It's me or Zabuza here and now. I'll have to do this the hard way. I have to end this quickly.-
Sakura brings her hands down to her sides as she realizes what Kakashi is doing. -the Sharingan!- Zabuza chuckles darkly at Kakashi, he had been ready for this. "Sharingan." Zabuza says as he closes his eyes for dramatic effect. Opening his eyes again after a moment as he speaks. "You're no fun Kakashi. Using the same old trick." Zabuza then puts his hand in his pocket and runs forward. Taking Kakashi off guard as Zabuza pulls a kunai meaning to stab Kakashi's hand at his forehead protector. Yet Kakashi blocks with his other hand letting the kunai dig through the center of his palm.
"Sensei! No!" Sakura yells fearing for the worst as her eyes widen with worry and fear. Moments tick away as blood falls to the ground with small splashes coating where they stand with red.
"If it's an old trick why did you just stop me?" Kakashi asks glaring at Zabuza, anger and the readiness to kill eminent in his eyes making Zabuza laugh.
"Let your opponent see your Jutsu too many times and he'll find a way to use it against you." Beneath his white cotton wrappings, Zabuza gets a sinister smile to show through.
"Then count yourself lucky you're the only man alive who has seen my Sharingan twice. Show's over there won't be a third time." At Kakashi's words, Zabuza laughs.
"Even if you did defeat me, you'd have no chance against Haku." Sakura gives a surprised sound as she turns towards the ice mirrors. -is that possible? That boy is stronger than Kakashi sensei?- "When I found him he was just a street kid. But I trained him in the most advanced ninja techniques. I taught him everything I know. Plus he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly. Soon he could face the most powerful enemy outnumbered, in total darkness, it didn't matter. He could strike with perfect accuracy. He cared nothing for his own life or the lives of others. He'd become a unique fighting machine... A Shinobi. In the end, his powers surpassed even mine. His bloodline trait the Kekkei Genkai cannot be defeated by anyone. I have created a tool that can destroy anything that stands in my way. Unlike most of the useless punks who follow you around!" Zabuza finally finishes as he pulls his kunai out of Kakashi's hand.
"I couldn't get to him, no matter I will try again as many times as it takes!" Naruto says before summoning his Shadow clones. "Shadow clone Jutsu!"
"Naruto! Don't!" Sasuke yells as I stand. This is getting pointless. This is all taking too long! It was then needles came down upon Sasuke and I showering us with new cuts and freshly spilled blood. As the attack stops, I look up just in time to leap sideways. Narrowly missing having Naruto land on top of me.
"How is he doing that?" Naruto says as he sets up. On the ground once again I look up at the shape of Haku.
"You know how he's doing it so don't even bother asking." I growl from the struggle it is just to speak.
"One more time!" Naruto proclaims as they stand next to me. An irritated sound comes from me as I silently cuss at this situation. "Shadow clone jutsu!" I hear Naruto say as I hear his shadow clones again. C'mon Kira see the movements. I run to one of the many puddles we had created with our fire jutsu. I kick water up into the air just as I hear Sasuke do the same. See it Sasuke, I silently tell him as I pull my forehead protector down over my eyes. I am going to need more than a split second this time.
"Don't you see that it's useless." Haku more states than asks. I hear shadow clones begin to pop as they are attacked. Pulling my own blades quickly just as I feel the first slice of a needle. Noticing strength behind it to know it was not thrown I swing my blades out. As I spin feeling slight restraint on my left blade and hearing the small sound of tearing meeting with the scent of blood. "How did you…" I smirk toward one of the many Hakus. As I lift my forehead protector just enough to see nearly laughing.
"I'm getting used to your movements." Bringing the tip of my left blade up to see a small trickle of blood running down the cold steel. "Perfect, this is a good look for you." Giggling I run my tongue along the blade, licking the blood from the steel.
"Uhh... Kira?"
"Yes, Naruto?" I ask looking over at him dropping my blades to my sides.
"You know you can be kinda scary."
Giving him a smile I allow myself to giggle again as I lower my forehead protector. "Thank you for the compliment, now do it again Naruto."
"Don't have to tell me twice!" He says before I hear the popping of shadow clones again. With the sounds of the many Narutos flying around I sheath my blades again and complete the hand signs waiting to feel Haku's movements. Upon feeling the familiar disturbance I exhale my fireball just as I hear rumbling from another at the same time. Smirking at my own thought of how Sasuke is beginning to pick up Haku's movements as well.
Hearing Naruto hit the ground just as another fireball sounds I draw my blade and leap forward towards the direction the disturbance is heading in. Yet instead of my blade meeting resistance, I feel a cool hand grip my wrist just before my momentum is changed as I am thrown backward. Adjusting myself for the landing my feet meet the ground skidding as my right hand trails in front of me keeping me steady. "Damn it!" I growl in frustration.
"Naruto, can you do it again?" Sasuke asks. Raising my forehead protector I take in an annoyed breath. This isn't working.
"Huh? Of course! Nothing can stop me believe it!" The mirrors again light up showing we are going to be attacked at any second. Bracing myself I keep my breath held counting down the seconds.
"Naruto run for it!"
"Huh?"
"Get out of here and attack from the outside! Hurry!"
"Uhh. Oh right got it!" Feeling Naruto run I space his movements feeling my heartbeat timing to his every step as if, he was running in slow motion.
"You cannot escape!" Haku exclaims before knocking Naruto back. Yet he just gets up and goes back to running to another of the sides of the dome.
"You think you can keep me here?! Forget it!"
"That's it!" Upon hearing Sasuke as if it was a signal I complete the necessary hand signs shoving more chakra than absolutely necessary into my chest for a more compressed mold, before exhaling out another fireball in a similar direction to Sasuke's. To make Haku dodge an even larger amount of fire.
"Naruto!" I yell as I realize the flames interacted with each other. Causing the two balls to expand into a larger one than anticipated. The explosion is enough to send Sasuke and I sliding against the ground. Naruto stops sliding just before us with a little smoke coming from his clothes.
"What the hell!" He yells looking at us. "Trying to kill me you two?!"
I laugh before I feel pressure running through my shoulder. Looking at it I realize the needle this time had gone completely through so it was sticking out both sides. So... We didn't get him? "That was good Naruto... One more time!" Sasuke says as he stands. Reaching up to my shoulder I pull the needle out. Even with the unexpected reaction between our fireballs, we didn't get him. I have to think of another way to be useful without using much more chakra. Face it, I already am feeling the effects of my body healing itself repeatedly.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Hearing as Naruto runs in one direction and Sasuke in another I turn on my toes taking their lead and running the other way. If only one of us can escape we can break this jutsu.
"No more games, I need to stop this now!" Haku yells from behind me as I continue running. Shoving chakra into my feet I propel myself faster towards the mirrors. "This time you'll stay down!"
