Chapter 14
Naruto and Haku stared at each other. Naruto flicked out two kunai and held them in a reverse grip. He got into a stance and prepared to charge.
"Sakura, I need to help the teme. I'm going to need his help soon. I should be able to hold him off until then. My clones with cover you alright?" Naruto said.
"Yeah, I get it. Kick his ass Naruto." Sakura said.
"That's my plan!" Naruto shouted and charged at Haku. Haku slipped out some senbon and engaged Naruto. Sakura and Sasuke couldn't really see because of the mist but they could hear the sounds of metal connecting. Within the mist, Naruto was doing his best to fight Haku. Haku had to admit that he was doing pretty well. Naruto was able to keep from getting hit with his senbon. He didn't know how but he was able to avoid his attacks and counter with his own.
Naruto patted himself on the back for the secret training he did. He trained himself to fight in the mist because it was Zabuza's main strategy. After not getting any help from Kakashi, Naruto found a fogged area and had his clones attack him from within it. He only had a week but it paid off as he was able to feel the attacks coming. He flicked the kunai and stabbed at Haku. Haku moved but the side of the kunai nicked his mask. He tried to hit him in the neck but Naruto ducked it. His leg snapped forward and caught Haku in the gut. He tried to cut him with the other kunai but Haku caught his wrist and elbowed him. Naruto twisted with the blow and countered with a kick. Haku blocked it but was pushed back. Back to his feet, he charged again at Haku. They were once again engaged in battle.
Sasuke was growling and looking into the mist. He kept fidgeting as he wanted to get back into the fight.
"Sakura, hurry up!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Sasuke-kun but I don't know what will happen if I remove this senbon quickly. It might cause some major damage." Sakura explained.
"I don't care! Just get these damn needles out of me!" Sasuke shouted.
"Hey, keep quite kid. Doesn't that jōnin know how to hear us through the mist? What if he kills us if we're not silent?" Tazuna whispered harshly. Sasuke glared at him but kept quiet after that. He wanted to get back into the fight and show this fake Oinin (Hunter-nin) just who the better opponent was.
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Kakashi and Zabuza backed away from each other. They got ready for another go when they listened to the sounds coming from the mist. Zabuza, whose eyes were closed, couldn't help but smirk at what he was hearing.
"Heh, Heh, I thought that the Uchiha had grown but it just goes to show you that's he's still a wannabe. Not that other student of yours, he might be a great ninja one day. A shame that his life will end against Haku." Zabuza said.
"You underestimate my little genin. If anything, your Haku should be worried about Naruto. He really doesn't know the meaning of the word restraint." Kakashi said.
"Is that something that he learned for his real sensei?" Zabuza said with amusement. Kakashi had a small twitch after hearing that. "We'll just have to see how well he does. I know your other genin will not have the same success." Zabuza entered the mist and vanished from view. Kakashi was confused until he realized what he was taking about. Naruto's clones were alert and sensed that someone was coming from behind them. They launched a few shuriken in that direction, alerting the others. They heard nothing but were on edge.
"That was a nice guess kid." Zabuza said from behind. Zabuza wiped them out with a swing of his sword. He continued his momentum and was about to bring it down on Tazuna, Sakura and Sasuke. The blade came down and was intercepted by Kakashi. The force behind the blow nearly drove him to a knee but he was able to stop the blade. Zabuza smirked and quickly pulled the blade toward him. Kakashi winced as the sharp edge cut his forearm. Naruto's remaining clones came and joined his sensei. Zabuza just laughed and melted back into the mist.
Sakura was trying to get her breathing under control as that moment scared her. She turned back to Sasuke, who was also very scared. She also noticed that something was up with his eyes. They were red. One eye had one tome in it and the other had two. She was curious as to what it was.
"Sasuke-kun, there's something wrong with your eyes." Sakura said. Sasuke looked at her with confusion until he could see how Sakura's chakra was flowing. The only way he could see that was because he had activated his kekkei genkai (Blood Limit). He had finally activated the Sharingan. Smiling to himself, he ripped out the remaining needles and ran into the mist, ignoring Sakura's protest.
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Naruto and Haku were locked in a stalemate. His kunai were grinding against his senbon. Despite the height advantage, Naruto was holding his ground against Haku. The battle had not gone in either of their favors since beginning. Haku attempted to get Naruto back within the dome of mirrors but he saw right through the ploy and stuck to the outside. Haku changed tactics and entered his mirrors, attacking from within them. Naruto summoned his clones and tried to attack Haku from the outside but it proved to be worthless. That's when he began to do hand seals and used the Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique). The jutsu smashed one of Haku's mirrors, sending him in a whirl spin. He quickly got to the top mirror and survived. He quickly had to block Naruto attempt to kill him and now the two were locked in a battle of wills.
"You are definitely skilled Konoha ninja. I was not expecting that." Haku said.
"If you think that was amazing, then you're going to love what I have in store for you next." Naruto said with an Anko-like grin. That's when the two suddenly had to move as a fireball landed where they were. As he was jumping away, Naruto was struck by several senbon and hit the ground with a thud. He looked up to see that Haku was back in his remaining mirrors. He rolled out of the way as several more senbon attempted to get him. As he rolled, he watched as Sasuke entered the dome of mirrors.
"Hey, I'm your opponent now!" Sasuke exclaimed and fired a fireball at one of the remaining mirrors. It hit the mirror but it did little to break it. Haku attacked the boy but Sasuke was quicker, deflecting all of the senbon. Haku was curious about this and launched from all areas. Sasuke was still able to keep up and deflected most of the needles. Haku was get frustrated when he noticed his eyes were similar like Kakashi. He then remembered who this boy was.
Sasuke was extremely happy at having his Sharingan. With it, he could easily defeat his foe. He wouldn't have to be saved by Naruto. He stood and waiting for Haku's next attack.
"So you have finally awakened your eyes? I commend you for activating them. However, they will not help you. Allow me to show you." Haku said and began another barrage of senbon. What was different about this attack was that it was coming in groups and different types of speed. Sasuke was still able to deflect and dodge but it became much harder for him. He was struck in the legs, shoulder and arm. He dropped to a knee and Haku launched another barrage.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted and several clones jumped into the fray. Haku attacked them and was able to dispel several of them. Three of them surrounded Sasuke and guarded him. Naruto stood and summoned some more clones. Haku cursed as the clones attacked from within and outside. He could feel his chakra draining trying to keep this jutsu activate. His earlier fight with Naruto wasn't helping. He needed to end this now.
Sasuke looked at the clones with a snarl.
"What do you think you're doing dobe?" Sasuke asked.
"What am I thinking? What the hell are you thinking teme? How stupid do you have to be to run into the opponent's jutsu? You think because you have your Sharingan that you're unbeatable? Get your head out of your ass and think! We need to work together or he's going to kill us!" Naruto shouted. Sasuke snarled but did not argue with him. Haku fired another set of senbon at them and the two with the clones began to move. Sasuke kept his eyes of Haku and was able to still keep track of him and pointed it out to Naruto. Naruto would launch shuriken and kunai at Haku would barely dodge. Haku would counter but they were able to avoid it. He was getting very tired and he needed to at least take one of them out. He decided that it would be Sasuke.
With the water that Naruto used in his jutsu gave Haku an idea. That's when he came out of the mirror doing one handed seals.
"Hijutsu: Sensatsu Suishō (Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death)!" Haku called out. The water took the form of a thousand needles. Haku directed the needles to eliminate all of Naruto's clones. Some of them hit the original Naruto and he was dropped to a knee. Haku charged at him, attempting to finish him off. While he did not like him, Sasuke did not wish death upon him. He jumped in the way of Haku's charge but that's what Haku wanted. He launched senbon that connected all over Sasuke's body but Sasuke was still able to knock Haku away. Naruto watched in horror as Sasuke hit the ground with a thud.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted and made his way over to him. He could see that Sasuke was in bad shape. "You stupid moron, what were you thinking jumping in like that? I told you to think before you did anything."
"That's just like you dobe. I save your life and you do nothing but bitch." Sasuke said. He coughed a little and felt himself go a little cold. "Damn it, it wasn't supposed to be this way. I was supposed to kill my brother for his betrayal. I… can't… believe… I… died… because… my… body… betrayed… me." With those last words, Sasuke's eyes closed.
"Sasuke? Sasuke?!" Naruto shouted. He shook Sasuke's body but he did not wake up. Haku stood and looked at the two.
"Is this the first time that you have seen a friend die? You should be thankful to him for saving your life. He truly died as a shinobi." Haku said.
"Died as a shinobi? Are you saying that he should proud about the way he died?!" Naruto snarled. A very potent and evil chakra began to leak out of Naruto. Haku looked at it with some concern. What was a leak suddenly exploded into an out-pour of chakra. While the normal color of chakra was blue, this chakra was red. It surrounded Naruto and covered him like a shield.
'What is this chakra? It's so vile and full of bloodlust. I can barely stand it.' Haku thought. That's when Naruto raised his head and looked right at Haku. The once kind blue eyes were now red and filled with malice. He put Sasuke down and took a few steps forward. Haku watched as his features changed into something more animalistic. He release and inhuman roar which made his chakra skyrocket.
Within the mist, the two jōnin were now concerned about the vile chakra that they were feeling. Kakashi knew that chakra while Zabuza was confused.
'Is this Kakashi's doing? No, not even he could put this much chakra. What the hell is going on?!' Zabuza thought.
'Did the seal break? No, it looks like it has just loosen enough for him to use its' chakra. Still, what could have caused it? I need to finish this now and get over there.' Kakashi thought.
Back with the two, Naruto was pouring out more and more of the vile chakra. He glared at Haku with nothing but hate.
"We might not have been friends but he had an ambition. Now, he can't complete it and you think that he should be proud by the way he died?! Well then, I hope that you feel the same way because when I get through with you, YOU'LL BE JOINING HIM! GET READY TO DIE!" Naruto roared and charged at Haku with the intent to kill.
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Authors' Notes: Well here's the new chapter. I hope you enjoyed the new fight between Haku and Naruto. It isn't much but I like it better this way.
