Chapter XVI: Fight on the Bridge Part 2

The Prophet

"Kakashi-sensei!" I shouted and sprinted way ahead of Haku. After all, running was what I did all day. I was faring much better than the two behind me. With the exception of my arm which was dangerously numb.

To say that I flew across the bridge was not an understatement. I felt my legs cramping and my throat burning. I took out a kunai just in case I was a second too late. Damn it. If only I had Haku's speed. I have to arrive in time. Or else we were all going to die. Or worse. The universe and current reality would collapse. Or something to that effect.I heard birds. I thousands of birds chirping at the same time and I feared the worst. No, no, no.

"Kakashi! You can't – … Are those dogs?" I asked looking at a very battered Zabuza who was immobilized by … dogs. Seriously. Dogs. Many. Biting Zabuza's arms, legs and back, keeping him in place. Summoning. Oooook.

"Kaya what are you doing here?! I told you to stay with Sakura and Tazuna!" His voice was surprisingly sharp. Time, I have to buy time.

I felt Naruto and Haku pretty close. Kakashi had Raikiri ready and he couldn't afford to wait. I cursed under my breath because I knew Kakashi would really chew me out for this. Rightfully so.

"Yeah. Sakura's doing a pretty good job by herself." I smiled nervously in Sakura's and Tazuna's direction. The mist is fading. Was Zabuza running out of chakra? "We don't have to fight Zabuza and Haku."

"Kaya, what are you doing?" Sakura asked in her high pitched voice with indignation. "Huh? Naruto, you're alright! Wait, why is that boy coming with you? He's the enemy!"

"What are you on about, girl?" Zabuza asked and then his eyes landed on Haku. "Haku, why is that kid still alive?"

"Because Gatō's men are bound to appear on this bridge any minute now." I said impatiently. "He has every hope you would die here and that they would kill Tazuna as well. Or more accurately, he wants you both to die here so he won't be obligated to deal with you anymore."

"And how would you know this?" the missing-nin narrowed his eyes.

"Naruto fought some of them on his way here." the blonde nodded egenerically behind me.

"Yeah, that's right! Dattebayo! I told Inari to round up the villagers and stand up to those guys!"

"And you want me to believe you?" Zabuza chuckled darkly with no humor. "Haku, do you believe them?"

The older boy came to stay almost in line with me and I could see better the sorry state he was in. I had no idea what happened in that ice prison, but apparently, he didn't get out of his own jutsu un-scattered. Not to mention that by the looks of it he exhausted almost all of his chakra. If we continued fighting I wasn't sure what the outcome would be, but it didn't seem like the odds were in their favor. Which means they might be more inclined to listen to my plan.

"Yes, Zabuza-san. I believe Naruto-kun."

It didn't elude me that he chose to believe Naruto and not me. The missing-nin still pinned by dogs started laughing. I looked at an unsure Naruto and a determined Haku. Yeah. We were fucked.

"You are naïve, Haku. That good heart of yours will get you killed one day." Zabuza turned his head. "I don't believe you. We are enemies until said men of Gatō arrive on this bridge. Haku… I'm disappointed."

The boy filched as if suddenly singed by fire. How much longer…? They had to appear, right? It wasn't just my imagination, they actually come to the bridge in the 'original timeline'. Haku didn't react, but with one motion he could cut off the summoning and Zabuza would be free to take off my head. Or kill anyone else. This is stupid, this is so incredibly stupid. I was putting at risk the lives of everyone in my team including Tazuna's because of a call for humanity. For what is right. Time for emotional impact. I inhaled deeply and sighed ever deeper.

"I swear on my dead teammate's corpse that I'm telling the truth."

There was a long silence and I could swear not one was breathing anymore.

"What did you say?"

Sakura's voice told me that she was one step away from a complete breakdown.

"Where is Sasuke-kun?"

No response.

"Naruto, where is Sasuke-kun?"

Brace yourselves. Dramatic scene commences.

"He's dead. Right there." I said gravely and I could feel Haku's desire to be swallowed by the ground.

"Oho, so after all, you're not that soft, Haku. You actually did it." Zabuza's unnecessary intervention seemed to cement Sakura's realization that no, it wasn't a crude joke.

"No…"

"S-Sakura-chan," Naruto was trying hard not to cry and obviously failing "I'm so sorry, I… I-"

"I'll go with you." Tazuna offered. She didn't even react to that. Because Sakura's world seemed to minimize to a single inert body on the pavement shrouded in mist, not too far away."That way you won't break your sensei's orders."

She nodded and took Tazuna by the hand and rushed to where Sasuke was still unconscious. Yes, waste more time. Moooore. The mist was really beginning clearing.

"Shall we actually talk now? All causalities put behind." I asked, as Haku lowered his eyes. Somewhere in the background, Sakura screamed.

"Have you changed your ideals, Haku? Are you betraying me?" Zabuza started ignoring me. "Are you having a change of heart?"

"Haku would never betray you!" Naruto's voice exploded. "He… he really likes you – "

"Loves you." I corrected, but did not stop him

"Haku is my tool." Zabuza explained simply and shoot the boy in question a dark look. "Or was."

"Do you really feel nothing else about him?!" This is getting weeeeird. The blonde was fuming, while Haku had a desolate expression.

"It's alright, Naruto-kun. He is right."

"No he isn't! He threw away his life for you! He's still doing this! He has no dream of himself. He… he loves you that much! And you say that you only see him as your tool?! He would sacrifice his life to save yours!"

"Naruto." Kakashi warned as the blonde took some steps forward, but I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him backwards. "Kaya, Naruto, stay out of this. This is my fight."

"No. This isn't a fight. This is a problem of ethics and principles. One that doesn't need to end in blood." I talked looking over to Haku who still seemed completely fascinated by the concrete. "And since we are on a tirade about fondness and love: Haku didn't want to fight us. Or at least not kill us. He's only living to make you happy, Zabuza. To help you." I avoided saying 'be your tool'. I think Naruto make a point out of that. "In a world of filth, where shinobi like you or influential men like Gatō live and where families are wiped out, children killed... to have a pure soul is rare. To have a pure soul and to be a shinobi, is nearly impossible. You are using Haku's abilities for your own purposes, just as Gatō uses yours for his."

"…is this true Haku? Is this how you truly feel?" Zabuza asked. Well, this isn't random at all. Having dogs biting into your limbs and back while talking some weird shit that seem to have a tinge of homo-erotic theme. Hey, I don't judge. But the age difference was a little disturbing. Haku looked up slowly and his face relaxed into a timid smile. It's not like that, get your head out of the hamster hole.

"Yes, Zabuza-san."

"I do not know how you managed to convince Haku with this load of bullshit." Zabuza said "But I'm not forcing Haku into anything. From now on, he is free to do as he pleases."

"No he isn't." I replied automatically, because Haku's shocked face announced nothing good. "He is chained to the attachment he developed toward you. Love, to put it simply. And you are just the same as he is. Because you love him just as much. Because we cling so desperately to the only pure things in our lives. Kindness, above all."

There is no mist. Zabuza looked at me like I was mad. This is what I've been waiting for.

"And you? How will the world remember you? Your precious bingo book. Zabuza the Fool? Zabuza who was killed by the Fat Mob Boss? Zabuza the faithful dog of Gatō, who died because of his own stupidity and pride?"

Thank whatever powers lay up there for giving me time. Because I could feel on the bridge at least twenty people and more coming.

"Girl, thinking like that you will get killed before you understand that shinobi-"

"Oho, I see you've gotten beaten Zabuza. And pretty badly!"

That voice made Sakura's seemed bearable. On the bridge, a man with disturbing balding tendencies and a bad receding hairline stood in front of a small crowd of men. Mercenaries, of course. He was holding a stick and his arm in a cast. Those sun glasses though. So this… was Gatō. I smirked. If other people waited for reinforcement, divine interventions and armies that come at the first light on the fifth day, at dawn, to the Est, well, I waited for the fat mob boss of the Land of Waves and his small army of second-hand mercenaries.

"Gatō, what are you doing here?" Zabuza asked narrowing his eyes.

"I'm disappointed Zabuza." Gatō continued. Fifty. No, sixty. There were at least sixty men who stood by him. This is not good.

"What is with these men?" Zabuza inquired further. Kakashi's Raikiri disappeared. There was no need to waste chakra. Um… shouldn't he tell us what to do? Well, in his defense, we never did what he told us to, so yeah.

"We had a little change in plans." Gatō laughed. "I'm sorry Zabuza, but you're going to die here."

"What?"

"You will do no such thing." Haku said appearing before his beloved master.

"Ha. I see your tool is here with you. If I hired an official ninja, it would have costed me a lot of money. So, I hired a missing ninja like you." Gatō explained with a great satisfaction what a smart choice he made. Tricking shinobi that could obliterate you in an instant. "If you ninja just killed each other, it would have saved me trouble and money."

"Yeah, it would have. You wouldn't have to pay Zabuza anymore, which I'm pretty sure you never intended to do anyway." I said running my hand through the strands that escaped the braid. "It's almost like I was right, Zabuza."

"And who are you?" Gatō askedand before answering I opened my arms widely with my palms upward.

"Kaya. The Prophet."

"There's so many of them… Where did they come from?!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Kakashi, call off your summons. Our fight ends here." Zabuza's eyes were fixed on the little fat man. "I have no further quarrel with you or your brats."

"Huh?" I said as I watched Zabuza trying to get rid of the dogs holding him still.

"I no longer have a reason to kill the old man."

"Yeah." Kakashi reluctantly dismissed his dog summons. Poor sensei, he must be so confused by the whole thing.

"Haku, I.. understand." Zabuza said looking to the boy. "However, I don't agree completely. I always knew you were one of a kind."

"We can have tea and discuss as loooong as you want" I interfered "once we get out alive from here."

Zabuza sent me a look that made my big mouth shut up. But it did seemed almost friendly. … Yeah, no. It didn't

"Girl, I won't forget what you've done. We have to talk."

Fuck me.

"Why would they want to fight us?! We weren't involved in their deal!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Ah, that would be just, hm, good business." I answered smiling. "But I have a better idea." I dressed the crowd of mercenaries. "How about we slaughter you all where you stand and be on our merry way?"

"It seems that even if we want to stay out of this…" I heard Kakashi say, coming close to where Naruto and I stood, "… we can't."

"Peace was never an option." I said getting hold of a kunai. I grimaced.

"Kakashi-sensei, don't you have a technique that can beat them all at once?" Naruto whined with his innocent naïve face, looking hopefully at the grey haired Jounin.

"There is no such thing Naruto." I rolled my eyes, but then mumbled "Is there?"

Kakashi looked like he really intended to answer my question, until an improvised arrow, a stick really, with a bended metal bottle cap as the tip, landed less than a meter from the mini-army of mercenaries. Oh. Both Naruto and Kakashi looked at me, but I shrugged. No archery from me, not this time.

"Anyone who gets any further on the bridge will face the force of this Island!"

I smiled and turned to see Inari with a crossbow and the villages with improvised weapons. Even Tsunami was there. Finally. Finally, the people of the Land of Waves were fighting their oppressor. Fighting is all they have left.

"Inari!" Naruto exclaimed excited.

"Heroes are supposed to come in late." The little boy giggled sheepish

"Friends of yours?" Haku asked amused

"Yeah. They're finally here." I smiled getting the hair out of my eyes.

"Alright! I'll help too!" Naruto said and set his fingers in a familiar seal. "Kage Bunshin no jutsu!"

I looked at Naruto as he made five clones. So much stamina. It was scary, really. Zabuza seemed a little worn out, and couldn't really use the burnt arm, while Haku's cheek was bruising nicely. Hm, so Naruto and Sasuke really managed to land a hit or two on him? Most likely Naruto. But we were all in a pretty good shape. Compared to how things could have turned out. I looked at Gatō and his sorry excuse of mercenaries. They were so fucked. So utterly fucked.

As if we had a secret signal or something, we synchronized when attacking, although Zabuza seemed determined to get Gatō first, while we crashed with the mercenaries. At that point I lost sight of Naruto, Kakashi or Haku. And I lost count of how many people I stabbed, hit, stabbed again and pushed around. They. Were. Many. Gatō's men seemed to be seriously scared of Zabuza. Well, I'm scared shitless of Zabuza as well. But now the missing-nin seemed to be truly enjoying slashing through these men, like a real demon. Hence the nickname. Somewhere around I could hear Naruto saying something and even Raikiri? That settles it.

As soon as they noticed that their leader was dead, and that five shinobi alongside an army of determined villagers were upon them, Gatō's men dispersed and ran. Well, perhaps because Kakashi and Zabuza seemed to be serious about butchering them all to bits. Yeah. Perhaps. Before I knew it, our opponents disappeared and all that remained around were those too wounded to run, the dead, the people from the village and us five. I didn't have time to even register the whole fight. Only bits. Like a pierced shoulder, a slashed gut, the crack of bones, the blood staining the concrete. And my own blood streaming down my left elbow.

The illusion that time stopped, dispersed. My heartbeat died down from my eardrums and my breathing was settling again. It was like getting out of deep water. I was painfully aware of my surrounding again. The sun. It was shining again around like a huge ball of white fire. But this time, the heat didn't bother me. It warmed me, like I had been staying in cold water too much. I put the arrow I had been holding and that was covered in blood back in the quiver.

Couldn't shoot, but I stabbed some with it. Then I stared at my hands, all covered in blood and with little cuts all around that would heal. Had I really just killed some men? I didn't have time to register it. Unlike what I saw in the movies, I didn't get to be shocked or realize that the guy I stabbed was dying or not. They simply were too many and I was too focused on staying alive. They had been no match for even genin. So…lame. They've been slow and clumsy with their moves compared to how easily I moved around knowing exactly where to point the arrow or were to slash. Made me wonder what kind of people Gatō hired. And how fortunate I was that Konoha trained its kids since Academy.

"Kaya-chan! You are hurt!"

I turned around to see Naruto blinking at me and pointing to my shoulder. I looked at it and grimaced when I saw the blood. This was to be expected. Around us were the people Inari gathered that seemed to be alright, with one or two casualties, but all of them were talking to each other in excited voices despite the carnage, drunk with the adrenaline of the battle.

"I'm fine" I said through gritted teeth. "The wound just reopened, but I'll be fine. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine!" the blonde said grinning.

Of course he was. Nine Tailed Fox. I nodded and walked pass him. I need to get to him. I continued walking and saw Haku and Zabuza looking a little uncomfortable and out of place, since they tried to kill Tazuna and all the villagers were here on the bridge. Which should remind everybody… I walked away from all of them and approached Sakura.

The pink haired girl was still sobbing on top of Sasuke, while Tazuna looked miserably at her. I frowned. What's taking him so long? Tazuna looked at me with a sad expression and even pity. He even has tears in his eyes for god's sake. I looked at the duckling again. Urgh. He looks horrible tho. With all those needles everywhere. But I could feel his chakra flickering. Something isn't right. Has he really used this much chakra while fighting Haku?

"Sakura." I called the pinkie my ears too tired of her sobbing.

"K-Kaya-chan," she turned her head with her eyes red and a puffy. "S-Sasuke-kun really is…"

"Move."

I didn't wait for her reply and shoved her away. Kinda rude, but effective. Yes. I can feel his chakra. Clearly now, and I extended my arm in the air above Sasuke's chest as if that would make me feel his chakra better. Somewhere to my left Sakura started protesting. I smiled.

"He's alright." I said and looked at both Tazuna and Sakura. In return they didn't seem very happy with my response.

"Huh? What do you mean? Sasuke-kun is dead! And is your fault as well! You said – "

"Don't say something you're going to regret later." I said cuttingly.

"But how can you be so cold? Your team mate was killed and the poor girl is crying her heart out for him!" Tazuna said with indignation. "Are you that unfeeling?"

"He's not dead." I spat looking around, searching for Haku. "Are you deaf? The duckling is alright. He is alive."

"What do you mean he's alive? Sasuke-kun…"

"Haku!" I shouted covering whatever Sakura was going to say. "Would you mind helping me with something?"

He came over with an uncertain expression and took in the scene before him, his eyes studying me, Sakura, Tazuna and finally Sasuke. And he finally understood.

"Your friend-"

"Is alive. I know. However, I want to know if there is something I should be aware of when pulling out the senbon needles." my request made Haku blink rapidly for the following few seconds.

"Do you want me to help you with the senbon?"

"No!" Sakura shouted. "He is the enemy! I won't let him anywhere near Sasuke-kun!"

"Sakura…"

I turned my head abruptly at the weak voice coming from the duckling. His black eyes were barely open and his hair was scruffy. Adorable, for once he's not scowling at us.

"…you're too loud."

Awwww.

"SASUKE-KUN!"

"DON'T!" I stopped her from launching herself at Sasuke, with my arm. "You will only inflict further damage! You can hug him all you want after we get those out." Sasuke's face told me that won't happen in a thousand years. Eh, duck. You know nothing. "Welcome back, Uchiha."

"Hn."

Yeah. He's fine. Tazuna's and Sakura's eyes were filled with tears of joy. …really? Sasuke looked at me for a second longer as if he wanted to say something, but then he tried to get up, in a sitting position.

"Stop, silly. You'll only hurt yourself." I hissed and the duckling grimaced, glaring at me.

"I'm fine." he said stubbornly, then his eyes stopped on Haku.

"He's on our side." I said before he got any genius idea to get up and fight. Try to fight. "Kind of."

I looked at Haku with a raised brow. He understood my implication and directed his words to Sasuke.

"I'm sorry I hurt you and Naruto-kun. I didn't mean to cause any real harm to you." I looked at Sasuke and urged myself hold in any laugh. Not causing any harm? The Uchiha had a full collar of senbon needles and I doubted I could touch a patch of skin that hasn't been grazed or didn't have a bruise.

"Um, how about you tell me how to get the needles out?" I proposed. "I mean, I know how to get the needles out, but if there's anything particular I should know? But don't use any… weird terms. I don't exactly know anything about senbon needles." Haku seemed to ponder about what I said and I took advantage of Sasuke's inability to move and ran my hand through the black hair, getting out the ice.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked with horror and repulsion at the sudden contact of my hand with his precious hair.

"I'm preparing you for when Sakura is going to suffocate you with hugs." I said rolling my eyes. "Calm down, I'm just brushing off the ice. You're covered in it from head to toe." I frowned and even brush some dirt from his face, at which he froze and looked at me puzzled. Have you guessed, duck? As if he heard my thoughts, he narrowed his eyes. Annoying Sasuke was such a treat.

"I don't think there is anything you should be careful for in particular." Haku said watching us amused, guessing rightly the delight I took in annoying others. "You could pull them out in the same direction they came in. It will help with healing."

Because you if you pull them out at random, you can widen the holes. And some were dangerously close to sensitive points and nerves. I nodded and moved a little, making some room beside me.

"Got it. Hop next to me. You got them in, you get them out." I said and demanded Sasuke's cooperation not verbally, but by pushing him roughly back when he tried to get up. "Stay still. You have a collar of needles. Looks edgy and it suits you, not gonna lie."

"SASUKEEEEEEE!"

"Not again." I sighed. The blonde started towards us and I looked past him from where Kakashi was watching us attentively. I gave him the thumbs up. We're Gucci. "I don't suppose any of you know medical jutsu, do you?"

Haku opened his mouth to respond my rhetoric question, when the blonde continued shouting around.

"YOU ARE ALRIGHT!"

"NARUTO, SHUT UP!"

We all watched as Sakura made herself useful. In her painful and brutal way. I looked at Sasuke with what had to be a mirror of his own perplexed expression. We are with stupid 1 and stupid 2. Haku smiled widely watching Sakura essentially beat Naruto into silence. The kind of smile that made me ache, because it was unfair for someone to have a perfect smile. Is it creepy because he's 15 and I'm technically 13, but well, only in this life? If you added that to my previous years of life… I felt very conflicted about that.

"Yo."

"Kakashi-sensei!" both Sakura and Naruto exclaimed as the grey jounin approached and butted in Naruto's ass whooping. Zabuza must be somewhere close as well. And sure enough, I saw him standing at a reasonable distance.

"Oh, does this mean that our mission is over? Hey, good job everybody. Let's just, not come back in the morning. Let's take a day of, yeah?" I smiled tired and finally, finally added pressure to my throbbing shoulder. Sweet baby Jesus. I gasped without being able help myself. Haku looked up at me.

"You need immediate medical attention" he frowned.

"Why, thank you for volunteering Haku." I said sardonically. "After you finish with Sasuke, I'd be delighted if you could take a look at my shoulder."

"Our mission is not exactly over." Kakashi replied demanding our attention and cutting any reply Haku would have come up with. "Our mission ends when the bridge is completed. We have to take some time to recover for the journey back home as well. I'm afraid we'll have to abuse of your hospitality, Tazuna-san."

"Not at all!" the old bridge builder smiled. "It's thanks to you all that the bridge's completion can take place at all."

"Haku, I'll cut the chase and point the obvious. You know medical jutsu, right? Just to be sure." I ignored the little chit-chat that ensued between Kakashi and Tazuna, already tired of human interaction and bonding.

"Yes." he replied getting closer, making quick work of the needles, to Sasuke's dissatisfaction.

"Then you can teach me some. We'll be around for some time and I think I'm not mistaken when I assume that so will you. Both of you." I concluded as Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Oh come one duck. I want to use my time productively. You know, if he wanted, he could have killed you and Naruto." I say and the duck just 'hn'-ed and let us continue helping with the needles. Haku's needles.

"I'm not so sure I could have won against you in a one on one fight" Haku said to Sasuke as he showed me how to take out a needle. Sasuke flinched for a second as we were doing medical practice on him. "Without my kekkei genkai. You would have eventually managed to predict my moves with your Sharingan."

"Sharingan?" I froze with one needle in my hand then looked at Sasuke who in return watched me with something between curiosity and smugness. I did tell him to go and die. In return he proved me that he was faster than Haku and already activated the Sharingan. "You activated the Sharingan? Nice."

"We have many things to work on, from now on." Kakashi smiled (I think?) towards a half smirking duckling. The next needle I pulled a little harsher. I ignored the duckling's painful protests. It was thin and sharp, half tainted with Sasuke's blood. Uchiha blood. Ha. I want to learn more about senbon needles.

"So, now that we all concluded that Zabuza and Haku aren't the enemy and don't want to kill us anymore." I said while I watched Haku put his finger on a mark one of the needles made, leaving it smoking and then the mark was gone. I want to learn that too. "Can I ask you a favor, Haku?"

"Yes?" the boy said oblivious of my devilish expression. Sasuke sighed.

"Can I touch your hair now?"

And part two of the 'fight' is here!

Yay. And it's looong. I'm not completely satisfied with it because I feel like I cheated myself out of writing a couple of really cool fighting scenes. But I always was frustrated by the fact that, if only Gato arrived earlier to the bridge and turned Zabuza against him. But then we wouldn't have the beautiful tragedy of Haku's death in the anime… which didn't happen in my fic because Kaya likes boys with long hair and screwing with the local mafia. There will be a time skip, a short one, of a month or so. I'm not sure if anyone wants to read that, it's going to be mainly training for our very unstable heroine. Next: the introduction to the Chunnin Exams. Oh, how I've waited for this!

Again, thank you all who read, favored, followed my story! It's very rewarding to see that people read this and take interest in it! I might change the weekly posting schedule to once two weeks. So, if I don't post the next chapter in two weeks from today, you can assume I'm dead.

See you guys later!~