I DO NOT OWN NARUTO/ NARUTO SHIPPUDEN
Chapter 10
The land of Waves had gone through serious turmoil in the last few years, flickers of hope here and there. They never lasted long; they would be smothered like the beginnings of a flame. Kaiza was one of these flickers of hope, he came from a different land and immediately tried to do something about Gato's reign.
He was a man that saved a Drowning Inari, the grandson of the bridge builder and son of Tsunami. The boy had been drowning after being pushed into the water by some bullies, his dog, 'Pochi' had been thrown in just before hand.
It was at this moment that the dog learnt how to swim and made its way to shore, Inari on the other hand wasn't able to stay afloat. It was when he tired and fell below that water's surface that he lost consciousness.
Waking up to the soft cracklings of a fire he had to question whether he was still alive. He saw a man who looked to be in his late twenties prodding the fire. He questioned if he was the man who saved him, after talking for hours on end the two reached a point that Inari could never forget.
"If something is truly important to you… even it's heart-breaking, even if it's sorrowful… you keep on trying and trying, even if you lose your life, you keep on protecting it with these two arms! …Then, even if you die, you leave behind the proof that you are a man… forever…"
That moment was when Inari felt safe, this man promised to make a difference and to his credit he did. He brought something to the land that had been gone for a long time.
Hope.
He had put his life on the line for the village, Swimming through rapids to close the water gate. Over time he just became part of Inari's family, marrying Tsunami and being a son to Tazuna.
He was known as the 'Hero of Wave', He was loved by all. One day it was all taken away, and it was taken by the very same man.
Gato.
A very short man that cast a long and dangerous shadow. He heard of the escapades of Kaiza and didn't take it too kindly. He had Kaiza bruised and beaten.
"You still have that defiant look in your eye" Kaiza knew of the price he was going to pay. But he never stopped smiling, the man knew that even though he might die the people of wave could continue on in his stead.
Kaiza had been drawn out to a public area for all to see, the arms he told Inari that he would use to protect everyone with were blue and broken from the torture. Yet he kept smiling.
Kaiza died that day, Wave lost their hero and in turn their hope. Tazuna lost his son, Tsunami lost her lover and husband.
Inari lost his father, the man who gave him hope, the man who believed in him.
Inari never smiled again.
"The Hero of Wave died that day" To that Inari stood up, storming out of the kitchen and running to his room. Tsunami turned to Tazuna. "Father, you know not to call him that in front of Inari"
All who were in attendance dropped their heads, it was a disgusting tale. One that had no happy ending, the prince charming died leaving everyone alone.
Naruto stood up and looked at the distraught mother and grandfather. "Where are you going kid?" Tazuna asked. "I'm going to train, to get stronger. This man you speak of, Kaiza, he sounds like someone I strive to be, he died for your family and for the entirety of wave, he was the Hero." Walking to the door he placed his hand on the frame, without looking back he spoke.
"I'm going to prove that Heroes do exist, even if that is only to Inari, I've done my job. Your bridge is a symbol of hope for this village, we'll be the symbol of hope for the people. I won't leave until the Land of Waves is safe."
The next second Naruto had vanished leaving a thoughtful group.
A small boy who was at the top of the stairway was listening intently. "Naruto Uzumaki huh?" he muttered to himself
~ With Shikamaru ~
The squads had been briefed on their situation. Shikamaru had not spoken to anyone since the admonishing that he received. In fact, he was on his way to speak to Asuma now. His slow descent of the staircase showed that he was clearly deep in thought.
"Shikamaru? You all there?" Snapping out of his daze he looked at his sensei. "Not really" he quietly replies. That surprised Asuma, the boy while lazy was always thinking, he was always paying attention, even to the smallest of details.
After a few moments of silence, the Nara child moved his head to face Asuma, his eyes still firmly attached to the ground.
"Naruto told me something yesterday" Asuma could only imagine what the blond had put in his students mind. "What did he tell you?"
"Well, I said that I only wanted to be an average ninja and live an average life and he snapped." Sighing he continued. "He said that average ninja gets their teammates killed, that I would get my teammates killed by doing this."
"I see." Asuma ruffled his beard hair. "I can see where he comes from, I don't completely agree, but would you risk it?" he was giving the boy a questioning look.
"I don't think I could" The sensei gave a sagely nod and gruff chuckle. "Then you know where you stand, if you truly don't want to risk that possibility you will work hard to be strong ninja. You have the mind for it but do you have the body?"
"If qualities of heaven are your desire then you require wisdom to take your mind higher. If earthly qualities are what you lack, then train your body and prepare to attack. When heaven and earth are open together the perilous path will become righteous forever, this person is the secret way the guides us from this place today"
"You should know what this means, you're smart enough to figure this out" Shikamaru nodded, mostly to himself.
He wouldn't sleep that night, but he would come up with a plant that would work.
~ With Naruto ~
Naruto had found a recluse training area, next to the riverbank, away from prying eyes. He had relentlessly been training in throwing his Rasenshuriken. It was still unsuccessful; he couldn't fully control the release of chakra so he wasn't as accurate as he would like.
He had found that once he threw it, he could expand it. That was something that really took him by surprise but definitely wasn't unwelcome.
Naruto had been training for hours, his right hand had severe burns from an overuse of chakra. Looked down at the ruined limb he sighed, there was no chance that he would be able to eat properly tonight. He began walking back to the house.
Trudging through the village he was met with the harsh truth that the villagers had to endure daily. Swarms of kids riddled the streets, all wearing clothing, either too big or too small, ripped or worn.
It was a sickening sight, the adults looked half-asleep as if they could fall over at the drop of a hat. The shops were barren, you couldn't fill a single cart with all that that was on the shelves.
It made his angry, to have a man benefit off of the torture of people like this. He would see Gato fall, he would see this end.
Before he became too angry, he body flickered away, walking the rest of the way to the house.
When he arrived, he was met with something that took his anger away, Shikamaru was knelt down meditating. The boy peeked an eye open to observe the arrival. There were no words needed, the boys gave each other a knowing smirk, Shikamaru had made his decision.
He joined everyone who was at the table. "It's good to see you back, how was your training Naruto-kun?" Kakashi started, tilting his head to the side. "It's being slow, but I'm sure I can get it done." Looking over everyone else there. "How's training going for everyone?"
"Okay, I can't quite make it all the way up the tree yet, but I'm definitely improving" Choji flashed a smile in between bites.
"I'm done, I can run up and down It for at least an hour, like you said" Ino answered. "Good, then with the permission of Asuma-sensei" The man gave a nod "We can move you onto water walking, I'll supervise again to make sure nothing goes wrong, also it's been a while since I've done it."
Looking to Sakura "I can get up the tree, but I get can't do it for too long" She admitted, embarrassed by the gap between her and Ino. "That's fine, it just means you'll need to keep working at it. You have small chakra reserves, more of this exercise you do the more you build your reserves." Sakura was surprised at the assessment; she didn't linger on it too long.
"I can't yet go up the tree, but I'm improving" Naruto nodded. "Larger reserves, so once you get it you can do it for longer." Sasuke smirked, even if it was little, the childish pride from having more chakra brought a smile to his face.
Kakashi coughed into his hand "Asuma is going to guard Tazuna from now on, Naruto, you'll send a shadow clone like always, it's the quickest way to transfer information." Naruto nods. "As Zabuza is getting closer to recovery, we'll need to be more cautious. No more overdoing your training, Naruto. Look at that arm, you'd be almost useless if they attacked right now."
This drew the eyes of everyone, his arm was truly ruined. "God! What have you done to it?" Tsunami yelled, rushing around the table to get a better look at it. Naruto shrugs it off.
"Nah, it's alright, I'll be in fighting shape come tomorrow." Naruto says proudly, Flashing his grin. Sakura raises and incredulous eyebrow. "You sure about that?" she says with a deadpan. The boy chuckles.
"I've seen worse, much worse" He replies, just as cheekily. The pink-haired genin shakes her head at the boy, to get an injury like that, she can only imagine the level of training.
"In a few more days, the bridge will be finished, and I have you to thank for that." Tazuna begins. "You've all done great, but you've still got to be careful" Tsunami finished, clearly used to using the motherly tone.
The bridge builder looks up from hie empty plate to the masked Jonin. "I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't had the chance until now. Why did you even stay and protect me even after you found out I lied to bring you here?"
Without missing a beat Kakashi answered. "Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive." Tsunami didn't quite grasp the importance of the statement. "Huh?"
"That was a quote from the first Hokage." Inari 'hmphed' under his breath, It was not lost to some at the table. The young boy looked over to the injured blond, who was clearly tired.
The blond reminded him of Kaiza, his words of fighting for the people of wave were reminiscent of the ex-hero. That just made him angry, that man made a promise and didn't follow it through, this boy would do the same. He would fail just like his father did, that's just how it worked.
"But why?" Naruto lifts his head to the quiet murmurings of Inari. "All this stupid is just a waste of time! Gato's got a whole army! They'll bet you down and they'll destroy you!" Shock, that was the consistent theme with all those at the table. "All these cool things you say, they don't mean anything! No matter what you do. The strong always win and the weak always lose!"
The boy was clearly distraught, but for that moment Naruto didn't care. "Lucky we're the strong one then isn't it?" He chuckled.
"Why don't you be quiet? Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country, you're just butting in!" By now the tears were freely flowing.
"Always laughing and playing around!" Naruto was getting more furious by the second, it was always the same story.
"You don't know what it's like to suffer and be treated like dirt!"
'Oh no!' was the collective thoughts of the two Jonin, Inari couldn't have been more wrong if he tried.
The temperature in the room dropped, the shaking Naruto slowly pushed himself off the table. No one could see the murderous look in his eyes. Even Inari's crying was silenced by the feeling of dread that had flooded the room.
"Listen to yourself whining and complaining like some sorry little victim! You can whimper all day for I care! Have you seen the lives other children have to live? They don't have the mom and grandfather to fall back when they need to cry!"
Naruto had reduced his voice to a more amicable volume though the anger was still present. "You sit there, with a grandfather who every day puts his life on the line, so you have a better life, a mother who cooks, cleans and makes sure you're okay"
"You're nothing but a coward!" Naruto raised his voice to emphasise that.
"The strong are not those already in power, no, the strong are those that stand up for themselves, never back down. The weak are those who give in, people who just wait for someone else to do something. People like you!"
No even breathed, they were not sure whether it was over.
Naruto! You went too far!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Shut. Up!" He hissed, he could not take her stupidity right now, he might hospitalise her. Suddenly Sakura was the one who felt small. Naruto slowly moved away from the table, walking towards the door.
Asuma was worried about the kid, the boy had seen more than enough for anyone, let alone someone his age. "Where are you going Naruto?"
"To change the terrain." This answer sent through chills along the spine of all those in the room. If someone stepped in, they might seriously die.
Kakashi didn't want to make light of it but he wanted to ease it as much as possible. "Just don't do it near the bridge" He called out happily, when the boy closed the door behind him, they all allowed themselves to breathe again.
~ Later That Night ~
Inari found himself looking out onto the ocean yet again, it had become his way of relaxing. If he couldn't see the problems, for that moment they didn't exist.
'You're nothing but a coward!' echoed in his mind, Inari refused to agree with this. He just wasn't stupid to throw his life away for a lost cause, that wasn't cowardice that was common sense. He wouldn't let his pride stop him from surviving.
'If something is truly important to you… even it's heart-breaking, even if it's sorrowful… you keep on trying and trying, even if you lose your life, you keep on protecting it with these two arms! …Then, even if you die, you leave behind the proof that you are a man… forever…'
Kaiza's words, the seemed so incredible back then. Now they were empty, worthless.
Hearing the unmistakable sounds of a crutch hitting the wooden boards, a voice softly calls out. "Can I talk to you?" The tap of the crutch continued as Kakashi brought himself to sit next the boy, hanging his feet over the edge of the jetty.
"Naruto-kun can be a little… harsh sometimes, but he doesn't hate you. Your grandfather told us what happened to your father. You probably don't know this but, Naruto also grew up without a father. In fact, he never even knew either of his parents and it took him seven years to make a single friend in our village."
"Huh?" Inari voiced; they were talking about the same loudmouthed idiot, weren't they?
"Still, I don't think I've seen him cry sulk, or give up. He's always eager to jump in, he wants to be respected, that is his dream and he'll put his life on the line for that in a heartbeat." Inari was closely studying the water, people like Naruto had tough lives to? Yet they managed to stay that positive?
"My guess is he just got tired of crying and decided to do something about it." Now the young boy was staring at the masked Jonin in awe, not for him but for the strength Naruto seemed to have.
"Even though he's young and still learning, he knows what it means to be strong like your father did. I think he knows better than any of us, what you're going through. What Naruto told you earlier, as cruel as it sounded, he's probably told himself that a thousand times."
~ With Naruto, The Next Morning ~
Naruto found himself groaning as the light of the morning sun filtered through the trees surrounding him. Blocking the sun from intruding on his eyes further he noticed two things.
One, his hand had healed, just as expected and Two. There was a beautiful young girl picking herbs no less than thirty feet away. "Hey, what are you doing there sis?"
The feminine figure looks up from her plucking of herbs to see the boy. 'Backup?' she questions herself, looking at the headband and seeing the Leaf crest she answers her own question. "I'm gathering herbs" the pink clad figure plainly states.
"Herbs? What for?"
"Yes, that's right, they're for treating illnesses and healing wounds." Naruto smiled, 'She' seemed quite nice. "Well then, why don't I help you out with that?" Haku was initially surprised by the warmth this boy gave off, and now he was going to help some stranger. "Thank you, that would be appreciated."
As Naruto continued to pluck the green leafy plants from the soil he rested on his backside. "You sure start work early huh sis?"
"I like it early, it's calm but I didn't think I would find anyone sleeping out here in the woods." Naruto gave a sheepish chuckle as he scratched the back of his head. "I was just blowing of some steam with some intensetraining!" he exclaimed.
Haku blinked at this, confusion evident. "So, are you a ninja? Because I noticed that headband you're wearing or are you just making a fashion statement?" Naruto smiled, recognition!
"You noticed that? Yeah well this is the Hidden Leaf's headband, I'm glad to see it recognised."
"Oh really? I see, I have seen headband like those before, but they were different, four marks instead of that swirl you have there" Naruto pieced it together.
"Ah you must mean the Hidden Mist's Headbands."
"Likely so." Haku stated. "You said you were training, was it for something dangerous?" she questioned, returning to collecting the herbs. "Unfortunately, yes."
"Unfortunately? I thought shinobi enjoyed their battles?"
"Some do, though, not me, I'm only training to get stronger"
"You seem pretty strong now isn't that enough?" Haku asked, the boy had a calm aura around him, he carried himself like a shinobi should.
"Not a chance, I need to be insanely strong, then I'll be Hokage, then everyone will respect me!" Haku smiled, it was a childish goal, but he was clearly devoted to it. "I see, that's an admirable goal you have there."
Haku looked down as she continued. "But, are you doing it for them or yourself?" Naruto took that question quite unexpectedly. The confused look on Naruto's face while he was thinking made Haku chuckle.
"What's so funny?" He asked with a mock pout. "Is there someone who's precious to you?"
"Someone who's precious to me…" Naruto muttered to himself, all the while images of Hana, Jiraiya, Iruka, Kakashi, Saseru, Hiruzen, the Ichiraku duo and many more filled his head. "Yeah" he started quietly. "There's lots of people who are precious to me.
"That's good, you see when a person has something precious, they want to protect, then they become genuinely strong." Naruto couldn't fault the logic; he would fight until his final breath for his friends.
Naruto thought about when Tazuna had told them about Kaiza, he believed the same thing.
"Yeah, I hear ya… I know exactly what your saying." Haku smiled at the boy, he thought about and agreed with her, he appeared to be genuine in his desire to protect. That always made Haku happy.
"Do you have someone precious to you?" Naruto asked, for someone to think like that, they must have someone.
"I do, they saved me, they made sure I was strong enough to protect myself. There's nothing I wouldn't do for them." Naruto smiled, this person seemed to have a past, he wouldn't intrude, it was not his business.
Haku grabbed her basket of herbs as she stood up to leave. "You will get strong, very strong. Goodbye, we will meet again sometime." Naruto was a little put off in her wording, she seemed sure that they would see each other but he didn't let it show. Calling out to the feminine figure.
"Oh, by the way. I'm a boy"
'Oh god! He's almost as pretty as Hana-chan' Naruto screamed mentally.
Completely ignoring the approaching figure Naruto ranted to himself about the breaking of the laws against nature Sasuke walked up to the boy and attempted to bop him on the head.
Naruto dodged the fist that came down towards his head causing the Uchiha to stumble forward. "Gotta do better than that Sasuke." Naruto joked. The other boy scowled, but it lacked it's usual heat.
"You missed breakfast loser."
"Ah yeah sorry about that." He said, chuckling nervously. "Go and get some, then maybe we could have a normal spar, no anger. But that doesn't mean I won't come with some serious intent."
"I'd hope for nothing less!" Naruto replied.
~ Three Days Later ~
The entire group were huddled in the kitchen, Kakashi then spoke. "I believe that Zabuza might return today, he should have recovered by now. I want Sakura, Ino and Choji to stay here with a squad of Naruto's clones, the rest of us will go to the bridge."
Looking to the family he eye-smiled. "We don't know what Gato might try so were cover all bases." Kakashi stated in the tone of a battle-hardened leader. Switching his gaze back to the shinobi. "We all know Shikamaru's plant?" a chorus of nods was the response.
"Good, let's move out. Ino, Choji, Sakura, keep them safe alright." Once again, he got nods. Kakashi gave them a thumbs up, they were clearly understanding the weight of the situation.
The group made their way to the bridge, Tazuna surrounded by the ninja. Walking up the skeletal steps of the scaffolding they noticed it was quiet. Too quiet for what should be a worksite. They should be hearing the whirring of machinery, the calls of 'Over here' and 'Put that over there' but there was nothing.
Asuma who leading the group was the first to catch a glimpse at the sight in front of them. When he did, he was immediately on guard, slipping his trench knives out of his pouch he channelled chakra through them. When Tazuna saw this, he couldn't do anything but exclaim.
"Hold on! What the heck is this?" The others looked upon the bodies sprawled across the bridge; they weren't dead but severely injured. All of them were struggling to breathe.
"What happened? Someone was here! Someone has got to them!" The bridge builder continued. Hatake narrowed his eye at the situation. 'Could it be?'
~ Back at the House ~
"Inari! Could you give me a hand here? Inari?!" Tsunami called out. "I'll be right there!" the young boy returned. What neither of the two knew was that to men where just outside of their house, swords in hand.
And what those two men didn't know was that there were three ninja and a small army of shadow clones waiting for them. It would certainly be a surprise.
~ On the Bridge ~
The group got their respective weapons ready as the mist rolled in. Most drew kunai though Naruto's were special, Asuma of course still had his trench knives ready. Naruto had been briefed on Zabuza's arsenal of Jutsu and he was told that he and Asuma were the most equipped to negate it.
Tiger, Ox, Dog, Rabbit, Snake. The two went through the seals simultaneously
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" The pair called out. When the wind died down they saw two figures sixty feet away.
"It appears you were right, there was backup. No problem, more fun for me the taller one cackled.
"I knew you weren't dead; you just couldn't wait for round two huh Zabuza?" Kakashi called out. "Sorry I kept you waiting Kakashi, though this time there is more of you, Asuma Sarutobi, Ex Guardian Shinobi, your bounty of thirty-five million ryo. You would be a great one to cash in."
Before the group knew it six Zabuza had appeared around them. They all chuckled. "Even with more of you this one's still trembling!" Zabuza mocked.
"I'm trembling with excitement" Sasuke coolly returned
But before the swordsman could blink his clones were reduced to puddles of water. The only difference the blond was now staring right down the barrel of the merciless killer.
"Oo, so you could see they were water clones huh? Brat seems okay. Looks like you've got a rival Haku."
"So, it seems" the shorter figure returned.
"Well, Well, so I had it right." Kakashi said, giving the two a disgruntled glare. "It was all an act."
"An act?" Tazuna questioned, he remembered the masked child from their previous encounter, but he wasn't sure. "With a cute little mask." The silver haired Jonin continued. "You big phony!" Sasuke commented.
"So, I guess all that about being a tracker ninja protecting his village was just a bunch'a'bull!" Tazuna stated. "They look pretty chummy to me; I'd say they've been pulling scams like that for a long time."
"To wear that mask when you aren't a member of their operation can lead to serious punishments. To still wear it after giving away that you weren't who you said you were, I guess you must just be stupid." Asuma gave his two cents.
"And hiding behind that mask, who does he think he's fooling?"
Naruto sweatdropped at that. "Ah, Kakashi-nii-san, you're the last one who should comment on that." Said man ignores the jab.
Haku spoke up. "He's impressive, even though they were just one-tenth the strength of the original water clone jutsu he did destroy them all." Zabuza didn't really care, it was just another brat.
"That move still gave us the first advantage, now use it" Zabuza growled out, his blade was getting hungry. "Right." Haku sped towards Naruto, spinning at an impressive pace, though when he was halfway their he was met with a painful reality. Naruto was quick, much quicker than he was.
'What?! That kid was even quicker than Haku!' Zabuza thought, not stressing too much, in his element he could still take the two Jonin on and win.
Rolling across the surface of the bridge Haku hit the railing, groaning as he brought himself back up. "You are fast, and I do not wish to fight you, but it seems that I will have to show my hand sooner."
Haku whipped through an uncommon set of handseal before calling out.
"Secret Jutsu:" The air chilled, rectangles of reflective ice surrounded Naruto. Looking around, he thought. 'Ice? That's not an element', Naruto remembered a clan that had the ability to manipulate ice.
'Kekkei Genkai!' He mentally asserted.
"Crystal Ice Mirrors!" Haku exclaimed as she stepped into one of the mirrors, her figure quickly became a two-dimensional image. The image multiplied, imprinting itself onto every mirror, until eventually Naruto was surrounded by images of the masked ninja.
"Now we will begin, let me show you what true speed is."
~ Back at the House ~
Zori and Waraji, the two swordsmen known as Gato's bodyguards. The two of them had been tasked with capturing a hostage from Tazuna's house. They approached the door of the house be fore politely knocking on the door.
"Hey!" They called out. Seeing that they weren't there for a friendly visit Ino and Sakura leapt into action. The pair were situated on the buildings roof overlooking the two new arrivals.
Jumping down from the roof, the two girls landed on the shoulders then jumped off, knock the pair off balance. "Hey what're you doing brats?" Waraji shouted, hauling himself back to his feet.
"What do you think? We're distracting you." Ino claims triumphantly. "Huh?" They both say, but before they truly register what she said they hear"
"Expansion Jutsu: Human Boulder!" Looking to their left, speeding towards them is a large green ball spinning furiously. Attempting to run away they sprint down the jetty to jump into the water.
Unfortunately, Waraji was too slow, he was met with the brunt of Choji's devastating technique. Zori who had just made it into the water suddenly felt a surface beneath him. Being too scared to move he imitated a rock as he was lifted out of the water, when he looks down, he realises he on the head of a toad.
'Is this toad wearing lipstick?' Was all he managed to think as a stiff chop to the back of his neck drew him into unconsciousness. The man crumpled into a heap, rolling off the head back on to the wooden plank walkway.
"Well, that's that!" The Naruto clone exclaimed. Brushing the dirt of his hands. "I know that these might have been all that we waited for; we shall stay here. If also to not get in the way of Shika's plan." The group agreed, they had just come of a successful implementation of a well laid plan, but they didn't want to needlessly risk their lives.
~ At the Bridge ~
Without warning a senbon needle shot towards the blond ninja, what would have been a glancing blow didn't happen. Naruto had vanished, appearing right next one of the upper mirrors, he threw a punch at it.
Expecting something as brittle as ice to break, he was shocked. The reverberations of the punch clearly showed the strength put into the punch but still, the mirror didn't break, not a crack.
"What the?" Naruto quipped. 'I didn't hit it as hard as I could but that should definitely have been able to break it. Then he notices something, Haku's chakra level is depleting, faster than it should, he also noticed a dome of chakra surrounding him. Putting the facts together.
"You're channelling chakra into the mirrors to reinforce them?" It was not a question, nevertheless Haku answered. "Correct, to notice something like that so quickly is truly impressive. Though, it won't help you." He finished, launching yet another volley of senbon at him.
Naruto is able to dodge the majority of the needles, but he also notices the intended targets. "Why aren't you trying to kill me? Why aren't you trying to win?" Naruto asked.
~ With Zabuza, Asuma and Kakashi ~
"You're out of your league Zabuza, there isn't a chance your coming out of this as the victor." Kakashi states, Zabuza chuckles, he would not be threatened easily. "Two elite Jonin, worthy of their rank, heir of the Nara clan, the second-best tactical mind in the village, just behind his father. Then you have Sasuke, the last Uchiha, their blood runs through him like a torrent, one of our strongest genin, capable of taking down even some Jonin. Sai, at least the level of Chunnin ninja, ink Jutsu to counter your water Jutsu
Kakashi snorted at the ridiculousness of the situation, "Finally you have my younger brother, Naruto Uzumaki, the most unpredictable ninja. Funny fact, he's also the quickest, it is impossible for someone to match his speed."
The swordsman's retort had died in his throat. He wouldn't back down, but he would have to play this much more carefully. Once again, the mist rolled in, Asuma knew he didn't have the chakra to spare to clear it once more, he would have to take the more direct approach.
"Kakashi, now would be a great time for those summons's of yours." Said Jonin nodded, not taking his eyes off of were Zabuza previously occupied.
"It seems as if I've blocked your greatest weapon Kakashi, what good is that monkey eye now?" Kakashi doesn't even bother to lift his headband up, he didn't need it for this fight. Instead he pulled a scroll from his pouch, unravelling it, drawing blood and streaking it down the material, he then raced through a set of handsigns:
Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Dog.
"Summoning: Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Pushing the scroll to the ground, a loud puff of smoke met the ears of the three Jonin. When it cleared there were eight dogs surrounding Kakashi.
"When you take away one sense, you rely on the others, in this case smell. My ninja hounds have the strongest sense of smell, even eclipsing many Inuzuka." The hounds leapt into action, two of them burying into the bridges surface.
Kakashi looked over to Asuma, the man nodded and sped off, following the dogs. Zabuza saw an opportunity and decided to take it, the bridge builder was being guarded by the three brats. He knew he would be able to get past them, but to then evade the Jonin, that might be more complicated.
Speeding towards the four figures, he appeared in the middle of the group, his Zanbatou in a reverse grip in his left hand behind his back. His right hand forming a half-ram seal.
"Got you" Zabuza chuckles, all four go wide eyed, bringing down his massive blade he slices through all four of them.
Smoke, even thicker than the mist. 'Shadow clones!' Zabuza mentally rages. Looking up a fist made its way through the smoke. As Asuma's fist collided with his face it released a red liquid from a vile, a smirking Nara watched on, it was a simple plan, but they were following it to a 't'.
~ With Naruto and Haku ~
"So, you've noticed, why does it bother you? They say you are quicker, but you seem to worry, was it an empty threat?" Naruto frowned, he was clearly quicker, even with Haku's increase from the ice mirrors he was still superior.
"You might have the advantage; we are in your element. But as Kakashi-nii-san said, I'm the quickest and I will prove that." Naruto got ready, kunai in hand, looking up he saw Haku twitch, she was above to move.
'Now!' Naruto mentally screamed, the next second he was on Haku, landing a devasting kick to the ninjas mask. To shocked to thick straight, instead of merging with the mirror Haku hit it like a brick wall.
"Ahh!" Haku tried to stand up, resting a hand on his knee as he pushed himself up. "How did you do that?" He asked, something caught his attention, there were black markings on the inside of his forearm.
'What's this?' She questioned. While she was distracted Naruto had appeared inside her defences again. This time it was a hook, once again aimed at the face.
'Crack!' the sound of a splitting mask carried itself all around the bridge, alerting all of the strength of the boy. With the force of the punch Haku didn't roll into the barriers she hit it cleanly.
~ With Zabuza ~
Zabuza flew through the air as he recoiled in pain, he felt as if he had just been hit be a steam train.
"Gotcha… Shadow Possession Jutsu: Complete" Zabuza grunted as he tried to move, but in turn got nothing, it felt like he'd been cemented in place. "Ahh! What have you done to me?"
"My clan, the Nara's specialise in our intellect and our Shadow techniques, that's what I've trapped you with now." Truth be told, Shikamaru had never had to restrain a Jonin level ninja, and by god did he notice the difference.
He had practiced with Choji and his father in trapping his opponents, but that was a genin, Zabuza was a completely different level.
'Naruto was right' Was the consistent thought in his head, if he hadn't planned, they would be in a much worse position. Superior numbers or not.
Kakashi gave a worried turn of the head to the ice dome, it wasn't that he believed that Naruto would lose, it was just that he had just gotten a little brother. He didn't want to lose him already. This did not go unnoticed by one of the Hidden Mist's most notorious missing nin.
"You should be worried, none of you have any chance against Haku." Zabuza chuckled.
"When I found him, he was just a street kid, but I trained him the most advanced ninja techniques." Zabuza continued. "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."
Zabuza kept fighting Shikamaru's jutsu, the boy was clearly tiring, he didn't have the strength or chakra reserves to hold him for too long. Something he noted, that would change should he survive this encounter.
"In the end, his power surpassed even mine. The blood line trait, the Kekkei Genkai cannot be defeated by anyone. I've created a tool that can destroy anything that stands in my way, unlike the useless punks who follow you around."
It was at this point where Shikamaru had had enough, he was too tired to hold onto Zabuza for much longer. His shadow lightened and broke from the Mist Jonin's. Whipping his head around to deal with the nuisance Zabuza made a dash for the young Nara, after a measly five steps he was once again trapped.
This time it was not the Shadow Possession Jutsu, no, this was much more painful, it felt like he was getting bitten? He challenged mentally. Barely able to move he took hold of his situation; he was being gripped by eight hounds. In his struggle to free himself from the boy's jutsu he'd completely forgotten about them.
'Crack' All of them shot their gaze to the dome, though what they all saw was not in the dome. A horizontal crater was in the barrier in the side of the bridge, a crumpled figure beneath it.
Zabuza growled at the site, Haku was not just losing, he was being trampled on, the boy hadn't even got a scratch on him. "Haku…" he breathed out, for the boy to be beaten like this, it would take a miracle to win.
~ With Naruto and Haku ~
"How are you doing this? It's physically impossible to be that quick." Naruto smirked; he began flipping his father's special kunai in his right hand. "So, you've finally figured it out huh? Do you know anything about this kunai?"
Haku had to admit, it was familiar, but there was an endless list of weapons, there was no way she could recognise it right now. Her silence gave him his answer. "You don't huh? This kunai was the weapon that won the third shinobi war. It slayed a thousand Stone ninja in a matter of seconds, ring any bells?"
Haku flinched, for a weapon so small to do so much damage, it was unbelievable. He thought back to his travels with Zabuza, he had told him of the bane of all Stone ninja.
A tri-pronged kunai, the prized weapon of the Fourth Hokage.
"I see, you've figured it out, quite a shock isn't it, this is what we meant when they said I was the fastest."
"How?" 'It was said that the jutsu relied purely on seals, that thing on my arm! When?'
Naruto answered the asked question first. "Like father like son I guess." Naruto said narrowing his eyes at the boy, studying his opponent. He then answered the unasked question. "You're probably wondering when I marked you, it was my initial hit, I only need physical contact."
'I can't win' Haku inwardly lamented, he knew that with the seal imprinted on him, there was no safely defending him, he could end the battle at any minute.
"Kill me." She stated, Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Kill me, for I am no longer of use to Zabuza."
"What?!" he sped forward and punched him again. This time the mask gave in, as his head whipped around the mask split entirely into fragments. The once, masked ninja turned to face Naruto.
Said boy who was intent on caving his enemy's face in, for thinking death was the beat option.
"You?" Naruto weakly spoke, "You're the one from the forest!" It made so much sense now. "Zabuza is the one precious to you, isn't he?"
"He is, he is the one who looked after me, he made me strong. Without him I would be dead, he is why I have lived up until now."
"So, you think that he's worth dying for?" He screamed, Haku was so confusing, he couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Yes, there is nothing that would make me happier. To lay down my life for him would be an honour."
"Why?" It was just sadness, there was nothing else in his tone, just sadness and disappointment.
"Because, even though he murdered many, he lives by a code of honour, his 'Ninja way'." Haku gained a nostalgic look, clearly thinking of better times. "I used to have others, my mother and father, they were farmers and very poor, our life was hard, but we were very content. My parents were good to each other and kind to me, yes, we were happy once, but then everything changed."
"Because of something that happened long before I was even born, everything changed." Haku stated.
"What is that?" Naruto questioned. By now Haku had stood up and with glossy ees, kept her gaze down to avoid eye contact.
"It wasn't my doing." Haku croaked out. "It is in the blood."
"What happened? What changed?"
"It was my father who changed, he killed my mother and he almost killed me." Naruto had heard of the bloodline purges of the 'Bloody Mist', but a personal account from a victim who was nearly killed by their father was sickening.
"After years of suffering the horrors of civil war, the people of my land had come to fear and hate anyone, who carried the Kekkei Genkai in their blood. The advanced bloodline trait of a clan, it's jutsu and abilities, passed down from generation to generation."
"Because of their unique abilities the clans were used as mercenaries, they fought in many battles and were much feared. But when the wars were over, they were despised and shun by the people who feared their presence would only bring more ware and misfortune."
"So, it was after the wars, these clans went into hiding, denying the bloodline trait that flowed in their veins. Concealing their unique abilities, knowing that to be discovered mean certain death. If you had searched that boys memories, I'm sure you would have found it there too."
"The cruelty of people, their fear of things they don't understand. For years my mother was successful in hiding her bloodline trait, she met and fell in love with a simple farmer. They were married and after that my mother thought she would lead a peaceful, ordinary life to the end of her days."
"My father had seen and so he knew our secret, my mother's and mine. He killed her, then he turned on me, through pure will to survive I killed him. I was broken, empty. When at last I was myself again, I was no longer myself, my father and mother were gone but I knew that something else had been taken from me."
"Something even more important, and that is when I truly despaired."
"What could be more important than family?"
"My purpose, in all the world there was no one who needed me, I was… unnecessary." Naruto couldn't help but take a step back in realisation, she had lived a hard life due to her unique abilities and he'd lived one because of the fox.
'We're the same' It was a sad thought, but he knew it to be true.
"Why is it you're so determined to be Hokage? Because you want all eyes in your village to look on you and recognise you as a great ninja. You see as only though the eyes of others that our little lives have any significance, when there is no one who sees you or will even look at you, it's as if you do not even exist." His way of coping was to proclaim and work to be the greatest Hokage, Haku's was to follow the person who saved him without second thought.
"Then Zabuza came along and looked at me and his eyes were not full of hate or fear. He didn't shun me for my strangeness; indeed, my special powers were just what he wanted, he made me necessary again."
'Old man, Iruka-nii-san, Teuchi-oji-san, Ayame-nee-chan, they were mine and Zabuza was yours.' Naruto's eyes softened; he would likely be doing the same exact thing if the roles were reversed. He understood Haku, that's all ever he wanted, to understand others and be understood himself.
"I was happy." His head further dropped. "I have failed you, Zabuza, I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use. Naruto, as I said before."
His were transfixed on Haku, impatiently waiting for what he had to say.
"Kill me." He muttered.
~ With Zabuza ~
"I realised that if I couldn't see you, I'd have to smell you out, that was a summoning jutsu, I was calling forth my ninja hounds they can track a scent anywhere. When Asuma punched you, placed some of my blood on you, you see is the smell of my blade on you face that led them to you. Surprised? I guess I wasn't the only one who was blind."
Zabuza glanced down, true to Kakashi's word, the bandages on his face had reddened, though he knew he hadn't been cut. "Falling into our trap, you disappoint me Zabuza."
"Ah, the mist if finally clearing, and you know what I see?" Even with the Sharingan hidden his glare stuck fear into Zabuza. "Your death!"
"Talk, talk! Do you mean to talk me to death?!"
Kakashi shrugged. "In a way, yes, right now my hounds are just playing with you, one word from me and they tear you apart." The silver haired Jonin shook his head. "Poor Zabuza, see where your ambitions got you? You were always pushing things too far."
The leaf ninja let the words sink in. "It was the failed Mizukage assassination and attempted coup d'état. You were forced to flee with the few followers you had, your country's tracker ninja, hot on your heels. You became a rogue ninja whose name was quickly known, even in the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
"Now you're crazy enough to want to go back and try it again, but for that you need money. And to get it you stooped so low as to be the hired thug of swine like Gato."
Asuma making himself known Stepped beside his fellow Jonin. "Alright Zabuza, it's time to finish this." Channelling, chakra through his knives he charged at the disgraced shinobi.
~ With Naruto and Haku ~
Looking upon the shattered mask Naruto hears Haku speak, "Go on, strike, kill me. Why do you hesitate?"
Naruto growled in response. "That's a load of crap, to follow someone like that, like him, what a sorry life!" Naruto couldn't stop the rage returning as he thought about who and what he was, what he had been through and whether what Haku had been like had it all not gone wrong.
Flashes of his family back in the village cross his eyes. "The worst thing is I understand you; I don't think I would have done anything differently. That just means that you should be able to understand where I'm coming from! You should be able to think for yourself!"
Haku smiled warmly, it amused him, this boy would do anything for others. Hearing the guttural barks of Kakashi's summons the both look over. Zabuza was being held down by the swarm of canines, Asuma charging with the intent to kill.
"Naruto, you will be strong, stronger than anyone has ever been. Keep protecting those close to you, if not for them or for you, then for me. I will do the same, goodbye."
Naruto wasn't able to move, he couldn't move, just as he saw Haku closing in on the battling pair he regained his movement. Flashing to his seal he noticed something that he never thought possible.
He wasn't fast enough.
Yes, they're a lot of parralels between this and canon, but this is where it changes. You all have been patient with this story and from now on it changes.