Chapter – 21

Naruto and Sasuke furiously ran with kunais with full intention of killing Haku. But as soon as they were just a fist distance away from him, a chirping sound echoed and a blue flickering came from where Kakashi was. As soon as Haku heard that, he side stepped Naruto and Sasuke.

"Sorry. It seems my purpose is still to save the person I want to protect. I can not die like this."

As soon as Haku said that, he vanished.

Naruto and Sasuke stood alert and kept looking for any attack. Naruto got frustrated and groaned. Sasuke just looked pissed and said 'Tch'.

"What the hell just happened?"

"We should go to Kakashi. I think that guy went there. "

"Okay. Let's go teme. "

Naruto started running but Sasuke didn't move. His hands were trembling. He slowly glanced back and watched Sakura. He was hoping that by some miracle she would be up and smiling as usual but she lay still. Her body was full of senbons. There was blood everywhere. Her blood. Damn it! I couldn't do a thing. I couldn't protect her. Sasuke shut his eyes tightly to stop the tears that threatened to fall and took off in Kakashi's direction.

Meanwhile, Kakashi had already trapped Zabuza by summoning ninja dogs. They gripped him in place and had their teeth dug into his skin so he couldn't move.

"It's over, Zabuza. Be prepared for your death."

Zabuza just smirked and waited.

Kakashi focused his lightning chakra in his palm and went to attack Zabuza's chest. As soon as he was about to reach him, Haku came in between them and he took Kakashi's attack.

Kakashi stood wide eyed and then tried to take out his hand from Haku's chest but Haku gripped his hand in place. Kakashi couldn't even move.

"Let go, kid! Why did you come in between?"

" it's my duty to protect Zabuza. I don't care what happens to me. I'm not letting go. "

Suddenly Zabuza started laughing like crazy. He looked at Kakashi and gave him a twisted look.

"Good job, Haku. You really are the best tool."

Kakashi just looked at him bewildered. He doesn't care about him at all. He just thought of him as a tool? Kakashi tried pulling out his hand again but Haku just tightened his grip. Suddenly, Naruto and Sasuke came and saw the scene. Naruto looked downright distraught seeing Haku impaled. Sasuke just glared fiercely at Haku and Zabuza.

Kakashi then gripped Haku and jumped away from Zabuza. He laid down Haku's body and fiercely ripped out his hand. Haku coughed up some blood and then went still. Kakashi saw Naruto looking at him with pain in his eyes.

"Death is common in the ninja world, Naruto. Don't show sympathy towards the enemy. "

Naruto just stood there with his shoulders shaking and head down. Sasuke on the other hand wanted to punch the living daylight out of Zabuza. When Kakashi said death was common, he immediately thought of Sakura and his anger just fueled up.

Kakashi stood there watching them and then suddenly he noticed Sakura wasn't with them.

"Where's Sakura? "asked Kakashi. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.

At that question, Naruto and Sasuke gritted there teeth and shook their heads. When Kakashi saw them shake their heads, his stomach dropped. No… it can't be. She was strong. How could she have.. he couldn't even say the word death. For some reason, he knew she wasn't a threat but after learning that she didn't make it, he felt horrible. Damn it! I couldn't protect her! It was their first mission and they had to deal with the loss of a teammate.

Kakashi closed his eyes and then glared at Zabuza who was looking even more crazy.

"See? I told you. Nobody escapes from Haku's jutsu."

"Shut up. I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth."

Kakashi again formed that lightning chakra and ran towards Zabuza. Zabuza shook off the dogs off of him and dodged. He swung his blade at Kakashi but he twisted his body to avoid it. He took out a kunai amd ran forward. Zabuza again swung his blade, but Kakashi vanished and appeared on the surface of the blade and jabbed two kunais in his shoulders. Zabuza cried in pain and dropped his blade. He couldn't use his hands anymore.

"Hehe, you were a worthy opponent."

"Before I kill you, why did you say that kid was a tool. He gave his life for you. Didn't you care about him at all? "

When Naruto heard this, he stared wide eyed at Zabuza.

"That was his job. Why would I care if he dies? He did his job, that's all."

Naruto was furious. How can this guy be so heartless. Haku loved him so much and yet he never received anything in return from this bastard than hate.

"YOU BASTARD! HAKU LOVED YOU! HE SAID YOU WERE THE REASON HE HAD A PURPOSE FOR LIVING AND YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HIM? HOW CAN YOU SAY HE WAS A TOOL? WASN'T HE WITH YOU IN EVERY PROBLEM? WASN'T HE WITH YOU IN YOUR LONELINESS? HE WASN'T A TOOL! EVEN YOU KNOW THAT! "

Naruto yelled at Zabuza. Naruto also started crying while saying all this. He was about to open his mouth again but Zabuza interrupted him.

"Don't say anything more kid. You may be a kid but your words cut deep. "

Kakashi saw that Zabuza was crying. He was about to say something when Sasuke shouted at them.

"There are Gato's lackeys who are running here! We have to go and fast!"

Zabuza just stood there. Then he looked at Haku and he faced Kakashi.

"Kakashi, give me kunai. I know Gato will probably kill me because I failed but I cant let them take Haku. Im going to fight them. "

Kakashi looked at him for a second and then nodded. He threw a kunai at Zabuza and he caught it with his teeth. Then Zabuza turned and ran towards the approaching enemies. He swiftly grazed them and one by one, they started throwing spears and blades in his back which made him stumble and fall down. Gato came to stand before his fallen body.

"You couldn't even do something as easy as this. You are useless. Let me make sure you pass on peacefully." Said Gato with a crazy smirk. Just then, somebody screamed at Gato.

"Not so fast. If you want to attack these ninjas then you will he to fight all of us. "

It was Inari who stood there with all the villagers behind him. All of them were holding some kind of weapon and glared at Gato and his men. Naruto saw Inari and smirked.

"Well there you go. Wanna take a chance?"

Naruto created 20 clones and stood alert. Gato's men started running towards the edge of the incomplete bridge and jumped.

"Where are you going? I paid you to protect me!"

Just then Zabuza stood up and drove the kunai in Gato's chest which made him fall down from the bridge. Zabuza collapsed. Kakashi went to him and stood before him

"Kakashi, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Yeah. What is it? "

"Take me to him. Please."

Kakashi bent down and started pulling out the blades and spears from his body and picked him up. He laid him beside Haku and went away. Zabuza apologized to Haku and then both of them laid still.

Kakashi walked to Naruto and Sasuke and saw them looking at the ground. They were ashamed of themselves.

"Lets go. We should take her body back to Konoha. "

Sasuke bit his lip to prevent himself from crying and started walking towards Sakura. Naruto followed glumly behind them. Kakashi saw Sakura and his heart twisted in pain. She took so much damage. Kakashi bent down and checked her pulse. Suddenly, Kakashi felt a throb and he looked wide eyed at Sakura.

"Sakura? Can you hear me?"

Sasuke saw Kakashi talking to Sakura. He also bent down and held her body up. He also checked her pulse and was shocked when he felt it. He looked at Kakashi shockingly. They both turned to Sakura and started shaking her. Sasuke was panicking. She's alive. She's alive! She has to wake up.

"Sakura! Please wake up! Please!" said Sasuke with a broken voice. He shook her shoulders and cradled her in his chest. Naruto also bent down and held her hand. He was on the verge of crying. Suddenly, Sakura's fingers moved. Naruto pleadingly looked at her.

"Sakura-chan!? Are you okay?"

Her head moved a little which made Sasuke snap his head down towards her. She slowly opened her beautiful emerald eyes. Everything was blurry. She heard people screaming her name.

"Sakura? Can you hear me?" asked Kakashi.

She slowly nodded her. Sasuke released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He felt like he was on cloud 9. She's okay. She's okay. Relief flooded through him and he held her closer and rested his chin on her head.

Sakura looked at him puzzlingly. He was worried about me? She started getting up and once she sat straight, Naruto came and tackled her into a bear hug.

"Thank god! We thought you were gone! I'm so happy you're okay Sakura-chan!"

Sakura smiled at his antics and rested her hand on Naruto's hair and ruffled them. Naruto just grinned wider. Kakashi felt like a weight was off of him. You really had us scared, Sakura. Kakashi now had no doubt that she was trustworthy. She almost died for her team. Looks like she was telling the truth. She cares about her team a lot.

"Okay, lets go back. We can't sit here all day." Sakura started getting up but her feet stumbled and she started falling side ways. Before she could hit the ground, she felt something warm holding her up. She looked and saw Sasuke holding her tightly.

"Ah… sorry Sasuke."

She started moving to release his grip so she could stand. But of course, Sasuke wasn't having any of that.

"Don't walk. You're injured."

Then Sasuke sat down and offered her his back.

Sakura just started at him wide eyed. He wants to carry me? He's really different from the Sasuke I knew before.

"Are you sure, Sasuke? I mean I don't wanna be a pain."

Sasuke just scowled at her. How can she say she's a pain?

"Stop being stupid and get on."

Sakura blushed a little and muttered a small 'okay'. She got on his back and Sasuke held her legs under his arms and rose up.

"What the hell, teme?! I'm gonna carry Sakura-chan!"

Sasuke just glared at him and with his eyes he was trying to imply that you-say-another-word-and-I'll-kill-you. The truth was, Sasuke didn't want anybody near Sakura. He wanted to protect her. He didn't like it when somebody else got close to her. But he didn't know why.

Kakashi watched them with a smile. They sure are a great team.

"Alright. Lets head back to Tazuna-san's house. We all could use a rest. Specially Sakura."

They nodded and started walking.