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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.
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Upload Schedule: Sundays and Thursdays
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Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Demonic or summons speech"
'Demonic or summons thoughts'
Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness
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"Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war... Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of the rest." - C. S. Lewis
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This chapter may be longer or even shorter than the rest due to its nature. It is mainly fights with character development. The reason for shorter is due to the nature of true conflict. A fight between two men does not last hours on hours. Pein and Naruto fought for little under an hour, Jiraiya fought and was killed by Pein in under twenty minutes. The mission to waves fights with Zabuza both times were less than twenty minutes. The longest true fight in the series was the fourth war spanning a few days. Even Naruto vs. Sasuke for the final time lasted barely more than twenty minutes due to them talking. Real fights and conflict between skilled people end quickly. Any person who truly knows how to fight will tell you the same. The illusionment at fights taking place for days or hours is a lie. My fights will be short but detailed, I hope you enjoy and I would very much like for some tips if you see a glaring issue in my fights. Till this chapters Epilogue,
~Ardent Chronicler
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A sense of foreboding fell over the house that Team 7 had been inhabiting for the last month. For the past two weeks this sense had not lifted since Iroh's arrival, and Itachi doubted it would vanish now. He hoped with the arrival of Iroh that things would settle and they would be left in peace however, Itachi was not naive he knew that Irohs presence would stir the pot that has been boiling since the beginning of this mission. Itachi had a duty to fulfill but with his students he has had next to no time to accomplish the mission. Between having to worry about the boys' training routines, Sakura's recovery time, and the state of the bridge he had not found the information needed to slay Gato. Even with Iroh being there, not that he had not appreciated the help, his team had settled into a funk. He decided that a moral booster was needed so he would take all of his active team to the bridge for some physical exercise so the two boys could rest easier tonight. Itachi stood walking out of his room preparing for his plan. He swiftly woke Naruto, Sasuke, and Iroh up from their sleep and requested their presence downstairs. Using the hair tie on around his wrist he tied his longer hair in its ponytail and sat down at the table.
"Today, all four of us shall go to the bridge. Naruto, Sasuke, and I will be performing manual labor, while I was hoping, Master, if you would be willing to teach Naruto and Sasuke the way you taught me. Just for today of course."
Iroh nodded as he smiled to the two boys knowing that today would be hell for them if Itachi wished for them to get a taste of his true training.
"Very well, my old friend. I do believe that I can do that, but do you think they can handle it?"
Itachi nodded and was about to speak further before Sakura and Tsunami came down the stairs.
"Oh, good morning Master, I didn't know you all were awake." Sakura sat in the chair next to Itachi and smiled to her two teammates.
"Good morning Sakura, you are radiant today like the flower you are named after!" Iroh smiled to her seeing her smile towards him. Iroh enjoyed her presence, the two boys had an air of discomfort and seriousness while Sakura brought the teams trifecta together with her warm kindness and her witty dialogue. Iroh had been spending many nights before bed talking with Sakura and helping her with her depression from her injury.
The morning was a picture of perfection. Cooler temperatures, but not cold, moist, but not wet. The sun had been peeking over the trees at eight o'clock in the morning as the four males prepared for their journey to the bridge. Naruto had decided to bring his bow, he had a bad feeling, though if he did not need it, it would be safe in Irohs hands as he worked.
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The journey had been pleasant, with open dialogues from Iroh on some of his past exploits. Iroh had just begun to tell them the story of how he got the nickname Dragon of the West, before they had seen the bodies. Itachi immediately activated his Sharingan as he looked around prepared for a fight. Continuing down the bridge they found more and more bodies until they came upon a literal pile of bodies. Men stacked upon men almost as if being stacked to light as a funeral pyre, and atop the sick construct, sat a familiar man, and his large great sword.
"Itachi of the Crows, we meet again." Zabuza looked down to the man and leapt down from atop his throne of blood and bone. Landing in a crouch with his blade against his shoulders he stood looking at Itachis neck. Zabuza scoffed as he swung his beheading sword and it landed against the bridge with a loud clang. He felt the movement as Kai walked from where he had been hidden and stood next to the large swordsman. Haku filled the space between them and then their final member, a scared looking woman who stood next to Kai on the outside of the line.
Itachi looked to the members, he recognized the hunter, Zabuza, and Kai but he had no clue who the woman was.
"I see, so that is why my opponent had been adamant about keeping our line at the border. Itachi, that is Mya, the wife of Hakoda the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. You are even more lovely in person than the rumors said Lady Mya." Iroh smiled to the woman who seemed to become a tad bit unnerved at Irohs nonchalant behavior.
"Hey, boy. You're goin to pay for what you did to my face. I'm goin to string you up by your skin at the end of this bridge and let you hang." Kai could barely contain his fury, this snot headed brat had deformed him. He was going to make the child pay.
"Well, if you were any good you wouldn't have been hurt like that. What is the saying? Play with fire, and you get burned?" Sasuke watch the man being barely able to contain his rage. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, though not as advanced as his big brothers, it would prove invaluable in the battle ahead.
Naruto looked Mya in the eye and she seemed extremely confused about him, of course she had heard of the heir to the Yu Yan, but she never pictured him to be this young.
"Lady Mya, I am Naruto of the Yu Yan Clan. I know these words will mean nothing to you, but I am sorry this has to happen. I only wish your safe travels." Naruto presented her with a bow to her to show her place, she was practically royalty after all.
Myas eyes softened to the boy and she saw the dire conflict in his eyes, she steeled herself and she did not know why but she talked to him as if she were talking to her boy.
"It's going to be ok Naruto Yu, everything will be alright. We may have our duties to fulfill, but I will fight you with my all, I expect no less from you." Mya smiled warmly to Naruto, and with the sound of breaking timber the fights had begun. Mya began to run behind her heading towards the bank of the river as she leapt towards the water. Naruto chased her and leapt off of the bridge himself landing in a tree quickly leaping to the floor below to fight.
Sasuke barely had the reaction time to move, but he had seen the move coming from a mile away. He leapt forward to meet Kai in combat both warriors furiously attacking each other as they fought their way down to the end of the bridges construction. The two meeting in blows that could be heard across the bridge.
Itachi looked to Iroh and nodded as he wished to finish his fight that had been interrupted by Zabuzas apprentice. He nodded to Zabuza as they began to slowly make their way to the beginning section of the bridge.
"I have been waiting to finish our battle, you are one of the most fun opponents I have faced in a long while." Zabuza just watched Itachi take a stance he had not witnessed before hand and Zabuza met Itachi with his Killer Intent, Itachi meeting his head on as the feeling of dread flooded over the bridge.
Iroh smiled to the young boy in front of him, he had to lean to the left to avoid a senbonflying at his face.
"I see, you are an acupuncturist! Would you be willing to help me out? I have had this old ache i my back and nothing seems to stop it from hurting! Hahahaha." Iroh continued to smile however, Haku knew that he was in the fight of his life.
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He could barely keep up, even with his Sharingan active. Duck, roll left, back roll, jump high, Sasuke got grabbed by a water whip and flung into the ground. Jumping to his feet he saw a fist nearly in his face, leaning right he charged in towards Kai.
"Stop fucking moving you god damned brat!"
Sasuke lunged forward ramming his fist into Kais gut, following through with a shoulder tackle knocking Kai off his feet. Sasuke too this moment to form his handsigns and he held his right hand forward as three balls of fire appeared around him.
Kai leapt to his feet before a ball of fire impacted his chest, growling with rage he ran forward batting the two away with his hands only suffering minor burns. Rising his hands water came from the ground where puddles had been wrapping around Sasukes feet. Kai leapt forward bringing his knee up to bash Sasukes face inward. He was not expecting Sasuke to perform another jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!" A torrent of fire rushed over his lips, and had it not been for his reaction time and flexibility Kai would have been consumed by fire. The water breaking off of Sasukes feet he charged to where Kai had just landed, once again getting in his face in Sasukes signature Taijutsu. He kept in Kais personal space throwing elbow and fist, knee and foot, he was hoping to overwhelm the giant. Sasuke had to jump back to avoid a torrent of water rushing around Kai. He looked forward his Sharingans tomoe spinning as he analyzed what his opponent had been doing. Sasuke cursed as his opponent began a graceful dance, wave after wave, whip and bullets of water threatened Sasuke. He had to lean back to dodge a whip that would have taken his head off as he felt an impact on his inner right thigh. He growled as he jumped to the right avoiding another water bullet.
"That's right you little fucker, I'm gonna make you fuckin dance!" Kai was filled with glee as he watched the little shit that changed his face having to dodge one move after another. He was getting close to killing him though. He saw the exhaustion written on Sasukes face from the continuous motion before he noticed it. Sasukes image was flickering! Biting his lip he woke up from the Genjutsu quick enough to grab Sasukes knee in his hands before it could smash into his get. The blow still held enough power to lift Kai off of his feet as Sasuke whipped around planting a foot into Kais solar plexus. Sliding across the bridge in a heap Kai barely manage to stand up with his breath catching u to him. He looked at the little fucker but saw his hands in the Tiger hand seal!
"Take this you son of a bitch! Fire Style: Demon Lantern!" He watched Kais confused expression as nothing happened, but then he felt it. He leapt to the right as a ball of fire with a demons face slammed into the bridge exploding into a firestorm. He felt satisfaction as Kai bent a whip and sent it to catch the next lantern mid flight but it was not enough. The explosion had been too close and sent Kai flying back into a mess of timber, a crack being heard as the timber fell on his body. He did not want to take any chances and formed several more Demon Lanterns sending them to converge on the timber pile, with a roaring explosion the lanterns met a large gush of water as it collapsed upon the bridge almost as if a tidal wave had hit. Sasuke cursed his luck as Kai stood drenched head to toe with water.
"Come on little fucking piggy, im going to butcher you!" With that Kai and Sasukes fight renewed with vigor.
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Naruto cursed as four figures rose from the swamp, two bending water towards him from the river and two running at him strange swords with balls on the end of them ready to strike him down.
"Sokka?! Katara?! You two shouldn't be here!" Mya looked to her children and their counterparts. She cursed her luck as she ran after her son and the other warrior.
"We've got this mom! You get out of here!" Katara knocked another arrow from the air before she heard a cry of pain and a gurgling noise. Turning to her right the woman who had been teaching her bending for six years, Baba, fell arrow buried deep into her throat. With a cry Katara continued to send wave after wave of water at Naruto.
"Pin him Katara!" Sokka was getting very annoyed, every move the warrior with him made to cut Naruto down had been dodged. He winced as an arrow had sliced his shirt open along his ribcage.
Naruto pulled another arrow back but smirked as he let it fly. He watched the warrior take out his arrow, but the arrow detonated with an exploding tag on its shaft. Naruto took the chance to start sending more arrows down range at Katara as he weaved between her water shots. He leapt backwards as Sokka jumped in from the side with his club sword, Naruto spin into his form meeting Sokka with a vicious right cross to the face sending him reeling. Naruto spun low landing in a crouch as he knocked an arrow and sent it flying into Kataras right bicep. With a cry of pain and a shout from Mya he was prepared to take the final shot until his bow was knocked from his hands by Sokka.
"Katara!" Mya slid on her knees to her child, breaking the ti off of the broad head and pulling the arrow out by its shaft. She weaved water to her hands placing them around her daughters arm as she began to heal her. She looked to her son who had just engaged to Yu Yan archer in hand to hand combat, and true to their legend, Naruto was winning.
Sokka was frustrated yet again, wasn't an archer only supposed to be good at long range? He blocked a right hook, sweeping his left leg to try and take Narutos feet from him. He saw his opponent pull into a knife hand stance before twisting around planting his foot into Sokkas jaw sending him flying. Sokka got to his feet but had to leap to the right as over fifteen shuriken made of water impacted the spot he had just been.
Naruto did something unexpected though as he ran towards Sokka engaging him in close ranged battle. He blocked Sokkas punch and grabbed his wrist and jerked Sokka back to take a water whip from his sister meant for Naruto. He jerked Sokka down and stomped on his right shoulder dislocating the shoulder from its socket. With a cry Naruto went to finish the job but he leapt back from Myas palm strike however, he did catch a water jet to the chest flinging him back against a tree.
"Why did you do that! You didn't have to hurt him!" Mya glared at the blonde who picked himself up from the ground and he spit towards her. If it were not for her daughter, the needle of water barely a millimeter from her eye would have skewered her eyeball. She then saw this boy in a new light, he wasn't fighting to preserve life, he was fighting to kill.
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Iroh looks passively at the youth in front of him, he was trying to judge the boys character. Eyeing the white mask with a red waving pattern. He bowed softly to the young boy and smiled to him.
"You seem to not want to be here, why would that be?"
"You are General Iroh the dragon of the West, and more commonly known amongst your enemies as the most powerful firebender to have existed in this era."
Iroh began to laugh heartily at what the boy said before he nodded to him.
"Any of those may be true, or may not. What they don't say is I am an avid pai sho player, and I love tea. I would rather be known for those."
"It is besides the point, you will die today for my master said it shall be so. I have been trained to fight firebenders and it will be my personal responsibility to take you down today." Haku took a loose stance as he prepared himself for Irohs assault.
Iroh stared impassively at the young boy in front of him and he sighed.
"You are going to make me fight you arent you?"
"Of course, my owner has declared you my enemy, and for his sake I will eliminate you."
Iroh sighed as he took a side stand his left hand palm open pointed towards Haku his other hand held by his side palm facing upwards. He looked to the boy before he had to move to the right as dozens of ice needles crash on his position. Iroh blocked an open palm strike from his opponent flipping the boy behind him. Taking a single step forward Iroh unleashed a massive wave of flames large enough to encompass the whole area they had resided within. Unsurprisingly he saw the boy in an ice dome, dropping it to attack he stopped noticing the flames rising and falling.
Hakus eyes widened as he looked towards the older man who closed his eyes, only breathing in and out slowly. Every inward breath the flames grew every outward breath they shrunk.
"Do you want to know how I got the name Dragon of the West?"
Haku took a defensive stance and Iroh opened his eyes looking to the boy, opening his mouth. Haku had to dive back and encompass himself in thick ice as fire poured from the mans mouth bathing the area in an eerie glow. Feeling the heat leaving Haku noticed the nine inches of ice he layered around his body had been reduced to a few millimeters. Haku stood his eyes widening as he looked to the older man now in fear at his power.
"I apologize for hurting you further in this fight, but I have to do this since you refuse to stop." Iroh ran forward and Haku ran to met him clashing his blows, though Iroh was not in his prime Haku had surprisingly kept up with him to this point.
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Sasuke had enough of Kai, he wanted to end this fight quickly so he could go support his teammate. He blocked Kais kick to his ribs but was not fast enough to block the follow up haymaker that sent him sprawling across the floor. Laping to his feet he wiped the blood that started flowing from his lip. Grabbing the fist that threatened to smash his head he guided Kais force downward as she shot his knee forward into Kais face. H felt the crunch beneath his knee before he heard it, hearing his opponent release a shout of pain he let go of the wrist and jumped backwards. Whatever was left of Kais nose was gone, broken and hanging loosely by a sliver of burnt skin. Watching his opponent reach up and rip the skin tearing off the last piece of his nose he growled at Sasuke chargin inwards again with water bending to his will. Jumping to the right to avoid the whip of water nearly saved him from the kick headed towards his face, nearly. Sasukes head whipped back so fast it nearly knocked Sasuke out when he slid across the ground. Slowly rising to his feet Sasuke realized he couldn't open his right eye at all, and there was a good amount of blood flowing down the right side of his face.
"How does it feel kid? You just lost one of your tools. SO BRING IT YOU SHIT!" Kai leapt towards Sasuke ignoring the blood loss of his own as the two began to trade blows once again. Though this time Kai managed to get more than a couple hits into Sasukes guard. With a vicious right hook and a knee to his gut he flung Sasuke backwards into a support pillar. He nearly laughed as the Beheading blade nearly removed the teens head, not realizing they were that close to Itachi and Zabuzas fight. He ran forward trying to intervene in Itachis fight but Sasuke had stopped him with several Demon Lanterns sending his form flying back from the velocity of the explosion.
Watching his opponent fly from his attack Sasuke wiped away some of the blood that was drying from his right brow, he opened his eye and saw everything with a pinkish hue. He confirmed his eye was fine, it was just blood that flowed into his eye. He was about to flush it before he had to dodge another whip of water. He was really beginning to hate Water Whips with a burning passion. MAking his hand signs while he was running he once again breathed out with a yell.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!" Pumping nearly half of what was left in his reserves the bridge flooded with fire as Kai cursed loudly. Sasuke let the stream die when he heard his opponents pained yelp, seeing him covered in blisters, third degree burns and blackened skin in some locations.
"You, mother fucker. FUCK YOU!" Kai could barely keep himself from blacking out. About to go after Sasuke once again a scream tore him away to look towards the edge of the bridge. Though hearing the yell he felt nothing more as once again he was consumed in a fiery storm of Fox Fire.
"NO KATARA!"
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Mya watched Narutos form closely, she seemed to recognize if only partially the stance he was in. The stance bringing her a burning fury that couldn't be contained.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT FORM!"
Naruto looked apathetically to his opponent, seeing Sokka standing to his feet thanking his mother and looking to Katara standing close to her mother. Naruto scoffed as he shook his right hand shaking numbness away from it.
"Why would you care?" Naruto looked into the womans eyes but he cursed seeing her fury, why did it even matter, he would humor her considering this would be the last fight she would ever have.
"JUST TELL ME GOD DAMNIT!"
"It was my mothers." Naruto saw something in Myas eyes akin to shock, grief, maybe even horror. He knocked an arrow quicker than Sokka could follow and let loose the arrow before Katara knocked it from the air.
"STOP LYING TO ME, the person who knew that form is DEAD!" Mya couldn't contain the rage she had so she just charged at the boy. If he wouldn't give her the truth, she would take it from him. After all, someone who knew the body, like a healer, would know some very good ways to torture people. She felt a few stings as she dodged Water Shot and arrows alike. She got into his guard and she began their dance. Mya was angry, though impressed at the boys efficiency with the Tang Soo Do form. She shifted her own form dropping low and landing a palm strike to his chest flinging Naruto back.
"Tell me the truth, and I might just not kill you."
"I told you the truth, my mother was the one who knew the form. Her old student and my teacher taught it to me since she is dead." Naruto narrowed his eyes buying time while he builds up Chakra slowly so he can unleash a torrent of Water Shuriken.
"Her name."
"What?"
"What was her name, and you better not be lying to me."
Naruto studied her face, seeing the sincerity of her words he nodded as his jutsu was almost ready.
"Her name was Kushina Uzumaki." Naruto saw the utter shock on her face and the woman almost seemed to let go of her anger. This was the time to strike when she had her guard down and wouldn't be able to resist him. Whipping his hand outward the river contorted as over ninety Water Shuriken formed all of them rushing at Mya. Katara leapt to her mothers side and spinning her for m around she bent half of the Water Shuriken into a dome of water sending the rest towards Naruto. Leaping backwards halfway up a tree Naruto then sprang from its side with a burst of chakra, he leapt over the wave of Shuriken as he twisted in air knocking one last arrow he let it fly downwards piercing the water dome and straight through Kataras rib cage and out through her waist. The dome of water collapsed when he heard the shriek of agony from the young girl. Landing next to Sokka who tried to cut him down Naruto swept his legs and performed a wheel kick into Sokkas temple sending him into the ground unconscious. Knocking a broad headed arrow Naruto stood barely a meter away from Mya arrow prepared to rip through her heart. He saw her scrambling to Katara starting to heal her daughters wound as she cried in agony. He would give her this one concession to save her daughter's life.
"NO KATARA!"
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Itachi looked to his opponent, Zabuza the Demon of the Mist. This would be a hard fought battle, but he was confident in his abilities.
"This time we will get to finish our battle"
"Heh, without your kids here to save your ass you might just die Itachi Uchiha."
"You lecture me on my students saving my ass? What happened in our last fight again?"
Zabuza growled as he ran forward to fight Itachi, watching the teen summon his Katana. The two reached each other in a clash of sparks, clashing over and over the two matched each other blow for blow with their swords. Lashing out with a hard forward kick Itachi was sent rolling back before he came to a stop on his knee. Zabuza began running through hand signs and with a shout he released his technique.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" A large amount of water rose from the river below twisting into the form of a dragon. Launching forward the dragon was intent on destroying Itachi, but he did something Zabuza wouldn't have even dared to. Itachi charged the damned thing.
Itachis eyes were spinning as he leapt channeling chakra to his feet he landed on the dragons head, sticking his katana into the side of the beast he ran along its length slicing into the technique as it let loose a deafening roar. Itachi then leapt from its body as the water crashed to the ground and swung with all of his strength and the force behind his blow to send Zabuza flying backwards with his Beheading sword sliced into two parts. Grabbing the large chunk of the beheading sword Itachi spun flinging it like a shuriken at Zabuza.
Zabuza cursed as he dodged the chunk of the beheading sword that nearly took his head off, but with a sound of laughing he cut his eyes to the right seeing the sword had nearly decapitated the Uchihas brother. He leapt forward his broken blade meeting Itachis as the two battled for superiority in their swordsmanship once again.
"You're getting sluggish again Zabuza."
"Oh shut it Uchiha." Zabuza was flng back as the Itachi in front of him detonated in an explosion. Stabbing his blade into the bridge to slow his sliding he could feel his right femur had been fractured and his right wrist that held his sword had been broken. Swapping his grip to his left hand Zabuza stood in ain looking at Itachi, and mistakenly into his eyes.
"Tsukuyomi."
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Iroh looked to the young boy who was panting in exhaustion.
"Just give in now and I will let you go, I don't want to hurt you." Iroh watched as Haku made a few hand signs and the air around the two of them chilled to a very low degree.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, I detest killing, but for my masters sake, I will kill my heart and stop yours." Haku held his hands in a strange version of the Tiger hand sign, and out of the thin air ice mirrors started to form all around the pair. Haku took a step bak and much to Irohs ire Haku became part of the ice mirrors.
"This is my last resort technique, one no man or woman have escaped from. Makyo Hyosho. I am sorry, but it is your time to die." Hakus image was reflected in every single mirror surrounding Iroh, each pulling out two hands filled with senbon, and thus Hakus assault began.
Iroh was starting to get annoyed, he was analyzing the technique, and no matter where he looked or how he tried to escape from the mirrors there was nothing he could do. He sighed as he looked to Haku his eyes hardening.
"You indeed are talented, much more so than your teacher. I will show you my true strength even if just for a moment out of respect for you." Iroh closed his eyes and he spun low as his body became enveloped in fire, still spinning the fire became a vortex that extended to the sky. The tornado of fire enveloped and devoured everything in its way but that is when Haku heard it, a roar that silenced everything. Two solid blue glowing eyes peered from the fire storm before everything exploded and so did Hakus side in pain. Lightning erupted from a crack forming from the tornado, almost like a maw, the lightning struck everything it could, the bridge, the ice, the mirrors, the dropped senbon, and finally Haku who was in mid air. Stopping his spin Iroh looked to the wriggling form of the teenager and he kneeled down removing Hakus mask, taking Hakus sleeve and bundling it in his hand before shoving it into his mouth. He turned Haku sideways on the ground so if he did puke he wouldnt drown in it. Watching the poor boy having a seizure from the electricity Iroh was reminded why he hated that part of his bending more than others. He was about to sit down and tend to Hakus wounds but he was torn away and proceeded to run towards a scream that echoed throughout the area.
"NO KATARA!"
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Zabuza looked around, everything had gone Monochromatic, he couldn't move, and he was naked strapped to a chair by his wrists and feet. He looked up to see an ANBU with a Weasel mask standing in front of him with their sword drawn.
"Who the fuck are you? Where is that damned Uchiha?" Zabuza watched the ANBU member remove their mask and there he stood, Itachi dressed in his ANBU garb.
"Welcome to my Tsukuyomi, in here I am god."
"The fuck is this!" Zabuza continued to struggle trying to loosen the bands around his feet and hands.
"For the next Forty-Eight hours I will be torturing you."
"Bring it you prick!"
"I do hope you don't break too quickly." Itachi stepped forward and placed the tip of his Katana against Zabuzas chest. He started to trail the tip down Zabuzas chest slicing his skin open, pulling the tip from his chest he went back to the top and continued to drag the tip from Zabuzas chest till his torso became streaked. Itachi saw Zabuza gritting his teeth but he had not broken, now it was time to step it up. He began to track his sword horizontally across his chest and every time he crossed one of the other lines Zabuza cringed and closed his eyes. Itachi admired Zabuza, usually people passed out from this part from the pain, these werent shallow cuts, these were deep enough each to easily scar, twice he had hit the mans rib cage. He looked to the panting Zabuza who looked up sweating at Itachi before he spat blood in Itachis face.
"Is that all you got, you fucking tree hugger."
Itachis Katana left his hand as in its place were ten senbon, he grabbed Zabuzas hand and broke the wrist holding it down as the man cursed to him he began to slide the senbon under the mans nails, wrenching the upwards he tore the nails from his hand and used the senbons as nails to hold his fingers to the chair. He repeated this four times Zabuza sweating and crying out from pain each time. Itachi looked to Zabuza and saw the man had tears in his eyes but it was not enough, he had to push him even more. Itachi looked to Zabuza as embers began raining down on his body, some going between his legs, some sitting next to his hip, one fell into his eye. The mans screams were deafening, but it still wasn't enough. Itachi hated this next one, but if it broke the man, then that was what he hoped to accomplish. Waiving his right hand down several meat hooks descended from chains piercing his sides, appendages, neck, and scrotum. Yanking upwards as the mans fingers and toes were torn from his body Itachi watched the screaming man dangling by his pierced flesh. He grabbed Zabuzas head and forced him to look Itachi in the eye.
"What is my name?"
Zabuza spit in his eye once again to spite him, and that was all Itachi needed.
A dozen of his clones appeared surrounding Itachi, each having a small knife that dripped with a substance unknown to Zabuza. One by one they ran the knives over his body, and what Zabuza did not know is it was a neurotoxin that was harvested from a Tarantula. These toxins deliver excruciating pain, nearly paralyzing their insect victim. To Zabuza it was like running liquid fire over his wounds that did not stop burning, and so Itachi began his death by 1000 cuts. The torture only took an hour, or so it had felt to Itachi when he smiled to Zabuza.
"Only Forty-seven hours, fifty-nine minutes, and fifty-nine seconds to go." Itachi heard the man whimper like a puppy who had been whipped as the torture renewed and continued on Zabuzas now unmarred and healed body.
Itachi watched as Zabuza fell to the ground his eyes hollowing as tears left his eyes and foam left his mouth. Itachi walked over to Zabuzas downed body and spoke to him so softly Itachi himself could barely hear it.
"You were a good opponent, you just were not good enough Zabuza." Itachi brought his Katana down beheading the man, reaching down and sealing the head and the broken Beheading Sword into a scroll Itachi nearly faltered in his step, the pain from his eye blinding him for a second. He wiped the blood from his cheek as he stood, he was going to assist Iroh before he heard the scream.
"NO KATARA!"
Itachi dashed as fast as he could to the side of the bridge and saw his student standing in front of Mya his arrow drawn trained on the womans chest while she stood over a girl who looked a little too much like her. Itachi leapt from the bridge landing mere meters away as he walked towards his student.
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The wound was nearly closed and Naruto had his arrow trained on the spot right above Myas heart, he heard the leap down and he didn't even need to as who it was.
"Naruto, lower your bow, Zabuza is dead, Kai is dead, Haku is immobilized, and Mya is defeated. There is no need for the bloodshed." Itachi reached out to place a hand on Narutos shoulder, Itachi heard another landing as he looked to his left and behind Naruto, only by a few meters was Iroh. Itachi saw the seriousness in Irohs gaze, he knew that they had to stop Naruto from doing this. Looking around the clearing he saw the unconscious form of Soka, the woman with the arrow in her throat, and the gorey remains strewn out over a five meter area. Itachi placed his hand on Narutos shoulder and the boy looked to him, Itachi nodded to the bow and Naruto was starting to lower the bow before he saw Naruto tense. He felt Mya move quick with a knife pulled from her belt, he felt Narutos shoulder lax, he heard the twang of the bows string, and the sound of ripping fabric as the arrow tore into her chest right through her heart. Itachi threw Naruto back to keep him safe from the knife, until his thoughts caught back up to him. Iroh and Itachi both caught the woman as they gently laid her down her body starting to shut down her gasping sos breaking from her throat before Itachi heard a young girls scream. He looked to the right of Mya and on the ground was Katara, he saw the girl struggle to her mothers side but Itachi picked her up by the nape of her neck and drug her off to the edge of the forest with Sokka.
Iroh looked down at the woman who was crying not being able to make a single word as the light vanished from her eyes. He looked to Naruto who shakily held a scroll in his hands, his hands shaking so much the scroll came partially undone ad he saw the only thing he needed to. Myas name and her picture. Iroh laid the dead woman down on the ground and removed her coat, using it to cover her face. Iroh stood and was about to walk over to Naruto when he heard a growl from behind him and saw Itachi rapidly making his way over to Naruto.
"What were you thinking! You didn't have to kill her!"
"I, I didn't"
"You didn't what, think? She is dead Naruto, gone. Her life is gone, her family will never see her again." Itachi watched the boy, a supposed trained killer about to be on the edge of an emotional break he was about to continue but a stern hand on his shoulder with a tight grip told him otherwise. Iroh took the scroll from Narutos hands and put it in Itachis.
"Calm Itachi, go and read that and I will handle young Naruto." Iroh knew his old student and knew that Itachi hated needless deaths. To Itachis eyes this was beyond needless, but cruel to murder a mother in front of their child. Iroh helped Naruto sit on the ground before he sat across from him both of their legs crossed.
"Close your eyes Naruto and center yourself." Iroh closed his own eyes once Naruto closed his and the two sat there breathing before Iroh began to speak.
"Just listen, do not speak Naruto. Feel the world around you, the coolness of the winds kiss, the gravel and dirt beneath your body and the anchor they provide. The heat of the sun and the sounds of the waves. This is the balance of nature, and the balance our powers give us to protect." Iroh opened his eyes looking to Naruto, his secret activated as he looked Naruto once over. He saw the tightness in Narutos gut, the ache in his chest and the conflict in his mind.
"Calm your mind and take in my words young Naruto. Her life was not any of ours to take, neither humans nor animals, nor machination of man nor illness. Her life was nature's to take, the spirits to guide, and once passed her body would provide for the earth in which she lay. Your mission was just mans hand interfering in which he should not." Iroh placed a gentle and kind hand on Narutos shoulder.
"Calm yourself and accept that with or without your assistance, she would have died. Though taken early from her family, we all will die in the end Naruto. This does not justify murder, nor needless slaughter, but when she drew that knife she knew her fate. Whether by your hand or ours, she would be dead. You gave her a swift death, more than any of us would have given her. Accept her death, Naruto, but never forget her, who she was, and how she lived. Even if she was an enemy of our nation, she was a life, and a precious one." Iroh patted Narutos shoulder as he saw the tension release from his body, his stomach unwinding, his heart still ached but in a different way and his mind cleared.
Narutos eyes spilled their tears as he looked Iroh in the eye and for a split second the man almost seemed to have golden eyes but they faded to their normal grey. Iroh stood with NAruto and hugged the youth as he pat Narutos back. Leading Naruto back towards the other end of the bridge so they could meet up with Sasuke, Itachis hand grabbed Narutos sleeve. He saw his Master nod to Iroh who let Itachi take Naruto as they vanished with a Shunshin to the top of the bridge.
"I read your mission, and I am sorry for what I said."
"Master, you were right, it as a needless killing. I should have thought about it, I didn't, and the worse part is, I didn't care until I was confronted by you."
"Naruto, you are too young and too low on the food chain for this type of mission, you shouldn't have been assigned this mission at all. I will be having a word with your father about this." Itachi saw Naruto nod before he saw his student go t meet with Sasue who seemed to act like nothing was wrong, but Sasukes eye betrayed him. After all, the eyes revealed more than they should, especially from an Uchiha.
Itachi heard clapping coming from the opposite end of the bridge, he knew that this was his turn to complete his mission. His parameters were shot and that only left completing the mission as a Konoha Shinobi. Turning to see the end of the bridge with Zabuzas broken body, he saw a short man and over one hundred men.
"Demon, more like kitten. Thank you Shinobi for killing him, now I don't have to pay him, so if you could so kindly go and die. I would be most appreciative."
Itachis Sharingan flared to life as he nodded towards his master who had just joined them. Iroh stood back and went about collecting his men and Haku. Itachi stepped towards the men as he flicked his wrist his Katana appearing in his hand with a puff. The men charged towards the with Gato shouting of payment for the Ninjas heads, and when the first reached him, Itachi began his dance. Itachis hands weaved faster than the eye could see and he unleashed one of his quickest jutsu. HE threw several dozen Shuriken out past the man as ITachi breathed fire covering the shuriken in the flames.
"Fire Style: Hosenka Tsumabeni." Itachi brought his sword up slicing through the man in front of him, rolling through the opening created Itachi heard the screams faster than he could tell their directions. Continuing his dance of the sword Itach began to slice through dozens of the samurai as if they were nothing. Coming to the last five in front of Gato three of them began to bend fire and two began to earth bend towards Itachi. Itachi avoided the benders abilities completely before several swirling tongues of water came over the edge drilling into the bodies of the benders. Itachis hands held in the Tiger hand sign Itachi looked to Gato as his Suigadan jutsu ended. Gato fell on his rear as he began to backpedal. Itachi vanished in a flock of crows appearing behind the now oblivious Gatto before plunging his sword through the mans back and out of his chest. Retching the sword from Gatos body he spun around the man slashing Gatos throat and beheading the tiny man. Grabbing the head before it could fall he sealed it into a storage seal on his left wrist, kicking Gatos body off of the uncompleted end of the bridge. Itachi turned to see his master at the beginning of the carnage left in his wake and Iroh smiled.
"Let's get to Tazunas home and get cleaned up so we can have some tea."
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For the next week Sakura never failed to inform her team and keep reminding them of her key part in completing the mission. She eliminated the samurai who had come to kill Inari and kidnap Tsunami so that Tazuna would give up building the bridge. Though it had been quick she had perfected the Genjutsu her teacher had given her to learn and practice, using it on the two she commanded them to their deaths to leap into the river behind Tazunas house and drown themselves. Tsunami had been thankful and Inari had shit himself in fear that his future wife could do that to him.
"So I look to the little guy and say 'It's something special women can do to men!' and he literally shits himself, oh my lord it was hilarious." Sakura smiled filled with mirth at her teammates. She was allowed with some assistance, in coming to the bridge in her battle gear. She had been worried about her team after she had dealt with the Samurai, to the point Tsunami had to keep her from running off after them.
"It was funny the first time, now you're annoying." Sasuke sighed, twenty-three, that was the number of times Sakura bragged about saving Tsunami and Inaris life.
"Come on team, were heading out." Itachi watched his three Genin, all of them better than they had been in their own little ways. Sasuke had become more skillful and adept at his Sharingan, NAruto had matured, become stronger, and had learned a lesson in life. Sakura had been taught humility and patience from her injuries and in the end she learned the price of life. What she had not bragged to the boys about were her nightmares the past week, about her being murdered by those two Samurai. She had practically slept in his bed for the whole week from fear. The girl had a strong mask.
With a hug from Tsunami to Sakura, Sasuke ruffling Inaris hair, and Naruto sharing a few last words with Tazuna and Iroh, the Konoha Team 7 began their trek homeward. Itachi remembered his Masters words.
"Watch Naruto, he is destined for things beyond our comprehension. His fate is tied with the world, both spirit and living." Itachi sighed as he looked to the archer on his team, and he knew this much, his Master was never wrong on these things.
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I apologize for the late release, something came up from school I have had to deal with over the past few days. I found it particularly difficult to write the fights, mainly Irohs. It is hard to analyze Irohs fighting style as many of his fights during the series end in moments, outside of his Sozins Comet fight. Please, leave a review and tell me how you think the fights went, I could use the criticism, and the help would be appreciated. Remember to review, and to check back Sunday night for another filler chapter. I think I will have one filler before the start of the Chunin exams, so prepare yourself for that. Till Sunday,
~Ardent Chronicler.
