Alrighty! I do not own Naruto at all! All rights and regulations do go to Masashi Kishimoto! Azuna does belong to me however! Ok now to write this fan fiction I did use the episodes and I used all of the actual sentences said from the anime so all of those rights again go to the producers, Madman Entertainment and of course the beautiful voice actors and everyone on the crew. Thanks guys... hope you like it!
Chapter Fourteen: The Assassin of the Mist: Face to Face with Father: Part Two:
Nozomi's laughter rang throughout Azuna's ears. It was defining but she fought against it. She was determined to stay awake, to fight this fear and be able to do something. She needed to, because if she didn't. Azuna feared that she would be lost in her mind forever.
Uh, Sharingan, what is that? Naruto wondered. What is he saying? Does he have some special power? Sakura questioned with wide eyes.
"Now quick: Monji Formation! Protect the bridge builder and stay out of this fight. I taught you team work now it's time to use it." Kakashi ordered as he slowly lifted his headband revealing a red eye with three black comma dots inside. There was also a long scar that traced down over his eye and disappeared into his mask and from behind his headband. "I'm ready!"
Gah! His eye! What is that? Naruto questioned in his mind as he stared at Kakashi's red eye.
"Well, looks like I get to see the Sharingan in person. This is an honour." Zabuza laughed turning around so he was no facing everybody.
"Everyone keeps saying 'Sharingan, Sharingan!' will someone please tell me what Sharingan is?" Naruto ask raising his voice.
"Sharingan, a rare power, it resides in the eyes. The user of this visual Jutsu or Dojutsu can instantly see and comprehend any Genjutsu, Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. And reflect the attack back on the attacker. The Sharingan is a special, rare form of Dojutsu. However there's more to the Sharingan than that, a lot more." Sasuke explained staring at Azuna on the ground whose shaking only got worse.
"You got it right boy, but you only scratched the surface. The Sharingan can analyse an opponent's technique and then copy it to the smallest detail." Zabuza said briefly looking at his daughter as thick mist started to swirl around them. "As for you Jounin in the assassination unit of the Hidden Mist we had a standing order to destroy you on sight. Your profile was in out bingo book it called you 'The Man who has coped over a Thousand Jutsu – Kakashi, the Copy Ninja'."
What? Is Kakashi Sensei really such a famous ninja? Sakura thought shocked.
"Wow that's so cool!" Naruto shouted in glee.
Wait a minute. The Sharingan is a rare that only occurs in a few members of the Uchiha Clan – my clan. Could he be? Sasuke wondered looking up and staring at Kakashi.
"Enough talking." Zabuza growled. "I need to exterminate the old man, now."
This comment made Tazuna gasp and Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke run to him. They stood in a Monji Formation each holding a Kunai knife. As Zabuza said the word 'exterminate' Azuna clutched her head tighter and began to shake more fiercely. No Azuna don't give up on yourself! Why are you being so weak? Stand up and fight! Do something about it! You promised yourself you wouldn't be afraid! Get up! GET UP!
But Azuna's body wouldn't listen to her request and she stayed on the ground. She heard Nozomi's laugh again and she forced her eyes open. Instead of seeing the ground she saw her brother's face dancing in the mist. Azuna began to pant heavily as she shut her eyes tightly again. "No, Nozomi, stop!" Azuna cried as the tears fell down her cheeks. Azuna could not hold on any tighter against the fear and she let the darkness overcome her. The last thing she saw was Sasuke's worried glance at her before she fell into the dirt completely unconscious.
Azuna was lying on her stomach. She was feeling heat through her back that was warming her skin. She opened her eyes slightly and sat up. She was in a field of bright green grass, where the sun was high in the sky and casting a warm glow over the hills. This is what my fear looks like? I didn't think I was afraid of the sun. Azuna thought confused as she stared into the sky.
"This is not what you fear looks like Azuna." A warm, sensitive voice laughed. "This is where I have brought you."
Azuna whipped around and came face to face with her older brother. He gave her a closed eyed smile and ruffled his hair. No, this has to be a dream. Nozomi isn't - Nozomi isn't he's.
"It's not a dream as such." Nozomi said tapping his chin. "Well, we are in your mind and this is very real. And don't give me that look little lady I know I'm dead."
"You can hear my thoughts?" Azuna stuttered gripping onto the grass.
"Is that really all you took from that sentence? Wow, you'll never change Ocean." Nozomi laughed.
"It's really you?" Azuna asked as her eyes welled up with tears. "You're really here?"
"Who else would it be?" Nozomi chuckled grinning.
Azuna flew herself forward and wrapped her arms around her brother. He laughed and engulfed her in a hug. Azuna was gripping onto him so tightly she was sure that she he would pop and disappear. But he didn't which only made Azuna hug him that much tighter. "Whoa Ocean calm down, if you grip any tighter you'll crush me!"
"I'm sorry." Azuna sobbed pulling back. The tears were flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably and no matter how hard she pushed them back they always kept falling.
"Azuna." Nozomi sighed wiping the tears off her cheeks. "Azuna, baby, please don't cry."
"How – How can I not? You are gone and yet you are here? How can I not cry?!"
"I never really left you Azuna." Nozomi said tenderly. "That's why you can see me now."
"I don't understand." Azuna cried trying to stop the tears. "What do you mean by that?"
"By this you goose." Nozomi laughed poking her forehead with two fingers.
"My – My head?" Azuna asked confused as she rubbed her forehead.
"No." Nozomi laughed. "By you."
"By me? What the hell does that mean?"
"Language." Nozomi warned. He always hated Azuna using the word 'hell' because their father was a 'Demon'. "And it means that because of you, because of what happened years ago, you are able to see me."
"By what happened years ago? Huh? What are you talking about Nozomi?"
"Do you remember that day? When you were trying out your Jutsu's and you fainted in the water? When that bright light engulfed you and the how the ocean rose up and responded to your call?"
Azuna's eyes widened and shook in fear. She stared down at her shaking hands and gritted her teeth. Nozomi was smiling at her again while she silently freaked out. "Yes, little sister. That tingling feeling you get every time you touch the water is the same power that was bestowed upon you on that day."
"The power that was bestowed upon me?" Azuna repeated in awe.
"You're repeating me Azuna." Nozomi sighed. "That day the power of the ocean was sealed in your body. As you fainted in the water you were taken as a sacrifice to be the holder of this power. When we saved you we couldn't get you to wake up – that part you knew – but what you didn't know was what Mother told us. What she made us all do to save you."
"Mother? Mother did something to save me?" Azuna whispered her voice shaking.
Nozomi nodded and stared into the sky. "We were never allowed to ask or talk about our mother's past but on that day she openly told me something, something that our father already knew. She said that where she came from the Shinobi that haled from there were especially good a sealing Jutsu's. She knew every one of them off by heart even though she never wanted to be Shinobi herself. By this point, we could all feel the intense chakra that was radiating off of you. It was cold and strong, like a tsunami's wave. She said that the only thing that could seal away that type of chakra, that strong a level of hatred was with love."
"With love?" Azuna asked disbelieving crossing her arms. "That's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say Nozomi."
Nozomi bopped her on the head gave her a stupid glare. "Shut up and let me finish will you!"
Azuna giggled and clutched her head. "Sure go ahead big brother."
"Right where was I? Well, yes, the only thing that could seal that power was love. Mother taught father and me the Jutsu and we drew special seals on you. Mother drew one on left hand, father drew one on your right and I drew one on your forehead. She said that because you loved me the most I had to be the one to seal most of the chakra away."
"So you sealed away my chakra." Azuna said nodding "Where did it go? How did you seal it? And why am I starting to access it again now?"
"Well after we had drawn the seals we performed special hand signs and then did the Jutsu. Father kissed your right hand, mother kissed your left and I kissed your forehead. From there the chakra that was radiating off of you entered our bodies. It was shocking and it made us all chilled to the bone, but after a while we could no longer feel it. The chakra didn't have anywhere to flow to so the whole point of that Jutsu was to create a path that it could flow to therefore it would not take over and control you."
"A place to flow to…?"
"Yes, this chakra is like a river, it has to flow somewhere. The tingling feeling is the chakra flowing through you, into the water and back again just this time you can feel it. With this you'll be able to manipulate the water and bend it to your every will. I had sealed most of your chakra away and so when I died most of your special chakra had nowhere to flow to anymore. In other words, the seal was partially broken."
"If the seal gets broken by death then mustn't of I already have this power? Because Mother sealed some of my chakra away but she died two years after that incident protecting father, shouldn't I –"
"No, after mother died we had Haku take the control of the seal while you were sleeping. He holds some of your chakra to." Nozomi said sadly. He always hated thinking about their mother's death. Azuna did to but Nozomi was upset because he believed he was too weak to save her before their father had to, resulting in her death.
Their mother Aki had been taken hostage to try and lure Zabuza into the hands of the Tracker-Nin in their attempt to eliminate him. Azuna and Nozomi had tried to save her but they had been capture also. Zabuza came and saved his family, but when the Tracker trapped him they threw their Kunai at him hoping to kill him. However, Aki had run and jumped in front the attack to save him. "I never wanted to be Shinobi." Aki panted looking up into Zabuza's eyes. "Because I was always too weak and afraid that I wouldn't be able to save those close to me. But I see now that was never my path and I am not afraid now because I have saved the ones that I love. Zabuza my darling, thank you for all you have done for me. And thank you to my wonderful Nozomi and gorgeous Azuna, for being my beautiful children. I love, I love you all."
Zabuza, Nozomi and Azuna had all seen her death and heard those words. Her death had hit them all really hard and Azuna didn't talk for three weeks. Zabuza had changed since then and made his children train even harder than they had before. That was when Nozomi and Azuna had come up with their orphanage dream along with also being the greatest Mizukage's the world had ever seen. Azuna looked up and stared at Nozomi before she looked down again.
"If she sealed some of my chakra away why can't I see her?" Azuna mumbled sadly pulling up the grass.
Nozomi smiled and ruffled his little sister's hair. "You don't need her yet. But when you do need her she'll appear and you'll be able to talk to her all you want."
Azuna didn't look up and she didn't smile like she would have done. She never wanted to leave this dream place. Why go back to that rotten world when she can stay here with her brother? Why go back and be miserable when she could stay and be happy? "Nozomi." Azuna said slowly pulling up more grass.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Can I stay here? Can I stay in this dream place with you forever?"
Nozomi belted out an affectionate laugh and placed a hand on her head. "No Azuna you cannot."
"Why not?" Azuna shouted on the verge of tears again.
"Because this isn't your place Azuna. You belong out there in the real world."
"But that world is rotten!" Azuna argued. "This world is beautiful!"
"Is that so?" Nozomi asked amused. "What makes this land so much more beautiful than the one you belong in? Hmm?"
"Because you're in this one!" Azuna shouted clenching her fists.
"Little sister I am touched really but, Azuna you are forgetting one thing."
"What's that?" Azuna asked as she tightly shut her eyes trying to hold back the strong tears trying to push themselves through.
"The fact that you are in the real world is what makes that world so beautiful." Nozomi laughed. Azuna's eyes flung open with surprise and she let out a gasp. "If you leave that world and stay here that world really will turn rotten. So no you cannot stay here with me."
"Nozomi." Azuna mumbled almost at a loss for words at his comment. "What makes you so brave and gallant?"
Nozomi didn't answer and as Azuna looked up she was met by Nozomi's lips brushing against her forehead. "You. You make me gallant and brave as you call it. You make me warm and loving. You make me smile and sing, heck you even make me want to dance sometimes." He chuckled. "You are the one I love the most and you bring out the best and worst parts of me. But most of all Azuna, you make me happy. You make me being ok that I am dead because that means no matter what I'll be by your side forever."
"And you want me to go back to that world after hearing you say that?" Azuna muttered.
Nozomi laughed and pulled back gazing down at his sister. "Yes."
Azuna was about to say something when a sudden battle cry echoed around the field that the siblings sat in. "It's time for you to go back little sister." Nozomi smiled winking at his sister.
"No! Nozomi there is so much I want to ask you! So much I-"
"We'll meet again so relax, stop freaking out ok?" Nozomi laughed. "I'll see you on the other side Ocean."
"No wait Nozomi!" Azuna cried as white lights exploded around them completely washing Nozomi away from Azuna. "Nozomi!"