"You two always this lazy?" Tazuna asked "Where's that weird blond kid? The one with the attitude."
Kirika didn't bother to look up from the scroll she was reading. "He's training."
She and Sakura had been assigned to guard Tazuna while the Naruto and Sasuke were tree climbing. They were out on the bridge. They sat on a bench, Kirika reading and Sakura watching the construction workers.
"Yeah, there out climbing trees." Sakura nodded
Tazuna raised an eyebrow. "To tough for you?"
"No, I'm the best, that's why the sensei sent me here to guard you." Sakura barged.
"You're joking." he scoffed.
Sakura leant back in her seat. She stole a few awkward glances at Kirika and her scroll.
"You really mastered climbing the tree?" Kirika asked, eyes still glued to the scroll.
Sakura straightened herself. "Yeah. Sensei said I'm a natural."
"Hm." Kirika nodded her approval.
Sakura chuckled. "Looked like it's the women who make the best ninja. Maybe you and I should train together."
Kirika's eyes flickered to her a moment before darting back to her scroll.
Sakura sighed and looked to the side. "Or not..."
"Tazuna!" A worker ran up to him. "I need to talk to you."
"Huh? What about?"
"Uh... the thing is... I've been thinking a lot about the bridge, and I've decided I've pushed my luck far enough. I want out."
"What!? Now you're gonna quit on me just like that!? You're kidding!?" Tazuna yelled
"You know, I stayed on because of our friendship, but I'm putting my life on the line every day I stay here. Gato and his thugs will show up eventually. When they do, they'll kill you and the bridge will never get finished anyway. It's a lost cause, Tazuna. Why don't we get out of this while we can still get out of this alive?"
"No chance. This is our bridge. Our island is poor, and it will stay that way until this bridge connects us to the mainland. Comers, trade and hope, that's what were building here!"
"There's not gonna be much hope if were all dead." He mumbled
"It's already noon. Let's break for lunch." Tazuna said grudgingly as he trudged off.
"Tazuna! Let's not end it like this!"
"Save it. Oh, and don't bother coming back after lunch."
Sakura and Kirika sat next to each other, unwrapping lunch boxes. Tazuna was sitting away from them, eating in silence. Kirika had moved on from her scroll to a magazine.
Sakura broke the silence. "So what do you have?" She looked at Kirika's lunch box.
"Rice balls."
"Oh me too!" She looked at her own lunch. "Are these the rice balls your mom made?"
"Yes."
"Wow, she made a lot. I can't believe they've lasted us till now."
Kirika nodded.
Sakura bit into one. "So good!"
That made Kirika smile. "She's a great cook."
"So... what was that scroll you were reading?"
"It's a new justu."
"Oh, really? Which one?"
"You wouldn't know it."
"Oh. What about that."
"Scientific articles. Biology and organic chemistry."
"Is... Is that your hobby? You didn't mention that when we introduced ourselves." Sakura tried to talk light-heartedly, but the strain in her voice was very prominent. "I, ah, I like trivia games myself. I don't think I mentioned that either..."
"What is it?" Kirika sighed, uninterested.
"Hm..." Sakura's cheer fell away. A solemn bearing broke through, and turned away, she looked at her knees. "You were injured. When Zabuza got you you bleed a lot... Are you alright?"
"Fine."
Sakura gave her a look. "Are you sure?"
"Ever nick yourself with a razor?"
"Uh... Yeah."
"It bleeds a lot, but it wouldn't kill you. I'm fine."
"That's good." Sakura tried to laugh. "You were... you were amazing, Kirika. You went toe to toe with Zabuza. And then you healed Kakashi sensei. The way you fought, I've never see anything like it." Sakura looked into her eyes. "How did you learn to fight like that?"
Kirika held her eyes a moment. Sakura could see them flicker, Kirika was thinking. She spoke slowly, "Listen... I'm a teammate. Not a friend. Don't ask me things like that."
"Eh?" Sakura gave her a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Same thing I meant when we first met." Kirika didn't look up. "We'll both be better off."
They finished the rest of their meal is silence, Sakura scornfully. She seemed relatively sweet, albeit emotional and quick to anger. Sakura was the kind of girl prone to amusing Kirika. And amusement was where their relationship would stay. Amusement wasn't dangerous, but it could lead to fondness, perhaps even to friendship. And that was poison. Sakura was not strong. She had no tailed beast. No sharingan. Nothing to justify a friendship. And was there any danger greater than liking someone with nothing to offer?
"OOPH!" Naruto fell back onto the forest floor. He rubbed his head. When he opened his eyes, he saw Kirika striding towards him. He grinned. "Yo!"
"Hey. How's it coming?"
Naruto nodded up to where he'd managed to make cuts in the tree trunk. "I'm getting better! Just you wait." He nodded to Sasuke, who, while keeping a peripheral eye on them, hadn't bothered to spare more than a passing glance. "At this rate he'll be eating my dust before he knows what hit him!"
"You've climbed pretty high." She put her hands on her hips. "Planning on staying out another two days?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head and laughed a little. "You know me."
She laughed in return, took a rice ball from her pouch and tossed it to him. "In that case, keep up that blood sugar."
Naruto caught it and swung up into a sitting position. "Thanks." He motioned for her to lean in, and whispered. "Got any advice for me?" He huffed. "I asked Sakura, she said I need to focus more. But come on! Focus! Focus! Focus! I just wanna start kicking butt!"
Kirika grinned. "Come on, you think all Iruka's lectures were just for the heck of it? It's true."
"Fine!" Naruto sighed. "Whatever it takes! I just don't want to lose to him." He motioned furtively towards Sasuke.
Fair enough." Kirika nodded. "I'll give you a hand. Wanna mess with his ego while we're at it?"
A huge grin spread across his face. "Yes!"
"Stand up."
"Uhh! Okay!"
"Alright, now..." Kirika guided him backwards and turned him around to face the tree. One hand on his hip opposite her, and the other gripping his hand. "Now for this part you do need to focus."
"Okay!"
"We're gonna run at the tree. I'll guide you. You want to visualise yourself running like you would normally. And you wouldn't normally fall, right?"
"Right."
"So don't expect to. Think of your chakra like an anchor securing you. And don't bother with that perfect measurement crap. Muster as much as you can in your feet and we'll work on chakra control as you improve."
Naruto nodded. "Okay. Let's do it."
"Go!"
They ran at the tree, Kirika pulling Naruto up from the waist. "Gah!"
They skidded down together, Naruto fell and dragged Kirika with him.
Naruto rubbed his head. "Augh! I'm sorry! Why didn't it work!?"
Kirika let out a chuckle. "Come on, loser! Let's do it again."
"You're the loser!" Naruto jumped back up, Kirika's grin infecting him.
Kirika waved her hand, and led another charge. As they ran, Kirika burst out laughing, Naruto once again following suit and fell almost immediately.
Kirika, giggling, flicked his cheek. "What'd I say about focusing?"
"You creep!" Naruto grinned, and pulled her up by the waist for another try. And another. He suspected Kirika sabotaged him, pulling him down herself a few times, and did the same to her, laughing hysterically each time they ran and fell until their guts hurt.
When they fell again, Naruto managed, through the laughter and disorientation, to swipe the bark of the tree with his kunai. When they hit the ground he and Kirika laughed and cheered at the surprisingly great strides he gained.
On one attempt, as he thought he would fall, Kirika shouted, "Feet anchored! Keep your feet anchored!" When he looked up, to his surprise, she had gripped a great branch with her free arm. He anchored himself as best he could, and strenuously, they hauled themselves to the branch.
Kirika let out a cheering breath and they clapped their hands together.
Naruto laughed and gripped her hands. "How the heck did I do that!? I wasn't even focusing!"
"Yeah you were!"
Naruto let out a cheer and hugged her.
Kirika was grinning wildly. "Now do it again."
"OK, I leave Naruto in your hands." Kakashi said "He's pushed his body to the limit, over doing it, as usual. So he may not be able to move today at all."
"What about you? You're still recovering yourself." Tsunami said
They were taking Tazuna to his bridge today, and since Naruto had been for several days training, Kakashi decided to let him sleep for the day.
"Why? Do I look wobbly? I'll be okay." Kakashi said
"Let's go." Tazuna said
Kakashi turned to Kirika. "You're blades. Are they poisoned?"
Kirika smiled and nodded.
"Good."
"Hold on! What the hell is this!?" Tazuna gasped. Scattered around the bridge were the bodies of every worker."What happened!? Someone was here! Someone got to them!"
Mist began to swirl around them. "Sasuke! Sakura! Kirika! Get ready!" Kakashi shouted, they took formation around Tazuna.
"Kakashi sensei, it's Zabuza, isn't it?" Sakura asked "This is his hidden mist jutsu!"
Zabuza's voice wrung through the air. "Sorry I kept you waiting, Kakashi. I see you've still got those brats with you. That ones still trembling. Pitiful."
"What did I say about killing yourself on the job?" Kirika hissed, eying Sasuke.
Water clones surrounded them. Sasuke grinned "Heh. I'm trembling with excitement."
"Go on, Sasuke." Kakashi encouraged
One of the water clones swung his sword, Sasuke lept into the air and sliced through each of them.
"Oh, so you could see that they were water clones, huh? The brat's improving. Looks like you have a rival, Haku." Zabuza said. He and Haku came into sight.
"So it seems, however..." The boy paused, he looked at Kirika. "...I'm not interested in him."
"Well, well. So I had it right. It was all an act with a cute little mask." Kakashi said
Haku appeared behind them, spinning his body to create a mini tornado.
"What's this!?" Sasuke pulled a kunai and held it defensively, blocking Haku, who came at him with a senbon.
"Sakura, cover Tazuna and stay close to me. Let Sasuke handle this." Kakashi said, Sakura nodded. "Kirika, you're my back up."
She eyed Haku, then Kakashi with narrow eyes. "Fine."
"Don't be upset, Kirika. You and I will fight soon." Haku said. He and Sasuke broke apart and lunged again, putting each other in another block. He spoke to Sasuke. "We want the bridge builder, not you. If you back down, I won't have to kill you."
"Save it." Sasuke spat.
"You're making a mistake. You won't be able to keep up with my speed. I've gained two key advantages."
"Yeah?" Sasuke said "What are they?"
"First, we're surrounded by water; second, I've blocked one of your hands, therefore, you only have one free hand to defend yourself." Haku made a hand sign. "Please, back down."
Sasuke stood his ground.
Haku sighed and performed more hand signs. "Secret Jutsu. A thousand needles of death." He kicked up water with his foot, it transformed into needles and came down on Sasuke.
Sasuke jumped into the air and fired shurikin at Haku. He appeared behind Haku. "Your not as fast as you think. From this point on, you'll be the one defending against my attacks."
Sasuke lunged with his kunai, Haku dodged and intercepted, Sasuke flicked the kunai, and using it as a detraction, kicked Haku back.
Chakra began swirling around Haku. The air turned cold. "I'm sorry it's come to this." The water began turning onto ice and swirling around Sasuke, until he was surrounded by a dome of rectangular ice slabs. "Secret jutsu! Crystal ice mirrors!" Haku stepped into one of the mirrors, becoming his reflection, which appeared on the other mirrors as well.
Kakashi ran for the mirrors, but Zabuza blocked him. "If you enter this fight, you fight me. The boy has no chance against that justu, he's finished."
"Sasuke!" Kakashi called
Sakura ran at the mirrors and threw a kunai. Haku's hand caught it before it could break the mirror. "He caught it!" Sakura gasped. A shurikin whizzed through the air and hit Haku's mask. He was knocked out of the mirror.
A gigantic cloud of smoke poofed up.
"You..." Haku said bitterly.
Naruto appeared out of the smoke. "Naruto Uzumaki is here! Believe it!" He proclaimed "Now that I'm here everything will be alright."
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted happily.
"You know how in stories the hero shows up at the last minute and kicks butt! Well that's what I'm gonna do right now, believe it!"
"Ugh, this brat again." Zabuza glared
"Alright, you're history! Shadow clone jutsu!" Naruto yelled
Zabuza flung shurikin at Naruto, Haku blocked them with his senbon.
"This is a battle not a talent show! Don't let your opponent see your jutsu!" Kakashi yelled
"Haku! what are you doing!?" Zabuza growled
"Let me fight this boy my own way. Please. One of my specialties is sedation."
"Hm, so you want me to leave this to you? You're too soft." Zabuza said
"Forgive me." Haku said
"Just you wait! I'm gonna rip that mask off and tare you apart!" Naruto yelled
Kirika sighed and ran a hand through her hair while Naruto snuck into the mirror dome and became pinned along with Sasuke. She took a step forward.
"These mirrors allow me to transport myself in fast motion. Through my eyes, you appear to be moving in slow motion." Haku explained
"It's a bloodline trait!" Kakashi shouted "Kirika! you know what to do!"
"With pleasure." She was already walking towards the ice dome. "Haku, forget them. It's in poor taste to soil your hands with genin so fresh they bleed green. I'll show you my power now."
Haku gave a nod.
She looked at Sasuke and Naruto inside the dome. "Get out."
"Kirika! Don't do it! You'll die!" Sakura yelled
"Sakura!" Kakashi snapped "Don't worry, Kirika will be fine. She has a title too, you know. Now you'll see her live up to it."
"A title?" Sakura asked
"Watch." Kakashi said "She's well renowned for her speed and agility. Kirika the Viper."
Kirika flew forward forwards at her full speed. But from the perspectives of her teammates, she disappeared. She entered the mirror dome, weaving between the mirrors. Haku left his mirror, clashing with her, senbon meeting katana as they moved so quickly that they were fighting only when they met between leaps in the centre of the dome.
"You know, it was never my choice to become a shinobi!" Haku said
"We are what we're made." Kirika responded.
Haku nodded "So surely you must understand why I must kill you!" They were thrown apart from each other. They bounced off of the mirror, lunging at one another once more.
"Yes."
They rushed each other once more.
"Haku..." A whisper, that Kirika was not sure she quite said.
"Yes?"
"Can we sit together and talk again sometime?"
"Yes... I'd like that a lot..."
An image flashed before her of herself and Haku, sitting on their knees, facing each other in the forest. Where Haku held her hands in his lap... She grinned. "A shame. I quite like you."
The wind ripped a tear from Kirika's eye.
It hit the cheek of Haku's mask.
To Sasuke and Naruto, Kirika and Haku were nearly invisible. Images of the two fighting in mid-air appeared for single seconds and dispersed like the reels of a film.
"Kira..." Naruto whispered "Alright! She's amazing! I mean, I always knew she was awsome, but she's outdone herself!"
"Viper... So that's her power..." Sasuke breathed.
Sasuke threw a fireball jutsu at Haku, which Kirika and Haku both evaded with ease. "How troublesome." Haku threw senbon at Sasuke, who managed to dodge him. Haku threw more senbon, this time at Naruto. He looked back up at Kirika. "My apologies, but I can't allow them to interfere."
Haku and Kirika both froze. They both felt it, an ominous presents. It was... Naruto. He was emanating such intense, angry chakra. Red chakra. the chakra of the nine tails!
Kirika's eyes widened. She'd been waiting for this!
"I'm gonna kill you!" He said to Haku. His voice was leveled, yet filled with malevolence. Naruto's wounds began healing. Out of chakra, fangs and claws grew on him. As red as his bloodshot eyes.
Naruto shot forward at Haku, who frantically tried to dodge and strike back. And then Naruto struck. He hit Haku with every ounce of power he had, sending Haku flying through his mirror, hitting Kirika in the process, and landing with an earth-shattering blow. Haku slowley stood. Not moving after that. His mask shattered and slipped off. Naruto came at him with another blow, and just as Haku's mask fell off completely, Naruto stopped dead.
Kirika laid among the rubble of Haku's ice mirrors. Her thoughts were how much she hated the cold but she remained still under the ice. Her second thought was the irony of the situation. She'd wanted to see the Kyuubi's power... but not directed towards Haku. She wondered if the blow killed him... Whatever the case, she must get a sample. But more importantly, she must save Haku. She was quite injured from the impact. An ice shard pierced her torso. Kirika glared and opened her mouth. Her own white hand shot out from between her agape jaws and she slid out from the shell. Kirika stood up from the ice rubble, she slowly made her way over to Haku and Naruto. While she may have been traveling at blinding speeds a moment ago, now she walked with staggered steps. The Orochimaru-style substitution still drained her too greatly.
Naruto's red chakra had dissipated.
Haku turned to Kirika, his mask had fallen off. He smiled, the way a freezing man smiles when he feels warmth. He was injured and beat up. He kept his eyes on Kirika as he spoke. "Naruto... I know it is not my place to ask, but, would you please allow Kirika to deliver the killing blow?"
"Kira!" Naruto shouted. "Talk some sense into him!"
"When Zabuza first found me, I was without a purpose or reason for living. Zabuza gave me one. But now my usefulness is over. The only thing that gave my life meaning is gone. I am a broken tool; a useless weapon. Of no use to anyone! Kirika! Please!" His eyes were pleading. "Kill me!"
"Don't!" Naruto shouted, he looked at Haku. "Is that it!? Do you really believe that all there is to being a warrior is fighting and killing till there's one man left standing!? There's more to being strong than that! And there are more ways of showing it than just by beating someone in battle! You're wrong, Haku! There is something left for you!" He smiled. "You have Kira. I mean, you like her, don't you?" Naruto looked at Kirika. "And don't you have a crush on him? Why do you want to kill each other!? Don't you want to at least be friends!?"
"Kirika..." Haku said, blushing furiously. She felt her own cheeks getting hot.
That's it. Those are the words I didn't know how to say.
Naruto cocked his head. "I mean, come on, I get you're all mysterious and all 'too-the-death' but don't just kill the people you're attracted to!"
Haku tilted his head and smiled at Kirika. A real smile. A loving smile. "Please, Kirika... I'm begging you. End it."
"Really...?" Naruto looked at Kirika pleadingly. Her response was a hard look and a stiff nod. "I-is this really the only way?"
Kirika stepped towards Haku. She placed a hand on his cheek, smiling as well. She touched her forehead to his.
"Please." Haku whispered
"I understand." Her katana was still in her other hand.
Haku jumped out of the way of her blade as it shot towards him. "Kirika... Could you... have ever returned my feelings?"
Kirika did not look surprised that he moved. "Perhaps. In another time and place."
"Another time and place... could that have been... sometime soon?" He vanished.
The arm holding her katana fell to her side.
"Huh!? What!? Where'd he go!?" Naruto looked around.
Her hand fell and katana hit the floor with a clank. She slowly raised her arm, pointing as if her arm were on a string. Haku was in front of Zabuza. He had taken a fatal blow that Kakashi had dealt aiming for Zabuza.
Zabuza swung his sword, aiming to cut through Haku to get to Kakashi. Kirika ran at full speed, knocking Zabuza's away from Kakashi and Haku. "WHAT!?" Kakashi shouted. He saw only a blur knocking Zabuza off course. She kicked Zabuza away from her and ran to Haku. She took him from Kakashi and laid him down.
"K-Kirika." He said weakly.
"I'm here."
"H-hey?"
"Yes?"
"I think... I think that maybe I do like you."
She smiled sadly and cupped the side of his face. "Our types... we tend to fall in love with who we have to killing, don't we?" She lent down and kissed him. His lips were cold and soft, like snow. Kirika hated the cold. "Haku. There's no purpose. Before you met Zabuza. Or after. But that's the beauty of it."
Haku smiled and spoke softly. "I must disagree. But I'm happy. I get to die for Zabuza. And in the arms of an almost-lover." His chest stopped rising and falling. He wasn't breathing anymore.
Kirika closed his eyes. "What are you talking about? We have a date, sitting and talking." She whispered. She tucked his head under the crook of her neck and cradled him in her arms.
Kakashi and Zabuza were still fighting.
"Naruto! Kirika!" Sakura called.
Kirika ignored her.
"Hey Naruto! Are you, Kirika, and Sasuke alright!" She called
"Where is Sasuke anyway?" She asked, she looked over where Sasuke was lying. "N-no..."
Sakura and Tazuna ran over to Sasuke. Sakura fell to her knees and touched Sasuke's face. "His body's cold." She said.
Kirika reluctantly laid Haku down and staggered over towards them.
Sakura and Naruto were in tears. She bent down and lightly pushed two fingers against his neck, right below his chin. "He has a pulse."
Sakura looked up. "K-Kirika?"
"He's still breathing. He's alive."
Sakura smiled. "So then, he'll live?"
She nodded. "His wounds aren't to bad either, I can treat these easily..." She looked to her right. A short man in a fancy suit was standing there. There was a huge mob of armed people behind him.
"Did quite a job on you, didn't he Zabuza? You look like yesterday's sashimi. I must say I'm disappointed." Kirika glanced at Zabuza, he was hurt badly, both of his arms were covered in blood and dangling uselessly by his sides. A little longer and Kakashi would have beaten him.
"Gato, I don't understand. What is all this?" Zabuza asked "Why are you here? And who are all these thugs you brought with you?"
"Well you see there's been a slight change in plan." Gato said "According to the new plan you die right here on this bridge. That's right, you're too expensive, so I've decided to take you off the payroll. Of course even these thugs I've brought with me cost something, so if you could manage to slaughter a few of them before they kill you, I'd appreciate it. Think you can handle that? 'Demon ninja of the mist'? Look at you, you look as demonic as a wet kitten."
"Well well Kakashi, it looks like our fight is at an end and since I'm no longer in Gato's employ Tazuna's safe. We have no quarrel." Zabuza said
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Kakashi said
Gato strode to Haku's body. "That reminds me, you little punk. You grabbed me and nearly broke my arm! I've been meaning to repay you for that." He kicked Haku's face. "Heh, I only wish he was alive to feel it."
"Get away from him you scum!" Naruto yelled "And what about you, Zabuza!? You gonna let him do that!?"
"Be quite you fool, Haku's dead, so what does it matter?" Zabuza growled
"What!" Naruto yelled "How can just let them treat him like a dog! You and Haku were together for years! Doesn't that mean anything to you!"
"You don't understand the way of the shinobi. I simply used him, just as Gato used me. Now it's over. His usefulness is at an end. The loss of his strength and skill, yes, that means something to me. But the boy? Nothing."
"If you mean that, you're an even bigger rat then I thought!" Naruto said "Kira?" He turned to her, hoping for support. When he saw her his eyes widened.
Kirika's katana writhed and transformed into a snake, it slithered from where she'd dropped it to her ankle, the snake curled up her body until it was looking over her shoulder, hissing. About her was a chilling purple aura. Kirika said nothing, her eyes spoke for her. Killing intent; absolute hatred carved a dilated abyss in her slit pupils. Naruto had never seen her so livid or so frightening. Her eyes were pools of golden venom.
When Gato noticed Kirika he laughed and shouted to his men."Oh, I messed with you're boyfriend, didn't I? Well, I'll be nice and reunite the two of you. Kill the bitch, too!"
"Zabuza!" Naruto shouted. "After everything he did for you! Haku lived for you! You were the most important thing in the world to him! And he meant nothing to you!? nothing at all!? Well he was sacrificing everything for you! You never felt anything at all for him...!? And if I become stronger does that mean I'll become as cold hearted as you are!? He threw his life away! And for what!? For you and your dream! You never let him have a dream of his own but he didn't care! And you just tossed him aside like he was nothing! A broken tool. Man, that's so wrong... so wrong..."
"You talk to much." Zabuza said, but by now he was crying. "Your words cut deep, deeper then any blade. While he fought you his heart was breaking in two. You see Haku was always too soft and too kind. he felt pain and sorrow and now, curse him, I feel it too. And something else... I feel contempt that this is the way it ends." He ripped open the bandages that covered his mouth with his teeth. "Well!? Cat got your tongue!? Are you so surprised to see that I'm human!? Even shinobi are human! No matter how hard we try to escape that simple fact we always fail!" He smiled. "Well, at least, I have failed. Boy, give me your kunai."
Naruto looked away. "Here." He tossed his knife.
Zabuza caught it in his mouth. "You! Snake!" He said
"Yes." Kirika gripped the snake on her shoulder and it transformed back into a katana.
"Are you with me?" He asked
"Yes."
"Gato! I hate to break it to you, but this girl was Haku's girlfriend." Zabuza laughed. "Let's go, Viper."
Kirika took off as fast as she could possibly go, hacking her way through every ninja in her way, and clearing a path to Gato for Zabuza. She looked back. Zabuza has a spear impaled in his back. "Keep going!" He yelled.
Krika's eyes were narrow and stung red with tears that wouldn't quite flow from her eyes. She pushed harder to slaughtered the pain away.
Zabuza broke out of the crowd and sprinted for Gato. "H-he's the devil!" Gato shouted. Zabuza drove the knife into Gato's stomach. The thugs behind him struck hin with more weapons. "You crazy fool! if you want to join your friend so bad go ahead, but your not taking me! Not this time!"
"No, I won't be joining Haku. Where he's gone I cannot follow. No my friend it's the other place were going to, you and me both, Gato! I can't think of a better destination for a demon ninja, can you!? I'm told there are many demons there of ever shape and size, oh yes, I should fit right in! But you my friend, Gato! You, I fear are in for a very long and painful eternity!" Zabuza repeatedly sliced at him with the knife and finally drove him off the bridge. He sighed, his head tilting up to the sky. "Haku... So this is goodbye at last... Not once did I ever thank you, Haku. Forgive me for that..." Zabuza's legs finally gave, and no sooner did Sasuke stand back up.
Kirika looked to her left and right. She'd killed everyone... everyone. And she only felt nothing.
"Hey! Snake!" Zabuza called
"Yes?"
"Help me get to Haku."
"Alright." Kirika draped him over her shoulder, snakes slithered out from her sleeve around his body to help her support him. She laid him next to his partner.
Zabuza touched Haku's face. "I just wish I could go to where you were going."
"You just might." Kirika stood up. "No one said you couldn't."
"Thank you. Kirika." Zabuza said
She smiled.
Naruto reached out for one of the buns on the graves.
Sakura swatted his hand away. "Naruto! Eating the funerary offering? You'll be punished by the gods!" She sighed and looked to Kakashi. "Is this really it, Kakashi sensei? Is that the ninja way? To use and be used like tools?"
"Shinobi are all tools in the hands of destiny. There's no use wondering if it's right or wrong, it just is." Kakashi said
"I don't want to hear that from you." Kirika's voice was bitter. "You struck Haku down." Of course she couldn't hold it against kakashi, but the damage she'd done to the rift between herself and Kakashi to use poisons had to be restored. We use and are used even in death, eh Haku? It left a bitter taste in her mouth that it was at the expense of Haku, but it was unlikely he would mind, even if he were alive. They were cut from the same cloth.
Kakashi frowned and sensed the end to whatever alliance he and Kirika had developed.
"Well if you ask me, if that's what being a ninja's all about something's out of whack! Is that why we go through all this training!? just to end up like them!?" Naruto shouted
"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke mumbled, looking over to his side.
"Well that's a question without an answer, but that's something we ninja have to deal with every day of our lives." Kakashi said
Kirika held her pocket watch in her hand. She gazed at it with longing. "Does there really need to be a reason? Move forward. Grow strong. Gain knowledge. There is nothing else for us."
"No..." Said Naruto "I've just made a decision. From now on I'm finding my own ninja way! A way that's straight and true and without any regrets! A way where I never give up on my friends! From now on I'm following the way of Naruto!"
Sakura's gaze shifted, from Naruto, to Kirika, to Sasuke. It fell back by the grave. "A way where I never give up on my friends..." She whispered, and absentmindedly raised a hand up by her stomach.
Kirika smiled at Naruto's jest. Fool. She slid her watch back into her pocket and knelt down in front of the graves. She pressed a hand over Haku's. I would have loved you. It only made her feel worse, because while it was true, they never would have lasted. This was how it always was. Unnecessary love; unnecessary camaraderie, it only ever led to tragedy.
Naruto frowned and began to speak. Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and shook his head, stopping him. He lifted his hand from Naruto's shoulder and placed it on Kirika's, only for her to pluck it off. Kakashi let out a breath. "We should head home."
"I know." Kirika didn't stand. She didn't look up.
"Now." His voice was more gentle than demanding.
"Would you leave me for a while? I'll catch up."
Kakashi sighed. "Everyone, back to the house."
"Kira-" Naruto started
Kakashi gripped his shoulder once again and marched him away. Kakashi did not leave, though he sent the others back he stayed in the cover of the forest behind Kirika.
It didn't matter, though. Kirika lowered her head. Sadness was self perpetuating, it wouldn't do to fall into depression over someone she'd met less than a week ago. It still saddened her, though. No matter the rationalisation. She sat there and mulled over her sadness; over Haku. And even then, no tears would flow.